• 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

City should treat public’s treasures with care
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • February 26, 2025
City should treat public’s treasures with care

Sarasota needs to invest in protecting the signature Van Wezel, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Ringling transfer to New College would be detrimental
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • February 24, 2025
Ringling transfer to New College would be detrimental

Taxpayers, the community and tourism would suffer by making the change in stewardship, one reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Are we doubters or doers?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 20, 2025
Are we doubters or doers?

The naysaying is bubbling up over the cost of a new performing arts center. But as we’ve said before, this is not a decision for today; it’s for the next 50 years.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Rooted in History: Ringling Museum and New College
  • By Richard Corcoran
  • February 19, 2025
Rooted in History: Ringling Museum and New College

Shifting the Ringling Museum under New College is ‘not just logical; it ensures the museum’s legacy remains deeply intertwined with Sarasota’s cultural and educational future.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Biden, Obama, Clinton: Era of great prosperity
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • February 18, 2025
Biden, Obama, Clinton: Era of great prosperity

Readers are not ecstatic over the latest election.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Deaths rose under Bondi
  • By Adrian Moore, Jacob Rich
  • February 12, 2025
Deaths rose under Bondi

Fewer Americans are drug addicts, yet more people are dying from drug use. Law enforcement’s crackdown on opioids just caused users to shift to fentanyl.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Moratorium madness
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • February 5, 2025
Moratorium madness

‘Overdevelopment’ is not the problem in Manatee, and a moratorium is certainly not the answer.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
The 50-year decision
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 29, 2025
The 50-year decision

The Karins report on the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall brings to the fore many dilemmas. The Van Wezel needs $17 million to keep going . It’s worth $80 million. Should the city be in the theater business?

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment
  • By Letter to the Editor
  • January 20, 2025
Celery Fields is for both people and the environment

A housing development on adjacent property would directly impact many programs and activities, a reader says.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Florida shines fiscally
    By
  • Adrian Moore
  • January 15, 2025
Florida shines fiscally

Measured against all states, Florida’s total liabilities per capita are among the lowest, thanks to Gov. DeSantis and the Legislature paying down debt. But local governments’ debt is another story.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Don’t fret; growth slowing
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 8, 2025
Don’t fret; growth slowing

For those who chafe at the so-called ‘out of control’ growth, take a breath. Florida’s and the local growth rates are slowing for good.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
Our priority: Developers, people?
  • By Jon Thaxton
  • January 6, 2025
Our priority: Developers, people?

Former Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton responds to Matt Walsh's Dec. 24 column regarding the possible development near the Celery Fields.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
The Word for 2025: ‘Elon’
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • January 1, 2025
The Word for 2025: ‘Elon’

Elon Musk is flawed. We all are. Nonetheless, Musk is emblematic of the mood of Americans. He symbolizes the can-do, pioneering spirit that made the United States. Forget the moon; shoot for Mars.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
It's time to hit the reset button with the new year
    By
  • Mirabai Holland
  • December 28, 2024
It's time to hit the reset button with the new year

Health is more than being sick or not. It is about balance and can lead to a smoother lifestyle.

  • Longboat Key
  • Opinion
Our priority: birds, people?
    By
  • Matt Walsh
  • December 24, 2024
Our priority: birds, people?

There is a simple solution to the proposed rezoning of the Smith Farm. The Audubon Society and stargazers should buy it.

  • Sarasota
  • Opinion
« 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 »
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