Nominations for 'Spirit of Venice' Awards Now Being Accepted

Do you know someone who exemplifies the spirit of Venice?

The Abbot Kinney Festival Association is accepting nominations of individuals from the community now through Sept. 9 to be honored with Spirit of Venice Awards during the 2011 Abbot Kinney Festival.

Since 1984, the Abbot Kinney Festival Association has recognized exemplary residents and community stakeholders nominated for their contributions to the spirit, creativity, and uniqueness of Venice.

Past recipients include artists Tibor Jankay and Earl Newman; poet Fred Dewey of Beyond Baroque; community advocates Betsy Goldman, Ivan Spiegel, and Diane Bush; pro skateboarder and Venice Skate Park co-founder Jesse Martinez; nonprofit leaders Steve Clare of Venice Community Housing Corporation, Andy Lipkis of TreePeople, Joel Shapiro of Electric Lodge, and Lynn Warshafsky and Jim Hubbard of Venice Arts; and retired LAFD Inspector Mike Neeley and LAPD Sr. Lead Officer Heidi Llanes.

Nominations will be accepted online at www.abbotkinney.org/about/spirit-of-venice. Final decisions will be reviewed and made by the association's board of directors and awarded during the Abbot Kinney Festival on Sept. 25.

Contact Elisa James at elisa@abbotkinney.org with any questions.

This will be the 27th annual Abbot Kinney Festival. There will be more than 300 exhibitors and about 150,000 attendees for the one-day, free event, which takes place on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice Boulevard and Main Street.