🌱 Dunedin K-9 Dog Bite Lawsuit Moves Forward + Chandeliers Of Dunedin

Welcome back, Dunedin! Let's get you started this Thursday with everything you need to know going on in town today.

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First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 86 Low: 74.

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Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

Want to support local artists in Dunedin? Studio 1212 Art Gallery at 234 Monroe St. in Dunedin is a non-profit art gallery managed by award-winning local artists from our area. The gallery features original artwork, prints and cards and has a popular boutique of hand-crafted gift items. Hours are 11am - 3pm Wednesday to Sunday or visit studio1212.org to shop and to see exhibition schedules. And to support local artists by becoming a Patron of Studio 1212, go here.

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Here are the top three stories today in Dunedin:

1. A decision made by the 2nd District Court of Appeal has cleared the way for a lawsuit to move forward against Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. The suit was filed by Robert McKinley, who was bitten by a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office dog while attending an event at Dunedin's TD Ballpark. A lower-court decision had initially dismissed the case, which alleged that a deputy sheriff was negligent in handling the police dog. Wednesday's opinion, written by Judge Craig Villanti and joined by Judges Stevan Northcutt and Susan Rothstein-Youakim, rejected arguments that the sheriff was shielded from the lawsuit by "sovereign immunity" and said that McKinley was in a public location and "had the right to walk where he wanted." (FOX 13 News)
2. Pinellas County police officers who were unfamiliar with the 1999 film "Fight Club" had a little trouble finding details on a suspect, who gave the name "Tyler Durden" when he was arrested in Dunedin late Sunday night. Todd Michael Burns, 44, was arrested during a traffic stop, where cops discovered a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and narcotics inside the vehicle. When Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies asked Burns to identify himself, he reportedly gave the name of Brad Pitt's character from the movie. He was eventually identified via a fingerprint scan, and is currently locked up in the County jail on multiple felony drug and weapons charges, as well as a misdemeanor count for providing a false name to law enforcement. (The Smoking Gun)
3. Dunedin residents are lighting up the city "one yard at a time" with colorful chandeliers clad as jellyfish, flamingos, and other glowing artwork. Inspired by the works introduced by local artist Max Helms in 2016, retiree and artist Cindy Abell began making the decorative lamps to give her "a feeling of joy during the dark days of the pandemic." She founded the Chandeliers of Dunedin Facebook page, and now she hosts monthly Q&A sessions at local businesses and jellyfish chandeliers workshops in her home. "It's all about the community," Abell told Tampa Bay Newspapers. "We've done 45 chandeliers out of the workshops alone since October, and we get up to 30 for the Q&As. I never expected a reaction like this." (Tampa Bay Newspapers)

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Today in Dunedin:

• Cinco De Mayo At Casa Tina's (4:00 PM)
• Dunedin Showcase Theater Presents "The Turn of the Screw" At Dunedin Community Center(7:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Governor Ron DeSantis was at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in nearby Clearwater yesterday to announce record-high funding to combat red tide in Florida, committing a recurring $3 million per year for the next six years to fund research that's already underway. (WFLA)
• The Tampa Bay nonprofit Lady Business — whose mission is to help underprivileged girls and women obtain proper feminine care without barriers or stigma — is asking attendees of Dunedin Brewery's 17th annual Ramone tribute show on Saturday to bring in tampons, pads, menstrual cups, and cash to be distributed throughout the community. (Creative Loafing Tampa)
• When it comes to termites, an ounce of prevention can save you lots of money in the long run and keep your home safe from damage. Here's why termite inspections in the Dunedin area are worth every penny. (Dunedin Patch)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.