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Opinion

Randy Langley
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 21, 2018
The Langley dilemma

Town Commission candidate Randy Langley knew his criminal past would be resurrected. But it’s 30 years old. How relevant is it?

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • February 21, 2018
How do we keep our kids safe?

Treating our schools like minimum security prisons is not the answer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 15, 2018
Power to the local people

Government is best closest to the people.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Zota Beach Resort on Longboat Key
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 14, 2018
Whose 165 units are they?

Take a hard look at the numbers.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Alison Foxall, 29, Libertarian
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 8, 2018
Break the political cycle

The usual tactics of the major political parties have turned the District 72 candidates into caricatures and turned off voters. Here’s an opportunity for a new voice.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Alison Foxall, 29, Libertarian  candidate for House District 72
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 8, 2018
Break the political cycle

The usual tactics of the major political parties have turned the District 72 candidates into caricatures and turned off voters. Here’s an opportunity for a new voice.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Columnist .
  • February 8, 2018
A generational legacy in the making

The future of the Bay is being shaped right now.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • February 1, 2018
The Promise and Pitfalls of Form-Based Codes

There are reasons less than 1% of American cities use form-based codes. They are tricky to implement and definitely not a panacea.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort has been closed for almost a decade.
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 31, 2018
The greater legacy

The Colony represents the future of Longboat Key. We urge the Silent Majority not to squander this opportunity.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Dave Bullock and Juan Florensa
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 31, 2018
They set the standard

Bullock and Florensa raised the bar of public service.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
John Norcross is the author of "Changeology: 5 Steps to Realizing Your Goals and Resolutions."
    By
  • Kristine Nickel
  • January 25, 2018
Ch-ch-ch changes

You have to be all in if you really want to change, one expert says

  • Sarasota
  • 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
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Latest News

1
Longboat Key Police Department Customer Service Specialist Ivan Zunz shakes hands with Police Chief Russ Mager at a Town Commission meeting Monday, Feb. 2. Zunz was recognized for 10 years with LKPD at the meeting.
  • February 5, 2026
Ivan Zunz recognized for a decade with LKPD
2
Jennifer Rominiecki brought the living museum concept to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens when she was named president and CEO in 2015.
  • February 5, 2026
Botanical gardens' potential lured Rominiecki family to Sarasota
3
Capt. A.J. Grande operates a "six pack" fishing charter business who often picks up and drops off customers at Nora Patterson Park.
  • February 5, 2026
Permits will be required for charter boat operators using county parks
4
The home at 3851 Tangier Terrace was built in 2024 and has three bedrooms, three baths, a pool and 2,379 square feet of living area.
  • February 5, 2026
Top residential real estate sales for Jan. 19-23 in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Palmer Ranch, Osprey, Nokomis
5
District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold walks in a parade in 2021.
  • February 5, 2026
Longboat commissioner appointed to National League of Cities committee

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