By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist
The Day of the Dead is a holiday traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, though other days, such as Oct. 31 or Nov. 6, may be included depending on the locality. It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage.
In preparation for this year’s celebration in Pagosa Springs, Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) is partnering with the Ruby M. Sisson Memorial Library to host a free educational afternoon on Friday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the library, 811 San Juan St.
Come learn about Day of the Dead and help build a community ofrenda. In many homes people set up ofrendas, or altars, to the departed loved ones. These are decked with lighted candles, special food and whatever the dead enjoyed when they were alive. Bring a photo of your loved one(s) to share. Also learn tips on how to do simple cavalera (sugar skull) face painting, build a flower crown to wear and learn simple scarf hair braiding tips to get your killer outfit ready for the Nov. 3, 2023 Dia De Los Muertos Dance Party and contest.
ASI invites you to celebrate with us at the Dia De Los Muertos Dance Party on Nov. 3 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Colorado State University Extension Building.
There will be music by DJ Marcus Rivas. Come join us on a day to gather, remember and celebrate our loved ones who went before us.
There will be a cash bar and Mexican food by the Guadalupanas. Please bring a photo of your loved one(s) to place on the community ofrenda. Bring a dozen homemade cookies and share your recipe for $5 off your ticket price. Children under 12 are admitted free. Awards for the top cavalera facepainting and Day of the Dead costume will be awarded.
Tickets are $20 and are available at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. at the Pagosa Senior Center, at the Pagosa Springs Area Chamber of Commerce or online at https://givebutter.com/DDLM4ASI.
There are limited tickets, so get them early. Tickets will be available at the door if we don’t sell out first. For more information, call ASI at (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.
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 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, Oct. 19 — Polish kielbasa with peppers, potatoes au gratin, garden salad, pistachio fruit salad and milk.
Friday, Oct. 20 — Chicken piccata, peas and pearl onions, dinner roll, garden salad, fruit, vanilla yogurt and milk.
Monday, Oct. 23 — Vegetable soup with ciabatta breadsticks, garden salad, fruit, blueberry cobbler and milk.
Tuesday, Oct. 24 — Beef spaghetti with garlic bread, green beans, garden salad, fruit, cottage cheese and milk.
Wednesday, Oct. 25 — Chicken pot pie, zucchini medley, garden salad, fruit, cherry crisp and milk.
Thursday, Oct. 26 — Codfish with red curry sauce, broccoli, garden salad, fruit coconut-mango bread pudding with rum sauce and milk.
Friday, Oct. 27 — Pork tenderloin, roasted herb potatoes, baked beans, garden salad, vanilla pudding 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. Please call or text us at (970) 264-2167 to make a reservation.
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.
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.
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.
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/.
