Senior News

22nd annual Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta a huge success

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If you weren’t down at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds the afternoon and evening of Saturday, July 27, along with several hundreds of others, then you missed out on the highly anticipated 22nd Annual Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta put on by the Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta committee of Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI). 

This group of more than 10 different families, ASI board members and community volunteers came together over the last eight months to rekindle the fondly remembered Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiestas for a second year in a row. 

The day’s activities actually kicked off earlier in the day by Pagosa Peak Open School for the ribbon cutting of a bronze sheep herder sculpture by talented artist Chad Haspel. 

The Town of Pagosa Springs, Pagosa Springs Arts Council, ASI’s Spanish Fiesta committee and the Spanish Fiesta royalty youth/families joined together to present a brief oral history about sheep herding and the rich Hispanic heritage in Archuleta County. 

Then the Archuleta County “fiesta” grounds opened at 2 p.m. and guests started arriving early to grab food and beverages, check out the vendors, and catch acknowledgment of the class of 2024 Spanish Fiesta BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) Scholarship recipients. 

This year, eight youth and elders were awarded $1,000 scholarships to pursue their educational goals from funds raised from last year’s fiesta. 

All funds raised by the fiesta go toward services/programs to support the older adults of Archuleta County through the services of ASI and a Spanish Fiesta BIPOC scholarship fund to benefit youth and elders.

The emcees for the 22nd Annual Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta were the distinguished Pagosa Springs Council Member/Spanish Fiesta Committee member Leonard Martinez, and Elsa White, Archuleta County treasurer/public trustee and Spanish Fiesta committee member, who facilitated the event in both English and Spanish. 

Up next on stage were the 2024 Spanish Fiesta royalty youth, who gave speeches about their leadership experiences and community service opportunities they have been involved in over the past several months as they have worked to promote this year’s fiesta. 

Dance performances by Ballet Folklorico de Durango started sharply at 3 p.m. and reflected the multiple different regions of Mexico. 

The American Legion Honor Guard then joined the community under the big tent to honor veterans in attendance and lead the attendees through the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the national anthem. 

Next on stage was Tejano singer Candace Vargas and her band NortherN 505, who continued into the afternoon and early evening with high energy and music to get the crowd dancing and moving. 

After a brief intermission, the emcees acknowledged the many sponsors, volunteers and vendors who came together to make the event memorable. 

The Spanish Fiesta Youth royalty made a final appearance before Ballet de Durango wrapped up the 6 o’clock hour with a final dance set. 

The evening continued with much jubilation and dancing when Darren Cordova Y Calor took to the stage at 7 p.m. for a three-hour set of music. The evening wrapped up by 10:30 p.m. 

ASI is so grateful to all the families, attendees, sponsors and volunteers who made the 22nd Annual Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta possible and such a huge success this year. 

This year’s event was the second year of a three-year implementation plan to bring back the fiestas in their full capacity. 

This year the Spanish Fiesta Committee worked closely with past royalty to establish the Spanish Fiesta Youth Royalty organization with the hopes to nurture leadership and community service opportunities for Hispanic/Latino youth in Archuleta County. 

Next year we plan to add more components to the fiesta to fulfill our commitment to the community to fully re-establish the fiesta in Pagosa Springs. We welcome anyone and everyone to attend future planning meetings and thank the community again for all your support and enthusiasm in celebrating the diverse heritage of Archuleta County. 

For more information about the Pagosa Springs Spanish Fiesta, please contact Rose Chavez at (970) 264-2167 or rosa@psseniors.org. Stay tuned for future Spanish Fiesta meetings in The SUN. 

Emotional Freedom Technique sessions

Join Judith Newman at the Pagosa Senior Center (451 Hot Springs Blvd.) the second Wednesday of each month — Aug. 14, Sept. 11 and Oct. 9 — to learn and/or refresh your Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as tapping skills, to support yourself with self-care, relief from anxiety and community support. 

All classes start at 10 a.m. and last 45 minutes to an hour. Please bring a friend or come alone. All are welcome. 

Healthy aging and yoga therapy classes Series

The healthy aging yoga series continues to be offered in person at the Senior Center on Mondays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. 

Classes will be structured by therapeutic yoga tools and techniques with chair movement, standing stretches, gentle postures, breathing practices and reflective meditative moments. 

Monthly themes for the series will include topics such as sustainable strength for healthy aging individuals, brain health, heart and cardiovascular health, mental and emotional well-being, community connections, and stress management, to name a few. 

