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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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July 22, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Commission terminates parking talks with Kaleta

Commission terminates parking talks with Kaleta

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners voted unanimously on July 18 to terminate parking lot management agreement discussions with Beach to Bay Investments Inc. for a paid parking lot between Church an…
July 22, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City threatens shutdown of Bridge Street parking lot

City threatens shutdown of Bridge Street parking lot

BRADENTON BEACH – A city-threatened shutdown of the paid parking lot at 101 Bridge St. prompted its management to begin to fix one long-standing issue, but due to non-compliance with other city requi…
July 17, 2024
By Leslie Lake
First least tern chick takes flight

First least tern chick takes flight

BRADENTON BEACH – At a colony of 45 least terns, eight chicks vary in ages from one to four weeks and the oldest chicks are gaining their flight feathers and practicing flying. On July 8, shorebird…
July 17, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle nests disturbed at Coquina Beach

Sea turtle nests disturbed at Coquina Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – Upon seeing a group of six people digging around a marked turtle nest at the south end of Coquina Beach on Saturday, two early morning walkers did exactly what they were supposed to…
July 15, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Piney Point stormwater to be discharged into Tampa Bay

Settlement reached in Piney Point litigation

PALMETTO – Prompted by a 2021 lawsuit by multiple conservation groups, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has agreed to allow more oversight of discharges from the Piney Point…
July 8, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Second sea turtle nests in daytime

Second sea turtle nests in daytime

ANNA MARIA – More than 100 beachgoers saw an uncommon sight when a nesting loggerhead sea turtle laid her eggs during the day on June 26, the second daytime nesting in a week. Anna Maria Island Turt…
July 8, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Turtle nesting record broken

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A 42-year record for sea turtle nests was shattered on July 2 when Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers counted 2024’s 546th nest, exceeding the 2019…
July 2, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City’s vulnerable areas identified

City’s vulnerable areas identified

BRADENTON BEACH – In the second step required by a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) grant to prepare a vulnerability assessment document for the city, a town hall meeting was hel…
July 1, 2024
By Leslie Lake
FWC offers free program to remove at-risk vessels

FWC offers free program to remove at-risk vessels

CORTEZ – Before an unwanted boat reaches the condition of the abandoned, partially-sunken vessels littering the waters south of the Cortez Bridge, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissio…
July 1, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Growing least tern colony vulnerable to firework

Growing least tern colony vulnerable to fireworks

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Audubon Florida remind beachgoers to avoid disturbing nesting shorebirds with fireworks. Setting off fireworks on AMI…
July 1, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Pier team discusses Bridge Street improvements

Pier team discusses Bridge Street improvements

BRADENTON BEACH – A monthly pier team meeting on June 26 at city hall covered a host of topics including feedback about the Gulf Island Ferry, the installation of cameras on the city pier, road closu…
June 28, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Hot Dog Guy coming to Jewfish Key sandbar

Hot Dog Guy coming to Jewfish Key sandbar

JEWFISH KEY – The sandbar off Jewfish Key, a popular spot for weekend boaters to drop anchor, now has a floating food service option in the form of Capt. Marc Bouclier’s The Hot Dog Guy boat. Boucli…
June 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Public access project at FISH Preserve begins in July

Public access project at FISH Preserve begins in July

CORTEZ – The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board unanimously approved a proposal by Allen Garner to complete a public accessibility project at the FISH Preserve at the eastern edge…
June 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City commissioners question paid parking contract

City commissioners question paid parking contract

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners took issue with multiple provisions of a proposed parking lot management contract between the city and Shawn Kaleta-owned Beach to Bay Investments Inc., opting to…
June 25, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Least tern chicks hatch in Bradenton Beach

Least tern chicks hatch in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – Since a colony of least terns began nesting the week of May 6, their numbers have grown to include 45 birds, with 20 of them sitting on eggs, along with five new hatchlings. Rainfa…