Stories of the Year in Upper Marlboro

Upper Marlboro can be a tough town to decipher. At certain times, it has a small town feel, with its historic buildings and limited public transportation. But on the other hand, Upper Marlboro is a huge urban metropolis with large homes and well-to-do middle class residents. 

As we look ahead to 2012, here are the stories that resonated in 2011.

5. In April, Patch contributor Brian Bradley uncovered a glaring problem within Upper Marlboro: as great as it is to live here, many people bought homes they couldn't afford. where one in every 214 Upper Marlboro households filed for foreclosure, according to RealtyTrac.

4. Possibility Prep STEM Academy, which opened in 2010 as a science and technology charter school for black male students, closed its doors after just one year. Local educator Victorious Hall, who taught at the school, wrote this  about the school's demise.

3. In September, the Upper Marlboro Town Commissioners . According to the commissioners' website, the building can't be demolished because it is listed on the county's historic registry, which prohibits exterior property changes until permission is granted by the Park and Planning Commission. 

2. Also in September, . To save residents from their homes, the fire department had to use rescue boats. A food pantry saw its supplies destroyed and a car dealership was completely submerged under water.

1. Easily the most powerful story of 2011: former County Executive Jack B. Johnson and his wife, Leslie, for their respective roles in an alleged pay-to-play scheme in Prince George's County government. Jack initially maintained his innocence, . .