The Lincoln Public Library’s Children’s Room Summer Reading Program kick off Wednesday, June 17 from 1–6 p.m. (rain date: June 18 at the same time). Children and families are invited to drive to the library any time during that period to pick up summer reading materials, including information about virtual summer programs and the beloved Summer Reading Challenge.
Families will remain in their cars while a masked staff member greets you and safely hands the reading materials to a masked family member in your car ready. The library is discouraging arrivals on foot or by bike and is asking all participants arrive and remain in their car. Come see what costumed character is on the lawn waving hello. Anyone with questions may email dleopold@minlib.net.
The Council on Aging is offering a free beginners’ meditation session for all ages via Zoom on Friday, June 19 from 2–2:30 p.m. Meditation opens the channels of our natural states of peace, joy, and health, and aids in decreasing the negative effects of aging. Experienced meditation teacher Lynne LaSpina will begin each session with a few minutes of stretching muscles to relax, and breathing exercises to help focus before meditating for about 10 minutes. You must sign up in advance by emailing bottumc@lincolntown.org.
In place of Lincoln’s traditional Splash-Mash-Dash kids’ triathlon, the Parks and Rec Department and triathlon organizers invite kids to do their own “duathlon” (run, bike, run) this weekend (June 20-210. Children age 5-14 can complete the suggested distance (see below) and submit their time and/or photos here — no need to sign up or register anywhere beforehand. This can be done around the school campus ballfield (only on the weekend when there is no construction traffic!) or any other route where you can measure out one-third of a mile. Watch this video for tips on how to set up and execute your race.
- Ages 5-6: 3 mile run, 1 mile bike ride, 0.3 mile run (on Ballfield Road this would be 1 lap, 3 laps, 1 lap)
- Ages 7-10: 3 mile run, 2 mile bike ride, 0.6 mile run (1 lap, 6 laps, 2 laps)
- Ages 11-14: 6 mile run, 3 mile bike ride, 1 mile run (2 laps, 9 laps, 3 laps)
Since the roads will not be closed to traffic as they are during the regular triathlon, make sure your kids ride and run safely by following the rules of the road, wearing helmets, watching carefully for hazards, and (when necessary) participating with them. If your child is able to complete the challenge, bring them to the Hartwell parking lot on Ballfield Road on Monday, June 22 between 4 and 6 p.m. to get a free Lincoln Kids Triathlon shirt (choose the color you like from a previous year’s race) plus a certificate to reward them for their efforts.
Artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood will be the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s 2020 Paul J. Cronin Memorial Lecture speakers in a live event taking place virtually on Wednesday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m. Dion and Sherwood often collaborate on projects that explore how dominant ideologies and public institutions shape our understanding of history, knowledge, and the natural world. Their work exposes the human desire to tame nature and impose traits and categories on animals, plants and natural phenomena. For this live event, they will share insights into their collaborative process and offer a view into their studio practice from Copake, N.Y., where they live and work.
The artists’ collaborative installation, Conservatory for Confectionery Curiosities, is currently on view at the deCordova. Recalling a nineteenth-century horticultural hothouse, the octagonal windowed structure houses a display of what appears to be jellied desserts covered in insects partaking in the sugary sweets. Conservatory emphasizes how humans construct heightened, artificial versions of nature, particularly in cultivated gardens and sculpture parks.
“We’re excited to present this unusual opportunity to visit with Mark and Dana in their studios. Their work offers imaginative and often fantastical explorations of some of today’s central issues, including the relationship of humans to the natural world,” said John Ravenal, vice president of arts and culture for the Trustees of Reservations and the deCordova’s artistic director.
The lecture series was established in 1981 to consider topics broadly focused on changing attitudes towards contemporary art. The Cronin Lecture series is made possible by a generous grant to deCordova from the Grover J. Cronin Memorial Foundation. For more details and to register for the webinar, visit decordova.org/calendar/cronin-2020.
Children and teens (rising first-graders to recent high school graduates) who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life are invited to join a virtual group hosted by Care Dimensions to connect with grieving peers and learn some coping tools to navigate this difficult time. Group will be held via Zoom starting on Tuesday, June 30 the following times:
- 10 a.m. – Elementary school students
- 11 a.m. – Middle school students
- 12 p.m. – High school students
Advanced registration is required; rolling enrollment. For more information or to register, contact Kelia Bergin, children’s program coordinator, at KBergin@CareDimensions.org or 781-373-6570.
Join the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of virtual Pollinator Bingo. We’ll be highlighting some of Lincoln’s bees and butterflies, but no naturalist knowledge is required to win.This is a free event, but registration is required; click here to register. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive the Zoom meeting link and a bingo card. There will also be prizes from local businesses and LLCT swag.
What is mindfulness and does it really have all the physical and mental health benefits you read about? Mindfulness is both a way of living life aware of our thoughts and the present moment and specific practices like meditation. To find out more, come to a special Council on Aging session with Catherine Collins via Zoom on Tuesday, July 7 at 10 am. You’ll come away with a better understanding as well as specific practices. To get the Zoom address, register by emailing gagnea@lincolntown.org.
The new COA team invites you to get to know them better at a “Chat with the New COA Team” on Wednesday, July 8 at 10 a.m. via Zoom! Please register by emailing gagnea@lincolntown.org. Click here for the June 24, 2020 Lincoln Squirrel story about the transition.
Bingo is a great way to have some fun, and you can play it online via Zoom. We will be hosting four bingo games this summer with Lincoln-focused organizations and people. The winner of each game will get a prize, and each time you play, you can accumulate points on a Summer Passport towards a grand prize.
- Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. — Learn about the history of Minute Man National Historical Park with the Friends of Minute Man National Park.
- Thursday, July 30 at 10 a.m. — Join the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust to learn about wildflowers in our area.
- Thursday, August 13 at 10 a.m. — Find out more about the history of the Lincoln Minute Men with the Lincoln Minute Men.
- Thursday, August 27 at 10 a.m. — Get the facts about classical music. Information provided by Wanda Paik.
Preregistration required for all sessions. To register, contact gagnea@lincolntown.org.
Do you have questions about Covid-19, whether about its prevention, transmission, symptoms, or treatment? Are there other concerns you have about seasonal health issues such as ticks and Lyme disease or EEE? Do you have general health questions? Join Tricia on Wednesday, July 15 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Tricia will answer your questions and provide you with accurate and science-based information. To attend, email gagnea@lincolntown.org. Advance registration required.
Care Dimensions, which operates the hospice house in Lincoln, is hosting single-session virtual support groups and an eight-week-long support group for people who have had a family member die from the Covid-19 virus. The sessions are Tuesday, July 21 from 4–6 p.m. (RSVP by July 17) and Thursday, Aug. 20 from 3–5 p.m. (RSVP by August 14).
Led by a bereavement counselor, the eight-week group (for those whose loved one died at least three months prior to the first meeting) will be a safe space to process grief, learn coping techniques, and make connections with others who are on a similar grief journey. This group requires commitment from participants to attend all sessions, which will be on Wednesdays from September 9 to October 28 from 3–4:30 p.m. (RSVP by September 4).
All sessions will be held via Zoom. Although there is no charge for most support groups, donations are appreciated. For more information or to register, click here, call 855-744-5100, or email grief@caredimensions.org.
The Lincoln-Sudbury Mutual Aid Network, which helps facilitate community connections between neighbors to provide and receive support, will host a webinar on Tuesday, July 28 from 6–7 p.m. On the call, participants will talk about some of the work that’s been done, get to know each other, and think towards the future. All those with suggestions or interest in getting involved are welcome. Click here to register to get the Zoom link.
Bingo is a great way to have some fun, and you can play it online via Zoom. We will be hosting four bingo games this summer with Lincoln-focused organizations and people. The winner of each game will get a prize, and each time you play, you can accumulate points on a Summer Passport towards a grand prize.
- Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. — Learn about the history of Minute Man National Park with the Friends of Minute Man National Park.
- Thursday, July 30 at 10 a.m. — Join the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust to learn about wildflowers in our area.
- Thursday, August 13 at 10 a.m. — Find out more about the history of the Lincoln Minute Men with the Lincoln Minute Men.
- Thursday, August 27 at 10 a.m. — Get the facts about classical music. Information provided by Wanda Paik.
Preregistration required for all sessions. To register, contact gagnea@lincolntown.org.
The Pierce House is hosting a Lincoln picnic on Saturday, July 18 from 4–8 p.m. with several vendors (Moyzilla food truck with Asian food, the Bacon Truck, and the Shuck Truck with fresh local seafood) offering dinner for sale. Bring your own blanket and beverages. Patrons are encouraged to wear wear face masks and maintain social distance of six feet while in line and on blankets, and they may enter the Pierce House to order and purchase food. All staff and food service is in compliance with CDC guidelines.
“Twister” will be shown in the Lincoln mall parking lot as a drive-in movie with car-side meal delivery from Real on Sunday, Aug. 2. Parking for dinner opens at 7:45 p.m. and the movie starts at 8:45 p.m. The cost is $25 per vehicle plus food. Pre-registration is required (click here), and dinner must be pre-ordered from Real by Thursday, July 30 (click here to order). Registration closes on August 2 at noon, or when capacity (35 cars) is reached. Sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Rural Land Foundation.
Join Real restaurant owners RuthAnne Adams and Tom Fosnot on Wednesday, August 5 at 1 p.m. via Zoom to learn to make a delicious in-season summer dish, and then answer your questions. Preregistration required. To preregister, email gagnea@lincolntown.org.
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is sponsoring a virtual talk on “Monarchs, Milkweed, and Citizen Science” with Kristin Steinmetz on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. Free, but registration is required; click here.
Bingo is a great way to have some fun, and you can play it online via Zoom. We will be hosting four bingo games this summer with Lincoln-focused organizations and people. The winner of each game will get a prize, and each time you play, you can accumulate points on a Summer Passport towards a grand prize.
- Thursday, July 9 at 10 a.m. — Learn about the history of Minute Man National Park with the Friends of Minute Man National Park.
- Thursday, July 30 at 10 a.m. — Join the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust to learn about wildflowers in our area.
- Thursday, August 13 at 10 a.m. — Find out more about the history of the Lincoln Minute Men with the Lincoln Minute Men.
- Thursday, August 27 at 10 a.m. — Get the facts about classical music. Information provided by Wanda Paik.
Preregistration required for all sessions. To register, contact gagnea@lincolntown.org.
The Council on Aging is sponsoring a Dash ’n Dine drive-through box lunch pickup for Lincoln seniors on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Real Restaurant. Seniors must register by calling 781-259-8811 or emailing gagnea@Lincolntown.org by August 11. Contactless pickup offered by COA staff. Co-sponsored by Deaconess Abundant Life Services and The Commons.
Is it safe to go in an ambulance or to the hospital during the pandemic? What precautions are the EMTs taking? If I have Covid-19, will the Fire Department come into my house for a fire or medical emergency? What should I know as a refresher for CPR? What should I take with me to the emergency room? Join Ben Juhola of the Lincoln Fire Department via Zoom on Tuesday, August 18 at 10 a.m. for the answers to these and other questions you may have. Please preregister by emailing gagnea@lincolntown.org.