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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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November 11, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Volunteers, vendor applications available for Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Volunteer, vendor applications available for 2026 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

CORTEZ – Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board members are planning the 2026 Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival and are seeking vendors and volunteers. The festival planning committe…
November 11, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Fred Bartizal named as P&Z chair

Bartizal chosen as Planning and Zoning chair

BRADENTON BEACH – Fred Bartizal was chosen as the new chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board at the board’s Nov. 5 meeting. Bartizal, owner of the Bridge Tender Inn, succeeded former chair Bill M…
November 11, 2025
By Leslie Lake
The Building Official outlined multiple items to be prioritized and addressed

Building official updates P&Z board on priorities

BRADENTON BEACH – At the request of the Planning and Zoning Board, Building Official Bill Palmer updated the board on building depart­ment activities and outlined multiple items to be prioritized and…
November 4, 2025
By Leslie Lake

Roser Food Pantry seeking volunteers, donations

ANNA MARIA – The need for services at the Roser Food Pantry often outpaces its capacity to help, according to staff, but that gap is expected to widen as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SN…
November 4, 2025
By Leslie Lake

Katz named new Tingley librarian

BRADENTON BEACH – As the new librarian at the Tingley Memorial Library, Stephanie Katz is focused on initiatives to bring people back into the library. “I definitely want to bring our bread-and-butt…
November 1, 2025
By Leslie Lake

Where’s Winnie?

Winnie, a female loggerhead sea turtle, came in tenth place in a field of 12 turtles in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles Race that began on Aug. 1. She traveled 458 miles in the Gulf of M…
October 29, 2025
By Leslie Lake
CRA may need separate attorney

CRA may need separate attorney

BRADENTON BEACH – Com­munity Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members discussed hiring a separate CRA attorney at an Oct. 20 meeting after learning that the city could be out of compliance with statutory r…
October 29, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Bridge Tender Inn hosts Halloween party

Bridge Tender Inn hosts Halloween party

BRADENTON BEACH – The 2024 hurricanes may have taken the animatronic figures, the bubble machine and the hearse that the Bridge Tender Inn was known for at Halloween, but the party will still go on t…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City facing financial repercussions from hurricanes

City facing financial repercussions from hurricanes

BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby warned commissioners of continuing financial implications for the city from the 2024 hurricanes at the Oct. 23 city commission meet…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City approves Augello as interim city attorney

City approves Augello as interim city attorney

BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission unanimously approved Mayor John Chappie’s recommendation that Erica Augello as lead attorney and the Trask Daigneault LLP law firm be appointed as interim city a…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle season ends with successful fundraiser

Sea turtle season ends with successful fundraiser

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle season officially ends on Oct. 31. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers are monitoring the one remaining nest left on the Island and check…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Vosburgh not seeking reelection

Vosburgh not seeking reelection

BRADENTON BEACH – Commis­sioner Jan Vosburgh has decided not to run for another term. But Election Day on Nov. 4 may not be Vosburgh’s last day, according to attorney Robert Lincoln, who represented…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle nests are hatching

Nesting News

TURTLE NESTS LAID: 544 (528 loggerhead, 16 green) Record: 685 in 2024 FALSE CRAWLS: 828 (797 loggerhead, 31 green) Record: 831 in 2010 NESTS HATCHED: 424 (409 loggerhead, 15 green) Record: 453 in 2…
October 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Wildlife Inc. rehabbed after hurricane damage

Wildlife Inc. rehabbed after hurricane damage

BRADENTON BEACH – One year after the Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center was devastated by two hurricanes, the center is back to full operation. “We’ve had 900 plus (animals) this year…
October 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Anna Maria Elementary celebrates Fall Festival

Anna Maria Elementary celebrates Fall Festival

The Anna Maria Elementary Fall Festival at The Center of Anna Maria Island on Saturday, Oct. 18 featured a costume parade, rides, games, food and a pumpkin patch. Last year’s event was canceled due t…

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