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Weekly Bulletin

Aging Well Takes a Village: Everyone Belongs

Office Phone: (202) 935-6060 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm Email: [email protected] 
Photo of a large beige dog wearing a hatJasper Roosevelt

NNV's Four-legged Supporting Members
By Monica Knorr

When Jasper found Thomas Martella, he was 6 months old and lacking a middle name. Jasper is what he is — a mixed breed but mostly a Pitt-Lab with webbed feet but sadly no ability to swim. Jasper soon became Jasper Roosevelt and he is now 12. Thomas and Jasper Roosevelt are key members of The Dogsters, a collection of dogs and their humans who meet every morning in Lafayette Park. Jasper keeps his family lively and travels with them. His best trick is "Sit." Thomas, a Supporting Member of NNV, says "in my next life I am going to be a dog in Chevy Chase."

Photo of a German ShepherdZara

Nora, also a Supporting Member, is experiencing her first female dog, a German Shepherd with a wonderful temperament. Zara, who was adopted at age 3 or 4, is now 8. She knows commands — sit, lie, and down, which she performs with zest, especially when food is involved. Nora has not always been able to walk Zara, so she has a dog walker twice a day and she lets the dog out in the backyard. Because of Nora's health concerns, she considers sweet Zara to be emotionally essential to her life aging in community.

Photo of a small black and white, fluffy dogComet

Leslie, on NNV's staff since 2019, got Comet, a rescue whose DNA is 80% poodle and 20% West Highland terrier, when she was a puppy. The family named her Comet because she is black with white on her chin and chest. She is now 15 years old, deaf and arthritic but Comet has not lost any of her enthusiasm for life, although she can no longer roll over without its being painful so she is not asked to. Her remaining trick is to sneeze on command, something she learned because she got treats. Leslie says, "Comet adds so much to my life and my family's. She is always there to cheer us up."

Photo of a Bichon Frise dogFranklin

Christina got Franklin because she lives alone and wanted companionship. She named him Franklin because she wanted a name that suited a mature dog, because she went to Penn, and because Ben Franklin was the only Founding Father with a sense of humor. Franklin, who is 21 months old, is a Bichon Frisé, Christina's third one. Luckily, Franklin is very sociable with dogs and people. Christina is a full member of NNV who uses driving and other services. She says "My puppy is my wellness plan. He senses I am down sometimes and is a wonderful companion."

Photo of a man with a West Highland Terrier dog sitting in his lapStuart & Buffy

Buffy is one of the loves of Jamie and Stuart Butler's lives. He is now 12 but they got him at age 5; he was the most expensive possible 70th birthday present for Stuart. Buffy came with his name, which he kept since he had already answered to it for so long. Other than that, he had few accomplishments to his name when he arrived — no experience with a leash, no ability to climb stairs, not really house broken, and no bark for two years. It is a good thing, Buffy won his new family's hearts because he required a lot of training and socialization. Jamie and Stuart are supporting members of NNV and Jamie is a member of the Board. Stuart is a researcher of villages with a focus on the social determinants of health.

Photo of a small black and white fluffy dogMaggie

Maggie, a 12-year-old Shih-tzu mix, is a central figure in the household of NNV Executive Director, Stephanie Chong. Maggie joined the Chongs when their daughters were 7 and 4. Stephanie says, "Maggie enriched their childhood while the 3 of them grew up together." While they witness their little lady get older, they see the ups and downs that are part of aging; she has good days and not-so-good days and "we ride the wave with her as she teaches us what it is like to get older." Stephanie believes that any pet would make aging in community a joy. But especially Maggie.

Photo of a German Shepherd in the back of a carPete

Pete is Karen Petrou's guide dog. He is a 2-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd that has been with her since February 2023. Pete came from Fidelco after Karen had a long, challenging interval between guide dogs. Karen takes full care of Pete except when she is ill; on rare occasions, she has a dog walker for him. Also, she arranges play dates for Pete so he has some fun. Karen has been a full member of NNV for two years. She takes advantage of volunteers who walk trails in Rock Creek Park with her and Pete. Karen also uses volunteers for transport to doctor's visits. Asked whether Pete is essential to her ability to live happily on her own, Karen said "ours is a great, profound friendship, it is almost spiritual."

Photo of an Australian Shepherd enjoying a cup of ice creamMilo

Last but not least is Milo, my almost 13-year-old Australian Shepherd. Milo, who lived his first 8 years in Vermont in a house with a meadow, has adjusted well to city life in an apartment. He and I walk several miles through the neighborhood or in Rock Creek Park every morning. Then there are several more shorter walks throughout the day. Milo is a bit of an oddball — he has never liked dog toys, he does not show the slightest interest in balls, and he is very selective about which dogs to sniff, much less play with. Labradors of all colors are his favorite flavor. But Milo loves his parents and is a great communicator; we never run out of things to say. By the way, my husband and I are supporting members of NNV; he has been a driver. I am on the Board and volunteer with several full members, as well as lead walks.

What have I learned? In NNV's catchment area, there are dog people and not-dog people. We dog owners love and rely on our canines for companionship, fun indoors and out, and unconditional love. They help us age in community. For those of us lucky enough to have dogs, they are true NNV supporting members!

Image of a spotlight

Metro logo - "Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Better Bus Network Starts June 29th."

Reminder - the new WMATA Better Bus Network goes into effect this Sunday, June 29th. Montgomery County Ride On and Prince George's County TheBus are also changing service on June 29 and June 30, respectively.

