Community Update (9/15/25)
Theodore Roosevelt Island Seasonal Walk
Join the seasonal stroll at Theodore Roosevelt Island on Thursday, September 25, at 11:00am. It’s a good way to enjoy nature in company with neighbors, family, and friends. See details below.
ANV Annual All Hands Meeting, October 18
Please join us to share your feedback and to hear about the state of our village on Saturday, October 18 from 10:00am – noon. This is our annual All Hands meeting. We will gather at St. Andrew’s at 4000 Lorcom Lane. Doors to the Undercroft will open at 9:15 am for networking; we will have coffee and pastries to give you energy! Free parking on site. For those not able to join in person, please join via Zoom. See below for details. Please RSVP to Office@ANVarlington.org or call 703-509-8057.
Seeking ANV Board Members
Do you have a passion for providing seniors the option of aging in place? Are you willing to commit your time, talents and resources to ensuring the success of our village? If so, please consider applying to join our Board of Directors in one of the three spots that will become vacant in January. Here is the recruitment announcement. Interested candidates should submit the required information by October 15 to President@ANVarlington.org.
Early Voting
Early Voting for the November 4, 2025 General Election begins this month in Virginia. All Arlington voters are eligible to vote early at Courthouse Plaza beginning on September 19. Reminder: Arlington will be using Ranked Choice Voting for the office of County Board. For more information visit: https://vote.arlingtonva.gov/Elections and for locations and hours, visit: https://vote.arlingtonva.gov/Early-Voting
Real Estate Tax Relief
The Real Estate Tax Relief program provides an exemption and/or deferral of real estate taxes for qualified Arlington homeowners age 65 and older and certain totally and permanently disabled homeowners who have title to the property and meet income, asset and all eligibility requirements. You may qualify for tax relief. For more information, visit the County website or call 703-228-1350. The filing deadline is Nov. 15, 2025.
Welcome
New Members
- Jesse Adams
- Nikhil Desai
- Norma Ann Johnson
- Larry Kolp
- Sherian Lang
- Judy Neher & Bill Robinson
- Elvia Zaragoza
New Volunteers
- Scott Barton
- William Bassett
- Cara Davis
- Lucy Gay
- Rachel Looker
- Stephanie Martin
- Zachary Maynard
- Jayme Sophir
- Gail Staba
In Memoriam
Please join us in remembering these members who died earlier this year: Hawa Andrews (May 12) and Lillian Vaughan (September 1).
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
- September 17: Navigating Senior Living – Understanding Your Options
- September 24: Falls Prevention Awareness Week
- October 1: Guide Dog Foundation
- October 8: Guardianships
- October 15: Music Therapy
Special Events
Weekly Groups
- Tai Chi
- Bocce and Boules
- Happy Hour
- Board Games
- Bowling
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.
September 17: Navigating Senior Living – Understanding Your Options. Did you know that in the DC-metro area alone, there are more than 100 independent living, assisted living, and memory care facilities? This makes choosing the right community for you or a loved one a daunting and overwhelming task. Ginger Noce and Kristy Kennedy, co-founders of Silver Bridges Consulting, will help us understand the pros and cons of these options, their rate and fee structure, payment options, as well as how regulation and oversight are provided to ensure your safety or the safety of a loved one.
Wednesday, September 24: Falls Prevention Awareness Week! Staying Independent and Strong: Tips from a Physical Therapist. Staying active becomes more important as we age. Regular exercise and physical activity can help to improve muscle strength and endurance, bone density, cardiovascular fitness, everyday functional capacity, and help to prevent falls. Tiffani Hastings, a local physical therapist, will discuss how to reduce the risk of falls, fall recovery, exercises to improve function and mobility, and how to stay active and engaged in the community.
Wednesday, October 1: Guide Dog Foundation. From guiding the blind, to bomb sniffing, to rescuing people trapped in disaster zones, service dogs bring great benefits to their human companions. Christine Gardner from the Guide Dog Foundation will explain how service dogs are trained, the benefits service dogs bring to the community, and how seniors can volunteer to be puppy raisers and help ensure that service dogs will be available to everyone who needs them.
Wednesday, October 8: Guardianships. Erica F. Wood will look at the basics of adult guardianship, and how it may relate to you, your family, and your future. Her talk will cover: (1) the nature of guardianship; (2) the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of guardianship; (3) who the guardians are and what they do; (4) the guardianship process; and most importantly, (5) alternatives to guardianship. Ms. Wood has had a distinguished career in the law and aging field. She served as assistant director of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging until her retirement in 2020. She continues to work on Elder law issues, especially adult guardianship.
Wednesday, October 15: Music Therapy. We’ve all heard the cliché about how music can tame the savage soul, but did you know that music therapy can help alleviate anxiety, pain and depression, as well as some symptoms associated with chronic illnesses? Leanne Belasco, Director of Music Therapy at the Levine School of Music, will discuss the ways seniors can benefit from music therapy.
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
Theodore Roosevelt Island Seasonal Walk, Thursday, September 25
The next seasonal walk at Theodore Roosevelt Island is Thursday, September 25, at 11:00 am. It’s a good way to enjoy nature in company with neighbors, family, and friends. Our meeting place is at the end of the parking lot closest to the pedestrian footbridge to the island. This easy one-mile walk (on an unpaved nature trail) takes about one hour, but you are free to extend your visit to the memorial itself, if desired. This is a rain-or-shine event–there is no rain date. RSVP is not necessary.
