🌱 SPACEcraft In Highlander Park + Volunteers For Lunch Pals Needed

Morning, everybody! It's Kristen, your host of the Dunedin Daily — back in your inbox with updates on all of the most important things happening in town today. Let's get started...

First, today's weather:

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm. High: 91 Low: 78.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

Looking to buy or sell a home in the Dunedin area? Tammie Fraser at EXP Realty has lived in our area since 1979 and knows the rapidly changing Dunedin real estate market like few others. She specializes in educating and guiding sellers as well as helping first time buyers find the home of their dreams. For deep local knowledge and expertise, call Tammie at (330) 307-9538 and ask about a free seller's report, or visit her here to learn more.

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Here are the top three stories in Dunedin today:

1. The traveling art project, SPACEcraft, will be available in Dunedin between July 30 and September 10 at Highlander Park. The project is designed to build a sense of community by encouraging people of all ages to interact and create together. Explore free, creative activities led by local artists, writers, gardeners, and educators. On Wednesdays and Fridays between 6:30 and 8 p.m., SPACEcraft will present participant-driven programs including a free book exchange, paper making and seed planting. Learn more about the event on the SPACEcraft website. (Dunedin Patch | SPACEcraft)
2. Dunedin Parks & Recreation will hold a Funnel Pour Painting Create & Take event for kids between six and 12 years old on August 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the MLK Jr. Recreation Center. The program encourages kids to embrace their inner artists and to shine through unique and creative projects for them to take home. No artistic experience is needed as kids explore different mediums of expression. Register online now if your child is interested. (Dunedin Patch)
3. Pinellas County is looking for those interested in volunteering for Lunch Pals, a lunchtime mentoring program that pairs volunteers from the community with local at-risk youth who will benefit greatly from the consistent presence of a caring adult. Each student is identified by school personnel as a child who could especially benefit from a supportive relationship. Sometimes students are facing social, family and/or academic challenges, or are just at a point in their lives where they will especially benefit from an additional positive and encouraging adult who spends time with them. There are many more students who would benefit from having a caring adult - a pal. Learn more about the program and how to sign up on the county's website. (PCSB)

Dunedin Daily Pic of the Day:

Thank you Lei Crance for submitting your lovely photo taken at the Lake Haven MHP!

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:

• Paper Cutting 101 at the Dunedin Public Library (2 p.m.)
• Live Music at Mangos and Marley (5 p.m.)
• Free school supplies in Pioneer Park (5:30 p.m.)
• Fort Myers Mighty Mussels vs Dunedin Blue Jays at TD Ballpark (6:30 p.m.)
• Encanto Experience at the Scottish American Society (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Reminder: SOAK Worship is giving away free school supplies in Pioneer Park TODAY at 5:30 p.m. It is giving away 96 backpacks each filled with over 55 school supplies to help kids start the school year off right. The event will also include free pizza, free snow cones, live music and coloring stations. Additionally, they will be raffling off a Razor Electric Scooter and two $50 Rack Room Shoe gift cards. Learn more at the links. (SOAK Worship via Facebook | Eventbrite)
• The Dunedin Public Library is hosting Paper Cutting 101 today at 2 p.m. Learn how to turn a single piece of paper into a work of art! Using a small cutting blade, participants will learn how to transform paper into a beautiful ocean. Registration for this class is required. Visit the reference desk in the library or call 727-298-3080 ext: 1707 for more information. (Happening Next)
• The beach cleaning robot BeBot visited Honeymoon Island, Indian Shores, Ft. De Soto Dog Beach and St. Pete Beach last week. With the help of volunteers, BeBot was able to remove 307 pounds of debris. Check out photos of the BeBot in action on Keep Pinellas Beautiful's Facebook page. (Keep Pinellas Beautiful via Facebook)
• Dunedin Cares has posted a list of items it urgently needs as part of its "Dump the Summer Slump" program. Items on the list include jelly, pasta, pasta sauce, toilet paper, instant oatmeal, canned fruit, rice, pancake mix and more. (Dunedin Cares via Facebook | Dunedin Cares)
• Did you know that mangroves help stabilize Florida's coastline ecosystem and prevent erosion? They provide a natural infrastructure and protection to nearby populated areas by absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather. If you aren't sure what mangroves are, you can see photos on the Friends of the Island Parks Facebook page! (Friends of the Island Parks via Facebook)
• Members of the Dunedin Youth Sailing Association recently received a donation made possible by the Dunedin North Rotary Charity Scramble. You can see these young sailors out on the water on Sundays leaving from the Dunedin Marina! (Rotary Club of Dunedin North via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Starry Night Events Presents: "The New Rulers" (July 22)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (July 28)
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For sale:

• Tarot Card Readings and Intuitive Consultations with Nicole! One on One and / or Parties! (Details)
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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!