LONGBOAT
Observer Longboat Key’s weekly newspaper since 1978
Rotary’s new leader honors dad. PAGE 14
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 41, NO. 48
FREE
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THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019
YOUR TOWN
EYES ON THE File photo
Rev. Phillip Schweda is St. Mary, Star of the Sea’s parochial vicar.
WATER
Church honors priest’s 40th St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church will honor Rev. Phillip Schweda’s 40 years in the priesthood with a special Mass of thanksgiving and celebration at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, July 14. A reception will follow. Schweda came to Longboat Key late last year as parochial vicar and has served as a priest in his native Michigan. In fact, he attended St. Mary, Star of the Sea, School in Jackson, Mich., where he was born.
Town’s marine patrol focuses on safety while looking out for pretty much everything. SEE PAGE 2
Sten Spinella
Officer Josh Connors watches a boat in Sarasota Bay as he heads toward Longboat Pass.
Richardson an invited speaker Longboat Key’s Streets, Facilities, Parks and Recreation Manager Mark Richardson has been selected as a panelist at the Florida Recreation and Parks Association’s annual state conference in August. Richardson has worked for the town for 13 years. The class he’s speaking in will discuss balancing personal and professional life. “Back when I graduated high school, I wanted to be an accountant,” Richardson said. “I got a part-time job with Manatee County P&R and — you can get paid to play? This is really fun.” The conference is Aug. 28 in Champions Gate.
Turtle Tracks LONGBOAT June 30-July 6 2019 2018 Nests 131 123 False Crawls 216 79 Total as of July 6 2019 2018 Nests 1,036 756 False Crawls 1,311 694 Source: Mote Marine Laboratory
Speed humps come to St. Armands Sten Spinella
St. Armands Circle merchant Robert Allan likes the speed hump plan.
FDOT set to install temporary devices next week as possible precursors to raised crosswalks. PAGE 5
Freedom goes forth at festival
A+E Can’tmiss humor. INSIDE
Babies, kids, adults, dogs turn out for town’s annual parade. SEE PAGE 13 Nathalie Kaemmerer
Statue of Liberty Irina LaRose, Steve Howard and his rescue dogs, Winston and Chico, walk in the parade.