Liquor License

The neighbors knew her as Penny Collins, who lived in a quiet house up a long driveway at the end of Crooked Meadow Lane. But after intensive investigations by the Hingham Police Department, she has been accused of being an illegal landlord and a fraud, and possibly even a criminal, whose several aliases and rope of alleged fabrications have started to unravel. And her real name, police say, is Wanpen Florentine. "She'd drive by and wave and sometimes she'd stop and chat," said Ellen Roe, who lives on Crooked Meadow Lane.

By Patrick D. Rosso, Town Correspondent The city's Licensing Board on Thursday approved the transfer of a liquor license to Empire, a new bar and restaurant located at 1 Marina Park Dr. on the South Boston Waterfront. To read about Empire's hearing before the Board Wednesday, click here . The license was previously held by a Roxbury-based bar, Packy's. --- Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso , or friend him on Facebook .

Todd English better get Olives off the back burner. The Boston Licensing Board yesterday essentially gave the globe-trotting celebrity chef until Sept. 13 to get his Charlestown restaurant Olives - which was gutted by a grease fire more than a year ago, way back in May 2010 - up and running. The board set a hearing for that day, at which it could take away his eatery’s liquor license if Olives is not open. According to English’s Regan Communications spokeswoman, Mariellen Burns , the chef and his contractors plan to complete the interior demolition and construction...

The neighbors knew her as Penny Collins, who lived in a quiet house up a long driveway at the end of Crooked Meadow Lane. But after intensive investigations by the Hingham Police Department, she has been accused of being an illegal landlord and a fraud, and possibly even a criminal, whose several aliases and rope of alleged fabrications have started to unravel. And her real name, police say, is Wanpen Florentine. "She'd drive by and wave and sometimes she'd stop and chat," said Ellen Roe, who lives on Crooked Meadow Lane.

Under-age Stonehill College students working with police were able to purchase alcohol at three town establishments in November, resulting in liquor license suspensions. The Board of Selectmen ordered a six-day suspension for White Hen Pantry, a two-day suspension for Pop's Fine Wines, and a three-day suspension for Loco Tapas and Wine Bar. Police conduct the operations twice a year and publicize them in advance. - Steve Hatch

The Board of Selectmen has continued a hearing for a liquor license for Lambert's Rainbow Fruit to May 14. Board members began the discussion at their April 23 meeting on the application for the beer and wine license, even though the store at 220 Providence Highway would sell only wine for the time being. Selectmen had a number of questions and asked for more information including who would be put up for the Training for Intervention Procedures certification as well as proof of alcohol liability insurance.

Selectmen are scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday night on an application by Bangkok Pepper Corp. for a beer and wine license for a Thai restaurant it plans to open at 6 Purchase St. The site's prior occupant, a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, closed within the past year. Selectmen previously approved a common victualler's license for the planned restaurant, to be known as Bangkok Pepper. The beer and wine license is among three that became available after selectmen in August awarded all-alcohol licenses to three restaurants that had the limited permits: Hong Kong Café, 12 Maple St., I Pazzi...

By Patrick D. Rosso, Town Correspondent The city's Licensing Board on Thursday approved the transfer of a liquor license to Empire, a new bar and restaurant located at 1 Marina Park Dr. on the South Boston Waterfront. To read about Empire's hearing before the Board Wednesday, click here . The license was previously held by a Roxbury-based bar, Packy's. --- Email Patrick D. Rosso, patrick.d.rosso@gmail.com. Follow him @PDRosso , or friend him on Facebook .

Natick officials are developing a new approach to liquor licensing that would make it easier for restaurants to get licenses, allow the eateries to make more of their money off liquor sales, and encourage smaller, more intimate eating establishments. The goal is to bolster the town’s economy and provide a more varied dining experience. New proposals being considered would permit restaurants to obtain a greater percentage of their gross revenue from liquor sales and allow the establishments to count bar stools and lounge seats in determining...

By Jessica Bartlett, Town Correspondent Tedeschi Food Shops in Scituate will have its liquor license suspended for seven days, starting Sunday, after allegedly selling alcohol to minors. The shop owners had a hearing with selectmen this week, and admitted that they were in the wrong when a sting operation, run by the Scituate Police Department, found that the store was not maintaining its alcohol policy. The store has the option to appeal the ruling to the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC)

The Board of Selectmen has continued a hearing for a liquor license for Lambert's Rainbow Fruit to May 14. Board members began the discussion at their April 23 meeting on the application for the beer and wine license, even though the store at 220 Providence Highway would sell only wine for the time being. Selectmen had a number of questions and asked for more information including who would be put up for the Training for Intervention Procedures certification as well as proof of alcohol liability insurance.

The City Council will hold a public meeting Wednesday on a proposal to reduce the number of seats required for a business to obtain a liquor license from 99 to 50. The council would have to seek a home rule petition from the Legislature to approve the reduction. Citizens and business owners are invited to provide public input at the meeting, which will also be attended by members of the city's licensing commission. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. - Kathy McCabe

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston affirmed Thursday the 42-month prison sentence imposed on former state senator Dianne Wilkerson by a federal judge last year, according to court documents. Wilkerson was convicted of taking $23,500 in bribes during her time in office. She took cash from a witness secretly cooperating with the FBI and from undercover agents in order to secure a liquor license for a nightclub and pave the way for a commercial development in Roxbury, a section of the city she represented.

A federal court has rejected an appeal by former state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, convicted on federal charges of accepting bribes. Lawyers for Wilkerson pointed to a series of statements made by a district court when it imposed a sentence on the Boston Democrat. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the lower court in a ruling Thursday saying the conclusions were justified. Wilkerson had pleaded guilty to eight counts of attempted extortion after she was captured on video stuffing bribe money into her bra. She was accused of taking $23,500 in bribes to help get a...

Residents voted in the town election to authorize the Board of Selectmen to grant three liquor licenses to local businesses. One of the licenses is for the retail sale of wine and beer, one for the sale of beer, wine, and hard alcohol to be consumed on the premises, and the third for a club license. After the board signs off on the licenses, they will need final approval from the state's Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. AKA Bistro currently has a beer and wine license but is looking to upgrade to the full liquor license.

Under-age Stonehill College students working with police were able to purchase alcohol at three town establishments in November, resulting in liquor license suspensions. The Board of Selectmen ordered a six-day suspension for White Hen Pantry, a two-day suspension for Pop's Fine Wines, and a three-day suspension for Loco Tapas and Wine Bar. Police conduct the operations twice a year and publicize them in advance. - Steve Hatch

Lincoln residents may soon be able to buy a bottle of wine with their groceries, or have a martini with dinner, without leaving town. Voters in the annual town election on March 26 will decide whether to authorize the Board of Selectmen to grant three liquor licenses to local establishments. One of the licenses would be for the retail sale of wine and beer, while the others would be for the sale of beer, wine, and hard alcohol to be consumed on the premises. If the changes are approved, it would be the first time in the town's history that restaurant customers could order a drink...