Leslie Lake
July 11, 2022
Leslie Lake covers Bradenton Beach, Cortez, the environment and Anna Maria Elementary School.
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…
October 31, 2024
Rotary seeks car, bike donations for hurricane victims
CORTEZ – The storm surge from Hurricane Helene not only flooded homes in Cortez, but it also destroyed many vehicles there.
To help residents recover their means of mobility, The Rotary Club of An…
October 29, 2024
Supply distribution continues at Sunny Shores
CORTEZ – A community supply distribution hub for all Cortez residents at the Sunny Shores Park clubhouse opened up shortly after Hurricane Helene and will be in place as long as possible.
“We wan…
October 28, 2024
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
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
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
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
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
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…

















