VillageofTakomaParkNewsletter
HelpingNeighborsAgeinCommunity
Volume3,#2 April–June2017
Facts&Figures
219
ActiveMembers
85
VillageRides
Riders
39
VillageRides
Drivers
1178
RidesGiven
sinceApril2015
Message from the President
DearmembersandfriendsoftheVillageofTakomaPark,
Alongwiththelovelyspringflowers,ideasfromourmembersaboutwhatservicesandresourcesthe
Villagemaywanttoconsiderprovidingareblooming.Hearingtheseideasisrewardingbecausean
organizationlikeoursmustgothroughphasesofgrowthtoremainhealthy.Onceinawhileitis
goodfortheleaderstopauseandreflect.Whereisthisorganizationgoing?Whatareitsresources
andwhatnewresourcesareneeded?Whatareitsgoalsandhowdowesustainitsgrowth?
TheVillagewillhavearetreattoconsiderthesequestionsandaplanforpreparingfutureleadersonSaturday,May
27,intheHeffnerParkRecreationCenteronOswegoAvenuefromnoonto6:00pm.Mr.MerlynKetteringwill
facilitatethediscussionandproceedingswillberecorded.Onegoalofthemeetingistoallowampletimefor
brainstorming.Ofcourse,IwanttheBoardMemberstoattendbecausetheirexperienceandinvolvementis
important,butwealsowelcomeandencouragememberstoattendtohelpstimulatethoughtfulconversationabout
thefutureofTheVillage.Sincewewillbeorderingcateredfood,weaskthatparticipantsregisterattheVillageof
Takomae-mailaddress([email protected]).Hopeyoucanattend.
WolfgangJ.Mergner
UPCOMING EVENTS
May15:7-9pm
VillageRidesTrainingforVolunteerDrivers*
May16:10-11:30am FriendlyVisitorVolunteerTraining*
RoseRoom,TPCommunityCenter
May17:8:30-10am
BoardMeeting
SeniorRoom,TPCommunityCenter
May20:2-4pm
ATrainingforVolunteers:Howtohelppeopledeclutter
theirhomessafely*
SligoChurch,7700CarrollAvenue,
TakomaPark
May27:noon-6pm
VillageofTakomaParkretreat
HeffnerParkRecreationCenter,
OswegoAvenue,TakomaPark
May30:10am-noon
AgingWell:SafetyFirst.Learnaboutthenew
MontgomeryCountysmokealarmslaw,gettipsonfire
safety,beawareofyoursurroundings,andmore.Needa
ride?Call301-646-2109aweekinadvance.*
AzaleaRoom,TPCommunityCenter
June13:7-9pm
VillageRidesTrainingforVolunteerDrivers*
TakomaParkCommunityCenter
June14:1-2:30pm
FriendlyVisitorVolunteerTraining*
RoseRoom,TPCommunityCenter
June14:1:30pm
MovementDisorderSupportGroup:BenefitsofExercise
7201HollyAvenue,TakomaPark
*Toregister,orformoreinformation,call301-646-2109.
RoseRoom,TPCommunityCenter
AGING WELL (and other) EVENTS:
“AgingWell”meetingsareheldmonthly,usuallyonthelastTuesdayofthemonthfrom10AMto
noon.Theycoverawidevarietyoftopicsandprovideanopportunityforgathering(withrefreshments)
withothersinthecommunitywithcommoninterests.
March 28:KevinPatti,aPark
RangerattheClaraBarton
NationalHistoricsiteinGlen
Echo,gaveapresentationon
ClaraBartonincelebrationof
Women'sHistoryMonth.He
sharedinterestingdetailsofher
lifebyrecountinghowshe
respondedtopersonal
challenges,aswellasto
challengesfacedbyourmilitary
duringtheCivilWar.Adversity
andprejudiceagainstwomen
madeitdifficultforherto
achieveinareassuchasemergencypreparedness,natural
disasterreliefwork,andpubliceducation.However,she
riskedherlifebybringingsuppliesandsupporttosoldiersin
thefield.In1881,atage60,ClaraBartonfoundedthe
AmericanRedCrossandleditfor23years.Shewasalsoan
advocatefortherightsofAfricanAmericansandassociated
withwellknownindividualsatthattime,includingFrederick
Douglass.
