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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 (:37). High of 57 today in Worcester
-Peak fall foliage is getting closer (3:31)
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: State’s first cannabis lounge in Worcester to close, owner seeks new location and state license
+6:00: Worcester area voters head to polls for early voting
+6:00: Worcester councilor seeks community forum on Amazon drones
+6:00: Wachusett senior undergoes revolutionary spinal procedure to play football (3:07)
+6:00: Worcester hockey alumni 2026-27 highlights, NHL Week 3
-The "Mystery of the Stained Glass Window" continues to confound
-WPI research using A.I. to identify melanoma gets boost in international competition
-Bee Zee seeks approval for Southwest Cutoff gas station expansion
-Prosecution rests in Inoa retrial; alleged accomplice doesn’t testify
-Worcester's 10 biggest development opportunities
-Mayor Petty wants City Council to take stance on marijuana law
-Amazon drone deliveries, marijuana ballot question and street repairs on Worcester council agenda
-Shrewsbury calls for pause on Amazon drone delivery amid concerns
-Coat drive to distribute nearly 4,000 winter coats
-From public housing to homeownership in Worcester: Worcester Housing Authority programs changing narrative around affordable (2:36). Article
-Nativity School opens applications for upcoming year
-Community Media Day on Tuesday
-Mount Wachusett has been a popular Central Mass. destination for 150 years
>DINING OUT: Worcester restaurant celebrates 1 year on Park Ave.
-Multi-cuisine food hall Wonder opens in Worcester. How to get 50% off
-ICYMI: "Back to spending time together": The world of mahjong proves popular in Central Mass.
-A boy who struggled to be heard finds his voice—and a championship—in the waves
-Worcester addiction forum emphasizes housing, employment and support beyond treatment
-1 Worcester home’s power bill is $500. A half-mile away in Shrewsbury, it’s 70% lower
-Worcester man charged in $162,180 Mass. Health fraud
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN: Halloween trick-or-treating 5 to 8
-Halloween in Holden next Saturday
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Leominster schools tout massive improvement in state assessment
-Data centers, Flock cameras among key votes at Charlton Special Town Meeting
-Dudley man arrested after police execute warrants, seize stolen guns and drugs
-Harvard Sweet Boutique owner shares affection for confections with community
-Free overdose response training Tuesday in Shrewsbury
-Southbridge fire station nearing completion as $20 million project remains under budget
-Westborough Women's Club raises funds to help those battling childhood cancer
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
-Mass. bars can stay open an extra hour this Halloween. Here's why
>SHOWTIME: Wholesale Klezmer Band brings "Jewish Life in Song" to Southbridge
-100 FM The Pike (16:11): Steve Schirripa ("The Sopranos," "Blue Bloods") is bringing Willie Boy to Worcester
-Radio Worcester (16:17): Joel Hoekstra on Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Worcester return
>OPINION: Scotia Hille: Omnibus bills enable opaque lawmaking
-Jay Kaufman: Complexity isn’t the issue. The Legislature’s dysfunction is
-WCCA-TV's Close To Home No. 612 (28:24): Carl Rushton, Part 2
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:00): Journalists' superpower and Worcester media in 2026
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (47:05): Ballot questions 1, 2 and 3, plus changing local media landscape
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to longtime Worcester priest
>SPORTS: Patriots beat Jets, 26-19, as Drake Maye throws 3 touchdowns
-Patriots once again battered by injuries in win
-New era begins as Jayson Tatum, Celtics embark on first season without Jaylen Brown
-Holy Cross men's ice hockey downed by Army
-CBS Sports Network to air Holy Cross at Lafayette men's basketball matchup
-Railers lose to Trois-Rivieres, 5-2
-Gov. Healey calls for girls flag football to become official M.I.A.A. varsity sport
>CARS: Tesla’s new flying Roadster performs stunning maneuvers during live unveiling
>NATIONAL: Deadly incident at Canada military base
-French police arrest 1,800 protesters after violent clashes and looting
-Air Force commando dies after falling from 170-foot rafters during fast-rope demonstration at college football game
-Tragic: Father of 3 stabbed to death while getting snacks for kids waiting at park
>NEW ENGLAND: What's ahead this week in the Matthew Farwell trial (2:52)
-After suspended drunken crash, Mass. candidate for lt. gov. suspends campaign (2:31)
-Ballot question 7: Could smaller lots make homes affordable? (2:27)
>COLLEGES: Leah Ben-Ami named executive director for Foundations Forward at Assumption
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Not declaring this item at customs can get you a $300 fine
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
-The best and worst months to apply for a job, according to data
-Q&A: Good Feels grows amid cannabis industry uncertainty
>SHOPPING: Don't pay full price for fall and Halloween decor at these 6 stores
>HOMES: Real estate Q&A with Kathleen Goneau
>HEALTH: Why you may have trouble finding new flu shot at pharmacies (2:27)
-Tapeworm drug could treat disease that affects 190 million women
>FOOD: Daily Dish: Simple lemon chicken
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for new 4-part Netflix docuseries on Mike Tyson (2:28)
>MOVIES: Family friendly Halloween movies
>CELEBRITY: Viola Davis reveals disease that left her with "9 out of 10" pain
-Elizabeth Hurley sparks engagement rumors with mysterious new diamond ring
>ANIMALS: Cat family shows up just as family says goodbye to their dog (1:59)
>HISTORY: A new book reveals the sickening extent of J.F.K.'s philandering
>GOOD NEWS: Man becomes oldest to fly with wingsuit, attempts to break record
-Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, man accused of stealing flamingo says he drank up to 40 beers before pulling off heist
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