The Most Popular Stories of 2011

1. Initially dubbed a "Flash Mob" theft, a summertime group theft of a Germantown 7-Eleven made national headlines, as surveillance footage of more than two dozen youths pocketing snacks and leaving en masse made the rounds on network TV and YouTube. The incident gave a second wind to a countywide youth curfew law debate and has since inspired a state lawmaker and county councilman to draft group-theft bill.

2. McQuain Murders
The community stepped up that a Germantown mom, Jane McQuain, was found dead in her home and that her son, William, was missing. Members of their church, her son's little league and football teams, and people who were touched by the news held vigils an in a wooded area in Clarksburg. Estranged husband Curtis Lopez has been charged with Jane MCQuain's murder.

3. Community Mourns Derek Sheely
The sports community mored when former Northwest High School football player Derek Sheely passed away, almost a week after collapsing during a football practice at Frostburg State University.

Sheely graduated from in 2007. He transferred to Frostburg after attending a year at Penn State University. Sheely has been a member of the Bobcats' program since 2008 and was a 2010 All-Academic selection for the Atlantic Central Football Conference. He was poised to be the team's starting fullback, .

4. On Feb. 19, fire crews from Montgomery County, Frederick County, the Department of Natural Resources and the District of Columbia fought a large brush fire near Indian Grass Court. Strong winds challenged their efforts extinguish the blaze, which burnt 20 to 30 acres of land.

5. Digital nomads, coffee sippers and pastry munchers were apparently moved — this story was Germantown Patch's fifth most popular in 2011 — when Panera Bread announced plans to move to a bigger site down the street, next door to The Greene Turtle. Corner Bakery Cafe has since moved into Panera's old digs on Century Boulevard.