April 27, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

First Freedom Exhibit at the Library of Virginia  
on display through March 4, 2017

Commentary

Reconvened Session-2016                      
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

The Library of Virginia has an informative new exhibit called "First Freedom" that includes documents on the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom penned by Thomas Jefferson and passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1786. The original manuscript on parchment drafted by Thomas Jefferson is housed at the Library of Virginia. Termed in the exhibit as "one of the most revolutionary pieces of legislation in American history," I believe it is the most important piece of legislation ever passed by the Virginia legislature and possibly by any legislative body. It codified freedom of conscience. The meaning of the Virginia Statute as it found its way into the Virginia Constitution's Declaration of Rights and the U.S. Bill of Rights is still debated today.
 
Just across the street from the Library of Virginia the General Assembly met in the Commonwealth's Capitol in a reconvened, day-long session to consider vetoes and amendments made by Governor Terry McAuliffe to bills passed by the 2016 session of the General Assembly that had adjourned in March. One of the bills that had passed the legislature would have stretched freedom of religion to include the right to discriminate against others because of your religion. Specifically, the bill would have allowed all forms of discrimination against the LGBTQ community. North Carolina and Mississippi continue to make headlines as more businesses and events leave the states because of a law just like the one passed in Virginia. Fortunately Governor McAuliffe vetoed the bill, and both houses refused by straight party-line votes in the reconvened session to override the veto.
 
In the House I led the debate to sustain the Governor's veto of a bill that would have established a statewide system of censoring literature in the schools that some may consider sexually explicit. As I pointed out, local school divisions led by elected school boards should be the place to accommodate parent concerns about materials used in the classroom. I personally remember the time when the state had its own history textbook written, but it was so biased and slanted that I and other teachers refused to use it.
 
Good news in the area of gun safety is that the legislature--again on straight party-line votes--sustained the Governor's vetoes of bills that would have made guns more readily available. The proponents of the NRA interests continue the false argument that most people are killed in gun-free zones. Democrats also sustained the Governor's veto of a bill that would have defunded Planned Parenthood.
 
An issue of disappointment to me in the reconvened session was the approval of an amendment by the Governor that will allow the Commonwealth to procure in a secret process the drugs necessary to carry out the death penalty. I voted against it. While the amendment will forestall a return to the electric chair, I would have preferred a moratorium or end to the death penalty. The Governor made it clear that each member should vote their conscience, but had his amendment not passed he would have vetoed the electric chair bill.
 
It is an honor to serve in a body where freedom of conscience has such a long and important history.
 
Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference.  

TONIGHT- Wednesday, April 27 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Joe Plummer about TEDxHerndon
    
Tuesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 4 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Terry Angelotti of the Centreville Immigration Forum

Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at
www.youtube.com/watch. Previous shows can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266. 


Bulletin Board

Join Reston's Environment Advisory Committee

Love Reston's natural beauty, parks, trails? Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) seeks members with interest in any of the following: Recycling, conservation, land use, storm water management, native plants, urban forestry, and related fields. If interested, contact Sue Beffel at subeffel@gmail.com or Katie Shaw at kshaw@reston.org.

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Reston Community Center Launches 
Online Learning Program
 

RCC has partnered with Learning Resources Network (LERN) to provide online courses and certificates in high-demand fields like business, eMarketing and social media for business, the green workplace, health, leadership and training and education. See more at eLearning @RCC.
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Home Repair for the Elderly 



"The ultimate goal of our home repair program is to ensure that our moderate to low income older adults and people with disabilities can stay in their homes and maintain their independence." Read more about the program here.
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Appliance Recycling



Dominion's Appliance Recycling program provides rebates for the recycling of operating, secondary refrigerators and freezers.

 For additional information, check out the program FAQs or call 1-888-366-8280. 
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E-Cycling Program Available Daily

Fairfax County residents can e-cycle old or unwanted electronics any day of the week at the 
I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax. 

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.


Calendar of Events   

Tonight: Wednesday, April 27, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.,
Big Read In Herndon Kick-Off Party, at the Herndon Fortnightly Library. All ages in Herndon will come together to read and celebrate "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya. For more information and to RSVP for the Kick-off Event, call 703-956-6590 or visit www.artspaceherndon.org. 


Thursday, April 28, 6:00 p.m., 4th Annual Northern Virginia Take Back The Night and Rally Against Rape, at Gateway Park Rosslynn Metro. Download a flyer here.

Saturday, April 30, Independent Bookstore Day. Nationwide event to encourage support of independent bookstores. Visit
indiemap.bookweb.org to locate a store near you or visit Scrawl Books, Reston's new independent bookstore.
 
Saturday, April 30, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout. Drop off medications at any of the eight Fairfax County District Police Stations (pills or liquids only, no pressurized canisters or needles). The event is hosted by the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County and other government partners. Learn more at Medicine Cabinet Cleanout. 
 
Saturday, April 30, Fairfax CASA Run for the Children Race, Starting Time: 8:00 a.m., at the Fairfax County Courthouse complex. Features music, food, prizes and raffle items. Raises money to help Fairfax CASA volunteers advocate for those children under the court's protection. Details are at Run for the Children.   
 
Saturday, April 30, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Bicycle Safety Rodeo, Ages 5-12 years, at the YMCA, 12196 Sunset Hills Road, Reston. Stop by anytime. Course takes 20 minutes to complete. Children must bring their own bicycles and helmets in order to participate. For more information, contact Ashleigh@reston.org or call 703-435-6577.
 
Saturday, April 30, 10:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m., Reston Home & Garden Expo, at Reston Association Headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. For more information contact Reston Association Member Services at 703-435-6530 or at
Member_services@reston.org.

Saturday, April 30, 10:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m., Springfest Fairfax, at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Learn more at springfestfairfax.org. 
 
Sunday, May 1, Hopecam 5K Run/Walk. Hopecam uses technology to connect children undergoing treatment for cancer with their friends at school, and the 5K raises money for their mission. Start and finish are at 1890 Preston White Drive, Reston. Runners start is at 8:15 a.m. Race day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Registration and details are at 5KRun.  
 
Sunday, May 1, March for Babies, Family teams, company teams and people walking with friends to raise money for babies in our community. To register, learn more, or ask questions, visit March for Babies.

Monday, May 2, 6:00 p.m., FY 2017-2022 SYIP Public Meeting, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) invites input on projects and programs to be included in the Fiscal Year 2017-2022 Six-Year Improvement Program initiatives to address safety, congestion and preservation of Virginia's transportation network. More is at FY 2017-2022 SYIP. 

Thursday, May 5, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Open House and Public Hearing on "Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Multimodal Components." The Open House will begin at 6:00 p.m. The Public Hearing will start at 7:00 p.m. In the first floor conference room at NVTC headquarters, 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington. More details are at I-66 Multimodal. 

Saturday, May 7, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Social Justice Yard Sale at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax (UUCF), 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. Volunteer help is needed for set up prior to the sale on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Gently used donations may be dropped off at UUCF starting May 4. Proceeds from the sale will be shared with the Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV), the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mosaic Harmony and Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Circle. Great opportunity to help your community. For more information call SCOV at 703-281-0538.  

Saturday, May 7, 8:00 a.m. to noon, Reston Farmer's Market opens for its 2016 Season. Learn more at RFM.  

Saturday, May 7, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., At the Hop: Music of the Fabulous 50s!, Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. The Reston Chorale steps back in time to the days of sock hops, soda fountains and rock and roll. (Poodle skirts and ducktails optional.) Tickets now available online at www.RestonChorale.org or at the RCC Box Office. Tickets: $20/Seniors, $25/Adults, Free for Active Military (with ID) and Youth 17 and under (with adult or senior ticket holder.) 

Saturday, May 7, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Spring Festival, Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. Rain or shine. Free event. All ages welcome. Volunteers needed. Contact 703-476-9869 or naturecenter@reston.org for more information or to sign up to volunteer. See reston.org for event updates.

Saturday, May 7, 7:00 p.m., Free Screening of Under the Gun, original documentary on preventing gun violence narrated by Katie Couric, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton. Register here. 

Wednesday, May 11, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Creative Aging Fair, at Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free, but registration is required. Register and learn more at Creative Aging Fair. 

May 13-15, Camp Wellstone Virginia 2016. Camp Wellstone is open to anyone interested in gaining practical skills in progressive political action. Details are at Camp Wellstone.

Saturday, May 14, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 95 Family Community Yard Sale, One Reston Crescent, 12000 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Rain date is May 15. More is at Community Yard Sale.

Sunday, May 15, noon to 5:00 p.m., Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase, at Ash Lawn-Highland: the Home of James Monroe, 2050 James Monroe Parkway, Charlottesville. The Showcase celebrates Virginia's Master Artists and their Apprentices with blacksmiths, costume makers and many more of Virginia's finest craftspeople. Visit Virginiafolklife.org or call 434-924-3296 for more information. 

Saturday, May 21, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., TedxHerndon, at Herndon Middle School, 901 Locust Street, Herndon. Learn more at TedxHerndon. 

May 21 to 22, 10:00 a.m., 2016 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, at Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE). Details are at Fine Arts Festival.

May 21 to 22, 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., Relay For Life of Reston, at South Lakes High School. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement symbolizes hope and our shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love. More information is at Relay for Life.  
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
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Commentary..."Reconvened Session-2016"

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


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