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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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March 18, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City Park renamed Jan Vosburgh Park

City Park renamed Jan Vosburgh Park

BRADENTON BEACH – The park across the street from city hall, referred to only as City Park, will be renamed after longtime City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh. The discussion of the naming of the beach…
March 18, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Bird Tips

During bird nesting season, March through August, please follow these tips: Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area. Teach kids not to chase birds…
March 12, 2024
By Leslie Lake
FISH board votes to restore net camp

FISH board votes to restore net camp

CORTEZ – Known as the Curt Johns net camp, the historic structure off the coast of the fishing village has fallen into disrepair and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board voted at…
March 11, 2024
By Leslie Lake
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Commissioners consider more paid parking lots

BRADENTON BEACH – Following their approval to draft a contract with Beach to Bay Investments Inc. for a paid parking lot across from the Public Works Department, commissioners postponed a decision on…
March 11, 2024
By Leslie Lake
David Bell resigns from CRA board

David Bell resigns from CRA board

BRADENTON BEACH – Following the end of a March 6 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting during which board member David Bell criticized many of the agency’s methods and policies, Bell handed Ci…
March 11, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners approve paid parking lot

Commissioners approve paid parking lot

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved a bid from Beach to Bay Investments Inc. on March 7 to improve a city parking lot and begin charging for parking. Request for Proposal 2024-03 pertains…
March 5, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Jewfish seeks fewer restrictions

Jewfish seeks fewer restrictions

JEWFISH KEY – The proposed de-annexation from the Town of Longboat Key of homes on Jewfish Key could potentially open the door there for the less restrictive short-term rental policies of unincorpora…
March 5, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Daughter sues over mother’s death

HOLMES BEACH – Deborah Trotter returned last week to the site of the May 12, 2023 accident that took the life of her mother, Miriam Trotter, to warn others of safety issues inherent in construction z…
March 4, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Wastewater dumped into Manatee River

BRADENTON – Shortly after noon on Feb. 28, the City of Bradenton’s water reclamation facility experienced an operational failure, causing 1.2 million gallons of partially treated wastewater to be dis…
February 27, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Cortez firehouse under renovation

Cortez firehouse under renovation

CORTEZ – The old volunteer firehouse in Cortez is getting a facelift. Built in 1950, the building at 4523 123rd St. Court W. served as a volunteer fire department in Cortez for many years. In 1997…
February 27, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Oysters, past and future

Oysters, past and future

ANNA MARIA – Damon Moore outlined his vision for local oyster habitat restoration during a Feb. 21 presentation at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Moore, the founder and executive director of Oyste…
February 27, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Manatee mortality down

Manatee mortality down

MANATEE COUNTY – The recently released manatee mortality report for 2023 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) shows that statewide deaths for manatees are well below the f…
February 27, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Feds issue approval for mangrove removal

Feds issue approval for mangrove removal

ANNA MARIA – Despite attempts by neighbors to put a stop to mangrove removal at a Gull Drive home under construction, the developer received final approval on Feb. 16 to remove mangroves and construc…
February 20, 2024
By Leslie Lake
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Commissioners discuss expanding city boundaries in ICW

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners reached no conclusions on Feb. 15 while discussing expanding the city’s boundaries in the Intracoastal Waterway to increase jurisdiction over the city’s mooring field…
February 19, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Commission considers paid parking in residential zones

Commission considers paid parking in residential zones

BRADENTON BEACH – Following commission approval of temporary use parking lots in the footprint of the planned Bridge Street resort hotel/restaurant/retail complex, commissioners discussed application…