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Attention Postmaster: Time sensitive material.
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PAIDEaston, MDpermit #322
Pet ConnectionInside
SeniorLiving
Page 4
Best of RestonHonorees RevealedNews, Page 3
War PhotographerComes Back HomeTheatre Preview, Page 6
Reston Pets:From Common to Exotic
Pet Connection, Page 5
Saint Archer the puppy was born on Val-entine’s Day to Momma dog, Lunabell.
“I call the coffee cup, a pup-a-ccino,” writes Theodore Bonham of Reston.
2 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Reston Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
NewsReston Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic
703-778-9414 or [email protected]
Going into the final event ofthe meet, South Lakes HighSchool only needed to finishahead of South County HighSchool to preserve second placeat the 6A State Championship.
They did that and much moreat the Boo Williams Sportsplexin Hampton, Va.
Juniors Mary Gregory, EmilyLannen, Hannah Waller andsophomore JuviannadeanMullings won the 4x400 meterrelay with a school and statemeet record time of 3:54.75,topping not only South Countybut race favorite WesternBranch High School.
It’s the second consecutiverunner-up finish for the SLHSgirls track team. The LadySeahawks scored 49 points andwere followed by SouthCounty’s 40. Western Branchwon the title again, this yearwith 77 points. There are 52schools in 6A.
The school record of 3:57.52was set by Kristen Cohen, MistyJohnson, Jeraldine Cofie andCarielle Doe during the 1995-1996 season. The state meet
record of 3:54.98 as set by Os-car Smith High School in 2016.
Waller led the team scoringby winning the long jump in18.08.75, finishing second inthe 55 meters (7.05) and thirdin the 300 meters (39.29).Mullings teamed with freshmanJillian Howard, junior RhemaKonadu and senior Nicole Postfor second in the 4x200 meterrelay (1:45.52).
Gregory and Lannen alsoscored in individual events.Gregory was sixth in the 300meters with a personal-besttime of 40.44. Lannen also hada personal best time in finish-ing sixth in the 1,000 meters(3:02.04). Senior SamanthaVan Haaren was seventh in thehigh jump (5-00.00).
Junior Caleb Miller was sixthin the shot put (47-08.25) forthe boys team that finished34th. Senior Asher Levy-Myersfinished eighth in the polevault.
SLHS will close the indoorseason with a select group par-ticipating in the New BalanceNationals March 8-10.
Lady Seahawks Finish Second atState Championship
South Lakes High School’s 4x400 meter relay team(from left): Juviannadean Mullings, Emily Lannen,Hannah Waller, Mary Gregory
Cornerstones and theGreater RestonChamber of Commerce, along with
SOS International LLC (SOSi),hosted a Celebration Receptionwhere eight 2019 Cornerstones ofOur Community-Best of RestonAward Honorees were revealed.The selected Honorees will be cel-ebrated at the 2019 Cornerstonesof Our Community – Best ofReston Awards Gala on April 4 forgiving selflessly of their time, forthe causes about which they arepassionate, and in so doing, mak-ing the community stronger.
The 2019 Honorees are:❖ A Simple Gesture (Bob
Schnapp)❖ BEI (Ellen and Mike Jennings)❖ Omicron Kappa Kappa Chap-
ter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity/OKK Foundation, Inc.
❖ Synergy Design & Construc-tion (Mina and Mark Fies)
❖ Touching Heart (Helen andTaylor Yi)
❖ Maggie Parker❖ Roz Rakoff❖ Kurt RoseMark Ingrao, President and CEO
of the Greater Reston Chamber ofCommerce said at the reception,“Partnering to produce this eventreaffirms our commitment to rec-ognizing those who go above andbeyond to build, sustain and en-rich this community. The Chamberis dedicated to collaborations thatoffer a business environment thatis planned, proven and con-nected.”
Julian M. Setian, President andCEO of SOSi serves as the 2019Gala Chair and hosted the Celebra-tion Reception. Setian announcedan ambitious fundraising goal forthe Best of Reston Gala andpledged SOSi’s commitment to Cor-nerstones by presenting Corner-stones with a $50,000 donation.
