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East County | Opinion

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 2, 2019
2019 word: Chivalry

Men, 2018 was a lousy year. We need to change the trend lines. Adopting the codes of the honorable knights of the Middle Ages would be a good way to start.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Matt Walsh says a tree and green was chosen for the first East County Observers because "that was all that was out there."
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 30, 2018
Many said: 'You're nuts' when it came to starting the East County Observer in Lakewood Ranch

Many said Matt Walsh was nuts when it came to starting the East County Observer in Lakewood Ranch 20 years ago.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 20, 2018
A tradition rooted in God

From George Washington on, our presidents have reaffirmed every Thanksgiving our nation’s belief in what inspired the Pilgrims.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Potential homeowners check out a model in the Lake Club's Lake View Estates neighborhood.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 14, 2018
Take a ride on Lakewood Ranch's bullish bus

Columnist Jay Heater takes a tour of Lakewood Ranch and finds it is going full speed ahead in the home sales market.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The Observer endorses Ron DeSantis for governor and Rick Scott for U.S. Senate.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • October 24, 2018
We’ll take liberty

A letter to no-party affiliated voters: You have the power.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 15, 2018
We recommend …

‘All politics is local,’ said late House Speaker Tip O’Neill. These are the candidates whose races can change the quality of life in your community.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Rick Piccolo, the president of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, said more major airlines could be headed to Sarasota in the next year.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • July 27, 2018
Side of Ranch: Jay Heater

Better deals will land in Sarasota

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 4, 2018
Ben Franklin, we need you more than ever

To preserve what our founders created, Ben Franklin knew it depended on our having the proper temper in the public square.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • March 7, 2018
Hopes, Miner should go

Manatee schools need the proposed 1-mill tax if they are to get on a path of consistently rising success. But voters also need a sign that the board can be trusted.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 3, 2018
THE WORD: 20-GREAT-TEEN!

Despite the World of Trump, Washington and the national media, we can continue to turn the tide with our own decorum and the push for economic freedom and prosperity.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 27, 2017
We’re Main Street; not ‘mainstream’

The national news media have smeared all of journalism, while the media tech giants admit they ‘are destroying how society works.’ Whom can you trust? Some of us still place a high value on credibility, reliability and trustworthiness.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The New Zealand Women's Four team works out at Nathan Benderson Park in preparation for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 20, 2017
Side of Ranch

Take advantage of some world championship passion.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 28, 2017
Ben Franklin, we need you more than ever

To preserve what our Founders created, Ben Franklin knew it depended on our having the proper temper in the public square.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 29, 2016
3 words to live by for 2017

Last year at this time, wisdom was our word — that Americans would have wisdom in the voting booth

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 22, 2016
At the time of Christ's birth

under Herod, the Jews managed to live with what biblical historian James Edward Talmadge called 'some semblance of national autonomy.'

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 »
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Latest in East County

1
Bradenton 3-year-old Zy'heir Curry, a lover of "Paw Patrol," shows off his trophy from playing flag football at The Learning Experience.
  • July 24, 2026
The Learning Experience in Lakewood Ranch tackles a flag football event
2
Can you eat both halves of a corned beef sandwich? You can test your skills when Wolfie's Hand Cut opens at UTC late this year.
  • July 23, 2026
Can new concept earn the bread for Wolfie's at University Town Center?
3
The Lakewood Ranch Library will open an hour later starting Aug. 1 due to a hiring freeze that was implemented in February. Commissioner George Kruse says hours could be further reduced if the property tax referendum passes in November.
  • July 22, 2026
Property tax cuts will cause 'new normal' in Manatee County
4
Defender Declan Watters (left) is one of several Sarasota Paradise players learning from lead assistant Trevor Sinclair (right). The Paradise are 5-10-3 in USL League One and 6-13-3 overall, as of July 16.
  • July 22, 2026
Assistant coach brings wealth of experience to Sarasota Paradise
5
The Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble brings together professional and high skilled musicians.
  • July 22, 2026
Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble eyes new venue

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