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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 (:35). High of 68 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: Rent control question won’t be on the ballot in Mass. due to religious exemption
+Noon: The Hidden Census traveling history exhibit comes to Worcester
+Noon: Worcester Walks: Gorgeous grasslands await at Potter Hill Meadows
-Mother mourns Clam Box worker killed in electric scooter crash on Route 9
-Earlier: Employee killed in crash outside Central Mass. restaurant
-Parole denied for man convicted in 1983 killing of Trooper George Hanna in Auburn
-Immigrants from Ghana who now call Worcester home are galvanized by the World Cup
-Today! World Cup watch party on Worcester Common
-Worcester prepares for Independence Day celebrations
-Mike Benedetti: Worcester City Council agenda preview
-Anna Maria College campus to be sold
-Central Mass. school district tries new approach to limiting cellphone use in class
-Dudley seeking $100,000 annually from Nichols College
-18 new condos on Elm Street are for sale. Take a look inside
-Aislinn Doyle: W.P.S. in Brief agenda preview for Thursday School Committee meeting
-Worcesteria: Celebrating Juneteenth with joy, and authority
-Radio Worcester (10:48): New Worcester homeless resource center aims to provide wraparound services, housing support
-ICYMI: How grilled cheese divided a Shrewsbury neighborhood
-Bus driver failed to slow before crash that killed 5 Mass. residents, including Worcester woman, according to safety report
-Area officer and Oxford native Ashlyn Mercier wins Miss Massachusetts competition
-2 Mass Cash $100,000 prizes won from neighboring gas stations in Worcester
-City of Worcester announces inaugural group of Legacy Businesses
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Participate in Vision Zero Survey
-Lamoureux Ford wins record 29th Ford President's Award (4:16)
-This week's road closures and traffic delays
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Do you know them? Oxford police seek 2 in Walmart "incident"
-Woman arrested for fleeing Shrewsbury Whole Foods with $1,033 in merchandise
-After approval, Shrewsbury 40B project asks to include 6 percent more units
-Woman arrested, trespassed from Leominster Hospital for assaulting guard after she was denied methadone prescription
-Dudley seeks resident input on Master Plan development at Saturday community workshop
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Tuesday
>SHOWTIME: Last day of school ideas to kick off summer
-Boston band The Dogmatics refuse to slow down decades after their debut
>OPINION: Robert Bilotta: Know the facts on Mass. rent control
-Unity Radio's The SuSanity Life (55:42): Smoke Crest Farm Animal Sanctuary
-Radio Worcester (25:45): Sen. Robyn Kennedy Senate audit position, education funding reform and local aid changes
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:13): When should journalists move beyond reporting the facts?
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to career educator in Worcester
>SPORTS: Patrice Bergeron inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame on first ballot
-Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Miami Heat
-Why Bucks passed on Celtics' stunning offer for Giannis
-Ranking the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 25 to 21
-Red Sox lose to Rockies, 3-2
-WooBall Weekly: Bravehearts stay over .500 with 2-2 week
-Tonight! Bark in the Park at Bravehearts
-Bravehearts' game at Norwich postponed because of rain
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Seniors have final chance to shine at Central Mass. All-Star Classic
>NATIONAL: Confirmed Ebola cases in Congo outbreak top 1,000 with 254 deaths
-Walmart cashier accused of taking winning lottery ticket
-Tragic: Tesla crashes into home, killing 76-year-old grandmother
-Boy, 3, crushed to death by park monument -- as he's rushed to nurse mom's hospital while she's working
>NEW ENGLAND: Sail Boston expected to attract 4 million people to see the tall ships
-Judge scolds attorneys in Karen Read civil case during hearing: "Stop pandering to social media"
-How former Mass. A.G. disclosed inquiry on child sexual abuse, despite grand jury secrecy rule
>COLLEGES: WPI's Kathleen Head receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): These airlines have the least legroom
-This hack lets you explore a city without Wi-Fi
>BUSINESS: Q&A: Inside Rucker Investments
-LPL Financial Research: Kevin Warsh could shake up the Fed
>SHOPPING: Amazon Prime Day - The best deals we found
>HOMES: Central Mass. real estate transfers
>HEALTH: A healthier gut microbiome may be the key to cancer care
>FOOD: The Local Life: Garelick Farms (2:57)
-Investigation finds concerning additives in some foods (2:03). Article
>TV/STREAMING: Amy Adams, Javier Bardem and Patrick Wilson on Apple TV's "Cape Fear" (6:43)
>MOVIES: Grinch movie sequel in the works with Jim Carrey in talks to return
>CELEBRITY: Legendary music mogul Clive Davis dies at 94
-Liam Payne's son, Bear, 9, inherits nearly $28 million after singer's tragic death
>ANIMALS: Moment between shelter dog, little girl is totally priceless (1:36)
>HISTORY: All aboard for the misadventures of a Fung Wah bus ride
>GOOD NEWS: Kids build reading confidence with the help of a 4-pawed audience
-Meanwhile, dad jokes may be good for your brain in a surprising way, experts say
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