Boats sparkle at Bird Key fleet blessing

Bird Key celebrants decorated their boats, socialized and joined in a prayer for those sailing waters near and far.

Gary and Linda Condon of Bird Key decorated their boat to contribute to the beauty of this year's Blessing and Lighting of the Fleet on Dec. 11.
Check out the following options for holiday services this season.
  • December 16, 2025
Celebrate season's tidings at these Longboat holiday services
This house on the corner of Wedge Lane and Bogey Lane takes the cake for one of the most colorfully decorated homes on Longboat Key this season.
  • December 14, 2025
Which Longboat homes dazzle the most with holiday lights?
David Forester sings a solo of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" with The Venice Symphony for a big band-style Christmas concert on Dec. 12 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.
  • December 13, 2025
Big band means big tunes at St. Mary Christmas concert
Gary and Linda Condon of Bird Key decorated their boat to contribute to the beauty of this year's Blessing and Lighting of the Fleet on Dec. 11.
  • December 12, 2025
Boats sparkle at Bird Key fleet blessing

Business

Jason Bond and his mother, Donna DeLuca, have been hard at work renovating the space for the new Longboat Key Provisions, the latest addition to The Centre Shops.
  • December 15, 2025
Newest addition to The Centre Shops offers sophisticated picnic supplies
The building at the corner of N. Boulevard of the Presidents and Madison Drive may be the location of a revived Shore Restaurant on St. Armands Circle.
  • December 12, 2025
Shore Restaurant could return to St. Armands
Publix anchors The Shoppes at Bay Isles. To the left, Longboat Key Fitness is expanding and Reed Medical Group is moving into the corner unit.
  • December 1, 2025
Reed Medical Group finds a new Longboat Key home
Petar Sibinkic is the owner and a trainer at Longboat Key Fitness, which is expanding to the unit next door, with the new space focused on stretching and massaging.
  • November 28, 2025
Longboat Key Fitness expanding, stretching
This house on the corner of Wedge Lane and Bogey Lane takes the cake for one of the most colorfully decorated homes on Longboat Key this season.
  • December 14, 2025
Which Longboat homes dazzle the most with holiday lights?
David Forester sings a solo of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" with The Venice Symphony for a big band-style Christmas concert on Dec. 12 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.
  • December 13, 2025
Big band means big tunes at St. Mary Christmas concert
Gary and Linda Condon of Bird Key decorated their boat to contribute to the beauty of this year's Blessing and Lighting of the Fleet on Dec. 11.
  • December 12, 2025
Boats sparkle at Bird Key fleet blessing
Beth Stewart and Christine Parseghian joined in the festive fun of the Frosty Frolic golf tournament on Dec. 9 at Harbourside Golf Course.
  • December 11, 2025
Ladies dress to impress at Frosty Frolic
The team including Rick and Josie Bertie and Paul Christenson won second place overall and the award for best "docktail" at the Lighting of the Docks on Dec. 6 at Longboat Harbour.
  • December 11, 2025
Longboat Harbour light competition delights viewers
Santa Claus welcomes Ketia Alennsia Joachim, Henry Lerricia Jeanbaptiste and John Kerry Jeanbaptiste for a morning of family holiday fun at Stillpoint Mission. Longboat Island Chapel and other local groups helped make the Dec. 6 toy distribution happen.
  • December 9, 2025
Stillpoint Mission brings holiday spirit to community
Emily Burns and Jack Coleman of Poppo's Taqueria dish up their popular pork tacos at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key's Lawn Party on Dec. 6 at Ken Thompson Park.
  • December 8, 2025
Longboat's Lawn Party returns following hurricane hiatus
Susan Borden, Kelli Veit and Nancy Harris shared a bit about the goods and games available at Temple Beth Israel's Hanukkah open house on Dec. 7.
  • December 8, 2025
Temple Beth Israel hosts Hanukkah open house for third year