April 25:
Professional
organizer
CandySpeight
sharedtipsfor
puttingyour
homeinorder.
Shespoke
aboutthe
strategiesof
sorting,
purging(or
sharing),and
organizing.Shesaidthatifonaregularbasisyouseta
timerfor20minutesandallotthattimeforsortingthrough
yourbelongings,youwillseeprogress.Herapproachisto
toucheachitemandthenaskyourselfafewquestions,i.e.,
WouldIbuythisagain?AmIwillingtomoveittomynext
home?Purgingcanbedonebydonatingorconsigning
itemsyounolongeruse.Thereareanumberof
organizationsthatwillpickupitemsthatyounolonger
want.
May 7: VillageofTakomaParkhelditsfirstannualpotluckatTakoma/Piney
BranchPark.Lotsofgreatfood,wonderfulcompanyandconversationswere
sharedbyall.TakomaParkMayorKateStewartandCityCouncilmembersPeter
KovarandJarrettSmithalsoattended.Manythankstothosewhopitchedinto
makethiseventasuccess:GinaGaspin,KathieBaker,PatRumbaugh,DorisRogers,
MaryPayneandGertrudandWolfgangMergner.
Have ideas for topics or potential speakers? Wewelcomethem!Email
[email protected].
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OTHER EVENTS:Checkoutthefollowingforevents,services,andinformationofpossibleinteresttomembers.
The Village of Takoma Park
villageoftakomapark.comandfacebook.com/villageoftakomapark
The Takoma Park Recreation
Department
takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/
TakomaParkCommunityCenter,2ndfloor
We Are Takoma (focusing on arts
and humanities)
takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/arts-and-humanities/
TakomaParkCommunityCenter,3rdfloor
Forever Young (focusing on TP’s
over 55 community)
takomaparkmd.gov/news/forever-young-newsletter/
VOLUNTEERS/SERVICES
Small Home Repairs/Tasks: We'recontinuingto"pilottest"
assistancewithsmallhomerepairsandtasksinthehome.Theservicecan
includehelpasdiverseaschanginglightbulbs,movingfurniture,orinstallinga
doorbell.Call301-646-2109torequesthelportovolunteeryourservices.
Errand Service:OurErrandsServiceisnowunderway!Herearesomeof
ourvolunteers,pickingupfoodfromtheMannafoodtruckforaVillagemember.
IfyouareacurrentmemberoftheVillageofTakomaParkandinterestedinthe
“ErrandService”,call301-646-2109.Wehopetofillallrequestswithinthree
days.Ifthereisanemergency,wewillrespondmorequickly.
Friendly Visitors/Callers:VillagevolunteersprovidevisitstoTakomaParkeldersorhomeboundresidents.Doyou
knowsomeonewhomightwelcomethisservice,orwouldyouliketovolunteer?Ifso,pleasecontacttheVillageofTakoma
[email protected].
VillageRides:VillageRidesremainsourmostactive,heavilyusedservice.Wecanalwaysusemoredrivers.Tolearn
more,tovolunteer,and/ortoregisterfororrequestaride,call301-646-2109.
Senior Stroll:Wouldyouliketogetoutforawalkacoupleoftimesaweek,butprefernottowalkalone?Wewillmatch
youwithaVillagevolunteertogowalkingwithyou.Contactsandyeganretired@gmail.comorcall301-646-2109.
SUPPORT GROUPS:TheVillageofTakomaParkhasfosteredthedevelopmentofthefollowing
supportgroupsandhelpstopromotethem.
The Movement Disorder Support GroupwasstartedinresponsetointerestfromTakomaParkresidentswithParkinson’s
disease,MultipleSclerosis,andsimilarconditions.Members,ideallytogetherwiththecaregiver,meetonceamonth,usuallyat
2PMonthesecondWednesdayofthemonth(withsomevariations),toexchangeinformationandhearfromguest
professionals.Formoreinformation,[email protected].
Parents of Special Needs Adults (POSNA)isaTakomaParkadvocacyandsupportgroupforparentsandotherlovedonesof
adultswithdevelopmentaland/orchronicpsychiatricchallenges.Thegroupisespeciallyinterestedinsecuringjobs,
supportivehousing,safety,andrecreationfortheirlovedones.MeetingsarethefourthThursdayofthemonthat6:30PM.For
moreinformation,contactMaryMuchui([email protected])orcall301-646-2109.
