PHOTO: Darren Cordova Y Calor at the New Mexico Hispano Music Awards won 2024 New Mexico “Band of the Year” award. They will be the featured headliner at the 22nd Annual Spanish Fiesta scheduled for July 27, 2024 at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds.
The Pagosa community is invited to the 22nd annual Spanish Fiesta on July 27, 2024, sponsored by Archuleta Seniors Inc.
This year we celebrate “La cultura cura!” a transformative health and healing philosophy that recognizes the importance of cultural values, traditions and indigenous practices on the path to healthy development, restoration, and lifelong well-being. Enjoy the 22nd Annual Spanish Fiesta in Pagosa Springs, where Spanish, Mexican, Native American and Anglo cultural traditions intertwine to create the strong heritage we have today here in Southwest Colorado. Food, music, dancing, libations, vendors, color and good company provide the ingredients of a party to delight all the senses and to make memories for a lifetime.
This year is the 22nd anniversary of the Spanish Fiesta in Pagosa Springs after being dormant for some 20 years before it was revived in 2023. The Spanish Fiesta committee of Archuleta Seniors Inc is working to make this year memorable. The headliner for the day’s activities will feature the famous New Mexican artist Darren Cordova and his band Y Calor at the Archuleta County fair grounds in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Activities begin at 3 pm but come earlier to get your seat and enjoy authentic Hispanic cuisine of southern Colorado and northern New Mexican plus a variety of other food trucks, artisan vendors, music from Candace Vargas and Northern 505, and folklorico dance performances from local artists. We will feature scholarship recipients, the Spanish Fiesta Royalty and the Archuleta County Fair Royalty. Proceeds from this event will support older adults of Archuleta County through the services of Archuleta Seniors Inc and an intergenerational BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) youth and elder scholarship fund.
Admission is for an afternoon and evening from 3pm to 10pm filled with fun for all. Tickets will go on sale in late April. Interested in volunteering, being a sponsor or vendor… please call 970-264-2167.
Spanish Fiesta Royalty Update
Please Join us on April 13 at the Archuleta County Extension building as we bring back the timeless tradition of Spanish Fiesta Royalty! Archuleta County’s Hispanic & Latino Youth will compete for the coveted positions of King/Queen to Jr Prince/Jr. Princess. Let’s support our youth in keeping the traditions of our Hispanic, Latino, and Archuleta County heritage alive. Purchase tickets from 1 of the 15 contests.
Join us for an enchilada dinner and the Spanish Fiesta Royalty competition from 5-7pm. Live music featuring LOS MITOTITOS from southwest Colorado starts at 7:30pm. Crowning of our 2024 royalty will take place between 9pm – 10pm. Proceeds to benefit the Spanish Fiesta royalty youth. The Spanish Fiesta royalty committee seeks to provide our Hispanic and Latino youth in Archuleta County the opportunity of representing their community and celebrating their cultural heritage as well as provide them with numerous learning opportunities and valuable leadership skills.
For more information contact Archuleta Seniors Inc. at 970-264-2167.
Fresh Local Produce For Older Adults Available This Summer
This 2024 growing season, Archuleta Seniors Inc. and Terrawalk Farms are partnering with Nourish Colorado to bring low income older adults (age 55 and older) in Archuleta County locally grown, seasonal, organic produce shares through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). CSAs or farm memberships are a means of creating a mutually beneficial connection between consumers and their farmers. These partnerships result in a bi-monthly bounty of vegetables for the Subscriber. Terrawalk Farms is a small family farm located off Highway 151.
If you are interested in participating in this FREE fresh produce program, you must meet one of the minimum requirements to be selected as a Subscriber. The criteria for being selected is either: (1.) Being a NEW or current client of ASI through our congregate, Meals on Wheels, or pick up/grab n go meal program OR (2.) Being a resident of the low income senior housing community (Socorro, Archuleta Housing for the Elderly, Casa De Los Arcos, or Lake View Estates). Participating Subscribers will receive a fresh local organic produce box alternating weeks throughout the growing season which spans from June 2, 2024 to September 29, 2024. Subscribers will pick up their bi-monthly fresh produce boxes either on site at the Ross Aragon Community Center on Tuesdays or at a to be determined location in Pagosa Springs on the weekends. Details are still being finalized and Subscribers will be notified.
