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Community Update (10/1/22)

Tour of the Wilkes Street Cemetery Complex, October 21, at 10:30 am.

ANV members and volunteers are invited to join a private, guided tour of the Wilkes St. (Alexandria) Cemetery Complex (www.gravestonestories.com) on Friday, October 21. The Complex, created during the 1803 Yellow Fever epidemic that swept through DC, is composed of 9 contiguous cemeteries, including Christian and Jewish cemeteries, several burial associations, and the second oldest national cemetery in the country. Details below.

Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is the one time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can make changes in their Medicare plan enrollment. The OEP is available between October 15-December 7, with plan changes taking effect January 1st. The County VICAP Program offers resources and counselors to help you navigate your choices. Details below.

Early Voting has started

Early voting has started in Arlington and you can cast your ballot at one of three locations: Courthouse, Walter Reed Community Center or Madison Community Center. Check before you head to the polls to be sure that you are familiar with the hours of operation and that you will need some form of ID. More information on hours for these locations can be found here. If you need a ride to the polls, call the office at 703-509-8057 or email Office@arlnvil.org .

Home Safety Assessment

Have you wondered about possible safety hazards in your home, and how to address them? This may include slippery rugs, stairs in need of handrails, and more. ANV offers Home Safety Assessment, provided in-person in your home by an AARP-certified ANV volunteer, using the AARP Home Fit program. This assessment uses an AARP Home Fit checklist; it identifies potential safety hazards, and the service includes a post-assessment discussion about how best to address any hazards that are identified. If you are interested, please call the Office at 703-509-8057 or email Office@arlnvil.org.

Welcome

New Members

  • Shokoofeh Mackinnon
  • Baylily and Ha Tran

Volunteers

  • Mary-Ellis Bowler
  • Carolina Cordova-Cordero
  • Vick Fisher
  • Nina Hale
  • Martine Kusiak
  • Carri I’Harrah
  • Scott Manoff
  • Sara Santos
  • Neil Saul
  • Anna Sutherland

Activities

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

 

Coffee and Conversations on Wednesdays at 10 am

  • October 5: Goodwin Living
  • October 12: National Museum of African American History
  • October 19: Arthritis
  • October 26: Shirlington Employment and Education Centre

 

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

    • Performing Arts
    • Wellness

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 5: Goodwin Living offers senior living and healthcare services, including Hospice and Home Health, to adults ages 55+ in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC. Eileen Spinella, Community Outreach Hospice Manager, will provide an overview of the residential, hospice and other services available.

Wednesday, October 12: Have you wondered how the Smithsonian Institution produces outstanding exhibits and memorable collections? Lindsey Bestebreurtje, Ph.D., Curatorial Assistant at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will tell us about the creativity, research, and hard work from conception to exhibit opening. A Northern Virginia native, Dr. Bestegreurtje also researches Arlington’s African American communities from 1860 through the 1970s.

Wednesday, October 19: Whether it’s a new mysterious ache or you’ve been living with it for a while, there’s much to learn about arthritis. ANV’s Health and Wellness Committee will host Mona Burwell, MS, Arthritis Program Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Health. Ms. Burwell will explain the various forms of the disease, new research and treatment, and resources available to help.

Wednesday, October 26: For more than 20 years, Shirlington Employment and Education Centre (SEEC) has been a powerful community force in support of day laborers and their families.  Meet Andres Tobar, SEEC Executive Director, who will highlight many achievements and continuing challenges faced by this unique Arlington-based nonprofit.

 

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

Tour of the Wilkes Street (Alexandria) Cemetery Complex, October 21 at 10:30 am. ANV members and volunteers are invited to join a private, guided tour of the Wilkes St. Cemetery Complex on Friday, October 21. The Complex, created during the 1803 Yellow Fever epidemic that swept through DC, is composed of 9 contiguous cemeteries, including Christian and Jewish cemeteries, several burial associations, and the second oldest national cemetery in the country. David Heiby, Superintendent of the Presbyterian Cemetery, will lead us on a 90-minute walking tour to explain its history and tell of its many notable burials, including the four men killed while pursuing Lincoln’s assassin, and the Female Stranger whose ghost is said to haunt Gadsby’s Tavern. Please note that this is a 90-minute walking tour with no rest stops in between. Attendees should wear proper walking shoes and dress for the weather. After the tour, for those interested, we will enjoy lunch together at a nearby Olde Town Alexandria restaurant (TBD). Register with the ANV Office by calling 703-509-8057 or email at Office@arlnvil.org before Wednesday, October 19th, and indicate if you need a ride or can take passengers. Parking is limited so carpooling is recommended. The Wilkes St. Cemetery Complex is located at 1300 Wilkes St, Alexandria.

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 is meeting outdoors, or if inclement weather indoors at Saint George’s Episcopal Church in Virginia Square. Outdoors will be at the Maury Park East space on Wilson Blvd. between the vape shop and the Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd. Those who drive may park in the Arlington Arts Center lot towards the rear. If you are interested in joining this practice (not instruction), please contact Anita Wallgren at awallgren@gmail.com or (202) 674-5553 to get weekly emails with the plan for the week.

Bocce: Mondays at 5:30 pm

Join weekly Bocce on Monday afternoons at 5:30 pm (note new time); 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, October 6 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, Qwirkle, and more. We play every other Thursday at 2pm. Parking is available in the Ballston Quarter parking garage for $1.

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, October 14 at noon 

The Men’s Lunch Bunch will get together on Friday, October 14 at noon at SER in Ballston. SER has a nice outdoor patio so hopefully the weather will cooperate and we can sit outside. The Spanish restaurant offers hot and cold tapas/small plates along with bocadillas – sandwiches at lunch time. SER is located at 1110 North Glebe Road at the corner of 11th and Glebe Road in Ballston. Parking is available in the garage underneath the building on the Glebe Road entrance. Parking validation is available for $2.00 for up to three hours beginning at 11:30 am. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.com or by calling him at 571-224-4546.

Ladies Lunch, October 21

The Ladies Lunch will get together on October 21 at noon at a location to be announced in the October 15 newsletter. Contact Roslyn Rubin at Roslynva@gamil.com with questions.

Pop Up Picnic (PPP), Friday October 28 at noon

Join us at the October 28 Pop Up Picnic to be announced in the October 15 newsletter. ANV members and volunteers enjoy PPPs to meet for casual conversation, get fresh air, and discover a new neighborhood park in Arlington. Just bring your lunch and something to drink. For more information, contact John Thomas at Thomas-johnr@comcast.net.

Page Turners October 27 at 11:00am on Zoom

Share a book that you have read and 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 Page Turners on Zoom by clicking on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89666785566?pwd=WFFpTlY2SkJMQlJjN0NWNEUraFhEQT09

To join by phone, dial 301-715-8592; Meeting ID: 896 6678 5566; Passcode: 007241

Educational Offerings

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.

Museums and Other Exhibits

It’s Fall and there are many new shows and special exhibits happening/opening in our culturally-rich metropolitan area. You can catch up on the latest exhibits which are listed in the Friday Weekend section of the Washington Post.

Here are a few you might like:

The James McNeill Whistler’s Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery of Art, “Harmony in Blue and Gold’ will reopen this permanent exhibit on Saturday October 1 following a three-month conservation. The Freer Gallery is located in the National Museum of Asian Art on the National Mall.

National Portrait Gallery exhibit “I Dream a World,” portraits of Remarkable Black Women including Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Alice Walker and other prominent Black Women by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Brian Lanker through January 29.

You can go to the National Zoo, take a walk, and enjoy finding the 19 new additions at the National Zoo. There is a Komodo Dragon, Sand Cat, European Glass Lizard, Rock Hyrax, Vietnamese Mossy Frog and more new reptiles and mammals now residing at the Zoo. 

Wellness

Balance, Flexibility and Strength, Oh My!

Wednesday, October 19, 2022; 1-2:30 p.m. (Zoom)

Maintaining health and fitness as we get older is so important. Staying active helps us to not only keep doing the things we want to do, but also helps with preventing and managing chronic conditions AND decreases our risk for a fall. Join us for an informative presentation on how to incorporate safe and effective exercises into your daily life. The presentation will include sample exercises (that you can do at home!) and practical strategies for falls prevention and other tips to reduce your risk for a fall.

Dr. Sara Pappa, a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and ANV Board member, is an Assistant Professor in the Health and Human Performance Department at Marymount University. She holds a BS in Health Education and Promotion from the University of Cincinnati, an MA in Exercise Physiology from Kent State University and a PhD in Health Education from the University of Cincinnati. In addition to teaching, she manages the regional falls prevention initiative, including the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance. Registration required.

Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is the one time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can make changes in their Medicare plan enrollment. The OEP is available between October 15-December 7, with plan changes taking effect January 1st. Why should you pay attention to this?

  1. Plans may change their costs, the drugs they cover, or withdraw out of Medicare entirely each calendar year. When a plan stops covering a drug, it shifts the financial cost to the client, leaving the client responsible for the full cost of the drug, if they remain enrolled in the same plan.
  2. During OEP, using the Medicare Plan Finder, beneficiaries can assess and make changes to their health insurance coverage, to include adding, dropping, or changing their Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Drug Plan. They can also assess Medigap policies.
  3. The Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) can help beneficiaries navigate the information provided on the Medicare Plan Finder and select a plan that is best for them. Get in Touch with VICAP 1 of 3 ways:

VICAP is hosting several workshops through the 55+ Program. Please see Page 11 of the Fall Guide for a class near you.

Also of Interest

Aging Matters Radio and TV  

Aging Matters (www.agingmattersonline.com) radio is a weekly program on Arlington’s community radio station WERA Arlington 96.7 FM. Every Tuesday at 2 pm and Friday at 4 pm, host Cheryl Beversdorf interviews experts on topics impacting the lives of older adults and their families. Aging Matters TV offers interviews with aging experts plus demonstrations of aging related subjects.

Radio Program – Classical Explorations

The classical music program Classical Explorations airs every Thursday from 5 to 6 pm on the Arlington community radio station WERA LP, 96.7 FM, hosted by Dennis Siebert, husband of ANV board member Cheryl Beversdorf. The program can also be heard by on-line streaming at www.wera.fm. All Classical Explorations program can also be heard on demand by visiting the website https://www.mixcloud.com and entering the words “Classical Explorations” in the search box. The program plays classical music heard less frequently on other classical radio stations, with an emphasis on 20th century composers. Requests and comments can be sent to Dennis at dsiebert@comcast.net.

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.

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