April 20, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News
Honored to be with former Virginia Governor A. Linwood Holton Jr., and his daughter, Anne Holton, Virginia's Secretary of Education, at the dedication of a plaza in his name on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University. 
 

Commentary

Two Civil Rights Heroes                      
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

About a week ago there was a memorial service for Reston's founder and namesake, Robert E. Simon, Jr., who passed away about a year ago. Several people gathered at the Hyatt Hotel in Reston Town Center to hear the stories and to celebrate the life of a truly remarkable man. He became head of Carnegie Hall in New York at age 23 when his father passed away. The sale of the Hall later would give him the money to buy the more than 6,000 acres in Northern Virginia that would become Reston. Drawing upon his experiences of living in Europe for extended periods of time, he would build a community that through its mixed-use design with village centers would foster the development of community.
 
Most remarkable for its time in the mid-1960s was his insistence that the community be open to all persons including black people. Virginia at the time was a very segregated society. Massive Resistance was being used by political leaders to keep from integrating the schools as the Supreme Court had ruled nearly a decade before. Housing patterns and communities were strictly segregated. Some suggest that Bob Simon's adamance that his new community be open to all people was a response to the discrimination he felt as a Jew particularly when he was at Harvard. He was not casual in his beliefs that his new town should be inclusive; that policy made financing very difficult and for a while seemingly almost impossible. With all the other many good things that can be said about Robert E. Simon, Jr., I consider him a real civil rights hero.
 
Last week gave me an opportunity to see another of my civil rights heroes, former governor Linwood Holton, who came to George Mason University to participate in a ceremony naming one of the plazas at the University in his honor. Governor Holton served as governor of Virginia from 1970 to 1974--the first Republican to be elected governor since Reconstruction. George Mason University was interested in honoring him because he was the governor that signed the bill that converted the former University of Virginia extension to the new George Mason College. It is now the largest university in Virginia and is in the top tier of research universities in the country.
 
I consider Linwood Holton a civil rights hero because one of his first actions as governor after he had moved his family into the Executive Mansion was to enroll his children in the local public schools that were the segregated black schools. A picture of him walking one of his daughters into an all-black school to enroll her was on the front page of the New York Times. It was a signal to the world of the emergence of the New South where racial segregation was slowly but surely being cast aside.
 
I am honored to have known both men and to have them as friends. As courageous as they were, I do not think that either thought of himself as courageous. Each simply believed in doing the right thing. They are examples for all of us to follow.  
 
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, April 20 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Dr. John Sullivan of the Family Centered Treatment Foundation
    
Tuesday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, April 27 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Joe Plummer about TEDxHerndon

Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at
www.youtube.com/watch. Previous shows can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266. 


Bulletin Board

Reston Farmer's Market opens 2016 Season
Saturday, May 7

 
Reston Farmer's Market opens its 2016 Season Saturday,
May 7 (8:00 a.m. to noon), this year adding a week to go to November 12. Two new vendors bring the total to 31 this year.
 
Learn more at restonfarmersmarket.com.

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Free Admission to National Parks this Week



The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees in celebration of National Parks Week through April 24th. All visitors will be able to get into any of the more than 400 National Park Service sites completely free. Details are at National Parks Week.

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R4 Collection Day - Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Reston!


Find out more at R4 Collection Day.

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Camp Wellstone Virginia 2016: May 13-15

Camp Wellstone is open to anyone interested in gaining practical skills in progressive political action. During Camp Wellstone, we provide focus areas based on your role in progressive organizing, each with a distinctive curriculum taught by some of the nation's leading experts in grassroots politics and organizing. Details are at Camp Wellstone.

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Free Screening of Under the Gun


The NOVA Chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence invites you to attend an advance screening of an original documentary narrated by Katie Couric. Saturday, May 7, 7:00 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton. Register here.

To learn more about the film, visit Under the Gun.






Calendar of Events   

Tonight: Wednesday, April 20, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., Reston ...Blueprint for the Future open house, at South Lake High School cafeteria, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. Supervisor Hudgins is providing an opportunity for the Reston community to gather information on proposed, planned, and anticipated development activity within the Transit Station areas of Reston. Contact the Hunter Mill District Office, 703-478-0283, for information.

Saturday, April 23, Healthy Strides Community 5K, 10K and Fun Run, at 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. Learn more about the event at Healthy Strides 5K/10K. Volunteers needed: sign up here.
  
Saturday, April 23, noon to 6:00 p.m., Diva Central Event, at Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza. The one-day event is open to any current high school student who is in need of a prom dress and other accessories. Everything is absolutely FREE. Limit one dress per person. Download a flyer here. 

Saturday, April 23, 6:00 to 11:00 p.m., FISH Fling Gala, at Hyatt Dulles Hotel, 2300 Dulles Corner Boulevard in Herndon. Download a flyer for the event here. For more information on FISH, visit herndonrestonfish.org.
 
