Across the Fence - Palisades Village

Across the Fence
November 17, 2015
www.palisadesvillage.org
PV Calendar
2015 House Tour Recap
Nov 18 Lunch Bunch
Nov 19 Board Meeting
Nov 20 Arts Club of
Washington Luncheon
Nov 24 Storytelling
Nov 25 Lunch Bunch
Nov 25 Office Closed
at Noon
Nov 26 & 27
Office Closed - Happy
Thanksgiving
Dec 3 Bookclub
Meeting
Dec 6 Brunch with
Hedrick Smith
Dec 8 Storytelling Club
Dec 10 Holiday
Luncheon
Dec 10 Annual Board
2015 House Tour
Thanks to your help, the 2015 Palisades Village
House Tour was a huge success. Cloudy skies,
cool temperatures and wind did not stop people from
coming out to enjoy the showcase of beautiful homes.
An event this big is not possible without a strong team.
Led by chair Karen Schaar Whale, her team of
coordinators, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors put
on a great event. A huge thank you goes out to all who
assisted and to the families who opened up their
homes. We'd like to offer a special thanks to hosts Bill
and Carol Lynn Halal for hosting a lovely Wine and
Cheese Reception for all the volunteers and new
members.
House Tour Sponsors & Supporters:
American University; B Salon; Beasley Real Estate;
Ross Vann of Beasley Real Estate; Bistroquet; Black
Salt; Breckenridge Design; Case Design/Remodeling;
Cathedral Commons; Mary M. Cheh, Ward 3
Councilmember; Coley and Reed, Jamie Coley of
Coley and Reed; Leigh Reed of Coley and Reed;
Brian Smith at Compass Real Estate; Sally J. Cram,
D.D.S.; Dalton Brody; DC Boathouse; Deco Home
Design; Nancy & David Hammond of Envers & Co.
Meeting
Real Estate; Et Voila!; Federal Home Company; Nancy
L. Feldman, Attorney; Foxhall Podiatry, Foxhall Square
Dec 18 Sing-A-Long
of Bernstein Management Corporation; Grand Oaks;
with the Preschool
Robert M. Gurney Architect; Ann Hand; Hanlon Build Chryssa Wolfe; Iona House; Ingleside at Rock Creek;
John L. Juenemann Painting; Key Elementary School;
The Kreeger Museum; Le Reve Beauty Salon; Scott
Polk of Long and Foster; Lupo Verde Cucina & Bar;
Mac Market; John W. Martin III & Thomas Boylan,
D.D.S.; McInturff Architects; Medstar Orthopedic
Institute; Dr. Julian Moiseiwitsch, D.D.S.; Parker's
Exxon; Palisades Village Market; The Phoenix; Pro
Feed Pet Center; Seventh Hill Pizza; Hamilton
Snowber Architects; Katherine Kranenburg of TTR
Sothebys; Spring Valley Exxon; St. David's Episcopal
Church; St. Patrick's Episcopal Church; Sur La Place;
TAD Relocation; Town & Country Movers, Inc.;
Tenleytown Trash; Le Village Marche;
Voorthuis Opticians; Mike Sandifer of W.C. & A.N.
Miller Realtors, a Long and Foster Company; Jennie
McDonnell of W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtors, a Long and
Foster Company; Connie Carter of Washington Fine
Properties; Wheat's Landscaping; and Mark Wilcher &
Co.,Inc.
Thank you all!
From the Front Porch - Volunteer Commitment
More than thirty volunteers enjoyed dinner and a most informative presentation at
Palisades Village's second ever training for Volunteers. Speaker Mary Pat O'Brien,
PHD, amply armed with thirty-four years of teaching nurses, offered reminders and
facts from her experience and studies. She was warmly selected as both a longtime
close friend and neighbor to Palisades Village Director
Andrea Saccoccia. Palisades Village also welcomed guests from other Villages.
The revised Volunteer Handbook was distributed to participants. Several sections
were borrowed with appreciation from local Villages and IONA Senior Services. The
new version is much more readable and offers additional suggestions for how
Volunteers might provide more effective assistance. The Village movement
encourages volunteers to receive at least one annual training.
Mary Pat mingled reminders about well-known aging steps with rather startling
statics. Well-known facts, eating in moderation, exercising regularly and hydrating
with greater focus become increasingly important. Memory decline is NOT
inevitable. She reminded us of the increased importance to exercise both the mind
and body. Brain cells can keep growing. Regular cognitive challenges build
connections. Exercise mind purposefully-Scrabble, watch a foreign movie, change
your daily routine and maintain social connections are important to healthy aging.
Mary Pat also railed against the stereotypes that are media and socially
perpetuated. Such as these examples:
In Maryland what group commits the most homicides? Women who have delivered
babies in the previous 12 months. (not young black males or seniors as some
participants guessed.)
Nationally, what percentage of seniors are in nursing homes? 3%, yet TV portrays
seniors much differently.
Sleep disorders affect what group the most? Sleep problems cover all ages from
new borns to the elderly. Not just seniors.
Kudos to Elinor Talmidge and Mary Clute for their assistance in coordinating the
Volunteer Training. Kudos to Mary not only for her comparative pizza shopping,
selecting Bistroquet as the best, but also for making the multi-vegetable tossed
salad for the entire group. Even a most discriminating Pan Handler thought the pizza
was beautiful. Thank you for the Cafritz Foundation grant that enabled this training.
Any volunteers that could not attend this session will have another chance to
strengthen their skills in Feburary. Look for more information closer to the date.
November Focus
November is Diabetes Month:
Diabetes, a disease marked by high levels of sugar in the
blood, is more common than ever before. In the United
States, the prevalence of diabetes has more than
quadrupled in the past two decades. Not only are more
people being diagnosed with diabetes, they're also
developing the disease at younger ages.That's worrisome
because the risks of complications from this common disease - which include heart
attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation - become greater the longer
you have diabetes. But there's good evidence that rigorous blood sugar control can
delay or even prevent the development of debilitating long-term complications. Such
tight control is now possible thanks to innovations such as high-tech monitoring
devices, improved medications, and nearly painless insulin injectors. -- Harvard
Medical School
Member Profile
Anita Adams - An Almost Retired Member:
Anita is a Palisades Village member, volunteer and nearly
retired financial manager. She grew up in Yonkers, meeting
her husband Ken in their sophomore year of high school.
They have been a couple for more than fifty years. Anita
has been trying to retire for the past decade by not taking
any new clients. Currently, her youngest remaining client is 82 years old! "But I can't
imagine abandoning any of them. They are quite dependent on me, and I am very
attached to them."
After college Ken and Anita got married and moved to Chicago where Ken attended
law school and Anita worked downtown for Booz Allen & Hamilton. "In those days,
all the professional positions were held by men; the only jobs open to women were
support staff roles. We had to wear skirts to work. The men called us by our first
names, but we were required to address them by last name. They could smoke in
the office; we couldn't." Anita remembers.
The Adams moved to Washington in 1970 after law school. "I took a few years off
from full time Booz Allen work when our two daughters were babies, but I became
eager to get back into the adult work world." She returned to school (at night) to get a
MBA from George Washington University.
In 1990 Anita became aware that a neighbor was struggling with the challenges of
assuming financial accounting responsibility for his strong willed father who had
suffered a severe stroke. Anita offered to do it. "That turned out to be the beginning
of a successful and gratifying business for the next twenty five years. I found there
was a tremendous need for that kind of help, not only among the elderly but also
among self-employed professionals who hated the business side of their work.
Psychotherapists who loved treating patients but constantly got behind on billing
and collecting for their services, paying their own bills and reconciling their books.
A world renowned artist who loved to create, but had no patience for paying the bills,
doing his tax returns, dealing with health insurance and credit card record keeping,
and so on. "
The Adams "living in place" life has slowly evolved. "When we moved to Spring
Valley in 1997, after our children were off on their own, we renovated the house to
accommodate single floor living. Our expectation was that it was the last house we
would own and that our next home would be an assisted living facility. We were
thrilled to discover Palisades Village and the possibility of aging in place. "Now that
Ken has relaxed his work schedule too, they are able to travel abroad, spend time at
their Bethany beach house and visit family." Additionally, Palisades Village is
fortunate that new volunteer Ken has become an official Pan Handler.
