Community Update (6/15/26)
ANV Picnic, June 20
ANV’s annual lunch picnic is Saturday, June 20 at the Bluemont Picnic Shelter from 11:30am – 1:30pm. Members, volunteers, family and friends are welcome. Join us to celebrate the beginning of summer with an outdoor cookout. ANV will provide beverages, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs and all the fixin’s. You are welcome to make this a pot luck and bring a dish to share. Please RSVP so we have a good count of attendees. See details below.
Smithsonian Tour, June 22
Join us for a private guided tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Monday, June 22, at 11:00am. The one-hour tour will include objects from India, the Islamic World, Japan, China, and the famous Peacock Room. RSVP needed. See details below.
Juneteenth Community Day
The Juneteenth Community Day is June 19 from 4:00-7:00pm at Wakefield High School, 1325 S. Dinwiddie Street. It’s free and open to the public, with live music, food, performances, and local artists.
Coffee and Conversation Ideas
Help shape the future of Coffee & Conversations! We invite you to join a lively brainstorming session to help identify topics, ideas, and potential speakers for upcoming programs. What issues are you curious about? What conversations would inspire, inform, or engage our ANV community? Whether you have a single idea or a long wish list, your perspective can help create a dynamic and meaningful series for the months ahead. Join us on Tuesday, July 21, at 10:00 am in the ANV Office at 4000 Lorcom Lane as we collaborate to plan the next six months of Coffee & Conversations. We look forward to hearing your ideas and building an exciting lineup together! We are also looking for another volunteer to work with Carolyn Johnson to book our speakers. Questions? Come to the meeting or email Office@ANVarlington.org .
Bocce and PopUp Picnics
These two Summer time favorites have returned. See details below.
Office Closed
The ANV Office is closed for the Juneteenth Holiday on Friday, June 19.
Welcome
New Members
New Volunteers
- Jessica Calderon Cruz
- Kim Evans
- Robert Pollock
- Melanie Russell
CAP Volunteers
- David Payne
Activities
ANV Events are posted on our online calendar at www.ANVarlington.org/events including the Zoom links for virtual events.
Coffee and Conversation on Wednesdays at 10 am
- June 17: Archival Preservation for Family Historians
- June 24: Physical Therapy and Hip/Knee Rehab
- July 1: Phone Cameras
- July 8: Social Security Reform
- July 15: Caregiver Support Services
- July 22: Cherry Blossom Pace
- July 29: Living Well
Special Events
- ANV Picnic
- Smithsonian Tour
Weekly Groups
- Tai Chi
- Bocce and Boules (It’s Back!)
- Happy Hour
- Board Games
- Bowling
- Billiards
Monthly Groups
- Men’s Lunch Bunch
- Ladies Lunch
- Crafts Group
- Low Vision Group
- Pop Up Picnic (It’s Back!)
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, June 17: Archival Preservation for Family Historians. Many of the documents genealogists treasure most—letters, photographs, certificates, and family papers—are quietly deteriorating due to improper storage, environmental conditions, and handling. Michele LeTourneur with the Fairfax Genealogical Society will explore practical preservation techniques you can use at home to protect your family’s genealogical treasures.
Wednesday, June 24: Move Better. Recover Smarter. Live Fully: Physical Therapy and Hip/Knee Rehab. What do you really need to know about hip and knee surgery: When is it necessary? What should you expect before surgery? What happens when you leave the operating room? And most importantly, how does physical therapy improve recovery and improve outcomes? Dr. Andrew Shipp, with PT Solutions Physical Therapy, will cover the importance of PT before surgery, what recovery actually looks like, whether PT alone may be an option, and how to advocate for yourself as a patient.
Wednesday, July 1: How To Get The Most From Your Phone’s Camera. We all use our phone’s camera to take pictures of our families, friends, and vacations, but what else can it do? With a little know-how, your phone can help increase your productivity, enhance your personal safety, and even keep track of where you parked your car! Linda Scholl with the Alliance for Arlington Senior Programs will explore the myriad of ways our smart phones can assist us in our everyday lives.
Wednesday, July 8: Social Security Reform. The future of Social Security is one of the most pressing policy challenges facing Americans today. With projections showing the program’s trust fund reserves could be depleted within the next decade absent legislative action, the stakes are high for current retirees, future beneficiaries, and taxpayers alike. Join John Turner, Director of the Pension Policy Center and coauthor of Social Security for Generations, for a timely discussion of the forces shaping the future of Social Security. Drawing on decades of research and international experience, Turner will explore the difficult choices policymakers face and explain why lasting reform must do more than balance the books—it must also protect retirement security, reduce poverty, and preserve broad access to benefits for generations to come.
Wednesday, July 15: Caregiver Support Services. At some point in life, most of us will find ourselves caring for someone we love. While caregiving can be one of the most rewarding roles we take on, it often comes with significant emotional, physical, and financial challenges. Gelareh Bassiry from Arlington’s Aging and Disability Services Department will discuss the many resources and support services available to help caregivers stay informed, connected, and supported, ensuring they can care for themselves while caring for others.
Wednesday, July 22: Cherry Blossom Pace. From their facility in Alexandria, VA, Cherry Blossom Pace provides a wide range of medical, emotional and support services to meet the needs of seniors with complex health needs. Cynthia Shannon, Director of Business Development, will introduce us to their care model; and provide an overview of the services they provide including primary and specialty physician services, adult day care, and family caregiver support.
Wednesday, July 29: Living Well: Aligning Health Care with What Matters Most to You. Kizzy Hernandez-Bigos, Research Associate & Associate Coordinator, Yale University School of Medicine, Internal Medicine/Geriatrics introduces My Health Priorities, a free online tool that helps people identify what matters most to them and use those priorities to guide health care decisions. You’ll learn how to clarify your values, set meaningful health goals, identify symptoms or challenges that interfere with those goals, and communicate effectively with your health care team. The webinar also demonstrates how to create and share a personalized Health Priorities Summary to support conversations with doctors, caregivers, and other health professionals, helping ensure that your care aligns with what is most important to you.
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
ANV’s Annual Picnic, Saturday, June 20
ANV’s annual lunch picnic is Saturday, June 20 at the Bluemont Picnic Shelter from 11:30am – 1:30pm. The Picnic Shelter is a short walk from the end of North Manchester Street where it meets 4th Street North and adjacent to the Reeves farmhouse. Members, volunteers, family and friends are welcome. Join us to celebrate the beginning of summer with an outdoor cookout. ANV will provide beverages, hamburgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs and all the fixin’s. You are welcome to make this a pot luck and bring a dish to share. For planning purposes, please RSVP to Office@ANVarlington.org or call 703-509-8057 to let us know if you plan to attend and how many people will join you. If you plan to bring a side dish, please also tell what you will bring.
How to get to Bluemont Picnic Shelter:
By car: The easiest way to get to Bluemont Park when driving is to take Route 50 heading West past Carlin Springs Road and turn right at the light at North Manchester Street. Manchester Street will dead-end into the Reeves farmhouse. Turn right into the large parking lot on the right. The picnic shelter and field are located across Four Mile Run stream. You may park your car in the lot and access the shelter via the stone step walkway and bridge. You may also drive on the causeway across the stream to drop off passengers and supplies. Cars should be parked in the parking lot.
By bus: Metrobus 25B Mark Center via Southern Towers is one option; this bus departs from Ballston Station and stops at the intersection of N. Carlin Springs Rd/N Kensington St, which is about 200 feet (on a nature trail) from the picnic shelter.
If you are an ANV Full Member, you are also welcome to request ANV Transportation. The park is alcohol-free. Bathrooms are available next to the parking lot.
