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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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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…
March 25, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners consider temporary shelter ordinance

Commissioners consider temporary shelter ordinance

BRADENTON BEACH – At the March 20 commission meeting, commissioners considered Ordi­nance 25-563, which would allow hurricane-impacted homeowners to place a temporary shelter – an RV or trailer – on…
March 24, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Pines residents question seawall cap permitting

Pines residents question seawall cap permitting

BRADENTON BEACH – Some Pines Trailer Park residents are questioning whether permits exist for a seawall cap built in 2024 at the park that they say may have acted as a dam during the 2024 hurricanes…
March 24, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Drift-In owners granted temporary use permit to reopen

Drift-In owners granted temporary use permit to reopen

BRADENTON BEACH – Six months after Hurricane Helene and subsequent permitting obstacles shuttered the doors to the Drift-In, the Bridge Street bar will reopen, at least temporarily pending city revie…
March 24, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Pines residents served demand for payment notices

Pines residents must pay

BRADENTON BEACH – Some Pines Trailer Park residents who withheld lot rental payments following last year’s hurricanes were served with demand for payment notices on March 17. The notices required eit…
March 18, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Annie’s Bait and Tackle given 30-day notice for demolition

Annie’s Bait and Tackle given 30-day notice for demolition

CORTEZ – Manatee County has issued a 30- day demolition notice for the removal of Annie’s Bait and Tackle Shop. “We haven’t received the letter yet, but I was told it’s coming,” Annie’s co-owner…
March 10, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Palmer lays out timeline for permit backlog

Palmer lays out timeline for permit backlog

BRADENTON BEACH – Bill Palmer, the city’s new building official, began work on March 5 and has laid out a timeline for the order of business as he steps into his new role. “My initial focus as build…