For a full rundown of the Better Bus Network design, bus riders are encouraged to visit the Better Bus plan website here. That page includes links to the Metro Trip Planner, bus timetables, Service maps, and much more.


An infographic with cartoon images of people suffering from the heat with the text: "Staying Safe in Hot Weather. Watch for these signs of of hyperthermia: Dizziness, Muscle cramps, Swelling in your ankles and feet, Nausea and weakness, Rapid pulse. Tips to prevent hot-weather illness: Drink liquids, Limit caffeine and alcohol, Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothes, If it's too hot, try exercising indoors. Learn more about staying safe in hot weather at www.nia.nih.gov/hot-weather-safety."


Want to get more involved?

Visit our website to learn more:
MembershipVolunteering


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Next week at NNV

Monday,
June 30th

Tuesday,
July 1st

Wednesday,
July 2nd

Thursday,
July 3rd

Friday,
July 4th

2 pm Yoga with Mayu (Zoom)

 

1 pm Coping with Uncertainty (Zoom)

 

Office Closed
Independence Day

10 am Rock Creek Park walk (meet at Picnic Area 6)


Coming Soon to NNV
Friday, July 11th

DACL logoKnow Your Options: The Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL)

Join Kayla Walker, DACL Community Outreach Specialist, for an informative overview of the many services that DACL (The Department of Aging and Community Living) offers to older adults aged 60+ and adults with disabilities aged 18+ living in DC's Wards 2 and 3.

When: 1 pm
Where: Zoom
Details and registration: https://nwnv.helpfulvillage.com/events/4689


Virtual Speaker Series logoThe Virtual Speaker Series is taking a break for the summer.
Please join us for more great speakers when we return in September!
Visit our archive of speaker videos here to watch any you might have missed.


DC Villages logo Virtual Community Conversation on July 22 at 11 am - Staying Ahead of Fraud: Understanding Trends and Protecting Yourself  Learn from Consumer Protection Advocate Sudi Tasissa from the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking how you can recognize and avoid common schemes that could compromise your identity and finances.  This presentation will provide an overview of current trends in fraud, highlighting the most prevalent and costliest types that fraudsters are using to target consumers. We will cover strategies that could help in detecting and preventing fraud, including tools and best practices. Special focus will be given to five common types of fraud, with practical tips on how to recognize and avoid them. Lastly, we’ll offer guidance on what steps to take if you become a victim of fraud, including how to report it to maximize your chances of recovering any money you might have lost.
Capitol Hill Village:
Mondays, 10 am - DC Ctr for Aging LGBTQ+ Monday Coffee and Conversation (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)
Mondays & Thursdays, 4-5 pm - Chair Yoga (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
First Wednesday of each month, 3:30-4:30 - What We're Hearing (Zoom-Free sign up required)

Cleveland Woodley Park Village:
Saturday, June 28th, 3 pm - Free Jazz Concert at the Omni Shoreham Empire Patio (2500 Calvert St NW)
Mondays, 10-10:30 am - Gentle Yoga Stretch (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
First Monday of each month, 11:30 am - Coffee & Conversation Current Events Discussion Group (Dolan, 3518 Connecticut Ave NW)
Wednesdays, 10-10:30 am - Gentle Yoga Stretch (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
Fridays, 10-10:30 am - Gentle Yoga Stretch (Zoom - Click here to join the class)
Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 am - Village Walkers (Cathedral Commons)

Dupont Circle Village:
Mondays, 3:30 pm - Accessible Mat Yoga (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)
Tuesdays, 10:30 am - Chair Yoga (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)
Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00 am - Meditation with Patricia Ullman (Zoom-Free sign up required for the link)

Foggy Bottom West End Village:
Friday, July 11th, 2 pm - Aging in Place - Home Care Services and Resources (St Paul's Church dining room, 2430 K St NW)
Wednesdays, 10:45 am - Strength and Stability Yoga (free trial class, $10/class). (St Paul's Church dining room, 2430 K St NW)
Fridays, 11:45 am - Essentials of Tai Chi and Qigong ($70 for each six class session). (St Paul's Church atrium, 2430 K St NW)

More local village events are listed on the DCVC (DC Villages Collective) calendar
and the WAVE (Washington Area Village Exchange) calendar.
More community events are listed on our events calendar.


Image of a hand holding a credit card on a black circle with the words - "tap. ride. go. Just tap your preferred card to ride. Metro. Learn more wmata.com/tapridego." You Can Now Tap Your Credit or Debit Card on Metrorail
(SmarTrip Cards are Still Accepted)

You can now pay for Metrorail by tapping your contactless credit or debit card at the faregate. To use the new Tap. Ride. Go. feature, there's no need to sign up, register, or purchase a SmarTrip card. This is an extra feature. No other changes are being made.

Tap. Ride. Go. is currently for full-fee paying customers on MetroRail only. Bus riders and those with passes or reduced fare benefits - including Senior SmarTrip cards - should continue to use their SmarTrip cards. 


Thank you to our sponsors:

Silver Bridges logoChevy Chase House logoGeorgetown Home Care logo

Sunrise on Connecticut logoIngleside at Rock Creek logoTrusted Touch Homecare logo


Any additions to the Weekly Update are required by 10 am Thursday. 
Submissions will be included based on editor's discretion and available space.

NNV is a community based non-profit that gives residents the confidence and practical help to grow older at home while staying healthy, engaged, and connected to neighbors and friends.