🌱Dunedin Cares​ Outgrew Pantry + Stirling Park Input + Highland Games

Hello neighbors! Kristen here, back with your new edition of the Dunedin Daily. Here's all the local news you need to know right now, including:

• A reminder about this weekend's Dunedin Downtown Art Festival
• Why Dunedin Cares is looking for a new facility
• Information on the 55th Annual Dunedin Highland Games

But first, today's weather:

Sunny and less humid. High: 68 Low: 51.

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

Looking for original, unique artwork created by local Dunedin artists? Stirling Art Studios & Gallery is home to 12 professional artists honing their craft, while providing original artwork that appeals to collectors, interior designers, and homeowners alike. Located at 730 Broadway in the heart of Downtown Dunedin, their mission is to promote the arts to our community. Visit them here to learn more or stop by Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to view them at work and learn about the creative process.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Dunedin:

1. Dunedin Cares may have outgrown its current facility at Faith Lutheran Church. According to JoAnne Fell, the executive director of Dunedin Cares Inc., the organization hopes to move to a larger facility. "As you can see, the need is out there," she said. "We are operating a store in 1,200 square feet. The other 1,200 square feet is warehouse." Fell estimated the pantry serves 750 families a month, each of which is made up of a handful of mouths to feed. They recently had to start restricting who they serve to Dunedin, Clearwater, and Palm Harbor after an influx of need left the pantry overwhelmed. While there are no plans to move the operation just yet, they're looking for a facility closer to 7,500 square feet. (TBN Weekly)
2. If you haven't had time to watch the full video of the Community Input Meeting regarding updates to Stirling Park, Bay News 9 covered the story and sums up what residents have suggested so far. The park currently includes a driving range and 18 hole golf course, which hasn't been operating since 2020. Some suggestions include keeping the driving range, turning the golf course into a public park, adding a dog park, constructing pickleball courts, and updating the trails. If you spend a lot of time in Stirling Park, be sure to fill out the city's survey with your input as soon as possible. (Bay News 9)
3. Save the date! The 55th Annual Dunedin Highland Games are coming to Highland Park on April 1! This year promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with pipe bands, highland dancers, and athletes participating from around the world. Tickets to this full-day event are $15 in advance, while kids under 12 are free. Guests can expect a day filled with Scottish music, dancing, competitions, food, and drinks. Vendors will also be selling Scottish garb, crafts, jewelry, and more. General admission and VIP tickets are available now online here. (Dunedin Scottish Arts)

Dunedin Daily Pic of the Day:

Thank you, GLA, for sharing this incredible photo you titled “Lonely Morning St. Joseph Sound”!

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:

• Dunedin Downtown Market in Pioneer Park (9 a.m.)
• Dunedin Downtown Art Festival along Main Street (10 a.m.)
• Taekwondo in the Courtyard at the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce (10 a.m.)
• Dunedin Stars Bowling League at Dunedin Lanes (noon)
• Dunedin Writers Group Reading Event at the Dunedin Public Library (1 p.m.)
• Drone Enthusiasts Meetup at the Dunedin Causeway Bridge (4 p.m.)
• Piper on the Pier at the Downtown Marina (5:45 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Don't forget to check out the Dunedin Downtown Art Festival along Main Street this weekend! The festival is scheduled for Jan. 7 and Jan. 8 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Click the link to learn about the specific artists and vendors who will be in attendance. (Art Festival)
• The Dunedin Downtown Market will have extended hours on Saturday, Jan. 7. Vendors will remain in Pioneer Park and accommodate the art festival crowd until 4 p.m. (Tampa Bay Markets via Facebook)
• The City of Dunedin reminds residents that local parks and trails provide a natural workout. They're the perfect place to go when you want to get some fresh air and exercise and reconnect with nature. Take advantage of Dunedin's parks and the other free facilities our city offers! (City of Dunedin via Facebook)
• Dunedin Fire Rescue honored Paramedic Firefighter Michael Jones, who recently received a certificate of appreciation for his dedication to a Veteran Mentorship program. The program connects veterans who are struggling with other veterans who work as mentors. Congratulations Michael! (Dunedin Fire Rescue via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• DavisDNA & Family Research, Inc. — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• 5th Annual Dunedin International Film Festival (January 12)
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Announcements:

• Travel Agency — M and D Travel-Dream Vacations, New Year Vacation Deals!! (Details)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this weekend off right. I'll see you soon!