Community Update (12/15/23)
ANV Holiday Lunch, Friday, December 15, at noon
We look forward to seeing you later today at the ANV Holiday Lunch. We will gather at the Church of the Covenant, 2666 Military Road for a light lunch, holiday cheer, and our Holiday Raffle. You are welcome to bring a dessert to share with your friends.
ANV Office Closed for the Holidays
The ANV Office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays on Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1.
ANV is Moving
Our office is moving to a new location. We have had a wonderful 8 years here at the Church of the Covenant, but we have out-grown our space and will be moving to the Renahan Center, a first-floor office suite at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 4000 Lorcom Lane at the end of December. That means that we will effectively close our offices on Thursday and Friday, December 28 and 29 to make the move. We will have a very limited ability to answer the phones or manage service requests during those two days. We hope that you understand. We will host several Open Houses in our new space during the month of January so everyone can get to enjoy our new digs!
Roosevelt Island Walk: December 21
The winter seasonal walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island takes place December 21 at 11:00 am. Remember, walks this year are on Thursday, not Saturday. Details below.
New Year’s Celebration, December 27
Welcome the New Year early with your ANV Coffee and Conversation friends in person on Wednesday, December 27 at 10-11 am at The Jefferson. Details below.
Free COVID Tests
You can get free, at home COVID tests from the government. See details below.
Opportunity for County Budget Feedback
The County Manager is seeking your feedback by December 22 to help guide the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Arlington County is facing a $25-to-$40-million shortfall as our economy continues to evolve and adapt to changing realities. This means that the County must make difficult budget choices to continue being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. This is where you come in. The County is seeking your recommendations for balancing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. I just completed the survey; it took just a few minutes, encouraging a greater investment in seniors. Share your thoughts today!
Welcome
New Members
- Marikay Crangle and Laura Young
- Clifton Cummings
- Dolores Dabney
- Dinorah Martin
- Patricia Pickering
New Volunteers
- Laura Megas
- Reily Tribble
- Bryce Wommack
- Xieerli Xiadiya
In Memoriam
Please hold in your thoughts Helen Esserian, a former ANV member who had relocated from Arlington to Boston in June 2022 to be closer to her family. She passed away November 17 and often spoke of her ANV friends.
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
- December 20: Sweet Treat Swaps: Plant-based Holiday Baking
- December 27: In-person New Year’s Welcome
- January 3: Aging Matters and New Year’s Resolutions
- January 10: Money Management
- January 17: Mental Health and Aging
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, December 20, 2023: Sweet Treat Swaps: Plant-based Holiday Baking with Dr. Julia Doto, Assistant Professor, Health and Human Performance, Marymount University. Learn to bake tasty, healthy treats for the holidays! We’ll discuss easy, low-cost alternatives to milk, butter, eggs, and oil for your favorite recipes. Our guest, Dr. Julia Doto, will be making Ginger Snap Cookies and Apple Pie “Ice” Cream.
Wednesday, December 27: Welcome the New Year in person. Early New Year’s celebration! ANV members and volunteers are invited to attend an in-person Coffee and Conversation get together. We will meet from 10 to 11 am in the Monument Room (2nd floor, west building) at The Jefferson, 900 N. Taylor Street in Ballston. Charlie King and Mike Murtha have arranged for us to gather at The Jefferson to enjoy coffee and pastries. Visitor parking in the building is free for up to 3 hours.
Please check the ANV online calendar for more information on details on where we will meet at the Jefferson.
Wednesday, January 3: Cheryl Beversdorf, host of the Aging Matters weekly program on Arlington’s community radio station WERA Arlington 96.7 FM, will bring us up-to-date on all of the topics covered by her guest speakers over the past several years. We will also spend some time sharing our 2024 New Year’s Resolutions.
Wednesday, January 10: Money Management with Christine Dolan. Do your bills and mail never stop? Are you stressed or overwhelmed about being financially organized? It’s a lot to manage. C. Dolan & Associates works with individuals to help navigate and manage clients’ finances – bills, taxes, paperwork; budgets and expenses – so that they restore peace of mind. Christine Dolan will share how a daily money manager can help you stay financially organized.,
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.
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
Roosevelt Island Walk, Thursday, December 21 at 11am
The winter seasonal walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island takes place at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 21. Please note that the walks this year are on Thursdays not Saturday. This easy community walk 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. As usual 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
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 and Boules, Winter Hiatus for Outdoor Play
Bocce & Boules is on its winter break. Indoor bocce and lunch at Pinstripes in Georgetown is planned for later in January 2024. The January 15th Community Update will have more information on dates and times. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net.
ANV Board Games Day, Thursday, December 28 and January 11 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, January 12 at noon
The first lunch of the new year will be held on Friday, January 12 at noon at A Modo Mio, the former Joe’s Pizza and Pasta. The lunch menu features paninis, pastas and pizzas. A Modo Mio is located at 5555 Langston Blvd. There is ample parking. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com.
Ladies Lunch, January 12 at noon
Ladies lunch will meet at noon at Guapos Restaurant in Shirlington. Guapos features a Tex-Mex taste of superior foods and a beautiful atmosphere. Ample garage parking is available. Please RSVP to roslynva@gmail.com so we may have an accurate count.
Page Turners – December at 28, 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
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
VHC Health’s fitness classes aim to keep older adults strong, healthy and balanced. Equally important is the regular, social connection created by the welcoming community. Lower-impact fitness classes include:
- Boost Your Balance
- Feldenkrais for Self Care
- Functional Fitness
- Gentle or Seated Yoga
- Gentle Pilates
- Low Impact Cardio Dance
- Mindful Movement
- Seated Senior Fitness
- Seniorcise
- Senior Strength & Stretch
- Tai Chi (*10-week sessions begin week of 1/15)
Register online or call 703.558.6740.
VHC Health also continues to offer a variety of virtual fitness classes for those who prefer to exercise at home. Strengthen your muscles (Core Challenge, Cardio Strength, Body Sculpt) or relax and rejuvenate (Yin Yoga, Gentle, Seated or Hatha Yoga). Most classes run in 7-week sessions and begin the week of January 8. In looking at the list of classes, if you see a “V”, it’s virtual!
Free Covid Tests
As of November 20, 2023, residential households in the U.S. are eligible for another order of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Each order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests (gov has more details about at-home tests, including extended shelf life and updated expiration dates)
- If an order has not been placed for your address since the program reopened on September 25, 2023, you can place 2 orders now
- Orders will ship free
To order, go to https://special.usps.com/testkits
COVID Annual Vaccination
Getting vaccinated or boosted is an important way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. But if it’s been a while since you got the shot, 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.
Learn more about COVID-19 and the updated vaccines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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.
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.