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Opinion

This mongoose lemur was born in May at the Lemur Conservation Foundation in Myakka City.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 16, 2022
Myakka 'safety net' provides hope for lemurs

The Lemur Conservation Foundation needs donations to help keep lemurs from going extinct. But don't feel slighted if they don't invite you in. Humans have been the enemy for the past 2,000 years.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By Adrian Moore and Richard Hiller | Contributors
  • June 15, 2022
Florida pension fixes in budget are great but only the first step

With the passage of House Bill 5007, the Florida Retirement System’s Investment Plan is much closer to being a model of effective public retirement plan design.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • George Rauch
  • June 9, 2022
Market Watch: Best of times, worst of times

More than a Dickens novel, it's our economic situation these days.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Many businesses, such as Wawa, have racks inside with the East County Observer.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 9, 2022
Racking our brains to deliver the paper in Lakewood Ranch area

The East County Observer seeks more outlets, and better online service to make the newspaper available.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 8, 2022
Two steps forward, one step back

None of the combatants in the trenches of Florida’s property insurance crisis is celebrating the results of the special legislative session.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes has become the target of some county employees who don't like the direction the county is going.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • June 3, 2022
Voting only way to reverse county's squabbling

Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes has become the target of some county employees who don’t like the direction the county is going.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • June 2, 2022
Joe Biden, you are crushing the American people

Destroying our wealth, our way of life, our happiness and our liberty — your plan is pathetic. Rise up, Americans.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Tom Harmer is the town manager of Longboat Key and writes a monthly newsletter about community happenings.
  • By Tom Harmer
  • June 2, 2022
Longboat Key's June Newsletter

Town Manager Tom Harmer's monthly report on community happenings.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Betsy Benac
    By
  • Guest Author
  • June 1, 2022
Betsy Benac says Manatee County administrator, commission throw ethics out window

Former commissioner says mismanagement driving away talented Manatee County employees.

  • East County
  • Opinion
The late Craig Boots of the Country Club was a former Navy pilot who flew planes off aircraft carriers.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 26, 2022
Lakewood Ranch woman talks of Tidewell Hospice's impact

Miriam Boots says her husband's final days were made more peaceful by the hospice's care and kindness.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Commissioner Vanessa Baugh says change can be difficult even if it takes Manatee County in a positive direction.
  • By Vanessa Baugh, Manatee County Commissioner | Guest
  • May 25, 2022
Commissioner Vanessa Baugh hopes Manatee County residents embrace change

District 5 commissioner says facts show Manatee County is moving in the right direction.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Summer reading list
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • May 25, 2022
Summer reading list

As readers head back north and embark on summer travel, stay connected with Observer news and information wherever you are.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
  • By Sen. Jeff Brandes, Florida District 24 | Guest Contributor
  • May 18, 2022
Marketplace of Ideas: A call for courage

When Florida lawmakers convene on property insurance, they will confront the biggest economic challenge in state history. They need to change the incentives to a market of free enterprise and competition that benefits consumers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 18, 2022
Biggest economic crisis in Florida history

Florida’s $3.6 trillion property insurance market is in collapse. Whether Florida’s economy will be rescued will be a political duel: Gov. Ron DeSantis vs. Speaker Chris Sprowls and the state’s plaintiff attorneys.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
When a driver on the road is driving recklessly, law enforcement often turns to a helicopter so it's mobile units can back off.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 12, 2022
Fatal crash illustrates pursuit's difficulty

This particular accident was quite different in nature.

  • East County
  • Opinion
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Santa (Steven Trudell of St. Petersburg) gets the runners fired up just before the start of the 2025 Jingle 5K Dec. 12 in Lakewood Ranch.
  • December 13, 2025
More than 500 runners go the distance in Lakewood Ranch's Jingle 5K
2
Longboat Key Police Deputy Chief Frank Rubino (left) accepts a framed display of medals, patches and pins that demonstrate his 45-year career in law enforcement.
  • December 13, 2025
Longboat deputy chief with 45 years of experience to retire
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Nicholas Savarese, a teacher who has a background in chemical engineering, judges junior Lillian Pevzner-Downer's project on the comparison of conventionally grown crops with chemicals and pesticides versus organically grown crops at the Lakewood Ranch High School Science Fair.
  • December 12, 2025
Lakewood Ranch High revives its science fair

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