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Lincoln Climate Action Plan discussion for kids and parents

Are you a kid — or do you know a kid — who is learning about climate change? The Town of Lincoln is gathering input for a Climate Action Plan that will guide efforts to reduce carbon emissions and increase our community’s resilience to climate change impacts. We want to hear from you! Please join us for a Climate Action Plan discussion at the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, March 22 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Questions or comments? Email Jennifer Curtin at curtinj@lincolntown.org.

“Big Night” is coming

“Big Night” is often used to describe the annual ritual of certain frogs and salamanders when they migrate from their upland overwintering habitat towards their spring breeding ground. During Big Night, you have a chance of seeing spotted salamanders, wood frogs, spring peepers, and other amphibians heading towards a vernal pool (generally a small pond or wetland which dries up in the summer months and does not support fish populations). Big Night is hard to predict but it generally happens on the first few rainy nights in March when the night temperature is above 40 degrees. Most years, Lincoln does not have one “Big Night” but rather lots of smaller movements.

However, there are risks, especially to the amphibians crossing roads in the dark of night. The Conservation Department advises drivers to stay off the roads on rainy nights if at all possible, or at least avoid the three major salamander crossings on Conant Road, Lexington Road, and Silver Hill Road. If you see one, moisten your hands in a puddle and movie it off the road in the direction it’s heading. For more information, see Safety Tips for Big Night. If you’re interested in receiving emails from the Conservation Department about when Big Night(s) may be happening and/or if you’d like to help amphibians cross a Lincoln Road this year, watch this training video and fill out this online form.

Rep. Peisch to visit Lincoln

All Lincoln residents regardless of political affiliation are invited to a conversation with State Rep. Alice Peisch (D–14th Norfolk) on Monday, April 3 from 6:45–8 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Peisch represents Precinct 2 in Lincoln as well as Weston and Wellesley. Peisch was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and is currently the House Assistant Majority Leader. She served as House chair of the Joint Committee on Education from 2011-2023. This meeting offers an excellent opportunity not only to meet our new rep, but also to ask questions on matters of concern to Lincoln residents and hear her views on significant issues such as changes at Hanscom or the Housing Choice Act. Hosted by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee.

Eighth-grader chosen for music festival

Lincoln School eighth-grader Shuman Yuan was selected through an audition process to participate in the Massachusetts Music Educators Eastern District Junior Festival that was held at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School on March 10 and 11. Shuman studies with Susan Gottschalk, violin teacher and Lincoln Middle School orchestra director. Over 900 outstanding music students in grades 7–9 from 30 school districts auditioned on January 28 and less than half were accepted.

Leadership change in Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) welcomes Travis Roland as new co-chair, succeeding Barbara Slayter, who stepped down on March 1. Roland is a U.S. Navy veteran and has served as a docent at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson. He has two children in the Lincoln School. Kimball, a Lincoln resident since 1974, was president of the Lincoln League of Women Voters in the 1970s, served as chair of the 1977 Lincoln Land Use Conference, and was on the Conservation Commission in the early 1990s. Slayter, formerly a professor at Clark University, will continue as a member of the LDTC and its Executive Committee.

SVdP Society offers scholarships to adults

Supported by a generous grant from the Codman Foundation, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lincoln and Weston’s scholarship program has given dozens of Lincoln adults better employment prospects in a range of areas from accounting and technology to nutrition and cosmetology. Students who live or work in Lincoln or Weston or whose children attend the public schools in either town are eligible. Scholarships range from $100 to $2,000. For more information and to apply, click here.

Enroll next year’s kindergarteners

If you or someone you know has a kindergarten-eligible student (5 years of age before October 1, 2023), let them know that they should register their child for enrollment in Lincoln Public Schools in 2023-24. See the Kindergarten Enrollment & Registration web page for details. Children of Lincoln residents, Boston residents through the METCO program, and children of Lincoln employees are eligible.  

