As we say goodbye to 2010 and welcome the hope and endless promise of a new year, our Best of Brookfield year in review comes to a close with our picks for the Top 10 Stories of 2010. The 10 articles that made this list were not necessarily the stories with the most views or the most shocking breaking news events of the year, but the stories that warmed our hearts, taught us something about the community we live and work in and together paint a fuller picture of what it meant to be a Brookfielder in 2010. Easily the most-read news story on Brookfield Patch this year was less about the words …

There have been a number of interesting police stories in Brookfield this year, some with happy endings, others more tragic and somber, and still others that made us chuckle some. First, our Top 5 Cop stories from 2010, then, some honorable mentions that we just couldn't leave out. First, our favorite police story from the year was a near-tragedy, with stories of heroism, near misses and national importance. One of the first breaking stories we covered at Brookfield Patch was a report of an overturned truck on Federal Road in from of Costco. In April, a Toyota Tacoma apparently began …

Continuing with our Best of Brookfield year in review, we have the Top 5 Videos from 2010. Without further ado… Our favorite video from the year includes fast-paced action, stylish vehicles, four-foot-tall drivers and… a Hulk? The annual Big Wheel 500 at Town Hall brought out the tiny racers, ages three to six, for a few laps around the municipal parking lot racetrack. All the racers were a pleasure to watch, but the young Hulk getting himself pumped up at 1:10 puts this video over the top. The next two videos share something in common (besides the videographer): demolition. The first is the …

Since beginning coverage of Brookfield High School (BHS) athletics during the end of last season's winter schedule, we here at Patch have witnessed some thrilling games. There have certainly been more than 10 great games during that time, but still we will try to narrow the list to the Top 10 Games of the Year.  Here it goes. Girls basketball Class M State Semi-Final: Brookfield 47 – Tolland 46 OT What a first assignment. This was the first game I covered for Brookfield and it remains number one on my list. One thing that stood out besides the play was the intensity of the fans. The Lady …

Since beginning coverage of Brookfield High School (BHS) athletics during the state playoffs of winter sports a season ago, we here at Brookfield Patch have been witness to some tremendous performances. Through it all the team attitude of all the athletes has been the most impressive aspect of the talented group of players. We will attempt now to list the Top 10 athletes that we have covered in the last year. Kayla Berardi: Softball — Pitcher Perhaps the smallest in stature of all the athletes we have covered, Berardi's performance as a senior captain was plain and simple: big. She took the …

This year was filled with old traditions, new events and opportunities for families and friends to get together to do something good for the community. These special events are part of what makes Brookfield a unique, friendly place to call home.  The annual Rake and Bake makes the top of the list this year, drawing in more than 1,150 volunteers led by Peter Brady of  Handy Dandy Handyman Ministries. Friends and neighbors worked on teams to clean up leaves for residents in need of assistance. This opportunity to do a good deed for a neighbor brought the people together in a beautiful way, …

If you're busy, like most people, you have not yet finished your holiday shopping.  Have no fear, Brookfield has everything you need for everyone on your shopping list. Here is a handy Top 10 Best of Brookfield shopping list to help make your holiday shopping a little but easier. 1. For the Sports Enthusiast For close to four decades, Wesco Sports has been the go-to place for hockey players and fans. Outfitting skaters from head-to-toe, Wesco offers a huge selection of sticks, gear and equipemnt and is a great place to start for your hockey fan. The top three sellers, according to owner Doug …

In the first of our year-end "Best of Brookfield 2010," we take a retrospective look at our favorite photos from the last year. Some were artsy, some were newsy; some taken by our Brookfield Patch reporters, others contributed by members of the community; but all a snapshot of life in Brookfield at the end of the Oughts.  Our favorite photo of the year was contributed by Brookfield High School (BHS) senior Chris Peterson for a profile on his unique ways in Have Unicycle, Will Travel. Peterson can be seen in the photo riding his unicycle over the ridge of a mountain in Baxter State Park as an …