Patch Picks: Top Stories So Far in 2012

We’ve reached the halfway point of 2012 and what a busy six months in news it’s been.

Haddonfield Patch readers showed their interest in crime in the borough—three of our most-read stories so far include criminal incidents. As expect, the turf debate also ranked high and readers showed the love for a planned cream puff shop in town.

Here are the 10 most-read stories on Haddonfield Patch for the first half of 2012:

10. Haddonfield Talks: NJ Flags at Half-Staff for Whitney Houston

A roundup of comments on a Haddonfield message board took readers’ notice earlier this year. The debate over New Jersey lowering flags for the late singer came down decidedly on the anti side, especially in our informal poll. Originally published Feb. 21

9. Haddonfield Toy Store Robbery Suspects Caught

A Happy Hippo robbery involved a BB gun seemed to particularly unsettle readers, and the news that two suspects were arrested quickly became on the year’s most-read stories. Originally published April 30

8. Haddonfield Family Featured on HBO Special

This story is a continuation of an incident we first brought you in April 2011 of a Haddonfield family’s aggressive dog attacking a girl. The family eventually put the dog down, and that story was featured on HBO’s documentary One Nation Under Dog. Originally published June 18

7. 20 Burglaries in 26 Days

A spate of February burglaries outpaced nearly all of the burglaries reported for the entire year in 2009. The police chief called addressing such crimes a “top priority,” while a commissioner weighed in on the comments with some tips on protecting property. Originally published March 6

6. With Heavy Heart, Business Set to Close After 25 Years

Rising rents forced a Kings Highway mainstay to close its door. “I don't have a stomach for what to do next,” Houshiarnejad's Collection owner Mahmaud Houshiarnejad told us. Originally published May 14

5. Two Robberies, One with a Gun, Stun Haddonfield

The two robberies—one with a BB gun at the Happy Hippo and one that locked down schools—both angered and worried readers. The Happy Hippo suspects were later caught (see #9). Originally published April 28

4. Ocean City Whale Carcass Hauled Away in Pieces

We must have a lot of Ocean City fans among readers. This story originally appeared on Ocean City Patch, but we published it knowing OCNJ is a vacation destination for many in Haddonfield. Plus, how often does a huge whale wash up on the shore? Originally published Jan. 26

3. Super Bowl Commercials 2012: What Was Your Favorite?

A Doritos ad took the top spot in our poll of the best Super Bowl commercials. The question is, do you actually remember any of the ads several months later? Originally published Feb. 6

2. Commissioners Agree to Spend $354K to Install Artificial Turf on Athletic Field

Nothing creates a townwide debate quite like turf fields. After a citizen committee agreed to fundraise and the school board agreed to pay a portion for turf fields at the high school, the commissioners had to decide whether to join in. Among the almost 900 voters in our poll, the majority didn’t want to see the money spent. Commissioners eventually did . Originally published May 23

1. Don't Call Brian Zoubek a Cream Puff

Drum roll please—our most-read story so far this year highlighted Duke basketball standout (and Haddonfield alum) Brian Zoubek’s plan to open a cream puff shop in town. “I'm just a fat kid, at heart,” he told Patch. Originally published May 29

Thanks for reading Haddonfield Patch and here’s to a newsy second half of 2012. If you ever have any story ideas or tips, please contact local editor Bill Duhart at bill.duhart@patch.com. Yours could be the next big story on Patch.