Village Insider
August 2023
TENTH ANNIVERSARY YEAR
We've started the countdown to the Village's big 10th Anniversary! There will be a swank party in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building on Wednesday, October 11, 5-7 pm. Watch the mail for your invitation! But in the meantime, check here, in the Vibe, in listserv chats, and in emails for retrospectives about our first decade and information about how you can ensure the Village's future for years to come with a legacy gift.
NEW MEMBERS
Please welcome new members Bill Ewing (Forest Glen), Maria Figueroa (Sligo-Branview), Martha Heckman (Sligo Park Hills), Nan McCoy (East Silver Spring), Carol Schaffer & Randall Swisher (Woodside Park), and Howard & Michele Sumka (Park Hills); and new trial members Deborah Aker (University Towers) and Kebebe Belachew (White Oak).
VILLAGE VACCINATION CLINIC
The Village will host a vaccination clinic in partnership with The Blairs, Giant Pharmacy, and Little Falls Village. COVID, influenza and RSV vaccines will be available. You will be able to pay with insurance, but if you uninsured, we have access to Federal funds that will pay for your vaccine. IMPORTANT: The clinic is open to all Montgomery County residents aged 60+, so please
feel free to share the information with your friends and neighbors and via your neighborhood listserv. We are also looking for a second vaccination location farther north around Four Corners. Please let Doug know if you are aware of a convenient location in that area. The clinic is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 5, 10am-2pm. An exact location in the area of The Blairs will be announced soon.
STAR VOLUNTEERS
We want to extend a giant "thank you" to the Village's "Top 5" volunteers for May: Nancy Caporaso (21 hours); Steve Durako (18); Maryann McGowan (17); Sandy Kemper (11); and Brian Eggleston (10). Top June volunteers were Rick Foucheux (16); Lucia Fort (10); Barbara Ryan (10); Brian Eggleston (9); and Nancy Caporaso (8).
NEW VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers keep the Village running! Please welcome new volunteers Keith Berner, Libbie Griffin, Beverly Lunsford, Andy Slettebak, Zach Stein, Katie Thompson, Susan Watters, and Pam Zurer Andy and Pam are also Village members. Beverly is a Village member and a board member. Many of our member/volunteers tell us that volunteering adds a wonderful dimension to their membership experience. Contact Vanessa to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
HOWCANYOUHELP?
The"StarVolunteers"abovetogetheraccountfor about40%ofalltheVillage'svolunteerservices eachyear.Butanother95volunteers,manyof whomgivejustjustacoupleofhoursamonth,are responsible for 60% of the help your fellow Villagersreceive.Canyoumaketimeinyour scheduletobeofservicetoyourneighbors?For informationaboutbecomingavolunteer,please callVanessaat240-833-5584.
DOYOUKNOWEVERYTHINGTHE VILLAGECANDOFORYOU?
Mostvolunteer-providedservicesareavailableonly tofullmembers,butafewarealsoavailableto associatemembers.
Household Tasks—minor repairs, moving furniture,hangingpictures,organizingbills,reading mail,etc.
Transportation—shopping,socialevents,medical appointments,errands,etc. Errands—accompaniedorunaccompaniedtripsto thegrocery,pharmacy,postoffice,etc.
FriendlyVisits&Calls—briefvisitsorphonecalls tobrightenyourday.
Home Organizing—get help organizing and tidyingsmallspacesinyourhomesuchaskitchen cabinets,asmallroom,closets,etc.
MedicalNotetaking—avolunteermeetswithyou beforetheappointmenttohelpyouorganizeyour thoughts,accompaniesyoutotheappointmentto ensureallyourquestionsareaddressed,and prepareswrittennotestobesharedwithyouora familymemberinvolvedinyourhealthcare.
EmergencyPreparedness—someonetocheckin withyoupriortoastormorotherinclement weatherandcheckyourpropertyfordamage afterward.
Absentee Owner Help—short-term pet care, plantcare,takinginnewspapersormail,periodic checkingthatdoorsarelocked,etc.whenyou're away.
Support Teams—extra wraparound supports whenyou'reexperiencingahealthcarecrisisoran
TechnologyTroubleshooting—fortimeswhen thedevicethatworkedperfectlyfineyesterday doesn'tworktoday.
