Community Update (1/15/24)
Tai Chi
Interested in Tai Chi? For 10 years, ANV volunteers, members, and friends have practiced “Tai Chi 24” and a Qi Gong warm up in Virginia Square, Tuesdays at 9:30am. The group is free and open to everyone and meets in the parking lot at the Museum of Contemporary Arts Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd. If the forecast is too cold or wet, we meet indoors. See below for more information.
Encore Learning
Encore Learning is really excited about the spring semester; there are some very hot topics along with the Global Hot Spots class featuring five former US Ambassadors. Lifelong learners can get up to date on ranked choice voting, the history of race and law in Arlington, urban agriculture, novels of slavery, or learn more about the 1,000 year history of Russia and the Ukraine. See below for more information.
Welcome to New ANV Offices
Our office has moved to new space at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 4000 Lorcom Lane. We are in the lower level Renehan Center with a suite of offices accessible on the ground floor – no more stairs — and we will have a small meeting room that we can use for ANV events. We will be hosting several Open House gatherings in the coming weeks, but you are welcome to stop by anytime! Check out the map on the ANV website to find the entrance.
ANV Office Closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
The ANV Office is closed for the MLK Day Holiday on Monday, January 15.
Save the Date, Lunar New Year
Please mark your calendars for ANV’s annual celebration of the Lunar New Year on Wednesday, February 21. We will be returning to Mark’s Duck House for the celebration. More information will be available in the February 1 newsletter.
Happy Hearts Social, February 14
The VHC Senior Health Department is hosting the 2nd Annual Happy Hearts Social, an event for older adults in the community to celebrate Valentine’s Day with entertainment, refreshments and fellowship on Wednesday, February 14, from 1:00-3:00pm at Faith Lutheran Church, 3313 Arlington Blvd. Last year, participants enjoyed music, dancing and some delicious sweets. There is a $10 per person cost, but VHC Senior Associates can attend at no cost. RSVP to seniorhealth@VHCHealth.org or call 703-558-6859.
Welcome
New Members
- Barbara Frias
- Drusilla DeLong
New Volunteers
- Robert Perino
- Tahira Rehman
- Jenny Roberts
- Amy Wolgin
In Memoriam
We fondly remember Betty Moore who passed away on January 9.
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
- January 17: Mental Health and Aging
- January 24: Stephen Ministry
- January 31: Arlington’s Drinking Water
- February 7: Capital Jewish Museum
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
Also of Interest
ANV Activities
Coffee and Conversation: Wednesdays at 10 am
Coffee and Conversation occurs on Wednesdays, 10–11 am. 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, January 17: Mental Health and Aging. Join the RAFT program for an interactive presentation, on mental health challenges and debunk myths related to aging. We will discuss self-care, resources, and how to support a friend. Sydney Palinkas is the RAFT Dementia Education and Outreach Coordinator. RAFT is the Regional Older Adult Facilities Mental Health Support Team.
Wednesday January 24: Stephen Ministry. Joan Brown will share information about Stephen Ministry, a non-profit, Christian organization through which trained and certified lay ‘Caring Listeners’ provide one-on-one, individualized compassionate listening to adults who are going through a life crisis such as bereavement, illness or change in health status, divorce, job loss, relocation and more. Individuals experiencing a significant loss receive the gift of a reliable, consistent, empathic and encouraging listening ear.
Wednesday, January 31: Arlington’s drinking water distribution system contains over 500 miles of publicly owned pipe, as well as 5 pump stations, 17,000 valves and 3,900 fire hydrants. This system is a vital resource to every home, facility, and business within Arlington County. Join Regan Carver and Amani Eisa, engineers with the County’s Water, Sewer, and Streets Bureau, to learn how the water you drink gets to your house and what Arlington County does to ensure that Arlington remains a safe and healthy place to live and work. (See article below to tweak your interest in water.)
Wednesday, February 7: Join Curator Sarah Leavitt for an introduction to the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum (CJM). Learn about one of one of the newest museums in DC and explore the Jewish experience in the national capital region. Sarah will use images from CJM’s collections and building to talk about the origins of the museum and introduce themes in Washington Jewish history. She will take us on a virtual tour of the new exhibitions (the Museum just opened in June 2023) and be available for questions and discussion after the talk.
ANV’s YouTube channel
If you miss a Coffee and Conversation speaker, be sure to check out ANV’s YouTube channel where we are posting some of our Coffee and Conversation speakers and other special events. Sit back and enjoy!
