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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia E-News
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Delegate Plum addressing the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education Program
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Commentary
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum In 1956 the then appointed Fairfax County School Board appropriated fifty dollars per month to be paid as a supplement to a school administrator to start an adult education program. Since the schools were still racially segregated, a program for white adults was started at Annandale High School, and a program for black adults was started at Luther Jackson School. The favorite offerings at both locations were classes in sewing including the Bishop Method of Clothing Construction, as well as typing and shorthand. The inexpensive, evening classes proved popular, and the program grew rapidly. Basic education classes for those adults who could not read and write were added as were night school classes to complete high school and to prepare for the G.E.D.
Recently I had the pleasure of attending a 60th anniversary celebration of the program at the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning on Edsall Road in the eastern part of the county. I was honored several years ago when the School Board chose to name its first full-time adult education center for my work in adult and community education that spanned half the years of its existence. Starting as a part-time room coordinator in the evenings when I was a half-time intern teacher from the University of Virginia, I was able for reasons too complex to explain here to become an administrator of the program in three years. As many discover in pursuing a career, my good fortune of working in a program that I loved so much was more a case of being at the right place at the right time than any deliberate planning.
As Fairfax County and its school system grew, the adult education program that became known as the adult and community education program grew not only in enrollment but in the variety of its offerings. With the growth in the number of persons speaking English as a second language came classes in English for those speakers of other languages. Increased educational requirements in a soaring economy resulted in more enrollment in evening adult high school and in vocational education programs.
While the adult and community education program afforded tax-paying citizens an opportunity to utilize the facilities their tax dollars had built, the program at the same time provided support for the school system's K-12 program. Students who were unsuccessful in the regular high schools were often allowed to transfer to the adult high school program as an alternative where they were often more successful. Parents could take classes in child development and parenting in order to help their own children. Adult and Community Education (ACE) provided administrative support for after school enrichment classes in the elementary schools.
A catalog of ACE classes and programs is mailed three times a year to Fairfax County residents and is available online at Summer 2016 Catalog. As its literature promises, "the possibilities are endless." Endless for career and employment training, learning a new language, personal and academic enrichment. After all, as we have become aware--learning is lifelong.
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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, June 8 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Senator Janet Howell in a Final Report on the 2016 General Assembly Session
Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 15 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Aditi Takle about Girls Learn International
Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at
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Bulletin Board
2016 Grant Cycle Opens June 13
The Giving Circle of HOPE (GCH) has announced the opening of its 2016 Grant Cycle on June 13. The Giving Circle of HOPE seeks to create positive change in Northern Virginia through collective and engaged philanthropy. Since its inception in 2004, GCH has given nearly $1 million to nonprofit organizations in Northern Virginia.
For 2016, the GCH will award grants of up to $7,000 to local nonprofits who help disadvantaged, low-income, or underserved people in the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun or Prince William, or the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax or Falls Church. Application instructions can be found at application. Grant applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 12 and must be in electronic format only.
To learn more about submission guidelines and the competitive screening process, visit grant process. Questions? Call 703-665- 9334 or email [email protected].
Fight the Bite
Avoid illness this summer by removing breeding areas for
disease-carrying mosquitoes. Learn more here.
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Reserve Deputy Sheriff
The Fairfax County Sheriff's Office will hold a Reserve Deputy Sheriff Academy starting September 7, 2016. Reserve deputies are uniformed volunteers trained to perform a variety of operational and administrative assignments for the Sheriff's Office. Selection of candidates is based on a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, background and availability to support activities of the Sheriff's Office. Applicants must apply through Fairfax County's Volunteer Management System (VMS). First, register in VMS and create your volunteer profile. Then you will be ready to log in and apply. The deadline to apply is July 15.
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Public Information Meeting on
Fairfax County Parkway Study
 The public is invited to attend a public information meeting about the study on June 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Oak Hill Elementary School, 3210 Kinross Circle, Herndon. Email or mail your comments by July 5, 2016 to Mr. Abi Lerner, P.E. at 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. More about the project is available here; information about the meeting is available here.
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Calendar of Events
Tonight: Wednesday, June 8, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Dulles Corridor Rail Association Spring Meeting, at BLVD Reston Station, 1908 Reston Metro Plaza. Download an invitation and sponsor form here.
Tomorrow: Thursday, June 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Public Information Meeting on Fairfax County Parkway Study at Oak Hill Elementary School, 3210 Kinross Circle, Herndon. Email or mail your comments by July 5, 2016 to Mr. Abi Lerner, P.E. at 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. More about the project is available here; information about the meeting is available here.
June 10-12, Celebrate Fairfax!, Northern Virginia's largest community-wide celebration, at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The annual festival hosts tens of thousands of visitors during the three-day run. For more information on any of the festival's programs, or to become a part of the festival as a volunteer, sponsor, performing artist, or simply to attend, browse the website, or contact the Celebrate Fairfax, Inc. office at 703-324-FAIR (3247).
