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Opinion

Manatee County's Palmetto animal shelter has been run down and overcrowded for years.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 29, 2021
Manatee County commissioners should show patience before junking Palmetto animal shelter

Palmetto animal shelter renovation could save Manatee County money.

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 22, 2021
The silencing of dissent

Rattled by the citizenry’s outrage this summer, the Sarasota School Board majority responds, showing its disdain for the people it serves.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • September 14, 2021
Manatee County Commissioners approve $6 million for animal shelter, $14.9 million for Lakewood Ranch library

Manatee County Commissioners note they can change their mind down the road if the funding seems inappropriate.

  • East County
  • Opinion
When two Secret Service agents asked then-Longboat Observer Executive Editor Lisa Walsh to back off reporting on the 9/11 terrorists, she politely declined. "We're reporters. That's what we do," she said.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 12, 2021
An untold story of Sept. 11

In the 43-year history of the "Longboat Observer," two staffers' involvement in Longboat Key's connection to that horrible tragedy will forever tie them and the newspaper to history.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 2, 2021
OPINION: Ivermectin II: Cons and pros

Readers chastised us, saying we were promoting a COVID-19 drug that’s dangerous and unproven. Dr. Pierre Kory addresses those concerns.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • September 2, 2021
Mask wars: Coercion only brings destruction

This fight or war over masks on school children brings into vivid focus the incongruity that has existed with education from the day it became the domain of the state.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Air Force veteran Eugene Vaadi, who flew missions in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, died Aug. 28 at the age of 100.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 31, 2021
Sarasota war hero dies at age 100

Sarasota's Gene Vaadi, who died Aug. 28, flew missions in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

  • East County
  • Opinion
  • By David Verinder
  • August 26, 2021
Sarasota hospital CEO urges vaccinations after losing father-in-law to COVID-19

Loss of a relative galvanizes need for action.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Paul Amato, Trevor Kelliher and Greg Kelliher, all of Lakewood National, are hoping All Friends Network can make a difference in the lives of those who have developmental disabilities.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 24, 2021
Lakewood Ranch man with cerebral palsy makes All Friends Network a reality

All Friends Network gives those with cerebral palsy, autism and developmental disabilities a place to build relationships.

  • East County
  • Opinion
As an Observer staffer put it, running from Longboat to the mainland likely would have been faster than driving.
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • August 24, 2021
Traffic circle shift show can only get better, right?

A Longboater’s weeklong diary detailing the new traffic pattern at Gulfstream and US 41.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Overcrowding at Lakewood Ranch High might have paved way for a new charter school in Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 20, 2021
Viability of Lakewood Ranch charter school pondered

Manatee school board approves a charter school that hopes to open in Lakewood Ranch in 2022

  • East County
  • Opinion
    By
  • Guest Author
  • August 16, 2021
Letters to the editor: Siesta Key hotel proposals

Siesta Key leaders sound off on recent opinion piece.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • August 11, 2021
Don’t close the door on Siesta Key

Let’s be generous, welcoming and consistent.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • August 5, 2021
Public education unmasked

Parents exposed what’s really going on in Sarasota schools. It’s a case for abolishing public education.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
With Nate's Honor Animal Rescue expanding in Lakewood Ranch, would the county be smart to try to establish a public-private partnership with the nonprofit?
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • August 5, 2021
Letter writer says Manatee County needs new animal shelter

As Manatee County considers building a new animal shelter in East County, some letter writers back public-private partnerships.

  • 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
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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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