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As we prepare to welcome 2022, here's a look at the stories you made the most popular on The 016 in 2021.
No. 15: Bar planned to replace legendary Dive Bar in Canal District | October 26th
The Dive Bar closed in November 2019 amid the anticipation of the building of Polar Park.
No. 14: Restaurant to open new Shrewsbury Street location on Thursday | November 9th
Pepe's Italian Restaurant moved from its longtime home on Franklin Street.
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No. 13: Park Ave eatery opens its doors | August 9th
The "multi-cuisine" Shack opened its doors at the corner of Park Ave. and Pleasant Street.
No. 12: Worcester man hits the lottery ... again | December 18th
John Gregarczyk of Worcester (above) scratched a lottery ticket worth $1 million. He also did it in 2008.
No. 11: Shrewsbury St. restaurant going into hibernation | January 14th
An unfortunate recurring theme in 2021 was how the pandemic hurt Worcester restaurants. Brew City (above) bounced back, though, and reopened.
No. 10: Shrewsbury mother and daughter found dead inside home (1:59) | March 20th
An unspeakable tragedy struck close to Worcester. Authorities later concluded the mother killed her daughter and then took her own life.
No. 9: Local restaurant closes all 3 locations because of COVID-19 | January 7th
Prior to Brew City temporarily closing, The Fix -- with locations in Worcester, Leominster and Marlborough -- closed temporarily.
Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
No. 8: State board recommends Worcester attorney be disbarred | October 12th
The Board of Bar Overseers wrote that Abby R. Williams, also known as Abigail R. Williams, “intentionally deprived several clients of their money from personal injury settlements” by “fraudulently inflating case expenses.”
No. 7: Lincoln Plaza getting new tenant | November 3rd
Just in time for New Year's resolutions, Planet Fitness plans to open at the site of the former W Fitness gym (above).
No. 6: Worcester restaurant wants to know who took its kegs | May 25th
In one of the oddest local stories of the year, 2 men made off with empty kegs from a gated area outside Antonio's Pizza on Chandler Street. The kegs were later returned.
No. 5 : New restaurant opens at Lincoln Plaza | June 8th
Lincoln Plaza's momentum continued when Torito Mexican Restaurant (above) opened in the space formerly occupied by Ruby Tuesdays.
No. 4: Large crowds welcome Lincoln Plaza's newest stores | April 25th
With great fanfare, HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx (above) replaced the former Staples and Barnes & Noble locations.
No. 3: Popular Worcester diner, closed during pandemic, is for sale | June 15th
The pandemic claimed the popular Blanchard's 101 Diner on Cambridge Street in Worcester (above).
No. 2: Here's what's replacing Crown Bakery on Gold Star Blvd. | January 5th
A Brazilian meat market took over the for iconic Scandinavian bakery.
No. 1: COVID claims brother, sister from well-known Worcester family | January 24th
The most-read story on The 016 in 2021 was the heartbreaking story of Francis Bafaro and his sister, Theresa Bafaro, who died a little over 2 weeks apart.
What else is happening in and around Worcester? Click here or keep scrolling ⤵️
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:12). High of 37 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Driver hospitalized after car crashes into Dollar Tree store in Worcester (:20). Article
-Worcester apartment project on Shrewsbury Street faces parking concerns
-A year after scathing report on use of force, sex acts, Worcester police have new policies
-Worcester Public Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh retires
-TODAY! Guns to Gardens gun buyback
-Related: Radio Worcester (12:45): Dr. Michael Hirsch on Worcester’s “Guns to Gardens” program
-TODAY! The final Village Marketplace of 2025
-Worcester police officers honored at City Hall promotion ceremony
-Proposed development would bring 270 units, supermarket and a half-dozen other businesses to abandoned Shrewsbury factory site
-Dark Downeast Podcast (35:45): The murder of John E. Volungis Jr.
