Commentary

Two recent books – one by a father, former Governor Linwood Holton, and the other by his son, Woody Holton – merit our attention for the insights and perspectives they provide that are valuable for us today. Governor Holton, the first Republican governor of Virginia since Reconstruction, told me some months ago that he was writing a book. I eagerly awaited the product for Governor Holton served the Commonwealth at a very pivotal time, 1970-1974, and provided great leadership especially in the areas of improving racial relations and equal opportunity, protecting our environment, and modernizing state government. His memoir, Opportunity Time (University of Virginia Press, 2008), does not disappoint. Its conversational tone is an easy read, and its behind-the-scenes, candid approach sheds fresh light on the major players and issues of the time.

Governor Holton was one of the leaders of the New South who set an example by having his children be part of integrating the public schools in Richmond. As a fiscal conservative he recognized the need for the state to make investments in its educational institutions and pushed through an increase in the top bracket of the income tax to pay for needed programs. He consolidated the port facilities in Hampton Roads as an important economic development action, and he made significant strides in cleaning up the Potomac and other waterways in Virginia that had raw sewage flowing in them.

Governor Holton's book is fun to read with its southwestern Virginia plain language. His son Woody's book, Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution (Hill and Wang, 2007), is a scholarly study that was a National Book Award Finalist. In his well-documented book Woody Holton writes that "the vast majority of the most popular constitutional clauses are not actually in the Constitution that the framers signed on September 17, 1787. Nearly all stirring phrases that Americans most cherish are actually in the Bill of Rights or in later amendments, especially those adopted after the Civil War." Much of the Constitution was a carryover from the Articles of Confederation and was designed to consolidate power for the elite. Holton argues that it was the "unruly Americans" who insisted on a Bill of Rights that gave strength to our form of government. Many unsung heroes should be counted with our Founding Fathers in making our constitution the durable document that it is.

Whether it was the citizens of the new nation or the leader of state in a modern time, all recognized and took advantage of "opportunity time." They provided leadership to make our country and our Commonwealth a better place to live. We need to seize the opportunities of today to build on their rich heritage.

May 6 Report with Del. Plum and Senator Howell

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

View Delegate Plum’s Virginia Report online at http://www.rctv28.com/videosVR.htm.Tuesday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, April 16 at 10:30 p.m. – Kristen Skowronski, Rachel Carson Middle School student, environmental activist, and State Senate Messenger – “Two Months with the General Assembly”

Tonight – April 23, 10:30 p.m. – John Horejsi, community activist – "Advocating for Life"

Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, April 30 at 10:30 p.m. – Kristen Skowronski, Rachel Carson Middle School student, environmental activist, and State Senate Messenger - "Two Months with the General Assembly"

Transportation Survey - 2008

Announcements

"Top of the Town," one of the top fundraising teams for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, is recruiting additional members. Have a fun experience while raising money for cancer research. For more information contact the Team Co-Captain, Ken Plum, at 703.391.2978.
 
The Greater Washington Board of Trade has released Key Findings and Green Benchmarks: A Report from the 2007 Potomac Conference. Included in the report are some remarkable findings:

• Green Collar Workforce: Greater Washington has the largest number of environmental services employees in the country - nearly 14,000 environmental workers hold jobs such as conservationist, environmental scientist, and wildlife biologist.
• Off the Road: Twenty percent of Greater Washington's workforce takes public transit (405,000), works from home (131,200) or bikes or walks to the office (105,700).
• Hybrid Vehicles: Greater Washington's residents purchased 11,400 new hybrid cars in 2006 - more than Boston or Chicago.

To learn more about the Board of Trade's green business initiative, contact Rachell Silberman at rachelsilberman@bot.org or 202.857.5970.

Check on how the Virginia Department of Transportation is performing on construction and maintenance projects by going to www.VirginiaDOT.org and click on the "Dashboard."
 
Television will change dramatically on February 17, 2009, when all full power television stations across the country complete the federally-mandated transition from analog to digital television (DTV) broadcasting. to learn more about this change, go to DTVAnswers.com.

Calendar of Events

Attend the Best of Reston Awards Gala and Dinner on April 24. The 2008 Best of Reston Honorees are John Coleman, The JBG Companies, the Volunteer Medical Providers of the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic, Ruth Overton, The Reston Garden Club, Tetra Partnerships, and VISTA Wealth Strategies & Judy Redpath. The Awards and Gala are produced in partnership by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Interfaith. Last year’s Best of Reston event raised more than $300,000 for Reston Interfaith. Watch here for details about this important event.

