Stories of heartache, heroism, history and Hallmark dominated this year’s list of the 10 most read articles on theday.com. These are the stories chosen by you: The ones you clicked on repeatedly for updates and the ones you spent time with on a Sunday morning. These are stories that answered questions and raised questions. They represent a year of growth, not just in online readership but for the reporters and editors who strive to report the news the way you want to read it.

1) Day of chaos on the Gold Star

Readers took to their computers and smartphones on April 21 to find all-hands-on-deck coverage of a fuel tanker crash on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge that sent up massive plumes of black smoke and rained burning fuel down drain pipes. The fire left the tanker driver dead, made a hero of an off-duty New London police officer and yielded a multi-agency emergency response that shut down the southbound span for more than seven hours.

2) Community mourns death of Waterford police officer

Reaction to the story of a Waterford police officer’s death by suicide revealed a schism between the grieving law enforcement community and members of the media who must decide how much information is too much. Adam Lapkowski was 37 years old when he was found by state and local police at the Preston gravesite of his slain mother in January. A Facebook post by the Waterford Police Department, which was critical of what it described as unnecessary details printed by The Day, garnered almost 500 replies in support of the department.

3) Couple buys Norwich marina with plan to ‘bring it back to life’

Interest in the future of the Marina at American Wharf was evident in the popularity of staff writer Claire Bessette’s article on plans by new owners Patrick and Brittany Dwyer to revitalize the run-down facility in Norwich Harbor. Plans include a year-round restaurant facility and the restoration of the once-popular events tent.

4) Case closed: Wreck of sub built by EB is identified after disappearance during WWII

Copy Desk Chief John Ruddy took a deep dive into the identification of the Groton-built USS Albacore 79 years after it sunk during World War II. The story included audio from the Japanese researcher who discovered the submarine’s final resting place almost a thousand feet down in the freezing Pacific and the wife of one of the 85 lost submariners.

5) Hallmark movies filmed in Mystic

If clicks show anything, it’s that Day readers love love. Smack in the middle of the top 10 list is features editor Kristina Dorsey’s coverage of two Hallmark Channel Christmas movies filmed this year in the region. Recognizable settings include the Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic Aquarium, Olde Mistick Village and the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, along with state Sen. Heather Somers’ Groton home.

6) Wahlberg brothers celebrate opening of their Foxwoods restaurant

Dorsey was back at it with her story on the opening of the Wahlburgers restaurant at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Famous musicians-turned-actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg walked the red carpet with brother Paul, an esteemed chef. The Dorchester, Massachusetts-born clan stopped along the way to talk to her about the restaurant business. “While it looks glamorous when we walk into an opening and take a lot of pictures, it’s a long process,” Donnie Wahlberg said. “We’ve had successes, we’ve had challenges, but we’re persevering and doing well.”

7) St. Bernard School to be sold to fund Norwich Diocese bankruptcy

Night city editor Joe Wojtas took time from his editing responsibilities to report on a story about plans to sell Saint Bernard School in Montville to help fund the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich’s proposed bankruptcy plan. The school was one of several assets the diocese was forced to liquidate to help fund settlement payments to alleged victims of sexual assaults by priests and other diocesan employees. The 113-acre property was subsequently purchased by the Mohegan Tribal Council for $6.55 million with an agreement to lease a 43-acre portion of the Route 32 property back to the school for the next 20 years

8) Paul’s Pasta under new ownership

Readers turned out in droves for assurances that the retirement of Paul and Dorothy Fidrych would not be the end of Paul’s Pasta in Groton. Paul Fidrych, in announcing the sale to Tymark Restaurant Group of Westerly, said it was time “to pass the baton to young people who are excited to carry on the Paul’s Pasta legacy.” Tyler Carlson, owner of Tymark along with Mark Lacz, said they are prepared to meet high expectations set by the 35-year institution.

9) In Enfield, Crystal Mall’s new owner has raised officials’ ire

After Namdar Realty Group purchased the main portion of the Crystal Mall for $9.5 million in May and ignored repeated requests for comment about their plans for the property, staff writer Brian Hallenbeck turned his attention to problems at another mall owned by the firm. “Town officials trying to divine Crystal Mall’s fate aren’t likely to be comforted by what their counterparts in the north central Connecticut town of Enfield have been going through,” he wrote.

10) What was that weird boat?

Waterford staff reporter Dan Drainville was the one to satisfy readers’ curiosity about a strange, three-pronged vessel spotted off the coast in July. It turns out the lift boat was part of efforts by Eversource and Ørsted to construct an offshore wind farm 35 miles off the coast of Long Island. A spokesman for the project said the boat features a gangway platform that can be lifted out of the water via three long “legs” reaching down to the sea floor.

e.regan@theday.com