See What Patch Articles Woodbridge Loved This Month

What were the biggest stories in Woodbridge in March? Which ones couldn't your neighbors resist? (And which did you miss?)

The top two stories that were almost tied for first place in March.

The biggest story of the month was the shock that Woodbridge-based Hess would be selling off its gas station and convenience stores. The two sparkling clean Hess stations on either side of Route 9, at the foot of the mammoth Hess building, will be part of the 1,250 gas stations up and down the Eastern seaboard that will be purchased by other gasoline retailer. 

The other story was the news that a former Woodbridge animal control officer was arrested on hundreds of charges of animal cruelty. People in the township had a lot of comments - pro and con - about Mercedes Lopez, who was arrested at her Howell home. 

Another story that horrified readers was the news that Keith Bell, of her on the Internet after he got her to pay him a bribe not to post the pictures.

An equally awful story came from neighboring Perth Amboy. There, a substitute teacher was charged with the repeated sexual assault of a Perth Amboy High School girl.

Don't ever let anyone tell you Woodbridge doesn't care about history. The fifth-biggest draw in March was an article asking readers to identify the site where the old Revolutionary War-era house was in the picture (it was the 'Tea House' - the first place where tea was imbibed in New Jersey - that formerly stood on the corner of Green Street and Rahway Avenue. A QuikCheck stands there now.)

The stories of Woodbridge's Hurricane Sandy flood surge victims also drew readers: one article about the flood victims leading a protest to Town Hall right before a council meeting, and another story about the creation of a Woodbridge Flood Zone website. 

A year after the biazarre death of a Woodbridge Board of Ed employee in the township-sponsored exercise event "Moves Like Woodbridge," the news that the event had been quietly repackaged into a more sedate affair drew readers.

Residents were amused by a story about a PolitickerNJ poll that had Mayor John McCormac tied as the state's second most popular mayor (McCormac had 25 percent of the vote; 13 of the 16 nominated mayors had no votes at all.)

The news about Amazon moving into Avenel, and the creation of a special improvement district (with potentially huge tax breaks for the Internet giant) was another popular article. 

Here are other stories that rounded out some of the top news on Woodbridge Patch:

• Widow Seeks to Hold Hospital Accountable with an Internet Petition
• Driver Killed in Sunday Parkway Crash Was a Heroic 9/11 Port Authority Cop
• BOE Agenda: E-Cigs to be Added to Tobacco Ban
• TELL US: Hope for Woodbridge? Gov Wants Sandy Home Buyouts in Middlesex County
• Town and BOE Land Swaps Will Turn Old Outlook Avenue School into Senior Housing
• Town and BOE Land Swaps Will Turn Old Outlook Avenue School into Senior Housing
• Iselin Man Charged in FedEx Driver's Death
• Woodbridge Police Smash Drug Ring

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