Commentary

Plum Center for Lifelong Learning

(On September 4, 2008, the Fairfax County School Board named one of its centers the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning recognizing Delegate Kenneth R. Plum as "a skilled, effective, and highly respected director of Adult and Community Education," who "developed Fairfax County's adult education program from a small initiative to a world-class program with unparalleled breadth and depth." According to the resolution passed unanimously by the School Board, "this center will serve as a classroom campus for adult and community education in order to meet the essential lifelong learning needs of the community." Following are Delegate Kenneth R. Plum's remarks to the School Board.)

To paraphrase a recent nominee for President of the Untied States, it is with profound gratitude and great humility that I thank you for the great honor you have bestowed upon me and my family in naming the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning. I could not be more honored.

When this great honor was mentioned to me as a possibility a few months ago, I was especially pleased to learn that I did not have to be dead for it to happen.

Just think! Now our region has the Washington Monument, the Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, George Mason University, and the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning.

Let me tell you what the name means to me. First, Plum will always have an asterisk beside it in my mind. And the asterisk will footnote the dozens of creative men and women who contributed to putting together one of the largest and certainly the best public school adult and community education program in the Nation. For almost thirty wonderful years I held position titles that suggested that I was manager of the program; the truth is that I was the enabler. Time would certainly not permit me to name all those individuals with whom I worked, and I would certainly invariably leave someone out for there were so many. While my name is on the building, I read it as the leader of a team of professionals that were dedicated, innovative, entrepreneurial, and caring and who made my career with Fairfax Schools one that I truly loved.

For the remainder of the Center name, Lifelong Learning, I commend you, the School Board and the Superintendent, for agreeing to this language. "Lifelong learning" means to me that an education is not the simple acquisition of facts and information at a point in time but is the development of skills of creative thinking and problem solving that will help our students to survive in a future world about which we only know is that it will be characterized by change.

In my nearly 30 years with the system, I worked with and sometimes around many school boards and superintendents. I always said and still believe that the first responsibility of a public school adult education program and of a lifelong learning center is to assist the regular school in its mission of educating children. With my staff I always promoted the idea that teaching a child can sometimes be aided by appropriate intervention with the parents. Children from homes with parents who cannot read are highly likely to have trouble learning to read. When a language other than English is only spoken in the home, a child may be slower in learning English. Children of the unemployed and the underemployed can face special challenges. In all these instances, adult education intervention with parents may help the children learn. And adult education programs provide a return for taxpayers who are paying for the schools but may not have a student in them.

It is my hope that the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning can serve as a model for raising the educational level of adults and children and increasing support for public education in our community.

Most humbly I once again thank you.

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

Voting Information for November 4 General Election

Announcements

The National Board of the National Autism Association (NAA) has announced its newest chapter, The Northern Virginia-Fairfax Chapter, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. The NAA advocates for the cure, prevention, and treatment of Autism. For more information you may contact the Chapter at Admin@NAA-NOVA.org or call 703.652.7682.

Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) seeks public input. To help determine what type of cases VOPA will handle, it develops goals, focus areas, and objectives every two years based on public feedback. VOPA invites you to take a few moments to review its current goals and focus areas and share your feedback on its advocacy efforts by taking a brief survey at www.vopa.virginia.gov.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has launched a new statewide 511 information system at www.511va.org. The new site includes traffic information, road conditions, trip planning, traffic cameras, commuting alternatives, and customizable "My 511 Control Room."

The Southern Growth Policies Board's 2009 Innovator Awards will be focused on the economic opportunities relating to bioproducts, alternative energy, and/or energy efficiency. Southern Growth uses the Innovator Awards to honor inventive programs that are improving economic opportunities and quality of life in the South. To learn more about the criteria for this year's award and to submit a nomination online, visit www.southern.org/innovators/innovators.shtml.

Calendar of Events

The Alliance of Reston Clusters and Homeowners (ARCH) invites you to attend a meeting with County staff tonight, September 10, 7:00 p.m., at the North County Government Center, 12000 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, to express ideas and concerns about Reston's future and its planning.

A Public Forum will be held on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Washington Metropolitan Region on Thursday, September 11, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 777 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC.
 
Compact fluorescent light bulb recycling and document shredding will be available FREE on Saturday, September 13, at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. No long fluorescent tubes will be accepted – only compact light bulbs. Limit of 5 medium-sized boxes of paper per household for shredding.

Congressman Jim Moran's 17th Annual Women's Issues Conference will be held Saturday, September 13, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington. The Conference is free and open to the public and includes a pizza lunch. Keynote speaker will be Donna Brazile. Visit www.moran.house.gov or call 703.971.4700 for more information.
 
The 2008 International Children's Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (rain or shine) at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. This year's theme, "Connecting Cultures Through the Arts," will feature the Canadian percussionists ScrapArtsMusic, performers from China, Finland, Ghana, and Jordan, hands-on arts activities, and wonderful surprises throughout the park. Visit www.internationalchildrensfestival.org for more information. 

Virginia Voices is joining Every Child Matters in a non-partisan, nationwide event, "Step Up for Kids Day" with a rally in Virginia on September 16, 2008, to draw public attention to issues affecting America's children such as poverty, health care, juvenile incarceration, early care and education, and foster care. Get more details by emailing voices@vakids.org. 

The Fairfax County fire and Rescue Department will be conducting Reston-based training for a Reston Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This team of citizens is trained to assist the local first responders in the event of a natural or man-made disaster in our area. Sixteen hours of training is scheduled at the Reston Association, 1930 Isaac Newton Square, from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. on the following evenings: September 16, 23, 30, October 6, 13, and 21 (if necessary). To train and become a member of this vitally important team, contact Dana Powers at 703.246.4683 or dana.powers@fairfaxcounty.gov.

