Published September 22. 2026 02:45PM
The operator of a local senior center has received a fond farewell.
Carol Heffelfinger, who has operated the Palmerton Senior Center, will retire Friday after 14 years in the position.
Heffelfinger was recognized during the Carbon County Senior Center Picnic held this past Friday at Beaver Run Rod & Gun Club in Lehighton.
Anne Horrigan, director of Senior Center Services at Carbon County Area Agency on Aging, praised Heffelfinger for her work.
“She’s retiring, and she will be missed,” Horrigan said.
Heffelfinger, of Palmerton, said her retirement is bittersweet.
“I’m going to miss it,” Heffelfinger said. “I love my job.”
Heffelfinger added that she’ll miss Horrigan, as well as all her fellow senior center managers.
“I am blessed to be working with beautiful people,” Heffelfinger said.
Carol Heffelfinger, front row, third from left, who has operated the Palmerton Senior Center, will retire Friday after 14 years in the position. She was recognized during the Carbon County Senior Center Picnic held this past Friday at Beaver Run Rod & Gun Club in Lehighton. Pictured are, front row, from left, Bonnie Snyder, operator, Lehighton Senior Center; Eva Labanoski, operator, Weatherly Senior Center; Heffelfinger; and Susan Ziegler, administrator, Carbon County Area Agency on Aging. In the back row are, from left, Lynn Mann, operator, Jim Thorpe/Penn Kidder Senior Center; Carbon County Commissioner Mike Sofranko; Carbon County Commissioner Wayne Nothstein; Anne Horrigan, director of Senior Center Services at Carbon County Area Agency on Aging; and Francine Craigie, operator, Panther Valley Senior Center. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS