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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 28, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

BRADENTON BEACH – With 80 coconut palms planted on Bridge Street last month, questions have arisen among commissioners, downtown merchants and residents about the safety of the trees and their potent…
May 28, 2024
By Leslie Lake
FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

BRADENTON BEACH – In what Mayor John Chappie characterized as a “mistake,” the city learned the hard way that coconut palm trees are not allowed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on…
May 21, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Turtle, bird nesting seasons in full swing

Turtle, bird nesting seasons in full swing

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Director Kristen Mazzarella said the past week has been a strong one for local sea turtles and shorebirds. “There was a great increase in the…
May 21, 2024
By Leslie Lake
FISH board outlines successes, plans

FISH board outlines successes, plans

CORTEZ – It’s been a year filled with successes and a few challenges for the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) as the board laid out plans for enhancements to the FISH Preserve at its a…
May 21, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Officers issuing citations for unregistered boats

Officers issuing citations for unregistered boats

CORTEZ – Marine law enforcement agencies have issued more than 20 citations recently for multiple unregistered and derelict vessels moored in the waters just south of the Cortez Bridge. “The Manatee…
May 21, 2024
By Leslie Lake

Bridge Street Merchants plans monthly street festival

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bridge Street Merchants Association (BSMA) has big plans for the coming year, including monthly street parties on Bridge Street. The new monthly event, billed as “Sun Down Get…
May 20, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

BRADENTON BEACH – A newly-planted coconut palm tree that fell over on Bridge Street last week has raised questions about whether the city obtained a signed indemnification agreement prior to planting…
May 13, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Captain: Derelict boats looming issue

Captain: Derelict boats looming issue

CORTEZ – Tour boat Capt. Kathe Fannon is questioning why authorities are focusing on the removal of Raymond “Junior” Guthrie’s net camp from the waters off Cortez while ignoring more than 20 derelict…
May 13, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Season’s first shorebird nest discovered

Season’s first shorebird nest discovered

BRADENTON BEACH – The first shorebird nests this year on Anna Maria Island have been spotted and marked by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers. A colony of least terns…
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…