Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008 Santa's arrival to the Sandbar Restaurant Dec. 16 brings kids running for a hug - and later bags of presents for all. The Anna Maria restaurant hosted the annual Lawton Chiles Christmas Party with children in Head Start and Healthy Families Manatee. Islander Photos: Lisa Neff Options abound for new AMI bridge by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The Florida Department of Transportation gave Islanders a plethora of choices for replacement of the Anna Maria Island Bridge at its Dec. 16 public meeting at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach, including a  “no build” option that would keep the current bridge operating for another 10 years. Full Story... Acute care trial now scheduled in April by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter The trial of the four remaining defendants in the Acute Care Inc. Medicaid fraud once again has been moved, this time to April 13. Full Story... Developer resolves parking, variance withdrawn by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Mike Coleman of Pine Avenue Restoration LLC withdrew his request for a variance for additional parking spaces at the company’s proposed retail-office-residential project at 503 Pine Ave,, telling the city commission Dec. 18 that he had rearranged the site plan and resolved the parking issue. Full Story... USA Today travel story sparks flurry of AMI interest by Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter A travel story in the Dec. 11 issue of USA Today about vacationing on Anna Maria Island spawned a frenzy of telephone calls and e-mails to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce from people looking for accommodation information. Full Story... Cramer home invasion trial set for January The trial of the two men charged in the April 17, 2008, home invasion in Anna Maria involving former City Commissioner Linda Cramer has been scheduled for a jury trial Jan. 20, 2009. Full Story... Bradenton man critical after crash by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter A Bradenton man with Island ties remained in critical condition last week after his Jeep Cherokee crashed into a tree along Manatee Avenue on Perico Island. Full Story... Bridge, road project approval granted by regional transportation planners by Paul Roat Regional transportation planners unanimously approved a road and bridge repair plan for fiscal years 2009 through 2014 for Manatee and Sarasota counties. Full Story... Haley's readies to rebuild by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Regional transportation planners unanimously approved a road and bridge repair plan for fiscal years 2009 through 2014 for Manatee and Sarasota counties. Full Story... Wastewater work ongoing at public beach by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Construction crews continued to work last week at Manatee Public Beach on the wastewater equipment housed in the Manatee Public Beach parking lot. Full Story... Quality Construction owner charged Greg Oberhofer, the owner of Quality Builders of Holmes Beach Inc., 5500-A Marina Drive, has been arrested on a charge of misappropriation of construction funds, a second-degree felony. Full Story... Downward trend in loggerhead nesting continues by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Loggerhead nesting numbers in Florida went up in 2008 compared to 2007, but state officials continue to identify a long-term declining trend in nesting. Full Story...