The 2009 Taste of the Beach Committee conducted its first meeting at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce office at 17200 San Carlos Blvd. Wednesday, March 25, and settled on a final date for the event – Sunday, June 7 – while discussing potential locations.

Sites for the annual FMB Chamber-sponsored event include Gulf Waters RV Park at Summerlin Square; Main Street near Parrot Key; Doc Ford’s Raw Bar & Grill (the old Bridge Restaurant); Old San Carlos Boulevard (Bay Walk district); Tanger Outlets on Summerlin Road (near Sanibel); Pierview beachfront property near Times Square (2008 site); Summerlin Square; Santini Marina Plaza; and Beach Elementary School.

Some criteria to consider for the event include parking; view; setting; size; shade; trolley stop; local business support; visibility; power sources; traffic access; restaurant support; and wheelchair accessibility.

Many committees were formed to handle the issues and needs.

Those present at the meeting included chairman George Ghanem; FMB president John Albion; Tom Faatz; Barb Rich; Peggy Patterson; Kevin Morrison; Josh Pankhurst; Heather Koenig; Tim Gilbert; Chris Patton; Chris Heidrick; Jeff Pultorak; and Earl Quenzel.