• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Sand Bucket List
  • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • 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
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Elections
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Sand Bucket List
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Sarasota | Opinion

File photo
    By
  • Kat Wingert
  • February 22, 2018
How do we keep our kids safe?

The terrifying event in Parkland has everyone thinking about school security. But amid the aftermath, is our fear driving us to focus on the wrong thing?

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

Government is best closest to the people.

  • Sarasota
  • 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
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
    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
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
  • 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
    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
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
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • November 21, 2017
What drove the Pilgrims to America?

'Their desires were set on the ways of God and to enjoy his ordinances.'

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
« 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 »
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 in Sarasota

1
Jing Herman stands amongst prints of her artwork.
  • July 9, 2026
Sarasota artist plans to create series of 50 American flags
2
The Patio coffee cart once operated in the parking lot at Swim City on North Tamiami Boulevard.
  • July 9, 2026
Coffee cart brews up downtown food truck expansion proposal
3
Tons of sand were removed from roadways along Sarasota County beaches in the wake of the 2024 hurricanes.
  • July 9, 2026
Sarasota County still awaits $225M in FEMA, state disaster funds
4
Benjamin Franklin Drive on Lido Key was left covered in sand after storm surge from Hurricane Helene swept the road.
  • July 9, 2026
City to repair damaged streetlights on Lido Key
5
Meadows Golf Club off of Longmeadow Road in Sarasota has been with Arnold Palmer Golf Management since March 9. The company restored its 18-hole Meadows Course and is working to restore its 18-hole Groves Course.
  • July 9, 2026
Meadows Golf Club hunts a hole-in-one

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 © 2026 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.


Anytime. Anywhere. Observer.

From in-depth local reporting to real-time breaking news, stay connected to the stories shaping our community with the Your Observer app.

Download Now for Free