COMSTOCK FOR DELEGATE BLOG
Thursday, November 15, 2012
The Comstock Connection
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Contact
Me
Richmond
Office:
General
Assembly Building
#406
Richmond,
VA 23219
(804) 698-1034
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (804) 698-1034 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
District
Office:
PO
Box 6156
McLean,
VA 22106
(703) 772-7168
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703) 772-7168 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
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Campaign Office:
Friends of
Barbara Comstock
PO Box 6171
McLean, VA 22106
| Paid for and authorized by Friends of Barbara
Comstock |
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| Dear Friends,
As Thanksgiving approaches,
I am thankful for the so many wonderful things in my community and for my
family and friends and what a privilege it is to serve the 34th
District in the General Assembly. I would like to take the
opportunity to share information with you about the many events coming up this
holiday season as well as showcase wonderful events that have already passed.
As you know, I am always
available to you and if you have any questions or concerns, please email or call
my office. I can be reached directly at [email protected], or on our district phone at (703)
772-7168 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703)
772-7168 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Have
a safe and blessed holiday
season!
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495 Express Lanes Update
I was pleased to join
Governor McDonnell, Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Sean
Connaughton and many others at the Opening of the 495 Express Lanes at the
Sheraton Premiere on Tuesday, November 13th.
The 495 Express Lanes are
scheduled to open on November 17th providing Northern Virginia drivers with a
new option for a faster, more predictable commute on the Capital Beltway in
Virginia.
Key project benefits of the 495
Express Lanes project include:
- First-time introduction of HOV and reliable transit options to the Beltway
and Tysons Corner
- Replacement of more than $260 million of aging infrastructure, including 58
bridges and overpasses
- Replacement of existing sound walls and construction of 80,000 linear feet
of new sound walls to double existing noise reduction tools for surrounding
neighborhoods
- Construction of carpool ramps connecting I-95 with the Beltway to create a
seamless HOV network
- Upgrades to 12 key interchanges and new access points at Route 29/Lee
Highway, Westpark Bridge and Jones Branch Drive
This is a new transportation
concept for Northern Virginia, so I'm especially interested in receiving your
comments about how well the Hot Lanes work for your commute. For more
information, please visit www.495expresslanes.com.
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Veterans Day Ceremonies
I had the pleasure of attending
two ceremonies in remembrance of Veterans Day in Great Falls and McLean on
Monday, November 12th. A special thanks to the Boy Scouts from Great Falls
Elementary for their participation in the ceremony at the Great Falls Freedom
Memorial and thanks to American Legion Post 270 for all they did to honor our
service men and women at McLean High School.
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McLean Orchestra's "Salute To The
Military"
 On Sunday, November 11th, I attended McLean Orchestra's
Third Annual "Salute To The Military" at Vinson Hall in honor of Veterans Day.
It was a wonderful performance to recognize the sacrifices our service men
and women make everyday to protect our heritage of freedom and
liberty. This was the Third Annual "Salute To The Military" by the McLean
Orchestra and a wonderful tradition. May God bless our veterans and their
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On Sunday, November 11th, I had
the pleasure of attending the 4th Annual Quality of Life Plus Event and Veterans
Day "Empowering Heroes Through Technology" Barbecue at the Pavilions at Turkey
Run. The event raised vital funds for the QL+ Program and publicized their
mission: to foster and generate innovations to improve the quality of life of
those injured in the line of duty.
QL+ is a not-for-profit
organization that engineers innovate adaptive technologies to empower our
nation's wounded veterans and others injured in service to America, across all
aspects of their daily lives. A special thanks to Jon Monett, Founder and
Chairman of the Board at QL+, and other members of leadership for putting on
this wonderful event: John Gerber, Richard Holm, Col. David Hunt, Scott Monett,
Scott Dondershine and Demetra Matthews.
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Veterans Now Eligible For Telecommunications
Equipment
Governor
McDonnell, The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
and
Virginia Relay recently announced a new program that will provide equipment for
military veterans living with hearing or speech loss. Military veterans
living with a hearing or speech loss are now automatically eligible for
telecommunications equipment through Virginia's Technology Assistance Program
(TAP).
Adaptive telecommunications
equipment, including text telephones (TTY), captioned telephones (CapTel) and
other devices are available to individuals who meet the following
qualifications:
- A veteran with a hearing or speech loss and proof of an Honorable Discharge
- A veteran with a hearing or speech loss and documentation of a
service-related disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- A surviving spouse or child of a veteran who was killed in the line of duty
and has a hearing or speech loss
- An active member of the Virginia National Guard who has completed the
required initial active-duty service
To learn more about VDDHH,
Virginia Relay and TAP for veterans, call 1-800-552-7917
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-552-7917 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit www.vddhh.org.
