By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist
Where did the summer go? We look forward to summer every year and it always seems to go faster than we would like.
As we head into September, we would like to thank all our volunteers who joined us for our recent training in August. We have a second training scheduled for anyone interested in volunteering with Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) happening Thursday, Sept. 8. If you would like to be included in this training, please RSVP by noon on Friday, Sept. 2, by contacting Barbara Noriega at (970) 264-2167.
Community Cafe open
The Community Cafe continues to be open to the public every Monday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If dining in, please be prepared to show your vaccination cards. If you have COVID-19, have been exposed or are exhibiting any symptoms, please stay home.
We offer Grab-n-Go meals Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at our convenient drive-thru. Our meals are available to all ages by reservation; call or text us at (970) 264-2167 by 9 a.m.
Three tips for using
nutrition facts label to make healthy choices
Check the servings. The nutrition information on the label is usually based on one serving of the food. When comparing calories and nutrients in different foods, check the serving size to make a correct comparison. And remember, it is common for a food package or beverage to have more than one serving.
Know your calorie needs. Two thousand calories a day is used as a general guide for nutrition advice. However, your calorie needs may be higher or lower and depend on your age, sex, height, weight and the amount of physical activity you get each day. Talk to your health care provider about your calorie and nutrition needs as you age. Visit www.ChooseMyPlate.gov/MyPlatePlan and talk to your health care provider to see what calorie range is right for you.
Use percent DailyValue (DV) as a guide. The percent DV can help you look for foods to decide which is the better choice for you. Older adults should more often look for foods with a high percent DV of dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium and potassium. Older adults should also more often look for foods with a lower percent DV of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. Talk to your health care provider about which nutrients you should track closely for your overall health. To learn more about the Nutrition Facts label, go to www.fda.gov/nutritioneducation.
Save the date for
benefit dance
There will be a big band benefit dance on Sept. 23 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Put on your dancing shoes and join us for an evening of bebop and boogie-woogie big band-era music featuring Bob Hemenger and Debbie Tucker along with other talented musicians.
Proceeds will benefit ASI and the Pagosa Senior Center. Tickets for the event are available at www.pagosacenter.org.
Farmers Market vouchers
Farmers Market vouchers for seniors (age 60 and older) are now available.
If you love to shop at the Farmers Market, are 60 or older or if you are 200 percent of poverty, please call Debbie at (970) 403-2164 at the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to put your name on the list for $25 in vouchers to redeem for local foods. Then, visit the Pagosa Farmers Market any Saturday during the growing season (June through September) to pick up your $25 voucher to support the local food artisans and growers in southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico.
The Pagosa Farmers Market is located on the third row of the East Side Market and is open only on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through September.
Text us
Text us at (970) 264-2167. The Community Cafe is now accepting text messaging for meal reservations, cancellations and/or communication of any kind. 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 dine-in meal reservations, Grab-n-Go meals and Meals on Wheels recipients.
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 p.m. Proof of vaccination is required.
Medicare call by
appointment
For anyone who needs help enrolling and navigating Medicare plans, we help with parts A, B and D. We can also help you with fraud concerns and troubleshooting any billing issues you may be having. By appointment only. Please call our Medicare line at (970) 264-0501, ext 4.
Bridge
The longest-played bridge game in Archuleta County takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m. 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. Proof of vaccinations is required.
Volunteers needed
The Community Cafe at the Senior Center is requesting volunteers to help with greeting customers. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to volunteer or for more information.
ASI board vacancy
The ASI Board of Directors has one vacant position open for financial oversight and policy implementation for the organization and Senior Center staff. Terms are three years with an option to renew for an additional term. Potential candidates should be at least 55 years of age or older and must have a passion for adult and aging services.
Community Cafe menu
Thursday, Sept. 1 — Vegetable lasagna with garlic bread, green salad, fruit and vanilla cake.
Friday, Sept. 2 — Beef chili with cornbread, Swiss chard with onions, garden salad and fresh fruit.
Monday, Sept. 5 — Closed for Labor Day.
Tuesday, Sept. 6 — Pork tenderloin with chokecherry sauce, mashed potatoes, garden salad and apple pie.
Wednesday, Sept. 7 — Monterey chicken spaghetti casserole, delicata squash, dinner roll with butter, garden salad and fruit.
Thursday, Sept. 8 — Beef French dip sandwich with yucca fries, garden salad, fruit and Key lime pie.
Friday, Sept. 9 — Spanakopita greens with polenta, potato leek soup, garden salad, fruit and cookie.
Grab-N-Go meals
Grab-N-Go meals reservations and cancellations are required. Please call or text by 9 a.m. the morning of the day you want to pick up a meal. A suggested donation of $5 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. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to make a reservation.
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.
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 ASI.
You may mail your donation to P.O. Box 3444, Pagosa Springs CO 81147 or visit our website, http://www.psseniors.org/. Donation checks can be written to Archuleta Seniors Inc. We are located at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. For more information about ASI, please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.
