LABELLE Monday, Oct. 1, was the Greater LaBelle Chamber of Commerce 2018 annual Membership Banquet. The chamber wasn’t able to have a meeting last year due to the damage caused to the LaBelle Civic Center by Hurricane Irma. As construction and repairs are still underway at the Civic Center, this year’s banquet was held at the Port LaBelle Inn and Conference Center. The meeting began with a welcome by outgoing LaBelle Chamber of Commerce President Bianca Ross and the Master of Ceremonies Lamar Youmans. After the invocation by Bryan Beer, Ross read the president’s report. After the meeting was underway, the outgoing board members were honored before the incoming 2018-19 Board of Directors was inducted. Those new members being inducted for this next year included Clay Tempner, Karan Roach, Emilio Hernandez, Kevin Nelson, Ron Zimmerly, Michelle Brunetto, Derek Beck, Shelley Wimberly, Jessica Rodriguez, Amanda Nelson, Cindy Shough, Lamar Youmans and Matthew Germain. Once the members were installed, Lamar Youmans introduced the speakers of the evening; Marilyn DeVoe and Bruce Jacobson of Airglades Airport. Devoe and Jacobson spoke on the acceptance of Airglades into the FAA’s Airport Privatization Pilot Program in October of 2010 and the growth, plans and actions that have taken place since and will be happening in the near future. These plans will create opportunities for turning the airport into a hub for flights transporting perishables, including fruits, flowers and vegetables, that will alleviate some of the air traffic that is now solely routed through Miami International Airport. Following the presentation, the award for Business of the Year was awarded to the Firehouse Community Theatre Inc., and Theatre President Cindy Shough accepted the award. The evening was sponsored by Beck Construction, Airglades Airport, Centerstate Bank, U.S. Sugar, Firehouse Community Theatre Inc., Family Eye Care, Riverside Real Estate, First Bank, FHC Inurance and the City of LaBelle.