The layoff of four borough police officers, a controversial proposed development in Radburn, and the suicide of a renowned local chef—those storylines were among Fair Lawn's most significant headlines of 2010, in our estimation. 

You can see Patch's top five local stories of the year below, but first, check out some other year-in-review coverage you may have missed:

• Top 10 Photos of 2010
• Top 10 Videos of 2010
• Five crimes and other incidents that left their mark on 2010
• Five of our favorite businesses to open in 2010
• Top 5 sports wins of 2010

Now, without further ado, here are Fair Lawn Patch's top five storylines of the year:

POLICE LAYOFFS AND THEIR AFTERMATH

The borough laid off four police officers on Sept. 1 in an attempt to close its budget gap. Police protests followed that day and on Sept. 7. Also on Sept. 1, two Newark women–Cyrinthia Marlin, 30, and Priscilla Coleman, 31–were arrested after Coleman struck Fair Lawn Sgt. Mike Messina and Officer Kenneth Cavanaugh with her car.

The local Policemen's Benevolent Association stated its case for a connection between the layoffs and the crime, with PBA president David Boone telling Patch that the Newark women "knew about what was going on in town here." Due to the police department's manpower shortage, the department also cancelled the fall season's traditional Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

THE DALY FIELD CONTROVERSY

On Nov. 8, the Radburn Board of Trustees voted 8-1 in favor of a revised contract for the sale of Daly Field to Landmark L.L.C., approving an agreement that included new provisions in the event of eminent domain action among other additions to the original contract signed in 2004.

For six years, local grassroots groups and the Fair Lawn Borough Council–in an attempt to keep 5.7-acre Daly Field green–had taken a stance against Landmark's proposed development on the Radburn-owned field (located at the intersection of Plaza Road, Berdan Avenue and Route 208). However, on Nov. 23, the Borough Council decided that it would not appeal an October court ruling that granted Landmark permission to build up to 200 housing units on the field.

"I believe we're holding a losing hand," Tedeschi said of the borough's legal battle with Landmark. "I will not support appealing."

A RENOWNED CHEF'S SUICIDE, FOLLOWED BY HIS RESTAURANT'S CLOSURE

On Sept. 24, Joe Cerniglia—the renowned chef at Campania Restaurant—jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge. It was later revealed that eight days before Cerniglia's suicide, he had sold CWB1—the company that operated Campania—to Campania Holding Corp. for $288,000.

Three months later, the Italian restaurant closed its doors at 17-15 Broadway, with the intention of reopening under a new name early in 2011. Around the country, Cerniglia was best known for Campania's 2007 appearance on "Kitchen Nightmares," a Fox reality show in which British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay tries to rescue struggling restaurants by restructuring their operations. Also in 2007, Campania was awarded with the distinction of "New Jersey's Best Meatball" by Bergen County.

RISE OF THE REPUBLICANS

In a year with no municipal elections in Fair Lawn (as is the case for all even-numbered years), Republicans swept November's races for Bergen County Executive, County Sheriff, and the County Board of Chosen Freeholders. Fair Lawn Borough Council members Jeanne Baratta and Ed Trawinski were subsequently named to County Executive-elect Kathleen Donovan's transition team—but that was just the beginning. In December, Donovan chose Baratta as her chief of staff and named Trawinski the Bergen County Administrator. 

FAREWELL TO GOODMAN'S HARDWARE AND ITS BELOVED OWNER, RICHARD SINGER

Richard Singer—the longtime owner of Goodman's Hardware on Fair Lawn Avenue—died at the age of 60. The same week as Singer's passing, Goodman's closed its doors, marking the end of the line for one of the last original stores at the Radburn Plaza Shopping Center.

Customers and other community members expressed their sadness over the losses of Singer and the store; Debbie Lesnoy, educational director of The Leah Sokoloff Nursery School of Shomeri Torah on Morlot Avenue, recalled that Singer would donate pool pumps, art supplies, and various other items from his store to the school. Fair Lawn resident Steve Zimmerman said the following of the service at Goodman's: "They seem to know you over and over again when you come in, and [they] are very friendly."