For over 10,000 years, the Indigenous people knew what is now Concord and Lincoln as Musketaquid (“the land between the grassy rivers.” On Saturday, Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. in the Codman Community Farms education pavilion, Joe Palumbo of Concord will explore the history of the first people and what happened when cultures collided after European fur traders and then English colonists arrived. All ages welcome; free but registration is appreciated for planning.
Instead of throwing them in the trash, have fun and help the environment by bringing your jack-o’-lanterns and decorative gourds to the regional Great Pumpkin Smash at Codman Community Farms (CCF) on Sunday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. When pumpkins end up in landfills, they break down and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Smashing pumpkins and feed to the Codman Farm pigs while enjoying live music, CCF sandwiches, and ice cream from a local vendor. Get tips on how to get started with composting in your home or with a curbside collection program. Prepare your pumpkins for composting by removing any stickers, candles, and other decorations and please leave painted pumpkins at home. Suggested donation of $1 per pumpkin to benefit the farm. Organized by CCF, the Lincoln and Concord chapters of Mothers Out Front, the Weston Community Children’s Association, and LincFam.
Come to a vocal and piano concert featuring the LCOA&HS Doo Wop Team with Peter Stewart and friends on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 3–4:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Free entry, but donation welcome — all proceeds will go to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Lincoln. Free root beer floats.
Several interfaith experts will discuss on how their religious tradition understands God’s mercy and God’s justice at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church. Specific questions to be addressed include whether God is merciful, just, or both, and who receives God’s justice and mercy. Speakers will be:
- Mohamed Lazzouni (Islamic views) — Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
- Ligita Ryliskyte (Christian views) — Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
- Nicholas Ribush (Buddhist views) — Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
- Ruth Langer (Jewish views) — Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
State climate legislation assumes that forest carbon sequestration (sometimes called “negative emissions”) can be counted to offset up to 15% of the emissions reduction goal. Is this a good idea? Is it even possible? How can we influence forests’ ability to sequester and store carbon? Join Dr. Jonathan Thompson, a senior ecologist and research director at the Harvard Forest, on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. for “Forests for Our Future: The Role of Massachusetts Forests in Combating Climate Change” at the First Parish in Lincoln (4 Bedford Rd.) and on Zoom. Register here. Sponsored by MetroWest Climate Solutions and CFREE, a working group of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee.
Several interfaith experts will discuss on how their religious tradition understands God’s mercy and God’s justice at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church. Specific questions to be addressed include whether God is merciful, just, or both, and who receives God’s justice and mercy. Speakers will be:
- Mohamed Lazzouni (Islamic views) — Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
- Ligita Ryliskyte (Christian views) — Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m.
- Nicholas Ribush (Buddhist views) — Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
- Ruth Langer (Jewish views) — Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
First Parish in Lincoln Music Director Miranda Loud will lead a Community Singalong for Hope and Solidarity on Monday, Nov. 18 from 6–7 p.m. with songs everyone knows (“If I had a Hammer,” “I’ve Got Peace Like a River,” “We Shall Overcome,” “Down by the Riverside,” “Imagine,” etc.). The event will be in the Stearns Room if it’s too cold outside by the rainbow chairs. People are welcome to bring guitars or hand drums.
Zoom in with CFREE on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. to hear building engineer Ross Trethewey for “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House” talk about “Electrifying the Home: Where and When It Makes Sense to Do So.” Click here to register for the Zoom session or go to www.lincolngreenenergy.org.
There are 300 solar installations on homes and businesses in Lincoln? If you have questions about installing solar on your home we would be happy to share our expertise. Lincolngreencoach@gmail.org. CFREE (Carbon Free Residential – Everything Electric) is a 13-person subcommittee of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee. Email cfreeworking@gmail.com with questions or suggestions, or if you’d like to join us in our work.
Join the Walden Woods Project for a virtual presentation on “Each Town Should Have a Park: 100 New National Parks for America” with Michael Kellett on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 7–8 p.m. The New National Parks campaign has proposed 100 new national parks to help relieve pressure on existing parks, help fight climate change, and avoid biodiversity loss. Kellett is executive director of RESTORE: The North Woods and has 40 years of experience in the land conservation movement, including developing the proposal for a 3.2 million-acre Maine Woods National Park, which led to President Obama’s 2016 designation of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Click here to register for the Zoom event.
Author Margaret Ann Spence will discuss her newest book, Cold War in a Hot Kitchen: A Memoir of Mid-Century Melbourne on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 7–8 p.m. on Zoom. Register here. Presented by the Lincoln Public Library.
The First Parish in Lincoln will host its annual Touch of Christmas Fair on Sunday, Dec. 8 from noon–3 p.m. in the stone church, with lunch at 11:30 a.m. The fair features homemade holiday crafts including sweater mittens, evergreen wreaths decorated with natural materials, handmade centerpieces from greens and berries, jewelry from every decade, antiques and collectibles, baked goods, a re-gifting table, and a children’s shopping room with gifts (wrapped on the spot) for the youngsters to purchase for their family members — and Santa will arrive at 1 p.m. Questions? Call Tucker Smith at 978-760-2321.