Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) granted this year’s Lord and Lady Fairfax titles to Dan and Leslie Jenuleson for their contributions to the Sully Station II Neighborhood Watch and other neighborhood watches throughout the state.
The couple was honored by the Board of Supervisors and feted at a dinner hosted by Mike's American Grill in Springfield on Monday. The Board selects two people from each district who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service, heroism or other special accomplishments.
"I’m really thrilled to be able to recognize them," said Frey. "They have worked so hard over the last couple of years, and not to just organize Sully Station II, but other areas in the community and the commonwealth."
"It’s a high honor," said Dan Jenuleson. "It’s a great honor to have this title and represent Fairfax County."
BOTH DAN AND LESLIE contribute between 20 to 30 hours per week to the neighborhood watch. These hours come in addition to their full-time jobs: Dan, 44, is an electrical engineer, and Leslie, 43, a technical trainer.
"It’s an awesome experience to be recognized," said Leslie Jenuleson. "This job does take a tremendous amount of time."
"We do the work not based on time, but on what it requires to do a good job," she added.
Other communities have noticed the Jenulesons' long hours and efforts. The Sully Station II Neighborhood Watch partners with 12 neighboring communities, and Dan and Leslie constantly prepare presentations for other neighborhoods wanting to bring their watches up-to-date.
"They have done a tremendous amount for the community," said Frey.
The Jenulesons volunteered to start the Sully Station II watch without having any prior experience. According to Dan Jenuleson, they used common sense as a guide. The Jenulesons created a network of e-mail communications between the police, the watch, and the neighborhood citizens, ensuring that information about crime, crime prevention, and local events gets passed in both directions.
"Security is at heightened awareness these days," said Frey. People can do an awful lot for themselves. They just need to be shown how and what they can do."