A Grant to POSNA Supports Therapeutic Exercises:TheVillagehasreceivedaCommunityBlockgrantfromtheCountyon
behalfof“parentswithspecialneedsadults”(POSNA)tosupportatreatmentprogramofferedbytheSpiritClub(spiritclub.com)ofKensingtonforadultswithspecialneeds,suchasAutism,DownSyndromeandothers.Thegrantwillallowupto
sixindividuals(differently-abledadultsages16andover)toparticipateforfree.Theprogram,offeredonWednesdayevenings
6:30-7:30attheTakomaParkCommunityCenter,involvesphysicaltrainingfocusingonmotorskillsandcoordination;
lifestyleinstructionssuchaspropernutritionandweightcontrol;andencouragementofsocialinteractionandintellectual
stimulation.Therearestillopeningsintheprogram.ContacttheVillageofTakomaPark(301-646-2109or
[email protected])orJaredCiner,SpiritClub,([email protected]).
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You may be eligible for a 20% Property Tax Credit: Ifyouareover65andhave
livedinthesameMontgomeryCountyhomeforatleast40yearsorareover65andaveteranof
theU.S.military,youcangeta20%propertytaxcreditforeachofthenext5years.Yourhouse
mustbeassessedatlessthan$650,000;lessthan$500,000ifyouareaveteran.Thedeadlinefor
applyingforthisyear'screditisSeptember1,2017.Formoreinformation,visit
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Finance/bill-42-16.htmlorcall311.
311 is Montgomery County’s phone number for non-emergency government
Foremergencycalls,residentsshouldcontinuetocall911.
Tolearndetailsabout311,visitmontgomerycountymd.gov/311/AboutMC311.aspx.
information and services.
Reminder: IfyouneedtospeakwiththeTakomaParkPoliceDepartment,call911for
emergenciesonly.Fornon-emergencies,call301-270-1100.
Montgomery County provides free prescription discount cards and low-fee
Dental and Health Programs for County residents.
Since2004,MontgomeryCountyhasbeenpartneringwiththeNationalAssociationofCounties
(NCo)toprovideFREEprescriptiondiscountcards,savingresidentsmorethan$32millionsince
theMontgomeryRXprogrambegan.
TheCountyhasnowjoinedNACo'sLiveHealthyprogram—andjoineddozensofothercommunitiesacrosstheU.S.
inhelpingourresidentssavemoneyonthecostofdentalandhealthcareservices.TheLiveHealthyprogram
continuestoprovideFREEprescriptiondiscountcardsandhasaddedalow-feeDentalDiscountprogramthat
providesdiscountsoncheck-ups,cleanings,fillings,crowns,rootcanalsandmore.Thelow-feeHealth
Discountprogramprovidesdiscountsonvisionservices,hearingaidsandscreenings,diabetessuppliesandmore.
ForanoverviewoftheLiveHealthyProgram,visitmontgomerycountymd.gov/OPI/live-healthy.html.
Forfurtherdetails,pickupinformationatyourlocallibraryorrecreationorseniorcenter.Visit
www.nacohealth.orgorcall1-877-321-2651forprescriptiondiscountsand1-877-573-2395forhealthdiscounts.
Pharmaceutical Assistance Program: Somepharmaceuticalcompaniesofferhelp
forpeopleenrolledinMedicarePartD.Visitmedicare.gov/pharmaceutical-assistanceprogram/Index.aspxtofindoutwhetherthere’sanAssistanceProgramfordrugsyoutake.
Local Farm Stands and Markets are now up and running.
Crossroad Farmer’s Market
Wednesday 11am – 3pm (June thru November)
7676 New Hampshire Avenue,
Takoma Park
Fenton Street Market
Saturday 10am – 4pm (May thru October)
Veteran’s Plaza, downtown Silver Spring
FreshFarm Farmers Market
Saturday 9am to 1pm
Ellsworth Drive, downtown Silver Spring
Takoma Park Elementary School
Thursday 3:30pm – 5:00pm
7511 Holly Avenue (behind the school)
Takoma Park Farmers Market
Sunday 10am – 2pm (year round)
Laurel Avenue, Takoma Park
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Looking for Stores Offering Senior Discounts?
