Journal Blog

Virginians and Visitors Have Multiple Transit Options for Inauguration Day

Virginia Provides Free Bus Service to Metrorail on Jan. 20, 2009

RICHMOND, VA., January 12, 2009 - The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Transportation today announced that transit details are now available for people traveling through Virginia to Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2009.

Since personal vehicles are restricted from traveling from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day, motorists planning to drive or carpool to the event must use an alternative form of transportation to enter the city.

Virginia has the following public transportation options available for access into Washington on January 20, 2009:
•    Reserve a ticket on Virginia Railway Express (VRE) or Amtrak for service into Washington, D.C., and drive to the appropriate rail station
•    Drive to a Northern Virginia Metrorail station and take Metrorail into the city
•    Drive to a local bus stop that offers free service to Metrorail
•    Drive to a local bus stop that offers free shuttle service to a pedestrian bridge
•    Drive to a park-and-ride lot to be served by transit and take a shuttle bus to Metrorail
•    Hire a taxi or other for-hire vehicle for service into the city
•    Reserve a seat on a charter bus

Metrorail, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Amtrak are the primary transportation choices for travel from Virginia to Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day. A key feature of the Commonwealth’s plan is that all Virginia bus routes that serve Metrorail stations will provide free service for the day.

“Providing free bus service to Metrorail will make travel easier and encourage more people to take advantage of Virginia’s transit options on Inauguration Day. The normal flow of transportation into Washington, D.C. has been adjusted for January 20 to help accommodate a significant increase in traffic, so it’s important for travelers to review the choices available, create a detailed plan and stay tuned for transportation updates as we get closer to the event,” said DRPT’s Chief of Public Transportation, Corey Hill.

Bus Service and Metrorail Options
Virginia transit operators will operate service on Inauguration Day, but many systems will have a modified schedule. For transportation into Washington, D.C., bus operators will primarily provide service to Metrorail stations, where travelers can transfer to Metrorail for transportation into the city. Some operators are also providing bus service to bridges that are accessible for pedestrians to walk into the District. The Memorial Bridge, Chain Bridge and Key Bridge will be open for pedestrian and bike access on January 20.

Bus service will also be provided to Metrorail from designated park-and-ride lots in Northern Virginia. Motorists traveling to park-and-ride lots are encouraged to carpool to maximize parking availability and to help manage highway congestion near the lots. Lots will fill up quickly, so plan to arrive early. Some transit operators will begin operating service as early as 4 a.m. on January 20. Not all park-and-ride lots will be served by transit on Inauguration Day. Contact transit operators to confirm service availability.

All Virginia bus routes that serve Metrorail stations, pedestrian access points and park-and-ride lots in Northern Virginia will be free on Inauguration Day. For those who must drive to access transit, parking is limited and available on a first-come first-serve basis.

In addition, Metrobus is offering free shuttle bus service from Virginia directly into Washington, D.C.

Metrorail will operate between 4 a.m. on January 20 and 2 a.m. on January 21, with rush hour service between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Inauguration Day. Metrorail will charge peak fare during rush hour service and standard fare at other times. Visit www.wmata.com for additional information.

Listings for Northern Virginia transit operators by locality and designated park-and-ride lots are available online at www.vsp.state.va.us/Inauguration_2009.shtm. Hours of operation, schedules and routes may vary by transit operator. Please visit operator Web sites or contact transit operators by phone for detailed information.

Passenger Rail Options
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will initiate service routes into Washington, D.C. at 5:05 a.m. and will initiate return trip trains at 1:30 p.m. on Inauguration Day. Tickets are available through mail-order only and must be reserved in advance. No one will be permitted to purchase VRE tickets at VRE stations on Inauguration Day. Visit www.vre.org for additional information.

Currently, Amtrak trains from Virginia to Washington, D.C., that will serve the Inauguration Day events are sold out. Tickets may become available as reservations change. Visit www.amtrak.com for additional information.

Planning Ahead
Creating a personal transportation plan is essential to ensure the safest and most efficient travel experience in the Northern Virginia region on Inauguration Day. Travelers should take the following steps to create a transportation plan:
•    Consider the transportation choices and choose the best option.
•    Visit the transit/rail operator Web site or call to determine schedules, routes and fares.
•    Create an itinerary with route numbers/names, pick-up locations and times, fares, transfer locations and drop-off locations for both your destination and return trip.
•    Determine the round-trip fare (if applicable) and follow the transit/rail operator’s instructions for fare collection. For example, some services require exact change.
•    Consult transit/rail operator guidelines regarding acceptable carry-on items.
•    Check the transit/rail operator Web site frequently for changes and adjust your itinerary accordingly.
Those in the Northern Virginia region not attending Inauguration activities should anticipate and plan for significant traffic congestion and delays. Those needing to travel are encouraged to also seek alternate means of transportation or alternate traffic routes. Local Web sites should be checked in advance for city and county road closures and traffic restrictions.

Employers in the Capitol region are encouraged to consider offering telework, flex time and/or other leave options for their employees on January 20.

More Virginia-specific Inauguration information is available on the Virginia State Police Web site at www.vsp.state.va.us/Inauguration_2009.shtm.

Sunday at the White House

Sunday January 11, 2009  3:50pm
As we pulled up to the guard at the entrance to the Ellipse parking area, I couldn’t help but notice all the tents erected across the grassy area in preparation for inauguration day.  After entering the Ellipse area, I noticed the crew of workers diligently working at their tasks under the tents.  Proceeding to the gatehouse on Executive Drive I spotted the police motorcycles preparing for a motorcade.  We could only speculate who might be on the move as we began to notice the security detail all dressed in black at various points around us.  As we proceeded to walk the sidewalk, the iron gate opened and the motorcade proceeded toward us.  We stopped out of curiosity to witness who was riding in this limo.  It turned out to be Dick Cheney.  Guess he was working on Sunday just like those on Capitol Hill today.  Wonder if he was cleaning out his office too?!?
Over the years I have spent numerous Sunday afternoons at the White House in the West Wing, but today was the busiest I have seen it.  Normally Sundays are very quiet with few folks found inside their offices or walking the halls.  Today was very different with boxes packed full of items from offices being carried out by staffers, groups of interns posing together for photos to capture those lasting memories of their time at the White House.  Even the press briefing room was overflowing not with press, but rather interns with their friends seated together and standing in front of the President’s podium for those photo op moments.
Out on the North Lawn, one lone White House correspondent was broadcasting for her network, but the view of the review stand for the inaugural parade could not be missed as it loomed very large and lit up outside the fence surrounding the White House property.  Turning back to face the White House you could see into the offices of the West Wing as the lights were all on and folks were busy inside continuing the transition out of this President’s administration.  Bookshelves were barren and some desks were already empty.
Inside the Oval office, it took a minute to register what was different.  I kept looking around the room and then I realized.  The top of the Resolute desk was empty!!   Out in the hallway leading to the Rose Garden, where photos of President Bush with heads of state used to hang on the walls, now have been replaced with photos of major events that have highlighted his time as our President to include Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina. 
As we departed the White House grounds we realized our next visit would be under the new administration and we couldn’t help but to speculate about what changes to the decor that might bring with it.

Ruby Brabo

Information about reaching the District from Va. for the inauguration.

Roland Burris's appointment

Editor’s Note: Some of the more interesting and intriguing news at the moment involves the appointment of former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to Barack Obama’s former US senate seat. As this week opened, Burris was presenting himself to the Senate to be seated and Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid was refusing to seat him. Reid said the appointment process had been “tainted” because the appointment was made by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell the appointment.
Another intriguing and developing story is the effort to stop US Supreme Court Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., from using the phrase “under God” when he swears Obama in as President. The following letter deals with the role of the US Constitution in these stories.

