Northwest Neighbors Village - Weekly Bulletin

Weekly Bulletin

Office Phone: (202) 935-6060

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-3pm

This year’s Earth Day theme is Planet vs. Plastics. Here are some facts about plastic and tips to help you reduce plastic use.

What’s so bad about plastics?

Plastic production is one of the most energy-intensive manufacturing processes
Plastics are not biodegradable. They can take up to 1,000 years to breakdown
Plastic debris can be found in water, soil, and air
Plastic pollution chokes marine life, harms wildlife, damages soil, poisons ground water, and can cause major health problems in humans

Plastics are all around us

Most packaging is made of plastics, including the obvious culprits like take out containers and single use shopping bags, but also in some metal cans that are lined with plastic, dental floss, cigarette filters, and diapers.
Plastics are found in synthetic clothing. Materials such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic all contain plastics which shed and release into our wastewater system when washed. Even though wastewater systems can remove up to 99% of the microfibers in the water, one single wash can produce millions of fibers. That means huge numbers of plastics fibers still make it into the waterways.

How to reduce plastic use

Wear clothing that is made of natural materials like cotton, wool, hemp, or bamboo (side note: bamboo clothing is super soft!)
Use stainless steel or glass containers to store food. Repurpose glass jars to save money and energy from production
When ordering take out, use a reusable bag, skip plastic utensils, and bring your own mug to your favorite coffee shop – you might even get a small discount for ditching the disposable cup!
Replace dishwasher and laundry pods with powder soaps made for your machine
Replace plastic bottles shampoo and soap with bars of soap and shampoo. Same goes for your toothpaste.

There are a couple of zero waste shops in the Metro area - Fulfillery in Takoma Park, MD and Trace in Vienna, VA. Bring your own containers to purchase bulk foods and personal care products. (And, closer to home, we have our fingers crossed that MOM's Organic Market will finally open sometime later this year in the Van Ness neighborhood. Other locations of this chain have a good variety of bulk items.)

Click here to learn more about the impact of plastic on the environment and take a quiz on your plastics knowledge. To learn more about the damage plastic is doing to the ocean, head to NNV's Virtual Speaker Series archive and watch Nick Mallos, Vice President of Conservation, Ocean Plastics at the Ocean Conservancy, speak about Ocean Plastic Pollution: Source to Solution.

Together, we can all take steps to improve the health of our planet. Happy Earth Day!

With kindest regards,
Stephanie

National Prescription Drug
Take Back Day, April 27th

NNV Full Members - if you would like a volunteer to pick up your unused medication for safe disposal at the Prescription Drug Take Back Day (Scroll down for more information), put in your service request before April 23rd.

Image of matzoh, wine, nuts, a silver plate and cups, saying "Happy Passover"

Tickets for a Cause logo

Support our volunteer corps by purchasing a ticket for our annual Tickets for a Cause virtual gala on May 30th. Tickets will be available next week - stay tuned!

Want to get more involved?

Visit our website to learn more:
Membership ♦ Volunteering

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From Next Avenue - How to Thrive as a Solo Ager.
"What does it mean to be a solo ager? There are currently 12 million of us in the United States who are single by choice, live without a spouse or partner or are widowed or divorced. We may never have had children or are estranged from them. In this collection of Next Avenue stories, experts offer personal advice and resources for navigating social, emotional and practical topics that solo agers may want to consider."

Let us know if you read something related to aging that you think we should share by emailing a link to lpace@nnvdc.org.

Attention DC residents with disabilities under age 65! Did you know that you are eligible for reduced fares on Metrorail and Metrobus? The WMATA Reduced Fare Disability Card helps make transportation more affordable and accessible. Check out this post to learn more!

#wmata #transportationservices #TalkingTransportation #disability

Talking Transportation slide 1 - Public Transportation: Get to Know WMATA Talking Transportation slide 2 – Metro Programs: Reduced Fare Disability Card - Benefits, Getting a Reduced Fare SmarTrip Photo ID Card Talking Transportation slide 4 – Getting Your Reduced Fare Disability Card - Photo ID cards are only issued in person at: The Metro Transit Accessibility Center, 655 Virginia Ave SW, Washington DC 20024. Metro Transit Accessibility Center Hours of Operation: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:15 am - 3:50 pm. Tuesdays from 8:15 am - 2:20 pm.

Coming soon! On Tuesday, April 30th, dine at Blue 44 between 5-9 pm and Northwest Neighbors Village will receive 20% of the profits from the evening's sales - including dine-in and carryout!

Being a good neighbor just got easier! Support your local restaurant, help older neighbors thrive in your community, and enjoy good food and good company!

Please make your reservation for 2 or more by calling 202-362-BLUE (2583) or arrange for carry out on the evening of April 30th.

Parking: There is a parking lot behind the restaurant.
Public Transportation: MetroBus L2 serves Blue 44.
NNV Full Members: Please request rides by April 24th.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.

Friday Morning Music Club, Inc. presents:
Live! at 10th & G Chamber Series
Admission is free and open to all. No reservation is required.

Friday, April 19, 2024, 12 pm program:

Schumann, Viardot, and Poldowski: Selected songs. Gail Collins, mezzo-soprano; Barbara Peterson Cackler, piano
Bruch: Selections from Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, op. 83. Albert Hunt, clarinet; Bonnie Cohen, viola, Jung-Yoon Lee, piano
Albeniz: Selections from Iberia. Ryan McNamara, piano

Forest Hills of DC Inclusive Senior Living
Senior Health and Wellness Fair
Friday, April 19, 2024

Forest Hills of DC is excited to announce that our Health and Wellness Fair will take place on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 1:30 pm to 4 pm at Forest Hills of DC, 4901 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Join us for an afternoon dedicated to your health and well-being! Discover a variety of resources, services, and activities designed to enhance your quality of life.

