LASC Chinese New Year celebrated: Shown here during a recent Chinese New Year celebration at the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizen Center are from left to right, Chef Shirley Hing, Hostess Nancy Bartlett, Chinese Traditions Speaker Marcos Que. They volunteered their expertise recently at the Lehigh Acres Senior Center on Plaza Drive in Lehigh for the Chinese New Year celebration. Photo by JONI FERSTER

The Lehigh Acres Senior Center hosted a Chinese New Year for 200 members recently on Plaza Drive amid red, gold and black Chinese lanterns, banners, dragons and Asian decor. Under a red canopy, red tablecloths were laden with Asian print napkins, center crafted miniature red candy boxes filled with authentic holiday sweet treats and floral centerpieces while oriental music filled the air.

Center Director Teresa Perkins welcomed the celebrants showing a travelogue of China donated to the facility by Shirley Hing. Ancient buildings, restored palaces, festivals, dances, art, of the past and present, were enjoyed by the diners.

LASC Hostess Nancy Bartlett introduced Lehigh Acres Senior Center Board of Directors and offered grace before the feast of her homemade chicken egg drop soup, Shirley Hing’s hand wrapped egg rolls, Jan Bo’s catered Chow Fun Noodles and Vegetables, fried noodles, fortune cookies and assorted sauces. Volunteer buffet servers included Peggy Halverson, Vera Rolling, Marie St. Pierre and Ted Urban. The custom of gifting fancy red envelopes filled with money for good fortune in the New Year was shared by Nancy Bartlett.

Chinese born Board Certified Surgeon Marcos Que entertained members with an educational program of customs including the details of 15 days of Chinese New Year that he compared with the American holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s all rolled into one holiday in the Asian countries.

Nancy Bartlett completed the custom filled holiday dinner with the tradition of gifting fancy red envelopes filled with money for good fortune in the New Year.

Stop by the Lehigh Acres Senior Center on Plaza Drive and pick up your Spring activity list of more than 50 weekly activities and visit the Center’s Golden Shell Boutique for unique gifts, jewelry, clothing, crafts and supplies.

Ferster writes about activities at the Lehigh Senior Citizen Center.