• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Elections
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

East County | Opinion

Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh has been selected to serve on the Florida Association of Counties' Water Policy Committee.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 14, 2019
Manatee County commissioner gets shot at turning tide by joining Water Policy Committee

Manatee County commissioner gets shot at turning the tide by joining the Florida Association of Counties' Water Policy Committee

  • East County
  • Opinion
Clint and Heather Kasten at a Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance event.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 8, 2019
Time for Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance to look toward the future

Heather Kasten has accepted the role of president and CEO with the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The pigs at the Manatee County Fair had plenty of room, the motorists trying to get there ... not so much.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 21, 2019
Not so fair traffic on way to Manatee County Fair

East County Observer columnist Jay Heater talks about a bad traffic day on the way to the Manatee County Fair.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Richard Reskow at Tidewell Hospice Ellenton
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • January 18, 2019
Death of a true Tidewell Hospice hero in Lakewood Ranch

Tidewell Hospice volunteer Richard Reskow demonstrated the value for his work before his death.

  • 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
« 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in East County

1
Country Club's Lilly Chaddha and her daughter, Simi Ranajee, find Shanti Yoga to be a place of peace, relaxation and growth.
  • August 7, 2026
Shanti Yoga sharpens the mind, body and soul
2
Country Club East's Mark Allen Baker shows off his newest book, "Willian A. Brady — The Life of a Boxing and Broadway Impresario."
  • August 5, 2026
Classroom assignment can launch a career
3
The $2.6 million tax refund to the School District of Manatee County was voted by the county commissioners on July 28.
  • August 5, 2026
County sends $2.6 million back to Manatee schools
4
James T. Golden, who previously represented District 5 on the school board from 2018-2022, is now running once again to represent District 2.
  • August 5, 2026
Past school board chair wants to serve Manatee County School District again
5
In Denver, Colorado, Florida Premier FC SWFL played five matches in five days and came up one win short of a national title. It previously won the U.S. Club Soccer Florida Cup in May to qualify.
  • August 5, 2026
Florida Premier finishes as the runner-up in a national soccer tournament

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free