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 94 today in Worcester
+Noon: Worcester cooling centers open amid high temperatures
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Man stabbed multiple times at Shell Station in Worcester
+6:00: City council presses for answers on Mill Street safety, costs, steps
+6:00: DCU Center completes $2.2 million sound system upgrade with help of local firms
+6:00: Bravehearts roll, 17-6
+6:00: Want to see the Bravehearts for free Thursday? Here's how
+6:00: Are either of these dogs yours?
+Noon: Worcester councilors support push for supermarket options, but balk at city-owned option
+Noon: What is "Good Trouble Lives On" protest? Nearly 100 protests planned in Mass.
+Noon: Flutist Emi Ferguson and Ruckus to "Fly the Coop" in Worcester
+Noon: Review: Coldplay fans felt "Sparks" at Gillette Stadium concert
+Noon: Last Call: Katelynn Yvon, tattoo artist
-Woman charged with O.U.I. in Worcester crash that injured off-duty officers
-A Worcester connection to the deadly fire in Fall River: Here are the details
-Related: Fall River mayor says owner no longer cooperating after deadly fire (3:22)
-Competitive eater to tackle Worcester restaurant mega challenge
-From the lab to the spotlight: Miss Worcester County 2024 is a rising star (2:46). Article
-City council requests report on proposed landlord tax relief program
-Police investigating bank robbery at Hometown Bank in Webster; suspect fled on motorcycle into Conn.
-Focus on "much needed" programs — Centro elaborates on Latin American Festival cancellation
-Earlier: Organizer: Fear of I.C.E. was factor in decision to cancel Latin American Festival
-100 FM The Pike (14:34): Worcester Fire Department cookoff firefighters trade hoses for hot plates
-E-bikes are growing in popularity, but also come with safety concerns
-Worcester school grading overhaul hits snag
-Information session for those wishing to join the Worcester Police Department
-This Week in Worcester: Not believing lies is anti-police sentiment in Worcester
>DINING OUT (brought to you by Patsie Dugan's): Peppercorn's reopens after renovation
-ICYMI: A city-owned grocery store in Worcester? Councilor wants to look into it
-WNBA star and Worcester Academy alum Aliyah Boston gets her flowers at State House ceremony
-Planet Fitness opens third location in Worcester
-New seafood eatery opens in Worcester
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): July Senior Center events
-Long term employees make Lamoureux Ford special (3:50)
-Up to "Shannanigans" with handmade crafts
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Car engulfed in flames in Westborough
-Police plan to step up traffic enforcement on Route 20 today
-Town Administrator Heather Butler ready to get to know West Boylston better
-2 Grafton schools to benefit from part of $15,000 in grants awarded to Blackstone Valley schools
-Conant summer reading program looks to Level Up
-W.H.E.A.T., Strand A.R.P.A. funds wait on progress
-Gaudette continues multigenerational legacy with Lamy Insurance
-The Item's Neighbor to Neighbor column
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Wednesday
-Jazzed Up Trio 6 to 9 Wednesdays at 961 at Union Station
>SHOWTIME: What's the best summer thing to do in Worcester County? Vote in round 1
-Unreleased Beyoncé music stolen during "Cowboy Carter" tour
-Listen up: On "Northeastern," Old Tom & the Lookouts eyes "the curse of being from the Northeast"
-Radio Worcester (24:45): Monet immersive exhibition to open in September in Worcester
-EcoTarium celebrates 200 years of science, nature and discovery
>OPINION: Sandra Montesino: Free school meals deserve place at table year-round
-Autumn Hotaling: How I started reading for myself again
-Unity Radio's Black in Business (48:09)
-WCCA-TV's Perspectives No. 101 (28:02): Syed Aziz-Ur Rahman, Part 1
>OBITUARIES: Steve Lanava, who spent decades capturing images of Worcester County for T&G, dies at 73
>SPORTS: The biggest nights in summer baseball are coming to Worcester
-Bravehearts playing loose and crushing the ball
-Bravehearts beat Bees, 15-5. Jaylem Sepulveda named Open Sky Community Services Player of the Game
-Bravehearts' next home game: 6:30 Thursday. Buy tickets here
-Patriots headline ESPN’s ranking of top 25 NFL teams of last 25 years
-Caitlin Clark struggles in front of sold-out Boston Garden crowd but Fever beats Sun, 85-77
-Holy Cross Athletics (2:09): Get to know the staff — Coach Andrew Dresner
-Radio Worcester (49:59): Bluey coming to Polar Park, strategies for projects around park
>NATIONAL: Camp Mystic survivors heard screams in the dark as flood waters hit
-SpongeBob stamps are coming this summer: What to know
>TRAGIC: Child who had just beaten cancer dies in house fire
>NEW ENGLAND: Man shot during armed standoff with police (1:27)
-Moving on for Gold Star survivors: Mass. preserves annual stipend and services
>COLLEGES: Changes in institutional research at WPI
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Western Mass. resort now a 4-season playground (5:11)
>BUSINESS: Most believe A.I. helps small businesses compete with larger firms
-LPL Financial Research: Midyear stock market outlook — Path to upside clouded with uncertainty
-U.S. inflation accelerated in June as tariffs start to bite
>HOMES: This $5.5 million home was built in a former water tower
>SHOPPING: "Clueless" Barbie dolls — How to get 30th anniversary collectible
>HEALTH: New study shows vaping among teenagers is at all-time low
-Measles cases in U.S. hit 3-decade high, with nearly 1,300 cases reported
-When following a plant-based diet, food choices still matter (1:33)
>FOOD: Chicken wrap battle heats up between McDonald's, Popeyes, Taco Bell
>TV/STREAMING: Emmys nominations — See the full list of nominees
>MOVIES: Spinal Tap II: Rob Reiner on movie's cameos by Paul McCartney, Elton John
>CELEBRITY: Cher wears re-creation of her "If I Could Turn Back Time" catsuit at Dolce & Gabbana event
>ANIMALS: Sick stray cat left for dead is saved just in time (1:36)
>HISTORY: The Red Sox once played at this ballfield in Grafton
>GOOD NEWS: 5-year-old finds kidney donor after radio segment
-Meanwhile, in Michigan, pint-sized perp caught stealing cars and selling them for 30 bucks
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