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Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – May 16, 2007
COMMENTARY
A Tribute to Oliver W. Hill, Sr. Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
Two weeks ago was an exciting and event-filled time for Jane and me. As I described in past columns, we started the week at the reopening of the renovated State Capitol, Mr. Jefferson’s Temple on the Hill, where his basic classical design was unchanged as technological support features were added to the building and an underground extension was constructed to provide much-needed space. We returned to the Capitol on Thursday for a speech to a joint session of the General Assembly by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Although her speech was brief, the Queen showed a clear understanding of the significance of the 400th commemoration of the settlement at Jamestown and the impact on the three cultures of Native Americans, English, and Africans that came together there. On Friday we traveled to Jamestown and were present for the Queen’s visit to the recreated fort and a welcoming speech by Vice President Dick Cheney. As though that was not enough, Friday evening brought the highlight of the week for us. We returned to Richmond and attended the 100th Birthday Party for Mr. Oliver W. Hill, Sr., along with a thousand other guests, the Governor, and four former governors. Mr. Hill is the dean of civil rights lawyers in the Commonwealth. As the NAACP lawyer in Virginia Mr. Hill became the lead attorney in the case of Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County challenging the separate but equal doctrine and the segregation of public schools. After the case was consolidated with the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, Mr. Hill became part of the legal team led by his law school classmate and future Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, arguing the cases before the Supreme Court. The 1954 landmark decision marked the beginning of the end of segregated public schools. Virginia’s response was “massive resistance” using every legislative ploy and legal maneuver possible to try to prevent desegregation. Mr. Hill responded with over 70 civil rights cases all of which he won to dismantle the state’s efforts to keep the schools segregated and to destroy Jim Crow. In recognition of the importance of his work, President Bill Clinton awarded Mr. Hill the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in America. In 2005 he received the NAACP’s highest award, the Spingarn Medal. His autobiography, The Big Bang: Brown v. Board of Education and Beyond, is available from the Oliver W. Hill Foundation (owh999@aol.com). Mr. Jefferson’s architectural jewel shines renewed on Capitol Hill in Richmond. Queen Elizabeth II reminds us of the English influence in our laws and government. Oliver W. Hill, Sr. helps us remember that the struggle for rights and freedoms continues. Like him, we must never give up.
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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report” on Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tonight - Wednesday, May 16 at 10:30 p.m. – Debbie Pickford, Allstate Insurance and Janice Brookings, DriveSmart Virginia – “Making Sure Our Teens Drive Smart”
Tuesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 23 at 10:30 p.m. – Chitra Sharathchandra and Shannon McGrail –“Partners in Policymaking”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Delegate Ken Plum will be honored with the 5th Annual Founder’s Award as the Dulles Area Transportation Association holds its 21st Anniversary and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 17, 6:00 to 8:45 p.m. at the Westfields Marriott. Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer will make the keynote remarks. For more information email info@datatrans.org or call 703.817.1307.
Effective this week Congressman Jim Moran will have an office open in Reston at 1900 Campus Commons Drive, Suite 100, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Staff will be available to offer assistance with any problem or difficulty with an agency of the federal government. You may drop in during these days and hours or call 703.971.4700 for an appointment.
Bike to Work Day, organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), is Friday, May 18. People without bicycles can join, too. Information is available at the WABA website, www.waba.org, for those who need to borrow a bike for the day. To find the most convenient bicycle route, contact the Fairfax County Bicycle Program at 703.324.BIKE, TTY 711, or WABA at 202.518.0524, TTY 711.
Join volunteers and Reston Association staff as they work on removing garlic mustard before its June seeding and hacking at invasive burning bush. This “Weed Warriors” project will be held on Saturday, May 19, 10:00 a.m. to noon on Old Trail Drive. Contact Ha Brock, Volunteer Coordinator at Reston Association at habrock@reston.org to volunteer.
