CHUCK?BALLARO From left, Don and Cheryl Webster, Jim Devito, and Pam and Mike James perform Friday for the residents at the Lake Fairways community in North Fort Myers.

There isn’t much to entertain anybody these days except if it’s on TV or you have a favorite hobby you can do at home.

At Lake Fairways, Friday night is the night for fun as a group of residents get together for an evening of music, with physical distancing thrown in for good measure.

For the past few weeks, and on Easter Sunday, Don and Cheryl Webster have been holding concerts on their back deck overlooking a small lake that dozens of people have been coming to via golf cart.

Last Friday, more than 60 golf carts surrounded the lake and parked on the side of the street to hear some of their favorite songs, from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, as well as modern and classic country, rock and even waltzes, polkas and classical.

Don said when the pandemic hit and people were sent to their homes, he wanted to do something to lighten the mood.

CHUCK BALLARO Carts lined up for the performance.

To do a concert on his back deck, which has a retention pond in the back and a road behind that to promote distancing, would be a perfect location.

“The manager of Lake Fairways and Pine Lakes was neutral about it, which we took as a green light, and we’ve gotten about 98 percent approval,” Don said. “There were some concerned with the noise or the distancing.”

The shows started in the beginning of April, and each week has seen more golf carts than the week before.

Mike James and his wife, Pam, are part of the band, and for 30 years has performed in a band called Heart to Heart. Mike said it’s nice to give back to the community and give them fresh air and something to do.

“Everyone is suffering from being locked indoors and not having anything to do, and this gives everyone a break while being conscious of giving everyone some distance,” James said. “We all have our own microphones so we aren’t swapping out spit.”

This isn’t karaoke that people go to on a Wednesday night, it’s more of a concert, since the audience cannot participate.

Considering that Lake Fairways is mostly a 55-plus community, it’s hard to believe what has become the favorite song; White Wedding by Billy Idol, which Don Webster sings toward the end of the show as the sun goes down.

The other member of the band, Jim Devito, performs Italian songs and even opera.

As the carts came, so did food donations as several boxes were set out for Wake Up America, the local charity that donates food for the neediest in our community, something really needed as people have lost jobs due to the pandemic.

Those who came to enjoy the show were very appreciative. Cathy Dankel said they love how they put on a show weekly without expecting anything in return.

“It’s good to get out to see your neighbors and know that people still exist instead of being in your little bubble,” Dankel said. “It’s a nice thing to get out every week and take precautions with masks and gloves and distancing. It’s the new norm.”