Leslie Lake
July 11, 2022
Leslie Lake covers Bradenton Beach, Cortez, the environment and Anna Maria Elementary School.
November 27, 2024
Red tide health alert issued for three locations
BRADENTON BEACH – The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) has issued health alerts due to the presence of red tide at the 10th Street Pier, 100 10th St. S. and the Coquina Be…
November 26, 2024
Condemnation notice rescinded for Gulf Drive home
BRADENTON BEACH – You can fight city hall, and win.
The red condemnation notice on Gash Caudill’s Gulf Drive home has been removed by the city following his appeals for a comprehensive inspection…
November 26, 2024
Christmas tree lights up Bridge Street
BRADENTON BEACH – Just two months after Hurricane Helene’s storm surge pushed piles of sand and debris into the city, a concerted clean-up effort enabled the festive spirit to return to Bridge Street…
November 21, 2024
Petition seeks governor review of 50/50 rule
CORTEZ – Residents of Sunny Shores want help from Gov. Ron DeSantis to keep their homes.
Citing community stability and economic burdens, an online petition drive is ongoing for residents of Sunny…
November 21, 2024
Hurricane sand cleaned, returned to beaches
BRADENTON BEACH – In a large-scale beach restoration project to put back sand pushed across Gulf Drive during recent hurricanes, tons of sand are being cleaned and returned to the beaches at the Coqu…
November 21, 2024
Cortez Fishing Festival details forthcoming
CORTEZ – Mindful of residents’ concerns following damage from hurricanes, FISH board members asked the Cortez community for input before scheduling the February 2025 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festiva…
November 21, 2024
Post-hurricane property damage assessments begin
BRADENTON BEACH – Beginning with the mobile home parks, individual damage assessments are being conducted by the city along with state damage assessment teams.
The city of Bradenton Beach and vendor…
November 20, 2024
Cosby offers update on sand, debris, road repairs
BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby gave an update on sand removal, debris pickup and road repairs at an emergency city commission meeting on Nov. 13.
The weekly emer…
November 20, 2024
Pines homeowners meet with officials
BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Trailer Park homeowners attended a Nov. 7 city commission meeting seeking answers about the continued existence of the 86-unit park following hurricane-related flooding.
HELE…
November 7, 2024
New information for Cortez mobile home owners
CORTEZ – Many residents in local mobile home parks received substantial damage assessments from Manatee County following water intrusion from Hurricane Helene’s storm surge. Those residents attended…
November 7, 2024
Debris pickup complete in Bradenton Beach
BRADENTON BEACH—The city’s hurricane-related debris and vegetation pickup is complete, and homeowners are responsible for any further post-storm debris removal. The city’s focus is now on sand remova…
November 4, 2024
DUI charge filed in fatal crash
BRADENTON – The Bradenton Police Department announced the arrest of a Bradenton man on felony charges related to a Nov. 2 crash that resulted in the death of Sara Danielle Holmes, a 37-year-old mothe…
November 3, 2024
Mother of two killed in crash
BRADENTON – The 37-year-old mother of two little girls, Sara Danielle Holmes, was struck and killed in a crash by a suspected drunk driver on Cortez Road on the way home from her job at Swordfish Gri…
November 2, 2024
Pines Trailer Park discussion continues Nov. 7
BRADENTON BEACH – Along with FEMA guidelines and city flood ordinances, fire code and setback regulations have become part of the discussion about the continued existence of 86 mobile homes at the Pi…
October 31, 2024
Star Fish reopens following hurricanes
CORTEZ – With weeks of hard work behind them of cleaning up flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene, Star Fish Company Dockside Restaurant and Seafood Market reopened on Oct. 31.
“Mother Nature al…