April 23 to 30, Historic Garden Week. House & garden tours offered statewide. Learn more at vagardenweek.org.

Sunday, April 24, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Reston Citizens Association (RCA) 2015 Reston Citizen of the Year Award presentation, at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, Community Room, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. More information is at Citizen of the Year.
 
April 25-26, National Reduce Tobacco Use Conference, showcasing the latest in tobacco-use prevention, reduction, and cessation with youth and young adults. For more information, visit reducetobaccouse.org.

Thursday, April 28, 6:00 p.m., 4th Annual Northern Virginia Take Back The Night and Rally Against Rape, at Gateway Park Rosslynn Metro. Download a flyer here. 
 
Saturday, April 30, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout. Drop off medications at any of the eight Fairfax County District Police Stations (pills or liquids only, no pressurized canisters or needles). The event is hosted by the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County and other government partners. Learn more at Medicine Cabinet Cleanout. 
 
Saturday, April 30, Fairfax CASA Run for the Children Race, Starting Time: 8:00 a.m., at the Fairfax County Courthouse complex. Features music, food, prizes and raffle items. Raises money to help Fairfax CASA volunteers advocate for those children under the court's protection. Details are at Run for the Children.   
 
Saturday, April 30, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Bicycle Safety Rodeo, Ages 5-12 years, at the YMCA, 12196 Sunset Hills Road, Reston. Stop by anytime. Course takes 20 minutes to complete. Children must bring their own bicycles and helmets in order to participate. For more information, contact Ashleigh@reston.org or call 703-435-6577.
 
Saturday, April 30, 10:00 a.m.to 2:00 p.m., Reston Home & Garden Expo, at Reston Association Headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. For more information contact Reston Association Member Services at Member_services@reston.org or 703-435-6530.

Saturday, April 30, 10:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m., Springfest Fairfax, at the Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Learn more at springfestfairfax.org. 

Saturday, April 30, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Senior Senior Prom, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 750 Peachtree Street, Herndon (next to Herndon Community Center). Visit Senior Senior Prom to register. 
 
Sunday, May 1, Hopecam 5K Run/Walk. Hopecam uses technology to connect children undergoing treatment for cancer with their friends at school, and the 5K raises money for their mission. Start and finish are at 1890 Preston White Drive, Reston.
Runners start is at 8:15 a.m. Race day registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Registration and details are at 5K Run/Walk.  
 
Sunday, May 1, March for Babies, Family teams, company teams and people walking with friends to raise money for babies in our community. To register, learn more, or ask questions, visit March for Babies.

Monday, May 1, 6:00 p.m., FY 2017-2022 SYIP Public Meeting, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) invites input on projects and programs to be included in the Fiscal Year 2017-2022 Six-Year Improvement Program initiatives to address safety, congestion and preservation of Virginia's transportation network. More is at FY 2017-2022 SYIP. 

Thursday, May 5, Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Open House and Public Hearing on "Transform 66 Inside the Beltway Multimodal Components." The Open House will begin at 6:00 p.m. The Public Hearing will start at 7:00 p.m. In the first floor conference room at NVTC headquarters, 2300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington. More details are at I-66 Multimodal.

Saturday, May 7, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., At the Hop: Music of the Fabulous 50s!, Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. The Reston Chorale steps back in time to the days of sock hops, soda fountains and rock and roll. (Poodle skirts and ducktails optional.) Tickets now available online at www.RestonChorale.org or at the RCC Box Office beginning April 23. Tickets: $20/Seniors, $25/Adults, Free for Active Military (with ID) and Youth 17 and under (with adult or senior ticket holder.) 

Saturday, May 7, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., Spring Festival, Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. Rain or shine. Free event. All ages welcome. Volunteers needed. Contact 703-476-9869 or naturecenter@reston.org for more information or to sign up to volunteer. See reston.org for event updates.

Wednesday, May 11, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Creative Aging Fair, at Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free, but registration is required. Register and learn more at Creative Aging Fair. 

Saturday, May 14, 8:30 a.m. to noon, 95 Family Community Yard Sale, One Reston Crescent, 12000 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Rain date is May 15. More is at Community Yard Sale.  

Sunday, May 15, noon to 5:00 p.m., Virginia Folklife Apprenticeship Showcase, at Ash Lawn-Highland: the Home of James Monroe, 2050 James Monroe Parkway, Charlottesville. The Showcase celebrates Virginia's Master Artists and their Apprentices with blacksmiths, costume makers and many more of Virginia's finest craftspeople. Visit Virginiafolklife.org or call 434-924-3296 for more information.

May 21 to 22, 10:00 a.m., 2016 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, at Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE). Details are at Fine Arts Festival. 

May 21 to 22, 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., Relay For Life of Reston, at South Lakes High School. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement symbolizes hope and our shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love. More information is at Relay for Life.  
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 

Visit Scrawl Books, Reston's new independent bookstore!

In This Issue
"Virginia Report"
Check Your Calendar
Commentary..."Two Civil Rights Heroes"

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.