June 13, 2007

COMMENTARY

            "Tobacco is a thing quite curious, its opposites downright serious; Its qualities are two-sided, leaving us quite divided," are opening lines from a piece by the nationally acclaimed composer David Ott for the Reston Chorale commemoration of the quadricentennial of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia. Ott captured the reality of the circumstances in the new colony. The expected gold was not to be found. Other opportunities for making a profit for the business venture that the first English settlement in America represented were not forthcoming. Tobacco offered an opportunity for an economic return, and the business of tobacco production took off to be Virginia's principal export up until recently.
          "We love it!  We hate it!  We always debate it!" the piece goes on to say in the magnificent production by the Reston Chorale. Tobacco saved the impoverished colony economically, but its adverse effects on the health of millions of people have only recently been understood. Few beyond those who are addicted to it or make a profit from it are defenders of smoking and chewing tobacco. Renewed efforts are being made in the U.S. Congress to make tobacco a controlled substance to be regulated by the Federal Drug Administration. Maryland recently banned smoking in the workplace. A bill to ban smoking in the workplace passed the Virginia Senate but was killed in the House of Delegates in the recently concluded legislative session.
          Last year microchips passed tobacco as Virginia's leading export. More farmers are switching from tobacco to alternative crops. Public acceptance of smoking in social and work settings is at an all-time low.
          While laws have made a great deal of difference as to where smoking is permitted, public attitude has been an even greater force in bringing about change. Only the very brave would think about "lighting up" in a crowded room. Public insistence on smoke-free areas in restaurants and in overnight accommodations has forced change in the marketplace. Even the movie industry is encouraging the elimination of smoking in its productions.
          David Ott and the Reston Chorale were right: tobacco was the key product that got the Virginia colony started. With all that we have learned about tobacco since that time, it is important that Virginia citizens and legislators be leaders in breaking the Commonwealth's addiction to tobacco.

Delegate Plum's Annual
State of the Commonwealth Report

Delegate Ken Plum will present his annual State of the Commonwealth report at a breakfast fundraiser at Hidden Creek Country Club on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.  For more information or to sign up, contact kenplum@aol.com or call 703.391.2978.

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight -  Wednesday, June 13 at 10:30 p.m. -  Tracy Bowen, Alice Ferguson Foundation, and Nicki Foremsky, Reston Association - "Working Toward a Trash-Free Potomac"

Tuesday, June 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 13 at 10:30 p.m. -  Ken Mogul, President, AceWaste - "Construction and Debris Recycling in a Green Environment"

Announcements

"Cooling the Commonwealth - Making Virginia  Leader in Global Warming Solutions" will be presented as a Town Hall Interactive Forum tonight, June 13, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the George Mason University Fairfax Campus Johnson Center Cinema. This event is sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action NEtwork (CCAN) and the Sierra Club.  RSVP appreciated to Paul Burman at paul@chesapeakeclimate.org or to Bram Groen at gerbrandg@gmail.com.

The Virginia Film Office and the Virginia Production Alliance invite you to the State of the Industry in Northern Virginia this evening, June 13, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the National Rural Electric Cooperative headquarters, 4301 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington.  This event will provide an opportunity to talk, share informaiton,, and find out what's happening in film production in Northern Virginia and in the rest of the state.  Call 800.854.6233 or email rsvp@virginia.org with your name, phone number, company (if any) and the number of people who will be attending.

The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce has scheduled "Taste of the Town 2007" for June 16 at the Reston Town Center.  To celebrate, the chamber has unveiled www.restontaste.com, the new online home of Taste of the Town and your direct link to all things Taste related.

Attend RCA's upcoming "resTOWN" Workshops at the Reston Regional Library:  Saturday, June 16, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 14, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; and Saturday, July 28, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  For more information go to http://go-resTOWN.org; call 703.786.3672, or email RCABoard@comcast.net.

The Virginia Sustainable Building Network's 12th Anniversary Cleebration and Annual Meeting, "Moving Toward Carbon Neutral Buildings," will be held on June 28, 2007, 10:00 a.m to 3:30 p.m. at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg.  For more information contact VSBN at 703.486.2966 or vsbn@vsbn.org.  Visit www.vsbn.org for updates. 

Bring your family and friends to Reston's 43rd Birthday.  This year's Reston Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 7 and 8, at the Reston Town Center.  Hours are Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Visit www.restonfestival.com or call 703.435.7989 - volunteers and sponsors are welcome.

A program on blobal sarming will feature Jenet Dechary presenting "The Climate Crisis:  A Primer for Action" on Tuesday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Reston Lake Anne Community Center Gallery Room in Lake Anne Village Center.  The event is free.  Jenet is one of a thousand climate crisis presenters trained personally by Al Gore to educate citizens on global warming.  This event is presented in conjunction with a brief mothly meeting of the Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee.  To rsvp or for information contact haleyr@sprintmail.com or call Bob Haley at 703.716.2339.

First Lady Anne Holton has launched "For Keeps," an initiative to find and strengthen permanent family connections for older children in foster care.  Stay tuned to the For Keeps web site, www.forkeepsvirginia.org, for the latest on this exciting initiative.

A new online tool called the FAFSA4caster provides high school juniors with an early estimate of their eligibility for federal financial aid, which could include a Pell Grant of up to $4,310 based on financial need.  The tool reduces the time it will take to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The FAFSA4caster is available in both English and Spanish at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov.

Fan Care provides free fans to elderly Virginians who live within Dominion Virginia Power's service area and who meet eligibility requirements.  Fan Care is a public-private partnership administered by the Department for the Aging.  Dominion is the primary sponsor, and Dominion donates $50,000 to the Fan Care program each year, most of which goes toward the purchase of fans.  Limited funds are available to agencies to purchase air conditioners for senior citizens with more serious health problems.  Those who are eligible can receive one fan per cooling season.  The program will continue until September 30 or as long as funds last.  Contact the VA Department for the Aging at 800.552.3402 to inquire about eligibility.

Find locations to recycle your old electronics - TVs, stereos, computers, etc. - at www.mygreenelectronics.org.  Maintained by the Consumer Electronics Association, the site also provides a list of electronics that are friendliest to the environment and easiest on your energy bill.  Cell phones can be sold to www.greenphone.com for about $35 where they will be refurbished and resold.

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) is men and women in their 50's, 60's, and 70's volunteering among people who are poor.  Ignatian Volunteers use their extensive work, community, family, and life experiences to make a difference in their communities.  Email wash-nova@ivcusa.org or call 703.533.7322 for more information.

The 2007 "Heroes for the American Red Cross" fundraiser in Fairfax County/Falls Church runs through the end of June.  An individual becomes a Hero by agreeing to raise at least $1,000 for the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area.  The funds can be raised in a variety of ways.  Individuals may work alone or may choose to involve their company, civic club, church, or school in their fundraising efforts.  An individual or business may also choose to donate the needed $1,000; or match the donation of its employees.  For more information call the Fairfax/Falls Church office at 703.584.8710.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191