May 1 2023

2023)

Anniversary Celebration and Volunteer Recognition – Saturday May 6!

All are welcome to join us for our 9^th Anniversary Celebration and Volunteer Recognition on Saturday, May 6 at noon-2:00pm outside ANV’s office at the Church of the Covenant. It’s a rain or shine event – in the Church parking lot for good weather, and if it rains, we’ll be inside in the Fellowship Hall. Join us to recognize our amazing volunteers and all that they do to make ANV a success. Details below.

Candidate Forum, May 18

ANV, the Arlington Commission on Aging, and Culpepper Garden Affordable Senior Living are hosting a forum for candidates running in the Democratic primary for the County Board on Thursday, May 18 at 2:00-3:30pm at Culpepper Garden at 4435 N. Pershing Drive. The forum will be focused on senior issues. All are welcome to attend; see below for more information.

RISE Environmental Program

See below for more information.

Pop Up Picnic

The special excursion on the Metro Silver Line to McLean has been rescheduled due to rain to May 26. See details below.

Save the Date: Thursday, May 31

Join us to celebrate National Health & Fitness Day (hosted by ANV and others) on Wednesday, May 31 at 10:00am – 12:00pm at the Lubber Run Community Center. Information and screenings for: Blood Pressure, Vision, Hearing, Falls Risk, Cognitive Screening, Home Care Resources, Fitness Class Demonstrations, Senior Olympics, Vaccinations, Insurance Counseling and Assistance, Mobility Equipment, Community Services and Healthy Food Tastings. Everyone is welcome. See below for more information.

Spring Cleaning was a Big Success

Thank you to the volunteers from Painter Roofing that joined our ANV volunteers to help 35 (yes, 35!) members donate or recycle items that they no longer needed. We had 6 teams that made pick-ups on April 21, taking items to the Library and Goodwill. Based on demand, we can do this again in the Fall.

Welcome

New Members

Joan DaSilva
Judith DeSisti
Diane Micker
Catherine Price
Binh Tran

New Volunteers

Richard Anton
Regina Gramss
Krystol Hines
Janette Martin
Kelly Shih
Ben Sollenberger

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 Conversations on Wednesdays at 10 am

May 3: Heart Health as we Age
May 10: Creating Your Own World
May 17: Life’s Difficult Conversations
May 24: TBD
May 31: Senior Health and Fitness Day

Special Events

Weekly Groups

Tai Chi
Bocce
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, May 3: Heart Health as we Age. We all know that as we age we are more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, coronary heart disease or heart failure. In fact, heart disease is a major cause of disabilities in older adults. Najah Amani, a current medical student at the University of California, and volunteer with the American Heart Association will help us understand what happens to our hearts as we age, and how we can improve our heart health.

Wednesday, May 10: Creating Your Own World. The war in Ukraine, climate change, the banking crisis, politics – with all that is going on in the world, it can be hard to find a sense of purpose or well-being. Dr. Charles Toftoy, author and professor emeritus at George Washington University, will guide an open discussion in pursuit of happiness in this complicated and unstable world.

Wednesday, May 17: Life’s Difficult Conversations. Health problems. Finances. Where we want to live. What we want the end of life to look like. These are some of the difficult conversations we need to have with family and friends. Yet broaching these conversations can feel frightening and overwhelming so we put them off, often to our own detriment. Erin Whalen, Founder of Compassionate Coaching and her colleague Elizabeth Jernigan, Role Player, will give us the tools we need to have these difficult conversations.

Wednesday, May 24: TBD

Wednesday, May 31: Senior Health & Fitness Day. In lieu of Zoom, join us in person to celebrate National Health & Fitness Day at the Lubber Run Community Center from 10:00am – noon. We will have information and screenings for: Blood Pressure, Vision, Hearing, Falls Risk, Cognitive Screening, Home Care Resources, Fitness Class Demonstrations, Senior Olympics, Vaccinations, Insurance Counseling and Assistance, Mobility Equipment, Community Services and Healthy Food Tastings. Everyone is welcome. See more information on this event below.

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

Anniversary Celebration and Volunteer Recognition – All in One!

Saturday, May 6 from noon-2:00pm, Church of the Covenant

All are welcome to join us for our 9th Anniversary Celebration and Volunteer Recognition on Saturday, May 6 from noon-2:00 pm at the Church of the Covenant, 2666 Military Road (ANV’s home). It’s a rain or shine event – in the Church parking lot for good weather, and if it rains, we’ll be inside in the Fellowship Hall. Join us to recognize our amazing volunteers and all that they do to make ANV a success. We will be serving a light lunch, including the return of the Ice Cream truck, and hosting a brief program at 1:00pm to recognize our volunteers. RSVP at Office@arlnvil.org or 703-509-8057 so we can get a good count of attendees.