Activities Include: Health Screenings, Fitness Demonstrations, Nutrition Workshops, Information on Senior Living Options, Shredding container available on site for seniors to bring documents, Raffle Prizes and Giveaways

Don't miss this opportunity to prioritize your health and wellness. Bring a friend and enjoy a day of learning and fun!

For more information, contact Vicky Parker at 202-696-1923 or vparker@foresthillsofdc.life or Miriam Gregory at 202-777-3306 or miriamgregory@foresthillsdc.life.

Smart Moves: Insider Tips For Downsizing & Selling With Ease
Wednesday, April 24th - 11 am - 12 pm
Click here to register

Thinking of making a change to rewarding senior living? Join The Residences at Thomas Circle for a special presentation on how to make an easy and seamless transition, from invaluable downsizing tips to streamline your move to maximizing the sale value of your current home. Don’t miss this opportunity to harness the collective wisdom of their expert partners.
Lunch will be provided.

Presented by Susan Mooney, Town and Country Move Management, and Mark Meyerdirk, Principal Broker/Owner of Urban Brokers Real Estate, LLC.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - Saturday, April 27, 2024, 10 am - 2 pm

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Local sites:

UDC Campus Police Department - 4200 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington DC 20008
DC Metro Police Department, 2nd District - 3320 Idaho Ave, NW Washington DC 20016
Sibley Memorial Hospital, Inpatient Pharmacy - 5255 Loughboro Rd NW, Washington DC 20016
Montgomery County Police Department, 2nd District, Friendship Heights Village Center - 4433 S. Park Ave, Chevy Chase, MD

For more information and many more drop off sites, visit the DEA.gov website here.

Embracing Calm: Navigating Anxiety in the Senior Years

Charles E. Smith Life Communities, in partnership with Suburban Hospital, a member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, is pleased to convene the fourteenth annual Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Healthcare Symposium, Embracing Calm: Navigating Anxiety in the Senior Years.

Thursday, May 2nd, 8:30 am - 2 pm, $10-$35.
Woodmont Country Club in Rockville or online - This is a hybrid event with an in-person and virtual option.
Click here to register

The program offers breakout sessions throughout the day and concludes with a luncheon speaker. Breakout sessions will focus on:

Anxiety Disorders – gain an understanding about different disorders, how they affect older adults and suggested therapies.
Dementia and Anxiety – learn more about how dementia causes anxiety in patients and how to help reduce anxiety.
Artificial Intelligence – understand the advantages and uses of AI for older adults.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy – Learn the top technology picks for empowering older adults to leverage the benefits of artificial intelligence.

Featuring Keynote Speaker: Sandeep Jauhar, M.D., Ph.D. and Luncheon Speaker: Serena Jain, mindfulness based stress reduction teacher and certified integrative health & wellbeing coach

15% discount tickets for Village members!

THEATER J proudly presents the world premiere of a stage adaptation, with original music, of Joan Micklin Silver’s beloved film classic Hester Street. Hester Street is an unforgettable show, awash in the humor, heartbreak, and hope of the Jewish and universal immigrant experience.

To receive the 15% discount, Village members should enter the code "Villages" when booking tickets. The Village discount is also available for Theater J subscription packages! Information available here or by calling the Box Office at 202-777-3210, M-F, 1-5 pm.

Book tickets here

Join us for any or all of our upcoming speakers:

Tuesday, May 7th, 11am - Psychedelics Towards the End of Life with speaker Abbie Rosner
Wednesday, May 22nd, 11am - Journeys in Genealogy with speakers Lisa Crawley and Edwina Parks
Tuesday, June 4th, 11 am - The Gratitude Advantage: Elevating Your Growth Mindset with speaker Blair Hayes
Tuesday, June 11th, 11 am - Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas with speaker Melissa Ho

Visit our archive of speaker videos here to watch any you might have missed.
To learn more, please visit the Virtual Speaker Series page on our website.

NNV Programming for the Week of April 22nd

All NNV events for the week are in the grid below. Click the links to learn more about any event.

Monday, Apr 22nd	Tuesday, Apr 23rd	Wednesday, Apr 24th	Thursday, Apr 25th	Friday, Apr 26th
2 pm Chair Yoga with Beth Kaplan - Mayu is away (Zoom)		12:30 pm Men's Lunch (The Parthenon restaurant) 1 pm Coping with Uncertainty (Zoom)	1 pm Watercolor Painting with Joey Mánlapaz, session 5 (Forest Hills of DC)	10 am NNV Walks: Rock Creek Park Walk (Connecticut and Albemarle) 1:30 pm Drawing the Map of Your Life, session 6 (Chevy Chase Library)

Upcoming public events at other local DC area Villages

Cleveland Woodley Park Village
Mondays, 10 am - Gentle Yoga (virtual)
Last Monday of each month, 11 am - Coffee & Conversation Political Discussion Group (virtual)
Wednesdays, 9-9:30 am - Morning Stretch (virtual)
Fridays, 10-10:30 am - Morning Stretch (virtual)
Saturdays, 9:30-10:30 am - Village Walkers, Cathedral Commons

Dupont Circle Village:
Mondays, 3:30 pm - Accessible Mat Yoga
Tuesdays, 10:30 am - Chair Yoga
Mondays and Thursdays, 9:00 am - Meditation with Patricia Ullman

DC Villages LGBT events:
Biweekly on Fridays, 1 pm - LGBTQ Brain Health Support Group

More local village events are on the WAVE (Washington Area Village Exchange) calendar.
More community events are listed on our events calendar.

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.