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Stop Hunger Event At Redeemer Lutheran
Church
On
November 10th, I had the pleasure of joining SHARE for a Stop Hunger Event at
Redeemer Lutheran Church. This food packing event was coordinated by Bob Hahne,
of McLean, and the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner.
I
presented a resolution to Bob Hahne in honor of his late wife, Barbara Williams
Hahne, in celebration of her many charitable and community activities including
her steadfast commitment to help in the fight to end world hunger.
In
participating with her husband in the activities of the Rotary Club of McLean,
Barbara Hahne started the McLean community effort to prepare one million meals
for the starving people of the world with the help of the Stop Hunger Now
organization (SHN). At the time of Barbara Hahne's passing, three events had
been completed producing 450,000 of those meals with an organization in place to
complete the initial goal of packing 1,000,000 meals. She energized numerous
other organizations in the compassion she had for others to carry out similar
events with SHN. Barbara Hahne has left a wonderful legacy with the Stop Hunger
Now events and will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by family members,
friends, and admirers. A full text version of the resolution is available here.
Stop
Hunger Now is a nonprofit that provides nutritious, nonperishable meals that are
shipped to education-based food programs in countries all around the world. Over
a period of eight hours this past Saturday, more than 900 volunteers assembled
250,000 meals to help Stop Hunger Now in the fight to eradicate hunger worldwide
and raised more than $62,500-or 25 cents a meal-from participating individuals,
organizations and corporations.
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Hurricane
Sandy
 About
200,000 people in Virginia lost power due to the high wind gusts and flooding
caused by "Frankenstorm," Hurricane Sandy. I would like to take the opportunity
to thank Governor McDonnell, the Virginia Department of Transportation,
Dominion, other service providers, police, firefighters and first responders.
They
worked tirelessly before the storm hit, held daily conference calls with local
leaders and disseminated important emergency contact information. It was very
helpful in keeping everyone safe throughout the storm.
VDOT
and Dominion worked together in the response efforts here in Northern Virginia.
Dominion brought their Mobile Command Center Unit to the Great Falls Library
to deal with the aftermath, answer questions from residents and respond quickly
and efficiently to restore power.
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Great Falls Halloween Spooktacular
 Despite the storm, the Great Falls community had a great
celebration on Halloween with the Great Falls Village Spooktacular. It was great
to see you all and see the community come together after the storm.
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Update: Save Tysons Last Forest
Effort
On
October 30th, along with Delegate Mark Keam, Senator Janet Howell and Senator
Chap Petersen, I sent a letter to Secretary Connaughton voicing our opposition
to a proposal that would build a ramp off the Dulles Toll Road through Old
Courthouse Spring Branch Stream Valley. I want to thank Pam Konde, who is
heading up the community efforts here, for all of her help with this issue and
the efforts of all 15 neighborhood coalitions who have joined Save Tyson Last
Forest Initiative. This option should be taken off the table and no additional
money or time should be wasted on the state or county level in pursuing this. I
have an op-ed in the Vienna
Connection this week which highlights the problems with this Option and why it
should be removed from consideration and no additional money should be spent on
this proposal.
Click here to learn more about Save
Tysons Last Forest effort and to join me in signing the petition: http://www.savetysonslastforest.org/. Also, see a
full text copy of our letter here.
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Feeding
Academic Success Forum
On October 23rd, I had the
opportunity to attend the Feeding Academic Success Forum at Marshall High
School. The event was sponsored by Real Food For Kids whose mission is to work
in collaborative ways to increase the quantities of healthy foods in Fairfax
County by supporting programs that educate our students and their families on
making healthier lifestyle choices.
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Rights and Duties of Citizens
Meeting With Troop 1916
I
was honored to have the chance to speak with Boy Scout Troop 1916 at their
meeting on October 23rd specifically about the rights and duties of being a
well-informed, responsible citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The
Scouts are such a bright group of young men whom I trust will be the future
leaders of our community. Thanks to Troop 1916 for allowing me to be a part of
their event.
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Coming Up: Ways To Give Back To The Community This
Holiday Season
2012
Christmas Wish List For Wounded Warriors
Please consider participating in the 2012 Christmas
Wish List for Wounded Warriors this holiday season. Bob Nelson is joining
efforts with "Our Military Kids" to bring some holiday cheer to the children of
40 of our injured and fallen service members. I hope everyone will consider
serving as Santa for an individual child or entire family.
Santa
Is Coming To Clemyjontri Park
Come
over to the Clemyjontri Park Playground Picnic Shelter on December 8-9th to take
your holiday photos with Santa! Santa will be at Clemyjontri from 11:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m. on both dates, regardless of the weather. The cost is $10 per one
child and $5 per each additional child in the picture. This includes a carousel
ride and goodie bag for all children and digital picture emailed to
you.
