It appears the legislative wrangling that has been stalling activity on Beacon Hill since August is finally over. This afternoon, Westwood's home rule petition to allow an off-premises beer and wine license for potential Westwood Station tenant Wegmans, was passed in the House after Canton Representative Galvin dropped his objections.

Sure, it's small, but it packs a punch.

Dave, meanwhile, writes how fortunate he is to live near the massive Westwood Station development and work in rapidly changing Fort Point Channel.

Seems like the only time you ever hear of this guy, the august state rep from Hyde Park (and my small sliver of Roslindale) is when he manages to grind the legislature to a halt over some issue that doesn't involve his district at all (anybody remember how he tied up the disposition of the old Boston State Hospital for years?). This time: A liquor license for some supermarket in Westwood.

Via Robert David Sullivan.

Paul Keleher takes in the Memorial Day parade in Westwood.

I attended last night's Board of Selectmen meeting and blog here at http://westwoodblog.org/node/37 about the creation of a committee to promote energy efficiency in the town and to move forward with consideration of the Community Preservation Act adoption at May town meeting...

Dave Atkins ponders the implications of the giant Westwood Station project (massive housing/office complex next to the 128 train station) on the small town:

... I think the alternative to growth is stagnation, so I am supportive of the project. I do wish there was more discussion of the vision behind it and some way in the community to think about this as more than just a tax revenue source or traffic magnet. Time will tell the fate of our growth.

Worried about ceiling tiles? Better add Rte. 128 catchbasin grates to your list.

Dave Atkins covers a meeting in Westwood on a proposal for a new residential and commercial development next to the Amtrak/commuter-rail station.

Dave Atkins wanted to see how his town government worked, so he attended a meeting of Westwood's Economic Development Advisory Board last night. He learned quite a bit about the Westwood Station project (big retail/residential proposal for the land next to the Rte. 128 Amtrak station) and a proposal by Clair Mercedes and Porsche to use some land for getting cars ready for customers. He writes:

... The meeting was far from high drama; I think you have to be kind of a poli sci geek to be this interested. But it was amazing to watch the deliberative political process really work and to watch a group that had no official power exercise what influence it did have in a way that preserved its integrity and made an impact. ...