(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

By Chris Dwan and Renée Scott

Somerville’s urban forest is under attack. Take a walk near the commuter rail line, by the High School, along Cedar Street, on lower Beacon Street, or in Union Square. You will find barren, sun-baked streets and sidewalks where most of the trees have been removed to make way for construction. Stop and listen while you walk. Do you hear the unexpected and beautiful sounds of nature, or the silence of a recently flattened habitat? Breathe the air, is it fresh?

“Soaring Through the Matrix” – a retrospective exhibition and sale of the work of the late Magnus Johnstone – runs through Sunday, August 19.

Magnus Johnstone paintings at the Nave
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Magnus Johnstone, known to many Bostonians from his tenure in town from the ‘70s through the ‘90s as a trailblazing radio DJ (on WZBC 90.3 FM and WMBR 88.1 FM) as well as a visual artist – passed away on February 22, 2013, after a full life filled with art, music and community.

It seems like a complete no-brainer, that we should want to work towards assurance that our local and regional waterways remain clean and uncluttered.

Still, year after year, we turn to the generous volunteer clean-up crews, such as those from Environment Massachusetts collaborated and the Mystic River Watershed Association, to pull out the trash and give the magnificent Mystic River a fresh start once again.

Somerville Pop Warner Football is looking for support from the community through AmberRose Osiris’s GoFundMe campaign.

This is an all-volunteer run organization that supports children in our community by providing them with an opportunity to join organized sports. While costs have been steadily rising they support the children in our community, 2/3 of which receive free or reduced lunch, by keeping their fees low and offering scholarships to those who simply cannot pay but have a passion to play.

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As you know, my usual home away from home is in the Bloc 11 Cafe in Union Square, Somerville. But on this day I was to meet with an old friend, Timothy Gager, at the Diesel Cafe in Davis Square.

The Diesel, although a sister store of the Bloc, has a decidedly different vibe. The space is larger and the crowd seems more eclectic. The baristas seem to dress more radically, and there is almost a friendly but militant sensibility to them, pardon the oxymoron.

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Once in a great while I publish a poem of my own in the column. I was inspired to write this poem after having my car inspected at Aris Auto in Somerville.

Arrests:
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Rodrigo Sette-De Aguiar, of 160 Broadway, August 6, 8:31 p.m., arrested at Bonair St. on charges of negligent attaching wrong motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, assault and battery on a police officer, license revoked as HTO, and resisting arrest.

Cody Domings, of 82 Gilman St., August 8, 8:16 p.m., arrested at McGrath Hwy. on charges of resisting arrest and possession of a class A drug, and on a warrant charge of possession of a class A drug.