Conservation Coffees resume
Conservation Coffees are starting again via Zoom. The first one on Thursday, May 6 from 8–9 a.m. This summer we’ll chat about birds in your backyard, Conservation Department staffing changes, Chapman Pasture restoration, beavers at Mt. Misery, Twin Pond land protection, the annual garlic mustard pull, and a Lincoln Station update. All are invited; please register here to receive the Zoom link. Click here to join the Conservation Coffee listserv and receive monthly invites.
Exercise with other seniors in Pierce House tent
Outdoor exercise for senior is back. Join Derry Tanner, retired nurse and certified personal trainer, for Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL), a 45-minute fitness class for adults 65+. Strength, balance, and flexibility exercises will make you stronger, feel better and improve your balance minimizing the risk of falls. The eight-week series runs from Friday, May 7 through June 25 from 12–12:45 p.m. in the Pierce House tent. To register, call Amy at the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org.
Hanscom students excel in National History Day contest
Hanscom Middle School eighth-graders Morgan Gibson and Sophie Hrad took first place for the junior group documentary category in a National History Day (NHD) virtual statewide contest. NHD guides students in grades 6–12 through a year of historical research and inquiry, interpretation, and creative expression. Harnessing the effectiveness of student-centered, project-based learning, NHD asks students to research a historical topic and present their work as a documentary film, website, performance, paper, or exhibit. Students can enter their projects in local, regional, state, and national contests.
This is Morgan’s second year in a row advancing to the national competition. Both students also earned special recognition at the state contest for their exemplary documentary, “Ida B. Wells: Princess of the Press.” Their project will be shown at the Massachusetts Historical Society’s Juneteenth Showcase.
Bird-a-Thon is next weekend
Bird-a-thon, Mass Audubon’s biggest annual fundraiser, takes place Friday and Saturday, May 14-15 (6 p.m. to 6 p.m.) during peak spring migration period when participants of all ages and abilities will compete to identify the most bird species and complete nature activities in 24 hours.
Thirteen teams representing different wildlife sanctuaries will compete in the field, seeking birds and participating in nature activities (with masking and social distancing protocols). Also, in honor of the organization’s 125th anniversary, participants can choose to take on the challenge of completing a 125-item nature scavenger hunt.
Everyone is welcome to join a team virtually or in person, even if they’re a nature newcomer. To participate, donate, and learn more about Bird-a-thon, please visit www.massaudubon.org/birdathon.
“Native Plants, Climate Change, and Your Backyard”
Entomologist Doug Tallamy will present a MetroWest Climate Solutions (MCS) webinar on restoring biodiversity one yard at a time on Wednesday, May 19 at 7 p.m. Register here.
Native plants are a powerful tool to in the fight against climate change. For example, native grasses have deep roots that make them drought resistant, reduce soil erosion and flooding, filter pollutants from ground water and increase rainwater infiltration. These plants remove tons of carbon from the atmosphere and pump it into the soil.
Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. He is the author of several books, including Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens.
MetroWest Climate Solutions is a partnership among churches and individuals including the First Parish in Lincoln.
Bemis Hall (virtual) concert
Music Street has uploaded this video of “Awakening to Spring,” a concert recorded on April 4 in an otherwise empty Bemis Hall featuring artistic director and Lincoln resident Diana Katzenberg Braun on piano, along with Eunghee Cho on cello and Genea Lewis on violin.
Conservation director wins statewide award
Michele Grzenda, Lincoln’s new Conservation Director, was awarded the Outstanding Public Service Award by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC).
As the former Conservation Administrator in Weston, she wrote a Climate Change Adaption Plan for open space, helped complete a new handicapped-accessible trail network, led a successful land protection effort for Wellington Farm, and conducted a study on the ecological needs of Weston’s 30+ conservation fields. In 2020, she coordinated weekly Zoom meetings to help conservation professionals navigate the rapidly changing regulatory landscape during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Roundtable hosts session on LGBTQ+ partner abuse
Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, May 11 from 3–4:30 p.m. on Zoom for a program and community discussion about partner abuse in LGBTQ+ communities. Registration is required for this program, which will include information on culturally specific resources and how to better support survivors. The discussion will be facilitated by staff from The Network/La Red. This is the third program in the Roundtable’s Spotlight Series featuring information for segments of our communities that face additional barriers when considering if and how to seek help or support.
Tune up your irrigation system and consider moisture sensors
Leaks in water irrigation systems are a common cause for shockingly high water bills. The Water Department has posted this document with tips for irrigation system tune-ups. Improperly adjusted or damaged systems or systems are not only bad for your wallet; they’re bad for your landscaping, since they can overwater or underwater sections of your plantings.
The department offers a rebate to defray the cost of upgrading with moisture sensors and compatible irrigation controllers. Fill out this application form, but you must also call ahead to reserve as the rebate fund is limited. Call 781-259-2669 or email bolanda@lincolntown.org.
Watch video on Americans and British buried in Lincoln
Each year, the Lincoln Minute Men commemorate the five British soldiers and eleven colonists buried in the town’s oldest burying ground—including one enslaved patriot who risked his life to secure liberty for all. The ceremony includes the stories and voices of those whose lives were changed by the events of April 19, 1775.
Because of Covid restrictions, the ceremony was canceled this year and last, but you can watch this 2020 video that tells their stories and serves as the Lincoln Minute Men’s commemoration again this year.