• 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

Opinion

Zoning: Killer of creativity
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 15, 2024
Zoning: Killer of creativity

Truth is, zoning has created a disaster in the U.S. — unaffordable housing and high-rise columbariums.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Red tide and you is a great place to START
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • May 15, 2024
Red tide and you is a great place to START

If you are not familiar with the local nonprofit Solutions to Avoid Red Tide, you should be.

  • Sarasota
  • 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
Destined for dissolution?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 8, 2024
Destined for dissolution?

The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation should pull out The Bay Park Conservancy playbook. The foundation, city and county are not in alignment.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Shocker: DeSantis puts politics above competence
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 8, 2024
Shocker: DeSantis puts politics above competence

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed inexperienced Manatee County Commissioner James Satcher over the most qualified candidate in Florida to be Manatee County’s supervisor of elections.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Don’t let Florida become California
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 8, 2024
Don’t let Florida become California

Increasing the supply of affordable housing takes a few common-sense steps. But local politicians are the big obstacle. They don’t have the will or courage.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Sarasota should save another piece of its history
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 2, 2024
Sarasota should save another piece of its history

A reader writes that the city should preserve the McAlpin house.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
That’s one heckuva wrap!
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • May 1, 2024
That’s one heckuva wrap!

Of course, there was fashion, food and fun, but the amount of money donated this year tops the charts as a season standout.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Kudos to the St. Regis developers
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 29, 2024
Kudos to the St. Regis developers

A Longboat resident writes that the St. Regis project has been exemplary from start to (almost) finish.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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
An attack on religion?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 24, 2024
An attack on religion?

A new Biden rule on immigration is forcing thousands of foreign-born clergy to leave their churches, temples and synagogues.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Why do we need a new library?
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 23, 2024
Why do we need a new library?

A Longboat Key reader asks whether the island needs a county-run library.

  • Longboat Key
  • 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
A partnership with the city of Sarasota would turn Payne Park auditorium into the new home of The Sarasota Players.
  • By William Skaggs
  • April 18, 2024
Sarasota Players committed to community

The CEO of The Sarasota Players writes that his organization is focused on entertaining, educating and engaging.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 »
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 News

1
Sarasota Military Academy is at 801 N. Orange Ave. in Sarasota.
  • August 5, 2026
Sarasota Military Academy's downtown campus listed for sale
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
The Hermitage Artist Retreat programming includes free sunset concerts on the beach at its Manasota Key campus.
  • August 5, 2026
Arts incubator receives $450,000 in grants
5
Kids arrive by bus at Southside Elementary. School begins Monday in Sarasota County.
  • August 5, 2026
School zones will be active as kids return to school on Monday

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