Community members are encouraged by Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) to provide feedback on the needs of local older adult residents and to comment on how well ASI is meeting these needs.
Several focus group discussions and an online survey are part of a countywide effort to gather data that will inform the ASI Board of Directors as it plans for ASI’s senior services provision for the coming three years.
“We want to hear from anyone and everyone interested in maximizing the services and supports available to our community’s seniors,” said ASI Executive Director Rose Chavez. “It is important that all impacted voices are heard. To this end, we are hosting several focus group conversations, and are making the online survey available in both Spanish and English.”
Focus group discussions (sign-up requested) will be held on April 17 (9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.) and April 18 (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.).
Both clients and non-clients of ASI and the Pagosa Senior Center are welcome to participate; refreshments and door prizes will be provided.
Those interested in completing a short survey may visit www.psseniors.org or contact ASI for a printed version of the survey instrument. It is available in Spanish at https://forms.gle/vBDSkEksaZVZmp6DA and in English at https://forms.gle/D7ftzcJFA8HNvrTA8.
ASI’s mission is “To promote independence and advance community resilience by empowering individuals who are 60 years old and better, their families, and other community stakeholders.”
Services’ delivery is driven by the deeply held value that older adults have an important role in the community, and includes provision of meals, social and educational activities, monitoring systems and other caregiver supports, and local referrals.
For further information, to sign up to attend a focus group gathering or to request a printed survey document, contact Chavez at ASI, (970)264-2167 or rosa@psseniors.org.
Spanish Fiesta royalty update
Please join us on April 13 at the Archuleta County Extension building as we bring back the timeless tradition of Spanish Fiesta royalty.
Archuleta County’s Hispanic and Latino youth will compete for the coveted positions of king/queen to junior prince/junior princess.
Let’s support our youth in keeping the traditions of our Hispanic, Latino and Archuleta County heritage alive.
Purchase tickets from any of the 15 contestants at https://givebutter.com/SFRoyaltyCompetition.
Join us for dinner and the Spanish Fiesta royalty competition from 5 to 7 p.m.
There will be live music featuring Los Mitotitos starting at 7:30 p.m. Crowning of our 2024 royalty will take place between 9 and 10 p.m.
The proceeds will benefit the Spanish Fiesta royalty youth. The Spanish Fiesta royalty committee seeks to provide our Hispanic and Latino youth in Archuleta County the opportunity of representing their community and celebrating their cultural heritage as well as providing them with numerous learning opportunities and valuable leadership skills.
Senior Discount Card
The Senior Center is continuing its annual tradition of providing a local discount card for those ages 60 and better.
The discount card encourages seniors to support local recreational, restaurant, medical and retail services by obtaining a senior discount card for a small fee that serves as a fundraiser for ASI.
These local businesses provide a discount ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent off services.
For more information, visit http://www.psseniors.org/discount-club.html or stop by our offices at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. to pick up your card. For more information, contact us at (970) 264-2167.
Healthy aging yoga therapy class series
This winter, a healthy aging yoga series will be offered as a hybrid class 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.
The class is hosted by local yoga therapist AJ Connors, with a hybrid focus for the winter months, blending in-person, online and, occasionally, recorded classes. Zoom sessions will be streamed at the Senior Center to provide the community experience to practice together or can be accessed at home if weather is a factor.
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 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 April 19.
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.
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.
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.
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, April 11 — Salmon cakes with tartar sauce, sauteed greens, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Friday, April 12 — Pork tenderloin with Burgundy peppercorn sauce, baked sweet potatoes, garden salad, fruit, banana brunch cake and milk.
Monday, April 15 — Beef Frito pie, cheese and sour cream, Mexican corn, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Tuesday, April 16 — Butternut squash, mushroom and sage lasagna, dinner roll, wilted spinach, garden salad, fruit and milk.
Wednesday, April 17 — Pork carnitas, charro beans, tortilla, garden salad, fruit, cottage cheese and milk.
Thursday, April 18 — Chicken and dumplings, roasted cauliflower, garden salad, fruit, blueberry muffin and milk.
Friday, April 19 — Ginger-lime shrimp, grits, rainbow chard, garden salad, fruit, fortune cookies 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.
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.
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.
