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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 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…
October 15, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Cortez offers food, supplies after hurricanes

Cortez offers food, supplies after hurricanes

CORTEZ – A distribution center of donated food and supplies has been set up in Cortez in front of the Star Fish Co. According to Star Fish employees Dana and Nicole, supplies will continue to be d…
October 15, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Canadian power crews work to restore electrical infrastructure in Sunny Shores

Sunny Shores receives electrical help from Canada

CORTEZ – Multiple crews from Hydro One, an Ontario Canada-based electricity transmission and distribution service provider, navigated their way through debris-filled streets in Sunny Shores to restor…
October 15, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival canceled

Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival canceled

CORTEZ – The 12th annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival is canceled this year due to the impacts of recent hurricanes. The festival was scheduled for Nov. 9 and 10. It’s a Cortez tradition…
October 13, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Fuel distribution to southwest Florida resumes

Fuel distribution to southwest Florida resumes

PALMETTO – With gasoline shortages at local stations following Hurricane Milton, welcome news came from SeaPort Manatee as the port resumed fuel distributions to southwest and central Florida on Sund…
October 12, 2024
By Leslie Lake
October 11, 2024
By Leslie Lake
DeSantis surveys Cortez hurricane damage

DeSantis surveys Cortez hurricane damage

CORTEZ – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a stop in Cortez shortly after noon on Friday, Oct. 11, and got a firsthand look at the damage to the fishing village following Hurricanes Helene and Milton…
October 8, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Mounds of debris remain as hurricane approaches

Mounds of debris remain as hurricane approaches

CORTEZ — Hurricane Milton is expected to bring high winds and a storm surge to the area late Wednesday night, and time was running short on Tuesday to remove household debris left out following Hurri…
October 6, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle nesting season comes to an end

Sea turtle nesting season comes to an end

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle nesting season comes to an early close due to the remaining nests being washed out by Hurricane Helene. “We had eight nests left prior to Hurricane Helene and it’s l…
October 6, 2024
By Leslie Lake
No moratorium on rentals in Bradenton Beach

No rental moratorium in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – No rental moratorium is in place in Anna Maria Island’s southernmost city. Prior to the adoption of a resolution Thursday requiring residents and business owners to have structur…
October 4, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners receive update on Hurricane Helene recovery

Commissioners receive update on Hurricane Helene recovery

BRADENTON BEACH – In what Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby described as an ever-changing situation, he gave commissioners the latest update on progress and steps forward for storm re…
October 3, 2024
By Leslie Lake

It takes a (fishing) village

CORTEZ – Many individuals and groups have stepped up to help Cortez residents who lost so much in last week’s hurricane. The Cortez Church of Christ is a distribution center for residents of donat…
October 3, 2024
By Leslie Lake

City requires structural, electrical inspections prior to occupancy

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners unanimously approved an emergency resolution on Thursday afternoon that will allow residential occupancy only following satisfactory structural and electrical ins…
September 30, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Residents urged to take precautions when returning to Island

Residents urged to take precautions when returning to Island

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As residents and business owners return to the Island, officials remind them to be mindful of inherent hazards following a flooding storm. The Holmes Beach building official’s of…