Since Kevin Brugman moved into the area over 20 years ago, he has been active in the community, advocating for trails in the county. The Lorton resident is an avid bicyclist who was recently honored by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for nine years as the Mount Vernon District representative on the Fairfax County Trails and Sidewalks Committee. He is this week's People Profile.
Number of years in the community. I originally moved into the area in 1983, spent a couple of years in England in the early 90s and then moved back in 1994 and have been here since.
Family: Wife, Rev. Kimberly Barker-Brugman, pastor of Silverbrook UMC; Jonathon Brugman, 9; Jason Brugman, 7.
Education: B.S. and M.S. in computer science from George Mason University.
Activities/interests/hobbies? Actively involved in encouraging family bicycling, including writing family biking columns for the Potomac Peddlers newsletter and "Spokes" magazine. I maintain Web sites for the local PTA and home owners association. I have designed and made most of the furniture for my boys' bedroom.
Favorite local restaurant or place in the community? I do not have a specific favorite restaurant, but enjoy the wide diversity of locally owned restaurants with a diverse range of specialties from American, Indian, Ethiopian and just about everything else.
What are your community concerns? What are some ideas you have on ways to improve your community? We need to develop alternatives to driving everywhere. As part of the Sidewalk and Trails committee I helped put in sidewalks to bus stops, worked with developers to put sidewalks in new housing developments so children could walk to their neighbor's house or the school bus without walking in the street and helped develop dual use transportation/recreational trails. Sidewalks that were put in 50 years ago are still in use because people want them. With gas prices in the $3 per gallon range, mass transit is getting more popular, but people do not want to risk their lives getting to the bus stop. No house should be built in Fairfax county without a sidewalk or paved trail in front of it. The Virginia Department of Transportation needs to recognize that bicycling and walking are viable means of transportation and get out of the thought process that only motorized vehicles are used for transportation. Alternative self-powered modes of transportation are not the solution by themselves, but part of a comprehensive package of actions.
What is the last book you read, or, the last movie you watched? I recently read the "DaVinci Code" so that I could go see it in the theater without destroying the book. Last movie was "Cars" with my family.
What brought you here? When I got out of the Air Force in 1983, I was hired by a local company. I learned to love the diversity of the area and stayed.
What community "hidden treasure" do you think more people should know about? I think that the Gunston Hall Multi-use trail is a hidden treasure. A collaborative venture between federal, state and local governments, it traverses a state park, federal wildlife refuge, a historic home and a regional park. When this is finally completed, it will open up a full range of activities.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you "grew up?" I wanted to travel and work in electronics. Once I grew up, I figured it was more to control them then design them. While in the military, I got to travel to numerous places around the globe.
If you were to take a road trip anywhere right now, where would you go? I am learning that the destination is no longer the point. The journey is important. I would love to bicycle across the United States. Skip the interstates and follow the small, unmarked back roads. Find the diners with home-made apple pie and the places where the American Legion still has community concerts on the courthouse lawn.
Personal goals? Be someone my wife and sons love, respect and want to be with.