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Annual Senior Expo Again A Hit With Retired Residents
By Jo Ann La Russo
Senior citizens crowded the aisles at the Ritacco Center, Toms River, for another Senior Expo.
Rows of vendors filled the Poland Springs Arena to offer seniors information on subjects ranging from financial, legal, nutrition and health.
Shore area businesses showed off their merchandise along with valued information on retirement, real estate, estate planning, and assisted living. They also gave away souvenirs. The Expo had entertainment and free food samples, too.
Evelyn and John of Jackson enjoyed the sample mini pancakes, courtesy of International House of Pancake. Marlene Grater of Holiday City and her visiting granddaughter, Britany, 13, welcomed their free scoop of ice cream on the hot summer day.
Carmen De Gennaro, of Holiday City, admitted that she liked the free ice cream the best at the expo.
There were also beauty queens.
Laverne Stokes, of Berkeley, 1985 Ms. Senior America, wearing a crimson colored gown, said that she stopped tap dancing at 86 years old.
But then again, she started at age 70.
Stokes now heads the Stokes Steppers, a chorus line of senior tap dancers. Stokes was at the expo with her friend. Josephine Marcinski, 87, the 1994 Ms. Ocean County. The two former beauty queens termed the event "swell" as they regally walked through the crowd.
Entertainment was a highlight at the expo, as well. The Atlanta Symphony orchestra played. Guitarist Nolan Willence entertained with rhythmic flamenco and The Frank Albert Band had the joint jumping with a 'zoot suit' beat.
The 2000 Millennium Ms. Senior America, Lyn Gibson of South Hampton, was
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