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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 1, 2022
By Leslie Lake
FWC warns boaters to watch out for manatees

FWC warns boaters to watch out for manatees

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatees are on the move this time of year, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is reminding boaters to keep an eye out for the slow-moving mar…
November 1, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Cortez Village Historical Society seeks board members

Cortez Village Historical Society seeks board members

CORTEZ – The Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS) is putting out a call for new board members interested in helping preserve the rich history of the commercial fishing village. The gro…
October 25, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Sea Hagg to be sold at auction

Sea Hagg to be sold at auction

CORTEZ – After 25 years in business, the Sea Hagg, 12304 Cortez Road W., is being sold and an online auction of some 1,000 nautical, decorative and architectural items is underway. “This…
October 25, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Erosion expected to resolve naturally

Erosion expected to resolve naturally

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While the Island missed a direct hit from Hurricane Ian, the effects of the Sept. 28 storm included beach erosion, primarily on the north end of the Island. The good ne…
October 25, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Red tide numbers high south of Manatee County

Red tide numbers high south of Manatee County

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While the waters off Manatee County show only background concentrations of Karenia brevis, the bacteria that causes red tide, some areas to the south are experiencing high…
October 18, 2022
By Leslie Lake

Coquina Beach Market opening delayed

BRADENTON BEACH – The Coquina Beach Market has hit a hurricane-sized snag and its projected Nov. 1 opening will be delayed, according to Manatee County officials. “As crews have been deplo…
October 10, 2022
By Leslie Lake

Local fishermen help those devastated by Ian

CORTEZ – The local commercial fishing community has mobilized to help their southern counterparts following the devastation from Hurricane Ian. The Organized Fisherman of Florida (OFF) Cortez chap…
October 10, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Wildlife Inc. cares for animals during, after hurricane

Wildlife Inc. cares for animals during, after hurricane

BRADENTON BEACH – With crates full of hungry adult and baby rescue animals at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc., it was business as usual following Hurricane Ian, despite the power outages…
October 2, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies

Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Suzi Fox, a longtime former Island resident and executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, died last week at HCA Florida Blake Hospital…
September 20, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Turtle hatchlings break record on AMI

Turtle hatchlings break record on AMI

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle hatchlings have broken the Anna Maria Island record set by the 2018 crop of local loggerheads, with 35,850 hatchlings so far this year. The number, recorded…
September 20, 2022
By Leslie Lake

County, vendors face off on takeover of beach market

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County commissioners debated the county’s takeover of the Coquina Beach Market last week as vendors defended ousted organizer Nancy Ambrose. The beach market saga…
September 13, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Bowlers roll to raise funds for Center

Bowlers roll to raise funds for Center

ANNA MARIA – Several hundred people gathered Saturday night with a common goal in mind – to support The Center of Anna Maria Island. All 64 lanes of the Bowlero Bradenton bowling alley were sold o…
August 29, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Hurricane season’s second half could be unusually active

Hurricane season’s second half could be unusually active

CORTEZ – Halfway through a quiet hurricane season, it’s too soon to relax, as experts are still predicting above-normal 2022 Atlantic hurricane activity. Atmospheric and oceanic conditions still f…
August 22, 2022
By Leslie Lake

Coquina Beach Market on county commission agenda

BRADENTON BEACH – County officials announced earlier this month that they would take control of the Coquina Beach Market, but some commissioners are saying, “Not so fast.” Commissioner Carol Whitm…
August 15, 2022
By Leslie Lake
Ambrose explores new venues for market

Ambrose explores new venues for market

BRADENTON BEACH – Since the Aug. 2 announcement that Manatee County would take over the Coquina Beach Market from Nancy Ambrose, its director for the past decade, she has been looking for new venues…