SENIOR CENTER NEWS: Archuleta Seniors Inc. Holiday Activities Planned

Photo: Clients Pat, Diana and June from our 2023 holiday party. Join the Pagosa Senior Center for our annual Community Christmas Party Wednesday December 18, 2024 from 11am to 1:30pm. All are welcome! Call/text by 9am on December 18 to 970-264-2167 for dine in or take out lunch.

Seasonal Art Class
Join us today, Thursday, December 5 at 1:15pm in the dining hall at the Pagosa Senior Center for our monthly seasonal art class. The art project will be easy to do and the results are cute and festive so come join in on the fun. Bring a friend or come solo! All supplies will be provided for free. No reservations are required. Our teacher will be Denise Fisk, who is a long time resident of Pagosa and a retired elementary art teacher from Iowa. She loves sharing art techniques with the community.

18th Annual Festival of Trees
Vote for and view the beautifully adorned Archuleta Seniors Inc. tree at the Ross Aragon Community Center (451 Hot Springs Blvd.) today, Thursday, December 5, from 12 pm – 6 pm. Come and vote on your favorite tree during the public viewing on Thursday while you enjoy cookies, hot cocoa and coffee from 12 pm – 6pm. Pictures with Santa, also on Thursday are from 3 pm – 6 pm. For more information please call 970-264-4152.Then, Friday, December 6, 5:30 pm also at the Ross Aragon Community Center is the auction with live music, food and a cash bar. Tickets are $30, available through the Town of Pagosa Springs Community Center or online at the Parks & Recreation Portal under Special Events.

SW Colorado Gives Day
SW Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday December 10th. Colorado comes together to raise funds for local nonprofits and Archuleta Seniors Inc, is participating this year! Every gift is tax-deductible and is matched up to $5000 until the end of 2024! Early giving is open now! You can donate at www.psseniors.org, clicking the link to the Colorado Gives website, or use the following to go there directly: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/Asifallfundraiser. Also feel free to drop off cash or a check at the ASI office at 451 Hot Springs Blvd at the Ross Aragon Community Center Monday – Friday between 8 am and 4 pm, we are closed for lunch between 12 pm and 1 pm. Thank you for your ongoing generosity and support!

Community Christmas Party
The community is invited to attend a casual and festive Christmas party at the Pagosa Senior Center on Wednesday, December 18, from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Come for lunch and stay for a joyful time together. Plans are in the works to have music from local group Acoustic Picnic, and we will follow lunch with hot coffee served alongside house made holiday desserts. We are planning a pseudo snow fight, possibly some shenanigans with Santa Claus and a few door prizes to jazz up the moments we share together. Join us for lunch, make a reservation before Dec.18 or by 9 AM Wednesday morning by calling or texting 970-261-2167.

Emotional Freedom Technique
Join Judith Newman at the Pagosa Senior Center (451 Hot Springs Blvd) the second Wednesday of each month, next session is December 11, 2024 to participate in the popular, ongoing “Tapping” class (also known as EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique) from 10am to 11am that is free and open to all ages and walks of life. The first half of class is learning or reviewing the technique and the second half of the hour is practicing the technique and answering questions. This is a supportive, fun, informative class taught by Judith Newman, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), who has been in private practice for 23 years. For more information or questions please contact Archuleta Seniors Inc. at 970-264-2167.

Healthy Aging & Yoga Therapy Class Series
The Healthy Aging Yoga Series continues to be offered in person at the Pagosa Senior Center on Mondays from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm and will be structured by therapeutic yoga tools and techniques with chair movement, standing stretches, gentle postures, breathing practices and reflective meditative moments. Mats and chairs will be provided at the Senior Center, some blocks and Theraband are available too. The addition of yoga props is always welcomed. We request that individuals new to the series arrive early for intake inquiries and to please communicate with our new instructor Kimberly Anderson directly by email at zinkgraf@gmail.com.

Senior Conversations
Join us every Monday at 1:15 pm for a series of “Senior Conversations” with local Bill Salmansohn. Bill brings to our conversations a variety of topics designed to stimulate discussions within a safe and comfortable environment as we explore our wellbeing and shared experiences. This is a unique opportunity to connect with others living within the Archuleta community for friendship and togetherness. Snacks will be provided. Afterward, hosted by Robin Williams, is a get-together created for those who wish to continue the conversation. This opportunity is typically from 2:30 – 3:30pm, following Senior Conversations. The group occasionally reconvenes as an informal gathering at various local restaurants.

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.

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.

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, December 5 – Cobb Salad with Bacon, Avocado, Blue Cheese, Tomato, Chicken and Cucumber; Cream of Chicken Soup, Bread, Fruit and Milk.

Friday, December 6 – Crispy Cod Fish with Tartar Sauce, Peas & Carrots, Garden Salad, Fruit and Milk.

Monday, December 9 – Korean Beef w/ Rice, Broccoli, Garden Salad, Fruit, and Milk.

Tuesday, December 10 – Chicken Dijon, Peas & Pearl Onions, Dinner Roll, Garden Salad, Fruit,and Milk.

Wednesday, December 11 – Red Curry Cod Fish, Rice, Garlic Snap Peas, Garden Salad, Fruit, and Milk.

Thursday, December 12 – New Orleans Sausage & Corn Chowder, Ciabatta Bread, Mardi Gras Salad, Fruit and Milk.

Friday, December 13 – Beef Spaghetti, Broccoli, Garden Salad, Fruit, and Milk.

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.

Bridge
The longest played bridge game in Archuleta county takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1:15 pm every week. Bridge is a four-player card game with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. It is a trick taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. Come alone or bring a partner.

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. Please stop by our offices at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. to pick up an application or call 970-264-2167 for more information.

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.