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Longboat Key | Neighbors

Linda Berman and Javier Chero, board members with Stillpoint Mission, pack their car to the brim with donations of toilet paper for one of Longboat Island Chapel's most popular charity drives. Even more rolls were waiting.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 25, 2026
Popular community toilet paper drive returns

Stillpoint Mission is on a roll with its community partnerships, evidenced by robust participation in its recent toilet paper charity drive with Longboat Island Chapel.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Danae Tran plays the violin for Longboat Island Chapel attendees at the July 19 morning service before she and fellow scholarship recipient Michelle McLeod move to greet guests at the award reception.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 24, 2026
Scholars celebrated at Longboat Island Chapel award reception

The chapel gave scholarship awards to five students this year as they study everything from performing arts to criminology.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mother-daughter duo Bridgette, left, and Giana Clark make a doubly positive difference in their community by monitoring sea turtle nests and clearing litter from the beach as volunteers with the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. The group recently celebrated seeing their new "Adopt A Shore" signage.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 22, 2026
Clean beaches are a 'shore' thing under Turtle Watch's eye

Volunteers with the Longboat Key Turtle Watch are celebrating the return of their "Adopt A Shore" signage as their busy sea turtle nesting season continues.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Multiple species of starfish have found a home on the "Living Wall" at Longboat Key's Bayfront Park. The innovative project uses 3D-printed concrete slabs modeled after mangrove roots to provide better habitat for aquatic animals.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 21, 2026
Longboat's living seawall recognized for creativity

The town was given the Environmental Stewardship Award for its living seawall installation at Bayfront Park.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Melinda Zarzycki-Harris, founder and executive director of Bring on the Ministry, and Pastor Julia Wharff Piermont of Christ Church of Longboat Key are all smiles with their new ministry partnership.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • July 21, 2026
Christ Church gets new charitable partner

Christ Church of Longboat Key and Bring on the Ministry are now working together.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Maestro Kenneth Bowermeister, conductor of Strings Con Brio, welcomes a full house to the orchestra's first performance on Longboat Key on July 16 at Temple Beth Israel.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 20, 2026
Debut summer orchestra show draws 150 music lovers

A 40-piece group from Strings Con Brio performed at Temple Beth Israel, packing the house with the off-season show.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A cownose ray waves a wingtip at onlookers from the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort lagoon on Friday after caretakers introduced half a dozen pups to the enclosure. Resident rays had the babies in December, and experts released the adolescents into the Under the Sea Lagoon.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 20, 2026
Half-dozen baby rays debut at St. Regis lagoon

The aquatic care team introduced the adolescent cownose rays to the Longboat resort's outdoor enclosure and shared another surprise.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Longboat Key Police Department has four vessels in its marine fleet, including a 26-foot Boston Whaler that is out of commission awaiting repairs to its canopy.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 19, 2026
LBK Foundation asks for community help with police boat repair fundraiser

A $7,000 donation by a Longboat family will cover about half of the repairs, and the Longboat Key Foundation is asking for donations to bridge the remaining gap.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Alexander Fine (center) presented first responders from Longboat Key Fire Rescue with a pizza lunch last week for their efforts.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 17, 2026
Longboat resident celebrates first responders with pizza party

The presenting resident thanked first responders for their heroic efforts during a cardiac-related emergency.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
About 120 people attended an evening sea turtle nest excavation on Longboat Key conducted by permitted experts.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 16, 2026
Experts invite public to turtle nest dig

Despite predation, 40 baby turtles hatched from an excavated sea turtle nest.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Logan Shaw, Wolfe Shaw, Michael Garey and Calvin Shaw, the team behind the new M & W Sweet Spot frozen treat shop on Longboat Key, showcase a variety of their offerings, including frozen custard sandwiches and drinks.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 15, 2026
From frozen custard to soft serve, Longboat's treats help locals stay cool

Those seeking to satisfy their sweet tooth have plenty of options with shops including the newly opened M & W Sweet Spot on Longboat Key's north end.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Reuben Fernandez leads Tai Chi classes on Mondays and Wednesdays at The Paradise Center, and many of his students have stuck with him since he first started teaching at the Longboat Key community center.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 15, 2026
Tai chi brings mind, body, spirit benefits, Paradise Center students say

Longtime attendees of Reuben Fernandez's twice-weekly tai chi classes say they appreciate not only the physical benefits but also the social boost.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Jon Mongeau and Lita and John Brannan accept the award for Emerging Business of the Year on Oct. 23 at the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce 2025 membership awards banquet at Lido Beach Resort. Following the shop's recent closure announcement, John Brannan explained their team is proud of everything it did, but knew this was a tough decision they had to make.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 14, 2026
Le Gardenia Bleu thanks community for support

The founders of the Longboat Key flower and gift shop announced earlier this month their shop was closed.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
The Governor's Award recognizes the work of the Rotary Club of Longboat Key on community projects, like the installation of monofilament recycling receptacles at local parks.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 14, 2026
Longboat Rotary earns Governor's Award recognition

The district-level commendation recognizes Longboat Key's local branch for all-around success.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kelly Shrout (left) and Melanie Dale weed at Bicentennial Park Friday, July 10 in the morning before the heat index reached triple digits.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • July 13, 2026
Bicentennial Park hurricane repair nearly complete

New salt-tolerant grass will put the finishing touches on Bicentennial Park’s renovations on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Water pooled around outdoor seating in front of Cha Cha Coconuts on the night of Thursday, July 23.
  • July 27, 2026
Downpour floods St. Armands, frays merchants' nerves again
2
Longboat Key got its high-water vehicle from the Florida Forest Service. The town can keep it on loan for as long as it wants, but agreed to repaint the truck, which formerly had a camo livery.
  • July 26, 2026
Longboat Key's oldest vehicle reserved for drastic floods
3
Linda Berman and Javier Chero, board members with Stillpoint Mission, pack their car to the brim with donations of toilet paper for one of Longboat Island Chapel's most popular charity drives. Even more rolls were waiting.
  • July 25, 2026
Popular community toilet paper drive returns
4
Danae Tran plays the violin for Longboat Island Chapel attendees at the July 19 morning service before she and fellow scholarship recipient Michelle McLeod move to greet guests at the award reception.
  • July 24, 2026
Scholars celebrated at Longboat Island Chapel award reception
5
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key

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