Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – July 26, 2006
COMMENTARY
Rebuilding Biloxi
Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
Soon after Hurricane Katrina, my son David suggested that we go to the Gulf Coast to help with the rebuilding effort. I liked the idea, and I especially liked the fact that he thought of it. Although an injury prevented David from going, Jane and I spent seven days earlier this month in Biloxi, Mississippi, helping to rehabilitate homes. We chose Biloxi because of press accounts that the flooding in New Orleans had overshadowed the devastation that a 30-foot storm surge had in East Biloxi where 3,500 homes or 60 percent of the housing was destroyed. Some relatives who live near New Orleans drove over to visit us. They were shocked; they had never seen such devastation. We also went to East Biloxi because Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia coordinates workers there. We were fortunate in our assignments in that the houses in which we worked had already been “mucked out.” The entire contents of the houses had been removed including the wall boards, ceilings, and floor coverings. They were sprayed inside with a bleach-like chemical to kill any mold and painted entirely with Kilz, an anti-mold, anti-stain paint. Only then was drywall installed, finished, and painted and ceramic tile was installed on the floor as the most durable flooring available. We worked in three different houses installing bathroom and kitchen fixtures and tile and doing the many tasks necessary to get the homes ready for the senior citizens who lived in them.
We stayed in a convent that mercifully had a hot shower available. Other volunteers slept on mattresses on the floors of churches and in trailers and tents with showers shared by many. Our day started with a 6:30 a.m. breakfast at a local church followed by about a ten-hour work day. We worked inside and out of the direct sunlight with fans circulating the air because the air conditioning was not yet workable in the homes. Lunch time was special as we went to the football stadium along with hundreds of other volunteers to have lunch provided by the Salvation Army. Dinner was back at the church. We were ready to go to bed early and only on the first night did we hear the several trains that passed through town each night.
We were very pleased to make our contribution of a week of work, but so much more needs to be done. It will take decades to restore the city at the current pace of activity. We encourage others to volunteer. It is always satisfying to help others. You will never meet a nicer and more interesting group of people than the volunteers who work there. Some are retirees including people from Reston and Northern Virginia whom we met for the first time and who are contributing many weeks of their lives to helping others.
Want to know more about the experience and how you can get involved? Email me at kenplum@aol.com. Or get in touch with Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia at www.hfhnv.org, Lutheran Disaster Response at www.lssvi.org, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance at www.pcusa.org/pda, or other organizations working in the area. Volunteer to help; you will join us in being glad that you did.
Jane Plum at left and Delegate Ken Plum in yellow shirt with
their fellow “Rebuild Biloxi” team members, Biloxi, Mississippi,
July 2006. Rebuilding was coordinated by Habitat for
Humanity of Northern Virginia.
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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report”
on Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tonight - Wednesday, July 26 at 10:30 p.m. – Delegate Kenneth R. Plum – “The State of the Commonwealth 2006”
Tuesday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 2 at 10:30 p.m. – Wynne Busman, Associate Director, and Molly Hicks, Board member, Infant Toddler Family Day care – “Meeting the needs of Fairfax County’s Young Children”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attend the 4th Annual Multicultural Business Conference, “Access to Business Success – Training, Resources & Networking for Business Growth,” on Thursday, August 3, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Westin, 801 North Glebe Road, Arlington. Register for this event and more at www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com/atbs or call 703.538.7418.
Register for ACCESS To BUSINESS SUCCESS – the 4th annual Multicultural Business Conference on Thursday, August 3, The Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel, 801 North Glebe Road, Arlington. The conference runs from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For a complete agenda and registration information, visit www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com/atbs. RSVP your attendance to Jenny Rico at jennyrico2004@yahoo.com.
Reston Interfaith and Kids R First need your help in collecting 4,000 new backpacks for children in need in the Reston/Herndon area. Please drop off new backpacks through August 12 at the Reston Interfaith offices at 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210 as follows: today to August 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; August 7 to August 11 from 9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and August 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. To learn more about donating backpacks, contact Meredith Young at 571.323.9566 or Meredith.young@restoninterfaith.org.
Ride in the 24th Annual Reston Century Bicycle Tour on Sunday, August 27, rain or shine, starting and finishing at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. Riders can select from three routes of approximately 34, 65, and 102 miles. Registration is available online at www.restonbikeclub.org.
The Virginia Department of Health has launched new Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Standards, or CLAS Act, Internet site http://CLASActVirginia.vdh.virginia.gov. The site is designed to assist health care providers in delivering culturally competent care for their limited English proficient patients. The CLAS Act web site is a great tool for Virginia residents who require language assistance in order to receive the best care possible. The site is a tool and a step for giving Virginia’s health care community the proper resources that it requires to provide the necessary services to the entire Commonwealth. Over time, resources in as many as 24 additional languages will be added to the site.
The State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance offers a free Life Insurance Consumer’s Guide to help Virginians better understand life insurance coverage, how to shop for it, and what to do if a problem arises. The guide explains the various types of life insurance policies and related terminology and provides information to assist consumers in determining their life insurance needs. It also includes a list of shopping tips, a complaint form, and frequently asked questions. Request copies of the free Life Insurance Consumer’s Guide by calling the Bureau of Insurance Life and Health Division toll-free at 1.877.310.6560.
It’s time for PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’: 2005-2006 Virginia Grown Guide to Pick Your Own and Select Your Own Farm Products. Published by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, each listing gives the directions, hours, product information, contact names an dnumbers, email, and websites where available to some of Virginia’s best edibles. To obtain a free copy, visit www.virginiagrown.com or call 804.786.3951.
Persons who are delinquent on their car tax bills are encouraged to pay those bills sooner rather than later. Currently, vehicle owners only pay taxes on 30 percent of the car value on qualifying vehicles. However, due to changes in the Virginia car tax program, effective September 1 – or sooner if state funding runs out – delinquent taxpayers will be required to pay 100 percent of the full car tax on any outstanding balances for prior year taxes. To pay online or for more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta. For questions over the phone, call the Department of Tax Administration at 703.222.8234, TTY 703.222.7594.
The Commonwealth Coalition has opened and staffed its office in Northern Virginia. Volunteer to help organize voters, businesses and community, faith and civic organizations united in their agreement to vote NO on November 7 on the so-called marriage amendment. Email Laura at lrobertson@voteNOva.org if you want to get involved in the effort in Northern Virginia.
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission has published An Introductory Guide to Recreational Trails in Northern Virginia, a comprehensive reference featuring information on 24 trails, including 19 maps. Each separate, trail-by-trail map insert includes three primary types of information: A narrative description of the trail; a map; and a trail elevation profile. Cost is $9.95. See www.novaregion.org.
A Rain Garden Workshop for homeowners will be held at Meadowlark Gardens Regional Park, Vienna, on Saturday, September 16, 8:30 to noon. Attendees will receive useful information and observe the construction of a small (home-sized) rain garden.
Save the Date – Join Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association in celebrating its 30th anniversary on Tuesday, October 3, 6:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center. Contact Bridget R. Anderson for more information at banderson@culturalcommerce.com or call 703.759.4525.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society invites you to join dozens of local businesses and hundreds of influential Northern Virginians in the fight against blood cancers. Participate in the Light the Night Walk in the Reston Town Center on Saturday, October 7, and help make a difference. Visit www.lightthenight.org/nca for more information.
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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.
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