Community Corner

Burke Patch's Top Stories of 2011

Accidents, weather and local personalities dominated the most-read stories on Burke Patch this year.

Weather, accidents and high schools dominated Burke Patch news in 2011.

Here’s a month-by-month round-up of the most-read articles this year.

January: The start of the new semester in Fairfax County Public Schools brought that they’re overworked. It was the first of many school-related stories to dominate the news on Burke Patch.

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February: An left a motorcyclist with life-threatening injuries. A along Burke Center Parkway turned heated.

March: The got people talking and looking at the sky for several nights in March. 

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April: sent four people to the hospital.

May: A almost led to the cancellation of the prom. More than 100 students participated, and they had to in early June. 

June: Burke Patch talked to the artist and creator of a that draws viewers from near and far.

July: A stopped traffic for hours in late July.

August: The and were both major stories on Burke Patch, but they were minor compared to the local interest in the

September: from Tropical Storm Lee closed many area roads in September. Robinson High School’s for computer solicitation of a minor.

October: Beloved local business owner in October.

November: A local woman was .

December: Santa’s drew hundreds of children out into the streets before the holidays. Burke Patch also followed up with local , who may be heading to the MLB in 2012.

Across Fairfax County

Elsewhere in Fairfax County, several issues throughout the year drove comments and interest on Patch.

Full-Day Kindergarten: Early this year, parents and some school board officials fought to have full-day kindergarten implemented across Fairfax County Public Schools.

Discipline in Fairfax County Public Schools: In February, school officials and parents started debating Fairfax County Public Schools’ disciplinary policies and whether they do more harm than good for some students. The after a student, Nicholas Stuben, apparently committed suicide following disciplinary proceedings. His father, , ran for a position on the FCPS school board this fall, but .

November’s Elections: Leadership positions on the Fairfax County School Board, County Board of Supervisors, the Virginia House and Senate and many other positions were up for grabs in this year’s elections in November. Turnout was around 30 percent—about standard for a non-presidential election year in this area. Patch live-blogged the results from the and races in addition to running profiles of candidates, and covering controversies from the to the .

“The Butt Slasher”: Female shoppers at area malls and stores were watching their backsides this spring and summer, as a person allegedly while the women were shopping.  Earlier this week, Fairfax County police officials reported they the suspect was seen in Peru, and police are working with Peruvian officials now.


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