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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 86 today in Worcester
+6:00: Central Mass. drought status ends thanks to summer rain
-August 2026 was the hottest on record: N.O.A.A.
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Pulse Magazine Weekend Guide (:22)
+6:00: Stephen DiRado’s Bell Pond photos are subject of N.Y.C. show, new book
+6:00: Worcester Arts Council opens grant application
+6:00: Gateway Players announce October dates for "The Outsider"
+Noon: A brief tour of Worcester's "Main Street USA"
+Noon: Worcester Pride returns downtown Saturday for one of city’s largest cultural celebrations
+Noon: Auburn Fire Department hoping its fire-damaged truck not beyond repair
+Noon: Things to Do: Armadi Tsayn, Infinite Alien, Chet Williamson and more
+Noon: Art in spirit: Clinton's Icon Museum and Study Center marks 20 years
+Noon: First Person: For Wayne-Daniel Berard, poetry requires a poet's work
-Renovated apartment building in Main South to welcome families in crisis
-Worcester faith leaders prepare for 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
-Worcester events mark 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks
-Mount Washington 9/11 tribute to feature twin light beams visible from over 100 miles away
-Worcester market sells $50,000 lottery ticket
-Michael Jackson impersonator moonwalks, sings at City Council meeting (2:04)
-Worcester by gaslight: Gas lantern stroll a trek into history
-City View Discovery School awarded $2.73 million for heating system
-W.C.A.C. to offer eviction record sealing assistance
-WCCA-TV back on the air on cable channel 194
-Radio Worcester (21:36): Mayor Petty addresses racist mural incident, police oversight and A.L.P.R. policy
>DINING OUT: Big E Preview: All the new foods coming this fall (1:09)
-Table for Woo: Simple Man Saloon and Grill
-ICYMI: "Every day is 9/11": Loss endures after 25 years for 3 local families
-Tractor-trailer fully engulfed in flames on I-84 in Sturbridge
-Miss Massachusetts returns to police work after Miss America pageant
-Artists painting Worcester mural targeted by racial slurs
-Earlier: Worcester NAACP condemns racist, sexist harassment directed at Wall of Women Artists
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN: Holden police introduce newest officer
-This week's road closures and traffic delays
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Webster man pleads guilty to illegally dealing 3D-printed guns
-Southbridge’s Wellsworth Hotel to be auctioned, as part of Norton bankruptcy
-Spencer selectmen appoint interim treasurer/collector
-Tackle the Stigma 5K at Shepherd Hill to support mental health awareness
-Meet Leo Waible, the 2026 Applefest Grand Marshal
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Thursday
-Jazzed Up Trio at Uxlocale Friday and Val's on Saturday
>SHOWTIME: Jane & the Archivists pen "love letter to Worcester" on new album
-"Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" actor Lauren Adams visits Clark for improv workshop, film screening
-Taylor Swift back at top of country radio chart for first time in 13 years
-Harmonica maestro Chet Williamson to play in FrontRoom at WCUW
>OPINION: Tom Marino: The police reform plan Worcester government refuses to produce
-Last Call: Aileen Lovejoy, substance use awareness advocate
-WCCA-TV's Activate Worcester No. 343 (27:52): Jay Givan and Fred Nathan, 250th anniversary of America
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:02): Why words matter—and what makes local news truly local
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (48:31): Racism in Worcester, examining primary results
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to former senior aide at Friendly House
>SPORTS: Drake Maye's interceptions cost Patriots in crushing season-opening loss
-A.J. Brown exits first game with Patriots in injury concern
-NFL Week 1 schedule, TV and announcers
-"It’s about finding a way to get better": Holy Cross aims to fix red zone woes
-Red Sox lose to Angels, 6-4
-WooSox beat Lehigh Valley, 8-3
>NATIONAL: Flock cameras are surveilling hundreds of public school campuses across the country
-New Apple C.E.O. unveils latest iPhone lineup, including a foldable model called Duo
-Tragic: Dad dies after suffering spinal injury on cruise while celebrating son’s wedding
>NEW ENGLAND: "Harsh" Lindsay Clancy prosecution backfired, instead proving she was good mom who "snapped": jurors
-Lindsay Clancy juror defends lone holdout, makes surprising admission about others on the panel
-Mass. D.O.T. scrapped overtime tracking tool years before suspected fraud (2:47)
>COLLEGES: WPI Podcast, Episode 43 (31:43): Journey to industrial engineering in themed entertainment
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): National Geographic names "most iconic New England town" (:20)
-How flight attendant uniforms have changed over the years
>BUSINESS: Worcester County spared the worst of state's employment drop
-LPL Financial Research: Signs point to a normalization, not a crisis
-North Worcester Business Association kicks off season September 16th
-What Canada's retaliatory tariffs mean for American consumers
>HOMES: People are taking advantage of the Mass. Save brand (1:52)
>SHOPPING: Consumer Reports: September is a good time to shop for appliances and outdoor equipment (1:53). Article
>HEALTH: Flu and COVID vaccines rolling out, but 1 shot is delayed
>FOOD: Beef prices hit record highs: How families can save money (2:19)
>TV/STREAMING: Norah O'Donnell returns to "CBS Mornings" after evening news stint
>MOVIES: When Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock first made magic: Flashback
>CELEBRITY: Cardi B wears her most daring backless suit and more star snaps
-Pamela Anderson was given 10 years to live after hepatitis C diagnosis
>ANIMALS: Stray Boxer follows hikers down mountain, chooses her person (11:13)
>HISTORY: Remembering Spag Borgatti’s passing, 30 years later
>GOOD NEWS: Man uses money from returned cans to win $500,000 lottery
-Meanwhile, in Italy, airport authorities find crocodile head in man’s luggage
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