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News

The town of Longboat Key wants to expand the sidewalks on the east side of Gulf of Mexico Drive to 12 feet wide. Right now, the width of the sidewalk varies from six to eight feet wide.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 11, 2026
Town eyes feasibility study for 12-foot path along Gulf of Mexico Drive

The process is very early on, but Longboat Key staff have begun discussions with FDOT about what it would take to expand the existing sidewalk into a 12-foot multiuse trail.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Austin Venhaus and Aaron Rutsky
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • March 11, 2026
Walls go up as Sarasota's first climbing gym nears opening

Formerly known as Project 24 Climbing, Hexrock Climbing is set to open at the beginning of April.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
The Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant can filter 84 million gallons of water per day.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 10, 2026
Manatee County changes plans for water supply needs

Current demand projections indicate the need for an additional 5 million gallons of water per day by 2030.

  • East County
  • News
Sweetwater's Whit and Taylor Wesenberg founded Humu's Island Treasures after selling five handmade art pieces within a day of being posted on Facebook marketplace.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • March 10, 2026
Lakewood Ranch small business carves out good vibes

Humu's Island Treasures sells carved and painted art pieces via social media and art shows.

  • East County
  • Business
The town of Longboat Key is considering a new code addressing solar panels, which would clarify regulations around them. This home in the Village installed solar panels before the 2024 hurricanes and relied on them for backup power after the storms.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 10, 2026
Longboat Key considers rules on solar panels

If approved, the town will add a chapter to its code dedicated to solar panel regulations to help owners understand what is and isn't allowed.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A rendering of Artscape, an affordable housing artist community planned for the 2300 block of North Tamiami Trail.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 10, 2026
Affordable housing project takes center stage for the arts community

One Stop Housing and the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County are teaming up on Artscape, an affordable housing development for members of the arts community.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A Sleepy Lagoon resident takes a look at engineering plans at a public meeting at Bayfront Park Wednesday, March 4.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 9, 2026
Engineering firm presents Longboat road-raising, drainage plans

Water bubbling up from storm drains during high tide has prompted the town to spend on stormwater improvements and road raising in the Sleepy Lagoon neighborhood.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Alderman Oaks currently has 60 assisted living units. It is seeking to add kitchens to convert them to independent living.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 9, 2026
Retirement center zoning change will allow business model shift

The Sarasota City Commission was divided in its approval to rezone Alderman Oaks Retirement Center, allowing a shift from assisted to independent living.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This map shows the potential routes considered to replace the aging metal subaqueous wastewater pipeline which connects Longboat Key's wastewater to a Manatee County treatment center across Sarasota Bay. The line in solid light green is the route that was chosen, and the solid red and purple lines show where the existing pipe is located.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 8, 2026
Town to apply for loan for subaqueous project

Longboat Key is making moves in preparation for the beginning of the subaqueous wastewater pipeline replacement, expected to break ground this summer.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Saks' parent company, Saks Global, filed for bankruptcy in January.
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • March 7, 2026
Bankrupt Saks Fifth Avenue to close Sarasota-UTC store

A Saks has been in the Sarasota-Manatee market for at least three decades.

  • Sarasota
  • News
A boat is attached by a red strap to land as it lies under a dock in disrepair in a canal off General Harris Street. Longboat Key Fire Department determined the vessel is not leaking fuel.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • March 7, 2026
Boat sinks in Longboat canal

A boat behind a house that has been vacant since the 2024 hurricanes has now sunk completely.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The former Mixon Fruit Farms store is being discussed as a future site for a library.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • March 7, 2026
Monthly farmers market coming to Mixon Farms site

The first round opens March 15, with dates in April and May. A nine-month season will resume in September.

  • East County
  • News
The Concession Golf Club is hosting the Senior PGA Championship April 16-19.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 6, 2026
Sarasota OKs $1.5 million for golf tournament tourism promotion

Visit Sarasota County has been allocated $1.5 million for tourism promotion during the PGA Senior Championship tournament April 16-19 at The Concession.

  • Sarasota
  • News
This photo offers an idea of what the townhomes would have looked like if approved.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • March 5, 2026
Manatee County commissioners deny 232 townhomes off Lorraine Road

During the same land use meeting, commissioners approved a freestanding ER on State Road 64.

  • East County
  • News
Map shows the three areas of Sarasota's draft traffic calming plan.
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • March 5, 2026
City plans community meetings about draft traffic-calming plan

Three community meetings are planned to introduce and gather input about the city's draft neighborhood traffic calming plan maps.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April
2
  • March 20, 2026
Longboat Key's Cops, Cars & Coffee rescheduled
3
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
  • March 20, 2026
City parking scheme schemes hurting our tourism
4
Dolores M. Stevens (2025)
  • March 19, 2026
Dolores M. Stevens
5
Zachary Keller and Helen Krushinski star in "Water for Elephants," which comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Feb. 12-14, 2027.
  • March 19, 2026
'Water for Elephants,' 'Six' and 'Hell's Kitchen' lead Van Wezel's 2026-27 lineup

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