By Lauren C. Ostberg

A Somerville resident has been tapped to head the state’s leading gay advocacy group.

Kara Suffredini is the new executive director of MassEquality, a non-profit organization committed to marriage equality and the advancement of gay, lesbian and transgender  rights. Suffredini has been a queer activist for more than 16 years, ever since she came out in college.  Today, she believes that Massachusetts is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in the pursuit of full equality, not just marriage equality, for gay citizens.

By Andrew Firestone

Fred Lund knows Somerville as well as anyone. The oldest and longest serving city employee travels down every Somerville street in his work as the city cartographer and draftsman, designing maps of the city by hand.

In a city of aspiring artists, the artistry of Lund, 90, is hidden in plain sight.

By Mike Rubin

In just the fourth season of existence, the St. Clement girls soccer team is aiming for a shot in the MIAA tournament. Despite just three seniors returning, the Anchorwomen will aim to overcome the odds en route to a successful campaign.

While just three seniors return, 11 juniors are on the varsity squad followed by several sophomores and underclassmen.

By Mike Rubin

Accomplishing one of their finest seasons in the program’s history, the Somerville High School boys soccer team is looking to duplicate last year’s success.

Following a 10-4-4 campaign along with a Greater Boston League title, the Highlanders advanced to the Eastern Mass Division 1 North semifinals before losing to Lincoln-Sudbury.

Win would make 11 titles

By Mike Rubin

With three consecutive wins, the Somerville Alibrandis are on the verge of clinching their  eleventh Yawkey League title in the franchises’ 21 year history.

Alibrandis goes for the title Tuesday in Malden, after The Somerville News goes to print.

After suffering a 4-1 defeat to the West Roxbury Bluefish in the opening games of the Yawkey League Championships, the Alibrandis stormed back with a vengeance, recording three one run victories (3-2) (2-1) and 3-2 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

Somerville poet Ben Berman writes The Somerville News:

“I thought, in honor of your Bagel Bards, I’d send along this poem.  I’d been reading some ghazals and was interested in how unity and disunity can be in conversation with one another in a poem. I thought it might be interesting to try to a write poem where the form and theme were connected throughout, but the subject matter and attitude varied.  The poem started with the “rhyme” of comedy and committee and developed forward and backward from there.”

By George P. Hassett

A Revere man running from an unpaid cab fare entered a stranger’s home on Michigan Avenue Sunday and hid inside a closet, police said.

Richard Doucette, 23, told a cab driver who had driven him from Quincy, he was going to get money but never returned, police said.

By Mike Rubin

After qualifying for the tournament for the past two seasons, the Somerville High School girls soccer team is aiming for another successful campaign.

Following a 10-7-1 regular season mark, the Highlanders faced a tough match-up in Westford Academy, suffering a tough 9-0 defeat in the tournament’s first round.

Leading the way for the Highlanders will be senior captain Cassie Marsden, a central defender.

Other key returning players for the Highlanders include the senior core of midfielders Tayla Plett, Marrara Goncalves along with Fatima Flores and Jessica Lopes. Another key defender for the Highlanders will be Eimy Bonilla.

By George P. Hassett

A 60-year-old homeless man was arrested Friday in Somerville after he allegedly masturbated in a clothing aisle at A.J. Wright.

Jorge Fuentes was allegedly staring at a young black female and masturbating when store security called police. Police said Fuentes was recorded committing lewd acts on store surveillance video cameras.