What Were The Most Popular Reads On North Andover Patch In 2020?

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Many of us are welcoming the end of 2020, easily one of the worst years of some of our lives. Most of this consternation and pain is center around the coronavirus-COVID-19 pandemic.

But the coronavirus wasn't the only thing in the news this year. At North Andover Patch, 2020 was insanely busy. Nearly 700 stories and posts were published by me as well as other Patch reporters and our news partners.

And apparently, residents were eager to read those stories. By the end of 2020, North Andover Patch will have well over a million page views.

So what do you think? What story drew the most page views — coronavirus, or something else?

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The coronavirus was consistently one of the biggest stories, with early school district preparations, the town's first presumed positive and the local state of emergency dominating the headlines in March. An outdoor test tent was opened in neighboring Lawrence that month.

Later surges also captured attention, include an early resurgence in July and the Merrimack College outbreak in October. A local business was hit with complaints to the state about coronavirus safety.

But the virus also brought out the best in people. A local woman sewed masks for doctors. Residents were eager to help out when the Senior Center Food Bank said it was in need of donations. Rick Gorman of the Youth Center was nominated as a "local hero."

Residents were also curious about how the virus would affect town events, with stories about Halloween and Veteran's Day drawing a lot of readers.

A pair of fatal car accidents also drew a lot of readers. In January, North Andover woman Yahaira Colon was killed in a two-car crash. The community raised thousands for her funeral arrangements. In July, a New Hampshire woman was killed in a three-car crash in town, which led to thousands signing a petition for a new traffic light. Earlier this month, a pedestrian was hit and killed by a car on Chickering Road.

Restaurant openings were also big draws in a year that saw a lot of closures. Those included Five Guys, Jet Nutrition and Pita Thyme.

Other stories that captured attention: In April, a two-alarm fire left a Carriage Chase Road home with heavy damage, and in September, meth was seized at a North Andover auto school. In July, a video went viral of a man trailing a black woman in nearby Groveland. In May, a retired North Andover police officer died of cancer. In early December, a woman crashed her car into a Panera.

Can you guess what the most-read story of the 2020 is? Leave a note in the comment section below and I will have a post later this week.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.