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 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City facing financial repercussions from hurricanes

City facing financial repercussions from hurricanes

BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby warned commissioners of continuing financial implications for the city from the 2024 hurricanes at the Oct. 23 city commission meet…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City approves Augello as interim city attorney

City approves Augello as interim city attorney

BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission unanimously approved Mayor John Chappie’s recommendation that Erica Augello as lead attorney and the Trask Daigneault LLP law firm be appointed as interim city a…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle season ends with successful fundraiser

Sea turtle season ends with successful fundraiser

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle season officially ends on Oct. 31. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers are monitoring the one remaining nest left on the Island and check…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Vosburgh not seeking reelection

Vosburgh not seeking reelection

BRADENTON BEACH – Commis­sioner Jan Vosburgh has decided not to run for another term. But Election Day on Nov. 4 may not be Vosburgh’s last day, according to attorney Robert Lincoln, who represented…
October 27, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtle nests are hatching

Nesting News

TURTLE NESTS LAID: 544 (528 loggerhead, 16 green) Record: 685 in 2024 FALSE CRAWLS: 828 (797 loggerhead, 31 green) Record: 831 in 2010 NESTS HATCHED: 424 (409 loggerhead, 15 green) Record: 453 in 2…
October 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Wildlife Inc. rehabbed after hurricane damage

Wildlife Inc. rehabbed after hurricane damage

BRADENTON BEACH – One year after the Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center was devastated by two hurricanes, the center is back to full operation. “We’ve had 900 plus (animals) this year…
October 21, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Anna Maria Elementary celebrates Fall Festival

Anna Maria Elementary celebrates Fall Festival

The Anna Maria Elementary Fall Festival at The Center of Anna Maria Island on Saturday, Oct. 18 featured a costume parade, rides, games, food and a pumpkin patch. Last year’s event was canceled due t…
October 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Water quality tests in bay require further evaluation

Water quality tests in bay require further evaluation

PALMA SOLA BAY – The month-long pause in horseback riding in Palma Sola Bay and along its north­ern shoreline ended on Oct. 6 and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) has released the results of i…
October 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach nominates Augello as interim city attorney

Bradenton Beach nominates Augello as interim city attorney

BRADENTON BEACH – Holmes Beach City Attorney Erica Augello will serve as the Bradenton Beach city attorney on an interim basis for up to six months or until a permanent replacement for retired City A…
October 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Suncoast Waterkeeper to sue for pollution of Sarasota Bay

Suncoast Waterkeeper to sue for pollution of Sarasota Bay

SARASOTA – Suncoast Waterkeeper filed a formal Notice of Intent to Sue U.S. Recycling Company on Oct. 3 for alleged ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its industrial facility locate…
October 14, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Stone crab harvesting begins this week

Stone crab harvesting begins this week

CORTEZ – The stone crab harvest begins on Oct. 15, when traps can legally be pulled from the water. Commercial crabbers handle the bulk of the annual harvest, but for those recreational fishers who…
October 9, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Trails, bridges being completed at FISH Preserve

Trails, bridges being completed at FISH Preserve

Trails and bridges to connect the east and west sides of the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve are nearing completion. Land­scape architect Allen Garner, who completed much of…
October 6, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach commissioners seek city attorney

Bradenton Beach commissioners seek city attorney

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials are seeking an interim city attorney prior to choosing a perma­nent replacement for former City Attorney Ricinda Perry, who retired on Sept. 18. Commissioners discus…
October 6, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Turtle Watch Wednesday set for Oct. 22

Turtle Watch Wednesday set for Oct. 22

HOLMES BEACH – The Sixth Annual Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday fundraising event for Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring will be on Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 4-6 p.m. at Hurricane…
October 6, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Drift-In AMI to celebrate 100 years on Saturday

Drift-In AMI to celebrate 100 years on Saturday

BRADENTON BEACH – One year to the day that Anna Maria Island reopened for business after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Drift-In AMI will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 11…