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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 (:41). High of 95 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Court docs reveal disturbing new details behind viral video involving ex-Southbridge McDonald’s manager (2:21). Article
-Cost to fix Worcester police station put at $20 million over 3 years\
-Tiny home village for homeless seniors breaks ground in Worcester
-Emergency closes Worcester restaurant until Friday
-Railers owner buys Pulse Magazine, CM Pride Magazine
-Worcester State nursing program welcomes first group of Anna Maria nursing students
-Mike Benedetti: Worcester City Council agenda preview
-Aislinn Doyle: Thursday's School Committee meeting agenda preview
-Worcester organizations get $425,000 for affordable housing efforts
-Back-to-back national honors spotlight Worcester Public Library’s evolving role
-Radio Worcester (23:08): Worcester City Manager Eric Batista discusses city’s first-ever $1 billion budget
-18 new condos on Elm Street are for sale. Take a look inside
>DINING OUT: Worcester restaurant makes Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Small Plates (5:56)
-ICYMI: Worcester police honor fallen officers, former chief Gary Gemme
-Assumption graduates 304 students at DCU Center
-Anna Maria College closing comes as disappointment for Molly Bish's family (2:17). Article
-Area woman admits forging 84 checks worth over $110,000
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Holden police holding second annual Cruiser Cup Golf Tournament June 12th
-Wachusett Echo: Internship and employment at the school bank
-Lamoureux Ford wins record 29th Ford President's Award (4:16)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Tree crash leaves Southbridge home uninhabitable
-Westborough police continues to investigate shots fired on Research Drive
-Man with spiked-bat, drugs arrested in Leominster after 911 report of impaired driver
-Seeing double: Shrewsbury High School graduating class boasts 17 sets of twins
-Dudley candidates' night to be held June 8th
-Webster Town Meeting approves budget, drone bylaw, Pine View Liquors petition
-Shrewsbury teachers no longer need COVID vaccine
-Blackstone Valley Regional named distinguished school
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Tuesday
>SHOWTIME: Radio Worcester (19:15): Greater Worcester Opera brings “1776” to Central Mass.
-WCCA-TV's Chris's Corner No. 23 (28:52): Meatball, Part 1
>OPINION: Ann Artuso: Depression in motherhood
-Giselle Rivera-Flores: Why Puerto Rico still doesn’t receive S.N.A.P. benefits
-WCCA-TV's Connecting the Dots No. No. 164 (29:35): The Museum of Worcester
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:08): Viral McDonald’s video, city budget hearings and public safety concerns
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to former UMass Medical School professor and Physician of the Year
>SPORTS: Tom Brady takes dig at Bill Belichick during Georgetown commencement speech
-Jason Varitek's wife takes shot at Red Sox G.M. after coaching ouster
-Red Sox beat Royals, 3-1
-Bravehearts release 2026 season promotion schedule
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Holy Cross Varsity Club announces 2026 class in Athletic Hall of Fame
-Worcester hockey alumni 2025-26 highlights, NHL Week 32
>CARS: Gas prices climbing— What frustrated drivers can expect next (4:12)
>NATIONAL: San Diego mosque shooting: 3 men killed, suspects found dead (1:37)
-American who was on doomed cruise reveals what it's like under 42-day hantavirus quarantine
-Tragic: Toddler crushed to death by antique dresser as she climbed it to reach a toy
>NEW ENGLAND: Pilot dies in small plane crash in Rhode Island (:52)
-Pipe bomb found in Mass. pond, police investigating (1:12)
-Video shows Good Samaritans rushing to pull 2 people from car following rollover on I-495
>COLLEGES: Worcester State Cheer scores at national championships
-Clark honors Worcester student, staff members for inclusion and equity work
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 10 top trending U.S. summer destinations
-The first thing you should do in a hotel room
>BUSINESS: Banks find ways to finance nonprofits, despite their lending and revenue challenges
-LPL Financial Research: Energy shock expected to hit prices harder than the economy
>HOMES: Homes are older than ever—but local permitting systems could slow down essential renovations
>HEALTH: Discussing ebola outbreak with infectious disease specialist (3:14)
-What no one tells you about egg freezing
>FOOD: Daily Dish: Oven-roasted turkey parmesan over spaghetti
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for new Jennifer Lopez movie on Netflix, "Office Romance" (2:42)
>MOVIES: Trailer for Steven Spielberg's new movie, "Disclosure Day" (2:38)
>CELEBRITY: Carrie Underwood rejected L.A. glamour to live on Tennessee farm
-William Daniels, 99, and wife Bonnie Bartlett, 96, detail "rules" of "open marriage"
>ANIMALS: Playful puppy from local shelter looking for active family (3:09)
>HISTORY: Inside the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist
>GOOD NEWS: School principal retires, but returns as a handyman (2:34)
-Meanwhile, Pope Leo does "6-7" hand motion at the Vatican
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