Community Update (7/1/25)
ANV Breakfast at Metro 29 Diner on Monday, July 14
Join us for the annual ANV Breakfast at the Metro 29 Diner, located at 4711 Langston Blvd. on July 14 at 9:30am. The diner features an extensive breakfast/brunch menu with something to please everyone. See details below.
Arlington Cares Volunteer Recognition: Today
Join Volunteer Arlington on Tuesday, July 1 from 5:00-7:00 pm as we and other nonprofits celebrate all the good work that volunteers accomplish in our community. This annual celebration is in person at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association at 4301 Wilson Blvd. See below for details.
Independence Day – ANV Office Closed Friday, July 4
The ANV Office is closed for the Independence Day Holiday on Friday, July 4, 2025. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Continuum of Care Panel on Zoom, Tuesday, July 8
There’s a good chance that you or a loved one will need help at some point to ensure your safety and well-being as you age. This may include occasional help with things like rides and errands; home or home health care; skilled nursing; rehabilitation services; and/or a variety of senior residential living options. Join the Continuum of Care presentation to increase your familiarity with how these services are offered in Arlington. See details below.
Combined Ladies and Mens Lunch on Friday, July 11
Try something new in July – the Ladies and Mens Lunch groups will meet together at the Island Time Grill at Columbia Island Marina. See details below.
Bowling, Anyone?
ANV is exploring if there is enough interest to form a Bowling team, likely at the Bowl America lanes in Falls Church. If you are interested in participating, please email John Thomas at thomas-johnr@comcast.net, and together the group can determine frequency and other details. If we have enough people who are interested, we will move forward. But the first step is raising your hand and telling John if this appeals to you.
Welcome
New Members
- Rhea Dola
- Carole Shakkour
- Vanessa Wilbourn
- Tricia Young
New Volunteers
- Terri Castorina
- Dominic Choi
- Moira Corcoran
- Peter Glynn
- Laila Elhezzat
- Dolly Elliston-Sharpe
- Patti Najarian
- Emily Peca
- Berhane Teklu
- Emily Wills
CAP Volunteers
- Christine Ciambella
- Clara Doley
Activities
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar at www.ANVarlington.org/events so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.
Coffee and Conversation on Wednesdays at 10 am
- July 2: Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
- July 9: Co-Housing
- July 16: Stay Home, Shop Smart
- July 23: Home Care
- July 30: Rest Easy – Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Special Events
Weekly Groups
- Tai Chi
- Bocce and Boules
- Happy Hour
- Board Games
Monthly Groups
- Men’s Lunch Bunch
- Ladies Lunch
- Low Vision Group
- Pop Up Picnic
- Page Turners
Educational Activities
Wellness
Also of Interest
ANV Activities
Coffee and Conversation: Wednesdays at 10 am
This ANV Speaker Series is held each Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00am. Join our weekly conversations via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88948577106?pwd=eW0rN1RTTU5ITmJ5NnF2QXZINmdUQT09
You also have the option to dial in by phone to participate without video. For that, dial: 929-205-6099. The meeting ID is 889 4857 7106 and the passcode is 872327.
Wednesday, July 2: Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Nearly seventy-five percent of adults 65 or older will need some sort of long-term care as they age. But finding the right care situation can be challenging. Ms. Camden Doran, a Supervisor with the Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman program will discuss the services they provide to facilitate the process of finding long-term care and ensuring that seniors thrive in their new environment.
Wednesday, July 9: Co-Housing. Finding safe and supportive communities as we age is something that many seniors struggle with. Our existing homes may be too big, too expensive, or we no longer feel connected to our neighborhood, yet we’re not ready for assisted living. Co-housing may provide an opportunity that many may not have considered. Ann Zabaldo, Executive Director of Mid-Atlantic Cohousing will talk to us about co-housing and why we should consider it when thinking about our future housing needs.
Wednesday, July 16: Stay Home, Shop Smart: Online Grocery Shopping 101 with Instacart. Discover the convenience of online grocery shopping, learn how to get started with Instacart, and explore tips to make your shopping experience seamless and secure. Whether you’re new to online shopping or looking to enhance your skills, this session is for you! Jenny Elrod, MSN, RN, CPD, Executive Director of Home Care and Goodwin Living at Home, Goodwin House Home Care will cover the benefits and pitfalls of online shopping, getting started with Instacart, and choosing your favorite grocery store. She will also teach us how to keep our personal information secure, and various payment options.
Wednesday, July 23: Home Care. As we age, routine tasks like bathing, doing laundry, or preparing meals can become overwhelming. It may not be realistic or even feasible to rely on family to help. Home care services may provide the answer. Brett Sanders, owner of Assisting Hands, will talk about the types of services offered by home care agencies, including personal care, homemaking, companionship, and respite care that can keep you safe and comfortable in your home.
