Bunnyman Brewing, Oldest Home: Top News Of 2021 In Burke

BURKE, VA — While 2021 continued to be overshadowed by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a variety of news that interested Burke Patch readers.

Business news tends to be one of our popular topics. One of the top openings in 2021 was Bunnyman Brewing, giving the Burke area its own brewing company. As the name suggests, it pairs beer with the Bunnyman urban legend. Other openings that caught interest were Chi Mc Korean Fried Chicken in Burke and the future Pupatella in West Springfield.

This year also saw kids make a difference in their communities. A group of Lake Braddock students tended a garden to provide produce for residents in need. Another Lake Braddock student created materials for an outdoor classroom at his former elementary school. During the holiday season, a Robinson student helped nonprofit ECHO meet its goal to provide ornaments for people in need. And several awards went to the Burke Squadron of the Virginia Civil Air Patrol, which includes adult and youth members.

There were some notable police and fire stories affecting Burke. One of the most read stories was the death of U.S. Capitol Police Officer William "Billy" Evans, a Burke resident. Evans was killed when a driver crashed into a barrier on Capitol Hill in April. In the nearby community of Newington Forest, a military veteran couple was killed in a double homicide in May. That followed a fatal shooting of two teens in the Newington Forest area in April.

We've also included other stories of interest, including the listings of historic Burke properties.

To stay up to date on Burke and Fairfax County news in 2022, subscribe to our free news alerts and morning newsletter. If you would like to share story ideas, send me an email at Emily.Leayman@patch.com.

Here are Burke's top stories of 2021:

Business

• Bunnyman Brewing Blends Beer With Urban Legend In Burke Area
• Pupatella Planning West Springfield, Mosaic District Locations
• Chi Mc Korean Fried Chicken Opens In Burke

Kids making a difference

• Lake Braddock Student Creates Outdoor Elementary Classroom
• Lake Braddock Graduate Wins 18 Under 18 Award Through Advocacy
• Robinson Student Spreads Joy With Holiday Ornament Collection
• Lake Braddock Students Garden To Feed Families In Need
• Burke Civil Air Patrol Squadron Recognized With Statewide Award
• Burke Civil Air Patrol Wins 2021 Aerospace Education Achievement
• Burke Civil Air Patrol Squadron Awarded For Balloon Challenge

Police and fire

• Slain Capitol Police Officer Identified After Driver Rams Barrier
• Suspects Charged In Springfield Double Homicide Of Military Vets
• 2 Teens Killed In Newington Forest Area Shooting, Man Charged
• Hot Car Factors Into Child's Death In West Springfield: Police
• Contractor Dies After Falling From Tree At West Springfield Home
• Springfield Man Accused Of Raping Women: Police
• Man Struck By Train Dies In Burke: Police
• 1 Dead, 2 Injured In West Springfield Crash: Police
• Burke House Fire Causes No Injuries, Displaces 2
• 1 Sent To Hospital Amid Burke Area Fire
• Candle Starts Fire In West Springfield Home: Fire Department
• Driver Injured In Crash With Empty School Bus In West Springfield
• Auditor's Report Released For 2019 Burke Domestic Shooting

Real estate

• Oldest Home In Burke Listed For Sale
• Historic Burke Property To Be Listed, Offer Tours In September

Other community news

• Remembering 9/11 Victims From Burke, Springfield 20 Years Later
• Renovated Ice Cream Parlor Open At Burke Lake Park
• Teen Alumnae Seek Renaming For Sangster Elementary School
• Cardinal Forest Plaza Gets Artist's Touch With New Murals