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Longboat Key | News

Trish Shinkle served as Town Clerk for the town of Longboat Key from June 2006 to June 2026.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 8, 2026
Trish Shinkle, who recorded town history for 20 years, has retired

Shinkle started as town clerk in 2006. She’s witnessed plenty of contentious issues while she took meticulous notes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key Turtle Watch members documented evidence of the first green turtle nest of the season on the key.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 5, 2026
First green turtle nesting spotted on Longboat Key

The same patrol team that documented the first loggerhead nest of the season spotted the first green turtle nest.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Plastic bottles have been separated from other recyclables as they travel along a conveyor line at the Circular Services materials recovery facility in Sarasota.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 3, 2026
From shelf to floor: A plastic bottle's journey

After your recycling is picked up from the curb, what happens to it? One potential landing spot may be right under your feet.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A proposal that could eliminate property taxes in the state of Florida, would damage the funding of Longboat Key police and fire departments.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 3, 2026
Longboat Key pushes against Gov. DeSantis property tax reform proposal

A letter from the town to the state delegation described the governor's method of introducing property tax reform as political theater.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Municipalities across the region limit fertilizer use during the summer to protect local waterways.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • June 2, 2026
Fertilizer restrictions in place on Longboat Key

Residents are prohibited from using certain types of fertilizers during the rainy summer seasons to protect the waterways.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Lido Shores Property Owners Association board members, including President Michelle Swartz, Vice President Jon Tilkemeier, Tom Fitzgerald and Jan Farber, joined team members from New Pass Dock & Seawall, including Co-Owner Jonathon Sisler, President and Co-Owner Todd Wagner and Sales Manager Matt Billib, to break ground on a new beachside pavilion to replace one destroyed by the 2024 hurricanes.
    By
  • Dana Kampa
  • June 2, 2026
Lido Shores breaks ground rebuilding meeting space

The beachside pavilion torn apart by hurricanes is being replaced through a push by resident donors.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The home on Jewfish Key opposite Longboat Key is listed at $5.995 million.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • June 1, 2026
Selling the island life on Longboat Key takes a big step to boat-only enclave

Pair of properties on Jewfish Key require an approach as different as living there.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A Longboat Key police officer measures the speed of vehicles traveling on Gulf of Mexico Drive. Traffic enforcement in gated communities require a memorandum of understanding with the Homeowners Association, said Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 31, 2026
Speeding enforcement in gated communities requires HOA permission

Longboat Key Police Chief Russ Mager said a memorandum of understanding is required to set up a speed trap on private roads.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A car carrier operator unloads a Corvette on Bay Isles Road, the town of Longboat Key’s designated dropoff and pickup area for car carriers.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 30, 2026
With fines locked in, Longboat leans on education for car-carrier scofflaws

Safety concerns have prompted Town Commission to look at ways to ensure car carriers are using the designated drop-off location on Bay Isles Road.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Longboat Key’s most recent beach renourishment project occurred in 2021, with the next round of sand-placing scheduled in 2028.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 26, 2026
Longboat’s five-year plan top-loaded with pricey projects

Of the $166.2 million planned for capital improvement projects, nearly half would be spent on a wastewater pipe and beach renourishment in years one and two.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The town of Longboat Key distributes yellow and blue stickers for residents and business owners. Red stickers are reserved for police, fire and emergency responders.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 26, 2026
New evacuation re-entry stickers available at Town Hall

Tiered re-entry stickers feature new colors this year, so residents are encouraged to pick their new stickers up ahead of hurricane season.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Angie Cupp uses a tractor and landscaping rake attachment to clean Longboat Key beaches of debris.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 25, 2026
Beach raking cleans the shoreline but comes with erosion concerns

Many resorts on Longboat Key contract to have their beaches raked, which cleans and fluffs the sand, but town leaders are wary that it could increase erosion.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Grant's Gardens has a two-bay garage at 525 Gulf Bay Road, and is proposing to build an office building on the lot across the street at 524 Gulf Bay Road.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 23, 2026
Landscaping company seeks expansion in Longboat Key

An office building proposed on Gulf Bay Road came before the Planning and Zoning Board for review Tuesday, prompting pushback from a neighbor and former employee.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 23, 2026
New town clerk hired for Longboat Key

Outgoing Town Clerk Trish Shinkle will retire on June 19.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
The Sarasota County side of Gulf of Mexico Drive will be repaved in 2027 or 2028, Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 20, 2026
Longboat repaving projects planned

Side roads will get fresh asphalt over the next few months, and Gulf of Mexico Drive will be repaved in the coming years.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Longboat Key

1
Trish Shinkle served as Town Clerk for the town of Longboat Key from June 2006 to June 2026.
  • June 8, 2026
Trish Shinkle, who recorded town history for 20 years, has retired
2
Plymouth Harbor residents Dr. Frederick "Fred" Moffat, George "Gus" Nimick and James "Jim" Griffith each cut into their cakes in a unique triple 99th birthday celebration.
  • June 8, 2026
Trio of celebrants share a 99th birthday party
3
Longboat Key Turtle Watch members documented evidence of the first green turtle nest of the season on the key.
  • June 5, 2026
First green turtle nesting spotted on Longboat Key
4
The home at 6161 Gulf of Mexico Drive sold for $8 million. Built in 1997, it has three bedrooms, four baths, a pool and 4,224 square feet of living area.
  • June 3, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for May 18-22 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
5
Plastic bottles have been separated from other recyclables as they travel along a conveyor line at the Circular Services materials recovery facility in Sarasota.
  • June 3, 2026
From shelf to floor: A plastic bottle's journey

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