Community Update (9/1/24)
Labor Day Holiday
The ANV Office is closed on Tuesday, September 2 in recognition of the Labor Day Holiday.
Annual ANV Picnic, September 7
Join us for ANV’s Annual Picnic on Saturday, September 7 at the Bluemont Picnic Shelter (as usual!). We will gather at 11:30am. Members, volunteers, family and friends are welcome. Join us to celebrate the end of summer with an outdoor cookout. ANV will provide beverages, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs and all the fixin’s. You are welcome to make this a pot luck and bring a dish to share. RSVP to Office@ANVarlington.org or 703-509-8057 so we can get a good count of attendees. See below for details.
Encore Learning’s Fall Course Preview, September 5
Join Encore Learning’s the Fall Course Preview over Zoom. Meet course instructors and learn more about the exciting courses being offered. See details below.
Continuum of Care Panel, September 10
ANV will partner with specialists in home care, home health care, aging life care and hospice care to share information, and respond to questions, about each of these stages in the Continuum of Care for which services are available in our area. Join the conversation on Tuesday, September 10 from 10:00am – noon at the Fairlington Community Center. Details below.
Safe Falling for Older Adults, September 10
While the safest fall is the fall that never happens, it is can be helpful to understand ways to fall safely. Join us on September 10, from 2:00-3:00pm, at the Lubber Run Community Center. Details below.
Medicare Class, September 12
Arlington County VICAP is hosting speakers from AARP, Social Security Administration and Virginia’s Senior Medicare Patrol to spearhead the Slam the Scam presentation on ways to reduce and prevent Healthcare Fraud, Artificial Intelligence, and Social Security Scams. Free, hybrid event at Aurora Hill and online. See details below.
Stretch & Exercise 1-hour Workshop, September 13
In this free workshop, Cathy Turner, VHC Health Director of Health Promotion & Senior Health, ACE certified fitness instructor and Active Aging instructor, will provide participants with exercises and stretches to help strengthen the muscles in their arms, legs, back, and hips. See below for more details.
70th Anniversary BBQ Picnic, October 2, 12-3 pm at Lubber Run
Celebrate the 55+ Program’s 70th anniversary at a BBQ picnic at Lubber Run. This is one of several events taking place this fall. Please see Page 6 of the Fall 55+ Guide for details on other celebrations around the community. Details below for the October 2 Picnic. Registration needed by September 13.
Annual Survey
ANV will be sending out our annual survey to members and volunteers soon. Please take a few moments to share your feedback with us so your voice is part of our plans going forward.
Welcome
New Members
- John Andelin
- Virginia Geoffrey
- Susan K Kloos
- Tatjana Kondili
- Therese Luscombe
- Felicita Parra
- Ellen Rollett
- David Westmorland
New Volunteers
- Jeanne Cary
- Dixie Duncan
- Rita Tiwari
- Roland Watkins
- Beth Wiener
In Memoriam
We fondly remember Michael Gallagher and Judith A. Karinshak. Please hold them 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
- September 4: Emergency Preparedness
- September 11: League of Women Voters
- September 18: Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- September 25: Scams & Older Adults
Special Events
Weekly Groups
- Tai Chi
- Bocce and Boules
- Happy Hour
- Board Games
Monthly Groups
- Men’s Lunch Bunch
- Ladies Lunch
- Pop Up Picnic
- Page Turners
Educational Activities
Wellness
Village Voices
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, September 4: Emergency Preparedness. This summer’s brutal heat waves taught us that we need to be prepared for more than just the occasional hurricane or winter snowstorm. Being prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at us is key to staying safe and minimizing impacts. Bianca Sanchez with Arlington County’s Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management will tell us what we need to know to stay safe, no matter the situation.
Wednesday, September 11: The Arlington and Alexandria League of Women Voters. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that focuses on a wide array of issues of concern to the Arlington and Alexandria community. Pamela Berg, President will introduce us to the League and the issues they are focused on, including voter education and voter registration.
