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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 81 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: M.O.A.D. to host African Festival in Worcester August 1st (6:28)
+6:00: Latest "Walking Dead" premieres this weekend, with strong touch of Worcester
+6:00: Worcesteria: A tale of 2 murals at site of the former Dive Bar
+6:00: Bill Ballou on baseball
+Noon: Bus drivers want out of Worcester teachers union. Here's why
+Noon: Worcester human rights commissioner quits over police review decision
+Noon: Crazy stats from Red Sox’ miraculous 20-game turnaround
-Worcester police ask for help finding missing teen girl
-UMass Memorial increases planned Community Healthlink layoffs to 231
-Worcester’s Washington Square to be site for demolition, new apartments
-Mass. House approves carveout allowing for Worcester Red Sox players to not be subject to state wage laws
-Former UMass Medical School student and cancer survivor in seventh Pan-Mass Challenge (2:53)
-UMass Memorial Health opens convenient new family medicine facility at White City
-Mike Benedetti: Worcester City Council agenda preview
-Radio Worcester (26:14): State Sen. Robyn Kennedy on budget, child welfare reform, housing costs, I.C.E.
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet visits Worcester restaurant (4:59)
-Worcester bistro closed until August 3rd
-Worcester bakery closed until August 5th
-ICYMI: Worcester city manager nixes Research Bureau bid for police civilian review board
-Another pedestrian crash in Worcester renews push for safety improvements
-Massport announces record year for Worcester Regional Airport
-City backs 4 affordable housing developments
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Senior Center closed through the end of July
-Russ Parker from Holden loves Lamoureux Ford (3:04)
-This week's road closures and traffic delays
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Victor Catacchio has been making cars look like new for 43 years
-Leominster man arrested after police find him passed out behind the wheel with fentanyl
-Crews install modular bridge spanning French River between Dudley and Webster
-Road closure today and tomorrow in Shrewsbury
-Spencer Summer Concert Series returns to Powder Mill Park
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Tuesday
>SHOWTIME: EcoTarium honors U.N. environmental leader with its highest conservation award
-WCCA-TV's Video Jam No. 1385 (30:00): Gina Alice, Captains of Entropy and more
>OPINION: Tom Marino: When Worcester chose the bailout over the Constitution
-WCCA-TV's Connecting the Dots No. 168 (29:48): Ed Gardella, Part 2
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (37:57): I.C.E. shooting in Maine, claims on election integrity
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester business owner who passed away at 44
>SPORTS: Drake Maye-A.J. Brown connection among storylines to watch as training camp opens (11:25)
-Red Sox beat Rays, 6-5, for 14th straight win
-'Sader Stories (2:20): Kaitlyn Flanagan, Crusader of the Year
-7 Bravehearts heading to Futures League All-Star Game (1:29)
-WooBall Weekly: Bravehearts enter All-Star break in the thick of playoff chase
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
>CARS: Best used cars for teen drivers, according to Consumer Reports
>NATIONAL: 3 more U.S. servicemembers killed in war in Iran (2:03)
-Disney World guest, 54, died on iconic ride after suffering heart emergency
-Tragic: 5 die after people jump into river trying to save someone in the water
>NEW ENGLAND: Lindsay Clancy trial (1:27): Jury selection resumes after 5 seated
-Pamela Smart seeks new trial for 1990 murder of husband (3:22)
-Teacher and coach charged with O.U.I. and child endangerment
>COLLEGES: Clark's century-old Economic Geography sees jump in citation rankings
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): The 5 most expensive states to visit in 2026
-This Conn. amusement park was named most affordable in the U.S. (1:01)
>BUSINESS: Shrewsbury commercial landscaper acquired by New Jersey firm
-LPL Financial Research: China holds keys to post-war oil prices
-Shocking amount of Gen Z employees pretend to be productive at work: survey
>SHOPPING: Dollar Tree installs price scanners for surprising reason
>HOMES: Consumer Reports: Guest WiFi network can boost privacy, speed
>HEALTH: Humanoid robots complete historic surgery
-How many cups of coffee are safe to drink per day? (1:53)
>FOOD: Cyclospora outbreak: Taylor Farms test update, food safety (7:52)
-Mass. lettuce farm says its crop safe amid cyclospora fears (1:49). Article
>TV/STREAMING: Shocked Geena Davis addresses Netflix canceling "The Boroughs"
>MOVIES: "The Odyssey" reviews roundup: What critics are saying
>CELEBRITY: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s pals reveal new wedding details
-Brenda Fricker, "My Left Foot" Oscar-winning actress, dies at 81
>ANIMALS: Stray orange cat chooses his family and fits right in (1:44)
>HISTORY: These discoveries reshaped what historians knew about America's Founding Fathers
>GOOD NEWS: Cape Cod farm offers 20 years of opportunity for adults with disabilities (1:33). Article
-Meanwhile, in Idaho, man balances 195 rolls of toilet paper on his head for 30 seconds
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