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Leslie Lake

Leslie Lake

July 11, 2022
Leslie Lake covers Bradenton Beach, Cortez, the environment and Anna Maria Elementary School.
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January 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City attorney explains Cushing suspension

City attorney explains Cushing suspension

BRADENTON BEACH – In a Jan. 24 letter, City Attorney Ricinda Perry outlined the city’s reasons for the Jan. 21 suspension of Building Official Darin Cushing and is asking his employer to provide a re…
January 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Pines owners offer to sell to homeowners for $75 million

Pines owners offer to sell to homeowners for $75 million

BRADENTON BEACH – In a Jan. 27 letter to the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association (HOA), Pines Park Investors LLC offered to sell the mobile home park to the residents for $75 million. At that…
January 23, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach building official temporarily suspended

Bradenton Beach building official suspended pending hearing

Mayor John Chappie clarified his comments to The Sun on Jan. 24 that Cushing is temporarily suspended, not temporarily terminated as originally reported.   BRADENTON BEACH – The city temporari…
January 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Major development hearing required for Drift-In tiki

Major development hearing required for Drift-In tiki

BRADENTON BEACH – The construction of the tiki hut at the Drift-In is on hold pending further review by the city. City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at a Jan. 16 city commission meeting that a permit…
January 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Owners may ask for rezoning of Pines

Owners may ask for rezoning of Pines

BRADENTON BEACH – While Pines Park Investors LLC has not disclosed plans for its recently-closed Pines Trailer Park, City Attorney Ricinda Perry shed some light on a scenario that could include a rez…
January 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City reviewing planned changes to Bradenton Beach Marina

City reviewing planned changes to Bradenton Beach Marina

BRADENTON BEACH – A plan to replace dry storage and boat repairs with restaurants and retail at the Bradenton Beach Marina was discussed at a Jan. 16 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting. “T…
January 18, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City commission discussing building department restructuring

Commissioners discuss restructuring building department

BRADENTON BEACH – Following discussion at a Jan. 16 city commission meeting about a possible restructuring of the city’s building department, commissioners decided to meet on Tuesday, Jan. 28 for a w…
January 18, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Construction to begin on Bridge Street hotel project

City attorney: Hotel project will begin construction this year

BRADENTON BEACH – Construction is expected to begin this summer on the Bridge Street hotel project, according to City Attorney Ricinda Perry. “By way of keeping you in the loop with development ac…
January 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
FISH Preserve being restored following hurricanes

FISH Preserve being restored following hurricanes

CORTEZ – The recent hurricanes took their toll on the 98-acre FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve. Allen Garner, a retired landscape architect who has been working on the preser…
January 13, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Pines homeowners caught off guard by closure

Pines homeowners caught off guard by closure

BRADENTON BEACH – In a community that Pines Trailer Park homeowners expected to be bustling with activity once again after receiving the city’s permission to repair their hurricane-damaged mobile hom…
January 12, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Seafood Shack parcel sale closes

Seafood Shack parcel sale closes

CORTEZ – Manatee County purchased the Seafood Shack and Marina on Dec. 31 after delays caused in part by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Manatee County Property Acquisition Division Manager Charles…
January 8, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Shamrock Shiver moves from beach to bar

Shamrock Shiver moves from beach to bar

CORTEZ – The annual Clancy’s New Year’s Day Shamrock Shiver charity event looked a little different from prior years, but the goal was still the same – to raise money for local charities. In previou…
January 8, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Cortez fire destroys business

Cortez fire destroys business

CORTEZ – Multiple fire crews quickly knocked down an early morning fire on Dec. 29 at a boat repair business at 4412 123rd St. W., preventing damage to adjacent homes. The fire, however, destroyed a…
January 8, 2025
By Leslie Lake
AMI Christmas Bird Count reveals some surprises

AMI Christmas Bird Count reveals some surprises

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The 125th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count on Anna Maria Island was completed on Dec. 29 and counters found a few surprises. “We were interested in what impact the hurricanes…
January 5, 2025
By Leslie Lake

Owner closes Pines Trailer Park

BRADENTON BEACH –  Pines Trailer Park residents who recently received city approval to repair their hurricane-damaged mobile homes received a letter on Jan. 4 from Pines Park Investors LLC stating th…