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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 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
CRA approves ferry dock repairs

CRA approves ferry dock repairs

BRADENTON BEACH – The city pier and the floating docks were heavily damaged following Hurricane Milton. At the Oct. 17 Community Redevelopment Meeting with an eye on getting ferry service back for Is…
October 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Annie's Bait and Tackle

Annie’s Bait and Tackle working to rebuild

CORTEZ – Back-to-back hurricanes may have left Annie’s Bait and Tackle badly battered, but its ownership expects to be back up and running soon. “I’m hoping we can be back open by Thanksgiving,” A…
October 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Pines residents are waiting for official correspondence from city

Pines, Sandpiper residents in limbo

BRADENTON BEACH – At an Oct. 17 city commission meeting, homeowners at the Pines and Sandpiper Resort Co-op mobile home parks were told they could no longer occupy their residences due to hurricane d…
October 23, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Volunteer hurricane cleanup available

Volunteer help available for Island cleanup efforts

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Volunteers are needed to help with painting and cleanup on the Island following the recent back-to-back hurricanes, and from now until Nov. 3 residents may request needed voluntee…
October 21, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Debris pick-up impeded in Bradenton Beach

Debris pickup impeded in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH — Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby outlined what he said would be a long process to remove all debris from the city at an Oct. 21 emergency commission meeting. Cos…
October 20, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

BRADENTON BEACH – As Bridge Street comes back to life with merchants reopening businesses following back-to-back hurricanes, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) discussed their vision for the ar…
October 18, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sandpiper Resort evaluating mobile home ruling

Sandpiper Resort evaluating FEMA guidelines, damage assessments

BRADENTON BEACH – Residents of Sandpiper Resort Co-Op are questioning FEMA guidelines that deem some mobile homes with flood damage uninhabitable. City Building Official Darin Cushing said during an…
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…