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art Tour
Monday, June 22 at 11:00am
Please join us for a private guided tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art on Monday, June 22 at 11:00am. The one-hour tour will include objects from India, the Islamic World, Japan, China, and the famous Peacock Room. The Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art is composed of two galleries – the Freer Gallery and the Sackler Gallery. We will meet in the lobby of the Freer Gallery (1103 Jefferson Drive, SW) at 10:45am. To get to the museum, take the Metro Orange, Blue, or Silver line to the Smithsonian Metro Station. The museum entrance is right across the street from the station’s entrance. Following the tour, those who would like to enjoy lunch together will go to the Moongate Cafe in the adjacent Sackler Gallery. Please RSVP by June 19 to the Office@ANVarlington.org or call 703-509-8057 and let us know if you need any special accommodation. There is an accessible entrance on the Independence Avenue side of the Freer Gallery and an elevator. The tour is limited to 15 people.
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 5:15 pm
Bocce and boules are played every Monday afternoon 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. Contact John Thomas for more information at thomas-johnr@comcast.net.
ANV Board Games Day: Thursday, June 25 and July 9, at 2:00pm
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.
Bowling, Tuesdays, June 23 and July 7 at 3:00 pm
ANV will bowl at Bowl America in Falls Church,140 S Maple Ave, every other Tuesday at 3:00pm. Free parking. No leagues, just fun and recreation. All levels of skill and experience are welcome. Bowl one, two or as many games as you like for $5.99 per game, or choose the three-game special for a discounted price of $22, including shoe rental. Contact John Thomas at thomas-johnr@comcast.net for more information.
Billiards, Thursday, June 18 and July 2, at 11:00 am
Billiards (or “Pool”) group meets every other Thursday at Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. 2nd Street. ANV members and volunteers are enjoying an indoor recreational activity that is a lot of fun and easy to learn. Billiards is a fantastic social game for seniors because it keeps you moving, improves hand-eye coordination, and requires a good bit of strategy without being physically taxing. Contact John Thomas at thomas-johnr@comcast.net for more information.
Happy Hour: Thursdays, 5–7pm
Join the ANV Happy Hour Group. A trio of regular Happy Hour volunteers facilitates 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 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
Ladies and Men’s Lunch, July 10 at noon
The Ladies and Men’s lunch groups will be dining together for our annual excursion to 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.
Calling All Crafters, Monday, July 13 at 1:00 – 2:00 pm
ANV members and volunteers are invited to join our own ANV Crafts Group on the second Monday of each month in the ANV Conference room, 4000 Lorcom Lane. Whatever you are working on – needlework, knitting, coloring, mending, etc. – bring what you have and enjoy the company of others. All crafters are welcome. No need to register, just show up.
Low-vision Group, Monday, July 20, at 1:00 pm
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.
Pop Up Picnic in the Park (PPP), June 26 at noon NEW LOCATION
Pop Up Picnics are back. PPPs are planned the last Friday of the month, weather permitting. The June PPP will be at Madison Manor Park, located at 6225 12th Rd N. Free parking next to the covered picnic shelter. Plan to join us and bring your own lunch for an outdoor picnic. PPPs 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
Achieving a Good Death
Chris Palmer, our Coffee and Conversation speaker on June 10, is offering an electronic version of his book, Achieving a Good Death, free to ANV members and volunteers. If you’d like a copy, please email the ANV Office at Office@ANVarlington.org and we will send you the “pdf” version by email.
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.
What to Watch or Read
Here are TV shows, movies, or books recommended by ANV members and volunteers. Enjoy!
Books
Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
TV
New Tricks (British detective series available on your Roku device)
Films
Pressure (your local movie theatre)
Biblio+. The Arlington Library has free and unlimited access to groundbreaking film and captivating television. All you need is a library card and you can stream on any device, including the Roku stick. Visit https://biblioplus.com/
Please share your recommendations for TV shows, films, or books with us for the next issue by sending an email to Office@ANVarlington.org.
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.
