Congrats to all the 2013 Abbot Kinney Festival Spirit Awardees and AKFA Community Grant recipients. Thank you for your community service! – Venice Paparazzi | Venice Beach CA, Photo Agency, Community Info, News, Events

About the Abbot Kinney Festival: (From AbbotKinney.org)

Since its founding in 1984, the Abbot Kinney Festival has grown in size and popularity to become one of the largest community events of its kind in the country. Each year, it attracts 150,000+ eco-conscious urban singles, couples, and families to the sunny beachside community of Venice on the last Sunday in September. In addition to giving back to the community, the festival is best known for its unique array of local artisan crafts, live music, good food, and commitment to the environment. Activities and areas are designed to complement the eclectic, cutting-edge mix of over 100 boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, bookstores, design firms, coffee shops, clubs, salons, and much more along the famed bohemian-chic shopping district of Abbot Kinney Blvd., which stretches one mile from Venice Blvd. to Main St. For more info, visit AbbotKinney.org

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2013 Abbot Kinney Festival Spirit of Venice Awards.

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Since 1984, the Abbot Kinney Festival Association has recognized exemplary individuals nominated by the community for their significant contributions to the spirit, creativity, and uniqueness of Venice This year’s recipients include: Carol Tantau, Michael “Rocky” Stenger , Oscar Duncan, and the Venice Sign Committee.

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Thanks to at YoVenice.com for the following description of the Spirit Awardees.

Carol Tantau – Carol, a Venetian since 1971, opened Abbot Kinney’s Just Tantau in 1982,but her community service goes back for years. Carol has been the head of the West Washington (which she helped get renamed to Abbot Kinney) Merchant’s Association and the President of the Venice Chamber Of Commerce. Tantu has been on the Community Police Advisory Board and also heads the advocacy program at Sojourn Services for Battered Women and their children in Santa Monica. In a perfect world, Just Tantau would be on Abbot Kinney forever.

Carol Tantau with City Council Member Mike Bonin (center)

Michael “Rocky” Stenger – Stenger is a consumate volunteer, donating his time and resources to many groups in Venice without calling attention to his actions. “Rocky” has been a member of the VNC Neighborhood Committee for years, representing the area East of Lincoln. He also volunteers at both the Mark Twain and Walgrove gardens and elsewhere in Venice.

Photo middle: Venice Boys and Girls Club Armando Diaz and past BGCV past Executive Director Erikk Aldridge

Oscar Duncan – This posthumous tribute was awarded for musician and youth minister Duncan’s selfless service to the children of Venice at the Boys & Girls Club and to Duncan’s betterment of Venice as a community in general. Oscar, known as “Choir Boy” was shot and killed while walking his girlfriend home on Santa Clara in June of 2012. (

Center: Jose Bunge

The Venice Sign Team – This group award will be presented to the organizing team that got the historic Venice sign replaced at Windward and Pacific. The award recognizes the grass roots effort and community cooperation which was vital to re-creating the Venice Sign. When we work together as a community, wonderful things happen!

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AKFA Community Grants Program:

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Funded by festival proceeds, the AKFA Community Grants Program awards funding to selected Venice-based nonprofit organizations that offer services and programs aimed at youth and families. Applications are accepted mid-year preceding the festival. Since 1984, well over $275,000 in festival proceeds have been invested into the community of Venice. To learn how to apply for next year’s grants, visit http://abbotkinney.org/grant-application.

Abbot Kinney Festival Grant recipients for 2013 include: