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Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – June 7, 2006
COMMENTARY
Some Old-Fashioned Wisdom Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
My Mom and Dad had little formal education, but they had a lifetime of wisdom in the ways of the world that should have qualified them for advanced degrees. Much of that wisdom was captured in short slogans or rhymes that were easy to remember and continue to ring true even today. “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” was one piece of advice they often offered. And heeding that admonition meant satisfaction of a task completed at the end of the day and a more positive attitude facing tomorrow. That’s what makes the current course of action by the General Assembly so difficult to accept. It appears likely that a biennial budget will be passed without the transportation issue being addressed. We need to pass a budget for sure with the new fiscal year coming up on July 1. With the booming economy and the additional revenues available from the budgetary reforms engineered by Governor Mark Warner, the budget will be a good one. Core services will be funded at the most adequate level in many years. Because of the strong disagreement essentially between House and Senate Republicans the budget will not address transportation funding needs. My Mom and Dad always said that “a stitch in time saves nine.” A problem addressed early can be averted from becoming a larger one. Some would argue that the early stitch has already been missed with the traffic congestion issue. Transportation funding has not been addressed in a major way by the legislature for twenty years. Current discussions by General Assembly leadership indicate that a special transportation session will be called in the fall. “If the world gives you lemons, make lemonade,” old-time wisdom would say. If there is a special session to address transportation, it needs to go beyond a debate on funding. We need to examine the split of money between highways and transit with a greater share going to transit. Highways alone cannot solve our problem. Coordination of land use planning and transportation planning must be firmly put in place. The principles of transit oriented development discussed in recent seminars conducted by the Dulles Corridor Rail Association whose Board I chair and the Dulles Area Transportation Association should be incorporated into local land use planning. Other transportation solutions adopted should include flextime work schedules, teleworking, intelligent transportation control devices, and encouragement of walking and biking. Old-time wisdom taught to me by my parents suggested that in dealing with a problem you should “get it all out.” Let’s have a transportation special legislative session and deal with the problem in a comprehensive way. Within the slogans of the past is a great deal of wisdom that we would do well to follow today.
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Plum Honored as Legislative Hero
Delegate Kenneth R. Plum was one of five members of the Virginia House of Delegates and three from the State Senate honored by the Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV) as Legislative Heroes. Plum and the seven other legislators scored perfect scores of 100 percent in their voting during the 2006 General Assembly session on issues related to natural resources protection and conservation. “I have the greatest respect for the members of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters and for their research and advocacy on issues related to protecting Virginia’s environment,” Plum said. “I am honored by their recognition.” For more information on the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, visit www.valcv.org, and for information on Delegate Plum visit www.kenplum.com.
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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report” on Reston Comcast Channel 28
Wednesday, June 7 at 10:30 p.m. – Beverly Black, Fairfax County Department of Community & Recreation Services – “Lights on After School”
Tuesday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 14 at 10:30 p.m. – Pamela Gratton, Fairfax County Recycling – “What’s New in Residential Curbside Recycling”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 13 – PRIMARY ELECTION DAY! Primary elections will be held for both the Democratic and Republican parties on Tuesday, June 13. Any eligible Fairfax County voter who meets the legal requirements may vote absentee in these elections. In an effort to make absentee voting easily accessible, the Fairfax County Office of the General Registrar is offering in-person absentee voting through Saturday, June 10, in Suite 323 of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Residents may vote Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additional voting hours will be available on Saturdays, June 3 and 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tonight – an open house will be held this evening, June 7, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oak Hill Elementary School, 3210 Kinross Circle, Oak Hill, to discuss the widening of Fairfax County Parkway. A presentation is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. followed by questions and answers. To provide comments on the proposed plan, email your comments to CitizensComments@fairfaxcounty.gov. Please reference “Fairfax County Parkway Widening” in the subject heading. For more information, call 703.324.5800, TTY 711.
Tonight - the Community Planning Committee developing the Fairfax County Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness is requesting your help at a Dialogue. Attendants will have an opportunity to provide their perspectives and ideas for the development of the ten-year plan to end homelessness. Attend the Dialogue tonight, June 7, 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston. RSVP to 703.787.4962, as a light dinner will be provided.
Attend an important briefing on Thursday, June 8, 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the VDOT Smart Traffic Center, 1426 Columbia Pike, Arlington, by VDOT and Northern Virginia’s HOV Task Force on new HOV laws that take effect July 1. This briefing will provide an overview of the new hybrid vehicle laws, the unveiling of the new clean special fuel license plate, an update on the state of the HOV lanes, and how the State Police plans to enforce higher HOV fines for violators. From I-395 South, take Exit 8/Washington Boulevard/Columbia Pike. Get in right lane and exit at Columbia Pike East. At stop sign, turn right. VDOT’s Smart Traffic Center is the second gate on the right. Guests will be buzzed in.
This month – night-time closures of I-95 near DC’s Wilson Bridge continue during June weekends with major day and night delays anticipated during June 9-12 for transfer of I-95 North traffic onto the new bridge. Avoid delays by viewing a step-by-step animated presentation on “New Bridge Traffic Switch” at www.wilsonbridge.com.
The 25th anniversary of Celebrate Fairfax! will kick off on Friday, June 9 and run through Sunday, June 11 at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The annual festival celebrates Fairfax County, its employees, its communities and its resources with exhibits, concerts, performing arts, rides, food and fireworks. Hours are Friday from 6:00 p.m. to midnight; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please note that there will be no parking at the main Government Center building. Parking will be available nearby behind the Pennino and Herrity buildings located on Post Forest Road and Government Center Parkway. Buses will transport festival-goers from the Vienna Metro Station and off-site parking lots. For more information, visit www.celebratefairfax.org or call 703.324.3247, TTY 800.828.1120.
Take a musical journey on the road to freedom for African Americans at Gunston Hall Plantation’s “Songs of Freedom” on Sunday, June 11, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Regular admission fees are $8 Adults, $7 Seniors, $4 ages 4-6. Gunston Hall, the home and workplace for as many as 100 salves in the 1700s, is located in Mason Neck, VA on the Potomac River off Route 1 & I-95. Visit www.GunstonHall.org
As part of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service has developed “America’s Anniversary Garden,” plantings of red, white, and blue for homes and businesses including native plants. For more information, visit www.ext.vt.edu/americasgarden.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has issued a new brochure, “Disaster Preparedness for Seniors.” For a free copy, call 804.897.6510.
On June 17, 8:00 p.m. EST on The History Channel, Steve Thomas, formerly of “This Old House,” will host a documentary that will highlight four of Thomas Jefferson’s building designs: the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, his retreat home at Poplar Forest in Bedford County, the University of Virginia, and his home at Monticello in Charlottesville. For information about the Capitol Restoration and Extension Project, go to www.VirginiaCapitol.gov.
Talk Transportation at a Summer Reception with the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance and Governor Tim Kaine on Tuesday, June 27, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 1521 West Branch, Tysons Corner. Visit www.nvta.org or call 703.883.1830 for information and reservations.
Support Reston Interfaith, play golf, and bid on great auction items! The 12th Annual Rucker Golf Tournament, Silent and Live Auctions, and Raffle Drawing will take place on Monday, July 10, at Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston. The Rucker Tournament is a community-wide event with a rich heritage of attracting the support of hundreds of corporate and community leaders. Proceeds from the tournament’s auctions and raffle benefit the programs of Reston Interfaith, which provide support to men, women, and children in need of shelter, affordable housing, childcare, and other essential community services. Contact Meredith Young, Community Events Manager, at Meredith.Young@restoninterfaith.org for questions about participation in the Rucker Tournament.
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.
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.
Save the Date – Saturday, September 16, 8:30 to noon – for the Rain Garden Workshop for homeowners, Meadowlark Gardens Regional Park, Vienna. Attendees will receive useful information and observe the construction of a small (home-sized) rain garden.
***************** Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.
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