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Longboat Key | Neighbors

Metal sculptor John Grammer has honed his crafting skills through various stages of his careers in construction and prop work for film. Now, he said he appreciates getting to fine tune the work he presents at shows like last weekend's St. Armands Circle Craft Festival.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 10, 2026
From movies to metal sculpture, local crafter does it all

St. Armands' craft fair brought unique offerings to the summer art scene, from flowers for leis to handcrafted metal artwork.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Family and friends helped Out-of-Door Academy graduate Caleb Rodriguez celebrate his academic accomplishments at the May 22 ceremony. Rodriguez will be departing Longboat Key to attend the University of Central Florida to study mechanical engineering.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 10, 2026
Life is a roller coaster, and this graduate wants to engineer it

Longboat Key graduate Caleb Rodriguez is making plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Members of the public curious to learn more about Longboat Key's sea turtle population ask questions of the experts at the first Turtle Walk of the nesting season on June 6 beside the newly staked nest.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 9, 2026
Following record year, turtle nesting season off to strong start on Longboat

Nearly 50 people participated in the first educational Turtle Walk of the season with Mote Marine experts.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Plymouth Harbor residents Dr. Frederick "Fred" Moffat, George "Gus" Nimick and James "Jim" Griffith each cut into their cakes in a unique triple 99th birthday celebration.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 8, 2026
Trio of celebrants share a 99th birthday party

Plymouth Harbor held a combined birthday party for three residents, each celebrating their 99th birthdays this summer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
An American flag flies on Gulf of Mexico Drive, the town’s main thoroughfare that will soon see much more red, white and blue as the town prepares to install 56 light pole banners.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 3, 2026
Town works to unveil patriotic banners ahead of July 4

A banner depicting the American flag that can be reused was picked for Longboat Key’s Gulf of Mexico Drive over one that featured recognition of the country’s 250th birthday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Tennis Center members and friends of Dolores Levy honored her memory with the unveiling of a new plaque at the center last weekend.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 2, 2026
LBK Tennis Center honors Rombo founder

Community members shared stories about Dolorers Levy at a May 30 unveiling of a plaque in her memory.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mark Akerman, Jay Plager and Past Commodore Michael Landis carry away the colors at the conclusion of Bird Key Yacht Club's Memorial Day ceremony on May 25.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 28, 2026
Dedication to service celebrated at Bird Key's Memorial Day ceremony

Veterans, family members of service men and women, and community members united to recognize those who sacrificed for their country.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Andres and Liliana Mendez are continuing their family legacy of bronze sculpting, examples of which they shared at the St. Armands Fine Art Festival on May 23 and 24.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 26, 2026
Bronze sculpture, 3D paintings and more impress at St. Armands art fest

This Memorial Day weekend fine art festival on St. Armands Circle featured artists who have honed their crafts for decades.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Frank Biondello, Jr. has been overseeing the transformation of The Dock on the Bay's hurricane-damaged marina as the marina manager for the past year.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 25, 2026
Dock on the Bay makes progress on 'long road to recovery'

The small condominium facility has operated on Longboat Key for 46 years, and this year is one of significant transformation at its marina and beyond.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
A black skimmer incubates its eggs.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • May 21, 2026
Colony of black skimmers continues to thrive on Lido Key; here's how to respect their space

Averaging around 1,100 adults as of May 15, the colony is nesting on a spot along North Lido Beach.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Zoë Buller began pole vaulting as a sixth grader. One year later, she's a regional and district champion, ultimately placing eighth at the FHSAA Class 1A track and field state championship.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • May 21, 2026
These Longboat Key family members have spring in their step

ODA pole vaulter Zoe Buller looks to follow in the footsteps of her parents, who were accomplished track and field athletes.

  • East County
  • Sports
Karen and Gregg Sweeney, Chris and Cathy Goglia, and Debbie McPeak socialize at the Longboat Key Club's farewell lawn party on May 15.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 20, 2026
Longboaters jam with Big Z Band to close out season

The Longboat Key Club held one of its final farewell events of the season with a music-centered lawn party.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
In a room packed with family members — adjacent to another room with several times as many additional friends — longtime Longboat Key resident Harold Goldstein celebrated his 100th birthday on May 11 at Rosemary and Thyme.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 19, 2026
100 years young takes on new meaning for mold-breaker Harold Goldstein

At a lively party with nearly as many guests as his age, the longtime Longboat Key resident celebrated his centennial birthday.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Photographer Rick Waid looks on as curator Anita Pihl affixes a blue ribbon to his piece, "Wild Mare with Foal," at the May 12 reception for a gallery by local photographers up now at Plymouth Harbor.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 18, 2026
Local photographers get exposure at new Plymouth Harbor showcase

From the rolling hills of Washington state to the close-up gaze of a cheetah, images captured by this group of photographers impressed viewers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Author Susan Hanafee speaks to the evolution of the character Leslie Elliott, who goes on a truth-seeking adventure set in Sarasota in the murder mystery "Scavenger Tides." Bird Key Women's Association members read the book before hearing from the author at their May 13 meeting.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • May 18, 2026
Local murder-mystery author shares insights with Bird Key group

Bird Key Women's Association members heard from Susan Hanafee at their latest meet-up.

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

1
Longboat Key Fire Rescue has two ladder trucks that can reach 75 feet, including this Sutphen engine built in 2020, which serves as the primary engine at Fire Station 92.
  • June 10, 2026
Cost to replace fire trucks continues to rise
2
The home at 5840 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $4.5 million. Built in 2022, it has four bedrooms, four-and-two-half baths, a pool and 4,145 square feet of living area.
  • June 10, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for May 25-29 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
3
Metal sculptor John Grammer has honed his crafting skills through various stages of his careers in construction and prop work for film. Now, he said he appreciates getting to fine tune the work he presents at shows like last weekend's St. Armands Circle Craft Festival.
  • June 10, 2026
From movies to metal sculpture, local crafter does it all
4
Family and friends helped Out-of-Door Academy graduate Caleb Rodriguez celebrate his academic accomplishments at the May 22 ceremony. Rodriguez will be departing Longboat Key to attend the University of Central Florida to study mechanical engineering.
  • June 10, 2026
Life is a roller coaster, and this graduate wants to engineer it
5
The owner of the Half Moon House at 6541 Gulfside Road has until Aug. 1 to complete repairs to the pilings of the house.
  • June 10, 2026
Final deadline set for Half Moon House repairs

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