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Community Update (2/15/25)

Lunar New Year Dinner

Last Chance! Please RSVP and join ANV for our annual Lunar New Year celebration on Wednesday, February 19 at 5pm. We will be returning to Mama Chang’s in Fairfax for a 15-course meal! The meal will cost $45.00 (including tax and tip) and we are limited to 40 attendees. See below for details.

55+ Registration

Registration for spring 55+ programs will open on Tuesday, February 25 at 12 pm for Arlington County residents. The 55+ Guide publication will be available 1 week before the start of registration.

Arlington Adult Day Program,

Join the Arlington Adult Day Program for an hour of Q & A for caregivers on Wednesday, February 26, noon-1pm. Details below.

Tax Aide

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation service. Volunteers are trained on tax law and are IRS certified at advanced level. The program focus is on low and moderate income taxpayers, and seniors. The national program helped over 1.7 million taxpayers in Tax Year 2024, with over 28,000 volunteers at over 3,300 sites. In Arlington, tax aide help is available at the Central and Columbia Pike Libraries. Please review these websites for more information on appointments and needed paperwork. Appointments take priority but walk-in service is available

Presidents Day

The ANV Office will be closed on Monday February 17 in observance of Presidents Day.

Save the Date

Arlington’s Community Engagement Forum on Aging is Monday, March 17. Details will be available in the March 1 Community Update.

Welcome

New Members

  • Robert and Susan Johnston
  • Danielle Werchowsky

New Volunteers

  • Antoine Crews
  • Adriana Ercolano
  • Gabrielle Knight
  • Saige Lumnah-MacLeod
  • Cindy Reijers
  • Em Thomas
  • Nancy White

Community Ambassadors

  • Shumaisa Chatters
  • Dawn Darling
  • Grace German
  • Barbara Jarratt
  • Zoe Persons

In Memoriam:

We fondly remember Peter Jeffrey Shomer. Please hold him in your thoughts and prayers

Activities

ANV Events are posted on our online calendar at www.ANVarlington.org/events so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.

Coffee and Conversation on Wednesdays at 10 am

  • February 19: From One Hand To Another Gallery
  • February 26: Dental Health
  • March 5: What’s New on the Pike?
  • March 12: Casa Mariflor
  • March 19: Avoiding Common Healthcare Scams
  • March 26: Handling Pet Loss

Special Events

Weekly Groups

  • Tai Chi
  • Bocce and Boules
  • Happy Hour
  • Board Games

Monthly Groups

  • Men’s Lunch Bunch
  • Ladies Lunch
  • Low Vision Group
  • Pop Up Picnic
  • Page Turners

Educational Activities

Wellness

Also of Interest

ANV Activities

Coffee and Conversation: Wednesdays at 10 am

This ANV Speaker Series is held each Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00am. Join our weekly conversations via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88948577106?pwd=eW0rN1RTTU5ITmJ5NnF2QXZINmdUQT09

You also have the option to dial in by phone to participate without video. For that, dial: 929-205-6099. The meeting ID is 889 4857 7106 and the passcode is 872327.

Wednesday, February 19: Felecia Brice McFail owns the From One Hand To Another® – FOHTA® Gallery in Arlington’s Green Valley. The Gallery is home to her calligraphy as well as works from other local artists. In her presentation, Ms. McFail will explain how she made her gallery, located in the basement of her home, into a vibrant community space. She will also speak about her book, The DJ Lovely Story: From Basement DJ to Music Executive, which tells how her daughter created a podcast in the FOHTA space that became the springboard for a successful career in the music industry. Felecia currently serves as an Arts Commissioner for Arlington County, Virginia.

Wednesday, February 26: Dental Health As We Age. The demographic of older adults over age 65 is growing and likely to be an increasingly large part of dental practice in the coming years. Diseases and conditions of the mouth are common and poor oral health may influence general health and quality of life. Emona Kraja, DDS and Randeep Sidhu, DDS, Primary Dental Care Providers, will talk about dental conditions associated with aging, dental insurance coverage, and improving oral health.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025: What’s New on the Pike? The Columbia Pike Partnership is dedicated to creating a sense of place and shared community among businesses, residents and visitors to the corridor by capitalizing on its assets, inspiration and unique identity within South Arlington.  Andrew Schneider with the Columbia Pike Partnership will provide an update on this thriving corridor.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025: Casa Mariflor. With the rise of the Coronavirus pandemic, Mariflor Ventura was stunned by her community’s struggle to afford rent and pay bills.  What began as a Facebook group to provide needed supplies such as diapers and formula blossomed into Casa Mariflor, a resource for Latinx immigrants and their children to gain access to the services and support they need.  Mariflor was recognized by the Biden-Harris administration for her outstanding volunteer work, and by the Virginia democrat’s Arlington Latino Caucus for her service to the Latino Community.  She will join us to talk about Casa Mariflor, its mission, and how you can help.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025: Avoiding Common Healthcare Scams. Seniors are targeted for a variety of scams, many of them associated with their insurance or healthcare accounts. This session is designed to teach seniors how to prevent, detect, and report those scams so they can keep their benefits, identity, and finances safe. Shawn Smith, State Director, Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol, will update us on the latest healthcare scams, discuss ways to manage scam phone calls, identify scammer tactics, and understand various marketing ploys scammers use to trap seniors. He will also discuss the free resources that are available to assist you should you become a victim of healthcare fraud.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025: Handling Pet Loss. Pets often play a key role for older adults by making them feel needed and providing them with unconditional love and companionship. Problems may arise, however, when an older adult must give up a pet to move into an assisted living facility. Anne Marie Farage-Smith, LMHC, www.farage-smith.com, pet loss grief counseling professional, and author, Healing Wisdom for Pet Loss, An Animal Lover’s Guide to Grief, talks about emotional challenges older adults face when relocating and parting with beloved pets, and ways to adjust to life without a pet.

ANV’s YouTube channel

If you miss a Coffee and Conversation speaker, be sure to check out ANV’s YouTube channel where we post some of our Coffee and Conversation speakers and other special events. Sit back and enjoy!

Special Events

Lunar New Year Celebration

Back by popular demand, this year’s celebration will be on February 19 at Mama Chang in Fairfax (3251 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax). The 15-course menu is a combination of Hunan, Szechuan, and Hubei home-style cooking and will include numerous dishes only prepared by chefs at Mama Chang. Due to the type of menu, we cannot accommodate any food allergies or vegetarian diets. If you were born in the year 1917, 1929, 1941, or 1953, the Snake is your Chinese Zodiac Sign.

The restaurant opens for dinner at 5:00pm so please arrive between 5:00pm and 5:30pm. Dinner will start at 5:45pm. The cost for dinner is $45 per person, cash only, with tax and tip included, payable upon arrival. Please place your cash in an envelope with your name(s) and the amount on the front of the envelope. Please have the exact amount. No credit cards will be accepted for the dinner payment. A cash bar will be available, and a credit card can be used for bar payment.

RSVP to the Office by email or call 703-509-8057. We are limited to 40 seats, so RSVP early. Likewise, if you are registered, but decide not to attend, please notify the office promptly so people on the wait list can be offered your spot.

There is ample parking and the restaurant is handicap accessible.

Weekly Events

For more information on an event or to request transportation for an activity/event, please email Office@ANVarlington.org or call the ANV Office at 703-509-8057.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays at 9:30am

ANV Tai Chi practice meets outdoors every week, weather permitting. Meet the group in the parking lot at Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly Arlington Arts Center) at 3550 Wilson Blvd. If the forecast is too cold or wet, we will meet indoors. If you are interested in joining this practice (not instruction), please contact Anita Wallgren at awallgren@gmail.com or (202) 674-5553 to get the weekly location email.

Indoor Bocce and Lunch, Friday, February 28, at noon

Bocce has moved indoors for the winter at Pinstripes in Georgetown (1064 Wisconsin Ave, NW). Play a game of bocce, followed by lunch in the Pinstripes Bistro. Bocce can be played for free (a $9 value) when combined with lunch. Getting there is convenient when taking the 38B Metro Bus from Ballston. Players who want to skip the lunch must pay for their bocce separately. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from John.

ANV Board Games Day: February 20 and March 6

Do you like board games? Join ANV members and volunteers for Games Day at Ballston Quarter Food Hall (lower level). Look for players at the tables near the elevators. Play games like Rummikub, Mexican Train Dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Quiddler and more. We play every other Thursday at 2pm. Parking is available in the Ballston Quarter for $1. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from John.

Happy Hour: Thursdays, 5–7pm

Join the ANV Happy Hour Group. The Happy Hour Group will try locations in the Ballston area. For more information and to know the weekly plan, contact Mike Murtha, Happy Hour Coordinator at dmmurtha@verizon.net. Mike will add you to his email list and let you know the weekly location on Thursday morning. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from Mike.

Monthly Events

Ladies and Men’s Lunch, March 14 at noon

The Ladies and Men will dine together on Friday March 14 at noon at the Celtic House to celebrate an early St. Patrick’s Day. The Celtic House features classic Irish fare and is located at 2500 Columbia Pike in Arlington. Parking is available in their private lot as well as free street parking. Celtic House is wheelchair accessible. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Please RSVP to roslynva@gmail.com so we may have an accurate count. If you don’t use email, please call the ANV Office and request a call-back from Roslyn.

