Happy Anniversary, Montclair Patch

Two years ago, on June 30, 2010, Montclair Patch went live during the same week federal prosecutors accused 11 people of being part of a Russian espionage ring including two people on Marquette Road in Montclair.

During the subsequent two years, Montclair Patch has been striving to cover all corners of Montclair for a growing number of readers. You name it: from breaking news, police and fire, education, sports, business, government, neighbor profiles, opinions, and elections, "The Patch" has been on hand to write about it.

In the coming year, we will continue to inform during this critical election year while providing residents new methods of communicating with their neighbors, including a more streamlined blogging tool.

So Happy Anniversary Montclair Patch. Thanks readers for being so engaged, helpful, and demanding. Please continue to send any story ideas—or stories—to Shelley@patch.com.

Here are five of the top stories covered by Patch in the last two years:

1) I just have to mention the website's first story—"Top Ten Montclair Residents The Spies Should Have Befriended."

2) Montclair Patch was the first to identify the undercover officer, Edward Esposito, who shot and killed an Atlanta CEO, DeFarra "Dean" Gaymon, who was in New Jersey for his 30th Montclair High School reunion. The incident occurred in Branch Brook Park in Newark and led to an ongoing effort by law enforcement and local gay rights activists to stop inappropriate behavior in the parks and, in general, to work together.

3) The battle over the school budget in late 2010 and early 2011. There was talk of school closings, half-day kindergarten, and privatization of aides—all hot topics for any person in Montclair with a child or real estate. Our Patch interview with (then) School Board President Shelly Lombard garnered dozens of comments.

4)  that occurred earlier this year during The Barstool Blackout Tour at the Wellmont Theater. The behavior displayed by throngs of young people sparked concern from residents and local politicians over the types of shows being put on by the popular Wellmont, which opened in 1922 as a live theater house.

5) An often nasty local election season that ended in May 2012 with a win by the Montclair 2012 slate, headed by Robert Jackson. Even a few weeks ago, some were that a New York Times article on Montclair published the day before the election may have impacted the race.

What do you think were the top stories of the last two years? Let us know in the comments section below. Going forward, if you want to be the first to get all the news impacting Montclair, sign up here for our daily newsletter, delivered right to your inbox.