June 5, 2024

Neighbors,

Art touches you when you touch it.

That’s what artist Bardia Jaan says.

While art is usually enjoyed from a respectful distance, I was able to explore his sculpture “first hand” this past weekend.

His interactive piece “The Hand” is displayed in a new art exhibition at The PARC at Tysons. This show presents 10 Fairfax County artists and the National Council on Aging’s photography exhibit “Aging Well for All — Celebrating Our Colors and Diversity.” Taken by older adults, these photos capture the diversity, and vitality of seniors across America.

Art is meant to provoke, engage, and communicate, and these pieces caused me to reflect. In part, Jaan says his sculpture is about the story of life, working with the hand we’re dealt.

Aging is one chapter of this story — but as this exhibition proves, this story is about creativity, playfulness and vitality. Too often though, society pushes a different narrative about aging as a time of decline and decay.

This stereotype, which some call ageism, isn’t true. Yale psychology professor and epidemiologist Becca Levy challenges ageism in her book Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live (available at the library).

In fact, she presents many examples of musicians and artists who became more creative as they grew older.

Her book also presents groundbreaking research that your own negative beliefs about aging affect your physical, cognitive and mental health. Her study found that you’ll live 7.5 years longer if you have a more positive self-perception about aging, and she demonstrates the powerful connection between your mind and body that affects your health.

So, let’s celebrate and embrace getting older! 

Regards,

Walter

Attend a Monday, June 17, 7 p. m. town hall meeting for an introduction to the planning process for the future central green in Reston Town Center North (RTCN). The meeting is at the North County Governmental Center community room, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston.

What to Expect: At the meeting, you’ll:

• Get background and an update on the overall RTCN project
• Hear ideas about how this future central green could be used
• Learn how you can provide feedback

What to Know: A 3.5-acre central green is planned as part of the future mixed use development called Reston Town Center North. RTCN will include a new library, athletic field, RECenter, human services building and more.

Tell the Virginia State Corporation Commission by June 21 if you’ve got comments about RELAC’s sale. Submit comments online.

What’s Happening: Reston RELAC, LLC is being sold to a new company called RELAC Water Cooling that’s currently operating the central air conditioning system for about 635 families around Lake Anne. State regulators must approve the sale of any public utility.

Go Deeper: Read the sale and financial statements filed with the state.

By July 1, take a short survey to vote on three options (PDF) to make Wiehle Avenue safer for travel by foot, bike and car between Sunrise Valley Drive and the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. 

Why it Matters: Today, it’s hard to walk or bike on this stretch of Wiehle Avenue.

• Sidewalk segments are missing.
• Narrow sidewalks make pedestrians uncomfortable walking alongside cars.
• No dedicated bike facilities exist.

What’s Proposed: Three options each incorporate a mix of different improvements, including lane reductions, wider sidewalks, landscaping and dedicated bike facilities (in every option).

What’s Next: Transportation planners will use your feedback to come up with a final proposal called a “preferred alternative.” It will be presented at a fall public meeting with 3D illustrations. Following this meeting, final recommendations will be delivered to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration.



Early voting for the Democratic and Republican congressional primary elections end on Saturday, June 15.

What’s on the ballot: Democratic primaries for the 10^th and 11^th U.S. House districts, and a Republican primary for the U.S. Senate and 10^th U.S. House district.

What Else to Know:

• Any registered voter can cast their ballot early at any Fairfax County early voting site with 16 locations to open starting this Saturday.
• Vote early on weekdays from 1 to 7 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center. Or vote at this location this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or next Saturday, June 15.
• View sample ballots.

Whether you walk, drive or bike — like Meredith Haines — come to the North County Governmental Center to vote early Monday through Saturday.

Liberty Amendments Month kicks off on Saturday, June 15 with a Juneteenth Celebration and Opening Ceremony. The month brings the community together to commemorate the passage of the 13th, 14th, 15th and 19th Amendments, which granted full rights to citizens who were previously excluded from the U.S. Constitution. Each week focuses on a different amendment. Calendar of Events.



Free GMU Courses for Seniors

Seniors can take free classes at George Mason University. If you’re 60 or older, you can audit up to three classes per semester for free. Seniors who meet income limits may also enroll in classes for academic credit without paying tuition. Learn how.

Circuit Court Offers Satellite Services

on June 11 in Reston

Get court services at the Cathy Hudgins Community Center at Southgate on Tuesday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring documents to be notarized for free, get certified copies of select court documents or apply for a marriage license. This satellite location is open every second Tuesday of the month. Details.

Dance Nights on Lake Anne Plaza

Put on your dancing shoes. Free dance nights return to Washington Plaza on Lake Anne on Thursdays from 6 - 9 p.m. starting tomorrow through June 27. Loosen up your hips for tomorrow’s salsa lessons and dancing.