‘Tis the season for celebration. The anniversary of Lacey Patch is just another thing to celebrate this holiday season.

It has been exactly one year since Lacey Patch made its debut on Dec. 21, 2010.

We pledged then to be your source for everything local, and that pledge still stands strong.

From township and school board meetings to football games, events and breaking news, we’ve been there for it all.

A lot has gone down since Lacey Patch launched one year ago, and it has been a privilege to cover the township.

Thank you for your support and participation. Please continue to send news tips and feedback our way.

Here are our choices for the Top Ten stories from Lacey Patch's first year:

1. Oyster Creek to Close 10 Years Early

The Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey, America's oldest operating nuclear power plant, will shut down in 2019 - 10 years before its federal operating license expires. Today, the township continues to fight for a new plant to be built in Lacey.

2. After 21 Years, Superintendent Steps Down

When Richard Starodub took the position as the Superintendent of the Lacey Township School District, he told the Board of Education to let him know when it was his time to go. Twenty-one years later, it was time, he said.

3. Memorial Service Held For Young Coast Guard Officer Who Died In Boating Accident

Traffic backed up on Route 9 in Lacey Township near Riggs Funeral Home as dozens of truck owners revved their engines in honor of their close friend, Nicholas Holmes. Holmes, 25, of Lacey died in a boating accident on Saturday, June 25.

4. School District Turns Over Documents for State Investigation

The New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller picked up documents from the Lacey Township School District as part of an investigation on the solar panel project on Monday, Oct. 17.

5. Township OKs Emergency Appropriation to Pay Back Local Unions

The Township Committee authorized an emergency appropriation for $218,250 to reimburse municipal employees for furlough days. The payments will reimburse two employee labor unions that filed grievances over the policy of furlough days that was imposed on Lacey workers in 2010.

The township continues to battle financial woes as funds are limited, most recently having to turn down the purchase of a street sweeper. Although a furlough plan was on the table once again in 2011, the township decided otherwise. Taxes were raised by $6.32 per month.

6. Lacey Football Trudged Through Opponents on Way to Undefeated Season, State Title

While most high school football teams aspire to make it to the state playoffs, wish of reaching the state title, and dream of finishing undefeated, the 2010 Lacey Lions accomplished all of those feats by not expecting that.

7. Local Fire Department Unveils WTC Steel 9/11 Memorial

More than 150 Lacey residents stood outside of the Lanoka Harbor Fire Company as a new 9/11 memorial was unveiled on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. The memorial incorporates two six-foot-tall granite towers and a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.

8. State Denies Lacey Charter School Application

The Creative Studies Charter School proposed for Lacey Township was denied by the state Department of Education, citing “deficiencies” within the application.

9. Snow, Earthquakes and Hurricanes

A variety of nature hit Lacey this year from a record snow season, dumping between 20 to 30 inches of snow at a time in some areas to the ground being shaken after an earthquake was reported in Virginia.

And lets not forget, Hurricane Irene inundated the Beach Boulevard area with tidal flooding. Water was well above the knees and swans were swimming on local's property in some areas. Power remained out for some residents for more than a week.

10. 'Fed Up' Republicans to Continue Efforts Against GOP Incumbents

Driving around Lacey during election season, motorists could see a myriad of political signs, including some for a new organization: Republicans Against Most (R.A.M.).

The local effort was an effort to remove incumbent Republican Committeeman David Most from the governing body. Although Most was re-elected, members think R.A.M. left its mark.