• 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • 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

Observer recommends
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 19, 2024
Observer recommends

2024 primary election recommendations from Observer Media Group CEO and Founder Matt Walsh.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
George Kruse
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 12, 2024
Local political races would pump up the ratings

Manatee County races should raise voter interest.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The fencing along the Tribute to Heroes Parade route did seem too constrictive.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 5, 2024
Kudos to Lakewood Ranch for another stirring parade

Veterans and first responders share the spotlight during the annual event

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 5, 2024
On D-Day, the Allies had the will, leadership to win

Let history inform our current commitments to conflict, and peace.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
SMR Senior Vice President Laura Cole talks about Lakewood Ranch's accomplishments over 30 years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 29, 2024
Lakewood Ranch turns 30 and still is growing

The No. 1-selling multigenerational, master-planned community in the nation celebrates its successes.

  • East County
  • Opinion
District 72 candidate Alyssa Gay tells the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club why she is a solid candidate for the Florida House.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 23, 2024
District 72 Republican candidates launch campaigns

Lakewood Ranch Republican Club provides a forum to meet its party's candidates.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch High School senior Jared Mohr plays piano at Arts Alive. It was his first public performance after starting to learn how to play piano two years ago.
    By
  • Liz Ramos
  • May 8, 2024
Visual and performing arts key to student education

Participating in arts and music classes can open doors to new opportunities for students.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Another record collection for Stillpoint Appeal
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 25, 2024
Another record collection for Stillpoint Appeal

Observer article didn't cover adverse effects of growth: Get involved and vote.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Wind ensemble blows through Peace Presbyterian in Lakewood Ranch
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 25, 2024
Wind ensemble blows through Peace Presbyterian in Lakewood Ranch

A talented saxophone musician says the group has exceptionally high standards.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Gill Ruderman, of Braden River VFW Post 12055, enjoys his ride as the 2023 Tribute to Heroes Parade grand marshal.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 18, 2024
It's a steady march toward another parade in Lakewood Ranch

Entries begin to line up for 2024 Tribute to Heroes Parade.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Racetracks and homes can coexist in East County
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 16, 2024
Racetracks and homes can coexist in East County

A reader writes that Manatee County needs to speed up timeline for public pickleball courts.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Charlene and Pat Neal long have been major contributors to area nonprofiits and now have joined the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation's Builders Give Back program.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 11, 2024
Pat Neal joins Builders Give Back program in Lakewood Ranch

He says he always has admired Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation founder John Clarke.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Monterey at Lakewood Ranch has two models available, including the Centennial.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 4, 2024
Toll Brothers joins Lakewood Ranch to market new Monterey village

Lakewood Ranch continues to expand its holdings as builders want to capitalize on the brand.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Manatee Commissioner James Satcher has been appointed to be Manatee County's supervisor of elections.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 28, 2024
Bizarre supervisor of elections saga continues in Manatee County

Commissioner James Satcher faces tough choices as election approaches.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Nicole Hackel (Lakewood Ranch Communities), Morgan Bettes Angell (Independent Jones), Paul Benjamin (Benjamin Productions) and Antonio Hernandez (Independent Jones) gather at Waterside Park to announce the Lakewood Ranch Blues Festival.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • March 20, 2024
Lakewood Ranch lands its own blues festival

The former Bradenton Blues Festival is headed for Waterside Park in December.

  • East County
  • Opinion
« 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 »
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
Rising senior quarterback Louisen Desinor will start under center for Braden River High football in the fall. This spring was his opportunity to strengthen bonds with the playmakers around him.
  • May 25, 2026
High school coaches defend relevancy of spring football in Florida
2
Though Florida Power & Light employs a variety of advanced technology to avoid power failures, often the basic work of tree trimming goes a long way toward heading off trouble.
  • May 24, 2026
With our deep dependence on power, FPL gears up to keep the lights on
3
A rendering of the 12U baseball/softball fields five-plex that will be built at UMR Sports complex in East County.
  • May 23, 2026
Expansion 'gets real' at UMR Sports of Bradenton
4
Oceane Visa, who says she has waited years to walk across the stage for graduation, is congratulated by Head of School Debra Otey.
  • May 22, 2026
Out-of-Door Academy graduates showed up for the moments that matter most
5
Leighton Paul (right), pictured here during the FHSAA Class 5A-Region 3 final May 14 against Gulf Coast, was Braden River's leadoff hitter this season. She went 0-for-3 in the state semifinals against Niceville.
  • May 22, 2026
Late rally not enough for Braden River High softball in state semifinals

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