Area senior citizens are gearing up for a new game at next month's Carbon County Senior Games.

The game, cornhole toss, will replace the beanbag toss event when the two-week Olympic-style games begin on May 3.The unique thing about the new event is the boards were built by Carbon Career & Technical Institute carpentry students and donated for the cause."We really appreciate this," Victor Pituch, the man who started the games nearly three decades ago, said. "This will draw more people, too."You are part of the senior games now," he added.Pituch, who is 87 and will be competing this year rather than helping run the event, and fellow participant, 86-year-old Francis O'Donnell, on Wednesday spoke to three of the four students who built the 14 boards for the upcoming games.They explained what the games represent and how the annual event has been well-received over the past 28 years."It's an exciting time for the senior centers," O'Donnell said.Jeffrey Hazelton, carpentry instructor at CCTI, said that it was the students' project and he only showed them how to do the first one."We do a lot of carpentry projects, and the kids enjoy giving back to the community," Hazelton said, standing in front of a modular home that the students are currently building. "The students took pride in making these (for the seniors)."Dylan Everett, 10th grade, was happy to hear that the project will be put to good use."It was a privilege to provide these for the seniors and see so many people happy," he said.Fellow students Nathan Williams, 11th grade, and Cassandra Bortz, ninth grade, agreed.Pituch said that all five senior centers have a cornhole board in the center so people can practice.This year's event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. May 3 at the Lehighton Recreation Center and runs at various locations through May 12. Participants are asked to bring one nonperishable food item to the opening ceremony for a donation to a food bank.Last year, more than 200 county residents took part in the games.Registration is still open for all county residents ages 60 and older who want to meet new people, reminisce with old friends and compete to win a medal. Registration forms can be picked up at any of the five county senior centers and Area Agency on Aging in Palmerton.Forms are due in the senior center or aging office by Monday.Teams include North Carbon County (Panther Valley, Jim Thorpe and Weatherly seniors) and South Carbon County (Palmerton and Lehighton).Events include shuffleboard, cornhole toss, basketball shoot, darts, pool, miniature golf, bowling, pingpong, a 1-mile walk, softball throw, horseshoes, boccie, bingo, pinochle, rummy and dancing.The annual banquet will be held at the conclusion of the games on May 12 at Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall.