Passing of Abe Pollin
Here's the story from the PostFor those of you that are not D.C.-area natives, Abe Pollin had an enormous impact on this area over the past 40+ years.  After starting several successful businesses in the District and Maryland, he became famous as a sports owner -- buying the Bullets and moving them to D.C. and then founding the Capitals as an expansion team in 1973.One of my best sports memories as a kid was watching Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes and Kevin Grevey lead the Bullets to an NBA championship in 1978 over Seattle.  (fyi, Kevin Grevey own

Long Days in Portsmouth
From the banks of the Elizabeth River, I greet you!I drove down here yesterday for the Senate Finance Retreat at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Portsmouth.  The briefing on our state budget lasted all day Thursday and carried over til lunch today.  During a break in the action, I went for a run down High Street, right through the heart of Old Town Portsmouth.  It's a pretty community which sits across the Elizabeth from its sister city of Norfolk.  The  brick sidewalks and Victorian-style houses near the River are classic Tidewater Virginia.  Now the Democratic Caucus is staying for an extra day

FCPS Faces Tough Choices
Last Monday the Fairfax delegation to the Assembly met with the County School Board and leadership of the Fairfax County Public Schools.  The news is not good.  The FCPS system is facing increased enrollment and pension costs for 2010 while revenues decline.  Even including $50 million in Federal stimulus, it will still be $162M below its 2009 baseline budget (not counting the inevitable cuts from Richmond).  When all the economic factors are added in, FCPS could face a 10% shortfall from its current $2.2 billion annual budget.Here are some of the cost-cutting options laid out by FCPS staff last week:1.  Incr

An Average Fall Weekend (Which is Great!)
The fall is the best time of year.  Post-election means more time with family.   On Saturday I attended the Westbriar Elementary Pancake Breakfast with my son Thomas.  Thank you to the volunteers from SAIC who came out to whip up the batter and make fresh pancakes for the school kids and their families.  Delicious pancakes and a chance to visit with many constituent families.  After the breakfast, Thomas and I headed south to attend the dedication of the "Sally Ormsby Park" which is the mile-long stretch of wooded trail between Eakin Park (Prosperity Drive) and Eakin Park (Mantua).  The celebratio

Renewable Energy Summit in Richmond
Today the Virginia Alternative and Renewable Energy Association (VA-Area) held their first annual conference at the Omni in downtown Richmond.  There were over 200 attendees representing domestic alt-energy producers (e.g. solar, biomass, and wind) from around the Commonwealth.  I participated in a two-hour (!) panel on Virginia's renewable energy future that was moderated by the Secretary of Natural Resources, the very able Preston Bryant.   The panelists included Dr. Patrick Hatcher, the "algae biodiesel" guru from Old Dominion, and Steve Walz, the current energy czar for the Executive Branch.The discussion was wide-ranging and featur