Year in Review: Galloway Township 2011
A lot happened that fell outside the realm of politics, schools or sports. What will you remember.
2011 was the first full calendar year in which Galloway Patch made its home in Galloway Township. So far, we've looked at the year in politics, sports and schools. Certain things don't fall into these categories, though. From New Year's Baby Briana Flores to the issue of what to do with Kennedy's Bar, here's a look at what else happened in Galloway Township this year.
In January, former Mayor Harry Leeds died.
In February, local band Resident Stone signed with a major New York label. The band’s manager is pushing a bill to institute a national day to recognize all charities.
In the midst of everything, it snowed. A lot.
In March, a new book about the history of Galloway Township was released.
A new state law allowed the Harley Davidson store in Galloway to start selling motorcycles on Sundays.
AtlantiCare employees got caught up in the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that hit Tokyo in March.
Also during March, a Galloway resident was the victim of an ATV accident, and the owner of Smithville’s Tutu Posh Boutique took up the fight against Autism.
The Galloway Township Police Department lost K-9 Sabre to Cancer and K-9 Blaze to cardio problems. Both Blaze and Sabre were remembered.
A Cherry Tree was planted on Arbor Day in recognition of the fire service provided by Galloway resident Harold “Whitey” Swartz.
On May 1, 2011, President Barack Obama announced Osama bin Laden had finally been killed in Pakistan. Galloway Township residents, a Galloway cop who served in Iraq, Steve Bonanni Jr., son of the Township Manager and soldier who fought in Afghanistan, another Galloway cop who served in Iraq and a Galloway resident who fought in Iraq all reacted.
In May, Galloway staple and Elvis performer Ted Prior died.
Smithville hosted Galloway Township’s first Renaissance Faire.
Plenty of role models exist in Galloway, including Barbara Sheree, Miss Atlantic County and Miss New Jersey contestant Cierra Jones, and an AtlantiCare security guard who changed his diet and dropped 369 pounds.
Hurricane Irene came to South Jersey in August, but we later learned it wasn't a hurricane.
In the week leading up to the not-hurricane, an earthquake in Virginia was felt all the way to Galloway, and a Richard Stockton College of New Jersey professor and students were caught in the middle.
Times are tough in Galloway, particularly for the At the Hop leasee.
A Stockton student died in a car accident the night before what would’ve been his birthday. Then, an 11-year-old Roland Rogers student was killed in a Sunday night car accident.
Finally, Galloway Patch explored the differences between Nucky Thompson and Nucky Johnson.
Wendy Leaa Birkbeck
8:05 am on Thursday, December 29, 2011
Congrats on your first year!! Thank you for all that you've done for Through The Looking Glass!
Cheers to many more years to come!!