The event featured Trinidad's steel drummer Carolton Marcno

The Lehigh Acres Senior Center hosted a Taste of the Islands for more than 125 members and volunteers Thursday, September 5 on Plaza Drive amid tropical dcor provided by Mike Lippke of Lehigh Acres Flea Market and volunteers. Travelers were dressed in luau shirts, floral frocks, straw hats, hair trims, flower and shell leis.

As steel drums, maracas and island music filled the air, Director Teresa Perkins welcomed attendees and offered a food and event blessing.

The Taste of the Islands buffet, dcor, entertainment, history and travelogues were provided by these chefs and their menus including: Cuba’s Maria Lorenzo with black beans and plantains; Guayana’s Armine Deweever, Daphne Hopkinson, Iona Mollyneaux with pine tarts, rice salad with shrimp and peas; Jamaica’s Goslyn Jones, Gloria Skeene, with shrimp in coconut milk, rice and peas, curried chicken, jerk pork; Phillipine’s Maria Beirn with calamandin and pancit; Puerto Rico’s Leonore Del Castillo, Freddie and Millie Bonilla with pork roast, then olives, capers, cilantro in yellow rice; St. Thomas’ Carl Downing plantains, yucca, salted cod fish; Tabago/Trinadad’s Irma Heimgaertner, Ruby Silvester, Aura Wilson with green banana salad, peas and rice.

Peggy Halversen served lemonade, Mauby, Sorrel, Ginger Beer and more from Mike Lippke’s Tiki Bar.

Steel drum player Carlton Marcano, who is from Trinidad, had the travelers singing and dancing; Maria and Anna Lorenzo provided support for the Limbo Dance, while Maria Beirn taught the Bamboo Dance with Terry Hommen and Marion Shorey assisting for a joyous afternoon in the tropics.

Lehigh Acres Senior Center Taste of the Island on Sept. 5 ended with the Limbo Dance. From left to right, Anna Lorenzo, Ann Simenton and Marie Lorenzo.

You can stop by the Lehigh Acres Senior Center on Plaza Drive and pick up your fall activity list of over 50 weekly activities and visit our Golden Shell Boutique for unique holiday gifts.

Bamboo Dance

Guitarist