• 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

Longboat Key | Opinion

Longboat Key's Bayfront Park is open to the public.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 12, 2017
One cheer for the remodeled Bayfront Park

The new Bayfront Park has more flaws than flair.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The Keep Longboat Special group suggested a referendum to stop the development of any more hotel units on Longboat Key — beyond what already exists.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 5, 2017
Preserve the 250 units

Keep Longboat Special appears to be advocating a referendum to rescind the 2008 town vote to create a pool of 250 tourism units. Don’t go back to the old days; they really hurt the Key.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Zota’s opening creates an appropriate time to acknowledge and applaud Ocean Properties’ commitment to this region.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • July 5, 2017
A bow to Ocean Properties' commitment

Rarely are private enterprises recognized and applauded for their investments and contributions.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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
This is one of two historic Whitney Beach cottages that Longboat Key Historical Society President Michael Drake wants to preserve.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 21, 2017
Save the cottages

Longboat Key Historical Society President Michael Drake has secured the perfect place for the organization to have a home. Now it’s up to Longboaters: Is town history worth preserving?

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran and Gov. Rick Scott
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 21, 2017
Scott, Corcoran: They are better than that

The two could have — and should have — settled their dispute long before the legislative session began.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Joe Gruters and the president
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 14, 2017
Two of our own among top three for the Cabinet

Rep. Joe Gruters and homebuilder Pat Neal under consideration for CFO post under Scott.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Even though Longboat Key is one town, that county line has always made the town and its residents feel split.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 7, 2017
Longboat Key County?

Manatee and Sarasota counties often take Longboat Key’s $28 million in annual property tax revenue for granted. Secession sounds great. But it will never happen.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Bill Kelley, medical corpsman on Omaha Beach
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 7, 2017
Forgotten D-Day

American news media fails to recognize 73rd anniversary.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 31, 2017
Raise the millage?

Sarasota County officials floated the idea last week of raising property taxes. They also agreed to pump $22 million into a stadium for the Atlanta Braves. Talk about a disconnection.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Howard Rooks is hoping that some of his regular customers continue to visit the restaurant at its new location.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 31, 2017
Longboat Key letters to the editor

Amore operators thank Longboat Key patrons

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Defense Secretary James Mattis on his way to speak at West Point.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 31, 2017
We are not cotton candy

'Nothing better represents America’s awesome determination to defend herself than this graduating class.'

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
“FDOT is paying attention and doing more than lip service. I think we made progress,” Longboat Key Mayor Terry Gans says.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 24, 2017
Progress on roads

Thanks to persistent efforts from a few engaged Longboat Key residents, the mayor and town manager, FDOT is ‘doing more than lip service.’ ‘We have to keep on them,’ Terry Gans says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 24, 2017
What about the Christians?

It seems a bit like reverse discrimination, and Christian stereotypes should be part of the discussion.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Phill Younger
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 24, 2017
It's worth a try

A recent proposal may entice more people to run for the Town Commission

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
« 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 »
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 Longboat Key

1
Danae Tran plays the violin for Longboat Island Chapel attendees of the July 19 morning service before she and fellow scholarship recipient Michelle McLeod move to greet guests at the award reception.
  • July 24, 2026
Scholars celebrated at Longboat Island Chapel award reception
2
A Flock camera takes pictures of vehicles that drive on Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key.
  • July 22, 2026
Flock cameras photograph every car that enters Longboat Key
3
The home at 344 W. Royal Flamingo Drive sold for $6.55 million. Built in 1998, it has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, a pool and 4,344 square feet of living area.
  • July 22, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for July 6-10 in Longboat, Lido, St. Armands, Bird Key
4
Mother-daughter duo Bridgette, left, and Giana Clark make a doubly positive difference in their community by monitoring sea turtle nests and clearing litter from the beach as volunteers with the Longboat Key Turtle Watch. The group recently celebrated seeing their new "Adopt A Shore" signage.
  • July 22, 2026
Clean beaches are a 'shore' thing under Turtle Watch's eye
5
Multiple species of starfish have found a home on the "Living Wall" at Longboat Key's Bayfront Park. The innovative project uses 3D-printed concrete slabs modeled after mangrove roots to provide better habitat for aquatic animals.
  • July 21, 2026
Longboat's living seawall recognized for creativity

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