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Opinion

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 5, 2023
Wake up. Have hope.

Our word for 2023 is "hope." We all must have hope — hope that our fellow Americans wake up to what is being done to them. History shows us the power of hope. It propels us to take action.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • December 28, 2022
Vision 2023

As we move into the new year, Observer Media Group remains committed to its vision statement: Innovate and elevate.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Myakka City's Lily Wolfe, 9, and her rabbit, Smokey, are headed into competition at the Manatee County Fair.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 19, 2022
Important lessons by a not-so-silly rabbit in Myakka City

FFA and 4-H are important programs for sustaining our future farmers and ranchers in Manatee County.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Lakewood Ranch's Mark and Jane Imperiale have assembled a group of more than 50 bell ringers for the Salvation Army.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 15, 2022
Lakewood Ranch volunteers give a new ring to exit strategy

Salvation Army volunteers have fun while ringing the bell at a Publix location in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Right step for SMH board
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 14, 2022
Right step for SMH board

Hearing the stories of families who lost loved ones during the pandemic was a gut-wrenching baptism for SMH’s new board members. But they responded the right way. Rather than look for blame, they chose to learn.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
DeSantis’ political future? It’s property insurance
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 14, 2022
DeSantis’ political future? It’s property insurance

Long after Gov. Ron DeSantis is gone from Florida politics, his legacy will be tied to the issue Florida legislators are addressing this week in Tallahassee: property insurance.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Tramm Hudson
  • By Tramm Hudson
  • December 8, 2022
SMH Board chair vows to impartially examine COVID-19 response

A report is expected on what went right, what went wrong and what the hospital system can learn.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Adrian Moore, Vittorio Nastasi
  • December 7, 2022
It’s time for Florida to stop relying on ‘taxation by citation’

Relying on fees and fines as a source of recurring revenue isn’t sustainable and should be reconsidered.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
River Club's Vera and Jim Slocum have been each other's yin and yang for 65 years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 7, 2022
Chance meeting led to 65 years of marriage for River Club couple

Lakewood Ranch's Jim and Vera Slocum have laughed a lot while being each other's "yin and yang."

  • East County
  • Opinion
Nancy Perpall has used many of her experiences as a lawyer to write her first novel with more on the way.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • December 2, 2022
Real life drama leads to local author's fiction

Lakewood Ranch's Nancy Perpall has turned a page in her life, going from her profession as an attorney to writing novels.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The school board blew it
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 1, 2022
The school board blew it

Sarasota school board members and Superintendent Aspen showed how not to operate as a competent board and poised leader.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The choice was Asplen’s
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 30, 2022
The choice was Asplen’s

It may have appeared to be an orchestrated effort to oust the Sarasota superintendent. But there are multiple sides to this.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Hal Meyers and Cindie Breeze of the Bluegrass Pirates entertain the crowd at Jiggs Landing. (Photo by Jay Heater)
  • By Jay Heater
  • November 23, 2022
Jiggs Landing of Bradenton plots the course of its concert series

The popular Manatee County park hosts live music Wednesday through Sundays.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 17, 2022
DeSantis should not run

Gov. Ron DeSantis should be insistent that he was just reelected as governor, and the citizens of Florida expect him to do the job they elected him to do.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The watercolor paintings of Stacey Lipton will be featured at the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch's 20th annual Fall Show and Sale on Nov. 19 at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall. (Photo by Jay Heater)
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • November 10, 2022
Lakewood Ranch artist hopes to draw crowds to Fall Show and Sale

Painter Stacey Lipton will be featured during the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch event Nov. 19.

  • East County
  • Opinion
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