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Longboat Key | Neighbors

Andrew Vac of Remax Realty wins the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce in 2025.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 15, 2026
Cast your votes for your favorite Longboat businesses

The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce has opened up voting among members for this year's local business awards.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Chris Watts stretches Petar Sibinkic in the newly-expanded Longboat Key Fitness studio at 511 Bay Isles Pkwy.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • August 14, 2026
Fitness pairs with mobility at Longboat Key Fitness

All the way from Hong Kong, Chris Watts has joined Longboat Key Fitness to lead Longboaters in stretches.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Baby turtles may return to local shores this washback season. Experts recommend calling Mote Marine's stranding line if the turtles can't return to the water on their own.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 10, 2026
Beachgoers reminded not to handle baby turtles

Call Mote Marine's stranding line if a "washback" can't make it alone.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Mia Eylon, right, recently took the helm at the newly renamed St. Armands Jewelers. With input from Diane DelloRusso, manager of Jewelry by Cole, and other experts, the new shop hasn't skipped a beat in serving patrons on Boulevard of the Presidents.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 8, 2026
New jeweler takes the helm on St. Armands Circle

Previously known as Jewelry by Cole, the new St. Armands Jewelers is offering a blend of classic and trending styles.

  • Sarasota
  • Business
Sandra Johnson, Connie DiMaggio and Linda Theuer put finishing touches on the lunch they and fellow Longboat Island Chapel volunteers provided to Longboat Island Police officers on Thursday. It is Longboat Key Fire Rescue's turn on Wednesday.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 7, 2026
Community lunch recognizes Longboat's first responders

Longboaters continued the multiyear tradition of dishing up a thank-you meal to police officers and firefighters.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Shane Catts, who started Happy Paddler Kayak Tours & Ecoventures with his wife, Holly Rolls, said the Longboat Key-based business has been proud to be part of so many families' favorite times vacationing and living on the island in the nearly 10 years it has been open on the north end.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 6, 2026
Happy Paddler celebrates family legacy on Longboat Key waters

This locally operated kayak tour and rental company started as the dream of two college sweethearts and became a stalwart Longboat Key business.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Christy James, owner of Longboat Key Flower Shop, is the driver of one of the island's most recognizable rides, a Barbie-pink limo.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 5, 2026
Longboat florist cruises paradise in her iconic pink limo

The not-so-mini pink Cooper draws smiles wherever she drives on Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key author Wilma Davidson, president of the local Pen Women chapter, is celebrating the publication of 'Super Cat Chit Chat,' the follow-up story to the 'Super Cat! Splat! Splat!' children's book.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • August 4, 2026
Local author's 'Super Cat' returns with sequel children's book

Wilma Davidson, president of the local Pen Women chapter and author of the original "Super Cat" children's book, shares the second installment of the planned trilogy.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
The Mah Jongg Weekend was filled with colorful, coastal mahjong sets provided by Event Organizer Rennee Fannin.
    By
  • Carlin Gillen
  • July 29, 2026
Paradise Center hosts first Mah Jongg Weekend fundraiser

The Longboat Key Paradise Center's fundraising event included raffle prizes, Boozy Bingo and a chance to make connections with Floridians outside of Longboat Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Brooks Peirce, 6, holds the epic fossilized megalodon tooth off Lido Beach that Garrett Peirce found while freediving.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 28, 2026
Vacationing family uncovers a 'Jaws'-dropping Lido treasure

With a keen eye and a bit of luck, a free diver found a fossilized megalodon tooth of epic proportions.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Ernie Smith lines up trays of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for lunch at Resurrection House. He and nine other volunteers prepared a meal on July 23 as one of St. Armands Key Lutheran Church's monthly charitable events.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • July 28, 2026
St. Armands volunteers put their cooking skills to good use

St. Armands Key Lutheran Church and several others in the area help Resurrection House with its mission to feed those in need year-round.

  • 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
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
The intersection of Broadway Street and Gulf of Mexico Drive can get busy with traffic coming from multiple directions. A roundabout is planned at that location, but was pushed back at least a year.
  • September 5, 2026
Broadway roundabout delayed despite finalized design
2
The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce and town of Longboat Key joined forces to organize the first Let’s Talk Longboat business roundtable June 17 at Christ Church of Longboat Key.
  • September 4, 2026
Registration open for local business forum
3
Planning, Zoning and Building Director Allen Parsons, Public Works Director Charlie Mopps and Town Manager Howard Tipton speak to residents at a Let’s Talk Longboat meeting, a monthly get-together given the moniker “Tip Talks.”
  • September 3, 2026
LBK community meetings scheduled in September
4
The Manatee Belle can carry more than 90 passengers.
  • September 2, 2026
Just in time for Labor Day, Manatee adds Coquina Beach to ferry route
5
The pink house at 501 General Harris St. has had water, sewer and electricity cut off for months, and the third floor patio door has remained open rain or shine.
  • September 2, 2026
Pink house's new auction date set

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