SENIOR CENTER NEWS: Farmers Market Vouchers Now Available for Older Adults

Farmers Market Vouchers for older adults (age 60+) are available! If you love to shop at the Pagosa Springs Farmers Market, are 60 or older, or if you are 200% of poverty please call Deb Herera of the San Juan Area Agency on Aging at 970-403-2164 to put your name on the list for $50 in vouchers to redeem for local foods. Then visit the Pagosa Farmers Market any Saturday during the growing season (starting July 6 – end of September) to redeem your vouchers with local food artisans and growers in southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico.

The Pagosa Farmers Market in 2024 will now be located in their new location, at the Tennyson Sculpture Garden & Park on Lewis St from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Fresh Produce Boxes for Older Adults
Starting Tuesday June 18, 2024 the Pagosa Senior Center & Terra Walk Farm CSA shares will be delivered to the Pagosa Senior Center on Tuesdays (bimonthly) for 30 older adults and their families to pick up and use over a 2 week period before they receive their next share.  This program, subsidized by a grant from Nourish Colorado will provide seasonal fresh produce for a twenty week period during the growing season June through October.  In addition to fresh seasonal produce, community members will also receive recipes for inspiration and are invited to attend our monthly “Fresh Conversations” nutrition education program that includes recipe tastings on July 17 at 10am and August 16, at 1:30pm.

22nd Annual Spanish Fiesta Features Darren Cordova Y Calor
This year you are 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.  Admission is for an afternoon & evening from 2 pm to 10 pm filled with fun for all. Tickets are available online https://givebutter.com/SpanishFiesta2024and are also available at the Pagosa Senior Center 451 Hotsprings Blvd.  Interested in volunteering, being a sponsor or vendor please call 970.264.2167 or email Rose Chavez at rosa@psseniors.org

Vendors & Volunteers Needed for Spanish Fiesta
Calling all artisan craft vendors and food trucks/vendors, Archuleta Seniors Inc. is looking to feature your handcrafted items and food delicacies at the upcoming 22nd Annual Spanish Fiesta on July 27, 2024 at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds.  Please visit psseniors.org to download our vendor application.

In addition we are looking to recruit volunteers to set up the event on July 26, help with activities the day of the event on July 27 and help with tear down of the event on July 28.   For more information please visit our website at psseniors.org, call 970-264-2167 or email us at rosa@psseniors.org.

Bingo 
The Pagosa Senior Center will be hosting bingo twice a month on Friday afternoons from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm on June 21, July 12, July 26, Aug 9 and Aug 23  The price to participate is free and all we ask is 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. 

Tai Chi Thursdays 
The Pagosa Senior Center is offering T’ai Chi Chih with accredited instructor Patti Popovich each Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30pm in the dining hall/park to support older adults who want to discover purpose and fulfillment in this transitional phase of life.  Tai Chi Chih is not a martial art, but rather a tool for self-healing.  Softness, flow and effortlessness are the guiding principles in this practice. All classes will be free for older adults (age 55 and better) and will last approximately 1 hour in the dining hall.  No special special clothing or equipment is required.  For more information call 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.

Reservations and cancellations are required.  Please call or text by 9:00 am the morning of the day you want to dine in or pick up a meal.  A suggested donation of $6.00 helps to sustain our program.  No one will be turned away for their inability to donate.  For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10.50 also.  Please call or text us at 970-264-2167 to make a reservation.

Please visit our website at http://www.psseniors.org/community-cafeacute.html to view our weekly menu.  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 20 – Stuffed Giant Portobello Mushroom Cap w/ Veggies & Feta cheese, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.

Friday, June 21 – Beef Fajitas, Peppers & Onions, Tortillas, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.

Monday, June 24 – Greek Spinach & Feta Pie, Spinach Artichoke Dip & Pita Chips, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.

Tuesday, June 25 – Chicken Pesto Wrap, Italian Chop Salad, Mixed Fruit Salad, Hazelnut Crunch Bar, Milk.

Wednesday, June 26 –  Crispy Cod Fish w/ Tartar Sauce & Lemon, Creamed Spinach, Garden Salad,  Peach Cobbler, Milk.

Thursday, June 27 – Beef Spaghetti, Broccoli, Garlic Bread, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.

Friday, June 28 – Singapore Pork Ribs, Veg.Fried Rice, Snow Peas, Garden Salad, Fruit, Milk.

Meals on Wheels 
We deliver fresh Meals on Wheels five days a week (and provide frozen Meals on Wheels for weekends) to homebound Archuleta County residents.  Call or text us at 970-264-2167.

Mahjong
Mahjong is a 19th Century Chinese tile-based game that is commonly played with four players.  Each player receives 13 tiles with a goal to make matching sets and pairs (like Poker).  To win, a player must form four sets and one pair.  Come to the Senior Center to learn or play every Tuesday at 1:15 pm.

ASI Board of Directors
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/.

Another Way to Donate
Are you 70 and half years old or better?  Do you have an IRA from which you need to take a distribution?  Did you know you can make charitable donations directly from your IRA without paying taxes on the distribution, up to $100,000 per year?  The donation from the account would be payable to Archuleta Seniors Inc and sent to PO Box 344, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147.  This  gift option is called the IRA charitable rollover or qualified charitable distribution (QCD).

Rosa Chavez

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