The second annual Diggin' the Arts Festival at the Florida Botanical Gardens includes hands-on art with the Dunedin Fine Art Center. The event includes plein air painting, hands-on art and gardening activities.
Bicycle enthusiasts and businesses vested in the city's proposed northern route project, which seeks to connect Pinellas Trail to popular Dunedin destinations, gave their support April 9.
Bob Nohren sees a bicycle trail for north Dunedin as a huge boon for local businesses. Nohren, owner of Energy Conservatory Bike Shop, a bicycle rental and retail store on the outskirts of downtown Main Street, said people should see it as a tourism draw. His customers, who are largely tourists, always seem to ask him where they can bike ride, he said to a group of about 35 other bicycle enthusiasts and stakeholders gathered to see city staff's proposed "Northern Route Project" at Dunedin Community Center on April 9. The proposed first phase of the bike route — a mix of on- and off-road paths along Michigan Boulevard that cut through Highlander Park and the Pinehurst Highlands and Suemar subdivisions — seeks to better connect bicyclists …
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A tentative city plan seeks to create spurs off the Pinellas Trail aimed at connecting Dunedin High and the community and Fine Art centers. Staff seeks feedback on its first phase Tuesday.
Walking or biking safely from the Pinellas Trail to Dunedin High seems unlikely now. But city staff is unveiling the first phase of a plan Tuesday night that seeks to create that connection for residents. The staff's proposed "Northern Route Project" is meant to better link the Pinellas Trail to the Dunedin Community Center, the Dunedin Fine Art Center and Dunedin High School. The city is inviting residents and stakeholders to its unveiling April 9 to get feedback that can help staffers improve the working plan before seeking city commission approval. The plan tentatively involves: It is the first phase of the city's larger vision for creating "spurs" off the Pinellas Trail that connect bicyclists and pedestrians to attractions throughout …
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10:23 am on Sunday, April 7, 2013
Have tried riding a bike along those sidewalks? If they want to use the existing walk fine but they need to change them so a bicyclist can actually ride them. Especially along pinehurst the road/sidewalk is so jarring that you risk your spine and other valuable parts anytime you cross a street. It is so bad you really can ride a bike on them. There are also several sharpe turns on them that make … more ›
A motion to fund only two of the three proposed projects in an $800,000 package benefitting the Dunedin Fine Art Center, Historical Museum and the Blatchley House at Weaver Park, left some officials confused and surprised at Thursday's city meeting.
Dunedin Commissioner Julie Scales made a last-minute clarification Thursday that left some officials seeking a legal opinion. Scales wanted to make clear, just before city leaders were to cast their vote, that her motion was not actually supporting all of what was proposed on Feb. 21. The motion to fund only two of the three proposed projects in an $800,000 package benefiting the Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin Historical Museum and the Blatchley House at Weaver Park, caught some officials off guard. "We all talked about all three items tonight," Mayor Dave Eggers said, trying to gain clarity. The original package proposal, called a "Quality of Life Initiative," included $500,000 to support a state grant application for a planned …
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3:00 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
This did not seem all that confusing to me. There is a lot going on in a commission meeting but this was no different than any other vote. Nobody's perfect but they do seem to have the procedural stuff down pretty good. more ›
City officials are considering the spending package for a possible wing at Dunedin Fine Art Center, entrance improvements at the Dunedin Historical Museum and a renovation project to turn the Blatchley House into an education center Thursday.
Dunedin leaders will consider an $800,000 package of expansion and restoration projects for three major art and cultural buildings at Thursday's commission meeting. The package, deemed a "Quality of Life Initiative," would spread the money among the Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin Historical Museum and the Blatchley House at Weaver Park for building expansions and restorations. Rob DiSpirito, city manager, is proposing the city allot $500,000 to support a state grant application for a planned expansion at Dunedin Fine Art Center. The Fine Art Center must have a $500,000 commitment from donors as part of a $1 million "local match" before the state will consider the facility for the grant. The June 1 eligibility deadline is looming, city …
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6:29 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
This is a piece of what makes Dunedin a "want to live here city" Keep the "arts and culture" alive and growing. We are unique and our city leaders have the forsight to invest in our future. Growth is, not only in mortar and bricks; but growth and fuel for the mind and body. more ›
Two of the legendary Florida Highwaymen — Isaac Knight and R. A. “Roy” McLendon —are visiting Stirling Art Studios & Gallery on Jan. 19 to talk to the public about their paintings.