Classes will be educational for participants to utilize practices in daily life and are meant for all levels of experience with yoga. 

Mats and chairs will be provided at the Senior Center; some blocks and Therabands are available, too. The addition of yoga props is always welcomed. 

We are requesting that individuals who are new to joining the series arrive early for intake inquiries and to please communicate with AJ Connors directly by emailing ajconnorslove@gmail.com.

Bingo

The Senior Center will be hosting bingo twice a month on Friday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Bingo will be on July 26, Aug. 9 and Aug. 23. 

Participation is free, and we ask you bring yourself and a friend for joyful fellowship. We will provide prizes from local businesses for all winners, and snacks will also be provided. 

No RSVP is required; just show up. All ages are welcome, but we ask those 18 and younger to come with an adult chaperone. 

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

T’ai Chi Chih

The Senior Center offers T’ai Chi Chih with accredited instructor Patti Popovich each Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the dining hall to support older adults who want to discover purpose and fulfillment in this transitional phase of life.

T’ai Chi Chih is not a martial art, but rather a tool for self-healing. Softness, flow and effortlessness are the guiding principles in this practice.

All classes will be free for older adults (age 60 and better) and will last approximately one hour in the dining hall.

No special clothing or equipment is required. 

For more information, call (970) 264-2167.

Senior Conversations

Join us Mondays 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 in the Senior Center in the dining hall. Snacks will be provided.

Farmers market vouchers

If you love to shop at the Pagosa Farmers Market, are 60 or older, or if you are 200 percent of poverty, please call Deb Herera of the San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging at (970) 403-2164 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 (starting July 6 and running through the end of September) to redeem your vouchers. 

The Pagosa Farmers Market will be located at the Tennyson Sculpture Garden on Lewis Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. 

Pagosa Springs Share lunch Monday through Friday

Join us at the Silver Fox’s Den, aka the Community Cafe, in person for daily hot/cold meals Mondays through Thursdays 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 $6, but no one will be turned away. There is a $10.50 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. 1 — Greek chicken wrap, cucumber salad, spanakopitas, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Friday, Aug. 2 — Eggplant lasagna, garlic toast, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Monday, Aug. 5 — Philly cheesesteak on hoagie roll, baked cheesy cauliflower, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Tuesday, Aug. 6 — Pork tenderloin with gold raisin, ginger sauce, roasted potatoes, garden salad, fruit and milk.

Wednesday, Aug. 7 — Asian chicken salad, pork potstickers with dipping sauce, fruit salad and milk.

Thursday, Aug. 8 — Chicken fajitas, tortillas, pinto beans, garden salad, fruit, flan and milk.

Friday, Aug. 9 — Fish sandwich with tartar sauce, sweet potato fries, garden salad, fruit 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 $6 helps to sustain our program. For ages 59 and younger, the cost is $10.50. No one will be turned away for their inability to donate. 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.

Meals on Wheels volunteer opportunities

Do you love your community and have a passion for helping your fellow community members live their healthiest lives? ASI has multiple volunteer positions to deliver hot healthy meals via our Meals on Wheels service to homebound older adults.

The time commitment is about three hours per day. We’ll provide you with training materials. If you are interested, contact Rose Chavez at rosa@psseniors.org.

Mobile food pantry service

Older adults needing a ride to a local food pantry should contact the MET to schedule a ride with its 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.

COVID-19 test kits available

Stop by the Senior Center to pick up a pack of six free COVID-19 tests kits for your personal use. These kits are available to anyone in the public who needs affordable access for health promotion and disease prevention.

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, 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 2.

Mindful drawing

Mindful drawing is an easy-to-learn, relaxing and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join our friendly instructor, Roberta Strickland. 

Classes are every Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. in the Senior Center. This activity is open to all ages. Help us create an intergenerational community. For those under 18 and/or with disabilities, you are welcome to join us, but we kindly ask you to please bring an adult chaperone with you.

Bridge 

The longest-played bridge game in Archuleta County takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 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 Tuesdays at 1:15 at the Senior Center. 

This card game involves four rounds of playing until the final round is reached — some two to three hours later. Plan to stay and meet some new friends or catch up with those you have missed over the last couple of years. 

No experience is necessary, so come willing to learn.

Board vacancies

The ASI Board of Directors has multiple vacant positions open. The terms are three 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.

Supporting ASI

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 P.O. 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. For more information about Archuleta Seniors Inc., please visit http://www.psseniors.org/.

There is also 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 P.O. Box 344, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. This gift option is called the IRA charitable rollover or qualified charitable distribution.