Girl Scout cookies at transfer station on Saturday

Lincoln Girl Scouts will be at the transfer station this Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m–noon selling all your favorite Girl Scout cookies. Come by and get your Thin Mints, Caramel Delights, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and more for $5 per box. Cash, check, or Venmo are welcome. Donations will also be collected for St. Vincent dePaul food pantry.

Weekend activities at deCordova

Mini Greenhouse Workshop with Derby Farm
Saturday, March 11 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Terrariums are self-regulating miniature ecosystems housed in a glass container. You can personalize your own miniature landscape and walk away with something alive, thriving, and beautiful to breathe fresh life into your home. They’re a wonderful and simple way to reconnect with the natural world. All supplies included. Click here to register.

Curator Tour of “New Formations”
Saturday, March 11 from 1-2 p.m.
Join Chief Curator Sarah Montross for a unique opportunity to explore the New Formations exhibition. Visitors will look closely at the artwork on view, learn about the artists and their processes, and hear from the experts about the process of making an exhibition come to life. Click here to register.

School of Honk at deCordova Sculpture Park
Sunday, March 12 from 2-3:30 p.m.
Celebrate music, dance, and spectacle with School of Honk at deCordova! Inside the galleries, visitors can explore the New Formations exhibition, which features human bodies in powerful athletic performance, ecstatic expressions of dance and collective procession. These artworks suggest our need for rituals, ways of gathering, and performing for ourselves and one another. Outside in the Sculpture Park, visitors can gather, sing, dance and enjoy the lively, spontaneous music of School of Honk. Join us for this unique and celebratory experience! Click here to pre-register. 

Presentation on going solar

“Adding Solar,” the third presentation in the “Getting to Zero” series, will be given by Roy Van Cleef, manager of sales for New England Clean Energy. Van Cleef will discuss recent technology in solar panels, how solar companies assess your solar panel needs, rebates and incentive programs, net metering, and more. Click here to register. Still to come: “Getting to Zero: The Historical Home presented by FoMA” and “Install Heat Pumps.” The Getting to Zero series is presented by CFREE (Carbon Free Residential, Everything Electric), a working group of Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee, helping resident’s affordably achieve energy-efficient, electrified, comfortable and healthy homes.

Take survey to help town’s Climate Action Plan

To reduce carbon emissions and increase the community’s resilience to climate change impacts, the town has embarked on creating a Climate Action Plan and is gathering input from residents. The plan aims to identify needs and goals and develop achievable strategies to increase resilience and sustainability while including equity and environmental justice throughout the process. Your feedback will directly inform the ​development of goals and strategies that guide the town’s future climate action work. ​The survey will close on March 27, 2023. Click here to take the survey.

There will be two additional workshops on Wednesday, April 12 at 7 p.m. and Friday, April 14 at 8:30 a.m. To register for either one or to join the mailing list to stay updated on the project, click here. Questions may be directed to Jennifer Curtin, Lincoln’s Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use, at curtinj@lincolntown.org.

“Newsies Jr.” musical by Lincoln School students

Inspired by the true story of newsboys in turn-of-the-century New York City, Disney’s “Newsies Jr.” is the tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenage “newsies,” the young people who sold afternoon editions of newspapers directly to readers on city streets. It’s loosely based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, when newsboy Kid Blink led a band of orphan and runaway newsies on a two-week-long action against Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, and other powerful New York newspaper publishers who had raised distribution prices at the newsies’ expense. More than one-third of all Lincoln School middle school students are involved in either the cast or crew. Show dates in the Donaldson Auditorium:

• Wednesday, March 29 at 3 p.m.
• Thursday, March 30 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, March 31 at 7 p.m.

Tickets will be sold at the door ($10 for adults, $5 for students/seniors/LPS employees; cash or check only). All proceeds go towards the show budget.

Rep. Gentile to hold office hours in Lincoln

State Rep. Carmen Gentile (13th Middlesex, which includes Precinct 1 in south and west Lincoln) will host in-person office hours for constituents at the Lincoln Town Hall on Friday, March 24 from 9–10 a.m. This is a great time to ask questions and share your thoughts about issues in our community and across the Commonwealth. An RSVP is requested by not required; contact his aide Ravi Simon at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov or 617-722-2810 ext. 8.

