Community Corner

2020 In Review: 10 Local Moments Worth Remembering

From a magical slice of pizza in Framingham to a young boy's lucky find, revisit some notable local news stories from 2020.

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There's a store in Worcester named George Floyd. But how it got the name is even stranger than its tie to protests over the summer.
There's a store in Worcester named George Floyd. But how it got the name is even stranger than its tie to protests over the summer. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

WORCESTER, MA — As many people have already pointed out, 2020 felt like several years — decades even — rolled into one. From the pandemic to a brutal presidential election, you may find yourself looking back at the year and saying, "Did that actually happen in 2020?"

It was also a monumental year at the local level. The pandemic hit Massachusetts especially hard, and continues to. Protests following the killing of George Floyd, peaceful and otherwise, were held in almost every local city and town. There was even a major local Congressional election that hinged on a few votes.

Apart from the big stories of 2020, we've compiled a few local stories that are worth taking a look back at as we approach 2021.

Before She Died, Adella Page Wanted Framingham Baking Co. Pizza

Page raised her family on this beloved Framingham pizza. In her last months on Earth, she and her family were comforted by the memories it brought.

Worcester George Floyd Store A Coincidence Amid Tragedy

Perhaps the strangest local coincidence of 2020, but one whose origin is even stranger.

Few Police Wear Body Cams In MA; Cost, Privacy Are Concerns

State lawmakers battled for much of the year (and still are) over a police reform bill. One solution being proposed is more body cams — but there are serious questions about the technology.

Tenet Healthcare Furloughs Hit MA As CEO's Pay Skyrockets

The largely for-profit U.S. healthcare system faced its first pandemic this year. Front line workers at several local hospitals were not spared cost-cutting measures.

Inside A Family's Quest To Be First Cannabis Microbusiness In MA

Gibby's Garden opened in early January, the culmination of years of work by a local family.

What May Be Next For Natick Mall As Anchor Stores Exit

You might think losing anchor stores like Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor would be a death sentence. But experts believe there are loads more possibilities for one of the largest malls in New England.

'Super Lucky' Framingham Boy Makes Rare Botanical Find

One day this summer, a Framingham boy may have been the luckiest person in the whole world.

Activists Use New Tactics To Stop Coal Trains Leaving Worcester

2020 was three days old when a group of activists erected scaffolding across tracks in Harvard, part of a campaign to shut down one of the last remaining coal plants in the Northeast.

Suit: Worcester Cop's Falsehood Sent Man To Jail For 1,000 Days

He was released from jail in 2019 after a judge found that his phone had been searched illegally.

Where In Natick Pedestrians, Cyclists Are Getting Hit: Map

A Natick man was killed on Christmas Day 2019 crossing Route 27, prompting an examination of danger points around town.

Other notable 2020 stories from across Massachusetts:

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