Burke People

Burke People

Subscribe

Engagements

Myra Aznar to Marry Jason Simon

Edgar and Virginia Aznar of Burke announce the upcoming June wedding of their daughter, Myra Aznar, to Jason Simon, in Charleston, S.C. Jason is the son of Steve and Karen Simon of Heritage Court, Conn.

Tease photo

Volunteering Gives Seniors a Sense of Fulfillment

Shepherd Center network provides opportunities for seniors to help seniors.

Kathy Tugendhat chairs the Adventures in Learning organizing committee at Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV). She teaches conversational ESL at Patrick Henry Library, one-on-one. On Wednesdays in the summer months, Tugendhat tells stories and leads songs for youngsters on the grounds of the Little Library. She sings with the Vienna Choral Society because she loves it. “It keeps me young,” said Tugendhat. She’s also 80 years old.

Free EKG Screenings in Lopynski’s Honor

Class of 2008 Robinson graduate Ryan Lopynski was a freshman at Virginia Tech who’d come home to Clifton’s Hampton Chase community to visit his family and seek a summer job. But on April 26, 2009 he collapsed at home and suffered a fatal heart attack. Afterward, his parents established the Ryan Lopynski Big Heart Foundation to honor his life and to raise public awareness about sudden cardiac arrest in young adults.

Allison Hunter Wins $2,500 Robinson Scholarship

The Lunsford/Behrend Scholarship. The Lunsford/Behrend Scholarship Fund, Inc., which has awarded a scholarship annually for the past seven years, was started by Robinson band alumni in honor of Robinson band directors James G. Lunsford and Jack Behrend, who taught and inspired hundreds of students during their tenure at the school during the 1970s. Hunter, who played first chair euphonium at Robinson, was selected from a pool of applicants who were evaluated earlier this year.

Viewpoints

How is new technology impacting community life?

Individuals talk about how technology effects their everyday routines.

Tease photo

A Soldier’s Story

Burke man honored for heroism in disrupting pivotal “Easter Offensive.”

In November, 1971, Captain Denis Gulakowski began what he thought would be a relatively “safe” tour of duty in Vietnam. The Cold War military conflict had escalated steadily since 1955, and reached a high of 500,000 troops in 1967. By late 1971, the number of American troops in-country had been greatly reduced as President Richard Nixon implemented his “Vietnamization” program to extract the United States from the war.

Being a Warrior, Now and Then

Q&A with Lt. Col. Gulakowski: Reflections on Vietnam legacy.

Lt. Col. Denis Gulakowski of Burke is a retired Army officer who served more than 25 years. From November 1971 until November 1972, he did a tour of duty in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he participated in several battles, one of which disrupted the North Vietnamese attempt to overrun areas of South Vietnam during the Easter Offensive (Nguyen Hue Campaign) of 1972.

Tease photo

Robinson Student Receives Scholarship

Maritza Villarroel honored by Hispanic Leadership Alliance.

Just 18, Robinson Secondary senior Maritza Villarroel plans to go to college and someday become a nurse. And thanks to a scholarship from the Hispanic Leadership Alliance (HLA), she’ll soon start her journey.

Tease photo

100 New Citizens Sworn In

Congressman Connolly, Chairman Bulova, Delegate Keam participate in naturalization ceremony in Fairfax.

The new citizens, accompanied by many family members, filled the Government Center's auditorium for the naturalization ceremony held by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Congressman Connolly, Chairman Bulova and Delegate Keam addressed the group, each describing in their words what it meant to be an American.

Local Student to Receive Statewide Award

A Floris fifth-grader honored for excellence in math.

A Floris Elementary School fifth-grader has been selected as the Virginia recipient of the Nicholas Green Distinguished Student Award by the National Association of Gifted Children.

Editorial: Remembering on Memorial Day

The sacrifices of those who died in war.

1st Lt. Robert J. Hess, 26, of the Kings Park West neighborhood of Fairfax, was killed by enemy fire on April 23, 2013 in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan. Hess was known as “RJ” and graduated from Robinson Secondary School in 2005, where he played football, lacrosse and was the captain of the swim team. He was a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter pilot who deployed to Afghanistan on April 11, 2013. His family remembers his sense of humor and his natural leadership ability.

Tease photo

Springfield Joins Bike to Work Day

Self-powered commuters enjoyed bike service, snacks and a chance to give feedback.

Though the Metro Park pit stop for Bike to Work Day 2013 didn’t technically open until 6:30 a.m. on Friday, May 17, the first biker showed up at 6:15, according to stop Manager Nancy-jo Manney.

Tease photo

We Are Family

Community celebrates foster families during annual 5K walk at Lake Accotink.

They walked, ran or rode trikes, all in celebration of foster families at Lake Accotink Park on Saturday, May 18.

Tease photo

Brief: Nereids Synchronized Swimmers Place at Regionals

The Northern Virginia Nereids synchronized swimming team qualified for the Age Group National Synchronized Swimming competition after a successful showing at the South Zone Region A Regional Competition in Washington, D.C. the weekend of May 3-5.

Brief: Eight FCPS Students Honored for Writing

Eight Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have received certificates for superior writing in the 2013 Achievement Awards in Writing by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).