25 Cents Vol. XX, No. 39 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Paper October 1, 2009 What’s Ahead for Mount Vernon? By Gerald A. Fill This section of the road runs The Gazette through Ft. Belvoir and will be designed to handle the increased esidents of Mount traffic created by the construction Vernon will see a of a new comprehensive health R number of issues facility in Fort Belvoir which is shape their commu- scheduled to be fully operational nity in the near future. Here is an in 2011. overview: FORT BELVOIR COMMUNITY ROUTE 1 EXPANSION HOSPITAL The Board of Supervisors has Military personnel and veterans allocated $3 million to in the area will soon be design a Route 1 expan- Newcomers’ able to receive total sion from four lanes to six Guide medical care at Fort Fife and drums at the Mt. Vernon Estate. Photos by Louise Krafft/Gazette lanes, anticipated to be Belvoir’s new 1.3 million completed by 2014-15. square foot, $807 million Newcomers’ & Community The work includes expanding a 2- state of the art medical facility. The mile section of the highway begin- Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Guide 2009-10 ning at Route 235 south to the Fairfax County Parkway along with See Some of the Forces, a median and turn around lane. Page 8 Hardison Leads West Potomac High ing he considered teaching since Education veteran his youth. After a stint with the is new Wolverine Marine Officer Training program, Hardison began his career as a principal. multi-subject eighth grade teacher at Godwin Middle School. Thirty-two years later, Hardison By Ansley LaBarre finds himself a veteran of the edu- The Gazette cation system. He relocated more than once, obtaining his graduate liff Hardison lounges in degree in counseling from Virginia Chis office as the bell Commonwealth University and drones over the loud- moving on to Virginia Tech for a speaker and ends West Potomac doctorate in the leadership pro- High School’s Friday classes — sig- gram. Christmas at Woodlawn Plantation Good Shepherd’s International Festival naling his second week as the new “I’ve liked every aspect of my principal is officially over. He is journey,” Hardison said. chief of the 2,100 teenagers in his Although Hardison created his student body. foundation through teaching, he The West Springfield graduate is no stranger to Fairfax County, say- See New Principal, Page 26 10/2/09 Requested in home in Requested material. Time-sensitive Postmaster: Attention Permit #482 Permit Alexandria, VA Alexandria, PAID West Potomac Madrigals sing at the Mount Vernon Estate. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ October 1-7, 2009 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ October 1-7, 2009 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren Newcomers’ & Community Guide 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Slave Memorial Commemoration Photos by LaShawn Avery/The Gazette Guests gather around a monument located on the slave burial ground to pay Nikki Giovanni Youth Writers: Drew Darden, Matt tribute at the 26th Anniver- Convoe, Calvin Williams, Shakira Kemp and Deonna The St. Andrew’s Legion Pipes and Drums with Tim sary Slave Memorial Com- Dobson handed out pamphlets to guests arriving at the Batten, Pipe Major, play music for guests attending the memoration held at the Mt. memorial commemoration on Saturday, Sept. 26. commemoration. Vernon Estate. Colonists Drive Out Tribes, Make Their Homes Compiled by Gerald A. Fill sailed up the Potomac River and began to Kings Charles II was exiled to Europe tural area where tobacco was farmed by map the areas along the riverbank. When he during the English Civil War in 1649, Dur- slaves. Plantations were built along the he Mount Vernon District in arrived in 1608 the Moyumpse or Dogue tribe ing his exile, King Charles granted all of the Potomac, the most notable of them, Mt. cludes, Mount Vernon, Fort predominated. Tauxemont, their main vil- land between the Potomac and Vernon which was acquired by George TBelvoir, Lorton, Mason Neck lage, was located in Mason Neck where they Rappahannock Rivers to seven of his loyal Washington in 1735. By the time Washing- and parts of southeast Spring- lived in long houses and raised corn, beans, supporters. By 1690 all of this land was ton died in 1799, Mt. Vernon had grown to field, representing a population of approxi- squash and tobacco. The Potomac River pro- controlled by Lord Fairfax. Thomas, sixth 8,000 acres, and was farmed by over 300 mately 117,000 within 60 square miles. It vided an ample supply of fish and shellfish. Lord Fairfax, arrived in Virginia in 1737, slaves. George Mason, another of America’s is one of eight magisterial districts in Fairfax During the Susquehannock War in 1675, installed his