With a sparkle in his eye and a wave of the hand, jolly old St. Nick illuminated the lights on St. Armands Circle's 60-foot Christmas tree at a lighting festival on Dec. 5.
  • December 7, 2025
St. Armands celebrates magical Christmas tree lighting
Piper Dawson checks out was she dubbed her favorite tree decorated by Lo' Key Island Grille at the opening evening of Christmas in the Garden on Nov. 30 at Longboat Island Chapel.
  • December 1, 2025
Christmas comes early to Longboat's north end
Alison and Eloise Fichner snap a photo with Santa Claus at Light Up Longboat on Nov. 22 at the Town Center Green.
  • November 23, 2025
Families partake in early-season cheer at Light Up Longboat
Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates delivers the central sermon at the 45th interfaith Thanksgiving service hosted by St. Armands Key Lutheran Church on Nov. 18. She was joined by SAKLC's Rev. Kenneth Blyth, Longboat Island Chapel's Rev. Brock Patterson, Christ Church of Longboat Key's Rev. Julia Piermont, All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church's Rev. David Marshall and St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church's Fr. Robert Dziedziak.
  • November 19, 2025
Religious leaders across faiths celebrate unity for Thanksgiving
Bird Key Yacht Club General Manager Tammy Hackney and Commodore Tony Britt donned the hard hats for the official groundbreaking of the new clubhouse on Nov. 13 at the site of the former facility.
  • November 19, 2025
Bird Key leaders break ground on new yacht club facilities
Bert Wood, Karl Kaminski, Hudson Nesmith and Jane Conrad were among the 120 volunteers helping pack meals for Kids Against Hunger on Nov. 8 at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. Part of the meals went to help local families, and part went to support hurricane survivors in Jamaica.
  • November 18, 2025
St. Armands church lends hand to families and hurricane survivors
Phyllis Black and Andrew Vac flag down hungry diners to join the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key's pancake breakfast fundraiser on Nov. 15 at the Lazy Lobster.
  • November 17, 2025
Longboat Kiwanis Club hosts breakfast fundraiser
Elaine Cichon, Lorri Harrison and Claudia Stieber bring their festive spirit to the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church annual Christmas bazaar, held last weekend at the church.
  • November 17, 2025
St. Mary market fundraiser on Longboat features holiday finds
Longboat Key Police officer Mike Mathis gives his order to Brandon Clark while Sgt. Adam Montfort waits in line at Rotary Club of Longboat Key’s Food for Gratitude event where all town employees received free lunch to recognize their hard work after dual hurricanes in 2024.
  • November 13, 2025
Rotary provides thank-you lunch to town employees
Longboat Key Tennis Center held an event welcoming back seasonal residents Tuesday, Nov. 11. A tennis clinic demonstration was held, food was served and music played as Longboaters mixed and mingled on a chilly Tuesday afternoon.
  • November 12, 2025
Longboat Key Tennis Center hosts chilly event for snowbirds
The Longboat Key Club Key Niners brought their A-game for a bit of friendly competition at their opener tee off for The Women's Nine Hole Golf Association on Nov. 6.
  • November 11, 2025
Longboat Key Golf Club welcomes back winter players
Debra Sauers, Mimi Dolan, Sharon Meier, Melanie Dale and Patricia Geldermann discuss the season's upcoming events at the Longboat Key Garden Club's welcome-back luncheon on Nov. 5 at Café on St. Armands.
  • November 10, 2025
Garden club springs forward into new season
Sarasota High School Color Guard members Madisen Dwarika, Lindsey Nelson, Cyleigh Harrington and Camila Cavazos prepare to start off the celebration of Veterans Day and the Town of Longboat Key's 70th anniversary on Nov. 8 at the Town Center Green.
  • November 9, 2025
Veterans celebrated at Longboat's 70th anniversary
Tommy Bahama CEO Doug Wood said he is thrilled with how the rebuilding of the restaurant and retail space at 465 John Ringling Blvd. turned out, especially the indoor bar area.
  • November 8, 2025
Tommy Bahama celebrates grand return to St. Armands Circle