-Worcester Guardian week in review: Legacy businesses, tax rate debate, winter prep
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (49:36): Worcester snowstorm response, police oversight & affordability
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (27:03): Tax rates, infrastructure challenges and a major coaching milestone
>DINING OUT: Table Hoppin': Bonchon, from owners of Gong cha, sees crowds, lines
-ICYMI: Couple arrested after 5-hour standoff in Worcester (1:37). Article
-Related: Worcester officers treated for hypothermia after standoff
-Water restored as crews continue work on Shore Drive in Worcester
-Winter homeless shelter to open at former Quality Inn near Lincoln Plaza
-Worcester woman wins Lucky for Life, takes lump sum of $390,000
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett Echo: Phone-free school by 2026? The newest phone policy controversy
-Merry Christmas from Lamoureux Ford! (:47)
-Chief Tim Sherblom sworn in as head of Central Mass. Chiefs of Police Association
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Pedestrian struck and killed on Providence Road in Northbridge
-Police determine threat at Sterling school not legitimate
-West Boylston town administrator, hired after flag controversy, headed to Rutland
-TODAY! Santa visits Paxton Fire Department
-Apple store opens in Millbury
-Disabled veteran tax exemption available in Shrewsbury
-Kindled Planning hopes to "spark" more for customers
-The Item's calendar of events
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Saturday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Assabet Valley Mastersingers, High Command and more ...
-"Sister's Christmas Catechism" coming to Worcester
-"Night Lights" named best holiday garden display in nation
-Anxious Taylor Swift was scared to continue Eras Tour after Vienna terror threat
>OPINION: Tom Marino: Extremist views of Worcester’s self-proclaimed moderates
-WCCA-TV's Soapbox No. 1399 (24:41): John Stanford, Executive Director, Incubate
-Unity Radio's The Susanity Life (59:28)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Professor Emerita at UMass Medical School
>SPORTS: What’s impressed Josh McDaniels the most about Drake Maye this season
-Jayson Tatum looks spry in latest workout videos amid injury recovery
-Holy Cross baseball, men's lacrosse announce schedules
-A banner day: St. Paul honors championship history of former high schools
>CARS: List of the most stolen cars in 2025 revealed
>NATIONAL: Terrifying gas explosion caught on doorbell cam (:49). Article
-The 10 richest states in America
-Tragic: 8 high school athletes injured during training run after car veers onto sidewalk in suspected D.U.I. crash
>NEW ENGLAND: Brian Walshe trial recap (21:57): After closing statements, the jury deliberates
-Driver shaken after alleged road rage shooting on I-495 (1:47)
>COLLEGES: WPI professor named Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
-Assumption named peacebuilder and conflict-resolution expert Alice Nderitu Civic Friendship Fellow
-Late-night breakfast at Clark, in photos
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Where to go in Charlevoix, a French-Canadian snow globe
>BUSINESS: Lawmakers mull action on "dynamic" A.I.-powered pricing in wake of "shocking" Instacart report
-Open AI, Microsoft face lawsuit over ChatGPT’s alleged role in Conn. murder-suicide
-Radio Worcester (7:03): Holiday spending budgeting and scam-proofing advice
-Former Worcester City Councilor candidate founds organization to address systemic oppressions
>HOMES: Foreclosures are soaring in the U.S.: study
>SHOPPING: Shoppers say ’tis the season for inflation, poll finds
>HEALTH: Tips to protect your sleep during the holidays (4:56)
-Under 7 hours of sleep shortens your life — 5 tricks to snooze faster
>TV/STREAMING: How to stream Taylor Swift docuseries, "The End of an Era," on Disney+
>MOVIES: New movies on streaming: "Die My Love," "Christy," and more
>CELEBRITY: Jason Bateman makes eyebrow-raising remark about sister Justine
-Judi Dench believes Harvey Weinstein has "done his time" for sexual assault, says she forgives him
>ANIMALS: Bear cub runs across frozen Hubbardston pond (:37)
>HISTORY: Then & Now: 187 Washington St., Worcester
>GOOD NEWS: Steve Hartman’s 10 most memorable stories over the years (29:41)
-Meanwhile, escaped horse visits New York's J.F.K. Airport
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