The island’s parking lot is accessible by car from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Parkway. Alternatively, you could metro or drive to Rosslyn and walk to Roosevelt Island using the Mount Vernon Trail, as follows: from the Rosslyn Metro station, walk toward Key Bridge and access the trailhead which is just past the intersection of N. Lynn Street and Langston Boulevard (outbound); follow the trail downhill to the Roosevelt Island parking lot. (Given construction in Rosslyn, it may be best to walk across the Rosslyn Metro station plaza down to the Lynn Street sidewalk, turn left to walk along Lynn Street, then cross Langston Blvd to reach the trailhead.)
ANV All Hands Meeting
Saturday, October 18, 10:00am – noon
St. Andrew’s Church, Undercroft
Join us on Saturday, October 18 from 10:00am – noon to share your feedback and to hear about the state of our village. This is our annual All Hands meeting. We will gather at St. Andrew’s at 4000 Lorcom Lane. Doors to the Undercroft will open at 9:15 am for networking and we will have coffee and pastries to give you energy! Free parking on site. Please RSVP to Office@ANVarlington.org or call 703-509-8057.
If you chose to participate via Zoom, here is the link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89617058290?pwd=iel8BeELf0mCl92HM1v8wEHImnefiR.1
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 1705 8290 and the passcode is 867937.
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 Teeter 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. October 20 will be the next Bocce-Pizza Happy Hour. 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: Thursdays, September 18 and October 2, 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: Wednesdays, September 17, at 3:00 pm (note new start time)
ANV is starting a new activity for members and volunteers. Every other Wednesday at 3:00 pm, we will bowl at Bowl America in Falls Church,140 S Maple Ave, Falls Church. Free parking. No leagues, just fun and recreation. All levels of skill and experience are welcome. Bowl 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.
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 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
Mens Lunch, Friday, October 10 at noon
The Men’s Lunch Group will get together at Soul Thai Kitchen and Bar. Soul Thai Kitchen is located across from Upton Park at 6035 Wilson Boulevard. The restaurant offers a variety of Thai dishes including appetizers such as satays, larbs and rolls and entrees including rice and noodle dishes and curries. Lunch specials are also available.
Free parking is available in the parking lot in front of the restaurant. Attendees pay for their own meals by separate check, using cash or credit card. Please RSVP to Tim Burns at tfxb23@yahoo.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 Tim.
Ladies Lunch, Friday, October 10 at noon
The location of the October Ladies Lunch will be announced in the October 1 newsletter. 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, October 20 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, October 23 at 11:00am
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. Please see list of discussed books at end of newsletter.
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, September 26 at noon
The September Pop-up Picnic will be at Westover Park, located at 1001 N Kennebec St. This wooded neighborhood park has a pavilion with picnic tables, public restrooms, and free curb-side parking. 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.
Emergency Planning Workshop for Caregivers
Friday, September 26, 2025, 10:00am – noon
Walter Reed Community Center
Join Arlington Department of Human Services, Aging and Disability Services and the Department of Parks and Recreation, 55+ Programs for a thoughtful and practical session designed to help caregivers prepare for emergencies—because being ready can make all the difference.
What to Expect:
- Actionable strategies for responding to natural disasters, medical emergencies, and unexpected events
- Guidance on creating personalized emergency kits and evacuation plans
- Resources to support caregiving under pressure
- Time for Q&A and connecting with fellow caregivers
Whether you care for aging parents, children with special needs, or loved ones with health challenges, this workshop equips you with tools and confidence to act swiftly and safely.
Wellness
Medigap “Birthday Rule” Changes in Virginia
In Virginia, starting July 1, 2025, insurers must offer Medigap policyholders an annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) beginning on the individual’s birthday and ending 60 days after. During this OEP, you can purchase any policy made available by any insurer in Virginia that offers the same benefits as the current coverage. You can learn more about this in the September 3 Coffee and Conversation that is available on ANV’s YouTube channel. And also by visiting ANV’s website where you will find presentations by the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance.
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
Here are TV shows or movies recommended by ANV members and volunteers. Enjoy!
Favorite Shop (Samsung TV smart and Amazon prime)
Fisk (Netflix)
The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix)
Professor T (PBS)
Patience (PBS)
Ted Lasso (Netflix)
Lives Well Lived: Celebrating the Secrets, Wit and Wisdom of Age (library, PBS)
Please share your recommendations with us for the next issue by sending an email to Office@ANVarlington.org.
Suggested Reading
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray (Historical Fiction)
Behind Enemy Lines by Marthe Cohn (Nonfiction)
The Best of Jonathan Clements Edited by Benz, Bernstein, Roth, Zweig (Nonfiction)
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarris (Fantasy)
One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (Nonfiction)
James by Percival Everett (Fiction)
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (Historical Fiction)
The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland (Historical Fiction)
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (Fiction)
Close your eyes and count to 10 by Lisa Ung (Fiction Thriller)
Battle Mountain by C. J. Box (Fiction)
Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout (Fiction)
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 including the Zoom links for virtual events.
