🌱 Cinco De Mayo Fiesta + Signal Box Project + New Artificial Reef

Hello again, everybody! It's Wednesday in Dunedin and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening locally, including news about:

• A Plant and Cutting Swap event at 7venth Sun Brewery next month.
• Casa Tina's 31st Cinco de Mayo street fiesta.
• A new artificial reef coming to Pinellas County.

But first, today's weather: Cloudy, windy; p.m. showers. High: 81 Low: 69.

These are the great local businesses who sponsor the Dunedin Patch newsletter. We love what they do, and we think you will, too:

• 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.

• Want a one-of-a-kind portrait of your doggie or know someone who would love this as a gift? Debbie Lewis is a talented watercolor artist based in Clearwater. She creates beautiful watercolor paintings of your furry friends from your photos. You can check out examples of her work or place an order here.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Dunedin:

1. Save the date! Casa Tina's 31st Cinco de Mayo street fiesta is scheduled for May 5 between 5 p.m. and midnight in downtown Dunedin. The event will include live music with Madera Sol and Orquesta Infinidad, traditional Mexican dances by Grupo Folklorico Mahetzi, and free salsa lessons by Simone Salsa. Guests can also enjoy a performance by the incredible Casa Tina Drum line, with Aj Vega leading a walking puppet parade. The full schedule and tickets for VIP seating will be posted soon. (Casa Tina via Facebook)
2. Creative Pinellas announced the artists selected for the 2023 ARTWorks Signal Box Project, who illustrate local traffic signal boxes with their artwork. Most of the signal boxes are located along the Pinellas Trail. The artwork created by selected artists will be transformed into vinyl wraps, which will be professionally installed to cover all sides of the signal box. Creative Pinellas teamed up with Pinellas County on the project to deter graffiti. The artwork is expected to be installed in May and June. (Dunedin Patch)
3. The Pinellas County Department of Solid Waste will deploy a new artificial reef four miles west of St. Pete Beach this summer. It will be made of 2,000 tons of concrete that would have otherwise gone to a landfill. The new artificial reef, which will be called King’s Reef, will provide a reef that is closer to shore and more accessible for small boats. This will increase the fish population in the area and improve fishing conditions. The artificial reef may also fill gaps in the ecosystem when natural reefs degrade in the future. (WMNF)

Dunedin Patch Pic of the Day:

This beautiful monarch butterfly emerged from the cocoon featured in yesterday's newsletter, submitted by Linda Bridge!

Want your photo to be included in the Dunedin Pic of the Day or Inspired by Dunedin section? 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:

• Tampa Bay Downs Trip at the Hale Senior Activity Center (10:45 a.m.)
• Learn the Wolfshager German Witches Dance at the Dunedin Community Center (6:30 p.m.)
• Paint & Sip Party at HOB (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Dunedin Chapter of the New World Celts shared some awesome photos from their Haggis Hunt event last month! Check them out at the link. (New World Celts via Facebook)
• Did you know that green onions, celery, and garlic are just a few of the many vegetables you can regrow? Learn how to save money and reduce your carbon footprint by giving your scraps a second life here. (City of Dunedin via Facebook)
• 7venth Sun Brewery is hosting a Plant and Cutting Swap on May 7 between 2 and 5 p.m. Bring cuttings from your garden to swap with your fellow green thumbs and grow something new in your garden this season! (7venth Sun Brewery via Facebook)

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• Tarot Card Readings! Personal and Parties! —
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Featured events:

• Learn Improv Comedy and Get 30-Minute Group Dance Sampler — All for $5! (April 15)
• Social Security Seminar at Palm Harbor Library on April 17 and 20 (April 17)
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That's it for today. I'll see you around!