Year in Review: Life in Gloucester Twp. in 2011

What do troop homecomings, 100th birthdays and forklift joyrides have in common? Each was part of Gloucester Township living in 2011.

We already brought you the year in news for , and news, plus a year-end .

Now, it’s time for GT Patch's final 2011 recap—what we call the “the rest,” or the news that doesn’t neatly fit into any one category but, when added together, paints a picture of the year in Gloucester Township life in 2011.

In one of the year’s “makes you feel good to live here” stories, Gloucester Township residents in July to welcome home from his tour in Afghanistan. Erial soldier also served his country this year, taking part in the final troop withdrawal from Iraq. Local Girl Scouts showed their appreciation for all troops’ efforts with in April.

2011 was a big one for Frances Rawlins— in April. “Nico’s Army” wants to make sure that young has that same chance. Supporters held a in honor of the boy as he fights cancer. The town’s had a similar goal: to .

If there’s one thing we’ve learned , Gloucester Township also produces some interesting police and crime news, like the , the alleged , the chatty (and driving) , the store thief who apparently needed a , a , one tank of gas and the

The town also saw its share of serious crime news, including the of and the from the Blackwood man’s , plus the of a Triton graduate in Philadelphia. Police dealt with a in August and .

And although he died in the line of duty in 2010, police K-9 Schultz continued to make the news this year, earning a spot on in Philadelphia and named after him to more crimes against police dogs. convicted in the incident that killed Schultz was in prison this year.

Gloucester Township also marked town traditions throughout 2011: into town, the Glendora house , , the , the starting and the finds at . In the unlikely event that Patch isn’t covering your favorite town event, don’t forget you can now upload your own pictures and videos to our .

And we can’t close out a year in review without looking back on back-to-back reminders that . Tropical Storm (not a hurricane when it hit New Jersey, it turns out) dumped —and —on Gloucester Township. Just a week before, the township rocked and rolled, albeit very briefly, .

What’s the one story you think defines life in Gloucester Township in 2011? And did we leave out your favorite? Tell us in the comments.