ZBA seeks alternate member

The Zoning Board of Appeals is seeking an alternate member. To learn more, visit the ZBA web page, and download, compete and return a volunteer application form.

“Getting to Zero — Upgrading Windows”

The second installment in the Getting to Zero series, “Upgrading Windows,” will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at noon. Lincoln resident Patrik Muzila, president of European Architectural Supply in Acton, will talk about the benefits of upgrading your home’s windows, tax incentives, and what options to look for. Click here to register for the Zoom link.

The series is presented by CFREE, a working group of Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee, to help residents affordably achieve energy-efficient, electrified, comfortable, and healthy homes. They will record the event and posting it to the GEC website for later viewing. Those who register for the lecture will also be sent a link to the video. 

Celebrating Celtic history, music, and literature

The Lincoln Public Library will host a program celebrating Celtic history, music, and literature at an in-person event on Friday, March 10 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Jaimee Leigh will lead a journey through the history of the Celtic harp and share a few tunes and legends from the past. Actor, teacher and lecturer Stephen Collins will perform his one-man show on Irish writers of the 20th century. Made possible by the Council on Aging and Human Services and Friend of Lincoln Library.

“An America Divided”

A virtual program on “An America Divided” with New Yorker staff writer Emma Green will take place on Tuesday, March 13 from 7:30–9 p.m. Green will explore ways that Americans are divided — politically, religiously, economically, and even by community and family. What has caused these ruptures and what are some ways for us to come back together? Click here to register.

“The Softer Side of Celtic”

In “The Softer Side of Celtic” on Friday, March 17 from 1–2:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall, Jeff Snow will combine the music, stories, and history from Scotland, Ireland, and England into a program with singing, laughing, clapping and even a bit of foot stomping. Questions and input from the audience are encouraged and become part of the event. Made possible by the Council on Aging and Human Services and Friend of Lincoln Library.

Film: “Loving Highsmith”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “Loving Highsmith” (2022) on Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m. Eva Vitija directed this look at the life of celebrated American author Patricia Highsmith based on her diaries and notebooks and the intimate reflections of her lovers, friends and family. Most of Highsmith’s novels, including “Strangers on a Train” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” were adapted for the big screen.

Register kids for T-ball

Registration for T-Ball is now open to boys and girls in preK and kindergarten living or going to school in Lincoln. Sessions are on Saturdays from late April to mid-June, 10:15 to 11:45 at the Lincoln Schools. The emphasis is on having fun, making friends, practicing teamwork, and learning throwing, catching, and hitting a baseball. Coaching is provided by parent volunteers. Click here to register (scroll down for Lincoln). Questions? Email Travis Roland at travisroland89@yahoo.com or Chris Andrysiak at chris.andrysiak@gmail.com.

“What We Learn from Our Fathers about Being Parents and Partners”

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable and REACH Beyond Domestic Violence will present “Watching Dad: What We Learn from Our Fathers about Being Parents and Partners” on Monday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at the Goodnow Library (21 Concord Rd., Sudbury). David Adams, co-founder and co-director of abuser education program Emerge, will be the featured speaker.

The event is inspired by the White Ribbon Campaign, the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, and promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. The local men’s group has been meeting monthly since 2019. Click here to register. While the event is free of charge, donations are always appreciated. Click here to donate. For more information, email whiteribbon.dvrt@gmail.com.

“On Belonging” speaker series kicks off

The “On Belonging in Outdoor Spaces” series returns with three upcoming events:

• Lincoln School teacher and social justice activist Claudia Fox Tree — Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
• Leah Penniman, co-founder of Soul Fire Farm and author of Black Earth Wisdom — Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m.
• José G. González, founder of Latino Outdoors and co-founder of the Outdoorist Oath — Wednesday, March 29 at 7 p.m.

The free speaker series, which launched in 2021, seeks to feature individuals whose work is advancing efforts to strengthen belonging and connection between communities of color and the outdoors. Click here for more information and to register. This year’s series is sponsored by the Ogden Codman Trust, Freedom’s Way, and the Lincoln Cultural Council. The host organizations are Farrington Nature Linc, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, Mass Audubon, Walden Woods Project, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, and the Food Project.

Saturday ranger walks scheduled

Join Lincoln Conservation Ranger Will Leona to visit different trails in Lincoln on the first Saturday of each month (March 4, April 1, and May 6) from 9:30–11 a.m. Walks are generally two miles long and are appropriate for all ages. Click here for registration, which is required to keep group size under 15 people and to ensure we can contact you in case of cancellation due to weather.

Lincoln student featured in Concord theater production

Lincoln youth Huxley Jade is in the cast of the Concord Youth Theatre’s (CYT) Mainstage Company production of the musical “Robin Hood.” Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Merry Men, and other timeless characters in this classic story find new life through the original script and score written by Rene Pfister and Jan Mankowsky. CYT’s Mainstage Company includes young performers ages 10-18 from several towns. Performances are Friday, March 3 and 10 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 4 and 11 at 4 p.m.; and Sunday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the theater 53 Church St. in Concord. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

L-S Parents Night for incoming freshmen on March 9

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Eighth-Grade Parent/Guardian Night, will be held at Lincoln-Sudbury on Thursday, March 9 from 7–8:30 p.m. This evening is for parents and guardians only. The evening begins in the L-S Auditorium with an overview of the ninth-grade curriculum and the scheduling process, followed by an opportunity to visit faculty members of the various departments to ask questions about course selection and curriculum. 

Brush burning permits now available

To apply for a permit for outdoor brush burning, which is allowed until May 1, fill out this online form and mail a check for $5.00 to the Lincoln Fire Department, 169 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln MA 01773. Or if you prefer, send your name, address, phone number and email address along with a check for $5.00 to the fire department, or drop them in the red box in the lobby. All applicants are also required to call on the morning you plan to burn to ask permission and give the dispatcher your address.

Town library wins five-star rating

For 15 years, Library Journal has used statistics collected by the Institute of Museum and Library Services public library survey to score U.S. public libraries and award star ratings. The FY2020 scores and ratings were published in December 2022 and Lincoln Public Library received five stars, the highest rating, in its category. Libraries are put into peer groups based on their annual expenditures and Lincoln was one of 10 libraries nationwide to earn five stars in the $1 million to $4.9 million category. The survey looks at measures of service delivery including the number of checkouts (both physical and electronic), library visits, program attendance, website visits, Internet computer use, and public WiFi sessions.

Ash Wednesday at St. Anne’s

Join the St. Anne’s community for an Ash Wednesday evening service on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 7–8 p.m. to mark the threshold to the season of Lent. We welcome everyone from all walks of life and faith. For more information, visit StAnnesLincoln.org.  

Event for new and expectant parents

Join LincFam for an upcoming coffee meetup at Twisted Tree on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 2-3 p.m. Little ones are welcome. LincFam is eager to update their New & Expecting Parents list of families with children under 2 or expecting a child. If you’d like to join the list for information on future events and meetups, please click here.

Session on home backup battery power

MetroWest Climate Solutions, of which First Parish in Lincoln is a founding member, is offering a webinar on “Backup Power: Battery Storage for Homes & Businesses” on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Onsite battery storage systems are seeing a spike in interest to power homes during blackouts and/or to make the most of an existing solar system. These battery systems often provide backup for 10 to 20 hours and can be charged either by solar panels onsite or electricity from your utility. In this session, Matt Honkonen of East Coast Solar will provide an overview of issues to consider when installing battery storage systems in your home and/or business, including cost. The session will also discuss the often-overlooked human rights abuses associated with cobalt/lithium mines in Africa. Two local residents will also share their experiences in evaluating vendors and installing battery storage systems in their homes. Click here to register.

Climate Action Plan workshops

Climate Action Lincoln is gathering input for a Climate Action Plan that will guide efforts to reduce carbon emissions and increase our community’s resilience to climate change impacts. Developing the plan involves community outreach and engagement, the identification of needs and goals, and the development of actionable strategies to increase resilience and sustainability. There will be two community workshops for the public on Wednesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. and Friday, March 3 at 8:30 a.m., with the same information shared and input welcomed at both.

• Register for the March 1 event
• Register for the March 3 event
• Subscribe to our listserv for email updates
• Email questions or comments to Jennifer Curtin at curtinj@lincolntown.org

Spring concerts at deCordova

Old-style Irish dance and music
Saturday, March 4 from 6–8 p.m.
Enjoy an evening of traditional and old-style Irish dance and music with a performance by the quartet Eight Feet Tall and social céilí dancing for all with live music to top off the night. The dances are fun and simple group dances, no experience is needed, and all dances will be taught – everyone is welcome. The event is liked to New Formations exhibition at the deCordova. Click here for tickets.

Musical performance with Antje Duvekot
Thursday, March 9 at 7 p.m.
Antje Duvekot has won some of the top songwriting awards including the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the prestigious Kerrville (Texas) Best New Folk Award, and the Boston Music Award for Outstanding Folk Act. Click here for tickets.

Editor’s note: the first three items briefly appeared in News Acorns earlier, but due to a computer glitch, they disappeared from the Squirrel website so we’re posting them again, along with their accompanying calendar entries, which had also disappeared.

IDEA Committee forum

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Antiracism (IDEA) Committee will hold a public forum on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln School Learning Commons. Learn about the group’s work to date, plans for the coming year, and community engagement opportunities. This is a hybrid meeting, so you may join us in person or online over Zoom (passcode: 638410).

Film: “A Yak in the Classroom”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will show the Oscar-nominated “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. An aspiring singer living with his grandmother in the capital of Bhutan dreams of getting a visa to move to Australia. Dzongkha and English with subtitles.

Event on making your home greener

“How to Improve the Envelope of your Home,” the first presentation in the Getting to Zero series, will be led by Rachel White CEO of Byggmeister Design/Build, on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Learn how to make the walls, floors, roof and windows of you house more energy efficient. Click here to register. Other presentations in the series:

• Upgrading Your Windows (February 28)
• Go with Solar (March)
• Getting to Zero: The Historical Home, presented by FoMA (March)
• Install Heat Pumps (April)

The Getting to Zero series is presented by CFREE, a working group of Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee, to help residents affordably achieve energy-efficient, electrified, comfortable and healthy homes.

Library hosts kids’ events for school vacation week

Dance Party with Denise
Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.
Families will groove to children’s songs, oldies, and a few pop favorites. Best for ages 6 and under, but all kids who like to dance are welcome. Drop in.

The Awesome Robb Magic Show
Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.
The Awesome Robb Show is more than just a magic show; it’s a show that entertains everyone and will have you laughing right from the start. No registration necessary. Best for ages 4 and up but all are welcome.

The Case of the Haunted Hotel: An Escape Room Mystery
Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m.
Join us for a fun Haunted Hotel Escape Room. For children ages 10-12. Please note: a caregiver (or older sibling) must attend. Registration required; email sfeather@minlib.net.

Buildwave: A Hands-on STEM Building Game
Thursday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m.
Buildwave is a high-energy creative building event using over a dozen different building materials. The workshop features animations and music that guide kids through different building waves. Intended for kids in grades 1+. Registration required; email dleopold@minlib.net.

“Fort” Night at the Library
Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m.
Join us for a fun-filled night of making blanket forts in the library. Make sure to bring your own clean sheets and/or blankets. Pajamas encouraged. Bring a stuffed animal and a flashlight if you like. No registration necessary; All ages welcome.

Movies and Muffins
Friday, Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Join us to watch short film versions of classic picture books and enjoy muffins and juice. Intended for children ages 2+. No registration required.

For details, visit the Children’s Department web page.

Ash Wednesday at St. Anne’s

Please join the St. Anne’s community for an Ash Wednesday evening service on Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 7–8 p.m. on the threshold to the season of Lent. We welcome everyone from all walks of life and faith. For more information, visit stanneslincoln.org.

21-day challenge on inclusion, diversity, and equity

The Lincoln Public Schools have created a 21-day AIDE Challenge (Antiracism, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity) to deepen our community’s understanding of antiracism, inclusion, diversity and equity. While the challenge is meant for individual work, participation by groups and the whole community is ideal. AIDE recommends that groups meet several times during the 21-days challenge to consider, explore, and connect to what they are learning. WIDE Lincoln can help with general facilitation, targeted help connecting this work to your equity goals, answer questions, and provide guidance for navigating issues that arise within your organizational discussion during the 21 days. It can also help people who are not aligned with an organization for this purpose to join others in meeting. Please fill out this form to request assistance.

MMNHP talk on Concord’s role in the Revolution

The Friends of Minute Man National Park will host their winter lecture, “Minutemen Revisited: Rethinking Concord’s Role in the Revolution: A Conversation with Robert Gross and Friends,” on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Gross will discuss his revised and expanded edition of The Minutemen and Their World in conversation with Joel Bohy, J.L. Bell, and Jim Hollister. Free; click here to register. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Friends of Minute Man and Minute Man National Historical Park and is also supported in part by a grant from the Concord Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Scholarship and grant applications now being accepted

The Lincoln Scholarship Committee application is now open. Both merit-based and need-based scholarships and awards are available. The application deadline is March 31. More information on the various scholarships and awards as well as an application can be found on the Lincoln Scholarship Committee website.

The Lincoln Garden Club is offering project grants and its annual Gabrielle Brenninkmeyer Award. Examples of special projects that have received grants in the past include:

• Hiring an intern to develop a native plant bed in Station Park
• Providing funds to the town tree warden to plant the next generation of trees along Baker Bridge Road
• A partnership with the Lincoln Public Library Board of Trustees to care for and propagate the iconic catalpa (“twisted tree”) growing in front of the library

The club has set aside up to $4,500 to fund grant proposals in the 2023-24 fiscal year. Grant applications must be sponsored by a Lincoln Garden Club member; collaboration on the proposal with other community groups is welcomed and encouraged. Click here to apply.

The $500 Brenninkmeyer award supports projects that further the club’s twofold mission of providing community service to the town of Lincoln and giving members the opportunity to enhance and share their knowledge of such garden-related topics as horticulture, design, conservation, and beautification. The award is open to any Lincoln resident or Lincoln Public Schools student. Click here to apply.

School superintendent to be selected next week

The School Committee will hold a special meeting to deliberate and vote on the appointment of the next Lincoln Public Schools superintendent on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. Click here to watch it live on Zoom. Final interviews are being conducted this week and recordings should be posted on the new town video website by Friday, Feb 3. Last week, the four finalists visited the schools and took part in forums with administrators, faculty, and community members.

Library opens late on Feb. 8

The Lincoln Public Library will open at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 8 rather than 9 a.m. due to staff training.

Sip, talk and learn at story-telling event

Lincoln residents are invited to listen and tell their three-minute story on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 4–5:30 p.m. in the First Parish in Lincoln’s Stearns Room. The church began the series in 2019 and has heard stories of adventures, passions, hobbies, unknown siblings, and more. Telling a story in three minutes is a challenge but it makes for a fun event with about 12-15 speakers. We will have a fire going and if you’d like to bring a beverage to share, we will provide some pre-Super Bowl nibbles. Please email tuckerwsmith@gmail.com to sign up to tell your story or if you have questions.

Events on love songs and Black History Month

All are invited to a program about the history and significance of the most cherished and enduring love songs of the 20th century at “The Greatest Love Songs of All Time” on Friday, Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Hear more about classics including Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Some Enchanted Evening,” Tony Bennett’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” and Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable.” Presented by John Clark & the Great American Music Experience and hosted by the Council on Aging & Human Services.

The COA&HS will present “Black History Month in the Era of CRT Book Banning” on Friday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Lincoln resident Ray Anthony Shepard, author of several biographies for young readers, will discuss the current hot-button topic of what in American history should be taught to children and will share how he addresses race in his picture book, Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge. Questions? Call 781-259-8811.

Intergenerational events feature ice cream, maple tapping

All residents, especially parents and grandparents who are watching children during school vacation week, are invited to an intergenerational ice cream social on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 1–2:30 p.m. and a session on tree tapping, sap collection, and maple syrup with Conservation Department Ranger Will Leona on Friday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. On Tuesday, build your own sundae; on Friday, learn about how indigenous peoples in our area collected and boiled sap, sample some of Will and Abigail’s syrup, and then go outside to tap the sugar maples next to Bemis Hal with Nancy Bergen from Matlock Farm. Dress for outdoor weather.

Talk on heart disease in women

The Council on Aging & Human Services presents “The Truth About Women and Heart Disease” with moving testimony by Margaret Perras, spokesperson for the American Heart Association, on Friday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Heart disease strikes even the most fit — learn how to watch for the signs. Attendees are invited to wear red and help raise awareness for the #1 killer of women: cardiovascular disease. Questions? Call 781-259-8811 or visit WearRedDay.org.

Campaign kickoff event for Sudbury L-S School Committee candidate 

Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee (LSSC) candidate Ravi Simon of Sudbury (an L-S graduate and legislative aide for State Rep. Carmine Gentile) will host a campaign kick-off event at on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. at the First Parish of Sudbury (327 Concord Rd., Sudbury). The host committee includes Gentile, Sudbury LSSC members Cara Endyke-Doran and Candace Miller, former LSSC member Nancy Marshall of Lincoln, and former Sudbury LSSC members Jack Ryan, Tania Vitvitsky, Josh Troop, and Andrew Blair. RSVPs using this online form are appreciated but not required. For more information, email RaviforLincolnSudbury@gmail.com.

Library offers online events

“The Challenges of Being a Debut Author” featuring Chelsea Banning will take place via Zoom on Monday, Feb. 6 from 7–8 p.m. Debut author (and librarian) was very excited to publish her first book, “Of Crown and Legends”. And then came the book signing where very few people showed up, and then the Twitter storm of support when Chelsea posted about the experience. Now, we speak with Chelsea in conversation with debut authors Laura Gao, Brian D. Kennedy, Jean Louise, and XiXi Tian to chat about the challenges and joys of getting your first book out in the world.

This event is hosted by the Ashland Public Library. Click here to register.

On Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m., join Emily Levine of Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site for “Freedom’s Cause: Historical Black Communities and George Washington’s Cambridge Camp,” a discussion of how free and enslaved Black members of Washington’s war camp interacted with one another, members of the local community, and the general himself. For example, Washington corresponded with poet Phillis Wheatley; he segregated the Continental Army, then reversed the decision. The family of Tony and Cuba Vassall, formerly enslaved by the first owner of the Cambridge house (which Lincoln’s Pierce House was designed to emulate), lived in freedom next to people enslaved by the Washingtons.

This event is hosted by the Wellesley Free Library. Click here to register.

Panel marks Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Monday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. for “What is Important to Us: A Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Panel,” an event marking February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In this program, teen panelists will highlight what they want adults and peers to know about relationships, media consumption, trust, and boundaries, and how adults can support the teens in their lives.

Registration is required for this event and can be completed here. All participants will receive an email with the Zoom information after registering. For more information, visit www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org or email infordvrt@gmail.com.

The Commons seeks to expand

The Planning Board and Select Board will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24 to hear a proposal from The Commons in Lincoln to add 38 independent living units to its campus. Because the development is in a zoning overlay district, the proposal will require approval at the Annual Town Meeting next month. Also on the agenda are requests for vote of approval/endorsement by the two boards on the updated Complete Streets prioritization plan. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. and the discussion on The Commons is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 125966) and click here for the full agenda.

Openings on town election ballot

There are still a few offices on the ballot for which no one has taken out nomination papers. There are two open seats on the Housing Commission, one for two years and one for three years, and one open three-year seat for the Trustees of Bemis. The deadline for taking out papers is Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m. Papers with there requisite number of signatures must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office by Friday, Feb. 3 by 5 p.m.

Gospel choir plans concert

The Joyful Voices Gospel Choir featuring Lincoln resident RL Smith will give a concert on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. in Donaldson Auditorium. Featuring a repertoire of stirring gospel music interspersed with stories about its origins and history as a uniquely American art form, this free, all-ages concert is a highlight of the Winter Carnival experience at the start of Black History Month. Sponsored by the Bemis Free Lecture Series.

Public hearing on Route 126 bridge project

On Wednesday, Feb. 8, there will be a public hearing on a MassDOT proposal to rebuild the Route 162 bridge over the MBTA railroad tracks. Construction will take place in stages so a detour will not be required. Bicycles and pedestrians will be accommodated during construction by the installation of a Temporary Bike/Ped Bridge. Details on the project and hearing can be found here. A link to register for this virtual meeting will be posted here closer to the day of the hearing.

Domestic Violence Roundtable hosts event on teen dating

Everyone is invited to watch “What is Important to Us: A Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Panel” with the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Monday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. In this program, teen panelists will highlight what’s important to them and what they want adults and peers to know about relationships, media consumption, trust, and boundaries. The panelists will share their own perspective on how adults can support the teens in their lives. Registration is required; click here to register and get the Zoom link. For more information, visit www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org or email infordvrt@gmail.com.

Event looks at insect decline

Professor Dave Goulson will give a talk on “Silent Earth: Saving our Insects” on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 2–3:30 p.m., discussing why insects are in decline and what steps we can take to help. Click here to register for the Zoom link. Sponsored by the Mass. Pollinator Network, Lexington Living Landscapes, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, and Mass Audubon. Click here to register for the Zoom link.

Talk on wildfires and climate change

Join The Walden Woods Project and RESTORE: The North Woods for “Fire Suppression & Climate Change: A Conversation with George Wuerthner” on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Wuerthner, a professional photographer and the author of more than two dozen books on natural history and other environmental topics, including Wildfire: A Century of Failed Forest Policy, He will provide insights and an overview on the major factors driving large wildfires in the West and discuss the ecological impacts of these blazes as well as policies that could help to protect communities from such events in the age of climate change. Click here to learn more and register.

Film: “In the Mood for Love”

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “In The Mood For Love (Fa Yeung Nin Wah)” (1962) on Thursday Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Chow Mo-Wan (Tony Leung) and Su Li-Zhen (Maggie Cheung Man Yuk) move into neighboring apartments on the same day. Their encounters are formal and polite — until a discovery about their spouses creates an intimate bond between them. With its aching soundtrack and exquisitely abstract cinematography by Christopher Doyle and Mark Lee Ping Bing, this film has been a major stylistic influence on the past two decades of cinema and is a milestone in Wong’s redoubtable career. In Hong Kong Cantonese and Shanghainese with English subtitles.

Library-sponsored events on ransomware, British cooking

Pulitzer Prize finalist Renee Dudley and Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Golden will discuss their latest book, The Ransomware Hunting Team — a real-life technological thriller that illuminates a dangerous new era of cybercrime — via Zoom on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 7–8:30 p.m. Again and again, an unlikely band of misfits, mostly self-taught and often struggling to make ends meet, have outwitted the underworld of hackers who lock computer networks and demand huge payments in return for the keys. Click here to register.

Join British travel/relocation consultant Claire Evans for a delightful culinary tour of the U.K. (via Zoom) inspired by “The Great British Baking Show” TV series on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 2–3 p.m. She’ll talk about how to make a proper cup of tea and regional specialties, as well as translating the trickiest parts of British recipes for Americans so you can try them in your own kitchen. This program is hosted by the Cary Memorial Library in collaboration with several Massachusetts libraries. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library. Click here to register.