"Working as a Palisades Village volunteer has given me a chance to meet and get
to know some wonderful people. Becoming a volunteer walking companion for an
85 year old member has been inspiring. "
"As I look back on the growing number of decades of my life, the experiences that
have meant the most to me involve relationships - with my husband, my children and
grandchildren, my friends, my clients, and the people I have met through volunteer
work. I look forward to the new people and relationships I expect to encounter each
time I am asked to help out another Village member. And when I transition from
being a provider of volunteer services to a consumer, I look forward to getting to
know the volunteers who come to help me."
Village Corner
This is a new section where we want to feature what is
important to you! Have a milestone birthday coming up,
have a sketch or poem you want to share, or do you want
to share some important news? This is the place to do it!
Submissions can be made by calling the office at 202-244-3310 or by
clicking here.
__________________________________________________________________
Cinnamon Dornsife will be performing with the New Dominion Chorale and
Orchestra for the 25th Anniversary Concert of the "Handel's Messiah" on December
6th at 4 pm at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, on the
Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. For tickets or more
information call 703-442-9404 or visit www.newdominion.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sandy Pontiere will be turning 100 on December 7.
Be sure to wish him a "Happy Birthday".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Janet Bullinger was featured in a recent issue of "The Kent
Connection". The article featured Janet's life since moving to DC in
1965. It highlighted the contributions and impact she has made to the
Kent area. Unfortunately the magazine does not post online. Stop by
the office if you would like to see a copy of the article.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duke Ryan has published the book ""Amanda's Autobigraphy".
It is an account of a girl's first decade told in her words with some
help from her grandfather, whom she calls "Poppy." Written for
readers of all ages, but especially for grandparents, this story will
have you laughing and smiling throughout it's pages. Available for
purchase as a digital (kindle) book on Amazon. Click here to learn more.
Palisades Events
Following are details on upcoming events sponsored by Palisades Village. As
always, we gladly offer transportation to full members. Please call the office to
schedule rides.
Thursday, November 19 - Palisades Village Board Meeting
The Palisades Village Board of Directors will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, November
19 at the Palisades Neighborhood Library, 4901 V Street, N.W., in the 2nd Floor
Meeting Room. The meeting is open to the public and visitors may comment and/or
ask questions, but only Palisades Village Board members may vote. If you have any
questions or need a ride please contact the office at 202-244-3310 or via email by
clicking here.
Friday, November 20 - Arts Club of Washington Lunch and Concert
Join us for a 3 course lunch with wine specially prepared for Palisades Village,
while enjoying a classical music concert at the Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I St.
NW. Cost is $25 per person and seating is limited. Don't miss the great opportunity.
Call the office or click here to register.
Wednesday, November 25 - Office is Closing Early.
The office will close at 12 noon and remain closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Please plan to have all requests up to December 3 in by Friday, November 20
to give us the requested minimum 3 business days to schedule volunteers.
Thursday, November 26 & 27 - Thanksgiving Holiday
The office will reopen for the normal hours of operation (10am - 4pm) on Monday,
November 30.
Sunday, December 6 - Brunch with Hendrick Smith
With his lively intellect and engaging style, Hedrick Smith is one of American's most
distinguished journalists. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, and an Emmy
award-winning producer/correspondent and editor. Join us at Noon on Sunday
December 6 at the home of Halcy Bohen and Gerry Slater. Enjoy a discussion with
Rick Smith and your Palisades neighbors on issues of pressing national concern
while enjoying delicious food and drink prepared by the Pan Handlers. A signed
copy of Hendrick's latest book is included with your ticket purchase. Tickets are $75
and will help support Palisades Village. Space is limited to the first 25 checks
received. Please call the office at 202-244-3310 with any questions.
Thursday, December 10 - Annual Holiday Luncheon
Celebrate the holiday season with fellow Palisades friends and neighbors. Save the
date to join us for a prix fixe lunch at DeCarlo's on Thursday, December 10 at
noon. Look for the invite coming soon with all the details.
Friday, December 18 - Sing-A-Long with the Palisades Community Church
Preschool Program
The preschool is bridging the age gap with Palisades Village. We are planning on
partnering monthly with the preschool program. You are cordially invited to a Sing-
A-Long on Friday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. in the Palisades Community Church
Sanctuary to hear the children. You can be a Music Mate. Beginning in January,
music and activities will be planned. If you are interested in helping plan these
exciting events or coming up with a name for the group, please contact Andrea
at asaccoccia@palisadesvillage.org or 202-244-3310.
