SENIOR CENTER NEWS: ASI Partners with Mountain Express Transit for Free Rides

Pagosa Senior Center Partners with Archuleta County MET For Free Rides
Older adults 60 and older are eligible for free transportation provided by Archuleta County Mountain Express Transit (MET). Seniors can ride the MET Pagosa Springs route for free Monday – Friday. This route stops at the Senior Center and the Medical Center ten times per day. Disabled community members that live within ¾ of a mile of this route but are unable to make it to a stop can qualify for free paratransit service. Paratransit service requires community members to book their ride 24 hours in advance. Community members must call the MET at 970-264-2250 by 3pm the day before Monday – Friday, to reserve their ride. Additionally, the MET offers discounted Dial-a-ride service to eligible seniors for $4 per stop within town limits or $8 outside town limits.

Rock Painting with Local Artist June 8 & July 6
Join local artist Becky Crowe on June 8 and July 6 at 1:15 pm for a free rock art session. We have gathered a variety of rocks of different sizes for your painting pleasure. Stop by the dining hall and either bring your own rock or select from our collection. We will provide the paint and rocks and you bring your own inspiration to create a colorful rock to place in your garden or to use as a paperweight! This activity is free and open to all ages.

Healthy Aging & Yoga Therapy Class Series
Gather with local yoga practitioner AJ Connors for a series of evidence based healthy aging and yoga therapy classes at the Pagosa Senior Center geared for adults and older adults of all ages. This yoga series promotes healthy aging for individuals with therapeutic classes offering yoga tools and education for strength, resilience, and wellness. Classes are designed to address different aspects of healthy aging and are geared towards accessibility and gentle practice. The themes for the class will include physical and mental well-being utilizing movement, meditation, and breathing practices. Mats and chairs will be provided; it’s optional to bring a blanket, and please wear comfortable clothing. Classes are free but donations are welcomed. Class is offered Mondays 2:30 pm-3:30 pm.

Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club
The Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club holds monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month at the Pagosa Senior Center. This creative tradition has been happening since 2005, started by Melissa Bailey and continued by Kathy Ruth through the years. The group met in the Senior Center dining room until 2020, took a break due to Covid and then resumed meetings in the Community Center. They are truly excited to be meeting in the Senior Center dining area again. They will meet each month from 10:00am – 3:00pm to be creative, share ideas, connect with friends, learn new techniques, share supplies and indulge in a potluck lunch together. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please send your request to copenhavercreative@gmail.com and you will receive notification each month of the upcoming meeting along with hand tips & tricks for scrapbooking.

Share Lunch and Dine Monday through Thursday
Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den aka Community Cafe in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Thursdays downtown at the Ross Aragon Community Center between 11 am and 1 pm weekly. Pickup is available all week including Fridays.

Our dining hall is open to all ages and welcomes you all with kindness and warmth. We provide hot/cold meals for anyone in the community interested in a nutritious and delicious meal. For those 60 or older we request a suggested donation of $10.00, but no one will be turned away.

To reserve your meal for the day please make your reservation via text or phone call 970-264-2167 by 9 am weekdays.

Community Cafe Menu
Thursday, June 7 – Cajun shrimp with cheesy grits, zucchini and squash saute, garden salad, fruit, blueberry streusel muffins and milk.

Friday, June 8 – Turkey tetrazzini, green beans, dinner roll, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Monday, June 11 – Seafood Veracruz with Cod & Shrimp, Quinoa, Garden salad, Strawberry Shortcake, Milk

Tuesday June 12 –.Vegetable Lasagna w/ White Sauce, Garlic Bread, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk

Wednesday, June 13 – Beef Pot Roast w/ Root Vegetables, Focaccia Bread, Garden salad, Fruit, Cookies, Milk

Thursday, June 14 – New Mexican Chicken Enchilada Casserole, Spanish rice, Garden Salad, Fruit, Flan, Milk

Friday, June 15 – Barbeque Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Blueberry Cobbler,Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk

Mobile Food Pantry Service has been discontinued due to funding shortages. Older adults needing a ride to a local food pantry should contact the Archuleta County MET to schedule a ride with their paratransit service. For more information contact Lavonne at 970-264-2250.

Text Us @ 970-264-2167
Don’t forget that we also offer a convenient texting service for you to communicate with us. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are calling to cancel a reservation, please include your name, phone number and the days you want to cancel. Texting services are available for dining-in meal reservations, Grab-n-Go meals, and Meals on Wheels recipients.

Covid-19 Test Kits Available
Stop by the Pagosa Senior Center to pick up a pack of 6 free covid-19 tests kits for your personal use. These kits are available to anyone in the public that needs affordable access for health promotion and disease prevention.

Medicare Call by Appointment
For anyone who needs help enrolling and navigating Medicare plans, the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging helps with Parts A, B, and D. They can also help you with fraud concerns and troubleshooting any billing issues you may be having. By appointment only. Please call the Medicare line at 970-264-0501; ext 4.

Senior Conversations
Join us Wednesdays at 1:15 pm for a series of “Senior Conversations” with local Bill Salmansohn. He will lead the group through mindfulness exercises and discussion of various topics pertaining to aging in Archuleta County. Explore and discover for yourself answers to your questions and concerns. The meeting will be held at the Pagosa Senior Center in the dining hall, snacks will be provided.

Zentangle
The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. It was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. “Zentangle” is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com or join our friendly instructor Roberta Strickland, CZT. Classes are every Wednesday at 1:15pm in the Pagosa Senior Center. This activity is open to all ages. Help us create an intergenerational community. For those under 18 and/or with disabilities you are welcome to join us, but we kindly ask you to please bring an adult chaperone with you.

Requesting Donations
ASI has an immediate monetary need to support ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County. Please consider donating to Archuleta Seniors Inc. You may mail your donation to PO BOX 3444, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 or please visit our website: http://www.psseniors.org/ (donation button). Donation checks can be written to: Archuleta Seniors, Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd., in downtown Pagosa Springs. For more information about ASI, please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.

Rosa Chavez

Rose Chavez is Executive Director for Archuleta Seniors, Inc. and Public Health Consultant at Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition.