Community Update (4/1/24)
RSVP for the 10 Year Anniversary Celebration
ANV is celebrating its 10 Year Anniversary on Thursday, May 2 at 5:30-7:30pm at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 4301 Wilson Blvd. The event is free and we hope everyone can join us. Please register by emailing the Office or calling 703-509-8057.
Office Volunteers Needed in ANV Office
We are looking for volunteers to support ANV Office operations through a regular schedule of either a half or full day (our office is open from 10 to 3) once per week, in-person, at ANV Office (4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington). The ideal volunteer will have experience with and enjoy using office technologies (Outlook, Access, Excel) and good phone manners. See below for more information.
See Top Quality College-Level Baseball in Nearby Tysons
The Capital One Baseball Park is now open. Mark your calendars for an ANV family-friendly outing to see the Georgetown Hoyas play the University of Connecticut Huskies on Sunday, April 21st at 1:00pm. Capital One Park is located in Tysons Corner, only a 4-minute walk from the McLean Metro stop on the Silver Line. Admission is free for children under 12 and seniors over 65. Parking is also available adjacent to the ballpark for $5. Standard ballpark fare (hot dogs, nachos, burgers, chips, peanuts, beer & sodas, etc.) are available to purchase. Meet-up details and other information will follow in the April 15th Community Update. Contact John Thomas (thomas-johnr@comcast.net) for more info.
ANV Honored for Best Practices
ANV received an Honorable Mention in the Virginia Commonwealth Council on Aging 2024 Best Practices Award Program. ANV was one of three Honorable Mentions based on a statewide competition. “The winning programs this year truly highlight the importance of community and connections. As we continue to learn more about the negative effects of loneliness and social isolation, it is so important that we acknowledge and celebrate innovative programs that create community engagement through the arts and culture and through services that support aging in place.”
Capital Improvement Survey
Take a few minutes to complete the new Capital Improvement Survey to inform how Arlington should invest in major infrastructure. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is the County’s plan for building, upgrading, and replacing facilities and infrastructure. It captures planned investments in major infrastructure over a 10-year period and is updated every two years. Examples of CIP investments include stormwater improvements, park upgrades, and road and sidewalk improvements. The survey is open until April 8.
Village Voices
Introducing Village Voices, a new feature in the ANV Community Update. 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. See below for more information.
Welcome
New Members
- Betty Ann Burrows
- Jon Constantz
- Charlie Day
- Bobbie Fisher
- Joan Pearson
- Rochelle Schneider
New Volunteers
- Dru DeLong
- Sawsan Hanna
- Walaa Mukhtar
- Demetra Voyadgis
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
- April 3: Am I Too Old to Save the Planet?
- April 10: Arlington History: There’s an App for That
- April 17: Using a Personal Trainer
- April 24: Navigating Your Healthcare Journey
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, April 3: Am I Too Old to Save the Planet? A Boomer’s Guide to Climate Action. Author Lawrence MacDonald explains how America’s most promising generation allowed climate change to become a planetary emergency–and what to do about it now.
Wednesday, April 10: Arlington History: There’s an App for That. Arlington County has a rich and diverse history. However, finding it can be a challenge. A new mobile app and website, www.arlingtonhistorical.com, puts local history at everyone’s fingertips. Peter Vaselopulos, digital storyteller, and creator of the Arlington Historical App will show us how to navigate these new research tools. reenactments.
Wednesday, April 17: Using a Personal Trainer. Jon Darnes, PT and IIN Health Coach, will share his perspective on the importance of exercise: (1) Physical ability – are you able to participate in daily activities without aid; (2) Cardio vascular health – can you participate in activities for over 30 minutes; and (3) Mental health – the confidence to be able to participate and communicate without aid. These benefits together improve an individual’s quality of life as they age. Not just living longer, but better.
Wednesday, April 24: Navigating Your Healthcare Journey. Our U.S. healthcare system can be complicated, fragmented, and difficult to navigate for even the savviest of individuals. The authors of their 2023 book–Charlene Rothkopf and Z. Colette Edwards, MD–encourage us to be self-advocates to get the healthcare we need and deserve. Their presentation provides practical tips on a variety of topics, including preventing a serious health condition, communicating with your physician, coordinating your care, maintaining your emotional health, and medical gaslighting.
