Yes it’s a cliché, but it’s an accurate one. Taste of Pine Island 2010 was a bigger and more successful event than the previous year. “The economy gets an F minus but your event gets an A plus,” said 3 year vendor, Jewels by Park Lane.
   While the previous day was rainy and rather nasty, the event day was warm and breezy. The event was opened to the public at 11 am, the shuttle bus was already dropping off people at the entrance gate at 10 am.
      The park was full with over one hundred vendors participating and some having to set up outside the park fence. Many last minute vendors arrived hoping to get a spot but had to be turned away because they hadn't’t registered in advance. Chairman of the event, Pat Burman said, “Most of the vendors at taste 2010 had already registered 6 months in advance and have committed to next year’s Taste. Furthermore, we have requests from nearly as many prospective vendors wanting to be involved in Taste 2011.”
      At the start, the lines at the entrance gates were long and there were reports of cars backed up down Pine Island road for short periods while the offsite parking crew worked their magic. The offsite parking was managed by Betsy Haesemeyer, president of Beacon of Hope and her crew. Gary Edwards and his crew worked the handicap parking area and it all ran very smoothly.
      The event has always opened with the blue grass stylings of the Pine Island Trio, followed by the local classic rock favorites Alyce Grouper. The remaining sets were played by one of the hottest bands in Florida and another group of local boys Strange Arrangement. They played their original music often described as a blend of rock, funk, fusion and hip-hop. You know you have a popular band when the crowd is lip-syncing to a band’s original music. In the eating tent at the back of the park where the main stage music was not intrusive was a new and wildly popular entertainment addition, the Pine Island Strings Quartet. Made up of older Island students, they performed various classical music selections written for stringed instruments.
      The last Fish drop tickets were sold out at the event and the winners were; First place $1000 to Megan Kraus, Second place $500 to Haley Timothy and third place $250 was to Diane Cammick.
(Continued on page 2)