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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 81 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+5:00: Mass Pike eastbound lanes closed in Charlton due to crash (:48)
+5:00: Heartbreaking loss: Mom remembers son killed in scooter crash (2:28)
+5:00: $1 million lottery ticket sold in Worcester
+5:00: Worcester man offers $1,000 reward for missing pet tortoise
+1:00: Worcester Independence event features fireworks, singer Alisan Porter
+1:00: Pedestrian hit by car in Fitchburg (:20)
+1:00: College grad and filmmaker Maximilian Kent to share Goddard's story
+1:00: Serenity Jackson displays her rapping skills on "Everybody Mad"
-Auburn man indicted in killing of 7-year-old years after child abuse conviction
-Worcester police seize untraceable gun in Canal District
-These Worcester kids get to see a World Cup game for free (2:06). Article
-Worcester's Ghanaian population out in force on common for World Cup
-Earlier: Immigrants from Ghana who now call Worcester home are galvanized by the World Cup
-Worcester residents urge city to rescue injured swan
-Part of 2018 Amy Schumer film was secretly shot at Worcester airport
-A troubled reflecting pool? Worcester saw its own shortcomings
-Today! Journalists to discuss business coverage in Worcester
-Free swim lessons return as Worcester opens pools, beaches
-Free summer eats return to Worcester for children and teens
-WuXi Biologics targets 2028 completion for Worcester facility
-Worcester council tackles Boylston Street safety concerns, duck crossings in super brief meeting
-Rent control question won’t be on the ballot in Mass. due to religious exemption
-Worcester Walks: Gorgeous grasslands await at Potter Hill Meadows
-18 new condos on Elm Street are for sale. Take a look inside
-Worcester parents form coalition to reduce screen time in schools
-Worcester Superintendent's end of the school year message (2:55)
-Aislinn Doyle: W.P.S. in Brief agenda preview for Thursday School Committee meeting
>DINING OUT: Why an upscale downtown Worcester restaurant is now open for Thursday lunches
-ICYMI: 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
-Worcester prepares for Independence Day celebrations
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Senior Center closed Wednesday and Thursday
-Truck Day for kids 10 to noon Thursday
-Lamoureux Ford wins record 29th Ford President's Award (4:16)
-Participate in Vision Zero Survey
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Channel 5 Wake Up Call: Toy Town Elementary Drama Club (:34)
-Leominster man arrested for exposing himself to woman while urinating in handicap parking space at Cumberland Farms
-Updated details for Sturbridge's Semiquincentennial Celebration June 27th
-2 vacancies on Shrewsbury Planning Board
-Auburn Select Board delays town manager evaluation process
-Community Profile: Southbridge Junior Hoopers
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Wednesday
-Jazzed Up (Duo) at Friday and Saturday at Val's in Holden
>SHOWTIME: Worcester is Lit: Reading "Ulysses" with a shout-out to Dublin revelers
-The Hidden Census traveling history exhibit comes to Worcester
-Summer reading recommendations for moms
-WCCA-TV's Video Jam No. 1382 (30:00): Olivia Rodrigo, The Ex-Bombers and more
>OPINION: Nicole Bell-Peña and Jillian Kearns: Sports events hike risk of sexual exploitation
-Manny Jae Media's 508 LIVE! (59:24): Special Guest Carter Valentine
-Unity Radio's The SuSanity Life (55:37): Ginnie Bonnici, co-founder, Peaceful Creations Wellness Center
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester woman who worked at Holy Cross for 25 years
>SPORTS: Robert Kraft wants Patriots to play game in Scotland after Tartan Army's World Cup takeover
-Ranking the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 20-16
-Celtics select Houston freshman Chris Cenac Jr. with 27th pick
-Red Sox beat Rockies, 5-2
-Bravehearts split doubleheader, 1-6 and 10-4
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-WooSox lose to Toledo, 4-1
-5 years to play 5 seasons: N.C.A.A. panel approves new eligibility rules
>NATIONAL: New Pentagon U.F.O. files show recurring glowing orbs (1:17)
-Mom accused of starving to death her 20-month-old daughter on just 250 calories a day
-Tragic: Boy, 3, drowns despite life vest -- because of 1 step missed
>NEW ENGLAND: Eighth grader dies month after being found unresponsive in pond (:25)
-Trooper charged with assault, wiretapping now part of gun probe (3:15)
-Court clears way for ballot question that would eliminate political party primaries in Mass.
>COLLEGES: WPI welcomes more than 5,000 during 3 consecutive weekends of robotics competitions
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 things you’re doing to attract pickpockets
-Use this hack to override your hotel’s thermostat
>BUSINESS: Oracle axes 21,000 jobs in massive layoff, A.I. replaces workers
-Do you trust A.I.? Almost every American says no and believes humans are more helpful: survey
-LPL Financial Research: Kevin Warsh could shake up the Fed
-Q&A with Munq: "My mom's resilience changed everything"
>SHOPPING: Radio Worcester (10:31): Prime Day scams are back
>HOMES: How long does it take to buy a house in Worcester in 2026?
>HEALTH: Antidepressant recalled over suspected carcinogen
>FOOD: MorningStar Farms recalls plant-based sausage products
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for new Netflix doc on Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (1:53)
>MOVIES: Madonna: Biopic with Julia Garner fell apart over budget
>CELEBRITY: Amy Adams recalls helping bleeding man after neck stabbing
-Bikini-clad Lindsey Vonn shows off her injured leg on yacht
>ANIMALS: Tiny feral kitten rescued from highway helped family heal (2:10)
>HISTORY: Plumley Village 1971 (47:09)
>GOOD NEWS: Plumbers find ring dropped into toilet a decade earlier
-Meanwhile, on Nantucket, wild video shows fisherman wrestling with great white shark on beach
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