Special Events
Arlington Historical Society
Thursday, February 8, 7:00 pm, on Zoom
Black Decoders at Arlington Hall
In Arlington Hall, a secret African American unit – mostly women and unknown to most white workers – tackled commercial codes, keeping tabs on which companies were doing business with Hitler or Mitsubishi. National Security Agency historian Dr. David Hatch will tell us the invisible history of African-American codebreakers during World War II. Please Register by Wednesday, February 7. Zoom access information will be sent to you on the morning of the event on Thursday, February 8.
Weekly Events
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.
Indoor Bocce at Pinstripes
Winter indoor bocce returns! Join us at Pinstripes on Thursday, January 18, at noon for bocce and lunch. As with previous years, Pinstripes is offering free bocce provided we stay for lunch at their popular Bistro (lunch menu). For those who may enjoy a handcrafted cocktail, Pinstripes offers them at half price all day Thursday. Pinstripes is located at 1064 Wisconsin Ave, NW in Georgetown.
The easiest way to get there is by Metro Bus #38B towards Farragut Square, leaving from the Ballston Station at 11:30am. Parking in Georgetown is limited and pricey, so it’s best to leave your car at the Ballston Quarter garage and walk one block to the Ballston Metro Bus terminal on Stuart St. in front of Starbucks. This year we will play at Pinstripes every other Thursday until the weather turns warm. The next bocce date will be February 1. Pinstripes requires reservations for lunch so please let John Thomas (thomas-johnr@comcast.net) know by Tuesday evening, January 16, if you are coming. We will play bocce from roughly noon to 1:00, then lunch from about 1:00 to 2:00.
ANV Board Games Day, Thursday, January 25 and February 8 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, February 9 at noon
Please join us for our February lunch at the Istanbul Grill, 4617 Wilson Boulevard in Ballston. The Istanbul Grill features authentic Turkish cooking including cold and hot mezzes, wraps, and kebobs. There is ample on-site parking. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com.
Ladies Lunch, February 9 at noon
The Ladies lunch returns to Shirlington in February. We will meet at Corso Italian, a new restaurant featuring hand-made pasta and Italian classics in a vibrant atmosphere. The restaurant is located at 4024 Campbell Avenue. Shirlington offers plenty of free garage parking. Please RSVP to roslynva@gmail.com so we may have an accurate count.
Page Turners – January 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
Encore Learning
Encore Learning is really excited about the spring semester, there are some very hot topics along with the Global Hot Spots class featuring five former US Ambassadors. Lifelong learners can get up to date on ranked choice voting, the history of race and law in Arlington, urban agriculture, novels of slavery, or learn more about the 1,000 year history of Russia and the Ukraine.
Encore Learning has a fantastic spring lineup of 35 courses including 27 new courses. Select from 16 in-person courses, 15 virtual courses, as well as 4 hybrid courses available for both in-person and virtual participation simultaneously. There are courses in history, literature, art, science, and so much more. Keeping our brains active and engaged is so important and the social connections made are so rewarding. View all of the classes online.
Join the Spring Course Preview via Zoom on Thursday, February 1 at 9:30am where you can hear directly from instructors. Registration opens Monday, February 5 at 10:00am and classes begin March 4.
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.
Wellness
Tai Chi
Thanks to our friends at Museum of Contemporary Arts Arlington for the warm and friendly winter spot for ANV’s tai chi practice. MOCAA executive director Catherine Anchin opened the doors of the Tiffany Room to our Tuesday morning group a couple of years ago. Catherine has led MOCAA through a recent name change and is thrilled to have “Reclining Liberty” on the front lawn through the spring of 2024. She and Sarah Loden, manager of public programs, are dedicated to making MOCAA a vital community partner in Arlington.
Interested in Tai Chi? You are invited to join us Tuesday at 9:30. For 10 years, ANV volunteers, members, and friends have practiced “Tai Chi 24” and a Qi Gong warm up in Virginia Square. The group is free and open to everyone and began, outdoors, in Oakland Park on Wilson Blvd. ANV members Arlene and David Christian thought it would be a good way for new people to become aware of ANV and enjoy the benefits of Tai Chi practice in a beautiful outdoor setting. Meet the group in the parking lot at MOCAA, 3550 Wilson Blvd. If the forecast is too cold or wet, we meet indoors. For more information, contact Anita Wallgren at awallgren@gmail.com or (202) 674-5553.
Matter of Balance Workshop,
The Virtual Matter of Balance falls prevention program is an evidence based cognitive restructuring program that meets for 2 hours a week for 9 weeks. The class focuses on how we view falling, our fears of falling, strategies for preventing a fall and invites participation in gentle exercises. Enrollment in the Virtual Matter of Balance program requires a 9-week commitment and participation with your online computer camera on. The Matter of Balance program meets once a week for 9 weeks starting Thursday, January 25 to Thursday, March 21 from 1pm to 3pm. Registration is required; the class is free.