Club News
Fall Yoga - Tuesday, November 17, & 24
The yoga class meets weekly for 1 hour until December 8, on Tuesdays from 2 to 3
p.m. in Memorial Hall of the Palisades Community Church, 5200 Cathedral Avenue
NW. Yoga instructor Jill Minneman works with the skill level of each participant, to
make sure you are comfortable. Drop in fee is $15 per class. Contact Jill at
jillminneman@gmail.com or call her at 202-237-0246 (home) or 202-607-7402
(cell) to register or to discuss whether this might be a good activity for you.
Storytelling Club - Tuesday, November 24
The popular Storytelling Club will meet again Tuesday, November 10 & 24 at 3
p.m. in the Parlor Room at Palisades Community Church. Plan to join other Village
members in sharing funny, heartwarming and every other kind of life story. No
registration required.
Lunch Bunch - Every Wednesday November 18, & 25
Join fellow Palisades Villagers for a laid back lunch and friendly
conversation at 7th Hill Pizza at 4885 MacArthur Blvd NW every
Wednesday at 11:45 am. Future meeting Oct. 28. Register by calling
the office or click here.
Book Club Meeting - Thursday, December 3
The Palisades Book Club will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Palisades Library to
discuss "The Wright Brothers" by David McCullough. Two-time winner of the
Pulitzer Prize, David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the
courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly. Please contact MaryAnn
Griffin, who leads our club, with questions and/or if you are interested in
participating. All are welcome. Next book will be announced at the meeting. You can
reach MaryAnn at magriffmail@gmail.com.
Eli Perl - Computer Help
Eli is a young student at Georgetown Day School who has offered to help our
members with any computer related issues. He can work one on one to help you
understand and work specific programs such as email, iPhoto or Skype on your
computer. He is available after school and weekends. If you would like to schedule
a session with Eli please contact the office at 202-244-3310 or click here.
Madeline Hawkins - Reading Partner
Madeline is a student in the 10th Grade at Washington International School. She is
interested in completing her community service requirements by assisting those with
vision issues. Madeline has offered to read any text to members in their home when
she is available on weekends. If you would like to have a visit from Madeline please
call the office at 202-244-3310 or click here.
We love hearing from our Palisades Village community. Please contact us if you
have an item of interest or would like to start / join a club.
Community Calendar
Live and Learn Bethesda offers a range of classes such as "Creating an American
Ethnic Culture" "Smartphone - Beyond the Basics (not for iPhones)" and "Restoring and
Adapting DC's Historic Ambassador's Residences and Embassies". Sessions cost $1520 and a variety of classes run throughout the month. You can lean more by visiting
their website and searching the 2015 catalog at liveandlearnbethesda.org or by calling
301-740-6150.
Georgetown University Learning Community is offering a wide variety of short, noncredit courses for persons 55+ available for a small fee. To learn more about what is
offered through this great program or to register for a course please visit the site
at: http://emeriticourses.georgetown.edu
Alzheimer's Association is hosting several classes throughout the month about
understanding, detecting and living with Alzheimer's. All programs are offered free of
charge. For more information call 800-272-3900 or visit their website at: alz.org/nca to
see the local chapter's calendar.
Palisades Library will be having a program next week Thursday, November 19 at
7pm about 'Caring for Bedbound and Mobility - Challenged'. Denise Lewis from
Washington Home & Community Hospices is facilitating this program. Please contact
Becky Fritz with any questions or call (202) 282-3096.
Historical Society of Washington DC invites you to join the Library & Collections
Director for a weekday workshop and tap into the Historical Society's holdings of maps,
photographs, manuscripts and other archival material relating to the history of the five
areas highlighted in "reVISION: THINKING BIG and reVIEW: Looking Back"
Next exhibits are Urban Renewal and the Southwest Waterfront on Tuesday,
December 1 from 12-1 pm and McMillan Sand Filtration Site on Tuesday, December
8 from 12 -1 pm
Iona Senior Services is hosting a new series on how to keep your LGBTQ identity as
you age. The series presents every Wednesday, December 9, 16, 23 and 30 from
3:30 -5:30 pm. A discounted rate of $60 is offered for all Village members. Contact Iona
Services at (202) 895-9448 or info@iona.org for more information.
Palisades Village | PO Box 40403 | Washington DC 20016
202-244-3310 | info@palisadesvillage.org
Andrea Saccoccia, Executive Director