In a scene reminiscent of years gone by, there they sat, all decked out in front of a piano complete with cowboy hats, boots and guitars.

Such was the case when Blue Mountain Health System held its annual Gala promotion and committee meeting recently at the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital campus.The 19th annual gala will be held April 16 at Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton.This year's theme is "The Grand Ole Opry and Casino Night."Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow.The party will then get started with a casino night, silent auction and raffle following dinner.Joe Guardiani, director of Fund Development and Government Relations, said the goal of this year's event is to raise $65,000.Guardiani said Blue Mountain has several projects it is working on, such as a generator and emergency transfer switch project at its Palmerton Hospital campus; replacing some furnishings on its med-surgical floors at its Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital Campus; as well as various charitable programs.The gala is open to the public. Tickets are $150 per person.For more information, Guardiani said to call his office at 610-377-7183, and he will send an invitation.Sponsorship is also still available. Guardiani said that anyone who would like to become a sponsor should call him.The annual gala has helped the hospitals build a better-equipped facility to serve the Carbon County area.Prior projects that have benefited from the gala include a new Adult Behavioral Health Center in Lehighton, digital mammography equipment and a 4D ultrasound machine.Past themes included the Rat Pack, Casino Night, A Night of Decadence, The Galileo Gala, Lavender and Lace, The Pink Ribbon Gala and Silver Gatsby.