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 (:44). High of 64 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Counterfeit ticket scam leads to parents missing Worcester high school graduation
+6:00: Facing eviction, Worcester's Boston Market owner plans a rebranding instead
+6:00: Providence & Worcester train derails in Rhode Island neighborhood
+6:00: Worcester police arrest suspect in connection with shooting near University Park
+6:00: Renters find relief at Worcester legal clinic to clear their eviction records
+6:00: W.R.T.A. adds new accessible vans to paratransit fleet
+6:00: Shakira, Jason Aldeen concerts at Fenway Park abruptly canceled (:31)
+6:00: Former Holy Cross star Stacey Hochkins named USA Hockey Adult Player of the Year
+Noon: Bullet found in parking lot of Auburn Middle School; school had been dismissed
+Noon: Things to Do: James Oliver Band, M'bolo, Jay Sully and more ...
+Noon: Traditional food and music on tap at Middle Eastern Festival
+Noon: "American Idol" winner David Cook to headline annual Pet Rock Fest
+Noon: Summer@Music Worcester returns with 3 different concerts
+Noon: Worcester students eye "Origin" as part of ArtsWorcester Future Arts Workers
+Noon: Joann Fabrics officially closed in Shrewsbury
-Police investigating death of college student in Worcester
-Work begins on $120 million downtown Worcester housing development
-Worcester police investigate gunfire at University Park; person treated for wounds
-Vandal leaves offensive messages on sign outside Worcester middle school
-Heralded Worcester school faces possible closure as state Senate cuts its funding
-Worcester clothing brand Cosmic Unicornz to find permanent home
-Fitness in the Parks Summer Series kickoff Friday
-Administration seeking to close 2 Central Mass. Job Corps centers as part of elimination of program nationwide
-Aislinn Doyle: Worcester Public Schools in Brief for May
-Doherty Memorial High School graduation (1:37:57)
-Worcester Public Schools' Ask the Superintendent (22:10): Vision of a learner with Belmont Street School
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (48:22): Fallout from the State of the City protest
>DINING OUT (brought to you by Patsie Dugan's): Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Lobster Rolls (5:17)
-ICYMI: Workers threaten to strike at UMass Memorial Health
-Firm to study solutions to I-290 divide in Worcester
-18-unit apartment complex planned on site of old 3-decker in Worcester
-Worcester wants to reclaim its manufacturing leadership, but tariffs may stand in the way
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): May & June Senior Center events
-Lamoureux Ford offers huge discounts! (2:53)
-Holden police welcome new officer
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Vandals destroy Leominster Little League fields (2:23). Article
-In Shrewsbury Center, a new gathering place for the Jewish community
-High school productions up for TAMY awards
-Clinton student-athletes receive honors from coaches
-West Boylston police log May 19th to 25th
-The Item's public safety logs
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Thursday
>SHOWTIME: Creative and creepy: Mike Mars talks about a life in film, music and horror
-On self-titled debit album, Sunday Junkie sets stage for musicians' next chapter
-The Big E announces Train as 2025 headliner. See schedule, ticket info
>OPINION: Nicole Bell: Cassie Ventura's story deserves to end in justice
-Jennifer Julien Gaskin: Open letter to Councilor Bergman
-WCCA-TV's Senior Speak No. 928 (27:59): Maureen Schwab
-Unity Radio's Talking Wellness (47:50)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to former Worcester Fire Chief Geoffrey Gardell
>SPORTS: Stefon Diggs' boat party causes stir as he misses Patriots O.T.A.s
-Patriots O.T.A. takeaways: Drake Maye improves, but offense still a step behind
-Bravehearts win season opener, 9-7
-What to know before Bravehearts Opening Day
-Bravehearts Opening Night giveaway. Next home game: 6:30 Friday. Get tickets here
-Red Sox lose to Brewers, 6-5
-Holy Cross men’s soccer names 2025 team captains
-Jeopardy! highlights WooSox player's unique and clever nickname
-WooSox beat RailRiders, 5-4
>NATIONAL: D.O.G.E. can access sensitive Treasury payment systems, judge rules
-3 city-killing asteroids could strike Earth within weeks
>TRAGIC: Man dies in crash while giving daughter driving lesson: Reports
>NEW ENGLAND: Missing U.N.H. student found dead
-Karen Read trial analysis (21:23): Courtroom showdown after prosecution's crash finale
>COLLEGES: Voice artist and Holy Cross class of 1968 alum James Conlan
-Assumption president says colleges must "take a hard look" at themselves
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Weekend getaway in Connecticut
>BUSINESS: Market Basket C.E.O. Arthur T. Demoulas placed on leave amid new allegations (2:23). Article
-LPL Financial Research: Can earnings catch up to this stock market rally?
-Take W.B.J.'s 2025 Midyear Economic Forecast survey
>SHOPPING: Walmart uses hidden barcodes to avoid "skip scanning"
>HEALTH: Weight loss in middle age offers long-term health benefits
-Skin cancer prevention: What you may not know about sunscreen, health (2:10)
>FOOD: How 1 ingredient transformed McDonald's Egg McMuffin
>TV/STREAMING: Until Friday, Peacock streaming deal for just $25 for a year
>MOVIES: Is "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" really the end? Tom Cruise may have revealed answer
>CELEBRITY: Brad Pitt speaks out on finalizing Angelina Jolie divorce after 8 years
>ANIMALS: Courageous puppy fights off pack of coyotes in 45-minute battle, heart-stopping video shows
>HISTORY: Worcester Heritage Society snapshots: 1870s Worcester
>GOOD NEWS: Winchester 8-year-old recognized for fundraising success
-Meanwhile, in Florida, trapper wrestles alligator on highway median
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>HELP WANTED
-Worcester Area Director (part-time), Matthew 25
+Multiple positions, Nancy Chang Restaurant
+Police officers, town of Leicester
-Part-time bartender, Patsie Dugan's
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