cousin William as his land founding fathers who fought to add the Bill County. Bordered by the The Moyumpse sided with the agent, and by 1745 his proprietary extended of Rights to the Constitution and authored History Potomac River on the east, the Susquehannocks in a losing cause against to 5,282,000 acres. the Virginia Declaration of Rights, lived district contains some of the the colonists. When the war ended they left south of Mt. Vernon in Gunston Hall over- county’s wetlands and parks, the area along with the Susquehannocks WILLIAM FAIRFAX built the Belvoir man- looking Gunston Cove in Mason Neck. His the majority the county’s historic sites, as who were driven out of their villages on the sion in 1741 on the Potomac River which is home is preserved as a historic site today. well as a number of venues for biking, hik- Maryland side of the Potomac. The colonists now the site of the present day Ft. Belvoir. In 1790, the first census lists Fairfax ing, and boating and fishing. took over these villages and farmlands In 1742 he cut a portion of the proprietary County with a combined white and black Fairfax County and the Mount Vernon dis- where they continued to grow the same away from Prince William County and population of 12,000. Earlier in 1782, 41 trict were home to the native Americans for crops and fished and hunted just as they named it after his cousin, Lord Fairfax. over 1,500 years before Captain John Smith had learned from the Indians. Fairfax County was primarily an agricul- See From Farmland, Page 9 Viewpoints What do you like or dislike about living in Mount Vernon? Photos by Gerald A. Fill/ Mary Peters, 15 years in the Hollin Uffe Mikkelsen, 17-year resident of The Gazette Hall community, travel agent. Anne Heising, librarian at Stratford landing community, owns “Yes, I like living here because of its and operates local gourmet food David Tomblin with daughter Sherwood Hall Regional Library, has diversity, convenience, friendly carryout store. Evelyn, five years in the Wellington lived on the immediate neighborhood people, and it is a safe place to live.” “Yes, the Mount Vernon community community. for many years. is a hidden jewel. It is a small, friendly “Yes, I like living here. It has a “Yes, I like living here because of its community in spite of its geographic secluded feeling, away from the hustle multicultural aspects, an area that location in a suburb of the nation’s and bustle. I also like the extensive accepts new Americans. I have capital. I know many of my customers bike paths.” established roots here and am involved in my church and active in on a first name basis and feel fortu- personal artistic pursuits.” nate to be living and working here.” www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ October 1-7, 2009 ❖ 3 Newcomers’ & Community Guide Places To Go, People To Meet … Compiled by Senitra McCombs tage with activities, performances and Scottish Heritage Fair at Fort demonstrations. Call 703-838-4994. Ward Park at 4301 West Braddock Road www.virginia.org in Alexandria. Sunday, Oct. 5 from 10 October 2009 a.m. to 5 p.m. A family celebration fea- Fall Harvest Family Days at turing music, Scottish dancing Scottish December 2009 George Washington’s Gristmill, on State clans, blackfoot sheep, Clydesdale horses, the swords of chivalry and more. Holidays at Mount Vernon. Nov. Route 235, near Route 1. October 17- by Photo 28- Jan. 6 The Washington family’s sea- 18, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Create cornhusk dolls, Admission is free. For more information sonal entertaining is interpreted daily, learn about candle-making and see how call the City’s Special Events Hotline including Christmas Day and New Year’s the gristmill works. An on-site bake sale 703-883-4686. Day; themed Christmas Trees, ginger- will offer fresh-baked goods, sand- Craft Sale at Hollin Hall Senior Cen- Louise Krafft bread demonstation, historic chocolate wiches and beverages. Free. Call ter on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m.-2 demonstration. George Washington’s 703-780-2000 or visit p.m. at Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens. 9 a.m.- www.mountvernon.org. Shenandoah Road. Over 30 crafters, si- 4 p.m. Call 703-780-2000. Mount Vernon Estate’s Wine lent auction, bake ale, lunch and more Plantation Christmas & Yule- Festival and Sunset Tour. Features will be featured. Free. 703-765-4573. tide Christmas Dinner. Celebrate live entertainment, re-enactments, and /Gazette the season with a tour of the candle-lit tours of seldom open wine cellar vaults. house, cider by the glowing fire, open- This evening event celebrates the his- November 2009 hearth cooking demonstrations, and tory of wine making by the founding Veteran’s Day at George carriage rides.