September 23, 2015 


Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News



Robert E. Simon, Jr.
1914-2015

Commentary  

Robert E. Simon, Jr.
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
I don't know why I was surprised at Bob Simon's passing. After all, he was 101 years old. Few people reach that age, and fewer still live beyond it. Yet Bob was such a prominent figure in his namesake community that unconsciously those of us who were surprised by his death may have thought he would always be there. His passing was so noteworthy that it received coverage in all the major news outlets.

He will be greatly missed by those who knew him and by those whose lives were touched by him: by the little children who huddled around the pedicab when he was brought to the Founder's Day Program or to the Bike-to-School program at Lake Anne Elementary; by the children at a day care center named for him; by residents and visitors alike as he ambled around Lake Anne; by everyone who saw him in the annual Holiday Parade at Town Center; and by politicians at all levels of government with whom he shared the podium at numerous public events in his town and who witnessed his popularity and couldn't help but be a bit envious.

Surprise and sadness at the passing of Bob Simon are quickly replaced by overwhelming joy at having known him. Few times in life do we get to know a visionary: a person who can see beyond the immediate to a better society. That sizable chunk of Virginia countryside in which Bob Simon invested in the 1960's could have easily been turned into a subdivision for quick profit, but for Bob and his vision it represented an opportunity to create a better place for people where they could live, work and play.

Better than anyone I know, Bob Simon knew and appreciated community. His plan for Reston did not start with designing a government structure. Some land use laws had to be changed to accommodate his plan, but the governance of that place he named Reston was left to the community. While there have been healthy debates about issues over the years, there has been a recognition that local neighborhood citizen organizations and nonprofits formed by the residents could resolve those issues without the need for another layer of government or partisan involvement. While it is difficult to discern the elements that create the sense of community in Reston, it is undeniable that it is there and that it was nurtured by its founder Bob Simon. The basic principles he outlined in the beginning for his new town give us the best insight into what he envisioned. The most radical notion at the time and place of Reston's founding that people of all races could live together in harmony has become a societal norm.

Robert E. Simon, Jr., our immediate surprise and sadness at your passing have quickly turned to joy at having known you. Rest in peace inspirational leader, wise counselor and good friend; you made a wonderful difference for all!

 

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference.

TONIGHT- Wednesday, September 23 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Lisa Friedersdorf of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office
  
Tuesday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 30 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Alexandra Rossi of Reston Lifestyle magazine 
 
Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266.


Bulletin Board

PREVENT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE!
Operation Medicine Cabinet 
Clean Out 
Saturday, September 26
8:00 a.m.to  2:00 p.m.
Drop off unused or expired medications at a Fairfax County district police station. Keep our youth and young adults safe and drug free.


 
____________________
 
 Convenient Ways to Pay Car Tax
Deadline: Monday, October 5.


The 2015 car tax deadline is Monday, October 5. 
Click here to learn about all your 
options for paying your car tax.

____________________
 
Text to 9-1-1 Launches in Fairfax County
 

You can now send a text message to 9-1-1 in Fairfax County - and it's critical to understand how the system works. Voice calls are still the best and preferred method for most people to contact 9-1-1. Remember this important phrase: Call if you can. Text if you can't. Learn more at Text to 9-1-1.
 
 

Calendar of Events  
 
 
Wednesday, September 23 through Sunday, September 27,  Reston Friends Semi-Annual Book Sale, at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. Hours and contact information here. 

Friday, September 25, 6:45 p.m., Lake Anne Plaza, Reston. Candlelight Vigil to remember Robert E. Simon. All are welcome to come and share memories with others in the Reston community.

Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, 6th Virginia Immigrant Advocates Summit, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington. Learn more and register at Immigrant Advocate Summit. 

Saturday, September 26, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Reston Multicultural Festival, FREE, Rain or shine, All ages. The Festival features a Naturalization Ceremony, International Book Fair, National Heritage Award Fellows, arts and crafts, food, entertainment, Art Mirrors Culture Exhibit, and family activities from around the world. Also includes the opening of the We Make Reston exhibit. See more at Multicultural Festival.

Saturday, September 26, noon to 4:00 p.m., Oak Hill Open House, 4716 Wakefield Chapel Road, Annandale. A free event for the whole family to enjoy the unique opportunity to tour the grounds and first floor of the house and celebrate local history. Download a flyer here.

Monday, September 28, 10:00 a.m. to noon, Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness Regional Housing Policy Forum, at AHC Headquarters, 2230 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington. More information is at Housing Policy Forum.

Monday, September 28, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Greenhouse Gas/Clean Power Plan Listening Session, Cafeteria of Fairfax County South County High School, 8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton. For more information, contact John McKie at  703-583-3831.

Tuesday, September 29, Ride Fairfax Connector **FREE** all day to mark the Connector's 30th anniversary. More information is at Free Ride. 

Wednesday, September 30, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., CarFit, at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department parking lot, 400 Center Street South, Vienna. Free. CarFit technicians work with older adults to ensure participants "fit" their own vehicles properly. They will adjust your car's safety features for maximum fit, comfort, and safety. To register, call 703-255-6360.

Saturday, October 3, Northern Virginia Pride Festival, at Bull Run Special Events Center, Centreville. Visit NOVA Pride Festival to learn more.

Saturday, October 3, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Fall For Fairfax KidsFest, specially designed for families with elementary and pre-K aged children. Admission, most activities and entertainment are free of charge. At the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Plenty of FREE parking is available. Details are at http://fallforfairfax.com/. 

Monday, October 5, Reston Rescue's Nature Hike and Golf Tournament, at Reston National Golf Course, 11875 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Raise awareness and help defend this recreational open space from development--register to golf, hike or sponsor at RescueReston.org/events.

Tuesday, October 6, 1:00 p.m., Reston Garden Club Meeting, at Nature House, Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. The speaker for the month is Barbara Glickman, author of Capital Splendor-Gardens and Parks of Washington, DC, will present a framework of landscape garden designs. Guests and members are welcome. For more information, visit Reston Garden Club.

Thursday, October 8, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Reston Association hosts an Open House, formerly called Newcomers' Night, at 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive at the RA Conference Center. More information is at 703-435-6530 or www.reston.org.

Monday through Wednesday, October 26 to 28, The Brady Campaign and American Public Health Association's National Summit, at the Dupont Circle Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Details and registration are at Brady & APHA National Summit.

Saturday, October 24, WOW (Walk Our Way), hosted by the Virginia Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI), at the Westfield High School in Chantilly. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a ¼ mile walk using vision simulators, canes, and human guides to experience mobility as a vision-impaired individual. Download a flyer here.

Tuesday, October 27, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VADP) regional meeting, at Northern Virginia Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. For more information, contact VADP at 434-960-7779 or office@vadp.org.
 

 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
Find out how you can get involved at 

In This Issue
Commentary..."Robert E. Simon, Jr."
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
 and paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum.