Enjoy a crisp evening by the fire as Doria Hughes tells stories about the fall, nature and animals on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Farrington Nature Linc. Tickets for “Tales & Treats: Slightly Scary Stories and S’mores” are $10 each or $30 for a family of four. Feel free to bring blankets and/or chairs to sit around the fire. We also recommend wearing or bringing layers as it will get colder once the sun goes down.
Ray Anthony Shepard — educator, writer and First Parish in Lincoln member — will speak via Zoom on “How Do We Talk About Race in a Time of Critical Race Theory Pushback?” on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Following his talk, he’ll participate in a wide-ranging discussion of his work as historian and interpreter of African-American experiences in his award-winning 2017 Now or Never! 54th Massachusetts Infantry’s War to End Slavery and his 2021 poetic retelling for young readers of the story of a woman enslaved by the Washington family in Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge. “I write for readers who understand the universal need for fairness” and “to tell a fuller story of our country’s history,” Ray explains on his web page.
The session will also provide room for reflection on themes related to Ray’s work, as they appear in the film Harriet and in books included in our suggested-reading syllabus: Erica Armstrong Dunbar’s Never Caught: The Washington’s’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave Ona Judge; biographies of Harriet Tubman by Kate Clifford Larson and others; William Still’s The Underground Railroad Records; and fictional recreations of the experience of fugitives from bondage by Colson Whitehead and Ta-Nehisi Coates.
To get the link to this Zoom meeting, go to fplincoln.org/calendar and click on October 21 and Ray’s talk. Hosted by FPL’s Racial Justice Journey Steering Committee.
Visit the Lincoln Nursery School at their Enrollment Open House on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 9–11 a.m. The school is on the campus of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. To learn more about their cooperative, play-based, Reggio-inspired approach, follow them on Instagram @
Last spring, we began to explore Lincoln’s past as a town that included enslaved people with a talk by Elise Lemire (co-sponsored by the Lincoln Historical Society and the Bemis Free Lecture Series) on “Slavery in Lincoln, Massachusetts: Reckoning with Our Past, Planning for a More Honest and Inclusive Future” (click here to watch video). We’ll dig deeper on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. with a talk on “Entangled Lives, Black and White: Lincoln and Its African American Residents in the 18th Century” by LHS board member Donald Hafner, a retired vice provost and professor of political science at Boston College. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID: 936 3276 0035, passcode: 177417).
The event is co-sponsored by the First Parish in Lincoln’s Racial Justice Journey, which began this fall with a focus on national, local, and church history and the ways in which that history has involved us in questions of race. The aim is to offer access to a variety of sources of information and perspectives that will let participants reconsider these questions together, in preparation for the next stages of the journey, focused on issues (winter) and action (spring). Every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. this fall, there will be Zoom meetings with talks, documentaries, book discussions, or movies. Field trips are also offered as part of the program. Everyone is invited. To learn more, contact Mary Helen Lorenz at mhelen808385@gmail.com.
The Parks and Recreation Department will host the first-ever Fall Fest at Pierce Park on Sunday, Oct. 31 from noon–3 p.m. The event will feature the popular Trunk-or-Treat along with activities such as caramel apple decorating, bounce house, hayrides, an apple pie contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. This event requires online registration and a $5 per person entry fee ($20 maximum per family).
Holschuh is a resident of Wantastegok (Brattleboro, Vt.) and an independent historic and cultural researcher. He has served on the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs and is a public liaison and tribal historic preservation officer for the Elnu Abenaki Tribe, members of the contemporary Indigenous community in Vermont. Rich is founder and director of the Atowi Project. His work draws on indigenous history, linguistics, geography, and culture to share beneficial ways of seeing and being in relationship with place.
All are invited to a live reading via Zoom of “The Nutcracker,” complete with costumed dancers from the Commonwealth Ballet, on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. Following the performance, attendees can “meet” the dancers for a live Q&A session. For audiences of all ages, these readings of the “The Nutcracker” are a fun introduction to a great story and a joyful reminder of a holiday favorite. Hosted by the Lincoln Public Library. Email dleopold@minlib.net for Zoom invitation.
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust invites everyone to attend a Zoom meeting with state Sen. Mike Barrett on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. In “We Got a Climate Bill for Massachusetts. Now What?” he’ll talk about the far-reaching climate bill that became law in Massachusetts this spring, what needs to be done to make sure it is fully implemented, and what concerned citizens in Lincoln can do to help. There will be time for Q&A. Click here to register for the Zoom link.
The LLCT’s mission includes helping Lincolnites learn more about climate change and what they can do about it. This presentation is co-sponsored by the First Parish in Lincoln Green Committee, St. Anne’s Climate Justice Ministry, and Lincoln Mothers Out Front.
At a MetroWest Climate Solutions panel discussion via Zoom on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m., three local residents will share their personal experiences on creating more climate-efficient homes efforts that extend well beyond adding basic insulation and programmable thermostats. Speakers include Bill Churchill of Lincoln, Sarah Maas Scheuplein of Weston, and Roger Wiegand of Wayland. Register at tinyurl.com/Retrofit2021.
MetroWest Climate Solutions is a growing partnership between First Parish in Wayland, First Parish Church in Weston, First Parish in Lincoln, the Congregational Church of Weston, Sustainable Weston Action Group, and other communities and individuals. Our mission is to share strategies for moving towards a low- and no-carbon-based society and economy and to suggest activities that enable individuals to help bring about solutions.
The Lincoln METCO Parent Board will host “Talking to Kids About Stereotypes and Invisibility of Indigenous Native Americans,” the second Diversity and Dialogue event honoring Native American Heritage Month on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 6–7:30 p.m. Missing information and misinformation about the First Nations people of the Americas has made stereotypes hyper-visible and truths invisible. The journey of un-erasing Indigenous voices and learning what we were not taught or mistaught starts with accurate information. It continues by having conversations with families, friends, community members, and our children. Understanding tribal land acknowledgements is a next step in making Indigenous voices visible. Join Lincoln School teacher Claudia Fox Tree as she confronts “invisibility” and implicit bias, while focusing on how to engage children through books, videos, and conversations. A resource list with books and links to videos and articles will be provided. Click here to join the Zoom meeting (passcode: 994150).
Do you need holiday gift book suggestions for the young readers in your life? Join the children’s librarians as they review their favorite new books of the year as well as some perennial favorites on Thursday, Nov. 18 at noon. This event is open to all adults. Email dleopold@minlib.net for Zoom invite.
Cut, shape, build and decorate with ceramic colored clay ornaments on Saturday, Dec. 4 from 1-2:30 p.m. Instruction, tools, materials, seating, and work surfaces for building and decorating up to four Holiday ornaments will be provided during this 90-minute outdoor family-style workshop. Hot cocoa and cider will be served. The workshop will be held in a gated outdoor area adjacent to the Ceramics Sculpture Studio in the complex of brown buildings across from the main deCordova lot. A disinfecting station and courtyard public restrooms will be available.
Work will be fired and ready for pickup on the following weekend or by appointment after that. Hanging ornaments will receive a wire hanger, or participants may substitute holiday string or ribbon at home. An email address will be needed for communicating and coordinating pickup. Participants are advised to wear suitable garments for working with clay and glazes. Participants will be notified via email 48 hours in advance in case of cancellation or postponement due to inclement weather.
Click here to register in advance (no walk-ins). Ticket holders ages 5-15 must be accompanied by at least one registered adult.
There are still a few spots available for Codman Community Farms’ Barn Buddies Holiday Special on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 2:30–4 p.m. in the farm greenhouse. Kids age 5–7 can meet some familiar farm friends, make some festive decorations, and enjoy a seasonal farm snack as they spend an afternoon with our experienced older farm buddies. Participants should wear warm clothes and closed-toe shoes. Click here to sign up.
Come learn how to make a festive holiday wreath using felt and a coat hanger at the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. All materials will be provided, but space is limited so please register by emailing sfeather@minlib.net. Best for ages 10 and up.
Come learn how to make a festive holiday wreath using felt and a coat hanger! All materials will be provided, but space is limited so please register by emailing sfeather@minlib.net. Best for ages 10 and up.
The American Chestnut Foundation’s lead volunteer in Lincoln, Mark Meehl, will discuss the history of this tree and efforts to preserve its genetic diversity in town at a Conservation Department event on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 8 a.m. In this slide talk, he’ll share photos and videos of TACF’s current efforts and goals at the Flint Fields and Umbrello land. After the presentation you’ll hear updates from our Conservation Department and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID: 913 6669 9916; passcode: 065122). Email conservation@lincolntown.org with any questions.
The First Parish Lincoln (FPL) Racial Justice Journey continues on Thursday, Jan. 6 from 7–9 p.m. with a Zoom screening of the PBS documentary “The Long Shadow,” which offers a summary of racism in America from its beginnings to recent times. Emmy Award- winning director Frances Causey traces her family’s legacy of plantation-owning in the South and continues into the 20th century. Click here to join the screening via Zoom (meeting ID: 987 9477 5010, passcode: 541766).
Lincoln’s GRALTA Foundation is co-sponsoring “Hope in the Midst of Calamity: A View from Palestine,” an online presentation by Bethlehem University professor and Palestine Museum of Natural History founder Mazin Qumsiyeh, on Tuesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. The event is hosted by the Community Church of Boston and co-sponsored by Muslims for Progressive Values and Jewish Voice for Peace. Qumsiyeh, a U.S. citizen, lives in Bethlehem and is an internationally known voice for Palestinian science and rights. He is co-founder of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability. Click here to join the Zoom meeting (meeting ID: 895 5257 5898, password: 246499).
How did Boston’s western suburbs become the largely white and affluent communities they are today? Lily Geismer, Associate Professor of History at Claremont McKenna College, examines the results of post-war federal policies and local suburbanization and their impacts on race and class in residential patterns in Lincoln and surrounding towns. Geismer is author of Don’t Blame Us: Suburban Liberals and the Transformation of the Democratic Party and Left Behind: The Democrats’ Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality. Elise Lemire, author of Black Walden, writes in the introduction to Don’t Blame Us: “This is local history at its finest, both particular in its questions and far reaching with its answers. I will never see my hometown of Lincoln, Massachusetts, in quite the same way again.”
Co-sponsored by First Parish Lincoln’s Racial Justice Advocates, Lincoln WIDE (Welcome, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity), an organization of Lincoln residents, and the Lincoln Historical Society. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID: 943 6533 7243, passcode: 392036)