Wednesday, July 30: Rest Easy – Getting a Good Night’s Sleep. Cornelia Lesh, Manager of Community and Employee Wellness at VHC will be our speaker. Still tired when you wake up in the morning? When did you last get a good 8 hours sleep? Learn practical strategies for developing better sleep habits. Participants are taught how to identify behaviors that may signal a problem, the most common sleep problems, common self-care skills for insomnia, and professional resources when self-care isn’t enough.
ANV’s YouTube channel
If you miss a Coffee and Conversation speaker, be sure to check out ANV’s YouTube channel where we post some of our Coffee and Conversation speakers and other special events. Sit back and enjoy!
Special Events
Arlington Cares Volunteer Recognition
Tuesday, July 1, 5:00-7:00pm
Join Volunteer Arlington on Tuesday, July 1 from 5:00-7:00pm as we and other nonprofits celebrate all the good work that volunteers accomplish in our community. This annual celebration will be held at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association at 4301 Wilson Blvd. We look forward to recognizing amazing volunteers, including the annual volunteer award winners and people who have spent 100+ hours volunteering for an individual organization in the previous year. (See ANV’s list of “2024 100 Hour Volunteers” on our website).
Parking is available at the Ballston Quarter garage (a couple blocks away) for $1 for 3 hours. Parking for a fee is available at the NRECA building, accessible from the Taylor Street entrance. The garage is Metropolis Pay-by-Plate and can be paid only via QR code and license plate. Parking is $6 for the first hour, and $12 for the entire day. From the garage, take the elevators to PL, the lobby level. Street parking and Metro are other options.
Continuum of Care Panel
Tuesday, July 8, 1:30-3:00pm, Langston Brown
There’s a good chance that you or a loved one will need help at some point to ensure your safety and well-being as you age. This may include occasional help with things like rides and errands; home or home health care; skilled nursing; rehabilitation services; and/or a variety of senior residential living options. Join the Continuum of Care presentation to increase your familiarity with how these services are offered in Arlington. Professionals from Arlington Neighborhood Village, Synergy Home Care, The Jefferson, Goodwin Living at Home and Capital Caring Health will discuss their services and associated costs, and respond to your questions. Tuesday, July 8, 2025 from 1:30 to 3 pm, on Zoom). No cost to participate, but registration is required.
Breakfast at the Metro 29 Diner, Monday, July 14 at 9:30am
Please join us for breakfast, fellowship, and lively conversation at the Metro 29 Diner, 4711 Langston Blvd. The diner features an extensive breakfast/brunch menu with something to please everyone. There is ample free parking in the lot adjoining the diner. Please RSVP to the ANV office (703) 509-8057, or email Office@anvarlington.org by July 11. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card.
Weekly Events
For more information on an event or to request transportation for an activity/event, please email Office@ANVarlington.org or call the ANV Office at 703-509-8057.
Tai Chi: Tuesdays at 9:30am
ANV Tai Chi practice meets outdoors every week, weather permitting. Meet the group in the parking lot at Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly Arlington Arts Center) at 3550 Wilson Blvd. If the forecast is too warm or wet, we will meet indoors. If you are interested in joining this practice (not instruction), please contact Anita Wallgren at awallgren@gmail.com or (202) 674-5553 to get the weekly location email.
Bocce and Boules, Mondays at 6:00 pm
Bocce and boules are played every Monday afternoon at 6pm on the courts at the corner of N. Randolph St & N. Glebe Rd (behind the Ballston Quarter parking garage, and across from Harris Teeter). All are welcome and everyone gets to play. Each third Monday of the month, players are invited to go across the street to Harris Teeters for Bocce-Pizza Happy Hour. Whole pizzas are available for $5 (if you are willing to wait for it). There are also many hot and cold options at the food bar. July 21 is the third Monday in June, so there will be Bocce-Pizza Happy Hour on this date. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call the ANV Office at 703-509-8057 and request a call-back from John.
ANV Board Games Day: July 10 and July 24
Do you like board games? Join ANV members and volunteers for Games Day at Ballston Quarter Food Hall (lower level). Look for players at the tables near the elevators. Play games like Rummikub, Mexican Train Dominoes, Ticket to Ride, Quiddler and more. We play every other Thursday at 2pm. Parking is available in the Ballston Quarter for $1. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net. If you don’t use email, please call ANV Office and request a call-back from John.