Best of Reston sponsorships, seatand table reservations for the April4t Awards Gala can be made onlineat www.cornerstonesva.org/BOR.
Bob and Lisa Van Hoecke werealso recognized for their supportof Cornerstones for more than tenyears, and for committing$100,000 as Cornerstones’ Cham-
Hunter Mill District to Hold TownHall on the Budget
Supervisor Cathy Hudgins will be hosting the annual Hunter MillDistrict Town Hall on the Budget, Saturday, March 2 at Frying PanFarm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Road, Herndon. County Execu-tive Bryan Hill, County Staff and staff from Fairfax County Public Schoolswill be presenting the Fairfax County FY2020 Budget Proposal andFairfax County Public Schools proposed budget.
Come early for coffee at 8:30 a.m. with presentations beginning at 9a.m. Questions and answer session will follow the presentations.
Afterwards, stick around and take a tour of the farm and visit with thisyear’s new baby animals. There’s always something new on the farm!
Week in Reston
Pho
to
by Valerie Lister.
$150,000 committed to Cornerstones at itsCommunity Celebration Reception.
Best of Reston Honorees Revealed
Cornerstones recognizes Bob and Lisa Van Hoecke for morethan ten years of support and for committing $100,000 asCornerstones’ Champion Annual Partner during the Corner-stones of our Community Celebration Reception.
Julian M. Setian, President and CEO of SOSi announcesan ambitious fundraising goal for the Best of Reston Galapledging SOSi’s commitment to Cornerstones of a$50,000 donation.
The Omicron Kappa Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi PhiFraternity/OKK Foundation, Inc. is among the eight 2019Best of Reston Honorees. Members inspire young peoplewith their service to the community by volunteering atevents like Taste of Reston, Flavors of Fall, Reston Relayfor Life, Northern Virginia Project Giveback and the Dr.Charles Drew Blood Drive.
a commitment to Cornerstones as Annual Partners -whose sustaining support helps us meet challengesin the community year-round,” said Kerrie Wilson,CEO of Cornerstones.
For more information, visit www.cornerstonesva.org or call571.323.9555.
pion Annual Partner. Bob Van Hoecke recently chairedthe 36th Annual Capitol Steps Benefit, which raisedover $400,000 this year.
“SOSi, Bob and Lisa, Reston Community Centerand Bechtel and others here tonight are among avery special group of organizations who have made
Photos by Chip McCrea Photography
4 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
By Marilyn Campbell
Tracy Palmer didn’t see the acci-dent, but she received a franticcall that every parent dreads:her 11-year-old son had been hit
by a car.“We were on vacation visiting my brother
and I’d gone to get coffee and my phonerang,” she said. “Mybrother told that an82-year old womanhit my son while heand a few of his cous-ins were sitting just offthe driveway drawingwith chalk. She neversaw the kids and whenshe hit my son shethought she’d hit aball, so she kept going.Thank God one of theneighbors saw it andstopped her.”
After eight days inthe intensive careunit, Palmer’s son ison the mend, but Palmer who works as anattorney in Arlington, however, is furiousthat the elderly driver was allowed behindthe wheel of a car in the first place.
Monitoring one’s driving abilities is anessential part of our overall healthcare, es-pecially as one ages. “There’s no cutoff agefor when a person should stop driving. Butas we age, our joints can become stiff, ourreflexes slow down and our ability to makesplit-second judgement calls or stop on adime can become impaired,” said DanaKilgore, MSPT. “Our bodies also become
more frail as we age,so the impact of a caraccident would prob-ably do more harm toa 85-year old than a25-year old.”
It is important forseniors and their fami-lies to pay close to at-tention to the warningsigns that it’s time toreduce one’s drivingor stop it all together,says psychologistDonna Goldstein,Psy.D. “If you noticean increased numberscratches or dents on
that mom or dad’s car, especially if they’vealways been a good driver, that could be anindicator,” she said. “Getting traffic tickets,getting lost frequently, running stop signs
or traffic lights, those are all signs that itmight be time to leave the driving to some-one else.”