Low-vision Group: Monday, March 17 at 1 pm

Do you experience low vision or want to learn more about it? Join us in the conference room at the ANV Office (St. Andrew’s Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane). Participants are invited to share conversation, exchange experiences and useful tips, discuss helpful resources, recommend presentation/ speaker topics, and brainstorm future field trips. Please bring your ideas, experiences, and thoughts to share with others who experience low vision. Beverages and snacks will be served. If you need a ride, please call the ANV Office to place your request. To learn more, contact facilitator (and ANV member/volunteer) Susan Wallace at susanbwallace@gmail.com or 703-241-8686.

Page Turners, February 27 at 11:00am

Please join us to share a book that you have read, and you think would be interesting for other people to read. It can be something you are reading now, or a book you enjoyed in the past. Meet up with your fellow bibliophiles, share opinions, and learn about new books to add to your reading list. Books discussed at the last meeting are listed at the back of this newsletter.

Join the conversation via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89666785566?pwd=WFFpTlY2SkJMQlJjN0NWNEUraFhEQT09   

You also have the option to dial in by phone to participate without video. For that, dial: 301-715-8592. The meeting ID is 896 6678 5566 and the passcode is 007241.

Pop Up Picnic in the Park (PPP)

Pop Up Picnics will be on a winter hiatus until the return of warm weather. Stay tuned for updates. For information, contact John Thomas at Thomas-johnr@comcast.net.

Educational Activities

Arlington Public Library Programs

The Library has curated events from the 55+ Program, Encore Learning and elsewhere to make it easy to find something that will pique your interest. There are craft programs, book clubs, and more. It’s worth 5 minutes of your time to click on the calendar of events and see what’s happening at your local branch of the library.

The Shop Open House Saturday, February 22

Curious about the library’s makerspace offerings and equipment, but not sure how to get started? Explore the Library’s makerspace and discover what you can create at 1015 N. Quincy Street! Artist talks, workshops & more at The Shop Open House on February 22 from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Staff will host tours and demonstrations of maker equipment and tools in The Shop, Arlington Public Library’s makerspace.

Arlington Adult Day Program, February 26, noon-1pm

Join the Arlington Adult Day Program for an hour of Q & A for caregivers. For this session, a panel of staff at the Arlington Adult Day Program (Recreational Therapy, Nursing, Social Work, etc.), with nearly 125 years of combined years in this work will field questions from Caregivers of Adults with cognitive and physical decline. Broaden your knowledge by learning from AADP staff and other caregivers like you. Registration required.

Wellness

A Checklist for Health

by Joan M Smith                                                            

It is amazing the gems one can find when “culling” boxes of old “important” (not so much anymore) papers! I found a gem that I want to pass on to you, dear readers (do I sound like Bridgerton yet?) and members. This is a gem to live by.

Some years ago while juggling family, motherhood, adjunct clinical teaching at a University in D.C., and trying to complete a PhD (in my spare time), I did some per diem work in the employee health clinics of a very large international bank. I was delighted with a handout available to employees, the wisdom which I subsequently shared with many graduate nursing students, family and friends, and now here, with you.

The 12 Warning Signs of Health

  1. Persistent presence of support network.
  2. Chronic positive expectations; tendency to frame events in a constructive light.
  3. Episodic peak experiences.
  4. Sense of spiritual involvement.
  5. Increased sensitivity.
  6. Tendency to adapt to changing conditions.
  7. Rapid response and recovery of adrenaline system due to repeated challenges.
  8. Increased appetite for physical activity.
  9. Tendency to identify and communicate feelings.
  10. Repeated episodes of gratitude, generosity and related emotions.
  11. Compulsion to contribute to society.
  12. Persistent sense of humor.

So, there you have it. A map, a plan, goals worth working toward and reaching. I suggest we all peruse the list, cut it out and magnet it to the refrigerator. But note the ones we are not experiencing, and make a plan in this new year to get closer to enjoying these rewarding ideas. As for me (yes, I did eventually complete the PhD), I am focused on working on #2 and #6. Happy New Year!!!

Also of Interest

Aging Matters Radio and TV  

Aging Matters radio is a weekly program, hosted by Cheryl Beversdorf, and features interviews with experts on topics impacting the lives of older adults, their care partners, and families. Every Tuesday at 3 pm, a new Aging Matters broadcast is posted  on Apple and Spotify podcast sites. Aging Matters TV Show offers interviews with aging experts, including demonstrations of aging related subjects. Stories of Life programs feature interviews with older adults who have made a difference in their communities.

Free Classical Music – FMMC

The Friday Morning Music Club (FMMC) invites everyone to live classical music concerts the first and second Fridays of the month at Saint George’s Church, 915 N. Oakland St., one block from Virginia Square Metro Station. You can see the musical program here. The one-hour concerts start at noon. Free, no ticket required.

Complimentary membership in Arlington’s 55+ Program is available as an ANV membership benefit. If you haven’t yet opted-in and would like to do so, contact our Member Services Director at 703-509-8057. 55+ Program offerings are posted in the quarterly catalogue available online.

ANV Events are posted on our online calendar so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.

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