Happy Hour: Thursdays, 5–7pm
Join the ANV Happy Hour Group. We are so grateful to Mike Murtha, who led our Happy Hour for the past many, many years and moved in June from Arlington to Falls Church. A trio of regular Happy Hour volunteers will now facilitate this popular get-together: Gary Eiserman, Linda Reck, and Roslyn Rubin. They will send the traditional weekly email on Thursday mornings to let participants know the location for that evening’s Happy Hour. For more information and/or to be newly-added to the email distribution, contact Roslyn at roslynva@gmail.com. If you don’t use email, contact ANV Office at 703-509-8057 and request a call back from Roslyn. The Happy Hour group meets at restaurants around Arlington.
Monthly Events
Combined Ladies and Mens Lunch, Friday, July 11 at noon
The Ladies and Mens Lunch groups will be combined in July and meet at the Island Time Grill at Columbia Island Marina. The restaurant is located at Columbia Island Marina on the Pentagon Lagoon. Accessible from the Southbound Side of the George Washington Memorial Parkway between Memorial Bridge and the 14th Street Bridge. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Please RSVP to roslynva@gmail.com so we may have an accurate count. If you don’t use email, please call the ANV Office and request a call-back from Roslyn.
Low-vision Group: Monday, July 21 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
ANV Office conference room
Do you experience low vision or want to learn more about it? Please join us in the conference room at the ANV Office, St. Andrew’s Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane (lower level of the church, entrance off of Military Road). Participants are invited to share conversation, exchange experiences and useful tips, discuss helpful resources, recommend presentation/ speaker topics, and brainstorm future field trips. Please bring your ideas, experiences, and thoughts to share with others who experience low vision. If needed, call the ANV Office to request transportation. For location and other information, contact facilitator (and ANV member/volunteer) Susan Wallace at susanbwallace@gmail.com or 703-241-8686.
Page Turners, On Hiatus in July
Please join us to share a book that you have read, and you think would be interesting for other people to read. It can be something you are reading now, or a book you enjoyed in the past. Meet up with your fellow bibliophiles, share opinions, and learn about new books to add to your reading list. See the Page Turners Book List at end of update.
Join the conversation via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89666785566?pwd=WFFpTlY2SkJMQlJjN0NWNEUraFhEQT09
You also have the option to dial in by phone to participate without video. For that, dial: 301-715-8592. The meeting ID is 896 6678 5566 and the passcode is 007241.
Pop Up Picnic in the Park (PPP) – Friday, July 25
July’s Pop-up Picnic location will be announced in the July 15 newsletter. Bring your lunch and something to drink. PPPs are always held at noon on the last Friday of the month. These popular events are a chance to enjoy fresh air and light conversation and to discover a different Arlington neighborhood park. For information, contact John Thomas at Thomas-johnr@comcast.net.
Educational Activities
Arlington Public Library Programs
The Library has curated events from the 55+ Program, Encore Learning and elsewhere to make it easy to find something that will pique your interest. There are craft programs, book clubs, and more. It’s worth 5 minutes of your time to click on the calendar of events and see what’s happening at your local branch of the library.
Wellness
Walking Program
For the past 28 years, VHC Health has sponsored a FREE, walking program. Walk Fit is an intergenerational walking program and is open to anyone looking for free, low-impact, and climate-controlled exercise. Participants enjoy great company while exercising in a safe environment. Each morning’s walk is followed by a brief cool down and flexibility session led by VHC Health staff. Blood pressure checks provided.
Where & When:
- Every Thursday, 8:30 – 9:30 am
- Lubber Run Community Center, Indoor Track, Upper Level
- 300 N. Park Dr, Arlington (free parking)
For more information, please call 703.558.6859 or email seniorhealth@vhchealth.org
Also of Interest
Aging Matters Radio and TV
Aging Matters radio is a weekly podcast, hosted by Cheryl Beversdorf, and features interviews with experts on topics impacting the lives of older adults, their care partners, and families. Every Tuesday at 3 pm, a new Aging Matters broadcast is posted on Apple, Spotify and RedCircle podcast sites. Aging Matters TV Show offers interviews with aging experts, including demonstrations of aging related subjects. Stories of Life programs feature interviews with older adults who have made a difference in their communities.
Page Turners Book List
Rabbit Moon by Jennifer Haigh
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
The Town with Half the Lights On by Page Getz
The Accident by Linwood Barclay
Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay
Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarro
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Complimentary membership in Arlington’s 55+ Program is available as an ANV membership benefit. If you haven’t yet opted-in and would like to do so, contact our Member Services Director at 703-509-8057. 55+ Program offerings are posted in the quarterly catalogue available online.
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar so you can always easily find the Zoom link for any scheduled event.
