Skip to main content
Leslie Lake

Leslie Lake

July 11, 2022
Leslie Lake covers Bradenton Beach, Cortez, the environment and Anna Maria Elementary School.
Email Leslie Lake
May 7, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Hope remains for residents purchase of Pines Trailer

Pines residents can use paid parking lot – for now

BRADENTON BEACH – The attorney for the owners of the parking lot at the Pines Trailer Park said residents who pay their rent may continue to use the lot for free while the city commission considers t…
May 6, 2025
By Leslie Lake

Sea turtle season kicks off with Suzi Fox Day

BRADENTON BEACH – The official start to sea turtle nesting season kicked off at Coquina Beach on May 1. Named Suzi Fox Day, in tribute to the late executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watc…
April 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Permit fee waiver extended in Bradenton Beach

Permit fee waiver extended in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners unanimously approved an extension of the waiver of permit fees for storm-damage related repairs until July 17. City Building Official Bill Palmer gave an update…
April 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Pines residents speak out on paid parking

Pines residents speak out on paid parking

BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Trailer Park residents came to an April 17 city commission meeting well-prepared and represented to discuss their lack of parking at the park. At issue was the parking lot at…
April 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
CRA board discusses initiating new projects

CRA board discusses initiating new projects

BRADENTON BEACH – Proposed state legislative bills that would prohibit new projects for Communi­ty Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) after Oct. 1 prompted Bradenton Beach CRA members to identify several…
April 16, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Memories demolished along with Annie’s

Memories demolished along with Annie’s

CORTEZ – The demolition of Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop on April 16 marked a sad day in Cortez as years of memories for many were reduced to a pile of rubble. More than a 70-year-old building, Annie…
April 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Sea Turtle patrol begins this week on AMI

Sea Turtle patrol begins this week on AMI

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers are preparing to start the 2025 sea turtle nesting season beginning with turtle patrols on April 15. According…
April 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Gear up for Reel for Rotary fishing tournament

Gear up for Reel for Rotary fishing tournament

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island is hosting its first annual “Reel for Rotary” fishing tournament on Saturday, April 26. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit disaster re…
April 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners invite Kaleta’s input on Pines parking lot

Commissioners invite Kaleta’s input on Pines parking lot

BRADENTON BEACH – Due to audio difficulties at the April 3 city commission meeting, a Special Emergency City Commis­sion meeting was held on April 8 to place into the record items previously discusse…
April 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Tourist tax funds allocated to dock repair

Tourist tax funds allocated to dock repair

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with Manatee County on April 8 for tourist tax money to be used to repair and modify the city’s floating dock structures. “This is f…
April 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners approve Drift-In major development plan

Commissioners approve Drift-In’s major development plan

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners unanimously approved the Drift-In’s major development application on April 8 subject to conditions recommended by attorney Robert Lincoln and previously supported by t…
April 1, 2025
By Leslie Lake
County sends Annie’s owners packing

County sends Annie’s owners packing

CORTEZ – While Manatee County commissioners have not set a demolition date for Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop, they gave Annie’s former owners an April 7 deadline to remove their personal items from th…
April 1, 2025
By Leslie Lake
County sends Annie’s owners packing

County sends Annie’s owners packing

CORTEZ – While Manatee County commissioners have not set a demolition date for Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop, they gave Annie’s former owners an April 7 deadline to remove their personal items from th…
March 31, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Pines homeowners sue Pines park owners

Pines homeowners sue Pines park owners

BRADENTON BEACH – The Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association has filed a lawsuit against park own­ers Pines Park Investors LLC asking in part for an injunction against the park closure and threate…
March 31, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Sand dune loss may affect sea turtle nesting

Sand dune loss may affect sea turtle nesting

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – With the loss of sand dunes from Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella is concerned…