🌱 Artist's 'Mama & Me' Collection + Easter Egg Hunt + Water Safety

Good morning! It's Kristen, your host of the Dunedin Patch newsletter — here to impart all the most important things happening in our community. Including news on...

• An upcoming all-ages LGBTQ+ Community Workshop on communication, connection, and empathy
• Dunedin artist's new collection, "Mama & Me," drops today
• Annual Water Safety Pop Up events starting this month

But first, today's weather: Plenty of sunshine. High: 80 Low: 66.

Here's to the wonderful local business who sponsors this newsletter. Check out what they can do for you:

Have friends, neighbors, or relatives with limited mobility? Invite them to take a leisurely rickshaw ride around Dunedin. Joy Rides tours feature many unique and wonderful things on display in our community. Rides are offered Monday or Wednesday mornings at 10 or 11. To reserve a Monday morning ride at the Hale Activity Center, call the front desk at 727-298-3299. To schedule a Wednesday morning ride at First Presbyterian Church, call the church office at 727-733-2318. Click here for more info.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Dunedin:

1. Dunedin artist and resident Essie Bergen has a new collection titled "Mama & Me," with an initial rollout of several T-shirt designs today on her website. The collection is inspired by her newborn and includes some adorable locally inspired artwork. She is best known for her watercolor maps of towns in Pinellas County and The Dunedin Tee, which highlights some of the most popular hangouts in our neighborhood. Click the link to read an interview about how the Dunedin community has influenced her work! (Newsbreak)
2. Save the date! The City of Dunedin is hosting its annual Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt on April 1 between 6:15 and 8:15 p.m. at the MLK Jr. Recreation Center. Those interested must register online or at the rec center before March 30. The event will likely sell out fast, so be sure to register as soon as possible. Participants should bring a flashlight and basket for a special nighttime egg hunt. Kids will also get to play games, make crafts, and enjoy a visit from the Easter Bunny. (City of Dunedin via Facebook)
3. Dunedin Parks and Recreation will kick off its Water Safety Pop Up events on March 18 between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Kiwanis Sprayground. This free event is suitable for children six months and older. It will be presented by the city's aquatics staff, who will talk to kids and their parents about water safety and provide free life jackets to kids while supplies last. If you can't make it on March 18, there are four more Water Safety Pop Up events planned throughout April and May. (Dunedin Gov)

Dunedin Patch Pic of the Day:

Thank you, Margaret Modjeski, for sharing this beautiful photo you took in a butterfly garden!

Want to see your Dunedin photo here? Submit it to Dunedin@Patch.com for consideration! Please confirm in the email that you own the rights to the photo and that Patch has permission to republish it.

Today in Dunedin:

• Joy Rides Dunedin at the First Presbyterian Church (10 a.m.)
• The Dunedin 3 O'Clock Big Band at the Hale Senior Activity Center. (3 p.m.)
• Flip Frenzy IFPA Pinball Tournament at Reboot (5:30 p.m.)
• Advanced Tai Chi Classes at the Church of the Good Shepherd (6 p.m.)
• Pack-A-Snack at HOB (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Want to test your green thumb this spring? Don't forget the Dunedin Public Library offers free seeds in their Seed Library to help you get a start on your garden. (City of Dunedin via Facebook)
• Hope Grove is hosting an all-ages LGBTQ+ Community Workshop on March 2 at 6 p.m. The free workshop will explore "how communication, connection, and empathy can support resilience, wellbeing, and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ communities in Pinellas County." It will be both engaging and informative. Those interested in attending should register online at the link. Snacks and beverages will be provided. (mygwork)
• The Dunedin American Legion Post 275 is offering tickets for a day out on the Jolly Trolley on April 8 between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Two trolleys will take guests to various legions in the area to enjoy some drinks, food, and socializing. Seats are limited, so make sure to see the bartender on duty to sign up if you're interested. (Dunedin American Legion Post 275 via Facebook)
• The Dunedin Fine Art Center congratulates Thomas Anderson III for his recent win! His sculpture, “Uncle Henry Got a New Hat,” won second place in the Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative 2023 “Visions in Black” exhibit. Check it out at the link! (Dunedin Fine Art Center via Facebook)
• Dunedin High School congratulates students Jameson Falzone, River Mcnelley, and Juan Penuela, who took home third place at the American Water Works Association water tower competition. They worked together to design, build, and test a scale model of a working water tower, earning them a third-place trophy, a $100 prize, and the opportunity to make contacts with engineers and leaders in the industry. (Dunedin High School via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Social Security Seminar at Countryside Recreation Center (March 2)
• Sausage Fest (March 4)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Largo Community Center (March 6)
• Shen Yun Classical Dance with Live Orchestra (March 7)
• Proven Strategies for the Care of Aging People (March 9)
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That's it for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with a new update.