New Lifeline Pricing and Options
For anyone considering a medical alert system for themselves, a client, friend or family member, Virginia Health is excited to offer new pricing and a new product option.
- Monthly prices for all in-home units will decrease starting January 1. Savings vary by unit but are up to 15% off previous pricing. In addition, there will no longer be a one-time purchase fee for the mobile (“On the Go”) device – a savings of $99.
- The mobile device is now smaller. At only 1.5 ounces, the new On the Go Mini is easy to wear and comes with a belt clip, which gives the user more versatility. This device offers the same benefits as the original On the Go device, including 4G LTE, 2-way voice communication, waterproof design, fall detection feature, and locating technology.
As a reminder, Virginia Health is always willing to help individuals with limited income. The VHC Lifeline Assistance Fund helps to decrease the monthly cost anywhere from 40-60% depending on the unit. Questions, contact 703-558-6859 or
COVID Annual Vaccination
Getting vaccinated and boosted is an important way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. If it’s been a while since your vaccination/booster, your protection may need a boost. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available now and protect against the Omicron variant. Other vaccines, including this year’s flu vaccine, are also available. Staying up to date with your COVID vaccine can reduce the risk that you’ll:
- Get seriously ill, need hospital care, or die from COVID-19
- Develop long COVID-19
- Spread the disease to others, putting their health and lives at risk.
Also of Interest
Aging Matters Radio and TV
Aging Matters radio is a weekly program on Arlington’s community radio station WERA Arlington 96.7 FM. Every Tuesday at 2 pm and Friday at 2 pm, host Cheryl Beversdorf interviews experts on topics impacting the lives of older adults and their families. All Aging Matters broadcasts can be found on Apple and Spotify. 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.
Is Arlington Water Safe to Drink?
Before our January 28 Coffee and Conversation on Water quality, let’s explore some background information.
Experts are employed in Arlington County to oversee our water quality (www.water.arlingtonva.us). Joan Smith, an ANV volunteer recently received a written report, the 2023 Water Quality Overview, and subsequently learned much about how our drinking water is processed and delivered. Some highlights follow.
“Arlington’s water supply meets or exceeds all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Virginia Department of Health safety standards.” More than 100 employees dedicate themselves to our water infrastructure; this includes those in the Service’s Water, Sewer, Streets Bureau; Water Pollution Control Plant; and Customer Service Office. Our water comes from the Potomac River, treated then pumped from the Dalecarlia plant in D.C. to Arlington County, through the Army Corps of Engineers Washington Aqueduct. Once here, it goes through 500 miles of pipeline to our homes, using 16,000 valves, 3,900 fire hydrants, and 38,000 water service connections. We use about 20 million gallons a day, using more during the summer months; the average usage is 48,000 gallons per household! We use about 465 miles of sanitary sewer. Each household is billed for usage of water, sewer, and stormwater services.
The Overview describes events such as water main breaks, regulations, and how to cope with flavor by flushing your tap for drinking water (run tap for up to 2 minutes), since in older homes, minerals can build up when tap not in use. All of the lead pipes that connect water mains to homes have now been identified and removed/replaced. However, some lead may originate in the house plumbing itself; those concerned can get their water tested (www.epa.gov/safewater/lead) and help to identify the source of any lead.
Tips are given to gauge your water consumption in garden hoses, washing machines, water taps, dishwashers, and various models of toilets. Leaks are a major reason for high consumption; if you suspect you have a leak, call 703-228-5000 for an investigation of the leak source.
As informative as the 2023 Overview is (and it is available online), Joan also requested the 2022 Annual Water Quality Report for more details. So, WHAT IS IN THE WATER? As water flows over the land surface or underground, it dissolves minerals, and sometimes radioactive material as well as substances from animal and human activity. Thus, the water may contain contaminants such as: viruses, bacteria, salts, metals, pesticides, herbicides, synthetic and volatile organic chemicals (by-products of industry, gas-stations, urban storm runoff, and septic tanks), radioactive materials from nature, or the result of oil and gas production and mining.
How does Arlington remove contaminants to make our water safe? This report has a detailed chart showing named contaminants, levels that are safe, goal levels, and Arlington’s detected levels of each. It also shows the average levels of compounds found, including calcium, chloramine residual, chloride, fluoride, magnesium, nickel and others. Arlington has treatment techniques to keep each of these at 0-acceptable levels.
Get your questions about our water quality ready and join the upcoming Coffee and Conversation, when ANV will host Arlington water engineers who will explain all this, plus be available to answer your questions about our water. Raise a glass of our water; cheers to the New Year!
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 Winter Guide.
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.
