Top 10 Stories in Marple Newtown in 2011

These were the most-read and most memorable stories on Marple Newtown Patch during 2011:

Whether you love it or hate it, the new in the Marple Crossroads Shopping Center . The retail chain store is located directly in the center of the shopping center, the former location of Marshalls retail store, when entering from State Road.

Although many residents shared their about the mega retail/food store coming to the Marple Crossroads Shopping Center and have signed a petition against the new tenant moving in, the Marple Board of Commissioners were hopeful that the store would generate more revenue and jobs to the town.

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Who could forget the horrific drowning of 3-year-old Joan Elizabeth Logan at St. Albans Swim Club during Memorial Day weekend. was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m. on May 28 at Bryn Mawr Hospital, and Montgomery County Coroner Walter Hofman .

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, 24, of Broomall, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on Nov. 21.

Police and the medical examiner responded to Rose Tree Park at about 10:50 p.m. Monday. Geraghty was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. Monday, according to Medical Examiner Dr. Fredric Hellman's report.

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A two-vehicle crash involving an Upper Darby municipal garbage truck on Reed Road and Marpit Drive in Broomall sent five to the hospital on July 26. Upon arrival to the scene, police said they located an Upper Darby municipal trash truck on its side on top of a 2003 four-door Honda Accord, trapping the driver and passenger inside, according to Lt. Frank Hannigan of Marple Township Police.

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Edward Partridge won the Newtown Township GOP primary election May 17 against long-time sueprvisor Linda Houldin. A heated primary–with campaign signs being stolen and –Partridge won by an overwhelming 1,252 votes over his opponent Houldin.

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A suspicious package was found by the Marple Police station March 8, evacuating the police and township buildings, library and three homes.

The owner of the suspicious package that was found in the front of the station at approximately 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, and evacuated the police and municipal buildings, library and three nearby homes was found to be from a 26-year-old Broomall man.

According to Lt. Frank Hannigan of Marple police, the suspicious package was contained in an unmarked approximately 8-inch by 6-inch box wrapped with blue masking tape.

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It started off with looking at a monthly FedEx bill in February of this year by current Newtown Township Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania when the whole case broke out. After further investigation, the District Attorney's Office officially charged township secretary Gwen Toyzer, Supervisor George Wood, Tax Collector Marie Richards, and George Clement Jr., assistant to the township manager, for theft by unlawful taking and theft of services of using the township's FedEx account for personal use.

After several meetings of deciding , she was suspended without pay and then . , but for political gain.

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The old Pathmark building off of Lawrence Road in still stands vacant after officially closing its doors in October 2010. Since its closing last year, Marple Township Third Ward Commissioner Jim Balk announced at a commissioners work session meeting on Nov. 9 that the original price tag of the Pathmark plot was estimated around $7 million to $7.5 million, in which the value has dropped to around $3 million in its succeeding months.

Balk suggested that the commissioners continue to keep an eye on the price tag of the site for any future community developments for the township such as a recreational facility. The latest from our poll to readers on what they would like to see at the site is still neck and neck between another grocery store and a recreatioinal facility.

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Newtown Township Supervisor Linda Houldin walked out during a supervisors meeting on Nov. 28 when it was brought to the public's attention of Houldin's dual insurance coverage.

Houldin, who continually reiterated it was an honest mistake, shared her last words before leaving the meeting and alluding to the situation as a political grandstand.

"That's it–I'm over it as of today. I'm not going to sit and take another beating. This is my hurrah." 

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A production company will be filming a television reality show in a Marple pizza shop on Dec. 8, Township Manager Anthony Hamaday told the Board of Commissioners during a work session meeting on Dec. 5.

But upon further investigation, Marple Newtown Patch discovered the film crews on location .