Top 10 Most Read Stories of 2011

Since Manalapan Patch launched in late December of 2010, we have seen a rollercoaster of stories hit the front page - and this list of the top 10 most read stories of the year represents both the highs and lows Manalapan Township saw in 2011.

This list is based on statistical numbers of how many people read each article:

10. :

The ten most read story is a recent one - on Tuesday, Dec. 20 the released a statement that Principal Jeff Simon has been placed on a paid administrative leave until further notice. Simon is under administrative investigation, but details as to what the investigation is looking for is a confidential personnel issue and cannot yet be disclosed as the investigation is ongoing. In the meantime, Jennifer Sharp has taken over the role as Principal of . 

9. :

In mid-July, Beth DeGruccio, a Manalapan resident, was ejected from the passenger seat of a Volvo driven by Farmingdale resident, Michael Courtney. A Dodge Stratus crashed into Courtney's vehicle on Casino Drive in Howell after running a stop sign causing Courtney's car to overturn and DeGruccio to be ejected. She suffered facial injuries and a fractured femur. The Dodge Stratus was being driven by a minor, who was discovered to be inebriated while driving and charged with a DWI.

8. :

In late 2012, Whole Foods Market will be opening its doors Marlboro Township.  The supermarket will be the centerpiece of the new Marlboro Commons shopping center, located at the corner of Route 9 South and County Route 520. The retailer provides all-natural and organic food free of preservatives, flavors, sweeteners, colors and hydrogenated fats. This will be the second Whole Foods Market to open in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The other location is in Middletown.

7. :

In mid-October, two students of were found smoking marijuana on school property. Both juveniles, one a female and one a male, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of a pipe.

6. :

In late July, a resident of Freehold Borough, Feliciano Colon, was killed in a two-vehicle car crash on Route 522. Colon was sitting in the backseat of a Honda Accord driven by a Shayna Zalcberg. Zalcberg lost control of the vehicle and hit a Honda Pilot that was driving eastbound of 522. The passengers of the Pilot, both residents of Englishtown, only received minor injuries. Colon was killed and Zalcberg and the front seat passenger of the Accord were critically injured.

5. :

Right after Hurricane Irene hit New Jersey, the issued a mandatory driving ban due to downed power lines, trees, and flooding. The driving ban was lifted in the afternoon on Aug. 28 following the storm.

4. :

The dress boutique Diane & Co., located in both Freehold and Manalapan, hit the spotlight in late May when the Freehold store refused to return a prom dress for cash to Jackie Genovese; Genovese purchased the dress to attend prom with her boyfriend, James Volpe, but Volpe was tragically killed in a crash earlier in the week.

3. :

This story began as a simple arrest story of a Manalapan man who was charged with possessing, manufacturing and distributing the drug Oxycodone. The arresstee, Davon Rolfe, was lodged in Monmouth County Correctional Institute in Freehold. On Friday, Oct. 21, after only a few days in jail, Rolfe died. 

2. :

Local war veterans got to enjoy a free meal on Veteran's Day 2011 at Hartigan's Grille in Englishtown and at Applebee's in Manalapan Township. These two restaurants thanked the heroic efforts of U.S. soldiers by offering them a free meal with proof of veteran status.

AND THE NUMBER ONE MOST READ STORY ON MANALAPAN PATCH DURING 2011 IS........

1. :

The Manalapan Township Committee formally recognized the ICONic Boyz dance crew in mid-June. The committee thanked the dance crew, most known for their second place win on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew", for their performance at Manalapan Day which drew thousands. The boys were trained under George Hubela, the owner, manager and choreographer of ICONic Dance Complex in Englishtown.