The Big Purple Trump Sign and Other Tales: Top 10 Wayland Patch Stories Of 2016

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland readers were unfortunately subjected to a certain amount of tragedy and negativity in the town this year. Among the top stories were the owner of a pizza place arrested for a sex crime, anti-Muslim messages sent to a mosque and the death of a young man.

But Wayland readers also were drawn to a story about that huge purple Trump sign, and a piece of the Salem Witch Trials up for sale.

Those are just some of the stories Wayland Patch readers gravitated to over the past year, with more than 675,268 clicking on to news, events, profiles, features, weather, police logs and more throughout 2016.

Here are the ten most read stories on Wayland Patch in 2016:

Wayland Mosque Receives Letter That Says 'Trump Will Cleanse America'

It is addressed "To the Children of Satan." Keegan Stephan, writer, student organizer and student representative of the Civil Rights Section of the Federal Bar Association, Tweeted that his childhood friend's mosque - the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland - had received hate mail from a group that calls itself "Americans for a Better Way."

Donald Trump Congratulates Wayland Family for Humongous Sign

Trump congratulated the family on social media and said it might be the largest residential sign he had seen all year.

Wayland Notified of New Sex Offender Working in Town

Wayland police sent out a community notification that a Level 3 sex offender is working in Wayland.

Liberty Pizza Owner Arrested After Investigation

Michael Giakoumakis, of Framingham, allegedly tried to recruit a 19-year-old girl to have sex with men for money.

Sean Patrick Haffey, 25, of Wayland

Sean will be remembered for his bright smile, witty sense of humor and dapper style.

WOW: Piece of Salem Witch Trial History for Sale in Wayland

"The Inhabitants" was filmed in the home and it was once owned by Samuel Parris, who was connected to the Salem witch trials.

Coach Grill Could Remain Closed For Weeks After Fire

The restaurant suffered about $1 million in damages, fire officials said.

Wayland Woman Among Injured in Wrong-Way, Head-On Crash on Route 128

A wrong-way driver caused an early morning head-on collision on Route 128 near the Lexington-Burlington line. Two people were seriously injured, and the roadway was shut for a couple of hours for accident investigation, causing massive backups in both directions.

Wayland's Biggest Unsolved Case: The Disappearance of Sarah Pryor

Do you remember the disappearance of this little girl nearly 30 years later?

Wayland's Bruce Schwoegler Among 12 To Be Inducted into Broadcasters Hall of Fame

Bruce Schwoegler of Wayland is one of eight living and four deceased individuals who were inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame at its annual Induction and Awards Luncheon at the Boston Marriott Quincy Hotel on Friday, Sept. 12.