Senior Center lifts vaccine requirement

Posted

By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist

Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) board members voted to amend the vaccination requirement for community members to use dine-in and programming services at the Pagosa Senior Center until further notice. 

The entire community is now welcome to use any and all services provided despite vaccination status. However, we ask that if you are sick to please stay home and have your food delivered to you via our MET service or Meals on Wheels program. Our desire is to make healthy choices easier during your visit at the center, so we will be providing and encouraging masks and sanitizer for your use during visits. We ask that community members continue to be respectful of each other and do what they can to protect our community.

To provide additional options for dining with us, we will now be open for service Monday through Thursday for dining in and the pickup option will be available throughout the week, as well as Friday. We ask that you call or text before 9 a.m. and indicate if you will be dining in or picking up a Grab-n-Go when you leave your message. For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.

Digital literacy classes

We have an opportunity for you to participate in a valuable program that provides a variety of free virtual classes to help you better use popular technology. Are you interested in learning more about different ways to use a computer, tablet or smartphone? Join this free program starting in October. It will be five weeks of virtual classes covering topics such as accessing health and wellness information and telehealth, communicating with tools like Zoom, talking and sharing photos with friends and family, and using your device to do what you want to do.

The criteria for participation are simple: Age 55 or older, have an email address, schedule a required one-on-one phone call with our partners at Candoo Tech, and own one of the following devices: iPhone, iPad, Windows computer running Windows 10 or later, Android phone or tablet. 

Interested? The program starts next month and space is limited. You can register at https://www.candootech.com/mather2.

Mobile food pantry
service available

The Senior Center would like to remind the community about our mobile food pantry services we provide in partnership with Archuleta County MET to seniors age 60 and older throughout most areas of Archuleta County. 

In order to participate in this program, community members must visit with Barbara Noriega at the Senior Center, located in the Ross Aragon Community Center, to fill out an application to qualify for hot meal delivery service and/or the mobile pantry service. The application, called the dining assessment form, is also available on our website at the bottom of the Community Cafe page http://www.psseniors.org/community-cafeacute.html. 

For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.

Big band benefit

Save the date: On Sept. 23, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., there will be a benefit for the Senior Center.

Put on your dancing shoes and join us for an evening of bebop and boogie-woogie big band-era music, featuring Bob Hemenger and Debbee Tucker, along with other talented musicians. We have some great prizes for our raffle. Proceeds will benefit ASI and the Senior Center. Tickets for the event are available at www.pagosacenter.org. 

Farmers Market vouchers

Farmers Market vouchers for seniors continue to be available and now $50 is offered instead of $25. 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 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 to pick up your $50 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 Oct. 1. 

Text reservations

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 dining-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. 

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. 

Future programming
volunteers needed 

We are looking to implement new programming in the future and want to rely on the insight and expertise of the community to expand our offerings. We are looking for volunteers to help us coordinate new games, crafts, wellness and intergenerational opportunities. If you are interested, please contact us at (970) 264-2167.

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. 22 — Hawaiian pork with peppers coconut rice, mango salad, garden salad and fruit.

Friday, Sept. 23 — Vegetarian potato and onion tart, braised red cabbage, garden salad, fruit and carrot cake.

Monday, Sept. 26 — Ham with brown sugar citrus glaze, scalloped potatoes, buttermilk biscuit, garden salad and fruit.

Tuesday, Sept. 27 — Tuna salad on greens, broccoli salad, garden salad, fruit and lemon mousse.

Wednesday, Sept. 28 — Vegetarian artichoke and tomato fettuccine with Alfredo sauce, garlic bread, garden salad, fruit and brownie.

Thursday, Sept. 29 — Beef stroganoff with egg noodles, asparagus hollandaise, garden salad and fruit.

Friday, Sept. 30 — Chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, black beans with peppers, garden salad and fruit.

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 please 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/.