Sen. Danica Roem

On behalf of the Companion Animals subcommittee of the Senate of Virginia’s ACNR Committee: 😺

Celebrate each and every one of those good times, for they can end so abruptly and are worth the memories.

And learn from the bad times, for that knowledge will hopefully, with any luck, help ease the pain of those that follow.

To all of you who’ve lost someone you love, my heart goes out to you.

Life is more than its ending and what leads to it. As someone told me a long time ago, it’s a series of moments — the good ones we remember and the bad ones we never forget.

They were and are absolutely beloved by their families, friends and communities. They courageously, valiantly fought horrific diseases — sickle cell and cancer — while those who loved and love them held their hands and fought right alongside with them.

During the last two days, we’ve had devastating deaths in the greater Prince William area, including 15-year-old Candis King (Colgan HS student and daughter of Del. Candi Mundon King and Fairfax County deputy sheriff Joshua King) and Cheryl Macias, co-chair of the Manassas Manassas Park Democrats.

1) Breathe.
2) Tell a story. People remember stories more than data points.
3) Know that you’re speaking because you’ve got something worth hearing.
4) Look people in the eyes when you speak.
5) Find a safe person in the crowd you can lock in with when you need reassurance.
6) Breathe.

Radio showing “Bleeding Me” by Metallica playing on SiriusXM Maximum Metallica.

When you get home and need an extra minute to get out of the car because an 8-minute song that pierces your soul no matter how many times you hear it, decade after decade, ain’t over yet and you’re not going in until it’s done. #MetalSky #Metallica

Manassas: The Energy Bills Are Too Damn High! - Clean Virginia Let’s be clear: Virginia’s energy bills are too damn high. Corporate greed, unchecked utility power, and a broken campaign finance system has allowed special interests to make the rules and we're left...

For my constituents in Manassas: I'll be emceeing a community conversation with @cleanvirginia.org about what's driving higher energy bills and what we can do about it on October 15 from 6:30-8PM at Jirani Coffeehouse.
More information is below. #Virginia
www.cleanvirginia.org/act/town-hal...

Here are the sample ballots for all three localities in SD-30:
Prince William County: www.pwcvotes.org/ontheballot
City of Manassas: cms9files.revize.com/manassasva/S...
City of Manassas Park: www.manassasparkva.gov/Registrar%20...

*Note about IDs: If you've transitioned or have had any number of things change about your physical appearance or prefer a different name in daily life than what's on your card, this can be its own stressor. If so, you may want to request an absentee ballot and either return it by mail or drop box.

7) When I started practicing yoga in 2013, the most important thing I learned was that the hardest part about yoga is entering the door for the first time. The next hardest part is coming back through the door again.

Voting's similar. Once you've voted, you'll have expectations for next time.

6) When you're done filling in the bubbles, the machine that scans the ballot shouldn't be far away. You can just slide the paper in the reader, you'll hear a *ding!* and that's it! You're done! Someone will probably have an "I Voted" sticker for you if you want it and you're free to go.

5) When you get the ballot and the manilla envelope, you sit down at a table with a divider in front of you that's kind of in the shape of one of those science display boards you remember from school. Who you vote for is private -- period. It's your business. You vote for whomever you want.

3) It's entirely up to you whether you accept lit from volunteers or talk with them. No one can force a conversation on you or force you to take something.

4) When you check in, bring your ID card as it's the quickest way to check in.* (see below)

So here's what I recommended:
1) Bring a friend if that makes you comfortable. It's harder for strangers to bother you when you're talking to someone as you're heading in.
2) Listen to some good tunes on the way over (or when you're going inside). Whatever settles you in and drowns out the static.

For outgoing people-persons, it might be enjoyable and a good experience.

For other folks, they might be eager to cast their ballot but don't want to socialize or they might feel like they're fulfilling an obligation and want to get it over with ASAP.

However you feel is valid. It's your business.

It was a good question because I think for some of us, it's easy to forget some people might have anxiety about actually showing up, walking through the gauntlet of volunteers and candidates handing out paper outside, going through a line, checking in, filling out the paper and cast the ballot.

Yesterday, I participated in a Osbourn HS student forum in Manassas that also featured incumbents and challengers for the Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer.

