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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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October 28, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Chief gives hurricane recovery update

Chief gives hurricane recovery update

BRADENTON BEACH – At an Oct. 28 emergency city commission meeting, Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby updated commissioners on post-storm progress. Debris removal “Debris removal is…
October 28, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Condemnation at mobile home parks explained

Condemnation at mobile home parks explained

Updated Monday, Oct. 28, 2024 BRADENTON BEACH – City Building Official Darin Cushing addressed condemnation questions and outlined the next steps for homeowners at the Pines Trailer Park and many…
October 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Manatee Beach open, county working to restore all Island beaches

HOLMES BEACH – With dozens of beachgoers soaking up the sun at Manatee Beach as the backdrop to a Manatee County press conference, county officials announced the progress in reopening all of Anna Mar…
October 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake
1930 Bradenton Beach bungalow demolished due to damage from hurricane Helene

1930 Bradenton Beach home demolished due to storm damage

BRADENTON BEACH – Bev Liddle watched her Gulf Drive family vacation home containing decades of memories being demolished on Oct. 23. Due to the storm surge from Hurricane Helene, the 739 square fo…
October 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Kaleta expected to release statement on Pines

BRADENTON BEACH – Since receiving the news from the city building official on Oct. 17 that FEMA guidelines triggered a city ordinance requiring the Pines Trailer Park mobile homeowners to either vaca…
October 24, 2024
By Leslie Lake
County starts Cortez damage assessments

County starts Cortez damage assessments

CORTEZ — Manatee County inspectors will conduct individual damage assessments of properties in the Cortez zip code, including mobile home parks, beginning Friday, Oct. 25, and continuing through Sund…
October 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
CRA approves ferry dock repairs

CRA approves ferry dock repairs

BRADENTON BEACH – The city pier and the floating docks were heavily damaged following Hurricane Milton. At the Oct. 17 Community Redevelopment Meeting with an eye on getting ferry service back for Is…
October 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Annie's Bait and Tackle

Annie’s Bait and Tackle working to rebuild

CORTEZ – Back-to-back hurricanes may have left Annie’s Bait and Tackle badly battered, but its ownership expects to be back up and running soon. “I’m hoping we can be back open by Thanksgiving,” A…
October 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Pines residents are waiting for official correspondence from city

Pines, Sandpiper residents in limbo

BRADENTON BEACH – At an Oct. 17 city commission meeting, homeowners at the Pines and Sandpiper Resort Co-op mobile home parks were told they could no longer occupy their residences due to hurricane d…
October 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Volunteer hurricane cleanup available

Volunteer help available for Island cleanup efforts

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Volunteers are needed to help with painting and cleanup on the Island following the recent back-to-back hurricanes, and from now until Nov. 3 residents may request needed voluntee…
October 21, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Debris pick-up impeded in Bradenton Beach

Debris pickup impeded in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH — Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby outlined what he said would be a long process to remove all debris from the city at an Oct. 21 emergency commission meeting. Cos…
October 20, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

BRADENTON BEACH – As Bridge Street comes back to life with merchants reopening businesses following back-to-back hurricanes, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) discussed their vision for the ar…
October 18, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sandpiper Resort evaluating mobile home ruling

Sandpiper Resort evaluating FEMA guidelines, damage assessments

BRADENTON BEACH – Residents of Sandpiper Resort Co-Op are questioning FEMA guidelines that deem some mobile homes with flood damage uninhabitable. City Building Official Darin Cushing said during an…
October 18, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Pines, Sandpiper homes deemed uninhabitable

Pines, Sandpiper homes deemed uninhabitable

BRADENTON BEACH – At an Oct. 17 city commission meeting, Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing delivered the news he never wanted to give and mobile home residents never wanted to receive -…
October 15, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Cortez moves forward with stone crab harvest

Cortez moves forward with stone crab harvest

CORTEZ – In a display of resilience following recent back-to-back hurricanes, both Cortez fish houses are moving forward with the seasonal stone crab harvest. Stone crab harvesting season runs fro…