Skip to main content
Leslie Lake

Leslie Lake

July 11, 2022
Leslie Lake covers Bradenton Beach, Cortez, the environment and Anna Maria Elementary School.
Email Leslie Lake
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…
April 22, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Anna Maria Island community remembers philanthropist

Anna Maria Island community remembers philanthropist

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Charles “Chuck” Lester’s legacy of philanthropy and friendship is being remembered on Anna Maria Island following his passing on April 19 at the age of 92. “I have nothing but gr…
April 15, 2024
By Leslie Lake
State seeks contempt ruling in net camp case

State seeks contempt ruling in net camp case

CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is continuing to tenaciously pursue the enforcement of a 2019 judgment against Raymond “Junior” Guthrie to remove his net camp off t…
April 15, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle nesting season begins

Sea turtle nesting season begins

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The traditional May 1 start of the sea turtle nesting season is now April 15, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, whose volunteers began monitori…
April 8, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach logo

Commission denies another parking lot

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners denied a temporary use application for a paid parking lot next to the Gulf Drive Café at an April 4 commission meeting. The application for 900 Gulf Drive N. was…
April 8, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners deny paid parking lot

Commissioners deny paid parking lot

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners denied an application for a temporary use paid parking lot at 2509 Gulf Drive N. at their April 4 meeting. The application, which stated the property was in an R…
April 2, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Bunny & Pirates holding grand finale Saturday

Bunny & Pirates holding grand finale Saturday

CORTEZ – After seven years in business as a pub, market and live music venue, Bunny & Pirates Bazaar is closing and will be having a grand finale celebration on Saturday, April 6. Beginning at…