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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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May 13, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Water quality advisory in effect at Palma Sola

PALMA SOLA – The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) has issued a water quality advisory for Palma Sola South due to high bacteria levels. Tests on May 6 and 8 indicate th…
May 7, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Police chief says crime is down in Bradenton Beach

Police chief says crime is down in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – Crime is down in Bradenton Beach. “Last year I stood up here and I told you crime couldn’t go any lower in the city of Bradenton Beach, but our overall crime went down 43.5% from l…
May 7, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Jewfish Key could become part of county

Jewfish Key could become part of county

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners and officials from the Town of Longboat Key discussed a petition from the Jewfish Key Preservation Association to de-annex Jewfish Key from the town at a joint A…
May 7, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach logo

Irrigation system to be installed on Bridge Street

BRADENTON BEACH – The 80 newly-planted palm trees on Bridge Street will need a regular watering schedule, and on May 2, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) unanimously approved the expenditure o…
May 7, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Woodard leaving Bradenton Beach

Woodard leaving Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – With the city officially announcing the resignation of Public Works Director Tom Woodard at a May 2 commission meeting, it was also announced that Police Chief John Cosby will fill…
May 7, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Longboat Key officials suggest traffic flow options for Coquina Beach

Longboat Key officials suggest traffic flow options for Coquina Beach

LONGBOAT KEY – Citing a study concluding that the 1.7-mile stretch of Gulf Drive from the Longboat Pass Bridge to Cortez Road is one of the most unpredictable in the region in terms of traffic expect…
May 6, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City may charge commercial boats to use dock

City may charge commercial boats to use dock

BRADENTON BEACH – The free dockage for commercial vessels at city docks may soon come at a cost. A discussion of the $5,000 cost to replace several floats lost on the floating docks during high surf…
April 30, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Eighty new coconut palms line Bridge Street

Eighty new coconut palms line Bridge Street

BRADENTON BEACH – Eighty new coconut palms have been delivered and are being planted along Bridge Street. “This will be a big improvement,” Mayor John Chappie said on April 25. “Many of the existing…
April 30, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Dock floats missing after storm

Dock floats missing after storm

BRADENTON BEACH – Due to strong winds and waves on April 11, several floats on the city’s finger docks went missing and replacement was discussed at a city Pier Team meeting on April 24. “I spoke wi…
April 30, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Diorama depicts mullet netting methods

Diorama depicts mullet netting methods

CORTEZ – A refurbished diorama depicting now-defunct mullet netting techniques used by early Cortez fishermen was unveiled at the Cortez Cultural Center’s environmental learning event on April 20. “…
April 30, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Stone crab season closes

Stone crab season closes

Fresh stone crabs will be available just a little while longer as the harvesting season is about to end. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), stone crab season c…
April 29, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Turtle Watch volunteers find season’s first sea turtle nest

Turtle Watch volunteers find season’s first sea turtle nest

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Volunteers with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring have found and marked the first loggerhead sea turtle nest of the season on the Island. “We are excited to…
April 22, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Mayors propose to regulate mangroves

Mayors propose to regulate mangroves

LONGBOAT KEY – The mayors of the three Anna Maria Island cities and Longboat Key are considering making a joint application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to obtain loca…
April 22, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Officials discuss state plan to replace Longboat Pass Bridge

Officials discuss state plan to replace Longboat Pass Bridge

LONGBOAT KEY – Members of the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials (BIEO) discussed the proposed new Longboat Pass Bridge on April 17. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Distri…
April 22, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Marina bar remains closed

Marina bar remains closed

BRADENTON BEACH – After city officials put a halt to what they said was the unpermitted operation of a new bar at the Bradenton Beach Marina in March, building official Darin Cushing said the proper…