TechnologyCoaching—multi-sessionone-on-one coachingfortimeswhenyouwanttolearna specificskillusingatechnologydevicesuchasa computer,tablet,orphone;orasmarthome device such as a voice assistant, thermostat, remotecontrol,oralarmsystem(Availabletofull andassociatemembers).
VillageWebsiteTutoring—getone-on-onehelp learninghowtonavigatetheVillage'swebsiteto findoutaboutthelatestnewsandactivities,get contactinformationforothermembers,seewhich villagersliveinyourneighborhood,registerforan event, participate in the Village Chat, read newslettersonline,andmore.(Availabletofulland associatemembers).
Asareminder,callVanessaat240-833-5584when youwantavolunteerservice.Mostofthetime,we needatleastaweek'sadvancenotice.Ifyouhavea needthat'snotonthelistabove,feelfreetoask herifit'ssomethingwecando!
EVERYTIMEWETURNAROUND...
...SomebodyistellingushowgreattheVillageis!In theJuneeditionoftheInsider,wetoldyouthat Spur Local (formerly The Catalogue for Philanthropy)namedSilverSpringVillageoneof themost"highly-trustedandcriticalnonprofitsin theGreaterWashingtonregion."
Andthen,wewerenamedtheinauguralwinnerof the"NonprofitoftheYearAward"bytheGreater SilverSpringChamberofCommerce.Theaward citedtheimpacttheVillageismakinginthelocal communityandourcommitmenttopartnering withareanonprofitsandbusinesses.
Andjustadayortwoago,welearnedthatweare oneofjusteightorganizationschosenbythe MarylandDepartmentofAgingforfundingunder its"Aging-In-PlaceProgram."Thegrantwillallowus tobuildamoreusefulVillagewebsite,developand implementasocialmediamarketingplan,and
expandoutreachtoolderadultswhoaremembers ofunderservedcommunitiesorhavelowincome.
AUGUSTMEMBERS-ONLYEVENTS
Inthespaceofayear,theVillagehostsmorethan 900one-timeandrecurringactivities!Thefollowing isasmallsamplingofeventsthatareopenonlyto Village members (including trial members) in August.Moredetailedinformationisavailableon theVillage'sonlinecalendar.Besuretologinfor accesstothemostimportantinformation.Wecan sometimes accommodate non-member guests whomaybeinterestedinjoiningtheVillage.Ifyou wouldliketobringaguestorifyouareanonmemberandwouldliketobeaguest,please contactDougGaddisat240-833-5582.
Activities marked with an asterisk require or recommendanadvancereservation,eitherusing theVillage'sonlinecalendarorbysendinganemail toprograms@silverspringvilllage.org
AFIMovieNight Meetupwithfriendsfora screening of Clint Eastwood's brilliant 1970s cowboyclassic,"TheOutlawJoseyWales."Tickets arenotincluded.Tuesday,August15,6:45-9:15 pm,AFI/SilverTheatre,8633ColesvilleRd.
AuthorTalkEnjoyadiscussionledbyVillage member Christine Skarbek about her newly publishedmemoirmemoirConfrontingPowerand Chaos.ReservationsarerequiredontheVillage calendar.Sunday,August20,2:30-4:30pm,The Crescent Party Room, 930 Wayne Ave. Nonmembersarewelcome!
CoffeeHouratCraveCafeBesurprisedby whicheverVillagefriendsshowuptoenjoycoffee andalightmenuatoneofSilverSpring'snewest coffeeshops.Notethatthecafedoesnotaccept creditcards.Tuesday,August22,10:00-11:00am, CrafeCafe,1200East-WestHighway.
OverTheCounterHearingAidsHealthyhearing haslongbeenanexpensivechallengeformany olderadults.Newregulationshaveopenedupthe markettoarangeoflessexpensiveoptions.The HEARSProgramhasfundingavailabletoprovide hearingaidsandpersonalsoundamplifiersto
eligibleolderadultsinMontgomeryCounty.Inthis session, you can learn about the new hearing optionsandfindoutifyouqualifyforafreedevice. Wednesday, August 23, 2:00-3:00 pm, via Zoom (consulttheonlineVillagecalendarfortheZoom link).