Accepting the fact that it’s time to stopdriving can be difficult. “A driver’s licenseisn’t just a plastic card with a bad picturethat you keep in your wallet,” said LisaDombo, LPC, Ed.D, a marriage and familytherapist in McLean. “It means freedom andindependence. It’s hard for anyone to wantto give that up. That’s one of the reasonswhy it can be so hard for people to con-vince someone that they need to stop driv-ing.”
That is a lesson that Naomi O’Connerlearned one weekend this winter when shemade plans with friends to take in a de-signer sample sale that was happeningabout two-miles from her house. Her 86-year old mother had agreed to babysit her7 and 9-year old children. But the weathertook a frosty turn and threw her plans intoa tailspin.
“My mom lives a mile away from me andhas always been my most dependable back-up babysitter for weeknights, but when thesnow started falling, I knew that I could notlet her get on the road in that weather,” saidO’Conner who lives in Bethesda. “It was forher safety and everybody else who’d be onroad. Unfortunately, she kept insisting that
Recognizing warning signs thatit might be time to stop driving.Giving Up the Car Keys?
she would be fine and even became a littlepeeved that I was suggesting that she wastoo old. Too keep her off the road, I had toconcoct a story about one of my friendsgetting sick and canceling the plans.”
The thought of suggesting to a loved onethat it’s time to give up their car keys can bedaunting. Dombo says that there are stepsthat one can take to make such a conversa-tion less intimidating. “This is a very sensi-tive issue for many people because it meansdramatic change in lifestyle and having lesscontrol over ourselves,” she said. “It’s im-portant to be respectful and not talk to themlike they are a child. Give specific examplesinstead of making general statements andtry not to have the conversation alone. It’susually more effective to have the conver-sation with a group of family members.”
Demonstrating an understand of the whatreduced driving means is also important,suggests Goldstein. “You must show empa-thy,” she said. “This type of transition canlead to depression for some seniors. Offer-ing alternatives like gift certificates for cabrides or Uber or Lyft can be good. Comingup with a plan to remain socially active andto run errands and get to doctor’s appoint-ments. But this type of life transition is noteasy, but it is possible to live a rich, full lifewithout a car.”
Senior Living
“... a very sensitiveissue for manypeople because itmeans dramaticchange in lifestyleand having less con-trol over ourselves.”
— Lisa Dombo, LPC, Ed.D
Reston Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 ❖ 5www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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Pet Connection
By Mercia Hobson
The Connection
Pet owners in Reston take pride intheir creatures and enjoy theirunconditional love and amusingantics. Pets, on the other hand,
help care for their humans. Reston dogs taketheir willing and not so willing two-leggedfriends out by the leash for a little exerciseand socialization, up and down pathwaysand into nearby village centers. Indoor crea-tures, cats, birds and even curious littlehedgehogs appear to know just when tocuddle up to their humans.
Reston pets marktheir owners’ hearts.
From Commonto Exotic
“Hedge has been the best thing tohappen to me; his tiny feet havemade a huge mark on my heart. Hetold me he wanted a sibling…butmy own sibling/landlord told meno, so I bought this shirt instead.”- Heather Fields, former Restonian,current Reston volunteer andowner of the hedgehog, Baron vonHedge of Elkridge, “Hedge” or“The Baron” for short.
“Luna’s a couch potato ItalianGreyhound who loves relaxing ather home in Reston!” - Tom Steinerof Reston
Chance, an Australian Shepherdsays, “Snow days are the best!” -Sophia Staples of Reston
Momma dog, Lunabell watches over newbornpup, Saint Archer. The dogs belong to TheodoreBonham of Reston.
Saint Archer the puppy was born onValentine’s Day to Momma dog, Lunabell.“I call the coffee cup, a pup-a-ccino.” -Theodore Bonham of Reston
“I have an overbite,” says Kona, a chocolateEnglish Labrador Retriever owned by PatrickLeonard of Reston.
Photos Contributed
6 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
See Calendar, Page 7
By David Siegel
The Connection
Time Stands Still’ istruly a play thatcould have been
ripped from today’s headlines,covering the full range of emo-tions from love to betrayal,pride to envy, and commitmentto disillusion,” said AdamKonowe who directs the play. “Itdeserves to be produced andseen.”
