The Granbys Top 10 News Stories of 2011

About 2,500 articles were posted on The Granbys Patch since January 1, 2011, with some (such as the extended coverage of the massive power outages in the area in November), being more important than others (I’m looking at you Daily 5s). There was tragedy and triumph, sometimes in the same story.

With that in mind, here are the Granbys top stories of 2011 with a friendly reminder that while it’s fine to look back at the past, it’s not OK to stare:

10. - After being , Pollack, who sustained life-threatening injuries, returned home to a big celebration in August.

9. - Tropical Storm Irene did little to dampen the festivities of the long-awaited event, which went off without a hitch at Salmon Brook Park in October.

8.   - The Granby school was just one of 315 schools (out of 315,000 schools nationwide) to receive the distinction, which was based on standardized test scores.

7. - The 400-year-old town symbol had several of its massive limbs felled as a result of the late-October snowstorm and being hit on Day Street. Experts say that, with the that once hung over Day Street, the tree’s prognosis looks favorable.

6. - After 30 years of service, including nine as chief, Watkins stepped down on Sept. 30. In typical fashion, Watkins looked as though he’d rather "eat shards of glass” than be the center of attention.

5. - A tree was planted behind the East Granby Town Hall in memory of 13-year-old Jacky Welsh, who passed away in August due to complications from surgery. The tree was decorated and lit for the holidays at a ceremony in early December.

4. The unthinkable - Former Granby police Capt. David Bourque, widely considered to be the heir apparent to Watkins as chief, was to a charge of possession of child pornography.

3. - Longtime Granby educator RuthAnn Lobo, who lost her longtime battle with cancer, was more than a devoted wife, mother, educator and cancer activist. She represented the best of all of us.

2. The weather - Hmm. Maybe the Mayans were onto something with 2012 being the last year in their calendar (I know, I know, it’s a myth, but go with me on this one, OK?) The signs are all there: last winter - awfully dubbed “” - and in l bookended .

Beyond the obvious - the costs of storm cleanups, the loss of business, the school cancellations and overall hassles - what the weather really revealed was the strength of the two communities. From the who worked around the clock during the power outages, to a Granby resident injured or orphaned during Irene - Granby and East Granby residents showed their true colors.

1. - As reported by Julie Weisberg in June, “Emmons, 22, was the driver on a mounted patrol in Logar Province, Afghanistan when his vehicle was hit by a rocket propelled grenade on May 31. He died later at a military hospital from shrapnel injuries sustained in the attack.” He was remembered at a in June.