Anadvantageofbeinga“seniorcitizen”iseligibilityforseniordiscounts.Wehavebeen
exploringtheavailabilityofsuchdiscountsintheTakomaParkareaandhopetobe
providinginformationaboutmoreoftheseinthefuture.Here’sasamplingofwhatwe
havefoundsofar.
Capital City Cheesecake, 7071CarrollAve.,TakomaPark,offersa10%discount
everydaytocustomersage65andolder.Discountisbyrequest;pleaseaskwhen
ordering.
Soupergirl,314CarrollAvenue,offersa10%discountbyrequesttoseniors(65andolder),availableany
day.Pleaserequestdiscountwhenordering.
Rite Aidpharmaciesoffer20%offallnon-prescriptionitemsonthefirstWednesdayofthemonthto
wellness65+members,afreeprogramforanyone65andolder.NearbyRiteAidstores:
8408NewHampshireAve.,Hyattsville,MD
1823East-WestHwy,Adelphi,MD
1411East-WestHwy,SilverSpring,MD
8701GeorgiaAve.,SilverSpring,MD
TPSS Co-op,201EthanAllenAve.,TakomaPark,offersa5%discounteverydaytocustomersage65andolder,
uponrequest.Co-opmemberscansimplyprovidetheirmembercard/numbertoverifyeligibilityforthediscount.
Non-membersalsoqualify,butshouldbepreparedtoprovideageverification.
Thrift Stores
Lookingforadiscountonabargain?Here’sinfoonthreeareathriftstoresthatsaveseniorsevenmore!Pleasenote
thatthereareoccasionalspecialsales,ormaybechangesindiscountpolicies,socheckwhat’scurrentwhenyou
stopby.Thequalifyingminimumageforseniordiscountsatallthreeofthesestoresis55.
Value Village,2277UniversityBoulevard,Adelphi,MD
Value Village,10121NewHampshireAve.,SilverSpring,MD
Unique Thrift,10141NewHampshireAve.,SilverSpring,MD
Allthreeoftheseaffiliatedstores(thetwoonNewHampshireareactuallyinthesamebuilding)offerthesame
discountpolicies.OnTuesdays,seniorsgeta30%discountoneverything.Otherdiscountsarealsoavailableto
thosewithastore“VIP”card(whichisfree):25%offclothes,shoes,accessories,andbedandbathonMondays,
and25%offanyitemsonThursdays.Stopbyanyofthestoresfordetailsandtogetacard.
Salvation Army Thrift Store,7505NewHampshireAve.,TakomaPark,MD.
Thisthriftstoreoffersseniors10%offanyitemonMondays.Justaskforthediscountattheregisterwhenyou
checkout(thoughbewarnedthattheymayaskyouforIDiftheythinkyoulooktooyoungtoqualify!).Inaddition,
onMondays“whitetag”clothesare50%offandonWednesdaysallclothingis50%off.
We’dlovetohaveyourhelpinexpandingourlistofseniordiscountmerchants.
Ifyouknowoflocalbusinessesthatofferseniordiscounts,pleaseemailtheirnamesto
[email protected]’llresearchthedetails.
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SPOTLIGHT on the BOARD: Andrew Kelemen
AndrewKelemenoriginallyhailsfromNewYork,butajobwith
atechnicalconsultingfirmbroughthimtoTakomaParkover
35yearsago,alongwithhiswifeandson.Aveteranofthe
KoreanWar,afterhisdischargefromtheArmySignalCorpshe
workedforanumberofdifferentcompaniesonmany
interestingprojectsandearnedaMaster’sdegreeinIndustrial
Engineeringalongtheway.Andyisnowretiredafteracareerinelectrical,
mechanical,computer,andergonomicspositions.Hiscommunityinterestshave
beenwide-ranging.Hehasbeenamemberofseveralcitycommittees,including
thePublicSafetyCitizensAdvisoryCommittee(whichheco-chairedforseveral
years),theEmergencyPreparednessCommittee,andthePoliceChief’sAdvisory
Board.AndrewjoinedtheVillageofTakomaParkseveralyearsago,fairlyearly
initsinception,andhasanabidinginterestinfollowingthegrowthoftheVillage
movement,aswellasofdrop-inmedicalclinics.