All
proceeds go directly to park operations. For questions, please call 703-388-2807
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 703-388-2807 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext.
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Join
Delegate Comstock At Upcoming Telework Summit
I
cordially invite you all to join me and my colleagues Delegate Rich Anderson
(VA-51) and Delegate David Ramadan (VA-87) at the Prince William Chamber of
Commerce on November 19th. The Summit will be held at 9720 Capitol Court #203 in
Manassas.
Together,
my colleagues and I are demonstrating Telework's potential by using it as the
vehicle to conduct this Summit. You don't actually have to drive to the Prince
William Chamber of Commerce, you may participate on-line. This event will be
shared with the public using Cisco technology. The event will be live streamed
and available to the Commonwealth, the Nation, and the world via the
internet.
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Join Delegate Comstock: Buy Your Ticket For
The McLean Holiday Homes Tour
As an Honorary Tour Host
for The Woman's Club of McLean Holiday Homes Tour, I cordially invite you all to
join me at my home on December 6th to kick off this year's tour. This
self-guided tour lasts from 10:00 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m. in the
secluded River Oaks neighborhood in McLean.
Ticket sales for the McLean
Woman's Club annual Holiday Homes Tour are planned to start at three local
businesses in early October and continue until Dec. 6 the day of the tour. The
tickets will be for sale at Mesmeralda's Gifts of
McLean (1339 Chain Bridge Road, McLean), Karin's Florist (527 Maple
Ave., E., Vienna) and Great Dogs of Great Falls (9859 Georgetown
Pike).
Tickets will also be
available on Dec. 6 at the tour houses and at a separate Woman's Club
"Marketplace." Tickets before the day of the tour will cost $25, and tickets
bought on Dec. 6 will cost $30. All proceeds of the Homes Tour and Marketplace
will be donated to local charities and nonprofits, as well as used for
scholarships and education. For more information, please contact Virginia
Sandahl,(703)
356-9646 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703)
356-9646 end_of_the_skype_highlighting,
or Laura Sheridan, (703)
556-0197 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703)
556-0197 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
In addition to the Homes
Tour, the Woman's Club is sponsoring a Marketplace in central McLean at Trinity
United Methodist Church, 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd., on the same day and during
the same hours as the tour. No admission will be charged. It will have over a
dozen vendors from local businesses, a lunch and dessert concession and a silent
auction of merchandise and services. It will also sell tickets for the
tour.
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Save
the Dates
- Every Friday- McLean Farmer's Market from
8:00 p.m.-12:00 p.m. at Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Rd., McLean Virginia
22101
- Every Saturday- Great Falls Farmer's Market
from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Great Falls Village Green Day School, 790 Walker
Rd., Great Falls, Virginia 22066
- First Wednesday of Each Month- McLean Citizens Association
Meetings at 8:00 p.m. at the McLean Community Center,1234 Ingleside
Ave.,McLean, Virginia 22101
- Second Tuesday of Each Month- Great Falls Citizens
Association Meetings at 7:30 p.m. at the Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike,
Great Falls, Virginia 22066
- November 17- Joyful Noise Holiday Bazaar
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Dominion High School, 21326 Augusta
Drive, Sterling, VA
- November 17- Household Hazardous Waste
Collection with Loudoun County's Department of Construction and Waste
Management at Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg,
VA.
- November 19- Telework Summit
beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Prince William Chamber of
Commerce, 9720 Capital Court #203, Manassas, VA 20110
- November 26- Annual Church Street Holiday
Stroll from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Church Street in Vienna between
Lawyers Road and Mill Street. For more information, visit their website or
call (703) 938-5187
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (703)
938-5187 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
- December 1-2- Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts
Show at Ida Lee Recreation Center from 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m on Saturday. and
from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.
- December 1- Celebration of Lights and
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Great
Falls Village Green.
- December 2- McLean Winterfest
Parade
- December 6- McLean Women's Club Holiday
Homes Tour from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at select locations. See above
for more information.
- December 6- MarketPlace Fundraiser by
Women's Club of McLean
from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church. See above for
more information.
- December
7- Leesburg Christmas
Tree and Menorah Lighting
beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Leesburg Town Green.
- December
8- Leesburg Annual Christmas and
Holiday Parade beginning at 10:00 a.m.
- December
25- Hands On Hanukkah Event
from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia,
8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031. For questions and more
information call Laurie Albert at, 703-537-3064
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 703-537-3064 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
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I try to be accessible to my constituents in as many
ways as possible. For more information, please visit my website, www.delegatecomstock.com, where you can read my
blog for up-to-date information on Virginia, click to follow me on Facebook or Twitter. You can also
email me at [email protected]. Please don't hesitate to
contact me about issues that concern you.
Sincerely,
Delegate Barbara
Comstock
| Paid
for and authorized by Friends of Barbara
Comstock. |
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