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 (:31). High of 47 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Man to be indicted on murder charge in death of woman shot to death at Worcester massage parlor
-Samuel Peckham found guilty in 2022 Worcester road-rage killing
-Worcester interim police chief says department has harmed communities of color
-Worcester police's Alcohol Enforcement Unit aims to curb underage drinking
-Joyner Lucas reveals how young mother, daughter's tragic death impacted him
-Former Christmas Tree Shops plaza in Shrewsbury sold for $13.6 million as town considers site for M.B.T.A. zoning
-Clark receives $10 million donation toward new climate-focused school
-Roosevelt School lot project imminent to relieve Grafton Street gridlock
-Worcester students spark conversation about school lunches
-Worcester sets schedule for high school graduations
-Aislinn Doyle: Worcester Public Schools in Brief for March 2024
-Worcester City Council rips rollout of Rental Registry Program
-Confusion surrounds city's new Rental Registry Program
-Transit riders in Worcester call for another year of free W.R.T.A. fares
-The Faces of Worcester: Principe Virtuez, business owner
-Powerball jackpot soars to an estimated $935 million after no grand prize winner
-Unsolved: Worcester — Murder of Judith Viewig & disappearance of Deborah Quimby. Video (19:50). Audio (20:19)
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Tasty Food Served FAST (5:17)
-ICYMI: Operation of D'Errico's Market in Worcester taken over by Everett-based meat supplier
-Tatnuck Meat & Seafood closes after 50 years in Worcester
-Second driver in 2021 Worcester drag-racing death gets probation
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Mountview Middle School honor roll
-At Lamoureux Ford, our customers tell our story the best (1:56)
-Gale Free Library "Windows of Opportunity" Gala April 27th
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Broken Creek Vineyard flourishes under new ownership
-Drunk, unlicensed driver in swerving company van arrested for impeding traffic
-Shrewsbury Historical Society offers scholarships
-Princeton, Paxton caucuses select candidates
-Community Basketball: A night of March Gladness
-Lancaster shifts from building to trees
-The Landmark's public safety logs
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Thursday
>SHOWTIME: Hanover Theatre unveils stellar 2024-25 Broadway Series
-Pet Rock Fest seeks new home for its event in September
-American Antiquarian Society's "very modern portrait" of Ellen Dunlap
-A Word…A Poem for The Toddler Years
-Last Call: C.M. Caplan, author
-Sarah Connell Sanders: I used Chat GPT to "do" my colors
-Jennifer Julien Gaskin: Dear City Council...
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 417 (27:55): Marilyn Spivack
-Unity Radio (58:33): Black In Business
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to 103-year-old Worcester native who worked at her family's Eden Garden restaurant
>SPORTS: Patriots owner Robert Kraft reveals his expectations for 2024 season
-Bruins fall to Tampa Bay, 3-1
-'Sader Stories (32:31): Holy Cross women's basketball NCAA Tournament reflection
-Iowa vs. Holy Cross set NCAA women's first-round viewing record
-100FM The Pike (12:29): Worcester's J.P. Ricciardi gives the Pike Morning Show a preview of the MLB and Red Sox season
-7 WooSox "grads" could start on opening day for Boston Red Sox
-Railers beat Newfoundland, 5-2
>CARS: Bertera has the all-star team to help you find your next Nissan car or truck (:39)
-Subaru recall: Legacy, Outback vehicles recalled over airbag issue
>NATIONAL: Father of 3 and a budding entrepreneur are among 6 victims of the Baltimore bridge collapse
-Ex-Senator Joe Lieberman, 2000 Democratic V.P. nominee, dies at 82
-Tragic: 4-year-old dies of drug overdose, mother charged
>NEW ENGLAND: Man rescued from avalanche at Sugarloaf
-Recruitment for summer 2024 lifeguards begins (1:43)
>COLLEGES: Anna Maria AMCAST (28:07): Ghost stories
-Clark alum accused of hate speech on Instagram
-College students compete for "deals" in Woo Tank
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Here are the 10 happiest cities in America
>BUSINESS: Co-working office spaces in Worcester provide flexibility, community for entrepreneurs
-LPL Research: Navigating the strategic investing landscape
-Radio Worcester (25:18): Maximize tax savings tips from ClearPath’s Ryan M. Kittredge
>SHOPPING: What Worcester's Reading — TidePool Bookshop
>HOMES: U.S. new home construction surged last month, as mortgage rates stayed high
>HEALTH: Bird flu detected in dairy; Infectious disease specialist answers questions
-Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 2023's total, C.D.C. says
>FOOD: Dairy Queen announces summer Blizzard menu
>TV/STREAMING: HBO unveils dueling "House of the Dragon" Season 2 trailers
>MOVIES: Acclaimed documentary "Food, Inc." is back for seconds
>CELEBRITY: Kevin Bacon says he'll attend "Footloose" high school's final prom
>ANIMALS: This is what makes rescuing puppies worth it (:38)
>HISTORY: 80th anniversary of the "Great Escape" from Nazi German POW camp
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Hero teen led more than 100 to safety in Moscow terror attack
-Meanwhile, in the U.K., groom hilariously butchers vows on wedding day: "I will laugh at you when you’re sad" (:48)
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