Candidate Forum

Thursday, May 18, 2:00pm-3:30pm, Culpepper Garden

You’re invited to an Arlington County Democratic Candidate Forum on Older Adult Issues, Thursday, May 18, from 2:00 pm-3:30 pm at Culpepper Garden, 4435 N. Pershing Drive, Arlington. The event is sponsored by Arlington Neighborhood Village, Culpepper Garden Affordable Senior Living and the Arlington Commission on Aging. With over 36,000 older adults in Arlington it is one of the fastest growing population segments in the County. Forum topics will include housing — both aging in place and housing options for older adults; transportation access and safety; health access including mental health; food insecurity, and supportive and social services. Our moderator, Cheryl Beversdorf, is the host of WERA weekly radio program, Aging Matters. Candidates will begin with a one-minute introduction followed by questions posed by Cheryl and the audience. All older adults are welcome. Limited parking is available at Culpepper Garden (obtain a parking pass to display on your dashboard at the front desk). There is on-street parking in the neighborhood. And free parking at the nearby Lubber Run Community Center, a short walk from Culpepper Garden.

RISE Program – Passionate about the Environment?

A national version of the Retirees In Service to the Environment (RISE) Program is being offered by the Village to Village Network in partnership with Mather and the Cornell Institute for Translational Research on Aging. The series will be held virtually for participants, meeting via Zoom, every Thursday, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, from May 11 through June 29. RISE is an evidence-based environmental education and leadership training program for older adults created by Cornell University. The goal of the RISE Program is to create a new pool of environmental leaders who will play an active role in addressing environmental issues in their own communities. Registration is required; email sboots@mather.com and include your name, ANV affiliation and your email address. More information on the program and the schedule of classes and speakers can be found here.

enior Health & Fitness Day

Wednesday, May 31, 10:00am – noon

Lubber Run Community Center

Join us in person to celebrate National Health & Fitness Day at the Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive, from 10:00am – noon. We will have information and screenings for: Blood Pressure, Vision, Hearing, Falls Risk, Cognitive Screening, Home Care Resources, Fitness Class Demonstrations, Senior Olympics, Vaccinations, Insurance Counseling and Assistance, Mobility Equipment, Community Services and Healthy Food Tastings. The Fair is sponsored by ANV, the 55+ Program, VHC, and Marymount University. Everyone is welcome.

Weekly Events

Zoom Practice Session

If you need some extra help getting familiar with ZOOM, just call or email office@arlnvil.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, Monday’s at 5:00pm

Welcome back outdoor Bocce. Join weekly Bocce on Monday afternoons at 5:00 pm; games last approximately one hour. In addition to the two sets of bocce balls, we now have two new sets of boules. Bocce is played every Monday 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, May 4 and May 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 Scrabble, Mexican Train Dominoes, Cribbage, 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 Bunch: Friday, May 12 at noon
The Men’s Lunch Bunch will get together at Texas Jack’s Barbecue located at 2761 Washington Boulevard on Friday, May 12 at Noon. Texas Jack’s is known for its delicious smoked meats including beef ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, pork spare ribs and smoked turkey and chicken. A complete menu can be found online. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com or by calling him at 571-224-4546. Parking is available in the restaurant’s lot adjacent to Texas Jack’s and can be accessed off Washington Boulevard.

Ladies Lunch: Friday, May 12 at noon

Our May Ladies Lunch will be at Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N Washington St, Falls Church City on Friday, May 12. Clare and Don’s is a casual beach themed spot. Our reservation is outside so wear your flip flops and enjoy a variety of seafood and vegetarian fare. Parking is behind the State Theater in two public outside parking lots. Limited street parking is also available. Please rsvp to roslynva@gmail.com so we may have an accurate count.

Page Turners May 25 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.

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 – Special Event Rescheduled to May 26

Expanded Silver Line Excursion

Meet at Ballston Metro Platform at 2:30pm

ANV members and volunteers will travel together to explore exciting new (and old) destinations along the Metro Silver Line extension. The first destination on Friday, May 26 will be to Perch & Putt at the McLean stop where putt-putt golf and bocce is played on the Capital One Center rooftop. There is a Wegman’s on the ground floor where you can pick up food items either before or after. Two uniquely designed food trucks open for business at 3:00 pm serving Jamaican dishes and traditional street tacos. Parking is available in the Wegman’s underground parking garage, but you are encouraged to join other ANV friends as we ride together on the Metro Silver Line to McLean. Meet inside on the lower level platform at the Ballston Metro at 2:30pm for the first trip. Questions? Email thomas-johnr@comcast.net.

