The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

arts

LSB Players announce 2019-20 season

The LSB Players at at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School has announced its slate of plays for 2019-2020 and are offering season subscriptions. Tickets for all shows are $8 for students and senior citizens, $15 for adults. Benefactors and season ticket holders receive advance notice before tickets are available to the general public so they can reserve for the evening of their choice, and they are named in every program during the year. Season tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for students and senior citizens; benefactor tickets are $60. Click here for details.

“Be More Chill”
November 20–23 at 7:30 p.m.
A contemporary musical based on the young adult novel of the same name by Ned Vizzini tells the story of Jeremy Heere as he decides to find a way to “be more chill” and rule the high school, with unfortunate results. Recommended for ages 13+.

“Beanstalk”
January 17 at 6 p.m.; January 18 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
LSB Players’ fourth annual theatre-for-young audiences production, a silly adaptation of the traditional tale of Jack and the Beanstalk. The production will employ audience participation, arts and craft activities for young children, and a sensory-friendly performance at the Saturday morning show.

Seventh annual student-directed winter one-acts
January 31 at 7:30 p.m.; February 1 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Two L-S seniors will direct “Waiting for Lefty” and “The Other Room.”

“Peter and the Starcatcher”
April 3–4 at 7:30 p.m.; April 4–5 at 2 p.m.

This fast-paced, highly physical play, considered something of a prequel to the J.M. Barrie stories of Peter Pan, employs storytelling techniques and fantastical humor that will delight all ages. 

9th- and 10th-grade play (title TBD)
May 8 at 6 p.m; free admission.

COLLAGE XXVI
June 1–13 at 7:30 p.m.
A collection of scenes, one-acts and original pieces selected and directed by students. Free admission.

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Film: “The River and the Wall”

There will be a free screening of the documentary “The River and the Wall” on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Filmmaker Ben Masters and colleagues traveled 1,200 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border via horse, mountain bike, and canoe. Sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee.

Event focuses on climate change

The topic of Lincoln’s first Drawdown Forum sponsored by several town organizations will be “Finding Optimal Solutions to a Changing Climate: Closing the Sequestration Gap” on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the First Parish Church. The speaker is William Moomaw, professor emeritus of international environmental policy at Tufts University. Food and conversation begin at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Mothers Out Front Lincoln, the Green Energy Committee and the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee, with support from the First Parish Green Committee, St. Anne’s Climate Justice Ministry, Codman Community Farms, the Conservation Commission, the Lincoln Land Conservation trust, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Sonic Liberation Players concert

The Sonic Liberation Players, including Lincoln husband-and-wife musicians Jessica Tunick Berens (third from left) and Trevor Berens (far right).

The Lincoln-based Sonic Liberation Players begin their fourth season with a concert celebrating their roots on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The concert features three rarely performed pieces by Cage (including two solos) and two of Feldman’s mind-expanding mid-career works), along with music by James Tenney and Stephen “Lucky” Mosko, SLP co-founder Berens’s composition teachers at the California Institute of the Arts. Also on the program is a revision of his “Cella Duru” for varied sextet. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Programs for all ages at Minute Man NHP

Halloween lantern walks
Saturdays, Oct. 19 and 26 from 5:30–6:15 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern (112 North Great Rd., Lincoln)
Celebrate Halloween with the Guild of Historic Interpreters on slightly spooky lantern walks (for younger children) down the Battle Road Trail to meet the spirits of 1775. Free; recommended for children 6 and under.

“Revolutionary Dog: Paws for the Cause”
Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m.
Minute Man Visitors Center (250 North Great Rd., Lincoln)
Join a park ranger for a guided walk on Battle Road Trail to explore the lives of dogs in colonial America. Visitors are welcome to bring their own dogs.

Historic fencing workshop
Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Noah Brooks Tavern (33 North Great Rd., Lincoln)
Learn about the various methods of colonial and contemporary livestock fencing and help repair the park’s livestock fencing. Wear sturdy shoes and bring lunch and water. Pre-registration required; email margie_coffin_brown@nps.gov.

Council on Aging activities in October

Celebrate nature in a watercolor class with Jane
October 4 at 9 a.m.
Rediscover your joyful soul through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Enjoy painting scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. Two classes of four sessions each will be offered on Fridays and Mondays beginning Fridays, Oct. 4 and 21 from 9–11 a.m. The cost is $30 for each class of four sessions, materials included. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Musical jazz lunch
October 4 at 12 p.m.
Celebrate fall by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with good old tunes. Bring old friends. Make new ones. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The band will play on Friday, Oct. 4 starting at noon.