June 11-12, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 2016 Lake Anne Chalk Festival. Join IPAR (Initiative for Public Art-Reston) and let your inner artist paint Lake Anne Plaza red (or green, blue, yellow...) as the plaza turns into a chalk art museum at this two-day street-painting festival right on Lake Anne Plaza in Reston. A fun event for the whole family where everyone can create amazing sidewalk art. Learn more and buy tickets at Chalk on the Water.
Saturday June 11, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 2016 Disability Resource Fair hosted by ServiceSource, at Disability Resource Center, 10467 White Granite Drive, Oakton. The Fair brings together the best disability resources in one easily-accessed location and provides personal access to experts in the disability field. Resources, nonprofit partners, and vendors cover a range of disability topics including children, autism, aging, and veterans. If you have questions or require special accommodations, email [email protected].
Saturday, June 11, noon to 2:00 p.m., Reduced-Cost Rabies Clinic at the Sully District Government Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly. Cost is $15. Dogs, cats and ferrets are eligible for vaccinations. Dogs must be on leashes. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers. All pets will receive a 1-year rabies vaccine. For a full calendar of scheduled clinics and additional information, visit Rabies Clinics.
Saturday, June 11, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., Reston Town Center Pavilion, Reston Concerts on the Town. The 26th annual summer concert season takes a magical mystery tour with the Beatles tribute band, Hard Day's Night. Bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy live outdoor music at the Pavilion. Free. Rain or shine. Presented by Reston Town Center and Reston Town Center Association on Saturdays, June through August. Alcohol permitted at restaurants only. Download the season's full schedule at concerts.
Sunday, June 12, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday Afternoon Dance, at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Dancers (55 years and older) of all skill levels are welcome to foxtrot, swing, cha-cha, and waltz. Includes three mini-lessons, door prizes and light refreshments; partners are not required. Cost is per session and payable at the door ($5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston). For more information, contact Karen Brutsch�, 55+ Program Director at 703-390-6157. See more at Sunday Afternoon Dance. Wednesday, June 15, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Medicare 101, Training for individuals who will soon be eligible for Medicare and want to learn about their options. The session will provide an overview of the many components of Medicare: Part A (inpatient hospitalization/skilled nursing), Part B (outpatient hospital/ doctors/labs/radiology), Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans), and Part D (prescription drugs), as well as how to cover the gaps in Medicare benefits through Medicare Supplement Plans. Free but registration is required. Register here. Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Public Information Meeting on the Soapstone Connector Project, in Room 333A at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. The meeting will begin at 6:30, with a short presentation at 7:30 p.m. to update residents on the project. Staff will be present to discuss the project and answer questions. For more information on the project, contact Audra Bandy at 703-877-5600, or visit Soapstone Connector. Thursday, June 16, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., Route 7 Corridor Improvements Fairfax County Public Information Meeting, at Colvin Run Elementary, 1400 Trap Road, Vienna. Find out about plans to widen Leesburg Pike (Route 7) from four to six lanes between Reston Avenue and the west end of the bridge over the Dulles Toll Road to increase capacity, decrease congestion, and improve safety. Review project information at the meeting or www.ConnectRoute7.org. Give your written comments at the meeting or submit them by June 30, 2016 to Mr. William Dunn, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 or email [email protected] with "June 16 Public Information Meeting" in the subject line.
Saturday, June 18, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., North County Governmental Center Grand Opening and Open House, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston. Family-friendly event includes public safety interactive displays, vehicles to explore and tours of the police station. For more information and to RSVP by email contact [email protected] or call 703-478-0283.
Thursday, June 23, 6:30 p.m., Screening of the documentary SOLITARY on solitary confinement that offers a window into life on both sides of the bars and prompts challenging core questions about punishment in America today, at Landmark 6 Theater, 555 11th ST, NW Washington, DC. Tickets for the screening are available here.
Sunday, July 10, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday Afternoon Dance, at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Dancers (55 years and older) of all skill levels are welcome to foxtrot, swing, cha-cha, and waltz. Includes three mini-lessons, door prizes and light refreshments; partners are not required. Cost is per session and payable at the door ($5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston). For more information, contact Karen Brutsch�, 55+ Program Director at 703-390-6157. See more at Sunday Afternoon Dance. Tuesday, July 12, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Navigate the Local Transit System (55 years and older), Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free but registration required (500400-7A). An innovative transportation experience to become familiar with the regional transit systems. The bus, called MATT (Mobile Accessible Travel Training), is used to educate older adults. Through a hands-on learning experience, participants will be taught "travel training" tips, such as reading the bus schedules and route maps, paying fares, loading SmarTrip cards, and signaling the driver to stop. The bus will stop at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro to allow passengers to experience these points.
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36th District Reston, Virginia |
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| June 10-12
Details and ticket information are here |
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