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It is impossible to extricate the history of Hopedale, a town which is home to just shy of 6,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, from the Draper Corp., which most locals refer to as the “Draper mill,” or, simply, “Drapers.”

Cannabis is coming to Southbridge, but with a decidedly veterans-focused approach.

After finding their way through the dark in the fall semester, colleges look to navigate spring and fall 2021 semesters with fewer unknowns.

Already with several big wins in 2020, the region’s biotech industry will take advantage of an even bigger boom.

While manufacturing will continue to dominate headlines, the entire industry will reshape in 2021.

After the events of 2020, businesses will be pressured to show results of their efforts.

In what is supposed to be their inaugural season, the Worcester Red Sox are possibly looking at a delayed start, or an empty stadium.

The coronavirus pandemic will continue to rage in 2021, as the fallout creates financial crisis.

The commercial office market will have increased vacancies, while retail will suffer from trends accelerated by the coronavirus.

In December 2019, no one could have predicted what was to come in 2020. Still, the major trends and news items for the year largely stayed on track. Of the 10 predictions made by the WBJ Editorial Staff for the year, seven came true.