Dogs of all shapes and sizes, and at least one pony posing as a dog, turned out for Mutt March on Saturday (Feb. 18). Suncoast Animal League's sixth annual adoption fair and fundraiser at Dunedin's Highlander Park raised more than $16,000. Local rescue groups also brought adoptable dogs to the event; 14 of those dogs found new homes.   Many former rescue dogs even attended the festivities. "We had the pleasure of seeing dozens of our Suncoast Animal League "alumnis," said Rick Chaboudy, executive director of the Suncoast Animal League. "We had a large crowd and every one seemed to be having a…

Dunedin came out in all its glamour to watch the Miss Mardi Gras Pageant at Blur Nightclub on the cold night of Feb. 12. Legendary Melanie Minyon hosted alongside reigning Miss Mardi Gras Amanda d’Rhod and Natasha Richards. The packed night was a blast for everyone (except one guy who had to be put in a time-out). Pageant judges La’Darius Belcher, Hannah Kelly, Patty Kelly, Kathy Jewel and Richards resided over contestants Ashlee Bangkx from Fort Myers, Delores T Van-Cartier from Lakeland, Naomi Wynters from Tampa, and Jaeda Fuentes from St. Petersburg. Fuentes, who performs every other …

People from all over the Tampa Bay area trickled in to Pioneer Park on Monday afternoon, slowly filling the grassy bandstand area to see Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The warm sun did not deter people from camping on chairs to get a front row seat for the rally.  Dunedin's Jackie Nigro, 65, will cast her first vote in a presidential election this year. Nigro grew up in England and spent a career in Germany as a NATO civil servant. Just last year, she became an American citizen. She was ready in the front row to hear Romney speak. "I decided I had chosen to live in America for…

Dunedin rang in the Chinese New Year on Friday (Jan. 20). People packed Pioneer Park to see the lion roar open the new year with its power, fortune and luck. Decorative umbrellas and flowing fans filled the stage as dancers from the Suncoast Association of Chinese Americans (SACA) performed traditional dances from different regions and groups of people in China. The night ended as the powerful dragon known for its long life took the stage, explained Chengshih Hu of SACA. Wei Xue of SACA choreographed and directed Friday's performance, which was part of Dunedin's Diversity Week including the …

Walking along the five-miles of trails in 90-acre Hammock Park an invasive plant, the air potato, that threatens native trees and plants may not be readily visible. Step into the woods and thread-like vines make walking difficult. Look down, between the twigs and leaves to there are the potato-like bulbs. "The air potatoes are the seed sources for the vines. If they are not picked up they smother the trees and understory plants," said Dunedin City Arborist Art Finn. "If the bulbs (remain), in July during the rainy season, the vines grow about a foot a day." Fifty volunteers collected …

Dunedin Patch contributor Andy Warrener captured his family's evening at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium for Bike Night on Saturday. This Independence Day weekend, the Dunedin Blue Jays hosted two days of fun-filled nights. At Bike Night Saturday, patrons were treated to a motorcycle show, live music, food and beverages, bounce houses and games for the kids and a post-game fireworks show. At the Hometown USA celebration on Sunday, patrons saw more of the same, with a two-hour post-game concert and Fourth of July fireworks presentation.

Hundreds of Dunedin High School seniors and their families and friends buzzed about Ruth Eckerd Hall Thursday morning for commencement. The student filed out of the concert hall wearing red or black robes and big smiles as they greeted their families as new graduates. The graduating class of 2011 celebrated through the night at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center. Grad night, sponsored by the PSTA, was chock full of safe entertainment on hand to keep the grads entertained: a deejay, hypnotist, various inflatable games, food, beverages and door prizes. You can announce your grad here …

Dogs of all breeds — from Chihuahuas to Catahoula curs — bravely faced ear cleanings, nail trimmings, and the bathtub at Dunedin Doggie Rescue's first monthly fundraising event of the year in April. Veterinarians and groomers donated their services, and dogs of all sizes got mani-pedis, hairstyles and medical care. The proceeds go to Dunedin Dog Rescue, a grassroots dog-fostering network. Dunedin Doggie Rescue's co-founder K. K. Koenig estimated the first 2011 "Suds" event saw 200 dogs. He said that he and co-founder Cathy Schultz enjoyed brewing their own beer and became friends with the …

Children climbed onto vehicles of all shapes and sizes, from miniature yellow Volkswagens to massive vehicles carved from trees on April 30. The 10th annual event took place in Dunedin's Highlander Park and included non-motorized attractions like pony rides and bounce houses. "We've come since my twin boys were about 18 months old, and they'll be 7 this month," Kimberly Sullivan said as her 3-year-old daughter Madison rode a pony. "We love all the trucks, and we enjoy doing something for the family that's also free. And these are the kinds of things they wouldn't normally be exposed to." Mary…

Friends of the Island Parks celebrated Dunedin's two favorite islands on April 16 and 17 with a two-day festival of earthy products and environmentally-conscious artwork. Island Earth Days festivities took place at Honeymoon and Caladesi Island state parks. It included live music, make-and-take rain barrel workshops, the Shark Bite Challenge kayak and canoe race, and a host of informational booths. Environmentally-minded items for sale included beer and wine bottles recycled into drinking glasses, organic cotton clothing and bags knitted from plastic grocery bags. Park rangers offered nature…

The Dunedin Fine Art Center’s 31st Annual Garden Party on April 3 was a smashing success. The well-attended event raised roughly $65,000 for the education program, which also includes scholarships for children, teens and adults to attend the center’s classes, said Ken Hannon, associate executive director and director of communications for the Dunedin Fine Art Center. Co-chairs were Walt Blenner and Kathy Milam. Ed Halleran and Steve Sika hosted the event — this year's theme was “In an Octopus’s Garden” — in the back yard of their home on Victoria Drive in Dunedin. The main attraction was a …

Honoring a longtime, respected city attorney on April Fools Day seems a fitting homage to a man who once gave a pooping pig toy to a coworker. About 100 well-wishers showed up in to see John Hubbard off at a light-hearted celebration at Bon Appetit Restaurant on April 1, a day city commissioners officially decreed as John Hubbard Day. Several attendees stepped up to a podium to offer a few words (mostly jokes) about the 37-year city attorney. “It’s the end of an era,” one well-wisher said. “John is absolutely a guy who speaks up. He speaks up for the right thing,” another well-wisher said. …

Carole Rosefelt shuffles between the gallery at 1212 Art Studio in Clearwater and her own space two doors down. Rosefelt, a Dunedin Fine Art Center instructor, popped in to 1212 to discuss a fellow artist's latest work, but now it was time to teach. Rosefelt circles the work tables in Studio 1403, her gallery and art school. The award-winning painter works with acrylics and watercolors. She has spent more than 40 years in the business."Actually, it's more like 60," Rosefelt said. "I'm 76." She straightens a painting on the wall - crooked frames are a pet peeve - and then resumes preparation …

About 30 floats rode through a jampacked downtown for Dunedin's 20th annual Mardi Gras Parade. Bands entertained and vendors kept revelers fed and happy along Main Street as night fell and the parade began around 7 p.m. Beads flew from the floats as they moved along the parade route, which began at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium and headed north, crossed over Main Street, then ended at Skinner Boulevard. Dunedin Boat Club took first place with its scary, voodoo-themed float; The Chic-a-boom Room’s bubble truck took second place; and The Hooter’s pirate ship took third.

George Bowyer provided comedic relief to his own Fat Tuesday float construction project Monday, March 7, behind the car lifts at Jeff Rhoads Isuzu. “Man wrestles plastic,” Bowyer said as he unraveled a large orange roll of plastic float paper and tried to staple it in place. “Plastic wins.” Bowyer, a maintenance worker who celebrates his 54th birthday today, spent the weekend constructing the float for his employer, Jeff Rhoads Isuzu and Florida Auto Exchange. On Friday, he spent the day installing bead racks inside, by Monday he was covering the float with $500 worth of colorful, frilly …

Hundreds of children were snapped greeting D-Jay, the mascot for the Dunedin Blue Jays, on opening day of Greater Dunedin Little League. Mayor Dave Eggers and Buck Martinez addressed the uniformed children before a crowd of excited parents at the Fisher Little League Complex at Highlander Park on Feb. 19. Eggers, who coached a Dunedin team to the 1995 Little League World Series, told the kids to be nice to the umpires and to "respect the game. It's a tough game. It will reward you if you work hard at it." Buck Martinez, a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager who has Dunedin roots…