Good morning RVA: Happy birthday George!

Celebrate George Washington’s birthday on this cold, clear Monday morning.

February 17, 2014; 7:03 AM • by Ross Catrow

RVA, it’s cold outside! It’s currently 28 °F with a high of 40 °F, so bundle up, and make sure you grab your sunglasses before you head out the door. Tonight we’ll probably see some “wintry mix,” but it’ll clear up by early tomorrow morning.

Later this week–get excited–expect temperatures to cross 60 °F! This is still too cold to grab a beer on one of Richmond’s many patios. You’ll want to, but it won’t be pleasant, trust me.

Most schools are in session today, Presidents’ Day, as a makeup for a trillion snow days.

Traffic

Right now roads are looking good.

The right lane of I-95 between Belvidere and Boulevard will be closed in both directions from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Expect delays.

This evening, from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM Tuesday, I-95 will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between Brook Road and Parham Road. Expect major delays.

Today only, overhead lighting repairs will shutdown the right lane I-95 north near Boulevard. Use caution 9am-3pm. #RVAtraffic @CBS6— Kristen Luehrs (@KristenLuehrs) February 17, 2014

Olympics watch

This weekend, the USA’s men’s hockey team took Russia into shootouts and won in a totally dramatic fashion. If you missed it, watch the replay–it’s worth it!

Team USA now has 16 medals total and picked up new medals this weekend in women’s skeleton (silver), men’s skeleton (bronze), and men’s Super-G (silver and bronze). They’re now tied with Russia for second place. Netherlands leads with 17.

Today’s medal events include: ice dance, women’s 12.5k mass start biathlon, two-man bobsled, men’s aerials skiing, and men’s team large hill ski jumping.

Full schedule here.

Water cooler

Today is Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday that’s been around since 1879. In Virginia, however, it’s technically called “George Washington Day” and should therefore be spelled “President’s Day.” These are the things I think about.

VCU lost a hard-fought battle with Saint Louis this past Saturday. The Rams will host the Billikens on Saturday, March 1st.

What’s a Billiken anyway? From Wikipedia:

The Billiken was a charm doll created by an American art teacher and illustrator, Florence Pretz of Kansas City, Missouri, who is said to have seen the mysterious figure in a dream. In 1908, she obtained a design patent on the ornamental design of the Billiken, who was elephant-like with pointed ears, a mischievous smile and a tuft of hair on his pointed head. His arms were short and he was generally sitting with his legs stretched out in front of him. To buy a Billiken was said to give the purchaser luck, but to have one given would be better luck. After a few years of popularity, like other fad toys, the Billiken faded into obscurity. Today, the Billiken is the official mascot of Saint Louis University and St. Louis University High School, both Jesuit institutions located in St. Louis.

February 17, 2014 7:03 AM 0