Top Stories this week: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007 Man injured in trolley accident A Holmes Beach man was injured Sunday, struck by a van after exiting an Island trolley on Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. Evan Zappola, 22, of Holmes Beach, was flown to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, where he was listed in fair condition on Monday. He had stepped off the trolley and was crossing the street in front of the trolley when he was struck by a 1998 Chevrolet van driven by Howard Stewart, 67, also of Holmes Beach. Stewart was traveling northbound behind the trolley and had pulled out to pass the trolley when he struck Zappola, according to Holmes Beach Police Lt. Dale Stephenson. Charges in the incident are pending, he said. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy 7 arrested at Acute Care facility in Anna Maria By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Agents from the Florida Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit in Tampa on Feb. 23 arrested seven women who worked at the Acute Care facility office on Gulf Drive and charged them with $2.6 million in counterfeit billing claims. Full Story... Anna Maria eyes roofing company litigation By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Anna Maria city commissioners agreed unanimously at their Feb. 22 meeting to retain the Bradenton law firm of Ozark, Perron and Nelson to represent the city in any litigation against Roof USA Inc. for the mold and damages caused by that company to city hall during installation of a new roof on the building last summer. Full Story... Shifting sands in Anna Maria By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Anna Maria city commissioners at their Feb. 22 meeting were all set to consider reviewing each of the 11 special event permit applications for wedding events submitted by the Sandbar Restaurant on an individual basis, particularly after Commissioner Duke Miller wondered how a private party could be a special event. Full Story... Short-term parking fixes honed in Bradenton Beach By Paul Roat The list of short-term solutions to the parking problem in Bradenton Beach is shorter. Full Story... BB department head draws ire of resident By Paul Roat Concerns have been aired regarding abuse of power by a department head in Bradenton Beach. Full Story... Tax proposal troubles mayors, chamber By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Island mayors and Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce representatives plan to hold a town meeting this spring on tax matters. Full Story... GSR's unsecured creditors aim for 'Targets' By Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter Not satisfied with the progress of the attempted sale of any of bankrupt GSR Development LLC’s real estate assets, the official GSR unsecured creditors committee has asked the federal bankruptcy court to allow it to take off the kid gloves and strike back at GSR principals Robert Byrne and Steve Noriega along with several other firms and individuals involved in some of GSR’s “usurious” transactions. Full Story... Mayor meets civic association members By Lisa Neff Islander Reporter Municipal matters dominated Saturday morning conversation at the Island Branch Library, where the Holmes Beach mayor met with members of the Holmes Beach Civic Association. Full Story... Flora forum focuses on native plantings By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter The specialists assembled on Fat Tuesday at a Holmes Beach forum gushed not about gumbo but about the gumbo-limbo. Full Story... Insurance: State softens rate freeze, allows cancellation By Molly McCartney. Islander Reporter Melodie Moss thought for a while that the state's tough new rate freeze protected her against the loss of her homeowner's insurance policy. Full Story... Penny challenge joins 'Fling' How many pennies do you think the jar holds? And quarters, nickels, dimes and dollars? Full Story... County commission OKs Perico purchase By Lisa Neff Islander Reporter Manatee County commissioners voted 7-0 to purchase and conserve more than 231 acres of land on Perico Island during a special meeting Feb. 20. Full Story... Arrest linked to nude photo circulated at Island party A Bradenton man faces two felony charges in connection with the circulation of a nude photo of an ex-girlfriend. Full Story... Time's up By Rick Catlin Islander Reporter Both the Anna Maria Island Bridge and the Cortez Bridge are now operating on a new schedule. Full Story... Impact fees win delegation's vote By Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter Legislation to increase impact fees on new construction in the West Manatee Fire Rescue District won its first vote Feb. 21. Full Story... Fuel spilled at station By Lisa Neff Islander Reporter A gasoline spill at the Holmes Beach Pure Station temporarily shut down operations Feb. 22 but the fuel was contained. Full Story... Westbay Point fire still under investigation The investigation into the cause of the Feb. 15 fire that damaged a condominium at Westbay Point & Moorings in Holmes Beach remains open. Full Story... Top Notch: First weekly winner also 2006 grand prize winner The grand prize winner from among six weekly award-winning photos in the 2006 "Top Notch" Islander photo contest is 'Hermit' by Kim Klement of Bradenton. Her shot was the first winner on June 28 and was taken at Andros Island in the Bahamas in May. She can claim her grand prize, including $100 from The Islander, a dining certificate from Ooh La La! Bistro, a bottle of champagne from Anna Maria Island Liquor and Wine, dinner for two at a Chiles Group Restaurant and framing of the winning photo by Decor and More. Congratulations to all the winners - and be watching next week for our featured runnersup.