By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist
It’s easy to get confused about all the ins and outs of Medicare. With open enrollment only a few months away, the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging is inviting the public to an informal get-together to discuss Medicare topics.
A certified Medicare counselor will lead the discussion and answer any Medicare related questions.
Join us Thursday, Aug. 17, at 1 p.m. Bring your beverage or snack and your Medicare questions to the Pagosa Senior Center dining hall at 451 Hot Springs Blvd.
For more information, please call the Medicare line at (970) 264-0501, ext. 4.
Rock painting with
local artist Aug. 24
Join local artist Becky Crowe at 1:15 p.m. on Aug. 24 for a free rock art session.
We have gathered a variety of rocks of different sizes for your painting pleasure. Stop by the dining hall and either bring your own rock or select from our collection.
We will provide the paint and rocks and you bring your own inspiration to create a colorful rock to place in your garden or to use as a paperweight. This activity is free and open to all ages.
New Monday music
Enjoy pleasant soft rock songs from the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, as well as international folk, humor, and new music, too.
Dr. Erika Sueker has been playing music since 1967, teaching music since 1978, and working with Seniors since 1983. Join the lunchtime fun upcoming Mondays in the Ross Aragon Community Center dining hall.
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 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 Pagosa Senior Center in the dining hall. Snacks will be provided.
Pagosa Springs
Scrapbooking Club
The Pagosa Springs Scrapbooking Club holds monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month at the Senior Center.
It meets each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to be creative, share ideas, connect with friends, learn new techniques, share supplies and indulge in a potluck lunch together.
Bring your scrapbooking projects — or any crafting project that you may want to work on with the group. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive notifications each month of the upcoming meeting along with handy tips and tricks for scrapbooking, please send your request to copenhavercreative@gmail.com.
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 Ross Aragon 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, Aug. 10 — Cod piccata, wilted spinach, focaccia bread, garden salad, fruit, Key lime slice and milk.
Friday, Aug. 11 — Pork posole, tortilla, roasted cauliflower, garden salad, fruit, mini churros and milk.
Monday, Aug. 14 — Thanksgiving turkey sub sandwich, sweet potato fries, garden salad, fruit, milk and brownie.
Tuesday, Aug. 15 — Pork tenderloin with honey garlic glaze, scalloped potatoes, garden salad, fruit, cottage cheese and milk.
Wednesday, Aug. 16 — Pasta primavera with marinara sauce, garlic bread, garden salad, fruit, milk and mini cinnamon roll.
Thursday, Aug. 17 — Beef cheeseburger, green chili sauce, kettle chips, garden salad, fruit, milk and blackberry cheesecake.
Friday, Aug. 18 — Cajun shrimp and grits, zucchini saute, garden salad, fruit, milk and orange Jello.
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.
Bridge
The longest-played bridge game in Archuleta County takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:15 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.
Hand and foot card game
Whether you are new to hand and foot or interested in learning, please join us most Thursdays at 1:15 at the Senior Center.
No experience is necessary, so come willing to learn.
Donations requested
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.
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/.