ChessClubatZinnia Comeenjoyafriendly(or maybe a cut-throat) game of chess with some VillagefriendsatZinnia.ContactLeslieHansleyat 301- 509-5113 for more information. Thursday, August 24, 11:30 am-2:00 pm, Zinnia, 9201 ColesvilleRd.
SligoGolfCourseSnackBarLunchJoinagroup ofvillagersforlunchandconversationattheSligo Golf Course Snack Bar. Just show up—no reservations are necessary. Every Friday, 12:301:30pm,SligoCreekGolfCourse,9701SligoCreek Pkwy.
AugustBirthdaysCelebrationCallingallAugust babies!Joinusforcelebratoryicecreamcourtesy oftheVillage.Membersborninothermonthsare welcometocomecelebrate,too—justonyourown dime.Friday,August25,2-3:30pm,Moorenko'sIce Cream,8030GeorgiaAve.
Colombian/Venezuelan Dinner Have fun with friends and try a new dish, too! Registration is required on the Village calendar or by email to jeannesterz@gmail.com Sunday, August 27, 4:005:30pm,ArepasPuesRestaurant,8555FentonSt.
VEHICLEDONATIONS
If you have an unneeded or unwanted car, motorcycle, boat—or even an airplane—you can helptheVillagebydonatingittous.Justcall1-866829-2918 or click on the "Donate Your Vehicle" menutabontheVillage'swebsiteandclickonthe blue"DonateYourVehicle"linktofilloutashort form. We'll take care of all the details such as towing, replacing a dead battery, paperwork, tax receipts, etc. You just stand on your porch and wave goodbye to your unwanted old jalopy (or sleekprivatejet).
NO-RISKTRIAL
Doyouhavefriendsorfamilywhoarecurious abouthowyoumanagetohavesomuchfun?Ask themtotryouttheVillagewithano-risktrial membership!Residentsofanyzipcodecanjoinas anassociatememberforthreemonthswithNO UPFRONTCOST!Attheendofthetrial,theycan choosetopaythenormalfeetomaketheir membership permanent or walk away having invested nothing but a little curiosity. Trial memberscanalsoupgradetofullmembershipif theyliveinourserviceareawhichincludesallofzip codes20901and20910,20815eastofRockCreek Park,andtheKempMillportionof20902.Contact Dougformoreinformation.
OFFICEADDRESS&STAFFCONTACTS
TheVillage'smailingaddressis8700GeorgiaAve, Ste306,SilverSpring,MD20910.Officehoursare Monday-Friday,9am-5pm.Ifyouneedtovisitata differenttime,pleaseletusknowandwewilltryto accommodateyou.
The main phone number is 240-833-5580 When you call that number, a "virtual receptionist" will guide you to reach any staff member You can bypass the virtual receptionist by calling the direct numbers below Outside of normal office hours, please leave a message If your after-hours call is urgent, dial the main number and when the receptionist answers, press "1" Your call will be directedtoDoug'sandVanessa'scellphones
DougGaddis,ExecutiveDirector
240-833-5580ext.2
240-833-5582(direct)
douggaddis@silverspringvillageorg
VanessaRipps,DirectorofVolunteerServices
240-833-5580ext.4
240-833-5584(direct)
vanessa.ripps@silverspringvillage.org
BrookeKenny,OperationsManager
240-833-5580ext 6
240-307-4132(direct)
operations@silverspringvillageorg
Silver Spring Village sustains a robust neighbors-helping-neighbors network that supports older adults who wish to live as independently as possible and be fully engaged in their community as they age.
Unless otherwise noted, all activities and services mentioned in the Insider are available only to Village members.
The Village's social, educational, recreational, and cultural events are open to associate and full members Full memberships also include volunteer-provided services, and are available only to residents of zip codes 20815 east of Rock Creek Park, 20901, 20902 east of Wheaton Regional Park (Kemp Mill), and 20910 Associate memberships are not restricted to these geographic areas For information about a free trial associate membership, or if you are ready to join as a regular member, become a volunteer, or wish to donate, please call 240-833-5582 Our website is www silverspringvillage org and our email is info@silverspringvillage org