Dunedin|News|
5 Things to Know Today: Friday, June 15
Enter a chili cook-off for charity, watch a sunset with a soundtrack and make friends with live bats. Yes, bats: the winged creatures, not the baseball equipment.

Email: kathryn.dolac@patch.com
Phone: 727-365-2531
Hometown: My hometown is the U.S. Army. At one time or another, I've called North Carolina, Indiana, Germany, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Virginia, Hawaii and now, Florida my home.
Bio: I'm the editor of Dunedin Patch. I spent six years in print journalism as a features reporter and editor at various Virginia newspapers before joining the government herd as a writer-editor at the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Ultimately, I missed serving my community as a reporter and journalist, and found Dunedin Patch.
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
How would you describe your political beliefs
I'm the product of a military upbringing. I'm an independent thinker with what most might consider conservative values. Having just lived in the Washington, D.C. area, I dislike politics and politicians in the national arena as they are today. I believe that true change starts small: first with the individual, then at the community level. We are in charge of our destiny. We must be vigilant and caring citizens for this thing called freedom and democracy to work, and the only time we have is now. So don't be afraid to start small.
Are you registered with a certain party?
No.
How religious would you consider yourself?
I am Catholic and regularly attend Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Dunedin.
Enter a chili cook-off for charity, watch a sunset with a soundtrack and make friends with live bats. Yes, bats: the winged creatures, not the baseball equipment.

The city halted a $57,000 field renovation project at the Jerry Lake soccer complex Thursday after a neighbor raised concerns about a soil fumigant being used to rid the field of nematodes.
City leaders are deciding how soon to move up the qualifying deadline for commission candidates in the November election during Thursday's meeting (6:30 p.m. at City Hall).
The city will allow for more flexibility in negotiating with businesses that want to add outdoor dining in public-owned spaces.
PUPPIES! Now that we've got your attention, we found some good deals and helpful events ... and some adorable puppies!
The kids are on summer break, but you’re not. Here is a collection of some fun summer camps for children and teens of all ages.
A chili cook off, a midnight run and a reason to thank your office IT guy (or gal).
Leandra Barnard, a 22-year-old waitress at Eddie's Bar & Grill, is featured in Saturday's new MTV "True Life" episode because of her four-year addiction to caffeine.
One commissioner wanted to see more style options than the one architectural rendering for a green-friendly replacement of Fire Station 61 at Highlander Park at a June 7 city meeting.
Guess which up-and-coming country music star is filming a part of his video in Dunedin?
Patch caught up with the candidates for Pinellas County sheriff after last week's qualifying deadline.
Just a few helpful pieces of information for kicking off your Monday morning in Dunedin.
Hunt down the QR codes at participating businesses for clues that can win you an iPad at the Dunedin Orange Festival in July.
Joann Roman told lotto officials that her winnings will help her and her family buy a home.
Here are some things that affect the city from last night's commission meeting.
City officials decided Thursday to allow the new owner of 570 Edgewater Drive to continue construction despite infractions under the new code.
A Dunedin man committed sexual battery against a woman with intellectual disabilities, according to Pinellas County sheriff's detectives.
Sheriff candidate Bob Gualtieri says he's proud of pushing the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office into a more cost-effective mindset.
We're almost done tallying the final pounds, but we're pretty sure YOU helped us DOUBLE our 2,000-pound goal for Feeding America Tampa Bay.
Dunedin High graduates its 50th anniversary class of 2012 today during commencement exercises at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Share your photos here!