Wednesday, September 18: The Impact of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Our Community. As the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease impacts not only the individual but family members and caregivers as well. This presentation by Ashley Scott, Program Manager, and Michael Smith, Volunteer of the Alzheimer’s Association, National Capital Area reviews the current data, signs and early detection strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease. Current treatments and research will also be shared. Finally, learn how the Alzheimer’s Association can assist community members who are impacted by the disease and how you can help to make a difference, too!
Wednesday, September 25: Scams & Older Adults. The movie Thelma portrays an older woman who was scammed out of $10,000 and the lengths she went to getting it back. Although a comedy, it strikes at the core of many older adults’ fears about getting scammed. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Senior Policy Analyst, will review top scams including imposter scams, identity theft, credit card and gift card fraud, investment scams and tech support scams.
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
Annual ANV Picnic, September 7 from 11:30am – 1:30pm
The annual ANV Picnic will be held on Saturday, September 7 from 11:30 am -1:30 pm at the Bluemont Picnic Shelter a short walk from the end of North Manchester Street where it meets 4th Street North and adjacent to the Reeves farmhouse. (See directions below.) Members, volunteers, family and friends are welcome. Join ANV to celebrate the end of summer with an outdoor cookout. ANV will provide beverages, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs and all the fixin’s. You are welcome to make this a pot-luck and bring a dish (appetizer, salad/side or dessert) to share. For planning purposes, please RSVP to Office@ANVarlington.org or call 703-509-8057 to let us know if you plan to attend and how many people will join you. If you plan to bring a side dish, please also tell what you will bring.
How to get to Bluemont Picnic Shelter:
By car: The easiest way to get to Bluemont Park when driving is to take Route 50 heading West past Carlin Springs Road and turn right at the light at North Manchester Street. Manchester Street will dead-end into the Reeves farmhouse. Turn right into the large parking lot on the right. The picnic shelter and field are located across Four Mile Run stream. You may park your car in the lot and access the shelter via the stone step walkway and bridge. You may also drive on the causeway across the stream to drop off passengers and supplies. Cars should be parked in the parking lot.
By bus: Metrobus 25B Mark Center via Southern Towers is one option; this bus departs from Ballston Station and stops at the intersection of N. Carlin Springs Rd/N Kensington St, which is about 200 feet (on a nature trail) from the picnic shelter.
If you are an ANV Full Member, you are also welcome to request ANV Transportation. The park is alcohol-free. Bathrooms are available next to the parking lot.
Roosevelt Island Walk, Thursday, September 26 at 11am
The autumn seasonal walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island begins at 11:00 am on Thursday, September 26. This easy community walk (on an unpaved nature trail) takes about one hour. You, your family, friends and nice dogs on leash are invited and RSVP is not needed. The 11:00 am meeting point is at the landward end of the footbridge to the island. Access by auto to the island parking lot is only from the northbound George Washington Parkway. In addition, paid parking is available in Rosslyn on the street and in garages. The meeting point is a 15-minute walk from the Rosslyn Metro and bus stop. If the group is amenable, there may be a stop for coffee in Rosslyn afterwards. This is a rain-or-shine event; no rain date. Questions, call David Christian at 703-785-3434 or email daveycc910@gmail.com.
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 hot 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.
Bocce and Boules, Mondays at 6pm
Join weekly Bocce and Boules on Monday afternoons; games last approximately one hour. Bocce is played every Monday at the courts on the corner of N. Randolph St. & N. Glebe Road, weather permitting. Parking is available in the Ballston Quarter parking garage for $1. All levels of bocce skills are welcome. Everyone gets to play.
Exception to 6pm start: Every third Monday of the month will be Bocce-Pizza Happy Hour. On these days, Bocce will start at 5 pm, followed by Happy Hour for $5 pizza at the Harris Teeter Wine Bar across the street. The next Bocce-Pizza Happy Hour is September 16. 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, Thursday, September 5 and September 19 at 2pm
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
Men’s Lunch, Friday September 13 at noon
Join the men’s lunch group at Immigrant Food, 4245 Fairfax Drive in Ballston. Immigrant Food is a new restaurant that fuses delicious food and immigration advocacy, “gastroadvocacy” as the owners refer to it. The menu features cuisines from Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. The lunch menu features bowls, sandwiches, salads and small plates. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Metered parking is available and the restaurant is across Fairfax Drive from the Ballston Metro. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from Tim.
Ladies Lunch, Friday September 13 at noon
Please join the Ladies Lunch at Wagamama, 2950 Clarendon Blvd. The asian inspired menu has been created to soothe, nourish, sustain and inspire. Pick from all kinds of rice and noodle dishes, alongside fresh salads and shareable sides, desserts, fresh juices, hot drinks, wine, sake and expertly crafted asian beers. Metered parking is available on the street and paid parking lots nearby. 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.
Page Turners, September 26 at 11:00 am
Page Turners returns! Thank you to Beverly Cannizzaro and Donna Pastore for their long-time support of ANV’s Page Turners group. This month, they are handing the reins to Nancy Lowenthal and Pax Baker. 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.
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) September 27 at noon
Our September PPP will be held at Clarenford Station Park, located at 1300 North Vermont St. Free curb-side parking is available just 30 feet from the picnic tables. This is an opportunity for ANV members and volunteers to meet for casual conversation, get fresh air, and discover a new neighborhood park in Arlington. Just bring your lunch and something to drink. No need to RSVP. For more information, contact John Thomas at Thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from John.
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.
Continuum of Care Panel, September 10
On September 10, ANV will join forces with At Home in Alexandria to present the Continuum of Care. We’ll have a panel of representatives from a home care agency, a home health care company, an aging life care specialist and a hospice care group. In this informal session, you’ll learn more about the distinctions between these different types of services. We will provide information about AHA and ANV as well, so we welcome non-members who might wish to learn more about the benefits of a village.
This free presentation takes place in Room 118 of the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St, Arlington (just off Quaker Lane). It starts at 10am; doors open at 9:30am. Coffee and light snacks provided. Space is limited so advance registration is required: aha@AtHomeInAlexandria.org or 703-231-0824.
Discover the Joy of Learning with Encore Learning’s Exciting Fall Lineup
Are you ready to embark on a new adventure this fall? Encore Learning is thrilled to announce a fantastic lineup of 37 courses, including 28 brand-new offerings! Choose from 16 in-person courses, 14 virtual courses, and 7 hybrid courses that allow you to participate both in-person and virtually. The diverse course selection covers a wide range of topics, including history, literature, art, science, and much more. Staying mentally active and engaged is crucial, and the social connections you’ll make along the way are incredibly rewarding.
Important Dates to Remember:
- Thursday, September 5 at 9:30 am– Join the Fall Course Preview over Zoom. Meet course instructors and learn more about the courses being offered.
- Monday, September 9 at 10:00 am– Registration opens for fall courses.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enrich your mind and connect with others. Mark your calendar for an unforgettable fall semester with Encore Learning.
Medicare Fraud, September 12, 10:30 am – noon
Arlington County VICAP is hosting speakers from AARP, Social Security Administration and Virginia’s Senior Medicare Patrol to spearhead the Slam the Scam presentation on ways to reduce and prevent Healthcare Fraud, Artificial Intelligence, and Social Security Scams. Free, hybrid event at Aurora Hills Recreation Center, 735 18th St. South and online via Teams. Register at MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us or call 703-338-1725.
Wellness
Safe Falling for Older Adults
September 10, 2:00-3:00pm, Lubber Run Community Center
While the safest fall is the fall that never happens, it is can be helpful to understand ways to fall safely. Join Dennis Jinnohara, of Kupuna Aikido, to learn the ABC’s of and
techniques for safe falling. Free, open to the public, no registration required.
Stretch & Exercise 1-hour Workshop
Grow Stronger, Improve Mobility and Prevent Falls
Friday, September 13, 2:00-3:00pm, Arlington Central Library, Auditorium
In this free workshop, Cathy Turner, VHC Health Director of Health Promotion & Senior Health, ACE certified fitness instructor and Active Aging instructor, will provide participants with exercises and stretches to help strengthen the muscles in their arms, legs, back, and hips. These exercises help with maintaining muscle mass, improving mobility and reducing risk of falls.
