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Opinion

Democracy takes foresight and forethought
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 27, 2025
Democracy takes foresight and forethought

One should consider the consequences before making a decision, a reader says.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
'Save the Mira Mar' is inappropriate form of horse trading
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 21, 2025
'Save the Mira Mar' is inappropriate form of horse trading

Seaward's development plan rests on two shaky pillars that lacks an economic need and historic preservation, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Gardeners Out East members Carolyn Lowry-Nation, Nancy Schneider and Melodie Friedebach stand by the Gold Star Memorial installed by the club at the Lakewood Ranch Library.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 21, 2025
A Memorial Day service in Lakewood Ranch would warrant a gold star

Move of Tribute to Heroes Parade to November leaves a void.

  • East County
  • Opinion
How to boost affordability
  • By Adrian Moore, Eliza Terziev
  • May 21, 2025
How to boost affordability

There are some simple steps Sarasota city and county can take to relieve the lack of housing that is affordable — and it’s not requiring public subsidies.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
How we compare
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 21, 2025
How we compare

Living in a capitalistic, competitive society, we all like to know how we compare. Are we best? Worst? First? Last?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Manatee does it again
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 14, 2025
Manatee does it again

Learning Manatee commissioners voted to pursue voiding a contract was too much for SMR’s Rex Jensen.

  • East County
  • Opinion
County should study traffic before buying admin building
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • May 13, 2025
County should study traffic before buying admin building

Give animals on University Parkway a brake, one Observer reader says.

  • East County
  • Opinion
There’s no need for search
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 8, 2025
There’s no need for search

The idea of enduring the City Commission's search for a city manager could make you cringe. So why do it when the best and right candidate is already here?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approve the purchase of 9000 Town Center Parkway May 6.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • May 7, 2025
Manatee's proposed $23.5 million purchase raises transparency issues

While buying a Lakewood Ranch building appears to be positive for East County, residents had little chance to offer input.

  • East County
  • Opinion
LBK survey: What about $?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • May 7, 2025
LBK survey: What about $?

It's no surprise Longboat Key residents expressed high satisfaction in the town survey. That's great. But maybe they also should be asked about their taxes.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Stillpoint Mission's Marge Slepica, Gene Tischer, Linda Burman, Gary Scott and Jim Keiner and Annual Appeal fundraisers Bob Smith, Diane Brune, Judy Balmer and Bob Keehn celebrate the record $84,017 raised.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • April 30, 2025
Stillpoint Mission Appeal sets another record for Bob Smith and friends

Time to celebrate charity, and to get some swim lessons, in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Opinion
Tyranny of Trump's tariffs
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 30, 2025
Tyranny of Trump's tariffs

Who is ripping off whom in international trade. How can Donald Trump know more about tariffs than 250 years of economic evidence? Tariffs punish everyone.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans
  • By Randall G. Holcombe
  • April 30, 2025
In truth, our trade deficits benefit Americans

While the Trump administration’s economic policies are aimed at least partly toward eliminating the nation’s balance of payments deficits, Americans should understand that they benefit from those deficits.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Noted economists past and present on tariffs and free trade
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • April 30, 2025
Noted economists past and present on tariffs and free trade

In any discussion to understand free trade, protectionism and tariffs, there is no debate among credible economists: Free trade: good; protectionism and tariffs: bad.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
A united effort is needed
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • April 29, 2025
A united effort is needed

There's a short time left to raise the necessary funds for Longboat Key's new civic space and library.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
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Latest News

1
Linda R. McKee, retired chief librarian of The Ringling, and Deborah W. Walk, retired chief circus curator, have written a book about a mysterious painting known as the "Greta Garbo Vermeer."
  • July 20, 2026
Two sleuths track the mystery of the 'Greta Garbo Vermeer'
2
About 50 local, state and federal candidates attended "Meet the Candidates" at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing July 16.
  • July 20, 2026
Meet the candidates event draws hundreds to Lakewood Ranch
3
Gunfire reported at youth football event in Sarasota
  • July 20, 2026
Gunfire reported at youth football event in Sarasota
4
A cownose ray waves a wingtip at onlookers from the St. Regis Longboat Key Resort lagoon on Friday after caretakers introduced half a dozen pups to the enclosure. Resident rays had the babies in December, and experts released the adolescents into the Under the Sea Lagoon.
  • July 20, 2026
Half-dozen baby rays debut at St. Regis lagoon
5
Swimming is a sport Izzy DiPasquale got into because of her older sister, Ava DiPasquale. She's now assembling a career of her own.
  • July 20, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Izzy DiPasquale

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