Community Update (10/16/2023)
Breakfast at the Metro 29 Diner
Please join your friends for breakfast at the re-opened Metro 29 Diner on Tuesday, October 24 at 10am. Details below.
Crystal City Water Park Excursion and Lunch
Visit the newly reopened Crystal City Water Park on November 3 from 11:00am to 12:30pm. Join ANV members and volunteers to discover the Crystal City Water Park and get your lunch from one (or two!) of 11 different indoor and outdoor food vendors & restaurants. Details below.
Free COVID Tests by Mail
The Government is again offering up to 4 free COVID tests by mail. This program started on September 25. Every U.S. household can place an order to receive 4 free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to your home. Before you throw out “expired” tests, check to see if your COVID-19 tests’ expiration dates have been extended.
Medicare Open Enrollment Season
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. Take some time to ensure that your Medicare Prescription Drug coverage is right for you. Your needs change and plan offerings change each year so it is important to do an annual “checkup.” Arlington offers free Medicare counseling from well-trained volunteers through VICAP (Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program). Learn how to use the Medicare Plan finder and other tools to maximize savings. Please sign up by visiting this website, emailing Medicarehelp@arlingtonva.us or calling 703-228-1725.
Open Enrollment events held at the community centers are open to the public and appointments are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. Programs are planned for Tuesday, October 24 at Arlington Mill and November 14 at Walter Reed.
Save the Date
Our Thanksgiving celebration dinner is planned for Friday, November 17. Mark the date on your calendar. More information will be shared in our November Community Update.
Welcome
New Members
- Linda Brock
- Lena Koval
New Volunteers
- Tara Bowman
- Celina Hubert
- Syeda Juthi
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
- October 18: Arlington County Emergency Management.
- October 25: Perch Houses
- November 1: SPARK business academy
- November 8: RSV
- November 15: English Empowerment Center
- November 22: ANV
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, October 18: Arlington County Emergency Management. Don’t let emergencies get you spooked! Join Tania Bougebrayel Cohn, Community Engagement and Resilience Manager in Arlington County’s Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management, to learn how older adults can easily carve out time to prepare for disasters and emergencies this fall.
Wednesday, October 25: Perch Houses. Wing Pepper, the CEO and co-Founder of Perch Houses will speak about how Perch Houses serves as a model for solving the problems of housing affordability and social isolation for people aged fifty-five and older. Perch Houses is a new type of home sharing service that brings together professional women aged fifty-five and older to co-live in affordable houses while offering homeowners the opportunity to rent to thoroughly vetted tenants who are looking for long-term leases, stability, and community.
Wednesday, November 1: SPARK business academy. Unfortunately, one of life’s most important lessons is not taught in schools. Financial literacy is often learned the hard way through crushing debt and unrealized goals. SPARK business academy, based here in Arlington, aims to change that by teaching financial literacy and entrepreneur-ship to students in grades K-12 via empowering summer camps and after-school enrichment classes at many local private and public schools. Chuchi Arevalo, CFA, CFE, founder and CEO of SPARK business academy, will talk about their programs and the effect they are having on young people.
Wednesday, November 8: RSV. Respiratory syncytial virus has been a typical childhood disease. However, it can cause serious illness in older adults. A new vaccine specifically targeted to this population has recently been approved by the FDA. Dr. Michelle Crank, an allergist, immunologist, and internist, will join us to speak about the disease and the development of this new vaccine.
Wednesday, November 15: English Empowerment Center. Imagine not being able to read, write or speak English. Even the simplest tasks like grocery shopping, navigating a bus schedule, or filling out a job application would be insurmountable. Amy Tristan, Volunteer and Outreach Manager with the English Empowerment Center will talk about their mission to improve English literacy among non-speakers in our region so they can become active members of our community.
Wednesday, November 22: What’s New at Arlington Neighborhood Village. Missed the All-Hands Meeting? Wendy Zenker will fill us in on what happened at the meeting and bring us up-to-date on what’s new at Arlington Neighborhood Village.
