Overlook Activities Center (OAC) and Deb Baldwin are a matching set. They go together like skates and wheels, like music and roller skating, like physical activity and well-being.

They've both been serving the Manheim Township community for a long time, and neither is showing any signs of slowing down.

"As long as they keep me and I can still do it, I'm going to be here," said Baldwin, who serves as OAC's building supervisor. "I don't know what I'd do if I'd leave here. It's like my second home. Sometimes I think I'm here more than at home."

"I've had customers who have left and didn't come back for a while, and when they did, they'd say, 'Are you still here?'" Baldwin added. "I never thought I'd be here this long. But here I am 49 years later."

First and foremost, OAC, which is located at 301 Golf Drive, Lancaster, inside the Overlook Community Campus, is a skating rink. In that way, the building, which features a 75-by-175-foot rink, hard wooden floors, a 37-foot-high domed ceiling, mood lighting, a skate room and a snack bar, has stayed true to its original purpose.

The place has got class and ambiance.

Over the summer months, OAC offers public skating from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on every other Friday. In the fall and winter, OAC is open for public skating on Fridays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.

OAC also hosts private events like birthday parties.

"It's a place for kids to come," said Baldwin. "I've seen kids grow up, become moms and dads and bring their kids here. It's good, clean fun. When kids are out there skating, it's fun to watch."

"Our regulars still come," she added. "They love to skate, and when we're not open, they're not happy. It's had its peaks and valleys, but I think roller skating is making a big comeback."

On any given day or night, up to 150 roller skaters frequent OAC.

"Friday night is more of a teenager night," said Baldwin. "They hang out and skate. Saturday afternoon is more for the kiddies. Saturday night is adult night, and Sunday is family day. I want people to have fun and enjoy their evenings. I want people to want to come back."

"It's a way to exercise, burn off calories and meet new people," Baldwin continued. "People come here and become friends. Different kids from different schools come here. I enjoy it because I keep seeing new people."

But public roller skating isn't the only thing going on at OAC. The center, which is overseen by the Manheim Township Recreation and Park Planning Department (MTRPP), also hosts the Dutchland Derby Rollers women's roller derby team; provides instructional roller skating classes; and is home to recreational pickup roller hockey, indoor pickleball, indoor walking, youth day camps and youth soccer, baseball and football practices.

"I'd say it's being used a lot," said Baldwin. "There's not really a day that goes by when the rink isn't being used for something."

OAC's skating rink was built in 1957. Manheim Township acquired the facility in 1986 and has operated it, maintained it and performed updates on it since.

"It was privately owned back in the day," said Baldwin. "They used to have big ballroom dances. They used to have ice skating, so they'd have ice skating and roller skating here. Every Thursday night would be Christian skating night. At one time, Overlook was called the Cadillac of skating rinks."

Baldwin began working at the skating rink's snack bar in 1976. Now, going where she's needed, Baldwin does a little bit of everything at the facility, including taking admission in the box office, selling things in the pro shop, scheduling and overseeing OAC's 12-employee staff.

"I am dedicated," said Baldwin, a 74-year resident of the city of Lancaster. "I'm not planning on retiring anytime soon. Skating has been in my blood since I was a teenager. I like being here. I like the people I work with. If people have questions, I like being able to answer them."

For additional information, go to http://www.manheimtownship.org/1230/Overlook-Activities-CenterRoller-Skating.