Happy Valentine’s Day! While many celebrate this day with heartfelt romantic events, it’s also a good time to focus on heart health. A physical checkup, regular blood pressure monitoring, and a healthy lifestyle can have positive effects on the heart, regardless of how sedentary you’ve been in the past. A great place to start is at the Providence Recreation Center, a Fairfax County Park Authority facility just west of Falls Church High School. The center features a huge indoor swimming pool, Fitlinxx exercise equipment, indoor ball courts, and a variety of walking trails adjacent to the property. Cost for Fairfax County residents is very reasonable, and the benefits to your health are huge. You also can hire a personal trainer to help get you started. Now’s the time to begin… .

Speaking of exercise, a cycling constituent called me recently to express concern that some cyclists on local trails and bike lanes fail to practice good rules of the road. As Fairfax County works to develop more bike lanes and trails to meet demand (the Fairfax County Bicycle Map is available for pick-up in my office), cyclists can help by remembering to let pedestrians and other cyclists know when approaching from behind. A voice signal or bell (I’ve been told that bicycle bells are required in Germany) goes a long way for safety of everyone concerned. I will be bringing bicycle courtesy and safety to the Board of Supervisors for review at an upcoming meeting.

Gardening is another popular form of exercise, and the J.E.B. Stuart High School PTSA is sponsoring a mulch sale for the spring. You can order bags of shredded hardwood mulch from for $5.50 per 3 cubic foot bag at www.stuartptsa.org by March 6. Pay via debit card, credit card, PayPal, or by check. Pick-up at the school will be Saturday, March 16. Free driveway delivery for large orders (30 bags or more) within the Stuart school boundary; there is a $25 delivery fee for fewer than 30 bags. Questions? Email info@stuartmulch.com. Check with the high school nearest you to determine if they are selling mulch for the spring, too.

The St. Albans Community Clothing Sale is a month away, but clothing can be donated for the sale starting March 10. President’s Day weekend might be a good time to clean out closets in preparation for spring, and donate clothing and accessories for men, women, and children right up until the day of the sale on March 16, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. St. Albans Episcopal Church is located at 6800 Columbia Pike in Annandale. Contact Dee Dee Payne, Clothing Sale Coordinator, at 703/256-2966 for information about how you can participate.

All of these activities contribute to the vibrant, involved community we have in Mason District and Fairfax County. They are positive reminders of just a few of the many, many opportunities that help improve our quality of life, and make Fairfax County a great place to live, work, play, learn, and worship. Oh…and exercise!