WEEK IN REVIEW: Eminent Domain Takings, Medical Marijuana, New Restaurant

Authority Takes Union Square Parcels for Green Line Station
The Somerville Redevelopment Authority has acquired by eminent domain several parcels of land in Union Square in preparation for a future Green Line station in the neighborhood.

Mayor Wants Medical Marijuana Moratorium
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone will seek a year-long moratorium on the creation of medical marijuana dispensaries in Somerville. Doing so will let the city's legal department study new regulations concerning dispensaries and allow the planning and health departments to review the city's ordinances relating to them.

East End Grille is Now Open
The long-awaited East End Grille in East Somerville is now open. The restaurant opened quietly on May 29 and currently serves dinner. In the upcoming week it will begin serving lunch and Sunday brunch.

Food Truck Ordinance Causes Headache for Local Food Truck
One local food truck operator who's been doing business in Somerville for years stopped operating Monday as soon as he received application materials for a license—a requirement under a new ordinance that was intendet to encourage the mobile eateries.

Fiddling Gets Respect in Hands of Somerville Resident
Somerville resident Matt Glaser, a violinist who's taught at Berklee College of Music for 32 years, has been at the forefront of an emerging interest in fiddling—using the violin to play folk, blues, Celtic, swing and other non-classical styles of music. Recently, Glaser received the Artist Teacher Award from the American String Teachers Association. He's the first non-classical teacher to receive it.

Somerville Gets Report Card from Credit-Rating Agency
Moody's Investors Service gave Somerville an Aa2 credit rating on long-term debt, according to a report issued May 30. It's the same credit rating Somerville received from Moody's in 2011 and 2012.

'DigBoston' Puts Somerville in Crosshairs
The first in what will be a "multi-part DigBoston series about the intersection of politics, development, and power in the City of Somerville" hit the sidewalk news boxes. You can also read the article online.

Bulger Trial Starts
The trial of mobster James "Whitey" Bulger began with opening statements Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday law enforcement officials involved in the case testified. You can read more here.