By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist
Join us at the 21st annual Spanish Fiesta from 3 to 8 p.m. on July 29 at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds
This year, we are thrilled to bring you some of Pagosa’s best southwest cuisine featuring food from four different establishments. Indulge in a wide variety of flavors and experience the richness of our diverse cuisine.
You’ll be able to indulge in a delectable selection of Mexican delights from a local favorite including mouthwatering burritos, tacos, tostadas, tortas and gorditas. A hometown local will be making her handmade authentic tamales prepared with traditional flavors and ingredients. Our third establishment is a group of men and women from the local Catholic church preparing Navajo tacos with Colorado-raised pinto beans and your choice of authentic red and/or green chile. Save room for their delectable sopapillas drizzled with honey and cinnamon and mouthwatering bunuelos. Finally, enjoy refreshing cream- and water-based paletas, classic elote street corn served in a cup or on the cob, as well as other delightful street snacks like fruit cups. Don’t forget to quench your thirst with their delicious aguas frescas.
Food, music, dancing, libations, vendors, color and good company will provide the ingredients of a party to delight all the senses. The Spanish Fiesta Committee (formed by the families and royalty of fiestas of years past) of Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) has worked hard to make this first year back memorable.
The headliner for the day’s activities will be the famous New Mexican artist Al Hurricane Jr. and his band. He is generously giving his own time to benefit the fundraiser.
Activities begin at 3 p.m., 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 local band Los Mitotitos, and folklorico dance performances from local artists. While there will be no royalty during this first event, we look forward to engaging the community and youth to support the fiestas in this capacity once again.
Proceeds from this event will support older adults of Archuleta County through the services of ASI and a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) youth scholarship fund.
Admission is for an afternoon and evening from 3 to 8 p.m. filled with fun for all. To purchase tickets, visit online at https://givebutter.com/asispanishfiesta2023 or stop by the Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, the Choke Cherry Tree or the Pagosa Senior Center located in the Ross Aragon Community Center.
Interested in volunteering, being a sponsor or vendor? Please visit http://www.psseniors.org/events-and-fundraisers.html for more information or call (970) 264-2167.
Farmers Market vouchers
Farmers Market vouchers for seniors are 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 $50 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 $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 September.
Senior conversations
Join us Wednesdays at 1:15 p.m. 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.
The meeting will be held at the Senior Center in the dining hall. Snacks will be provided.
Share lunch Monday through Thursday
Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den, aka the Community Cafe, in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Thursdays downtown at the Community Center between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. It is open to all. 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 $10, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10 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 chili 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.
Our chef works with a team of local food professionals to hand-prepare your meal for dine-in service in our cozy dining room (with an amazing view of the San Juans) or for takeout (via our convenient drive-through). Our menu changes daily.
To reserve your meal for the day, please make your reservation via text or phone call to (970) 264-2167 by 9 a.m. weekdays.
Community Cafe menu
Thursday, July 20 — New Mexican blue corn chicken enchilada casserole, Spanish rice, garden salad, fruit, biscochos and milk.
Friday, July 21 — Chef salad with ham, turkey, cheese, avocado, egg and ranch dressing; broccoli and white cheddar soup; focaccia bread; blueberry cobbler; and milk.
Monday, July 24 — Chicken Parmigiana, broccoli, garlic bread, garden salad, milk and cherry crisp.
Tuesday July 25 — Beef Marsala, garlic mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, asparagus, garden salad, fruit, vanilla yogurt and milk.
Wednesday, July 26 — Mushroom and asparagus frittata, squash medley, garden salad, fruit, milk and carrot cake.
Thursday, July 27 — Pork red chile Colorado, roasted herb potatoes, garden salad, fruit, banana brunch cake and milk.
Friday, July 28 — Chef salad with ham, turkey, cheese, avocado, egg and ranch dressing; broccoli and white cheddar soup; focaccia bread; blueberry cobbler; and milk.
Grab-N-Go meals
Dine-in and Grab-N-Go meal 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 $10 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 also. 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.
Mobile food pantry
service discontinued
The Mobile Food Pantry Service has been discontinued due to funding shortages. Older adults needing a ride to a local food pantry should contact the MET to schedule a ride with their paratransit service. For more information, contact Lavonne at (970) 264-2250.
Text reservations
Don’t forget that we offer a convenient texting service for you to communicate with us. Text us at (970) 264-2167. When texting, please include your name, phone number and the days you want a meal. If you are canceling 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.
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.
