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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 (:31). High of 82 today in Worcester
-"Super" El Niño winter impacts on New England
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+5:00: Karen Solomon, wife wanted in connection with Worcester police officer's death, found dead
+5:00: Related: Press conference (7:12)
+Noon: Historic Worcester "Octagon House" for sale
+Noon: Massport announces new director of Worcester Regional Airport
-The search for Karen Solomon: Where the investigation stands after 6 days
-Earlier: First H.E.L.P. issues statement amid search for Karen Solomon, the nonprofit's founder
-Earlier: Karen Solomon timeline: Surveillance, cellphone ping and 3 days searching Coes Pond
-Earlier: If Coes Pond produces nothing, search for Karen Solomon could shift from water recovery to fugitive hunt
-Earlier: True Crime Report (Steve Huff): The Hunt for Karen Solomon and "True Crime Brain"
-Paxton man charged in fiery O.U.I. crash that killed father, 8-year-old daughter (2:50). Article
-Worcester man charged in 2012 killing found not guilty of prison assault
-Police: Worcester man shouted "suicide by cop" while brandishing scissors
-Worcester Business Journal's 40 Under Forty: The next generation is taking over
-Aislinn Doyle: WPS in Brief for August
-Worcester store sells $100,000 lottery ticket
-Worcester County Wonders: Hidden history in a Clinton optical illusion
-Under new federal rules, tens of thousands of Mass. residents have lost food assistance
>DINING OUT: Radio Worcester (13:36): Cyprian Keyes welcomes public back to its restaurant
-Table Hoppin': Sandwiches, cannoli a draw at Sturbridge's Mangia Bene
-ICYMI: Area woman avoids prison for stealing $110K of dead person's benefits
-Shooting suspect at Worcester County Jail extradited to Arizona
-Primary foes Mary Keefe, Ron Waddell clash over experience, criminal justice issues
-Related: 15th Worcester District debate Wednesday: Mary Keefe vs. Ron Waddell
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Val's hiring for all positions
-Russ Parker from Holden loves Lamoureux Ford (3:04)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Disoriented man breaks into locked Shrewsbury residence during nighttime
-Man charged with sexually assaulting woman at Lions Club meeting in Leicester
-Tension at Grafton Select Board meeting over committee appointments
-Sturbridge historian to discuss Revolutionary War research at Jacob Edwards Library
-UP Academy Holland’s turnaround success offers a nuanced lesson on receivership
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: From Elm Park trash to vultures, ArtsWorcester grants become an exhibition
-Barry Manilow cancels more concerts at last minute after lung cancer battle
-Buckcherry tour bus involved in fatal South Carolina crash
-Boston Symphony Orchestra and musicians extend contract for 48 hours, delaying possible first strike (:33)
>OPINION: Tom Marino: Cherry picking politics in the face of tragedy
-Laurel: Entering play zone in Worcester
-WCCA-TV's Streetlights No. 6 (28:45)
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (48:32): Worcester charter review and police oversight
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to longtime Assumption professor
>SPORTS: Takeaways from Patriots' win over Eagles in NFL preseason (2:06)
-Eliot Wolf provides update on Christian Gonzalez contract talks
-Red Sox beat Giants, 5-4
-Halligan, Mila shine for Holy Cross women's soccer in win over Brown
-Holy Cross men’s soccer plays Merrimack to 2-2 tie
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Roman Anthony set to continue rehab in Worcester this week
-WooSox fall to Syracuse, 2-0
>NATIONAL: All about the 14 suspects in the alleged Penn State cocaine operation
-Why are Americans speaking 28% fewer words to each other?
-Tragic: October 7th survivor takes life on grave of lover Hamas murdered
>NEW ENGLAND: Analysis | What the defense established in Lindsay Clancy trial (2:56)
-Woman tells a Mass. officer she had just started a new insurance policy. He still had her car towed
>COLLEGES: How do I survive my first year in college? Here's advice from Clarkies
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): The country that has more saunas than cars
>BUSINESS: D.O.J. and TikTok reach $400 million settlement amid child privacy violation
>HOMES: Worcester mid-year housing market review
>HEALTH: UMass Medical School professors: Quitting alcohol changes the brain and can increase the risk of compulsive drinking – new research in mice
>FOOD: Easy Meals: 15-minute tacos
-Hidden cost of buying groceries at Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and 99 Cent Store: study
>TV/STREAMING: Teaser for Season 3 of "The Pitt" on HBO (1:29)
>MOVIES: "National Treasure 3" in the works and has a script, director says
>CELEBRITY: Shelley Fabares, TV star who sang "Johnny Angel," dies at 82
-Harrison Ford, 84, shocks fans with new Indiana Jones announcement
>ANIMALS: New kitten sister won’t leave her sick brother’s side (2:23)
>HISTORY: The monkey wrench was invented in Worcester
>GOOD NEWS: A construction crew uncovered a $10 million gold hoard
-Meanwhile, in Tennessee, bear crashes couple's anniversary getaway, rummages through tea shop
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