Dunedin|News|
'Solar Bear' Swim Grows From Polar Tradition
After the presents and food, you can join Dunedin's "solar bears" for the annual dip into the St. Joseph Sound.

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.
After the presents and food, you can join Dunedin's "solar bears" for the annual dip into the St. Joseph Sound.

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Local planners want improvements to a design for a 26-unit complex before it moves forward. Some believe the project would bring income to causeway merchants; others fear it'll be left unfinished.
The grocery store is closing for a much-needed rebuild. It is tentatively slated to reopen in fall 2012.
Dunedin Patch may not know if you've been naughty or nice, but we've got some good intel on where to find Santa and where the latest DUI checkpoint is.
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