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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 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
Bradenton Beach logo

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…
February 14, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City commission to consider paid parking lots

City commission to consider paid parking lots

BRADENTON BEACH – If approved by the city commission on Feb. 15, paid parking will cover much of the footprint of a future 106-room hotel/restaurant/retail complex for the next year. A temporary use…
February 14, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Mangrove removal under Army Corps review

Mangrove removal under Army Corps review

ANNA MARIA – Nearly two months after a contractor destroyed 67 feet of mangroves to build a seawall at 111 Gull Drive without all the required approvals, one of the permitting entities – the U.S. Arm…
February 14, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Turtle Watch releases stranding report

Turtle Watch releases stranding report

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – 2023 was a busy year for the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Turtle Stranding and Salvage Team. From January 2023 through January 2024, the team responded…
February 5, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Marina seeks partnership with city on mooring field

Marina seeks partnership with city on mooring field

BRADENTON BEACH – In what was described as a potential public/private partnership to protect the city’s dinghy docks and control derelict vessels, City Attorney Ricinda Perry presented an offer to ci…
February 5, 2024
By Leslie Lake
City ward boundaries under revision

City ward boundaries under revision

BRADENTON BEACH – The first reading of a proposed ordinance outlining the details of a Land Development Code (LDC) revision of ward boundaries was approved by the city commission last Thursday night…
February 5, 2024
By Leslie Lake
Paid parking lot opens in Bradenton Beach

Paid parking lot opens in Bradenton Beach

BRADENTON BEACH – Following the demolition of the colorful Joe’s Eats N Sweets building to make way for a 106-room hotel/restaurant/retail project, the cleared site is being used as an interim paid p…