Written by Donald Margulies,“Time Stands Still” was nomi-nated for two Tony Awards, in-cluding Best Play. The play ex-amines the lives and relation-ship of one couple making a liv-ing out of documenting the hor-rors of war. When SarahGoodwin (played by JaneSteffan), a photojournalist, re-turns from covering the IraqWar after being injured by aroadside bomb, her reporterboyfriend James Dodd (playedby Greg Lang) is racked by guilt.He had left Sarah alone in Iraq.
Both Sarah and James arebruised and exhausted. To-gether they explore whether itis even possible for two peoplewho are used to living in dan-gerous conditions to find a nor-mal life together. They arejoined by Richard Ehrlich (por-trayed by Todd Hulse) andMandy Bloom (portrayed byAlex Sands).
For Konowe, “’Time StandsStill’ reflects the complexity oflife at home, at work and amongfriends. It demonstrates thatwhat fulfills us in one sense canbe destructive elsewhere. It re-inforces that truth - portrayedhere through journalism - isworth fighting for and serves
society well, even when thenews it conveys is difficult tocomprehend or appreciate.”
One of the most interestingparts about the character ofJames is “the choices and ac-tions he makes in an attemptto protect the one he loves and,his inability to correlate thesewith the downhill spiral his lifeis taking. He gives us a glimpseinto the life of someone livingwith PTSD and how this tragicdisorder can severely impactthe way we live our lives” saidGreg Lang. According to JaneSteffan, her character “Sarah isthe most complex character Ihave ever played. She has manywalls she knows about and oth-ers she discovers along the way.She’s not sure she knows whoshe is anymore.”
Inviting audiences to theRCP’s “Time Stands Still” ToddHulse said that playwright“Donald Marguiles doesn’t setout to provide answers in hisplays. Rather, he is a master atexploring the nature of rela-tionships, both personal andsocietal. He challenges audi-ences to consider bigger issuesthat both unite and divide us,without preaching.”
Jane Steffan as Sarah Goodwin in Reston CommunityPlayers production of “Time Stands Still” at RestonCenterStage, March 1 to 6, 2019.
War PhotographerComes Back HomeReston Community Playerspresents “Time Stands Still.”
Where and WhenReston Community Players
present “Time Stands Still” at RestonCommunity Center, CenterStage,2310 Colts Neck Road, HuntersWoods, Reston. Performances March1 to 16, 2019. March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15,and 16, 2019 at 8 p.m. March 10 at2 p.m. Tickets: $28 Adults (19 – 64),$24 Seniors (65 and older), and $24Students (18 and younger). CallReston Community CenterCenterStage Box office at 703-476-4500 or visit www.restonplayers.org.Note: CenterStage is accessible andoffers listening devices for the hear-ing impaired
“
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Submit entertainment announcementsat www.connectionnewspapers.com/Cal-endar/. The deadline is noon on Friday.Photos/artwork encouraged.
ONGOINGGo on a “Blind Date” for Charity.
At Scrawl Books, 11911 FreedomDrive, Reston. Take a chance thisFebruary and let Scrawl set you up –sight unseen – with a great read. Geta few hints and a brief description ofwhat might be hidden inside.Proceeds from sales of “Blind Date”books will benefit local schools andpre-k programs. Visitwww.scrawlbooks.com or call 703-966-2111.
Audubon Photography AwardsShow. Through Feb. 27, Mondays,Wednesdays-Fridays 9 a.m.-5p.m.;Saturdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; andSundays 1-4 p.m. at Walker NatureCenter, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston.The winning photographers and theirphotographs were selected frommore than 8,000 entries submitted byphotographers from all 50 states,Washington, D.C., and 10 Canadianprovinces. This year’s photographscelebrate the splendor of many birdspecies protected under theMigratory Bird Treaty Act. Call 703-476-9689 or [email protected] for more.
