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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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November 7, 2023
By Leslie Lake

More than $3.5 million approved for manatees, red tide research

WASHINGTON – Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research. A press release from C…
November 7, 2023
By Leslie Lake
FISH Preserve opens officially with ribbon-cutting

FISH Preserve opens officially with ribbon-cutting

CORTEZ – In the culmination of more than two decades of planning, fundraising and hard work, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the FISH Preserve on Nov…
November 7, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Bridge Street hotel prompts public opposition

Bridge Street hotel prompts public opposition

BRADENTON BEACH – A long-awaited public hearing by the Planning and Zoning Board on a proposed 106-room hotel at the intersection of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South brought an overflow crowd to ci…
November 6, 2023
By Leslie Lake

Where’s Suzi?

In the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which ended on Nov. 1, loggerhead sea turtle Suzi finished in fifth place in a field of 11 sea turtles, having traveled 1,355 miles. Sea turtle B…
November 1, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Stone Crab Festival a cracking good time

Stone Crab Festival a cracking good time

CORTEZ – The stone crab harvest is being celebrated in a big way at an annual festival in the historic fishing village. The 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival will be held at the Sword…
November 1, 2023
By Leslie Lake
FISH Preserve opens this week

FISH Preserve opens this week

CORTEZ – The vision that FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) members had more than 20 years ago to preserve the environmental integrity of coastal land on Sarasota Bay has come to fruitio…
October 31, 2023
By Leslie Lake

Nesting News

Turtle nests laid: 531 (Record: 544 in 2019) False crawls: 490 (Record: 831 in 2010) Hatched nests: 466 (Previous record: 447 in 2018) Hatchlings: 37,081 (Previous record: 35,788 in 2018) S…
October 25, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Hurricane ends turtle season early

Hurricane ends turtle season early

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Turtle nesting season is over early this year, with Hurricane Idalia having left a large dent in nesting numbers. “Hurricane Idalia had a major impact on our nesting season, caus…
October 25, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Volunteers replace sea oats

Volunteers replace sea oats

HOLMES BEACH – More than 40 volunteers planted 1,000 sea oats on Saturday, replacing those that were lost during Hurricane Idalia’s high tides. Sea oats were lost when Anna Maria Island was hit with…
October 25, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Bridge Tender Inn gets spooky for Halloween party

Bridge Tender Inn gets spooky for Halloween party

BRADENTON BEACH – This Halloween, when the hearse rolls up, the road will shut down as the Bridge Tender Inn Dockside Bar & Grille, 135 Bridge St., throws a spooky party with costume contests and…
October 24, 2023
By Leslie Lake

Nesting News

Turtle nests laid: 405 (Record: 544 in 2019) False crawls: 439 (Record: 831 in 2010) Hatched nests: 305 (Record: 453 in 2022) Hatchlings: 23,149 (Previous record: 35,850 in 2022) Hatchlin…
October 18, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Manatees could again be classified as endangered

Manatees could again be classified as endangered

MANATEE COUNTY – Following petitions from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says that reclassifying Florida manatees from a threatened to an endangered species may be jus…
October 18, 2023
By Leslie Lake
First wastewater pond closed at Piney Point

First wastewater pond closed at Piney Point

PALMETTO – The environmentally unstable Piney Point phosphate processing site is moving towards closure with the completion of work on the first of four wastewater collection ponds, according to the…
October 10, 2023
By Leslie Lake
County commissioners vote to reduce wetland buffers

County commissioners vote to reduce wetland buffers

BRADENTON – Manatee County commissioners reduced wetland buffers in a 5-1 vote on Oct. 5, defaulting to the less restrictive state of Florida minimums from more restrictive county standards. Buffers…
October 10, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Expert to review ‘big red flag’ in zoning irregularities

Expert to review ‘big red flag’ in zoning irregularities

BRADENTON BEACH – In what City Attorney Ricinda Perry described as a “concerning situation” at an Oct. 5 city commission meeting, a city building official has determined that several properties in th…