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Longboat Key | Neighbors

Golfers competing in "Pittsburgh vs. The World" may be rivals out on the green, but at the celebration afterward, they have nothing but smiles for one another. Jan Van Iten and Carol Westwood are the original captains in the friendly tournament, which marked 25 years on Feb. 16.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 20, 2026
Longboat golfers celebrate 25 years of friendly competition

Dubbed "Pittsburgh vs. The World," this annual golf competition started as a friendly feud and has become a beloved tradition.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Terry Creighton lines up a shot at a Feb. 15 tennis session at The Sanctuary.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 20, 2026
The Sanctuary kicks off season's activity with tennis pro

Claudiu Retean, a Sports Professionals Association-certified tennis pro, offered technique tips and motivation at the Feb. 15 session.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Joyce Hecklau, who played essential roles in planning Longboat Harbour's change of watch and holiday festivities, earned the title of Woman of the Year.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 19, 2026
Longboat Harbour names event planner extraordinaire Woman of the Year

The Longboat Harbour Owners Association, Inc., honored Joyce Hecklau at the annual Men's Club-hosted brunch.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Artist Michelle-Marie Heinemann recently created the non-profit Flower Tree Foundation to facilitate bringing art installations to public spaces. She stands next to a larger-than-life statue that is part of her daisy series of statues, the first public installation she brought to the New College of Florida.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 18, 2026
Sculptor explores the power of the flower for community unity

Artist Michelle-Marie Heinemann brings her towering flower statues to New College of Florida, Hawaii, Paris and beyond.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Nancy Prendergast walks away from the annual Longboat Library book sale happy with her find of a book by Jenny Lawson.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 17, 2026
Longboat Library books find loving homes

The Longboat Library annual book sale took place Valentine's Day and saw a solid turnout, organizers said.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Julia Graziano, co-chair of this year's Royal Rummage Sale, shows some of the adorable items to be found at the upcoming sale.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 17, 2026
Special finds await at this year's Royal Rummage Sale

The highly anticipated sale has repeatedly broken record attendance in recent years as treasure hunters have lined up in droves.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key Garden Club members considered what improvements they may be able to help further at the island's parks, including Joan Durante Park, during a recent meeting with Sarasota Bay Estuary Program's Ryan Gandy.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 16, 2026
What's to come at Longboat Key's parks?

Longboat Key Garden Club members recently evaluated the future of the island's parks and how to improve them.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Kim Fenwick and Susie Hettmansperger have co-chaired the Trash to Treasure rummage sale since 2020, and this year's sale on Valentine's Day weekend saw a tremendous turnout, they said.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 16, 2026
Trash to Treasure sale shown love

The Gulfshore of Longboat Key community was abuzz with activity as thrift shoppers found all manner of goods at the Trash to Treasure sale.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Artist Jonell Yoekel showcases her nature photography at the Women's Guild Valentine's Day-themed art show on Feb. 10 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 16, 2026
Valentine's Day-themed art show gives back to community

Women's Guild members hosted a packed house for their second-annual art show to support student scholarships.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
About 130 Longboaters turned out to join "Choirpalooza" at the Feb. 15 service at Christ Church of Longboat Key to sing "The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune."
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 15, 2026
'Choirpalooza' unites 100-plus community members in song

Longboaters lent their voices to the musical event on Feb. 15, singing one of Christianity's best-known tunes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Diane Collins, Sandy Ruppert and Linda Pike were among the record 150 attendees at the Feb. 11 at the Longboat Key Resort for the Go for the Cure kick-off game day.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 13, 2026
Go for the Cure kickoff sees record attendance

Through an afternoon of canasta and mahjong, Longboat Key Club members raised funds for Breast Health Sarasota Inc.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
Longboat Key resident Patrice Fanning started off serving as an officiant for friends, and she is now expending her work into an official business.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 11, 2026
Longboaters in love can keep it local with new wedding officiant business

Longboat Key resident Patrice Fanning recently started her new business, Forever without Borders, to offer wedding officiant services here or wherever couples need her.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Harry's Continental Kitchens General Manager Hal Christensen said his family has been glad to support the Longboat Key Garden Club through all the iterations of Taste of the Keys. The event celebrates 15 years of raising funds for local scholarships this year.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 11, 2026
Tasty treats promised for Taste of the Keys 2026

The Longboat Key Garden Club's main fundraiser celebrates 15 years of tantalizing taste buds by partnering with Longboat's premier eateries.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
High school sweethearts Jean and Joe Kane made sure they were keeping pace together when they bought a tandem bicycle for their 25th wedding anniversary. They shared advice on how to ride through life together ahead of Valentine's Day.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 11, 2026
High school sweethearts share advice on pedaling through life together

This Longboat Key couple bought a tandem bike for their 25th wedding anniversary, a practical and sentimental approach to taking on life together.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
There was some tough competition in this year's Superb Owl "Most Valuable Predator" contest. Wanda, one of the bird rescue's resident barred owls, won the title of "Best Defense."
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • February 10, 2026
Whoooo is the MVP of Save Our Seabirds' owlery?

City Island's bird rescue center called on community members to help decide which of its feathered friends would take the title.

  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Garden Club President Melanie Dale helps lead efforts to beautify and support the Longboat Key community. Butterflies visit flowering plants cultivated to support pollinators, reflecting the club's focus on sustainable, Florida-friendly landscapes.
  • April 1, 2026
Longboat Garden Club's efforts help beautify and nurture a community
2
Harry's Continental Kitchens has been a local favorite for decades.
  • April 1, 2026
A staple of Longboat Key for over 40 years, Harry's Continental Kitchens keeps it fresh
3
The home at 590 Birdie Lane sold for $5.5 million. Built in 2017, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,297 square feet of living area.
  • April 1, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for March 16-20 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
4
Traffic headed north off Longboat Key often backs up onto the Longboat Pass Bridge as Anna Maria Island has become a congestion hotspot on the barrier islands.
  • April 1, 2026
Citizen survey shows love of Longboat, but road issues remain
5
Bird Key Yacht Club members Carol Smith, Amy Lazarus and Beth Nothstine played instrumental roles in keeping the club's lecture series fresh this season by inviting friends to tell their fascinating life stories. Closing out the series, Bobbi Brown shared tales from her journey starting a makeup empire.
  • March 31, 2026
Longtime friendships make Bird Key lecture series possible

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