Millersburg Senior Center honors retiring director

MILLERSBURG – If there were a playbook to running a successful senior citizen center, then Dharla Maiden surely would have penned it.
About 90 people gathered August 18 to honor the Millersburg Area Senior Center director on her upcoming retirement at the end of the month, and shared accolades about Maiden’s 7-year stint.
While under her leadership, the center nearly doubled its participation rate, serving between 30 to 40 people daily.  She was instrumental in boosting services, offering programs of great interest to the center’s users including: exercise sessions, library lending, knitting groups, card games, Bingo, and rides on the Millersburg Ferry, to mention a few of her initiatives.
Maiden, of Upper Paxton Township, consistently addressed the needs of fellow seniors, members said.
“I’m almost speechless, and I bet you’ve never seen me that way,” Maiden joked, wiping away tears, after receiving warm wishes from friends and coworkers, and citations and proclamations from the State Senate, State House, Dauphin County, and Millersburg Borough.
“Whatever I tried to do, it all worked because of you,” said Maiden, in offering thanks to the senior members who faithfully attended events she had planned.
Incoming center director, Lady Von Essence, of Millersburg, introduced dignitaries present to congratulate Maiden and called her predecessor “amazing”.
Among those attending were State Sen. John R. Gordner, R-27; State Rep. Sue Helm, R-104; Director of the Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging, Robert Burns; Upper Paxton Township Supervisor Tom Shaffer; Millersburg Mayor Rick Ibberson; and the center’s board president, Larry Novinger.
Burns said Maiden’s responsibilities as director were to see that the center operated daily, Monday through Friday, to provide programming that drew members, and to maintain the funds needed to keep the building functioning.
“Of the 18 senior centers in Dauphin County, this is among two or three of the most well-run centers.  Here, they offer great service to the entire community and have great participation –  which is impressive, because this is a relatively small community,” said Burns.
“It’s a real tribute to Dharla, because we’ve not reduced funding for this site, because it’s so successful,” Burns said about county-wide belt-tightening.  Burns announced to the crowd that August 18th would be declared as “Dharla Maiden Day.”  The Dauphin County proclamation he presented described Maiden as a “charismatic, articulate advocate”.
Helm said she learned of Maiden’s retirement from center members, Bruce and Lois Miller.  The State House citation  Helm read spoke of Maiden’s “tireless devotion”.
Several members of Maiden’s family were on hand during her surprise retirement party.  They included her husband, Terry Maiden; her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Crystel Maiden; her daughter, Hope Roadcap; and her grandsons Zak Maiden and Logan Roadcap.
A crowd of seniors joined Maiden for a luncheon in her honor.
“She’s been the guardian angel of the senior center and has had so many great ideas,” said Lorena Lemons, of Millersburg, who was seated with fellow members, Miriam Rubendall and Jean Chilson, also of Millersburg.
“We hate to lose her, but she deserves to retire,” Lemons said.

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