Two of Florida's living art legends are visiting Dunedin while their work is on public display. Isaac Knight and R. A. “Roy” McLendon, two of the legendary Florida Highwaymen, are set to visit Stirling Art Studios & Gallery in Dunedin on Saturday, Jan. 19. Knight and McLendon were part of a group of 26 self-taught black landscape artists who made a living selling paintings door to door in the Fort Pierce area during the mid-1950s to '80s. Both artists are available to share stories and talk about their paintings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Their work is among several pieces on display in a combined exhibit "On The Road: Highwaymen from Three Collectors" featuring the collections of Mark Torrance of Dunedin, Don Ball of Largo and Matthew …
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In a letter to the editor, a concerned Dunedin resident calls for unity after being disappointed over apparent division at the center of recent Dunedin Fine Art Center fundraising efforts.
Dear Editor: You can see it coming, you can hear it, and you can almost smell it. The line in the sand has been drawn. I’m talking about the Dunedin Fine Art Center and the politics of an election. It's really too bad. Feeling and egos are damaged and healing will be slow. Yes, it's well known the art center is aggressive in their fundraising. Nothing really wrong with that. They have come a long way and do a good job. Dunedin, its citizens and the centers reputation are far better off having a bulldog like attitude. Asking the City to put up (invest) half a million dollars does take some attitude. If the City and Art Center cannot come to terms; it's my feeling the Dunedin Art Center will gather its forces and secure the needed funds. …
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11:13 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Well the election is over! Any more comments from the famous Bill Coleman! Did you feel the % was not high enough? Are you going to now state that 58% of the residents are jerks? I guess you did not count on 58% of Dunedin coming forward and saying YES! We support Heather and YES! We support the DFAC! You are no friend sir but to yourself. more ›
Commission Seat 3 candidate Heather Gracy received an outpouring of financial support from members of Dunedin Fine Art Center advisory board and board of directors. She has also outspent her opponent on mailers, parties and marketing.
Heather Gracy is neck and neck with incumbent David Carson in the campaign money race. With a tally of $21,345, she has raised $25 more than Carson so far. Gracy has spent more than half of what she's raised — about $12,360 — mostly on printing and marketing with AdSharp, Inc., a company owned by Bill Francisco, chairman of the Dunedin Fine Art Center advisory board. Gracy also received a large or numerous contributions from many other Dunedin Fine Art Center board of directors and advisory board members, from Sail Honeymoon and the Dunedin Firefighter's Association. The Dunedin Fine Art Center recently asked the city for $500,000 in funding to match a "rare grant opportunity" for a planned expansion of its West Wing and Sail Honeymoon is…
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9:08 pm on Sunday, November 4, 2012
Patrick, My brother and I are lucky to have built a very large customer base here in Dunedin. Using your logic I cannot make any vote for fear of helping a customer of mine. In fact, a few of the Arts Center members have recently cancelled my service, so these people have punished me for my position not to support the $500,000 request from the Arts Center. Storm water removal is a government … more ›
Vice Mayor Ron Barnette, Sen. Jack Latvala and retired City Attorney John Hubbard are among the celebrity chefs grilling out at Weaver Park on Sunday starting at 3:30 p.m.
Let the grilling showdown begin! Dunedin Fine Art Center is wrangling up some celebrity chefs for its "Men on Fire for the ARTS" fundraiser, with live music, food and an after-party at the Blatchley House. Eight celebrity chefs, inlcuding Sen. Jack Latvala, Vice Mayor Ron Barnette and retired City Attorney John Hubbard, are firing up the grill at Weaver Park on Sunday. Don't worry, Dunedin firefighters, acting as bartenders, will be nearby in case anything goes awry. Check out the entire celebrity chef lineup: Prices to attend begin at $100 per person. Attendance is limited to 150 people. Event starts at 3:30 p.m.
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No behind-the-scenes dealings are part of an $800,000 funding package for "Quality of Life" institutions including the Dunedin Fine Arts Center and the Historical Society, according to officials.
Accusations of political scheming surfaced last week when the city manager dropped an $800,000 package of city funding requests from Dunedin’s arts and cultural community dressed as a “Quality of Life Initiative.” Commissioner David Carson and Mayor Dave Eggers, both up for re-election, had strong opinions about the timing of Rob DiSpirito’s initiative which first surfaced at a workshop meeting Sept. 20. "I think the timing on this is bad," Carson said. "This should have been brought up after the election. Let the new commission, no matter who they are, vote on it." They expressed frustration over how the monetary requests from the Dunedin Fine Art Center and Dunedin Historical Society were packaged together so they could not be reviewed …
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11:19 pm on Thursday, October 4, 2012
CARSON is decrying a lack of transparency??? Pot, meet kettle. He's not only slimy but shameless as well. more ›
Lu Taylor
12:21 am on Friday, April 12, 2013
I like the idea! The Fine Arts Center has arts exhibits and activities that would appeal to tourists and residents alike. As long as there is adequate safe bike parking, cycling to events at Highlander Park and the Community Center would be a better alternative than driving a car there. I would definitely use the trail spur. more ›