The 16th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will be held on May 19 and 20 at the Reston Town Center. The Festival offers plenty to see, taste, hear, and do from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Fabulous artwork in 17 categories by more than 185 of the nation’s finest painters, sculptors, fine-crafters and jewelers will be available for purchase. Added attractions are musical performances, festive foods, a beer and wine garden, and artistic demonstrations. Suggested donation is $5. For more information or to volunteer, visit www.restonarts.org or call 703.471.9242.
The American Cancer Society’s Reston Relay for Life will be held on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, at South Lakes High School. Want to contribute to this worthwhile community event? Go to www.RestonRelay.org and click on Top of the Town Team to make a contribution online. Join in the Relay fun at South Lakes High School athletic field on beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday 5/19 through the evening – see each team’s festive tents, purchase snacks and drinks, hear live music, walk a few laps if you are able. There will be special activities for children. Participate in the Luminaria ceremony Saturday night at 9:00 in remembrance. Call Delegate Plum’s office mornings at 703.758.9733 to find out more about participating, or stop by South Lakes HS on May 19.
In commemoration of Virginia’s 400th Anniversary, The Reston Chorale under the direction of Frederick Wygal, Jr. will present a multi-media event, Foundations of Freedom, on Saturday, May 19, 8:00 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, 3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria. Tickets for Foundations of Freedom are $25 for house seats and $40 for box seats, available via www.restonchorale.org or call 703.834.0079. Call for more information or email info@restonchorale.org.
Join Voices for Virginia’s Children and the George Mason University Project on Immigration for a forum, “Defining the Unmet Needs of Children in Northern Virginia: The Opportunities and Challenges of a Diverse Community,” on Tuesday, May 22 at George Mason University, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Information about the agenda and registration is available at www.vakids.org.
Help shape Virginia’s transportation future. You can review the Working Draft FY 2008-2013 Six-Year Improvement Program Working Draft on VirginiaDOT.org or attend the statewide hearing in our region on Wednesday, May 23, 7:00 p.m., Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Your comments are invited.
Fairfax County is accepting nominations until May 31 for the eighth annual Environmental Excellence Awards Program designed to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that unselfishly dedicate time, energy and expertise to improve the environment in support of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ environmental goals. For more information call the Fairfax County environmental coordinator at 703.324.1788, TTY 711.
The 19th Annual Clean the Bay Day will be held on Saturday, June 2, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Last June nearly 5,000 volunteers from communities throughout the Commonwealth joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s efforts to Save the Bay. Your participation in this high profile event will be a wonderful opportunity to interact with citizens of Virginia who demonstrate grassroots support for a healthy Chesapeake Bay. Contact Charlene Ihrig in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Hampton Roads Office at 757.622.1964 by Friday, May 18, for assistance with finding one of the hundreds of sites close to your home to help with the clean-up.
Join fellow boaters and lake enthusiasts to kick off Reston’s first Lake Cleanup on Saturday, June 2, 9:00 a.m. to noon, at Lakes Anne, Thoreau, Audubon, and Newport. As part of Lake Appreciation Month and in conjunction with National River Cleanup Week, Reston Association is looking for volunteers to get on the water and collect as much trash as possible. Supplies will be available at each lake. Participants will get BBQ afterwards! Contact Ha Brock, Volunteer Coordinator, at habrock@reston.org or 703.435.7986 to volunteer.
Make your own rain barrel! The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District invites you to make your own rain barrels to prevent stormwater runoff erosion and water your garden/lawn with recycled water. Workshop is Saturday, June 9, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center, 2739 West Ox Road. Cost is $35 per barrel for materials and supplies. Call 703.324.1423 for information or registration or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/rainbarrels.htm. Registration deadline is May 30.
The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce has scheduled “Taste of the Town 2007” for June 16 at the Reston Town Center. To celebrate, the chamber has unveiled www.restontaste.com, the new online home of Taste of the Town and your direct link to all things Taste related.
***************** Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.
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