WEEK IN REVIEW: Somerville Restaurant News, New School Committee Member

Somerville Celebrates Martin Luther King Day
The city celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday with a ceremony at Somerville Theatre.

Benjamin Echevarria Chosen as New Ward 1 School Committee Representative
The Somerville School Committee selected Benjamin Echevarria as the new Ward 1 representative on the committee. Echevaria fills a seat left vacant when Maureen Bastardi, the former Ward 1 member, was appointed to the Somerville Board of Aldermen. Because he was selected to finish Bastardi's term in office, Echevarria would have to run for election this fall, along with all other elected officials in the city, if he wants to keep the position.

Somerville Brewing Company Looks to Expand
The Somerville-based craft brewery, which began selling its products in the fall of 2011, is hoping to bring some of brewing operations to the city. It currently brews its beers in Ipswich, though its recipe lab and business office are in Somerville.

Craigie on Main's Tony Maws to Open in Old Kirkland Space in Somerville
Tony Maws, the man behind Cambridge's popular restaurant, Craigie on Main, is coming to Somerville. He plans to open a restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Kirkland Cafe, near the intersection of Washington and Beacon streets.

It looks like Rosebud, the iconic 1941 diner in Davis Square, is getting a new owner. Marty Bloom, a local restaurateur who founded Vinny Testa's and owns Mission Oak Grill in Newburyport, plans to maintain the historic exterior of the diner, but he wants to renovate and update the interior.

Holiday Inn Sanctioned After December Fight
The Somerville Licensing Commission Wednesday night imposed sanctions on the Holiday Inn in response to a December fight that happened outside its lounge that culminated in shots being fired at a nearby gas station. The lounge will be closed for 30 days, and it will be required to close at 12 a.m. for two years. It previously closed at 2 a.m.

Johnnie's Foodmaster in West Somerville closed in November of 2012, but Stop & Shop, a large supermarket company, has acquired the building's lease. The company has not announced what it's plans are with the site, but it may make an announcement in the upcoming week.