Carbon County seniors, listen up!

It's that time of year again to dust off your bowling shoes, loosen up your throwing arms and brush up on your card skills.The 29th annual Carbon County Senior Games will be held May 2 through May 11. Last year, over 200 county residents took part in the games.Registration is 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.Anne Horrigan, coordinator of the games, said registration forms are available at all Carbon County senior centers or the Area Agency on Aging office in Palmerton.Forms are due back to the senior center or Area Agency on Aging office as soon as possible, Horrigan said.Area residents ages 60 through 69 who haven't tried the games are also urged to sign up and see what the games are all about.Teams include North Carbon County, consisting of Panther Valley, Jim Thorpe and Weatherly seniors; and South Carbon County, made up of Palmerton and Lehighton centers.Events include shuffleboard, cornhole toss, basketball shoot, darts, billiards, miniature golf, bowling, Ping-Pong, a 1-mile walk, softball throw, horseshoes, bocci, bingo, pinochle, rummy and dancing.The annual banquet, held at the conclusion of the games, will be held at 4 p.m. May 11 at Dean Anthony's in Jim Thorpe.Sponsors are also welcome.Any business who would like to become a sponsor should call Horrigan at 610-824-7830, ext. 227.Schedule of eventsThe 29th annual Carbon County Senior Games will kick off eight day of events on May 2.Who will win this year?Will it be North Carbon County, consisting of the senior centers of Panther Valley, Weatherly and Jim Thorpe or the returning champs South Carbon County, made up of Palmerton and Lehighton seniors?Only time will tell.Here is the schedule for this year's events. All events begin at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted.• May 2, Lehighton Recreation Center, 243 S. Eighth St.: Opening ceremony followed by shuffleboard, lunch, team pictures and cornhole toss. Participants are asked to bring one nonperishable food item to donate to the food bank.• May 3, Lehighton Recreation Center: Basketball in the morning. Darts after lunch.• May 4, various locations: Billiards. Jim Thorpe/Penn Kidder Senior Center, Bear Creek Plaza, Route 903, Jim Thorpe, men 80-84, 9 a.m. and women 80-84, 10:30 a.m.; Lehighton Recreation Center, men 75-79, 9 a.m.; women 75-79, 11 a.m.; men 85 and up, noon; and women 85 and up, 12:30 p.m.; Nesquehoning VFW, 300 E. Center St., men 65-69, 9 a.m.; women 65-69, 10 a.m.; men 60-64, 11 a.m.; women 60-64, 11:30 a.m.; Panther Valley Senior Center, men 70-74, 9 a.m.; women 70-74, 10:30 a.m.• May 5, Heisler's Dairy Bar, Tamaqua: Miniature golf, 10 a.m. start for all age groups.• May 8, various locations: Bowling and Ping-Pong. 8:30 a.m. at Fritz Lanes, Lehighton for seniors in age groups 65-69, 75-79 and 80-84; 8:30 a.m. at Cypress Lanes, Lehighton for seniors in age groups 60-64, 70-74 and 85 and up; Ping-Pong begins at noon at the Lehighton Recreation Center for all age groups.• May 9, Baer Memorial Field, Lehighton: Philip Steigerwalt Memorial Walk, softball throw, horseshoes and bocci. Rain date is May 11.• May 10, Lehighton Recreation Center: Bingo, pinochle and rummy in the morning. Dance competition after lunch.• May 11, Dean Anthony's, Jim Thorpe: 4 p.m. banquet to close the games and the presentation of the winners.