By Rose Chavez | PREVIEW Columnist
Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) would like to thank the community for their support of our inaugural Dia de los Muertos Dance Party that was held on Nov. 3 at the Colorado State University Extension Building.
The intergenerational, family-friendly event featured a beautifully handmade community ofrenda loaded with pictures of departed loved ones, music and Spanish tunes from DJ Marcus Rivas, a cookie contest, a costume contest, and handmade posole by the beloved Guadalupanas and Ablaze Catholic youth group with all net proceeds raised to support ASI and the older adults and families of Archuleta County.
We would also like to thank our many sponsors, the Ruby M. Sisson library, countless volunteers and community members who came together for this cultural event.
And if one holiday event was not enough, your friends at ASI brought you the second annual Holiday Market in partnership with Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association with more 30 small businesses that were featured this last Saturday.
We had a great turnout. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped us bring the event together this year.
Keeping with the holiday spirit, we are still on the lookout for a few volunteers to help with our Festival of Trees decorating. Please give us a call (970) 264-2167 if you have any questions.
Lunch and Learn set for Nov. 14
Join us for lunch starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Center on Nov. 14 as U.S. Forest Service employee Kevin Conwell talks about his backcountry travels in the San Juan National Forest.
Through photos he’s taken, see a side of the forest not normally seen from the highways and byways that run through it, and experience the natural and recreational diversity the forest has to offer.
Free art class to be held Nov. 16
Join us to make a festive Christmas kitchen angel at 1:15 p.m. in the dining hall. She is guaranteed to bring blessings and joys of the season to your kitchen as you prepare your holiday treats. No art skills are required. All supplies will be provided, and there is no cost or registration required. Just show up and have fun.
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 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 $10.50 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, Nov. 9 — Teriyaki beef with peppers, coconut rice, broccoli, garden salad, fruit, milk and fortune cookies.
Friday, Nov. 10 — Closed for Veterans Day.
Monday, Nov. 13 — Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, lingonberry jam, coleslaw, garden salad, milk and carrot cake.
Tuesday, Nov. 14 — Mahi-mahi with mango salsa, quinoa rice pilaf, cauliflower, garden salad, milk and brownies.
Wednesday, Nov. 15 — Chicken piccata with lemon caper sauce, broccoli, roll, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Thursday, Nov. 16 — Pork adovada, Spanish rice, squash casserole, avocado, garden salad, fruit, milk and flan.
Friday, Nov. 17 — Pasta primavera with penne and marinara sauce, garlic bread, garden salad, fruit, milk and banana brunch cake.
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.
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 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.
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.
