Fire department receives new protective equipment thanks to grant

The 35 sets of gloves and neck protectors will allow Longboat Key Fire Rescue to wash equipment without down time.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue received a grant for an extra set of protective equipment that will allow firefighters to wash equipment after every fire.
Longboaters met some of the current residents at the Humane Society of Longboat Key headquarters for the latest Off the Clock social on April 29, including Light. Light is a member of the "Hidden Gem Club" and promises to light up a room for his future adoptive family.
  • May 1, 2026
Chamber members see behind the scenes at Humane Society social
Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi explains how robust community education contributes to the island's success in responding to cardiac distress calls. He touched on response times, disaster response and more at the April 30 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key.
  • April 30, 2026
Fire chief explains Longboat's high cardiac rescue success rates
Volunteer Linda Gass helped organize a Beachplace fundraiser for All Faiths Food Bank, which included a golf tournament and tabletop games.
  • April 29, 2026
Beachplace hosts food bank fundraiser
Outgoing board members for the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Women's Guild passed the torch to new leaders at the April 14 installation service. The outgoing board includes President Kay Kochenderfer, Vice President Lyn Kennelly, Treasurer Marilyn Davol, Recording Secretary Susan Gilmore Clarke and Corresponding Secretary Mary del Pup. The new board is President Barb Sikora, Vice President Mary McGinn, Treasurer Susan Hartrick, Recording Secretary Carol Basi and Corresponding Secretary Paula Sharp.
  • April 29, 2026
Longboat Women's Guild welcomes new board

