Cindy Stahlman is stepping down from her role as supervisor of the Centre Region Active Adult Center, which she’s held for the last eight years.
“It is bittersweet, but I am also looking forward to new pursuits,” she said. “I have already scheduled an African safari in 2022.”
Stahlman grew up locally with her four brothers. Three of those are still in the Centre Region, and one lives in Florida. After graduating from Edinboro University and receiving her master’s from Penn State, she lived in Colorado and New Mexico. For the 14 years before taking on the director job at the State College area center, she was the director of social services at Riverwood, a long-term care facility in Lewisburg. So, coming to the Centre Region Active Adult Center was a pleasant experience.
“I was coming each day to a place with friendly people who were coming in to play games and socialize. I love Halloween, and it was a treat to decorate and plan for that,” she said. “I have around 40 to 50 people who come in on the county van. They play bridge and other games and enjoy being out with other people. The Centre Region Active Adult Center [reopened after closing during the COVID-19 pandemic] in March 2021, but it wasn’t until August that the folks could sit close enough together with masks and play cards. COVID times have been sad. I lost 18 people in 18 months from our members.”
It was, therefore, heartening to see people coming back and enjoying life.
The daytime attendees are mainly the older ones. Many of the 55-year-old group are still working but come in for the evening to enjoy relaxing with activities or games.
Stahlman enjoyed planning activities, and the center keeps the Christmas tree up all year but changes the trimmings for the seasons. Romance has blossomed at the center, and one couple was married there three years ago. (They are still happily married.)
The next celebration will be for Stahlman’s departure, and she also helped organize that.
“I don’t want to be sad on my last day,” she said. “I have a friend coming with her guitar for a ‘Sing along with Amy’ on December 3. We’ll sing carols and have an enjoyable day for my farewell. But, of course, I have other plans besides the safari after I leave.”
Stahlman said she plans to sleep a lot, read and do some hiking in her retirement.
This story appears in the Nov. 24-Dec. 1 edition of the Centre County Gazette.
