ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Final preparations are being made for the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Annual Banquet., “These are the Times” celebrating 35 years and being held on Thursday, January 20 at the Baldwin County Coliseum.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour followed by dinner at 6:30 and a program at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 a person or $280 for a table of eight and are on sale at the chamber office, said Jamie Mangion, Chamber Director.

Of the 400 tickets printed, 364 have been sold and Mangion said some are still available.

In addition to the dinner being provided by Magnolia Blossom Cafe in Robertsdale and a wine bar by Tommy Cain of Cain’s Grocery Store in Loxley, there will also be a silent auction featuring many great items such as a cruise for two donated by “Cruise Away”.

The winner can chose from an exotic seven day Western Caribbean Cruise aboard the Carnival Elation to Cozumel, Isla Roatan and Belize with the only cost to the winner being a gratuity and optional insurance. Or a seven day Alaskan Cruise aboard the MS Holland America’s Oosterdam departing from Seattle (round trip airfare included) with stops in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan and scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and Victoria, British Columbia. The only cost to the winner are port charges of $356.19 each and airfare and transfer charges of $56. Gratuity and optional insurance as well, Mangion said.

Other items include: a cabin in the mountains, a University of Alabama football signed by 25 players donated by the City of Robertsdale, a flat screen television donated by Riviera Utilities, a grill, book, wooden rocking chair and other assorted gifts and gift baskets. Auctions items are still needed and can be dropped off at the chamber office, Mangion said. The deadline for donating items is Wednesday, January 19

Entertainment for the evening is being provide by James “Milkshake” Patterson from Mobile and his music is a combination of jazz, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s hits from The Temptations, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Sam Cook, Lionel Ritchie, The Tamms, The Drifters. Patterson provides excellent piano skills and smooth vocals.

The national anthem will be sung by Jessica Strength of Satsuma, 13 -year- old niece of chamber member Jim Parker.

Awards for Central Baldwin “Man of the Year”, “Woman of the Year” and “Volunteer of the Year” (one for the community and one for the chamber) will be given out at the banquet. Also, each Central Baldwin municipality will award a “Business of the Year” selected for their growth and contribution during the year and will be presented by area mayors.

Current and new chamber board members will be recognized as well as new chamber president Steve Brooks.

Sponsors for the event include ”Baldwin EMC (Presenting Sponsor), Power Productions (Diamond Sponsor), Riviera Utilities, Golden Living Center, Coca-Cola Bottling Co, Budweiser-Busch Distributing (Golf Sponsors), Gulf Coast Newspapers/The Independent and Cain’s Grocery Store (Silver Sponsor), Robertsdale Healthcare Center, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department, Franklin Primary Health Center and Sturma Builders (Bronze Sponsors). Mangion said there are still sponsorships available.

For more information call (251) 947-2626.