Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News – June 14, 2006

COMMENTARY

Virginia Institutions Needing Renovation

Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

          The first major renovation of Virginia’s Capitol since its completion in 1788 is revealing the genius of Thomas Jefferson in designing the core of the structure and is disclosing some of the state’s history in the documents found literally in its walls and ceilings. Learn more about the renovation by visiting www.virginiacapitol.gov.

          The Associated Press (AP) reported recently that one of the documents found during the renovation broke down by gender the causes of insanity for scores of people committed to the state asylum during the 1860’s. According to AP, the report stated that one man was committed for “fever and loss of law suit,” two men and one woman for love, one man and three women for jealousy and 11 men and three women for “pecuniary troubles.” Virginia was the early leader in the treatment of the mentally ill having established the first Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds in Williamsburg in 1773. Methods of diagnosis were crude, and the actual ailments of persons admitted to state mental hospitals over the years covered a broad range of illnesses and social problems. I can remember as a youngster growing up in the Shenandoah Valley hearing adults talking about persons being taken to the insane asylum at Staunton, the location of Western State Hospital.

          As additional knowledge was gained about mental illness and new treatment methods and drugs were discovered, it became obvious that the large institutions that had been set up had done little more than warehouse people who for a multitude of reasons did not fit into society. During the 1960’s and 1970’s programs in Virginia and throughout the country came under close scrutiny, and many of the large hospitals including Western State were greatly reduced in size. Community based programs were started to pick up service to people needing treatment closer to where they lived. Unfortunately, some large institutions discharged person before local programs were ready to treat them, and many mentally ill patients became homeless people in the streets.

          Beginning in the 1980’s a needed effort to protect the rights of the mentally ill got underway. Institutionalization became more difficult as just the sickest persons were to be admitted. Facilities were reduced as there were fewer admittances and as new drugs were able to help people live a more normal life in the community.

          Recent tragic events involving mentally ill persons killing others and themselves indicate that the pendulum may have swung too far, and that available programs and services are not adequate to meet needs. In responding to the rights of the mentally ill, the balance of protecting the right to safety and security of all members of society may have been violated.

          Each time tax revenues exceed projections and are termed by many as being surplus I continue to raise the question as to how we can consider that there is a surplus of money when there are such great unmet needs as those in mental health. The original Capitol and the wings that were added to it in 1906 are getting a necessary renovation to bring it up to date to modern standards and needs. The state mental health programs and admission procedures need a major review and an infusion of funding to meet the needs of today.

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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report”

 on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight - 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

Tomorrow – Reston Association is hosting a Stream Monitoring Workshop on Thursday, June 15, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., 12250 Sunset Hills Road, Reston. Learn how to determine the quality of water in our streams by collecting organisms attached to rocks or living along the bottom of streams. This workshop will provide hands-on experience in identifying and learning about the aquatic organisms. You will also be given the opportunity to become a certified stream monitor. Call Nicki Foremsky, Watershed Manager, at 703.435.6560 or email her at Nicki@Reston.org for more information.

The 2006 “Taste of the Town” at the Reston Town Center is this Saturday, June 17, Noon to 10:30 p.m. Enjoy a great day and evening of fun and food for the whole family. Buy “Taste Tickets” for only $1 each and sample food from 25 Reston and area restaurants. Entertainment includes a Kids Korner with face painting and crafts. Hear great music from groups including Rising Sun, BeatleMania NOW, and Souled Out. Visit the Beer & Wine Garden. Admission and parking are free. This year’s charity recipient of the Taste of the Town event is the Fairfax County YMCA in Reston.

View the amazing creativity of young children this Saturday, June 17, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at “SACC Illuminations: A Celebration of Children’s Art” located at Old Town Hall, 3999 University Boulevard, Fairfax, VA from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The art show and reception are the culmination of the Fairfax County School Age Child Care program’s year-long Resident Artists initiative that gave children from kindergarten to 6^th grade the opportunity to apprentice with community and SACC artists and to develop a life-long passion for the arts. Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins will officiate at the welcoming ceremony at 12:30 p.m. The nationally acclaimed Fairfax County School Age Child Care program provides before and after school child care at 130 elementary schools throughout Fairfax County. SACC also offers programs for children during spring, summer, and winter holiday breaks. For more information contact Dan Dildine at daniel.dildine@fairfaxcounty.gov  or 703.324.8042.

On Saturday, 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.

Join Habitat for Humanity in its rebuilding work in Biloxi, Mississippi. Ken and Jane Plum will be working there July 10-15. For more information, email jguerra@habitatnova.org or call Jennifer Guerra at 703.521.9890, extension 105.

The Fairfax County Dept. of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection and the Consumer Protection Commission will provide information about choices consumers must make about cable television, telephone, and high-speed Internet service. As part of the Connecting Your Home initiative, Fairfax County has produced a brochure and a television show on Channel 16 detailing the offerings of the three major competing providers in the county – Comcast, Cox, and Verizon. Additional information also will be posted to the county’s website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cable and www.fairfaxcounty.gov/consumer. All three providers offer cable TV, telephone, and Internet services – often called the “triple play.” The brochure, television show, and website information provide an overview of how these three technologies work and where to go to get more information from each company. The brochure is available at county government centers and libraries or by contacting the Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection at 703.324.5930, TTY 711, or 703.222.8435, TTY 711. The television program, “Connecting Your Home,” airs on Fridays at 3:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m., and Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. The program also will be available on video-on-demand at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cable.

Congratulations to the congregation of Cartersville Baptist Church on the 143^rd anniversary of the Church. As part of the anniversary celebration the Fairfax County History Commission erected a historic marker at the Church on Hunter Mill Road at the intersection with Sunrise Valley Drive.

The Fairfax County Department of Family Services announced that this year’s Cooling Assistance Program to prevent or assist with cooling emergencies resulting from extreme heat begins June 15 and ends August 15. To be eligible for any type of Cooling Assistance, certain income and citizenship requirements must be met. The household must contain at least one vulnerable person, and there must be a cooling need. Various types of cooling assistance may be available such as purchase or replacement and installation of an air conditioner, repair of a central air conditioning unit or heat pump, payment of an electric security deposit, or payment of an electric bill to operate the cooling equipment. To receive additional information or an application, call 703.324.7101.

Earlier this year the General Assembly unanimously approved a three-day Sales Tax Holiday in August during which certain purchases will be exempt from the 5 percent state and local retail sales tax. Sales tax will not be charged on school supplies priced at $20 or less per item, or articles of clothing, including footwear, costing $100 or less. The “holiday” will take place each year on the first Friday-Saturday-Sunday period in August. This year, the exemption period will be August 4 through 6. For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Taxation’s website at www.tax.virginia.gov.

Celebrate Rail to the Runways on Tuesday, June 27. Attend a luncheon and join Special Guests Governor Tim Kaine and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority President and CEO James E. Bennett to celebrate two recent transportation achievements: a new runway, Dulles Airport’s fourth; and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Virginia and the Airports Authority that will expedite completion of the Dulles Metrorail project to Dulles Airport and beyond into Loudoun County. The event will be held at the Dulles Airport Marriott with a reception at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon beginning at 12:15 p.m. RSVP by June 20 to Carol Welti at carol@washingtonairports.com or call 703.572.8714. Space is limited – call soon.

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 12^th 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 4^th 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 24^th 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. 

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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.

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