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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 (:34). High of 70 today in Worcester
-Mass. could see warmer, wetter winter, National Weather Service says
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: How Worcester residents can sign up for 2027 health plans
+Noon: Gov. Healey sets 60% school breakfast goal; Worcester schools averaged 37.6%
+Noon: Early voting update: Nearly 10,000 ballots cast so far in Worcester
+Noon: Worcester man's Halloween display raises money for charity (2:57)
-Asbestos discovery closes Worcester Head Start facility
-Kelley Square and Mill Street were redesigned. Are they safer today?
-Worcester Human Rights Commission to review police policies, homeless encampment proposal
-Where is Aaron Pennington? Fugitive search enters third year (2:22)
-Max German of Shrewsbury a finalist in "Voice of Logan" contest
-Westborough police chief on leave following an incident in Shrewsbury (:20). Article
-Parents recall Uxbridge Officer LaPorta as community honors him
-Earlier: D.A.: Investigation into death of Uxbridge officer results in no charges
-Worcester County Wonders: The Phantom of the Palladium
-In historic company: Women of Worcester's past, present honored in new mural
-College closures derail students’ plans, leaving some unsure when they’ll return
>DINING OUT: Avvio Ristorante wins early buzz with home-made pasta and tasty pizzas
-Large audience, low price: Give your restaurant's social media a boost on The 016
-Phantom Gourmet visits Worcester restaurant (5:02)
-ICYMI: Anna Maria weighs giving interested buyers more time after auction cancellation
-Worcester Homeowner Summit set for November 7th at DCU Center
-Worcester police, D.E.A. find fentanyl in Clover Street raid
-Worcester police seize 38 guns, ghost gun frames
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN: This week's road closures and traffic delays
-Wachusett Teacher Spotlight: Brian Lux
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Community Advocate Hometown Helper: Bernice Gero, animal advocate
-Warrant issued for man who broke into ex-girlfriend’s home in Barre while she was asleep
-Coolidge Elementary School's hidden staircase evokes Shrewsbury memories from decades past
-Meadows Montessori excited to open in Westborough
-New warehouse plans before Westborough Planning Board
-New Northborough fire chief says he has felt "truly welcomed" by town officials, community
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: Gateway Players in Southbridge to hold auditions for "The Lifespan of a Fact"
-Dudley's first poetry slam brings community to the Fun Zone Playground wooded stage
-100 FM The Pike (20:41): Ken Casey from Dropkick Murphys on music as a force for change
>OPINION: Tommy Dorfman: Ticket prices are out of control. Gov. Healey’s bill will make them worse
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 510 (28:21): City clerks & state election
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown reacts to W.P.D. internal investigation in Toomey case (24:59)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester native who was a lauded poet
>SPORTS: NESN and NESN+ to broadcast select Holy Cross contests
-Railers lose to Maine, 3-1
-Radio Worcester (15:13): Worcester Railers celebrate 1,000 wins for city hockey
>NATIONAL: Christa Pike's executioners given ominous warning before botched lethal injection: court docs
-Devastated mom recalls horror of toddler being pronounced dead, before he's discovered alive in morgue
-Tragic: Nurse dies after shrimp allergy during honeymoon
>NEW ENGLAND: Sandra Birchmore's therapist back on the stand Monday (:59)
-Woman charged with manslaughter in 4-year-old daughter's fentanyl death (:22)
-Over 130 residents evacuated from Lexington nursing home (2:25)
>POLITICS: What does the Governor's Council do? Worcester candidates weigh in
-What is Mass. ballot Question 7? (8:52)
-Full debate on Mass. ballot Question 7 (29:03)
>COLLEGES: Clark campus conversation, McGovern visit examine America’s past and present
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Airbnb making changes to guest cleaning requirements (1:39)
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
-U.S credit card debt is on the rise. Here's how to keep yourself out of credit card debt
-Small businesses need to leverage home field advantage with S.E.O.
>SHOPPING: How inflation is hitting all parts of Halloween celebration (1:59)
>HOMES: The surprising places to never charge your phone, safety experts say
>HEALTH: "Circadian" depression may be the reason why you can't sleep
-How walking regularly can protect your brain for years to come (6:18)
>FOOD: Ina Garten reveals unique ingredient she uses in eggs
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for "Lupin: Part 4" on Netflix (2:30)
>MOVIES: The craziest horror villains compilation (42:09)
>CELEBRITY: "Office Space" star Richard Riehle dies at 78
-Kurt Cobain's death investigation takes new turn over cop's shocking claim casting doubt on suicide
>ANIMALS: Hound gets caught breaking all her friends out of daycare (1:54)
>HISTORY: The Old Yarmouth Inn on the Cape is still going strong after 330 years
>GOOD NEWS: Veteran sees brother face-to-face for first time in 40 years
-Meanwhile, in England, escaped emu wins wrestling match in middle of road
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