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
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…
October 10, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Coquina Beach Market reopens after more than a year

Coquina Beach Market reopens after more than a year

BRADENTON BEACH – Coquina Beach Market vendor Christine Barrett loves her new office. “Look at this,” she said. “My ‘office’ has the most beautiful view. What could be better than this?” Barrett, o…
October 3, 2023
By Leslie Lake

Coast Guard suspends investigation into oil spill

PALMETTO – Following testing of multiple potential sources, and with no responsible party identified, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its investigation on Sept. 26 into the source of an oil spill at S…
October 3, 2023
By Leslie Lake

Vote could reduce wetlands protection

BRADENTON – In response to a preliminary Manatee County commission vote to reduce wetland buffers on Aug. 17, the environmental community is making it clear that scientific evidence backs up the impo…
October 2, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Public hearings scheduled on Bridge Street hotel

Public hearings scheduled on Bridge Street hotel

BRADENTON BEACH – In the first of what will be multiple public hearings about an application for a 106-unit resort hotel at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive, the city Planning and Zoning Bo…
September 26, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners approve funding to remove derelict boats

Commissioners approve funding to remove derelict boats

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners have passed a request from Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby to approve funding for the removal of derelict boats at the city pier following Hurricane Idali…
September 26, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Turtle season slows to a crawl

Turtle season slows to a crawl

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The 2023 turtle nesting season is coming to an early end, partly due to Hurricane Idalia. “No changes in nest numbers,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen…