News acorns

Firefly sanctuary signs installed

Two new firefly sanctuaries have been established at Smith-Andover Field across from Town Hall and Dakin Field (borner of Sandy Pond and Baker Bridge roads) through a partnership between the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Lincoln Conservation Department.

These areas will be managed with fireflies in mind by reducing mowing, preserving leaf litter and woody debris, encouraging native vegetation, avoiding pesticides, and protecting dark nighttime conditions. Together, these practices provide the moist, sheltered habitat fireflies need during every stage of their life cycle. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the sanctuaries and can help protect them by staying in designated areas, limiting the use of flashlights, and leaving logs and vegetation undisturbed.

Coming up at the library

Sulinha Boucher Trio
Wednesday, July 8 from 11:00am–noon, Tarbell Room
Join Brazilian singer/songwriter/guitar player Sulinha with her trio for music with children and families. Her third children’s album received the Silver award from Parent’s Choice. Australia. No registration required; all ages welcome.

Bad Art Celebration
Wednesday, July 8 from 6:30–7:30pm, Tarbell Room
Join us in celebrating our Bad Art Program participants! Attendees (nonparticipants welcome) can participate in a bad art scavenger hunt with hints to help them find the bad art created by participants, spread throughout the library. The scavenger hunt will be followed up by an announcement of the teen and adult winners of the program. 

Fact and Folklore on America’s 250th
Thursday, July 16 from 6:30–8:00pm, Tarbell Room
Join award-winning author and journalist Ted Reinstein for a look at some of the unique stories he’s done related to the Revolutionary War, including pieces on Paul Revere’s ride, the Battle of Breed’s (not Bunker) Hill, the battle that has never ended between Lexington and Concord, and a musket-riddled gravestone in the North End.

Two honored by professional organization

The Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials (MASBO) recently presented a 2026 Friend of MASBO Award to Buckner “Buck” Creel and a 2026 Rising Star Award to Angela (Tianyi) Wang, Director for Business and Finance in the Lincoln Public Schools.

Creel served for 15 years as Administrator for Business and Finance for the schools until his retirement in 2021. The award recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to facilitating the work of school business officials in their communities, and/or who have consistently provided significant assistance to MASBO.

In presenting the award, MASBO Executive Director Margaret Driscoll commended Mr. Creel’s “steady presence, practical judgment, and no-nonsense approach to problem-solving… Time and again, others have relied on Buck’s expertise. When a colleague faced an unexpected medical leave, Buck stepped in without hesitation, ensuring district operations remained stable and seamless during a critical time. Whether as a neighboring colleague or through more recent interim service, Buck has been unwavering in his dedication to the profession.”

Creel previously worked for nearly a decade at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. After retirement, he has continued to provide short-term support to school districts, including serving as acting director of finance for the Weston Public Schools last year. 

MASBO established the Rising Star Award to acknowledge the value and contributions of outstanding professionals within the first 10 years of their career as a school business administrator. Superintendent of Schools Parry Graham nominated Wang, citing the positive impact she has made in the district during her two years in the role. He noted that she helped redesign the internal budgeting process, creating more transparency for budget managers and the School Committee. She was also instrumental in securing a new five-year contract with the Department of Defense to operate the Hanscom School on the Hanscom Air Force Base, including improved forecasting and control systems for managing the contract.

“Angela is a key member of our district’s leadership team, helping to inform the strategic direction of the district. She oversees multiple departments, including facilities and food services, and is able to consistently build positive and productive relationships,” Graham said.

Wang previously worked as Payroll Director for Springfield (Mass.) Public Schools, Director for Business and Finance for Vernon (Conn.) Public Schools, and School Business Administrator for South Hadley (Mass.) Public Schools.