Editorial: Finally, Marriage Rights Protected in Virginia
On July 28, 2014, in affirming that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, Circuit Judge Henry F. Floyd writes: “We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable. However, inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process and equal protection of the laws.
Letter: Bow Hunts are Consistent with Reston Values
The Reston Association has wisely begun to approve bow hunts to curb our deer overpopulation, under strict regulations that this be done safely and professionally.
Column: Kids Count
Officials at all levels of government need to demonstrate that we know how much kids count!
An index of key indicators in four domains measures what children need most in order to thrive: (1) economic well-being, (2) education, (3) health and (4) family and community.
Column: Riding the Silver Line—Day One
No doubt about it: The Silver Line is a game changer for Reston.
I was kind of excited about the opening of the Reston (Wiehle-Reston East) Metro station on Saturday.
Column: Billion-Dollar Give-Away!
By the time you are reading this column Virginia will have reached the milestone by having refused to accept a billion dollars of monies paid by Virginia taxpayers to close the coverage gap for 400,000 working poor Virginians who cannot afford health insurance!
Letter: Calling Reston ‘Home’
Letter to the Editor
In response to Mr. Simon's recent letter as a concerned resident of Reston [Where Are Your Kids?” – Reston Connection, July 2-8, 2014], I can assure him my children are not indoors twiddling their thumbs but are outside enjoying all that Reston has to offer including swimming pools, nature camps, free entertainment shows, walking/scooting/biking around the lakes and even the Farmers Market every Saturday. Indeed, to their great delight, you came up to chat with them a few weeks ago as you were on your way to mail some letters.
Editorial: Tragic Consequences
Money lost by refusal to expand health coverage, but also life, health and livelihood.
The Virginia General Assembly’s refusal to expand Medicaid, extending health coverage to as many as 400,000 Virginians has resulted in the loss of about $1 billion in direct payments. But that understates the loss, failing to calculate the cost of the lost health of thousands of Virginians.
Column: Why Can’t Everyone Be Cool?
Around Lake Anne, the Reston Lake Anne Air-conditioning (RELAC) controversy is stirring again among homeowners forced to use the antiquated chilled water system to cool their homes.
Column: Summertime at the General Assembly
Legislators in the earliest days of the Republic were mostly of the planter class; women, blacks and non-landowners could not vote or hold office. The best time to get away from the plantation and the crops was in the wintertime. That probably started the custom that continues to today whereby the General Assembly holds its regular session in the winter beginning on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.
Letter: Silver Line - At What Cost?
To the Editor
As a transit commuter living in Reston, I appreciated the honesty in the opinion piece by Ken Plum, “Silver Line No Silver Bullet” [Reston Connection, July 2-8, 2014]. Still, among all the positive notes about the benefits of the Silver Line, I continue to see public officials ignoring the huge increase in costs for daily transit riders in Reston (not just drivers on the Toll Road).
Letter: Deer Hunting Contradicts Reston’s Values
To the Editor
It seems ironic that the RA approved bow hunting of deer less than a 1/2 mile away from Reston’s prized multi-million dollar Nature Center [“Bow Hunting to Help Deer Management,” Reston Connection, July 2-8, 2014]. The mission of the Nature Center is “to provide good environmental stewardship.” ”Does that not include stewardship to the inhabitants of our environment? Bow hunting can result in a slow painful death. Why choose that when humane alternatives exist?
Editorial: Save a Little, Help Others Prepare for School
Virginia’s tax holiday on school supplies is a good reminder to donate supplies and dollars for children who need help arriving at school prepared.
Virginia’s tax holiday on school supplies and clothing is Aug. 1-3, and it makes sense to take advantage of the savings, and to spread the wealth around.
Letter: Counter-arguments Missing
I recently read the Reston Connection article, "What's Offensive about Redskins Pride?" (July 2-8, 2014) and found it lacked balance. Where were the counter-arguments (in favor of changing the name of the team)? I didn't see any and they're necessary to make a debate credible.
Letter: Understatement of the Decade
Letter to the Editor
Delegate Plum may be granted a modicum of exultation, although his commentary "Silver Line No Silver Bullet" (Connection, July 2-8, 2014) could well qualify as the understatement of the decade. He recognized from the outside that Rail to Dulles would be a costly venture for Toll Road users, boasting in cost mitigation of having lobbied successfully in Richmond to "keep tolls down."
Column: Changing of the Guard at Reston Citizens Association
The recent Reston Citizens Association (RCA) Board election, although it received little media coverage, was an important event for Reston.