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Pedestrian Killed On Richmond highway

William Godfrey Jr., 68, of Alexandria was struck as he crossed Richmond Highway near the Backlick Road intersection on Feb. 20. A 58-year-old woman driving a Honda Civic struck Godfrey as she was traveling north on Richmond Highway. Godfrey was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol may have been a factor on the part of the pedestrian, police said.According to Fairfax County’s pedestrian safety information website, 10-20 people on average are killed every year, with another 300 injured. In 2012, there were 201 pedestrians involved in accidents in Fairfax County, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. As of July 2013, there were 98 pedestrians involved in crashes. In June 2013, a pedestrian crossing two lanes of still traffic Richmond Highway was hit by a marked police car traveling in the southbound left turning lanes. According to police, the 60-year-old Alexandria man was not in a crosswalk. The man received non-life threatening injuries. Fairfax County operates a Fairfax County Pedestrian Program. The following information is advice given from their Pedestrian Safety portion of the website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/pedestrian/pedsafety.htm

Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit Starts March 1

Woodlawn, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will showcase the work of skilled needlers from across the country, including objects created by First Ladies and First Family members, during the site’s annual needlework show that begins on Saturday, March 1. “After celebrating the 50th anniversary of the needlework show last year, we wanted to do something special that would build on that excitement and success this year,” said John Riley, interim director of Woodlawn. “This year’s program will feature a blend of contemporary and historic needlework that is as impressive in its craftsmanship as it is in its historical significance.” In addition to hundreds of high quality needlework items on display throughout the Woodlawn mansion, the work of First Families on loan for the special exhibit, “Needlework and the White House: A First Family Tradition,” includes a rug by Barbara Bush, napkins embroidered by Edith Roosevelt, and Dolley Madison’s pin cushion. Visitors will also see needlework ornaments from the 1991 White House holiday display.

Tease photo

Seeing How Slaves Lived

In observance of African American History Month, Mount Vernon Estate offers a Slave Life specialty tour once a day throughout the month of February. The tour provides insight into the lives and contributions of the slaves who built and operated the plantation home of George and Martha Washington. The tour includes living quarters, working gardens as well as reproduction clothing, tools, furniture, cookware, ceramics, and children’s toys of the many enslaved individuals who lived there. Inclusion of the slave quarters provides a complete history of what life was like on the plantation; both those who owned it as well as those who toiled there. While there, visitors may run into the last serving valet to the late General Washington, Christopher Sheels (portrayed by Jonathan Wood). He walks the plantation as one of the important people from Washington’s world. More than 300 slaves “contributed heavily to the success of Mount Vernon,” Wood said. Seeing a live actor portray the character of one of the enslaved individuals guides visitors toward an understanding that Washington, while a great national hero, was also a conflicted individual. “General Washington did not free his slaves until his death” and the display of the slave quarters is a “part of telling his whole story,” Wood added.

Letter to the Editor: A State ‘Religion?’

To the Editor: Public opinion on the subject of marriage is being systematically “stamped-out” in Virginia. Where it conflicts with the will of the State, conscience holds no bearing — so says the Obama faction. This causes me to think a mistake was made (inadvertently, I’m sure) when the editorial, written by Mary Kimm, was published in the Feb. 20 edition of the Gazette. It was placed under the subject heading, “Opinion,” which surely offends the worldview of those (like Obama) who’ve gone to such great lengths to ensure there is no opinion, beyond that of the State. In response to her curious recital, I submit the following observations: Homosexuality is religion. It is dark, humanist religion. The religion of those who hate God. It is agnosticism (Gk., ignorance), deliberately carried into practice, by those “in pursuit of a vain thing.”

Commentary: Schools, Medicaid at Issue in State Budget

Last week, the initial skirmish over the state budget erupted in the Virginia legislature. The proposed House and Senate budgets are significantly different in how they address elementary-secondary education. Virginia provides about 23 percent of Fairfax County’s public school funding. The federal government pays about 5 percent and the remainder comes from Fairfax County, which is largely funded by real estate taxes. The only Northern Virginia County with lower real estate taxes is Arlington County.

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