The Year In Review: 2011

We had snow (one storm in October!), we had hurricanes, we had flooding.

The Skate Park closed (temporarily) and another township park was severely vandalized.

A local election was held and new development projects were proposed.

Here's a look at some of the top stories in Newtown during 2011:

A late August hurricane ripped through Bucks County, causing power outages, road closures and flooding.

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Irene, more rain caused major flooding along the Neshaminy Creek.

Four suspects are believed to have caused $19,000 in damage at Roberts Ridge Park in Newtown Township. The incident occured in May. have been charged in connection with the crime. 

Complaints about noise prompted Newtown Township to close the Skate Park for more than two months beginning in March. The park reopened in early June after various noise remedies were implemented.

On Oct. 29, about six inches of snow fell in the region.  According to the National Weather Service, before that, the last time measurable snow fell in October in the Philadelphia area was on Oct. 10, 1979. That day, two inches fell.

Just one of three Newtown Borough Council Democrats were reelected in November. Gerard O'Malley was relected to Council, while Republicans Larry Auerweck and Bob King defeated incumbents Julia Woldorf and Mike Sellers. In , Democrat Phil Calabro was reelected and Ryan Gallagher won a seat on the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors.

The approval process for the redevelopment of the former Stockburger Chevrolet site began in December with a conditional use hearing by Newtown Borough Council. The hearing was continued until Jan. 10.

Newtown Township's Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance for parking that will allow the developers of The Promenade to continue plans for the former Acme site with less parking spaces than required by the township. The variance was needed because the applicant, McGrath Homes, is now planning a scaled-back version of the development that's 20,000 square feet smaller than the original 83,000-square-foot plan.

McDonald’s has submitted an application to Newtown Township for a 3,911 square-foot fast food restaurant in the Village of Newtown East Shopping Center. Some residents disapprove of the fast-food chain coming to town. Opponents created a Facebook page, “Say No To McDonald’s At Village Of Newtown East."

A field trip aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia was cancelled in May after the Council Rock School District learned of an alleged scam that two parents were plotting to sicken children aboard the lunch cruise so they could later file a lawsuit. Newtown Township police investigated the matter, but no further information was revealed.