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
April with Arlington Artists Alliance: Spring Artful Weekend
April 12-14, 2024; Opening Reception: Friday, April 12, 2024, 6-8 pm
Spring is the perfect time to refresh and revitalize your home or office with art from local artists! Over 30 members of the Arlington Artists Alliance present original works for every budget and occasion (great for Mother’s Day), featuring paintings, mixed media, glass and ceramics, jewelry, shrink-wraps, notecards, and magnets. Location: Hendry House at Fort C.F. Smith Park, 2411 North 24th Street.
AARP Tax Help at the Library
Low and middle income filers can find help preparing their taxes at the Central and Columbia Pike branches of the Library. Presented in partnership with AARP Foundation, the Tax-Aide Program provides free tax assistance services for low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention given to those 50 and over. Appointments are recommended, but walk-ins are welcome.
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.
Zoom Practice Session
If you need some extra help getting familiar with ZOOM, just call or email office@ANVarlington.org and we will set you up with a volunteer who can help you.
Tai Chi: Tuesdays at 9:30 am
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.
Bocce on short hiatus
Bocce will be on a brief hiatus as we plan for a return to outdoor Bocce and Boules, starting in late April. See the April 15 Community Update for details.
ANV Board Games Day, Thursday, April 4 and April 18 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 parking garage for $1. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net.
Happy Hour: Thursdays, 5–7 pm
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.
Monthly Events
Men’s Lunch, April 12 at noon
Our April lunch will be at Texas Jack’s, located at 2761 Washington Boulevard in Arlington. Texas Jack’s offers a variety of smoked meats and barbeque including beef brisket, short ribs and pulled pork and bbq chicken. Free parking is available in the lot next to the restaurant. Free two-hour street parking is also available. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com.
Ladies Lunch, April 12 at noon
The Ladies Lunch will be gathering at Peter Chang’s Restaurant located at 2503 North Harrison Street. Ample parking is available in the shopping center. Chef Peter Chang serves his Sichuan playbook & special dishes at this spiffed-up storefront. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Please RSVP to Anne Kenison annekenison@gmail.com by April 9 so we may have an accurate count.
Page Turners – April 25, 11am on Zoom
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. The group is hosted by Donna Pastore and Beverly Cannizzaro.
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)
PPPs are on hiatus for the winter months. We hope to see you again as soon as the weather warms up.
Educational Activities
Spring is about to Spring – Get Ready
Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV)
April 2024 Education Programs
MGNV Virtual Classroom public education events for April 2024 are online and open to all. RSVP online to receive the link to participate. Click on the event titles to RSVP for each event. If you can’t join for a live online presentation, video recordings of the sessions will be posted. April classes include “Fruit Trees for the Urban Gardener” on April 12, and “Celebrating Native Trees” on Arbor Day, April 26.
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.
Using your Arlington Public Library card, you can now access Kanopy—a new-to-Arlington streaming service offering an extensive collection of narrative and documentary films, TV series, kids content and digital courses.
Wellness
Virginia Hospital Center Health
VHC Health is hosting a free, Community Wellness Fair on Saturday, April 13 from 10am – noon at the new, Outpatient Pavilion, 1851 N. George Mason Dr. Parking in the adjacent Zone E/Purple lot is $7. The Community Wellness fair will feature free health screenings (for age 18+), access to resources, and opportunities to learn from VHC experts including primary care doctors and specialists. Please register for this free event online or by calling 703.558.6740.
Got Milk?
Who has not seen this ad in a magazine or newspaper? Familiar, and touting milk-drinking by both adults and children. But, do we actually NEED to drink cow’s milk to be healthy? Health writers O’Connor and Egan researched this for the Washington Post (Feb. 27, 2024) and found some surprising results.
We have been told by the dairy industry (and our doctors) that cow’s milk is necessary for healthy growth of teeth and bones as children grow. And adults are told to drink it for the calcium, to maintain bones and teeth as we get older. And, if given a choice, milk is healthier than many flavored drinks on the market. But what about adults (and children) who don’t like, or are physically intolerant to milk?