Nominate your favorite Green Company or Organization for a Green Innovation Award. Nominees are those who have made an innovative contribution to sustainability in the Commonwealth for a 2008 Virginia Sustainable Building Network Green Innovation award. The application deadline is April 24. For more information visit www.vsbn.org.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation will hold its Annual Scholarship Luncheon at the Waterford at 6715 Commerce Street, Springfield, this Saturday, April 26, at noon. Delegate Ken Plum is the luncheon speaker. For more information about purchasing tickets or to rsvp call 703.709.3641. The Foundation's website is www.mlkculturalfoundation.org.

The topic of Fairfax Futures' 4th annual School Readiness Symposium, to be held on Saturday, April 26 in Fairfax will be "Resilient, Resourceful and Ready: the Importance of Social and Emotional Competence for Young Children." Dr. Daniel Gartrell will be keynote speaker. For more information go to www.fairfax-futures.org.

Mosaic Harmony's 15th Anniversary Spring Celebration Concerts will be held on April 26 and May 3, 7:00 p.m., at the McLean High School Auditorium, 1633 Davidson Road, McLean. Tickets for the "Let it Shine" concerts are available now. Visit www.mosaicharmony.com or call 301.816.9220 for information and ordering. Find out more about Mosaic Harmony by emailing information@mosaicharmony.com.

IMAGINE 2008, the fundraiser for the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry, will be held at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria on April 26, 2008, 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. For more information contact lkaterman@novam.org.

The Annual Benefit Concert of the Reston Community Orchestra will be “A Family Evening at the Pops” on Sunday, April 27, 5:30 p.m. in the newly renovated Sunset Hills Montessori School, corner of South Lakes Drive and Ridge Heights Road. RSVP for tickets and table reservations to 703.860.1328 by Thursday, April 24.

Attend an exclusive Festival Preview Reception sponsored by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) on Friday, May 2, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Reston Midtown, Reston Town Center. Tickets cost $35 for members and $50 for non-members of GRACE. Reserve your tickets by calling GRACE at 704.471.9242 by April 25. The Preview Reception, an exclusive preview of works of artists participating in the 17th annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival in May, will include a live art auction with Delegate Ken Plum serving as auctioneer for the event.

Attend the 8th Annual Pet Fiesta on Saturday, May 3, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Reston Town Center. The event is a celebration of pets and pet ownership with a Tails on Trails dog Walk, Doghouse of Style Fashion Show of pet-wear, Paws-itively Fun Pet Contests, Super Pet Adoption, exhibitors of pet resources, and rescue groups. Family fun activities include face painting, caricature artists, and live entertainment. All on-leash pets are welcome; general admission is free. For more information, visit www.PetFiesta.org or www.RestonTownCenter.com.

The State Arboretum of Virginia Annual Garden Fair will be held May 10-11, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More than 80 vendors will offer unique plants for sale to help support the Arboretum that is located in Boyce, about 30 minutes west on Route 7. For more information, visit www.virginia.edu/blandy.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation is developing a 10-year comprehensive Transit Development Plan (TDP) for Fairfax Connector and Metrobus service in the county and wishes to receive public comments about this plan at a public meeting scheduled for May 14, 6:30 p.m., at the Northern County Government Center in Reston. For more information or to submit comments about the Transit Development Plan, visit the Fairfax County website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot.tdp.htm or call 703.324.1500 to record your comments.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced that proposed secondary street acceptance requirements are available for public comment. The requirements ensure that streets accepted into the state system for perpetual public maintenance provide long-term public benefit. The regulations and additional information can be found at www.VirginiaDOT.org/projects/ssar. There will be a public hearing on the regulations on May 14, 5:30 p.m. at the Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Cultural Center forum Area, 8333 Little River Turnpike, annandale, VA 22003.

Join hundreds of bicycle commuters to celebrate Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 16, 6:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the Reston Town Center. Each year since 2002, cyclists have gathered at the Town Center for a free breakfast, raffles of bike-related prizes, and bicycling information handouts including the new Fairfax County Bike Map to be unveiled on Bike to Work Day. Pre-registered riders also get a free t-shirt. Delegate Ken Plum and Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins will greet the riders at 8:00 a.m. Register at www.waba.orga.

The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival sponsored by GRACE is May 17-18. More information is at www.restonarts.org.

The Opening Ceremony for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Reston will be held on Saturday, May 31, 1:00 p.m. at the athletic field behind South Lakes High School. The Relay will go all day, all evening, and through the night, ending the next morning. Come join the fun! Delegate Ken Plum's "Top of the Town" team always welcomes new members or visitors. This is a great way to make new friends while raising money for cancer research. Come visit the "Top of the Town" tent to say hello on May 31.

Attend the Rotary Senior Senior Prom on Saturday, June 21, 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Church in Herndon. This dress-up event is for anyone who has reached 50 or better - and their families - and will feature great food and music. Call 703.437.5886 to rsvp.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191