Top Farmingdale Stories of 2011

As we welcome in 2012,  is recapping the top stories of the past year.

Over the past week, and asked you to vote for the top ones.

Out of our thousands of stories on Farmingdale arts, business, crime, fire, goverment, schools and sports, these stood out as the most momentous.

Top Farmingdale Stories of 2011

 Democrat Eva Pearson ran against incumbent Republican Joseph Belesi for the District 14 seat of the Nassau County Legislature this November. After the race , both candidates had to await a  and the seat's outcome could have resulted in a shift of party power in the legislature. Ultimately Pearson lost to Belesi , but it was a  from beginning to end.

The storm pummeled Farmingdale at the end of August, resulting in an and a

 Residents mourned those who lost their lives on that day ten years ago this year. The Farmingdale Community Summit and Patch sat down with

 A Farmingdale cop was charged for  at a local bartender's head in May, after an investigation by both the Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit and the District Attorney’s Office.  

: Voters in the Farmingdale School District passed a  for the 2011-12 school year and voted back in two incumbent school board members. The final tally was 1,988-1,181 in favor, and there was a 2.52 percent increase in the collective tax levy. The budget maintained a district-wide average class size of 21.75 and kept electives available, but , eliminated some after-school clubs and combined seventh- and eight-grade sports teams to make up for the $2 million less state aid this year and the rising costs of health and employee benefits.

This year, village trustees continued to chart a plan for revitalization in the Village of Farmingdale. They hosted a well-attended community meeting this summer to discuss the latest environmental studies and amended the zoning code on Main Street to allow mixed use.

 Winning the championship was certainly a highlight for the Farmingdale High School varsity boys lacrosse team, but the journey there was just as memorable. The team ended  stranglehold on the New York high school boys lacrosse scene with an overtime win for the . 

 The Main Street grocery store closed in March leaving a huge anchor space in the village empty. Since then, the EPA has been monitoring it for an underground  issue and a realtor has said a  may happen soon. 

: Seven were injured and a teen driver was arrested after a motor vehicle accident in East Farmingdale at 1:45 a.m. on an October Friday night.

: A February fire at  on Fulton Street shut down the area for several hours, with smoke visible as far as Wantagh. . The Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office  and the shop reopened in a new location.