Experts agree that if you eat a healthy diet, you can obtain all the calcium you need from food. Foods including; leafy greens, beans, fish, nuts, seeds, tofu, some plant and soy milks, plus cheese and other dairy products (yogurt, cottage cheese, etc). The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 1,000-1,300 mg per day, but the World Health Organizations says you only need 500 mg/day. And one cup of cow’s milk contains 300 mg of calcium. So, varying recommendations do make it confusing!
Various research and clinical trials have shown some differences. Some countries with the highest intake of milk and calcium (Denmark and others) paradoxically show the HIGHEST rate of hip fractures. Studies show that, contrary to old “wives tales,” milk drinking children do not grow significantly taller. And, while cow’s milk increases your levels of hormones that promote growth of bone and muscle tissue, this is a double-edged sword; longer bones are more likely to break, which may explain the higher fracture rates in milk-drinking countries!
What about the added hormones in cow’s milk? These growth hormones are added to give strength to newborn calves, and sex hormones (progestin and estrogen) are added because cows are kept pregnant for most of the time. Some large correlational studies have linked milk and dairy intake to higher rates of breast, prostate, and testicular cancer, however these studies show only correlations, not cause and effect, and other studies have cast major doubts on those findings. And, some researchers speculate that dairy calcium has a protective effect on the large intestine!
For those who are lactose intolerant of cow’s milk, there are options, including plant-based calcium, fortified soy-milk. And some people are tolerant of sheep’s milk.
If you are worried about calcium, professor Willett at Harvard school of public health recommends 500 mg of calcium combined with 600 IU of vitamin D, but he also presses for a healthy diet instead.
Village Voices
Introducing Village Voices, a new feature in the ANV Community Update. 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. Anything that made you happy and that might brighten someone’s day. Submissions are welcome at any time by sending an email to the ANV Office (subject line, “Village Voices”). Contributions should be short and readable. Sorry, no photos or artwork. Here are a couple submissions to kick it off.
Riddle: I am the first on earth and second in heaven, I appear twice in a week and once in a year. You can see me in the middle of sea. What am I?
(Answer in the April 15 Community Update)
Inspirational Quote, by William Butler Yeats
“There are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t yet met.”
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.
Shared Area Village Events Calendar
The Washington Area Villages are sharing their speaker series for all of us to enjoy. Please visit their calendar to see what’s available.
Dream Guidance, with author Machiel Klerk
Tuesday, April 9, 3:00 – 4:15 pm
Everyone dreams! However, most people don’t know that their night-time dreams play a fascinating role in self-awareness. In this online program, you’ll learn about “dream incubation,” an ancient practice that helps unlock the creative wisdom of the subconscious. In dream incubation, you question yourself before going to sleep in order to elicit a practical response that is shown in your dreams. Join Little Falls Village and listen to Machiel Klerk who has been receiving accolades for his book, Dream Guidance. He offers a step-by-step process of asking the focused questions that unleash the guiding wisdom of dreams. Register by April 8.
Friday Morning Music Club
The Friday Morning Music Club invites everyone to 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. The program for the next session on April 5 includes a Mozart viola quintet, selected songs by Kapralova and a Chopin piano solo. The one-hour concerts start at noon. Free, no ticket required.
Office Volunteers Needed in ANV Office
We are looking for volunteers to support ANV Office operations through a regular schedule of either a half or full day (our office is open from 10 to 3) once per week, in-person, at the ANV Office (4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington). The main tasks are to receive and enter (into our database) members’ service requests, match interested volunteers to these requests and communicate the match to both parties, respond to volunteer/member concerns, and update our database. Other tasks are to prepare mailings, make copies, and file. Most work is done over the phone and on the computer (using Outlook email, a variety of websites, an Access database and Excel spreadsheets), so the ideal volunteer will have experience with and enjoy using these technologies in the office environment. Training is provided on-site. We are a non-smoking, COVID-19 vaccinated, mask-optional, scent-free office with plenty of on-site parking. Email Jeanne if you’re interested or have questions.
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 at Spring Guide.
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.
