• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • 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
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • 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
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Opinion

The Colony has been closed since August 2010.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • January 24, 2018
Colony conversation continues

Too big, too dense, just what the town needs. The opinions on the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort redevelopment are as varied as the neighborhoods on Longboat Key. This week, we publish letters in response to last week’s editorial, ‘Make Longboat Special.'

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • January 18, 2018
Cleaning house

Proceeds from the sale of public property should be used to pay down debt, not finance budget shortfalls.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 17, 2018
Make Longboat special

They’re back, and doing it again. Longboat Key’s ardent anti-development, anti-traffic forces are stoking their constituents to kill Unicorp National Development’s latest redevelopment proposal for the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort property.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Clockwise from top left: Gil Waters in victory after the opening of the new Ringling Bridge, August 2003. Waters and city engineer Alex Davis-Shaw. Waters and his wife, Elisabeth. “The Old Coots Lunch Bunch.”
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 10, 2018
Tribute to a visionary

For nearly 60 years, Gil Waters was a force in Sarasota. Thanks to his passion, vision and determination, we have the ‘Gil Waters Bridge,’ the Van Wezel and FCCI Insurance.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
  • By Larry Eger | Chair of Decide the Date Sarasota
  • January 4, 2018
City voters should decide when city elections are held

Off-year voting dilutes minority and young voter influence.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 3, 2018
THE WORD: 20-GREAT-TEEN!

Despite the World of Trump, Washington and the national media, we can continue to turn the tide with our own decorum and the push for economic freedom and prosperity.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 27, 2017
We’re Main Street; not ‘mainstream’

The national news media have smeared all of journalism, while the media tech giants admit they ‘are destroying how society works.’ Whom can you trust? Some of us still place a high value on credibility, reliability and trustworthiness.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 20, 2017
At the time of Christ’s birth

It's a story that crosses religions and faiths.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Eric Garwood rang the bell at Longboat Key's Publix for the first time this season.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • December 16, 2017
Ringing in the holiday spirit

A stint for the Kiwanis Club at the Salvation Army kettle puts a jingle in the season.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kristine Nickel
  • December 14, 2017
Don't stress — declutter

Is your ‘stuff’ weighing you down? Follow these practical steps to lighten your load.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 13, 2017
Find a way to say yes

This time, the next step in the Colony saga is for real. As Longboat’s P&Z board weighs Unicorp’s plans, it also should consider the alternative: more of the same.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Longboaters having fun and supporting a cause at the Lawn Party
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 6, 2017
In the end, well worth it

Every year, the Lawn Party organizers fret and worry about how they’re going to pull it off. It’s a miracle — of American generosity, volunteerism and capitalism.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 6, 2017
Dec. 7, 1941

Longboat's Pearl Harbor hero

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Bridget Ziegler
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 30, 2017
The board ceiling is broken

Tension has permeated the Sarasota School Board for three years. But with a new chair (a disrupter) and vice chair (the establishment), this is welcomed progress.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 29, 2017
Unfair for 155 years

Sen. Bill Nelson laments how the Republicans’ proposed tax reform is unfair. Duh. The U.S. tax system has never been fair. But we’ll take the corporate tax cut over no cut.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
« 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 »
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
St. Armands Circle was several feet underwater following hurricanes Helene and Milton.
  • December 17, 2025
St. Armands receives $13.5 million to address flooding concerns
2
Lakewood Ranch senior forward Gabriel Lara (11) chases after the ball during a Dec. 15 game against Braden River.
  • December 17, 2025
LRHS's boys soccer team races to an unbeaten start through 10 games
Sponsored Content
3
  • December 17, 2025
Animal interactions and private experiences at Sarasota Jungle Gardens
4
Wild pigs look for food near Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • December 17, 2025
Manatee County's River Club has a pig problem
5
LaRon Foye, a senior safety/wide receiver, points to his right ring finger following his game-sealing interception against Jacksonville Bolles.
  • December 17, 2025
Cardinal Mooney football has undergone all-time turnaround

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 © 2025 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.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now