The Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce is holding its 19th annual Awards Gala on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Gateway Golf & Country Club at 11360 Championship Drive in the Gateway area of Fort Myers.

The evening’s food will be of Italian cuisine. There will also be Vegas style gaming for those who attend, said Toni Roy, a member of the committee planning the celebration.

She said there will several tables and machines that will appear as a casino.

“It’s going to be lots of fun,” Roy said.

Lee County Sheriff’s Mike Scott will be the featured speaker. The installation of new officers for the year will also take place at the gala. And there will be people who are honored for their dedication to the Chamber and the community.

Chamber of Commerce members and their guests are asked to RSVP by calling 369-3322. The cost of the tickets is $50 per person.

Visitors may dress “Roaring 50s style” for the gala, according to Roy.

The Chamber has been holding its annual installation banquets for years. Last January, Alex Sink, a Democrat, who eventually ran for governor of Florida, was the featured speaker. She lost to Gov.-elect Rick Scott.

The annual affairs used to be held in the old Admiral Lehigh Resort in what was known as the Matador Room.

Back in those years when Lee Ratner and Gerald Gould were ahead of the Lehigh Corp., it was a well-known to people all over the county. People from Fort Myers came to Lehigh for special events, said Myra Kessler, who once worked for the Lehigh Corp.

That site had once been the center of Lehigh’s social events. Years ago, a TV program was televised from there.

As it began to deteriorate, it was shut down and eventually torn down. It joined up to the Admiral Lehigh Resort’s restaurant and motel rooms.

One of its last meetings there turned into a nightmare several years ago when a downpour sent water gushing through the roof. Buckets had to be brought in to hold the water. Visitors had to situate themselves away from the dozens of leaks during the program.

After that the Chamber found a different venue and held a few annual banquets at the Colonial Country Club outside of Lehigh because there was no place in Lehigh to hold such large crowds.

Joe Whalen, the president and CEO of the Chamber said people were sending in their money to reserve tickets. He said those who want to attend should call the Chamber as soon as possible so they can assured a table.