Letter: ‘Climate Change’ Becomes ‘Weather Event’
To the Editor: Channeling President Obama ("electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket"), Delegate Plum takes up "green energy" ("Energy Plan Moves VA in Right Direction," Reston Connection, Oct. 22), hilariously hailing President Obama's "much welcomed National Climate Action Plan."
Column: School Board Takes the Plunge - Sort of
The wheels of change grind slowly in Fairfax County. The move toward later, healthier school start times for teenage public school students is a prime example. Despite support from a wide range of health professionals, the School Board has struggled with the issue for some 20 years.
Column: Running Out of Efficacy
Not that I’m the least bit worried (actually, I’m the most bit worried), but surviving a terminal cancer diagnosis years beyond one’s original prognosis does present its own unique set of problems.
Column: Our Civic Duty
Commentary
A basic tenet of all levels of civic education is that citizens should vote. We are told of the importance of voting in social studies classes, scouting, and in community groups. Yet, a surprisingly large number of people never learn the lesson. Voter participation in the United States is abysmal when compared to other countries, and Virginia is one of the worst among the states.
Editorial: Change for the Better in Fairfax County Schools
Later start times, full-day Mondays; who knows, next maybe gifted-and-talented programs for poor students?
Who says big bureaucracies can’t make big changes? One year into the tenure of Karen Garza, we have two huge changes that between them impact almost every single student, every family with children in Fairfax County Public Schools.
Column: Energy Plan Moves Virginia in Right Direction
Governor Terry McAuliffe had two interesting supporters speak at his press conference on Virginia’s latest Energy Plan—the heads of the state Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. Both endorsed his update of the state’s Energy Plan as a step in the right direction.
Column: Self-Indulgent or Self-Effacing
After re-reading last week’s column: “Not in the Mood,” I began wondering if that column had strayed beyond the boundaries, so to speak, and was too much about me and not enough about my circumstances.
Letter: A Common Sense Candidate
John Foust made a name for himself by serving as a Fairfax County Supervisor for the past seven years.
Self-Indulgent or Self-Effacing
After re-reading last week’s column: “Not in the Mood,” I began wondering if that column had strayed beyond the boundaries, so to speak, and was too much about me and not enough about my circumstances. Certainly I understand, given my column’s recurring theme, that the subjects of me and my circumstances – and the personal stories I share with you regular readers – are basically the same. Still, I never want the content to be considered important because it’s MY life that’s being profiled. Quite the contrary. If the columns were any more about me, you wouldn’t be interested.
Editorial: Yes to Fairfax Transportation Bond
$84 million for pedestrian, bike and trail improvements.
Of more than 75 projects included in the current proposal, on the ballot for Nov. 4, all but seven are designed to make Fairfax County safer and more inviting for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Editorial: Coming - Children’s Connection
During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children. The results are always remarkable. It is a keepsake edition for many families.
Saved by the Feds
Commentary
As I wrote in a column several months ago, Virginia has historically ceded decisions to federal authorities on major issues on which the state had been unwilling to move forward, despite the Commonwealth's historic antipathy toward the federal government.
John Geer Killing—An End to Impunity?
Independent Progressive
In August 2013, a Fairfax County Police Officer shot and killed unarmed John Geer as he stood in his doorway talking to police. There were many civilian witnesses, including family, to the SWAT team killing.
Column: Not in the Mood
Sometimes, believe it or not, I’m not in the mood to be a terminal cancer patient (duh). Not that the effect is particularly tangible, but the weight of it, as well as the associated waits I’ve occasionally written about, can get awfully heavy.
Column: Week Of, Weak On, Week Off
This column completes the three-week arc which describes what I have endured mostly successfully for approximately five years now: chemotherapy every three weeks – with one year off for good behavior (not really good behavior; the year off was to switch to a twice-daily pill, Tarceva, to be taken at home, since the previous treatment was no longer stemming the tide). It’s been my experience that these anti-cancer drugs don’t exactly work forever.