Winter Golf. Through Feb. 28, skip thetraffic with the Afternoon Drivespecial at the heated and coveredranges at Burke Lake Golf Center andthe newly renovated Oak Marr GolfComplex. All buckets are $2 off,Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. untilclosing. Or try the indoor studio atPinecrest Golf Course’s Valis FamilyGolf Learning Center, featuring threeindoor hitting bays or a privatesession with the TrackMan GolfSimulator Suite (five person max.),both reserved by the hour. Visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/golf.
Exhibition: “For the Love of Art.”Through Feb. 28 at the RestonCommunity Center Hunters Woods,2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.Members of the League of RestonArtists display paintings, drawings,mixed media, photographs and two-dimensional works suitable for wallhanging. This show is free and opento the public during the center’sregular operating hours. KathleenBest Gillman judges the show. Visitwww.leagueofrestonartists.org formore.
Winter Wonderland Ice Skating.Public skating every day andextended hours for all Holidays,through March 10, hours vary atReston Town Center Ice SkatingPavilion. Special events throughoutthe weekend, join in: Thursdays forCollege Night, $2 off admission witha valid ID; Fridays for Rock the Rinkwith a live DJ; and Saturdays forCartoon Skate, glide around the icewith The Grinch and Scooby Doo.The skate shop is stocked with over500 pairs of skates ranging from size8 toddler through men’s size 13, inboth figure and hockey styles. Visitrestontowncenter.com/amenities/ice-skating for more.
Art Exhibition: IRL. Through April23, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.at The Signature at Reston TownCenter, 11850 Freedom Drive,Reston. IRL is a solo exhibitionfeaturing work by painter and videoartist Monica Stroik. Through acombination of video and paintingsselected from her ongoing Cyberseries, IRL (online shorthand for “inreal life”) investigates concepts ofsimultaneously being present anddisconnected and how the naturalworld becomes entangled in digitallives. Free and open to the public.Visit restonarts.org for more.
Calendar
Reston Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 ❖ 7www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.
By KENNETH B. LOURIE
Although you can adjust your television set, it’s probably wise to have juiced the battery in your cellular phone. Better still, use your landline – if you have one – thereby prevent-ing a dropped call right in the middle of your interminable hold. Because the call you’re about
going to be made to the correct number or the correct person or at the correct time or even to the correct department.
And should you be lucky enough to reach an actual person with your call, the explanation for your call/the problem you’re attempting to resolve, will no doubt result in a transfer which most likely will not be to the correct number, the correct person, at the correct time or even to the correct department.
Unfortunately, after perusing the govern-ment’s website, you’re just not smart enough to
to call. (Is anyone that smart?) And therefore you are likely going to experience this loop-de-loop – without the upset stomach.
And what makes your attempt even worse? Hanging up, since your call might be “answered in the order in which it was received.”
Now presuming/assuming that a less-than-im-mediate solution will not be at hand, there are a few steps one should take in preparation to not make a bad situation worse:
* Allow for plenty of time. Do not make this call when you’re in a hurry, on break/at lunch or have a limited window of opportunity to complete your task. You will need to be in for the long haul, so to speak.
* Try to make this call when you’re able to sit/stand comfortably – for long periods of time. Moreover, make sure you have the privacy you need so that anything you say will not be heard (or held against you in a court of law) and any movements your body makes will likewise not be seen.
There’s something about being stuck on the phone for long periods of time waiting, waiting, waiting; talking, talking, talking; hoping (you’ll note I didn’t say expecting) to reach the right per-son and/or resolve the problem/get the answer
rarely brings out the best in the person on hold. Quite frankly, it’s been my personal experience that it brings out the worst.
In addition to having the time and the place, one must also have the patience. That patience comes from proper preparation. And by “proper preparation” I mean the creature comforts: food, water and access to a bathroom.
The order really should be reversed with
time and place, and then making the effort to navigate the government’s website looking for the proper person, phone number, department and then in the midst of any success you might have accomplishing this Herculean feat, to have that very personal need interrupt the proceedings
Common sense has to prevail or the conse-quences may be dire; you might have to start your calling process all over again. I wouldn’t wish that on any one.
There is no greater satisfaction than surviving making one of these calls, and having done so because you put all of your adult Boy Scout skills to work. There really should be badge of honor one can earn after completing this dreaded and arduous task.
In fact, there should be some kind of reward. Although I imagine reaching nirvana (not listen-ing to Nirvana) is its own reward.
Nevertheless, having survived the ordeal and endured the suffering for as many minutes as I care not to remember, I can say with absolute certainty, it’s a hell of a feeling. I wish you all well in your next pursuit of truth and justice despite the American Way.
The Following is a Test
From Page 6
Calendar
WEDNESDAY/FEB. 27Meet Me at the Movies. 10 a.m. At Bow Tie
Cinemas, 11940 Market Street, Reston. RestonAssociation presents the feature film, “Old Manand the Gun.” Movies for seniors; doors open at9:15 a.m. Refreshments and door prizesprovided prior to movie. Free to 55-plus. Forinformation: email [email protected]; call703-435-6577 or www.reston.org.
THURSDAY/FEB. 28Trip to the National Building Museum. 9:30
a.m.-3 p.m. Explore the greatest stories ofarchitecture, engineering and design, learn thedevastating impact of chronic, low-incomeeviction in Evicted, and learn about thearchitecture and planning of the ManhattanProject. Enjoy lunch in their café and shop in themuseum’s giftshop. Bus pickup: RAHeadquarters. Cost is $32/RA members/$40/non-members. Visit www.reston.org, [email protected] or 703-435-6577 toregister.
Watercolor 2.0. 5:30-8:30 p.m. at ArtSpaceHerndon, 750 Center St., Herndon. In thiscourse students will learn more in depth colortheory, mixing watercolor pigments,composition concepts, how to create texture andthe use of negative space. With KatherineRodgers. Six-week session, $225. Call 703-956-6590 or visit www.artspaceherndon.org.
FRIDAY/MARCH 1Open Mic and Poetry with Mike. 7-9 p.m. At
ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon.Featuring Eric Pankey and Jennifer Atkinson.The first hour is the featured poets and thesecond hour is open to anyone. Eric Pankey isthe author of many collections of poems, mostrecently AUGURY (Milkweed Editions 2017).Jennifer Atkinson is the author of five poetrycollections. The most recent one, The ThinkingEye, was published by Parlor Press/Free VerseEditions in 2016. Visitwww.artspaceherndon.org.
SATURDAY/MARCH 2ArtSplash. 2-4 p.m. at Reston Regional Library,
11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. Create amasterpiece in this art workshop led by artistsfrom Abrakadoodle Northern Virginia. Adults.Free. Registration starts Feb. 16 atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events or call703-689-2700, ext 4.
Opening Reception: Emerging Visions. 5-7p.m. at GRACE, 12001 Market Street #103,Reston. The Greater Reston Arts Center presentsEmerging Visions, a group exhibition featuringselect artwork by students participating in theCenter’s signature education program, EmergingVisions. The exhibition will be on view March 2–30, 2018 at the gallery located at the RestonTown Center. Visit the website:www.restonarts.org.
SUNDAY/MARCH 3Mardi Gras Celebration. 4-7 p.m. At Kalypso’s
Sports Tavern, 1617 Washington Plaza N,Reston. The Reston Historic Trust & Museum tohost a special Mardi Gras celebration to supportthe Lakeside Pharmacy Icon PreservationProject. With a $20 donation, you can createyour own Mardi Gras mask and enjoy tastyappetizers. While you eat, enjoy listening to theCatchin’ Toads performance. A Mardi Gras maskparade will take place around 6:30 p.m. Visitwww.kalypsossportstavern.com.
MONDAY/MARCH 4Family History Research. 7-8:30 p.m. at Reston
Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive,Reston. Learn to find courthouse, immigrationand military records in this workshop taught bya librarian from the Virginia Room of the FairfaxCounty Public Library. Free. Call 703-689-2700or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events.
TUESDAY/MARCH 5Bollywood Dance Fitness. 6:30-7:30 p.m. at
Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman TowneDrive, Reston. Try out some fun Bollywooddance moves in this fitness program for spring,led by local instructor Aparna Rao. Adults,teens. Free. Call 703-689-2700 or visitwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/events.
