We're going through the Parkville-Overlea Patch archives, month by month, to pick out some of the most important moments in 2011.

What were the biggest moments for you? How did they change your neighborhood? Tell us in the comments.

Early in January, the Ravens were rallying — preparing for a road playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a Purple Friday stop at Parkville's Emerald Tavern. The boys from Baltimore won the contest 30-7, and it looks like they're set to repeat a playoff run this year — with the added bonus of maybe having a home game.

After a failed home invasion in Glen Arm, a Middle River man killed himself in the parking lot at Sander's Corner — a shocking end to a shocking crime in a quiet neighborhood.

Mark Falkenhan, a firefighter with the Lutherville Volunteer Fire Company and Middle River resident, was killed battling a blaze in Hillendale. His death was the first in the line of duty in the county in more than 20 years.

A late January snow, originally predicted to be rain, dumped up to 10 inches of the white stuff causing power outages and closing county schools for days.

To round out the month, we did a story about the upcoming expansion of Harford Road's favorite watering hole, Racer's Cafe. The business was set to expand into a location next door by the spring — a move we still eagerly await!