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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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September 30, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City approves structure as non-compliant use

City approves structure as non-compliant use

BRADENTON BEACH – Following discussions that spanned several city commission meetings, commissioners tentatively approved a separate but attached structure at 106 23rd St. N. as a non-compliant use a…
September 28, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Sea turtles break nesting record

Sea turtles break nesting record

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring is reporting a record number of sea turtle nests this year, beating 2019’s record of 543 by one nest. The crop of hatchlin…
September 23, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach resident prepared after 2024 storms

Bradenton Beach resident prepared after 2024 storms

BRADENTON BEACH – Thirty two-year Gulf Drive resident Lynne Budzinski did not leave her home during the 2024 hurricanes, but this year she is well-prepared to do so if necessary. Budzinski, who has…
September 19, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Perry retires as Bradenton Beach city attorney

Perry retires as Bradenton Beach city attorney

BRADENTON BEACH – Ricinda Perry’s 21-year tenure as Bradenton Beach city attorney came to an end on Sept. 18 when she announced her immediate retirement at a city commission meeting. She made the an…
September 17, 2025
By Leslie Lake
BB Attorney Performance

Commissioners to give Perry more time to respond to allegations

BRADENTON BEACH – City Attorney Ricinda Perry maintained at a Sept. 16 work meeting that she was not provided proper notice or adequate time to prepare a response to allegations that she had named Dr…
September 16, 2025
By Leslie Lake
FDEP: Williams did not file complaint against AMOB

FDEP: Williams did not file complaint against AMOB

BRADENTON BEACH – After Drift-In bar owner Derek Williams was named by City Attorney Ricinda Perry as the source of a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) violation complaint against…
September 9, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Bradenton Beach responds to state legislators’ letter

Bradenton Beach responds to state legislators’ letter

BRADENTON BEACH – City commis­sioners discussed an Aug. 28 letter sent to the three Island mayors from State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) and State Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton). The state leg…
September 9, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Drift-In owner denies city attorney’s claim about FDEP complaint

Drift-In owner denies city attorney’s claim about FDEP complaint

BRADENTON BEACH – Drift-In bar owner Derek Williams denied filing a complaint with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) about the Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s (AMOB) outdoor tiki stru…
September 4, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Jason Stock remembered for his love of family, fishing, the environment

Jason Stock remembered for his love of family, fishing, the environment

BRADENTON – Jason Stock, who passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 29, is being remembered by the fishing community and many friends for his legacy as a well-respected charter fishing captain, a loving fa…
September 2, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Pines residents can stay under settlement agreement

Pines residents can stay under settlement agreement

BRADENTON BEACH – The owners of Pines Trailer Park, Pines Park Investors LLC (PPI), released a statement about their settlement agreement with the park home­owner’s association. While the settlement…
September 1, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Suncoast Waterkeeper reports heavy toll on mangroves from 2024 hurricanes

Suncoast Waterkeeper reports heavy toll on mangroves from 2024 hurricanes

The 2024 hurricane season took a heavy toll on mangroves across Sarasota and Manatee counties, according to the data from Suncoast Waterkeeper’s second year of the Mangrove Rangers program. “One of…
August 26, 2025
By Leslie Lake
AMI approaching turtle nesting record

AMI approaching turtle nesting record

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island’s nesting sea turtles are approaching a record with 541 nests laid this year, two short of the 2019 record of 543. Another record was set last week when the fir…
August 25, 2025
By Leslie Lake
City defends attorney, invoices

City defends attorney, invoices

BRADENTON BEACH – Mayor John Chappie, city commissioners and Police Chief John Cosby responded to criticism of post-hurricane invoices submitted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry at an Aug. 21 commissio…
August 25, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Former building official blamed for ‘screwed-up mess’

Former building official blamed for ‘screwed-up mess’

BRADENTON BEACH – With 85% of a building project completed under a 2024 city permit, a stop work order was issued at 106 23rd St. N. by city Building Official Bill Palmer, who said the prior permit w…
August 19, 2025
By Leslie Lake
Bungalow Beach parking restrictions remain in effect

Bungalow Beach parking restrictions remain in effect

BRADENTON BEACH – Following a July 29 hearing of Luper Enterprises’ appeal of the city commission’s April 17 decision to prohibit resort fee-based parking at Bungalow Beach Resort, special master Mar…