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
Breakfast at the Metro 29 Diner, Tuesday October 24 at 10am
Please join us for breakfast, fellowship, and lively conversation at the Metro 29 Diner, 4711 Langston Blvd. The diner features an extensive breakfast/brunch menu with something to please everyone. There is ample parking in the lot adjoining the diner. Please RSVP to the ANV office (703) 509-8057, or email office@anvarlington.org by October 20.
Crystal City Water Park Excursion and Lunch
Visit the newly reopened Crystal City Water Park on November 3 from 11:00am to 12:30pm. Join ANV members and volunteers to discover the Crystal City Water Park at 1601 Crystal Drive. Get your lunch from a possibility of 11 different indoor and outdoor food vendors & restaurants with choices ranging from plant-based burgers, to Indian street food, to Thai and Mediterranean specialties. We will meet at the street level of the Crystal City Metro Station at 11:00am then walk to the Park, only a 4 minute walk. For more information, contact John Thomas at thomas-johnr@comcast.net .
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, Mondays at 5:00pm
ANV members, volunteers, and friends enjoy weekly outdoor bocce every Monday in Ballston at 5:00pm. Games last approximately one hour. In addition to the two sets of bocce balls, we have two sets of boules. Bocce is played at the courts on the corner of Randolph St. & N. Glebe Rd. Parking is available in the Ballston Quarter parking garage for $1. All levels of bocce skills and experience are welcome. Everyone gets to play. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net.
ANV Board Games Day, Thursday, October 19 and November 2 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
Ladies Lunch Bunch (no lunch in November)
The Ladies Lunch is not gathering in November and hopes to see everyone at the ANV Thanksgiving celebration on November 17.
Men’s Lunch Bunch Friday, November 10 at noon
Please join us for the Men’s Lunch at The Union, 3811 Fairfax Drive. Please take a look at the menu, but know that the burgers get huge raves. The Union is a casual, family owned restaurant whose mission is to invite you into a warm, familiar neighborhood space where you can enjoy food inspired from the world around us. The Union is a one block walk from the Virginia Square metro. Metered parking is also available on Fairfax Drive. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com or by calling him at 571-224-4546.
Page Turners – October 26 at 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. See September booklist below.
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), Friday October 27 at noon
Our next Pop Up Picnic will be at High View Park located at 1945 N. Dinwiddie St near the Virginia Hospital Center. Free street parking is available on Dinwiddie St. Meet at the picnic tables under the pavilion next to the children’s playground. PPPs are scheduled the last Friday of the month at a different Arlington neighborhood park. ANV members and volunteers enjoy PPPs for casual outdoor conversation and fresh air. Bring your own lunch and something to drink. Contact John Thomas, thomas-johnr@comcast.net, if you have any questions.
Educational Activities
Arlington Public Library Programs
The Library has several events planned for October; please visit their website to see the calendar of events. The Library staff have 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 and see what’s happening at your local branch of the library.
More Library Resources
The Library offers a wealth of resources to help you connect with the world. All available with a free library card.
- Press Reader provides online access to over 5,000 local, regional and international newspapers and magazines from over 100 countries in 60 languages, displayed in their original format and accessible by country, language, or title.
- Language Conversation classes meet regularly; for example, French classes meet Sunday afternoon at Central Library and Italian on Monday evenings at Aurora Hills. Visit the Library Events calendar to see if there is a class for you!
- 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
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.
September Book List
Killers of the Flower Moon, the Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
The Housekeepers by Alex Haley
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
American Prometheus by Kay Bird and Martin J Sherrington
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Remarkably Bright Creature by Shelby Van Pelt
Shaped by the Waves by Christina Suzann Nelson
Drowning by T J Newman
Our Woman in Moscow by Beatriz Williams
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 Fall Guide.
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.