Educational Activities

Arlington Public Library Programs

The Library has several events planned for May; 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 E

Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcasts

Available every Saturday on our local radio station WETA, broadcast channel 90.9 FM at 1 PM. Find more information on broadcasts online.

May 6: Puccini’s La Boheme

Wellness

Walk Fit has partnered with Lubber Run Community Center at 300 N. Park Drive! Meet on the 2^nd level indoor track, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 am. Walk Fit is an intergenerational walking program and is open to anyone looking for free, low-impact, and climate-controlled exercise. Participants enjoy great company while exercising in a safe environment. The morning walk is followed by a brief cool down and flexibility session led by VHC Health staff. For more information, please call Senior Health: 703.558.6859 or email seniorhealth@vhchealth.org.

Parkinson’s Disease: Why This Matters

Recently, a close friend had a startling revelation. She had survived a bad case of Covid-19 in the first months of the pandemic, long before we had vaccines. After a harrowing stay in an ICU, she returned home and slowly recovered. But she unfortunately retained symptoms of “Long Covid”, including fatigue, cognitive fogginess, memory lapses among others. After 3 years with little improvement, she was alerted by a friend that she seemed to have tremors in her hands when sitting at rest. She sought assessment from her doctor, who said “I think you have Parkinson’s Disease” (PD). While she was initially distressed by this news, the doctor said, “that would be good, because we can treat symptoms of PD.”

What is Parkinson’s Disease? Simply put, it is a neurodegenerative disorder that decreases dopamine in our brain, causing various motor (movement), and non-motor symptoms throughout the body. While the cause of PD is unknown, scientists believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors cause PD.

Symptoms of PD generally develop slowly over years and are different for each person. Common symptoms:

Motor symptoms: tremors, mainly at rest, and described as “pill rolling’ in the hands; slowness of movement; limb stiffness; gait and balance problems
Non-movement symptoms: depression, anxiety, apathy, hallucinations, constipation, sleep disorders, loss of sense of smell; some cognitive impairment.

Treatments. While there is no cure for PD, treatments including medications, lifestyle adjustments and surgery can help.There is no “one size fits all” treatment for PD, since symptoms vary among individuals, however a good quality of life is possible with PD! Working with your medical provider team is essential, including a medication regime to replace dopamine. Other medications may be helpful as well to target other movement and non-movement symptoms.

Treatment may include things you do yourself such as exercise, balance work (check out the SAIL program at ANV, or the Matter of Balance course), and recording details of your symptoms daily. Activities done with the guidance of others may include physical-, occupational-, and speech- therapies as well as participation in a support group.

Because PD motor symptoms take decades to become evident, PD generally shows up in older people. The good news is that there are treatments that slow/control the symptoms, so early detection is essential. As soon as any symptoms appear, you need to be evaluated and then follow the treatment plan made by you with your PD treatment team. Educate yourself, such as through the Parkinson’s Foundation, NIH and other reliable sources. Education brings reassurance, allowing a hopeful, happy life with PD.

Also of Interest

Centenarians: watch the launch of the Centenarians Today Podcast on Thursday, May 4, at 11:30 am. The project was funded by the Arlington Community Foundation as part of their Age Friendly Initiative. The podcast highlights stories from centenarians who share their triumphs, reflections, and memorable life moments. Join by following this Zoom link.

Understanding the Role of Palliative Care

Friday, May 19

11:00 am – 12:00pm

Palliative care is often a misunderstood and underutilized area of medicine that many associate with end of life. In practice, it can be source of comfort and improved quality of life at any stage of an illness. Learn about the types of palliative care that are available, when and how they are utilized, and how palliative care is similar and different from hospice care. VHC Health physician Michael Westerman, MD, a specialist in geriatric medicine and palliative care, will discuss the role and benefits of palliative care. Registration required.

2023 Sourcebook Is Available in Print and Online

The new 2023 edition of the Positive Aging Sourcebook is available online or in print for FREE. You can browse the online edition or request a free print copy. The Sourcebook has good articles and exhaustive lists of different services available to older adults.

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.

Remember as an ANV member, you also receive membership in Arlington’s 55+ Program. During COVID, many programs are on-line, and the Guide is now published quarterly. The Spring Guide is available online.

ANV Events are posted on our online calendar so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.