SPOTLIGHT on the new TREASURER: Lois Weinberg
AttheAprilBoardmeeting,PresidentMergner
announcedthatLoisWeinberghadacceptedthe
positionoftreasurer,previouslyoccupiedbyGertrud
Mergner.LoisisoriginallyfromKingston,PA,asmall
townnearWilkes-Barre,andearnedadegreein
education.ShemovedtoWashington,DC,andspent
hercareerattheU.S.DepartmentofEducation,where
sheworkedmonitoringcontractsandgrantsuntilher“happy
retirement.”ShemovedtoTakomaParkinJanuary1987,seekingaquiet,
safe,small-townlifestyle,whichshenowenjoys.Herneighborhoodhas
severalyoungfamilieswithnewbabiesanda“crewoffirstgraders”who
runfromyardtoyardplaying,asightwhichsheespeciallyenjoys.She
learnedabouttheVTPfromachanceconversationwithBoardMember
KathieBakeratafleamarket.LoisalsovolunteerswithMealsonWheels
onedayaweekandenjoysherbookclub,traveling,andgardening.
InMemoriam
VillagememberJunoYolandaAugustinepassedawayonFebruary10,2017,afterabriefillness.
In1953sheandherhusbandReginaldCooperAugustineboughtaCedarAvenuehousewhereshe
resideduntilherdeath.AccordingtoTheWashingtonPost,Yolanda“foundgreatjoyinsharing
herhistorichomeandgardenwithfriendsandfamilyallherlife.”TheVillageexpressessympathy
toherfamilyandfriendsontheirloss.
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JOIN OR RENEW
Signuporrenewonlineatour
website–villageoftakomapark.com.
Don’thaveaccesstoacomputer?
Call301-646-2109torequesta
membershipform.
Membershipduesare$10peryearpermember.
Payonlineatoursecuresiteormailyourcheckto:
VillageofTakomaPark,POBox11420,TakomaPark,MD20912
VOLUNTEER
VolunteersareessentialtothesuccessoftheVillage.
Thetwotypesofvolunteeringare
• Directservicetomembers
• Volunteeringtohelptheorganization
Inmostcasesyoumayserveonaregularorperiodicbasis,giving
asmuchoraslittletimeasfitsyourschedule.Anyoneage18or
olderiswelcome.
Note:Ourinsurancecoveragerequiresthatallvolunteersjoinas
membersaswell.Letusknowifthe$10annualduesarea
hardship.
Tovolunteer,gotovillageoftakomapark.com,JoinandMember
Signup,[email protected].
SUPPORT
VillageofTakomaParkisanon-profit,tax-exempt501(c)(3)
organization.Werelyongrantsanddonationstosupplement
incomefromdues.Allcontributionsaretax-deductible.
Donateonlinebycreditcardatvillageoftakomapark.comorsend
acheckpayabletoVillageofTakomaPark,POBox11420,Takoma
Park,MD20912.
Officers
President:WolfgangMergner
Vice-President:vacant
Secretary:vacant
Treasurer:LoisWeinberg
Additional Board Members
PazitAviv
KathieBaker
MarisaCruz
DorisDuarte
JacquetteFrazier
AndyKelemen
JosephKhabbaz
ErwinMack
RuthMcGoff
HankPrensky
LaurieWelch
The Advisory Board
BruceBaker
SethGrimes
PeterKovar
MosesWilds
DeborahZuckerman
Ex Officio
PaulaLisowski
Committee Chairs
Communications:LindaCarlson
Finance:HankPrensky
Membership:WolfgangMergner
Programs:KathieBaker
ServiceDelivery:vacant
Volunteers:SandraEgan
Newsletter editors
MargoStevensandMariaTokic’
Wegreatlyappreciateyoursupport.
Mission Statement
VillageofTakomaPark’smissionistoprovideintergenerationalsupporttoseniorsandpersonswith
disabilitieswhowishtoliveactivelyintheTakomaParkcommunityby
•
•
•
•
•
providingassistance,advice,andneighborlysupport;
facilitatingaccesstoneededserviceproviders;
advocatingonbehalfofVillagemembersandinformingthemaboutrelevantissuesandpolicies;
organizingandmanagingVillagevolunteerswhoprovideservicesandassistance;and
collaboratingwiththeCityofTakomaPark,MontgomeryCounty,andotherorganizations.
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