Cathy will discuss the purpose of strength training and talk about its importance in overcoming or slowing down conditions that primarily affect adults as they age, such as sarcopenia (muscle loss), osteopenia (bone loss), and obesity. Modifications to exercises will be demonstrated to meet your ability.
Wear comfortable shoes so you can participate! Attendees will receive a free exercise band. Free, but please register at: seniorhealth@vhchealth.org or 703.558.6859.
Shingles Vaccine by Joan Smith
Breaking News!! The newer Shingles vaccine is now tied to lower dementia risk! The news broke on July 25, 2024, with more detail on July 26, 2024, and noted in the Washington Post (Health and Science section) on August 6, 2024. Again, researchers stress that direct cause has not been revealed (yet), that when huge numbers of older individuals are compared (those who got the Shingrix vaccine, or even the older less effective vaccine) with those who develop dementia, the results are rather startling. One study compared 103,837 who got the older vaccine with a like number who received the newer Shingrix, and within 6 years, the Shingrix recipients had a 17% increase in diagnosis-free time, with women faring stronger (22% increased diagnosis-free time vs 13% for men). But the question of, did the Shingrix just delay diagnosis, or prevent or slow the development of dementia, remains. However, when Shingrix recipients were compared to those who just received the flu or Tdap vaccines, there was a clear reduction in dementia risk itself.
One thing I note missing is examining those who have had shingles either before or after receiving the Shingrix vaccine. Since I am one of those who had shingles both before and after receiving the older vaccine, I am eager to know how my odds compare. But, the study does note that most who have had shingles do not get dementia, while some who got the vaccine will eventually get dementia. So I guess I am in the same boat of not knowing. At least I can address those risk factors, and use ANV to help with many of them, to increase the odds, since 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime.
Encouraging is the idea that the herpes zoster virus that causes chicken pox and later can emerge again to cause shingles, may be involved in causing Alzheimer’s Disease. This means, we may have a clear way to prevent and to treat Alzheimer’s! At this very moment, research is underway to test the anti-viral drug, valacyclovir against Alzheimer’s. And coming soon—research on the effects of Covid vaccines and Paxlovid (used to treat early Covid) on dementia!!
This is all huge news, so take it in, get your Shingrix vaccine (CDC advises all over 50 years old to get it), get your Covid vaccines, and rejoice in all of our new discoveries!
Village Voices
Village Voices is a place for ANV members and volunteers to share a poem, a favorite quote, a recipe, a restaurant or movie review, a joke, or a riddle. Submissions are welcome at any time by sending an email to Office@ANVarlington.org.
Inspirational Quote from Franklin D Roosevelt: “… keep your ideals high, keep both feet on the ground and keep everlastingly at it.”
Riddle from the last newsletter: A cat falls into a hole 14.5 feet deep. The cat can jump 3 feet high, but she slides back 1 foot with each jump. How many jumps does it take her to get out of the hole? Answer: 7. Why? Every 3-foot jump accompanied by a 1-foot slide equals jumps of 2 feet high each; at that rate, the cat’s seventh jump, starting at 12 feet, will leave her 15 feet above the bottom of the hole so that she may escape.
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.
55+ Program’s 70th Anniversary BBQ Picnic, October 2
Celebrate the 55+ Program’s 70th anniversary at a BBQ picnic at Lubber Run. Register by September 13 (there is a $10 admission fee). For 70 years, this remarkable program has provided a vibrant and supportive community for older adults. To honor this special occasion, join an unforgettable BBQ picnic filled with delicious food, music by the DC Starlight Orchestra, exciting games, VIP guests and more! Reconnect with friends, make new ones, and celebrate the incredible community that has flourished through the 55+ Program. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the program, join for a day of joy, reflection and community spirit. Sponsored by the Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs.
Register by September 13. Once you have registered for this program, please remember to pay the $10 admission fee by visiting the Alliance website before the event. You may also pay in person on one of the following dates: 8/22, 1:15 p.m. at the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse; 9/5, 2-3:30 p.m. at Langston-Brown; 9/9, 9-10:15 a.m. at Lubber Run; or 9/13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Aurora Hills. Register: #911899-10
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.
