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Longboat Key | Neighbors

Madison VandenBrekel represented Longboat Key in this year's Miss Florida USA pageant.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 30, 2025
Debut Miss Longboat Key shares experience competing for state title

Madison VandenBrekel, who spent her summers growing up on Longboat Key, said she enjoyed connecting with fellow competitors at her first pageant of this scale.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The panelists at the June 25 luncheon were David St Pierre, SeaPort Manatee's senior director of public safety and security; Sandra Tapfumaneyi, Sarasota County's chief of emergency management; Abby Elliot, Oysters Rock Hospitality's senior director of operations; and Jodie Fiske, Manatee County's director of public safety. The moderator was Devaney Iglesias, the area manager of Florida Power & Light.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 30, 2025
Manatee, Sarasota experts share 'lessons from the eye of the storm'

The Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance partnered with Florida Power & Light to shed some light on how best to prepare for hurricane season.

  • East County
  • Neighbors
Manager Kate Ruh, Co-owner Michael Garey and Head Chef Sebastian Villaseca.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 27, 2025
Lazy Lobster is giving thanks and giving back in more ways than one

Lazy Lobster hosts its annual Thanksgiving in June to a packed restaurant and predicts to fill about three bins worth of food donations.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Fourth of July 2025 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 26, 2025
Fourth of July 2025 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch

From parades to the classic fireworks, check out these events to help you celebrate Independence Day right.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Things To Do
Visitors to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium began packing the house this week to pay their final visits before the City Island facility closes to the public, making way for expanded operations in East County.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 25, 2025
Visitors begin bidding farewell to Sarasota's City Island arm of Mote exhibits

After generations of visitors have enjoyed being entertained and educated at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, many took the opportunity to say farewell before operations shift to the new facility near University Town Center.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Chef José Martinez of Maison Blanche hops in the cab of a fire engine after he and Juan Gomez join the Rotary Club of Longboat Key in preparing a special thank-you lunch to members of Fire Station 2 with Longboat Key Fire Rescue.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 24, 2025
Maison Blanche continues pandemic-era firehouse tradition

The high-end French restaurant was one of several that joined the Rotary Club of Longboat Key in feeding the island's first responders.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Artist Darnell “Solo the Artist” Kirkwood shared his series "Discoveries Along the Way" with visitors at Cirque St. Armands Beachside during a pop-up event open to the community.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 24, 2025
Cirque St. Armands Beachside features pop-up abstract artist

The luxury hotel invited the public to enjoy the pop-up, and leaders said they hope to feature more community events.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Greg Fiore, Sylvia Day, Maria Ray and Angela Bennick (not pictured) all boosted their brainpower with fun cognitive thinking exercises.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 24, 2025
The Paradise Center boosts brainpower with Brain Games

The Longboat Key Paradise Center Brain Games that took place June 17 was filled with laughing, singing and storytelling.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Shirley Pearson, executive director of Strength in Action, Inc., explains how Longboat Island Chapel's donation at the latest Gather and Give will support formerly incarcerated people successfully rejoin the community, among the group's other initiatives.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 22, 2025
Longboat church uplifts Palmetto partners to serve community

Longboat Island Chapel shined a spotlight on Palmetto's Strength in Action program that offers educational opportunities and other resources to those who need it.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Heather Rippy, owner of Driftwood Beach Home and Garden poses after a successful first of the Season Summer Night Out.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 21, 2025
Summer Night Out has the Whitney Plaza buzzing with laugher and chatter

Artists and locals celebrate community and artistry at the seasons first Summer Night Out event.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Aerosmith rockers Steven Tyler and Joe Perry stopped into Morton's Gormet Market last week.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 21, 2025
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry stop in Sarasota for lunch

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and Longboat Key condo owner Joe Perry stopped in last week for lunch at Morton's Gourmet Market.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key resident Susan Phillips, pictured with a photo of her first time leading the Freedom Fest parade, returns this year as parade marshal.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 20, 2025
Longboat Key Freedom Fest leader returns to head annual celebration

After a busy year of pushing forward community development projects, including at the park where the Fourth of July fest takes place, Susan Phillips is leading the celebration as the marshal.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Incoming Bird Key Yacht Club Commodore Tony Britt and outgoing Commodore Michael Landis swap memories and advice in anticipation of the Change of Watch on June 21.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 18, 2025
Outgoing Bird Key Yacht Club commodore reflects on tenure

Commodore Michael Landis shares words of advice for incoming Commodore Tony Britt, who assumes the role June 21.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The group that traveled with the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce for last year's trip to Italy pose for a photo. This year, participants are heading to Ireland.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 17, 2025
Longboat Chamber launches new travel club

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce recently launched a new community travel club as it gears up for an upcoming trip to Ireland.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
From left to right: Nick Williams, Donna Portaro and Nicole Bocdin are keeping volunteers energized with healthy snacks.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • June 16, 2025
All smiles no trash at Mote's Sea to Shore: Clean and Explore Event

Volunteers of all different ages and organizations came together to celebrate World Ocean Week 2025 and learn more from Mote's Homeschool Students Program.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Brent Piersma and Beverly Sutton fill seed packets for Hope Seeds.
  • December 5, 2025
Hope Seeds seeks extra hands
2
A satellite image of Hurricane Irma.
  • December 4, 2025
Hurricane season ends without Florida landfall
3
Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager speaks at a Rotary Club of Longboat Key meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16. Mager, who spent nearly three decades in law enforcement primarily in Delray Beach, said LBKPD has training requirements similar to the much larger city of Delray and that officers on the Key are well prepared for any event that may take place thanks to partnerships the department has with neighboring jurisdictions.
  • December 4, 2025
Longboat police chief begins community video series
4
Sidewalks on the southern portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive will be closed nightly as construction crews begin work to install a gas line to accommodate a dredging project in Sarasota Bay.
  • December 3, 2025
Expect road, sidewalk closures on Longboat Key
5
Lucie Lapovsky, president of the Longboat Key Democratic Club, and Nick Gladding, president of the Republican Club of Longboat Key, are two members of Miracle on the Key, a group which aims to find common ground among hot-button political issues.
  • December 3, 2025
Longboat Dems, GOP join together to find common ground

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