The more I listen to what the “Talking Heads” say on the various “shows” which purport to inform those who listen to them on the issues of the day, the more convinced I become that most of them have never either read the Constitution of the United States or have failed to understand what they have read. 
I learned the fundamentals of that document more than 60 years ago from F. D. G. Ribble, a respected authority on that subject and Dean of The School of Law at the University of Virginia.  He was neither a liberal nor a conservative.  He was a pragmatist. 
He said that, with regard to any subject, the Constitution means exactly what a majority of the Justices of the Supreme Court participating in the decision of a case say it means at the time their opinion is rendered.
I was prompted to write this letter because of the large amount of misinformation currently spewing from the mouths of the “Talking Heads” with regard to the political situation in Washington.
First, let us look at the subject of the next President taking the oath of office and the relevance of the First Amendment, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…” 
Those who would prohibit any reference to God in the inauguration process focus on the first phrase in the language quoted and ignore the next two phrases “ or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech...”.
Next, let us look at the powers granted the Judiciary by Article III.  Section 2 states, “The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution…”  Where does it give “the judiciary” power to regulate the manner of conducting the inauguration process?  Many of the powers of the judiciary exist because of usurpation.
So much for having the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court be able to use the phrase “under God” when he swears in Barack Obama.
That brings us to the subject of the right and power of the Senate to regulate its own affairs and whether or not Seantor Reid or Burris will prevail.   Article I, Section 5 states, “Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members…”  There is nothing in the Constitution which grants the Judiciary the right or power to review and rule on the validity of the rules which either house of Congress adopts for its own governance. 
A number of years ago, when the House undertook to exercise its powers to regulate its affairs, the Supreme Court usurped this power of the House and directed that Adam Clayton Powell of New York be seated as a Member of that body.  The Members of the House thus did a disservice to themselves and the nation by pusillanimously acquiescing.  Perhaps the Senate will show more fortitude. 
Many members of Congress complain about the encroachment of the Executive branch on their powers.  Now may be their time to begin to reclaim some of their lost power. It will be interesting to see how the seating or non-seating of Roland Burris proceeds as the days go on.

 By Louis Herrink, King George
Herrink, an attorney, is a graduate of the University of Virginia and a former member of the Virginia General Assembly.

Personnel Committee Presentation

Thanks to the member of the Personnel Committee who pointed out that their committee report was missing.
Download PersonnelCommitteePresentationDec2008

Buildings, Equipment and Transportation Committee Power Point Presentation

The Power Point presentation - It is a large file!
Download An Overview of King George County 2008 Rev 2 97

Middle School Curriculum and Instructional Programs Committee Report

Committee Members:

Danna Yowler – Chairperson
Terri Bard

Introduction

The Middle School Evaluation Committee was established “for the purpose of independently reviewing and evaluating the curriculum and instructional program of the middle school to identify the level of funding required to provide a high level of quality for the county public schools”. In our efforts to achieve this goal in the time frame provided, we consulted the middle school principal (Ms. Ashshaheed), several educators, school staff, and county School Board administrators. We also interviewed parents and researched state standards.

Click here to download the report in pdf format
Download KGMS Curriculum and Instructional Programs Findings - Final

Business Operations & Finance Committee report

Business Operations & Finance Committee Report
Download BOF Committee Presentation -- 3 Dec 08 v2

Which is it?

Last week someone called in complaining that a press release had not gotten in the paper. Because the subject of this release is African-American, we were accused on being a bunch of racists. They, whoever they were, were going to come picket our office.

Well, first of all, the press release was in the paper. Apparently it did not get in another weekly newspaper, which we have no control over.

The funny thing is - right before the election we had several calls complaining about the front page photo of Barack Obama with Fred Cook and his mom Phyllis. I spoke to one of the gentlemen who called. He was very polite but questioned whether we were surreptitiously endorsing Mr. Obama. Well if we decide to endorse someone, it will be very clear that we are doing so.

But in this case there was no politics involved. We don't typically cover national news or national elections. If you want that - watch CNN. But in this case the presidential candidates came close enough to the area for us to request press credentials. And, we have a free-lancer who thinks getting to the venue hours ahead of time and then waiting for the candidate to appear is a fun thing, so we covered rallies by Obama, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin.

In this case however, it was a photo of someone from King George personally meeting with the candidate and that's news as far as I am concerned.

That's basically what I told this caller.

So which is? Are we a bunch of racists or closet Obama supporters?

Well we were split in the office between McCain and Obama supporters but we managed to work together with no more than our usual level of bickering and complaining.

As far as not getting something in the paper ... instead of going immediately for the worst explanation, how about giving us the benefit of the doubt. We forgot, we misplaced it, we're incompetent, we didn't have room. Any of those are good explanations and have the benefit of sometime being true.

But racist. No, that is not the reason!

KGHOP

King George House of Pizza has reopened!
The restaurant has a new look inside, but a familiar menu. It is still the place to get a good veggie sub!

Student Support Services Committee Report

Click below to download the report as a .mov file
Download Student Services - King George

Download the report as a pdf file
Download Student Services - King George

Report on Guidance Services in .mov format
Download Guidance Services

Download the report on Guidance Services as a pdf file
Download Guidance Services