8 ❖ Reston Connection ❖ February 27 - March 5, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
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RestonOpinion
By Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
State Delegate (D-36)
Virginia’s state law-making body, the GeneralAssembly, adjournedsine die, until another
day, this past Sunday one day laterthan its scheduled adjournmentdate. With more than 3,000 billsand resolutions considered, it issomewhat miraculous that the body came thatclose to its scheduled 45-day end date. Settingaside the major distractions that have envel-oped Richmond and placing the session in thecontext of all seats being up for election thisNovember any accomplishments might be con-sidered miraculous.
There were positive accomplishments. Leg-islation designed to curtail record levels ofrental evictions was passed. Major reforms tothe foster care program were enacted withDelegate Karrie Delaney providing leadershipin this area. The legal age for buying cigarettesand vaping products was raised from 18 to 21,a remarkable achievement in a city that wasonce the cigarette making capital of the world.A bill I introduced at the suggestion of the ChrisAtwood Foundation passed and will increase
the persons authorized to admin-ister the miracle drug Naloxonethat can save the lives of personssuffering from drug overdoses.The concern about coal-ash pondshas been resolved with a require-ment that clean-up occur on theproperty of utility without trans-port and in ponds that are sealedat the highest level of environmen-
tal protection.Revisions that were made to the biennial
budget that we are now half-way through bringlots of good news. Monies were increased forpublic education including districts that havethe highest levels of poverty and most need.School counselors were increased in numbersalthough not at the level sought by the Gover-nor. Most taxpayers will get some money backas a result of the impact of federal tax cuts onstate revenue.
A resolution that could lead to a constitu-tional amendment if passed next year wouldresult in a redistricting commission. While thecommission is not as strong as I and the inde-pendent redistricting advocates had hoped, itwill increase public input into the process of
drawing legislative boundaries. A week of no-excuse absentee voting before elections thatwas passed is much less than in other states,but it will start the process of opening up elec-tions in the future.
Up until the final hours of the session it ap-peared that the current limitations on holdinga phone while driving would be strengthened,but the bill died for failure to agree to languagethat would be enforceable.
Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendmentthat I thought was going to occur was defeatedby a mostly partisan vote. When the legisla-tion was passed by the Senate and defeated ina House committee there was an effort tochange the rules to allow a vote by the entireHouse. The rules change was defeated by a 50-50 tied vote with one Republican who hadnarrowly won re-election in 2017 voting withthe Democrats.
All gun safety measures were defeated in-cluding my bill to require universal backgroundchecks. My bills to raise the minimum wageand to establish an earned income tax creditsystem were also defeated.
I am available to speak to groups and orga-nizations about the session; just email me [email protected]. Future columns will dis-cuss the session further.
Sine DieCommentary
Missing Ms. Dixie; Finding SamCindy Morrow of Reston writes: “We welcomed a new pack
member in January after saying goodby to Dixie, a sweet ‘young atheart’ girl in December. I volunteer at a local shelter walking dogsand fate stepped in and brought Sam into our lives, whether Blu (myother dog) and myself were ready or not. Sam is a black/whiteHusky with one blue eye and one brown eye, a description thatmatches Dixie except that the eyes are reversed. I found her 30 daysto the date that I lost Dixie. The snow in January helped Sam settlein with her new pack mates - Blu and Molly, my neighbor’s Chihua-hua mix and an “honorary” snow dog.”
Ms. Dixie.
Blu, Cindy and Sam.
Photos contributed
WINTER SHELTERSFind homeless and cold weather
drop-in centers and shelters thatserve Northern Virginia atwww.novaregion.org/174/Homeless-Shelter-Lists.
INPUT SOUGHTShaping the Future Together.
Fairfax County Government isbeginning a strategic planningprocess with the community to shapethe future together. The goal is to
hear all voices and reach all segmentsof the community. This effort willspan most of 2019, but in this firstphase, the community is being askedto visit fairfaxcounty.gov/strategicplan and:
❖ Take a short five-question onlinesurvey
❖ Join a community conversation inperson: March 6 – Falls Church.
❖ Share the survey and conversationinvitation with neighbors, co-workersand county family and friends.
Submit civic/community announcements at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome.Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least two weeks before event.Bulletin Board
