🌱 City Plans For Juneteenth + Lifeguard Certification Course

Get on up, Dunedin! It's Tuesday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 70 Low: 57.

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Here are the top 3 stories today in Dunedin:

1. Dunedin Parks & Rec is offering a lifeguard training course for those 15 and older interested in becoming a certified lifeguard. Participants will meet at Highlander Pool on Saturdays and Sundays between March 19 and 27 to learn life-sustaining skills in water and on land. Upon completion, participants will receive certification for Lifeguarding, CPR for the Professional Rescuer. I’m and First Aid and have the opportunity to apply to work at Highlander Pool. A required pre-course swim test will be held on March 12 at 11:00 AM. Register online or at the Dunedin Community Center before March 11 to take the course. (Press Release Desk)
2. Dunedin City officials plan to commemorate "Juneteenth" on June 19 with an in-service day on the holiday for employees that will be focused on diversity, equity, and inclusivity topics. On June 17 last year, President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday, recognizing the day slavery officially ended in the United States. The city's UNITED Employee Task Force recommends that Juneteenth be a paid holiday and that education about the significance of the day be provided along with community activities. Plans are still in the works but so far we know city officials will encourage displays in the city library and fine arts center. (TBN Weekly)
3. The Dunedin Library is expanding its hours in preparation for the Dunedin Friends of the Library annual book sale. The facility's new hours will remain moving forward, as they hope to get the number of visitors back to pre-pandemic levels. The new library hours are: Monday - Wednesday 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday and Friday 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Sundays. The book sale for the public will be held in the community meeting room Thursday through Saturday between 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM while the members-only book sale will be held Wednesday at 6:00 PM. All the money raised from the event goes directly to the library programs. (TBN Weekly)

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Today in Dunedin:

• Woodcarving, Wood Burning, and Folk Art Painting at the Hale Senior Activity Center (9:00 AM)
• Duplicate Bridge at the Hale Senior Activity Center (11:45 AM)
• Happy Taps dance class at the Hale Senior Activity Center (3:15 PM)
• Live Music by Matt Plaisted at The Smokehouse (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Dunedin American Legion Post 275 announced the winners of its first Post 275 Family Chili Cook-off. Of the 18 pots of chili submitted for consideration, the winners were Judy in the hot category, Wayne won medium, Joe won mild, and Denny and Jackie won People's Choice. The post hopes to make this an annual event, so if you didn't get to participate there's always next year! (Facebook)
• Dunedin High School's Academic Team won against Clearwater, Osceola, and Pinellas Park high schools thanks to the effort put in by participants seniors Emma Beatty, Allison Smith, and Ella Stringer, juniors James Barnett, Ethan Pestana, and Noah Painter, and sophomore Levi Smith. The school will move on to the semi-finals and finals on February 10. (Facebook)
• The Pinellas All-County choir is a competitive ensemble in which the top vocal musicians in the county audition to perform in the choir. This year, Dunedin High School had 15 students selected to sing in the ensemble! These students performed with the choir on Saturday at the Mahaffey Theatre. (Facebook)
• The Dunedin Give Back will be hosting a Pack-A-Snack event Wednesday at 7:00 PM at HOB. It is in need of single-serving snacks and juice boxes. A full list of suggested donations can be found on the website. (Facebook | Dunedin Give Back)
• The City of Dunedin reminds residents the MLK Recreation Center remains closed due to facility maintenance and improvements. The estimated reopening date is Thursday, February 10. Check the website and social media pages for updates. (Facebook | Dunedin Gov)

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• Centering Prayer Meditation Class and Practice (February 2)
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