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Opinion

    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 16, 2019
The Lido mob wins

The developers’ withdrawal of their Lido Beach Pavilion plans will be a Pyrrhic victory. In the end, all the city’s residents will lose.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 16, 2019
How red tide affects an 11-year-old

We'll send your letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 9, 2019
A commitment to fight red tide

The following are excerpts from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inaugural address:

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 2, 2019
2019 word: Chivalry

Men, 2018 was a lousy year. We need to change the trend lines. Adopting the codes of the honorable knights of the Middle Ages would be a good way to start.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
How long will 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive stay vacant? Depends on a few things.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • January 1, 2019
Ten bold predictions for 2019

A lot is in the cards for Longboat this year. Here's one swing at what some of them might be.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Rick Scott
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 27, 2018
Give Rick Scott his due

Scott’s ‘relentless discipline’ was crucial to his winning four races and leading Florida’s economic turnaround.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 19, 2018
Days before Christ’s birth

With humility and obedience and far below the radar screen of celebrity status, they carried out God’s will.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 13, 2018
Centuple-millidruple bogey!

Bobby Jones Golf Club decision makes no sense.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Annual Parkinson's Symposium will be held Jan. 12 at Sarasota Memorial Health Care Center, 5880 Rand Blvd., Sarasota. For information, visit neurochallenge.org or call 926-6412.
    By
  • Emily Walsh
  • December 12, 2018
Small but mighty

With more than 9,000 people in the region diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a tiny not-for-profit group is garnering national attention.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Michael Drake, president of the Longboat Key Historical Society, says the society has had the funds to begin renovating its historical cottages. But it needs $450,000 to buy the land.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 12, 2018
The gift of a lifetime for LBK

An open letter to Santa.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • December 6, 2018
What will grow Sarasota tourism?

Visitors who say good things about Sarasota constitute the big X factor in tourism.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Unicorp’s owner, Chuck Whittall, saved the town, taxpayers and Colony unit owners hassles, time, legal fees and at least $1 million by paying for and managing the town-ordered demolition of the Colony. He didn’t have to do that.Â
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 5, 2018
No good deed goes unpunished

What kind of thanks do you get for investing $600 million and boosting the values of Longboat Key? The same old Longboat thanks.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Jim Brown
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 5, 2018
Brown has contributed far more than his share

Veteran commissioner withdraws from re-election bid.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Former President George H.W. Bush died Nov. 30. He was 94.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 5, 2018
Bush 41: The defining symbol of what we should be

The former president died Nov. 30.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Matt Walsh says a tree and green was chosen for the first East County Observers because "that was all that was out there."
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 30, 2018
Many said: 'You're nuts' when it came to starting the East County Observer in Lakewood Ranch

Many said Matt Walsh was nuts when it came to starting the East County Observer in Lakewood Ranch 20 years ago.

  • East County
  • Opinion
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Latest News

1
Check out the following options for holiday services this season.
  • December 16, 2025
Celebrate season's tidings at these Longboat holiday services
2
Braden River High School junior Mystique Quinones shakes hands with Dave Daily, post commander for VFW Post 12055, as she receives her $100 reward for her essay which answered the question “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?”
  • December 16, 2025
Essay contest winners named by VFW Post 12055 Braden River
3
Joan M. Durante Community Park, Longboat Key.
  • December 16, 2025
Longboat Key's Durante Park reopens after hurricane repairs
4
Plans are to replace the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club in Newtown with a new building and convert the current structure into outdoor play space.
  • December 16, 2025
After years of repairs, Boys & Girls Club plans to rebuild
5
Longboat man calls cops on suspected cheating wife
  • December 16, 2025
Longboat man calls cops on suspected cheating wife

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