I'm not on the ballot this fall (bless) but was happy to take Qs. One of them: Voting for the first time is nerve-racking. Any tips?🧵

Meanwhile here in NOVAland, spotted lanternflies have been all over greater Manassas this year. At my dentist's office, there were just piles of them near the door a couple weeks ago.

All I'm saying is goat grazing targeting invasive plant species would do amazing in NOVA right about now.

"Tree of heaven, which hosts spotted lanternflies, can produce over 300,000 seeds per year...When goats eat these seeds, their digestive systems render the seeds unviable for regrowth when they’re introduced back into the earth, Reed said. This helps to reduce the seed bank of the invasive species."

YouTube video by 19Coyote78 Opeth - Forest of October. Live at The Royal Albert Hall

Doubly timely given their tour next year with Opeth.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Eha...

“In Fauquier County, unemployment is rising 7 times faster than the national average. In Prince William County and Stafford County it’s rising 8 times faster. In Loudoun County, 9 times faster. In Alexandria and Fairfax County, 10 times faster. In Arlington, 11 times faster.” #Virginia

Former U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton and Virginia state Senator Danica Roem pose in front of a CurePSP banner.

In inflatable finish line banner hovers around the spot marking the end of the 5K.

Danica and three volunteers from PWC Hunger Free pose for a photo in front of four paper bags filled with donated groceries from Danica at the Giant in Gainesville, Virginia.

Graphic for the PWC Hunger Free event in Gainesville at Giant Food: 7575 Linton Hall Road. They’re collecting donations until 6 p.m. today (Sunday, September 28).

Today, I walked a 5K in Arlington for my friend, former colleague and former Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton to raise money to help find a cure for PSP.

I then drove to the Giant in Gainesville where I donated four bags of groceries to help stock local food pantries through PWC Hunger Free. #Virginia

YouTube video by Metallic TV Anathema - A Natural Disaster (Live Clisson, Hellfest 2011)

Before bed, I’m revisiting a song I think about after wakes, funerals and celebrations of life, given I attended the latter today.

I saw Anathema perform “A Natural Disaster” in France 14 years ago and it still gives me goosebumps. The last 40 seconds is breathtaking.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Mr...

Thank you for your kindness!

Danica with Manassas Treasurer Patricia Richie-Folks, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam and two Democratic campaign staffers pose for a photo at Harris Pavilion on Manassas, Virginia.

It was great seeing so many of my constituents along with @repsuhas.bsky.social, @patfortreasurer.bsky.social and the folks working hard for our Democratic ticket at the Manassas Latino Festival this afternoon at Harris Pavilion! Thank y‘all for stopping by Old Town. I hope everyone has a good time.

Cliff Burton with his bass outside a tour bus.

Even after 39 years, no one’s ever thrashed harder or better. Turn up Orion today for the best there’s been. \m/ #CliffBurton \m/
2/10/62-9/27/86

Community Problem - Community Solution Let’s make PWC Hunger Free Our food pantries in PWC are in need of food to stock their shelves and have asked for our help. PWC Hunger Free is holding food drives all weekend long. Please stop by and make a donation. Saturday, Sept. 27, 10AM-2PM: Giant Food 10864 Sudley Manor Drive Manassas, VA 20109 Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28, 10AM-6PM: Giant Food 7575 Linton Hall Road Gainesville, VA 20155 In support of ACTS, CFH and Haymarket Regional Food Pantry.

PWC Hunger Free will be at the Giant grocery stores in Manassas (Bull Run Plaza) and Gainesville (Virginia Gateway) collecting donated food for local pantries.
Gainesville: Saturday-Sunday, 10AM-6PM.
Manassas: Saturday, 10AM-6PM
Please share the flyer to help prevent hunger in Prince William County.

"Hewa said REC’s 183,000 customers achieved an all-time system peak of 1,150 megawatts last January, and there are data centers that requiring more than 1,000 megawatts that are in the works in the region now."

Simply put, this is unsustainable. Data center sprawl in #Virginia is out of control.

REC's CEO: One data center requires as much power as entire current customer base - Fredericksburg Free Press John Hewa made the comments Tuesday during joint meeting between the Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors and the planning commission.

"Hewa...said the Co-op serves 183K customers in 22 counties.... He said one data center will require as much energy as the company’s entire 22-county, 4,000-square-mile customer-base 'on a dark, cold, January morning in single-digit temperatures.'”
www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2025/09/26/r...