A Restoration Celebration will be held at Montpelier, home of James and Dolley Madison, on Constitution Day, September 17, 2008, beginning at 11:00 a.m. to observe the completion of the architectural restoration of Madison's lifelong home. Festivities will include appearances by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Jim Lehrer of The News Hour, a "Living Flag" with 2,500 school children, the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, a special appearance by James and Dolley Madison, and more. Food vendors will be available; admission is free. Visit www.montpelier.org for more information about this and other events at Montpelier.

"Collection Day" to recycle cell phones, bicycles ($10 donation, working/repairable), winter coats (gently used and clean), compact fluorescent bulbs, computers and equipment (hard drives destroyed onsite), documents for shredding, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and home electronics will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. For more information go to www.restontowncenter.com.

Attend the Commonwealth of Virginia Energy and Sustainability (COVES) Conference, "Meeting the Climate Challenge," on September 17-19 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, VA. For more information, go to www.vsbn.org/coves2008.

Fairfax County will host the 9th annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference on September 18-20 at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean. For more information visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2008/166.htm. 

The Third Annual Race into Autumn 5K and 1 Mile Run sponsored by the Therapeutic Recreation Department of Northern Virginia Training Center (NVTC) will be held at NVTC on Saturday, September 27, at 8:00 a.m., 9901 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA. This Race will benefit the Northern Virginia Training Center, a state run residential facility for adults with intellectual disabilities. for details and registration go to www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1602665&assetld=d5e316.

Ride in the Blood, Sweat & Gears Bike Ride, a 25k, 50k, or 50 mile loop through the Virginia countryside, on September 27, rain or shine. The ride starts and stops at the YMCA at 12196 Sunset Hills road, Reston. The Hemophilia Association – Capital Area sponsors this event. Go to www.hacacares.org and click on Chapter Activities to view more information about the Ride.

Explore the newly reconstructed streams along Snakeden Branch at a Stream Restoration Walk with Reston Association Watershed Supervisor Nicki Foremsky on Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m. to noon. You will hike down the stream and natural area behind the Hunters Woods Village Center, so be sure to wear boots that can get wet and wear long pants and insect repellant. For more information call 703.435.6560 or email nicki@reston.org.

The 8th Annual Greater Washington Arts Committee (GWAC) Youth Art Fest will be held Saturday, September 27, at the Pavilion at Reston Town Center, 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. The GWAC Youth Art Fest is a celebration that brings together professional artists, artisans and performers to share their work and talent with children and their families. The goal of the GWAC Youth Art Festival is to expose children to a variety of artistic mediums and to work directly with professional artists in developing their artistic talents. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit Devotion to Children, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing high quality educational and childcare programs for children aged six and under from economically disadvantaged families. Visit www.YouthArtFest.com for more information about this year's theme, participants, judging, sponsorship opportunities, and more.

Attend the Fifth Annual 8k Run/Walk, "Kit's Miracle Mile – Rejoicing in the Triumphs of Survivors with Brain Injuries," on Sunday, September 28. Register online at www.kitsmiraclemile.org.

The Virginia PTA will be hosting four Internet Safety Town Hall Meetings around the state to launch a program sponsored by the Internet safety organizaiton Enough is Enough (EIE) and the Virginia PTA in order to introduce and distribute the "Internet Safety 101: Empowering Parents" teaching DVD and workbook. The Virginia PTA and EIE Public Town Hall Meeting will be held in our area on Tuesday, September 30, at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, with registration and refreshments beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the program in the auditorium beginning at 7:00 p.m. Online registration is available at www.novadistrictpta.org/events/EIEtownhall.htm.

The Youth for Tomorrow Country Fair & Auctions will be on Saturday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the YFT Campus, 2 miles south of Manassas, Route 28 & Linton Hall Road. This event will be hosted by Joe Gibbs, YFT's founder and chairman and former Washington Redskins coach. Visit www.youthfortomorrow.org for more event information.
 
The Virginia Recreation and Park Society's 54th Annual Conference with The Governor's Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Trails will be held October 4 through 7 at the Greater Richmond convention Center and the Richmond Marriott. Visit www.VRPS.com for information and online registration.

Oktoberfest is returning to the Reston Town Center Pavilion on October 10 and 11, 3:00 to 11:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, the best in fall brews and delicious traditional Oktoberfest faire from area restaurants will be featured. Enjoy live entertainment at the main Pavilion throughout the event. Visit www.restonchamber.org for information about sponsorship and restaurant participation opportunities.

The 7th Annual Reston Home Tour will be on Saturday, October 18, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year's tour, "A New Perspective," will feature five private homes and a special chef presentation at Linden Springs Manor House. Get tickets online at www.restonmuseum.org. Those interested in being a Reston Home Tour docent may contact Donna Shaffer at donnas17@verizon.net or 703.437.1099. The Reston Home Tour is presented by Reston Historic Trust to benefit Reston Museum at Lake Anne Village Center.

The Virginia Council for Litter Prevention & Recycling will host a conference October 22-24 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fredericksburg. Save the date; more information on registration will be available soon.

Are you new to Reston? Get to know your Reston Association (RA) at an event for newcomers and also for those not-so-new to Reston on Thursday, November 6, 7 to 9 p.m. at RA's Main Conference Room, 1930 Isaac Newton Square. Learn more about RA and its many services, amenities, and programs available to you. Meet staff and Board members, and find out about volunteer opportunities. Light refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be awarded..

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

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