Business

Couch LBK co-founders Noel Ladd — who happened to be celebrating his birthday — and Ken Rushing connect with community members at the entrance to the 20th annual Meet Greet Eat social. The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce organized the April 14 networking event at The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
  • April 18, 2026
Meet Greet Eat welcomes new businesses on Longboat Key
Amy Bott, executive director of Bernie's Book Bank's Florida Suncoast branch, connects with J. McLaughlin manager Melanie Dale at the boutique's recent Sip and Shop event supporting the incoming nonprofit.
  • April 8, 2026
Longboat boutique boosts new literacy nonprofit branch
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
Co-owner Chris Carter works with a barista behind the counter of the second location of Sips, which opened at 3172 Gulf of Mexico Drive this month.
  • March 25, 2026
Second Sips debuts on Longboat Key
Longboaters met some of the current residents at the Humane Society of Longboat Key headquarters for the latest Off the Clock social on April 29, including Light. Light is a member of the "Hidden Gem Club" and promises to light up a room for his future adoptive family.
  • May 1, 2026
Chamber members see behind the scenes at Humane Society social
Outgoing board members for the St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Women's Guild passed the torch to new leaders at the April 14 installation service. The outgoing board includes President Kay Kochenderfer, Vice President Lyn Kennelly, Treasurer Marilyn Davol, Recording Secretary Susan Gilmore Clarke and Corresponding Secretary Mary del Pup. The new board is President Barb Sikora, Vice President Mary McGinn, Treasurer Susan Hartrick, Recording Secretary Carol Basi and Corresponding Secretary Paula Sharp.
  • April 29, 2026
Longboat Women's Guild welcomes new board
Jodene Moneuse shares a smile with Longboat Key Police Sergeant Lee Smith while Hagan Lyssy looks on at the first "Cops, Cars & Coffee" social event on April 25 at Whitney Plaza.
  • April 28, 2026
Officers, community connect over coffee at new social event
Swan parents Donald and Lydia shepherd their six cygnets, pictured only about 72 hours after hatching.
  • April 28, 2026
Swan's cygnets hatch on Longboat Key
Susan Phillips, board chair of the Longboat Key Foundation and a Longboat Key Garden Club member, contemplatively peers through a clue-finding magnifying glass at the murder mystery-themed Dinner and a Movie fundraiser on April 24 at Bayfront Park. The event closed out this year's Arts in April programming.
  • April 27, 2026
Arts in April closes out with mystery movie night
Artist Cheryl Moody, who participated in Artists in the Garden earlier this month, joins the local creators showcasing their work at the 10th annual artists' reception and exhibition at Longboat's Town Hall on April 23. The display of works by the featured artists will be up and open for purchases until June.
  • April 27, 2026
Town celebrates 10th year of spotlighting local artists
At least 60 community members of all faiths joined in a clean-up of the island on April 18, celebrating the anniversary of Paul Revere's famed ride. Volunteers collected approximately 140 pounds of trash before coming back together for a breakfast and morning service hosted by Temple Beth Israel.
  • April 21, 2026
Togetherness at heart of Faith 250 community cleanup
Awardees joined members of the Longboat Key Garden Club's grant committee on April 17 to celebrate receiving funding for their community environmental education and outreach programs. Members raised money all year to support local organizations and fund student scholarships given at the annual meeting.
  • April 20, 2026
Garden club uplifts environment, education with record funding
Stand-up comedian Al Ernst opens the second-annual Comedy Night performance through Arts in April, made possible through the Longboat Key Foundation. He and three fellow comedians performed April 16 at the Town Center Green.
  • April 20, 2026
Comedian quintet brings jokes to Longboat listeners
Couch LBK co-founders Noel Ladd — who happened to be celebrating his birthday — and Ken Rushing connect with community members at the entrance to the 20th annual Meet Greet Eat social. The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce organized the April 14 networking event at The Resort at Longboat Key Club.
  • April 18, 2026
Meet Greet Eat welcomes new businesses on Longboat Key
Margarita Lenk, Ari and Stephanie Weiner pick out their slices at the Longboat Harbour annual farewell pizza party on April 16.
  • April 17, 2026
Longboaters bid farewell to seasonal neighbors
Longboat Key Tennis Center pro Robbie Salum tosses a tennis ball up for warm-ups at a clinic on April 8. He and his fellow pros shared what they find special about the public courts and insight into the career paths that led them there.
  • April 15, 2026
Meet Longboat Key's Tennis Center pros
The team aboard the "Triple Threat," captained by John Novak, rounds the first marker of the Bird Key Yacht Club's annual Sarasota Bay Cup regatta on April 11.
  • April 13, 2026
Seasoned sailors take advantage of smooth seas at Sarasota Bay Cup Regatta
Artist Ena Jasmin Carroll credited her friend and fellow artist Pat Lundy with bringing her in for the second annual Artists in the Garden last weekend at Longboat Island Chapel. A dozen local artists showcased and sold their works at the two-day event.
  • April 13, 2026
Local creatives participate in return of Artists in the Garden
Pysanky expert Roksolana Tymiak-Lonchyna shows some examples of the traditional egg decoration patterns.
  • April 7, 2026
This Longboat artist keeps tradition alive with Ukrainian egg decorating
Emi Frydman checks out the basket of Easter eggs her family members found at the April 4 egg hunt at St. Armands Key Lutheran Church. The Easter activities, open to the public, made their return for the first time since the early 2020s through the efforts of church members.
  • April 6, 2026
Back from pre-COVID hiatus, St. Armands hosts Easter bash
Lydia Lardner, 3, makes an impressive start filling up her Easter basket with Kelly Lardner and family at the April 3 Sand Cay Condominiums Beach Resort's Easter egg hunt, a beloved tradition at the resort for more than a decade.
  • April 6, 2026
Families return for Easter egg hunt tradition at Sand Cay
Sue Wertman and Ann Quackenbush join their sister-in-law, Molly Quackenbush, in enjoying a pancake breakfast fundraiser hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key. Chris Sachs and fellow Kiwanians volunteers to raise support for Family Promise of Sarasota-Manatee.
  • March 28, 2026
Kiwanians support Family Promise chapter at pancake breakfast
Tennis pros Robert Jendelund and Tomasz Borucki face off in a doubles match against Jhonathan Gonzalez and David Pfister at the Longboat Key Tennis Center's end-of-season party March 25.
  • March 28, 2026
Tennis pros face off at end-of-season bash
Together, John and Shannon Barton make the "Roaring '20s" at the Great Gatsby-themed annual dinner for members of the Friars Club. Attendees shared their favorite memories from the season and gave out awards at the March 24 celebration at the Harbourside Ballroom.
  • March 27, 2026
Friars golfers throw back to Roaring '20s
Theo Chien and Peter Ginsburg test out their fire helmets at the Longboat Key Fire Rescue open house on March 25 at Station 92. The pair picked out some fire station-themed toys while meeting first responder staff at the annual event.
  • March 27, 2026
Longboat families connect with first responders
Five youth sailing teams raced against one another in the first Next Tack regatta on March 21 at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron headquarters. The program is a more advanced offshoot of the partnership between Spectrum Sailing and the Sarasota Youth Sailing Squadron that fosters inclusive, peer-based sailing instruction.
  • March 25, 2026
New inclusive sailing program brings big smiles