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Longboat Key | Neighbors

The Grady family, including Jackson, Drake, Freya and Tina, join the Longboat Key Garden Club's butterfly release for the Fourth of July weekend at Bicentennial Park.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 7, 2025
July Fourth Longboat Key butterfly release continues post-storm

Freedom Fest might have been canceled, but community members joined in a butterfly release after the Fourth of July.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Charlie Metzler, Samantha Trotter, Mimi Kruk, JoDene Moneuse, Kelsie Rokicki and 6-month-old puppy Nova held out hope that Freedom Fest and other Fourth of July activities on Longboat Key would continue. However, lightning forced officials to cancel.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 4, 2025
Lightning on Longboat causes Freedom Fest cancellation

Despite officials' best efforts, poor weather caused them to cancel the 'world's shortest parade' and other Fourth of July activities.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Outgoing Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Jan Wallace and incoming President Terri Driver crack a smile after Wallace officially passes the gavel on June 24 at Hugo's II.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 1, 2025
Jan Wallace passes gavel to new Rotary Club of Longboat Key head

Community environmental projects are set to take a front seat under the leadership of new Rotary Club of Longboat Key President Terri Driver.

  • 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
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Sue Wertman has rung the bell outside the Publix on Longboat Key on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key since 2013.
  • December 21, 2025
Longest-serving Longboat bellringer attributes motivation to family
2
Keera Herbst, Donn Githens, Kim Verreault and Alexa Olivas help celebrate the opening of the new Longboat Key Goodwill bookstore and donation site on Dec. 18.
  • December 20, 2025
Longboat Goodwill officially celebrates grand opening
3
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
  • December 19, 2025
Traffic cleared after fire, bridge malfunction in Sarasota, Longboat
4
Artist JC Wayne hangs the ninth and final piece in her series "Atomic Universe," the latest installation at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church. The display will be up throughout the holiday season.
  • December 19, 2025
Artist delves into ideas of existence at Longboat exhibition
5
Locations of the new St. Armands speed tables are marked in red.
  • December 19, 2025
St. Armands speed humps will be replaced with permanent speed tables

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