Please call 970-264-2167 or stop by the ASI office at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. to sign up to be considered for this Older Adult Fresh Local Produce Box program. The first thirty interested clients who meet the minimum requirements will become Subscribers and will be eligible to receive their fresh produce boxes throughout the growing season of 2024. For more information contact Archuleta Seniors Inc at 970-264-2167.
Archuleta Seniors Discount Card for Those 60 & Better
The Pagosa Seniors Center continues its annual tradition of providing a local discount card for those ages 60 and better. The discount card encourages seniors to support local recreational, restaurant, medical and retail services by obtaining a senior discount card for a small fee that serves as a fundraiser for Archuleta Seniors Inc. These local businesses provide a discount ranging from 5% to 20% off services. For more information visit our website: http://www.psseniors.org/discount-club.html or stop by our offices at 451 Hot Springs Blvd to pick up your card.
For more information contact Archuleta Seniors Inc at 970-264-2167.
Bingo
The Pagosa Senior Center will be hosting bingo twice a month on Friday afternoons from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm on March 15, April 5, and April 19. The price to participate is free and we ask you bring yourself and a friend for an hour of joyful fellowship. We will provide prizes from local businesses for all winners and snacks will also be provided. No RSVP required, just show up. All ages welcome but we ask those 18 and younger to come with an adult chaperone. Seats are first come first serve. For more information contact us at 970.264.2167.
Senior Conversations
Join us Mondays 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. Hold space and show up for sacred conversation. The meeting will be held at the Pagosa Senior Center in the dining hall. Snacks will be provided.
Share Lunch and Dine Monday through Friday
Open to All. Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den aka Community Cafe in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Fridays 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 $6.00, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10.50 charge for guests under the age of 60. Meals include a main course, side dish, fruit/dessert, garden salad plus beverage. Some popular menu items include: Frito chile pie, pork tenderloin with harvest chutney, Singaporean pork ribs, vegetarian lasagna, Hawaiian shrimp with coconut rice and always a beautiful green salad. Many of our items are locally sourced and organic.
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, March 21 – Sliced Ham w/Cherry Sauce, Scalloped Potatoes, Garden Salad, Fruit, Vanilla Cake, Milk.
Friday, March 22 – Stuffed Portabella Mushroom Caps, Roasted Cauliflower, Garden Salad, Fruit, Bavarian Cream Puffs, Milk.
Monday, March 25 – Beef Marsala w/ Mushroom Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Beet Blend, Garden Salad, Cottage Cheese, Fruit, Milk.
Tuesday, March 26 – Greek Spanakopita Pie with Spinach & Feta Cheese, White Bean Shakshuka, Garden Salad, Fruit, Brownies, Milk.
Wednesday, March 27 – Thai Chicken w/ Peanut Sauce, Sugar Snap Peas, Brown Rice, Chai Pudding, Garden salad, Fruit, Milk.
Thursday, March 28 – Pork Ziti Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Broccoli, Focaccia Bread, Garden Salad, Fruit, Carrot Cake, Milk.
Friday, March 29 – Crispy Cod Fish w/ Tartar Sauce, Glazed Carrots, , Garden Salad, Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp, Milk.
ASI Board of Directors has multiple vacant positions open. Terms are 3 years with an option to renew for an additional term. Potential candidates should be at least 21 years of age or older and must have a passion for adult and aging services.
Support Our Seniors. Please support our ongoing operations and programming that provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable in Archuleta County. 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/.
Rose Chavez is Executive Director for Archuleta Seniors, Inc. and Public Health Consultant at Archuleta Food System/Food Equity Coalition.