What Were The Most Popular Reads On Woburn Patch In 2020?

WOBURN, 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 Woburn Patch, 2020 was insanely busy. Over 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, Woburn 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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Prior to the virus's arrival, Woburn had some reason for excitement, with new restaurants including Shake Shack and Cava planned for Woburn village. But the coronavirus soon took over the headlines.

On March 10, the school district canceled field trips and one student went into quarantine. The town's first presumed positive turned out to be negative, but the good news didn't last: there were hundreds of cases by April. In May, the mayor had to quarantine, and in July, state data showed the town was a local hotspot. In October, Woburn was designated high risk by the state.

The city stepped in to help, offering free masks and testing to residents and city land to restaurants. Lahey Hospital also offered testing in the city. Residents also stepped up, and many were nominated as local heroes.

The virus wasn't the only national story to take root in Woburn. Woburn teenager led hundreds in a Black Lives Matter protest in June, although her struggle to secure a permit made the news first.

Several of the other most-read stories were tragic deaths. A Woburn man died during Essex County Sheriff's Department training, a Burlington woman was found dead in Horn Pond and a Boston man was fatally shot outside a Woburn bar.

There was a large gas leak, residents protested about the treatment of librarians and the Red Robin closed for good. Lanna Thai was forced to close by a fire, although they plan to reopen. Many people wanted to know whether trick-or-treating would be permitted.

City Council approved a special permit for the new fire headquarters and the first "Vale" projects at the old "Gelly" site. They reduced the maximum density of the Commerce Way Overlay District and the council president was appointed a state judge.

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.