Lincoln Academy with John Getsinge — Evolution of Science, Episode 2: Tom Swift and the Quantum Annihilator
October 7 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 7 at 12:30 p.m. when John Getsinger discusses “Evolution of Science, Episode 2. Tom Swift and the Quantum Annihilator.” From the publication of quantum math, matrix, and wave in 1928 to the invention of the digital computer, artificial intelligence, atomic fission, quantum annihilation, Tom swiftly foresees electronics technology, intelligent military robots, atomic bombs and… universal nonexistence. What can Tom Swift do to counter the existential threat to all humanity posed by the possibility of the Quantum Annihilator? Tune in for the thrilling sequel. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Learn and play mah jongg
October 7 at 1 p.m.
Have you always wanted to learn mah jongg? Are you a new or former player looking to improve your skills? Are you an experienced player looking for a friendly game? Come to Bemis Hall each Monday from 1–4 p.m. for mah jongg lessons for those who would like to learn as well as a drop-in game for those who know how to play. Mah jongg is an exciting tile game which offers many of the same cognitive benefits as chess and bridge. Bring your own card or we will provide one for $9. For information or to register for lessons or a game, contact Joan Ingersoll at ingersollj@lincolntown.org or 781-259-8811.
[Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in October

Popular Rappaport Prize lecture moves to Brooks Auditorium

Daniela Rivera

Daniela Rivera, the 20th recipient of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s Rappaport Prize, will deliver the Rappaport Prize Lecture in the Lincoln School’s Brooks Auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The prize is presented to a contemporary artist with strong connections to New England and a proven record of achievement. “Rivera has deep ties to New England and the Boston area, and I’ve long admired her sophisticated site-specific installations with their fascinating intersection of politics, history, and perception. I can’t think of a more deserving recipient,” said John B. Ravenal, the Trustees’ vice president for arts & culture and artistic director at deCordova.

Rivera (born 1973 in Santiago, Chile) is a painter and installation artist, often working with immersive architectural forms on a monumental scale. Having grown up under the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile before moving to Boston in 2002, she addresses the specific history of repression that she experienced firsthand while also drawing her viewers into larger global narratives of dislocation and turmoil.

“The Rappaport Prize is an incredible honor to receive. It is such an affirming recognition of my work over the last 17 years in Massachusetts,” Rivera said. “It gives value to my experience as a U.S. and New England resident, as well as to the choices I’ve made and the life circumstances I’ve faced here. This prize also opens up so many possibilities for my work, including an opera on immigration that I have been wanting to create and can now begin planning as a result.”

Established in 2000, the Rappaport Prize is one of the most generous contemporary art awards of its kind. In 2010, the prize was endowed in perpetuity by the Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation. The foundation recently made an additional gift of $500,000 in order to increase the annual award amount from $25,000 to $35,000 beginning with this year’s prize.

The free lecture was moved from the museum after quickly reaching capacity. Doors open and a casual reception with complimentary snacks and nonalcoholic beverages will begin at 5:30 p.m.

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Fall community ed classes announced

Minuteman Community Education has announced its fall 2019 classes, many of which will be held at the recently opened $145 million Minuteman High School on the Lincoln/Lexington town line (758 Marrett Rd. in Lexington).

Classes are held in the evening and are geared mainly to either personal enrichment or professional development. Categories include career and training, around the house, kids, in the kitchen, business, computers and technology, fitness, hobbies and recreation, languages, personal finance, and creative arts. There are also several certificate programs.

“This fall, our programming has over a dozen new cooking classes, which will be held in our brand new, state-of-the-art kitchens, a new women’s self-defense class, and neat collaborations with Middlesex Community College,” said said Minuteman Director of Community Education Allison Cammarata.

Courses are open to students 16 and older unless listed under Kids & Teens (those under 16 may enroll if a parent or guardian enrolls with them). Seniors and veterans are eligible for a 10% discount on all classes. Click here to view the catalog.

L-S Friends of Music to meet

The first Lincoln-Sudbury Friends of Music (LSFOM) meeting of the year will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in Conference Room A at the high school. Open to all parents and guardians of students involved in the L-S music program. Meet the choral and instrumental directors and learn more about upcoming concerts and events. Your ideas, energy and enthusiasm are encouraged at any level and there are several open volunteer positions. To learn more, visit www.lsfom.org.

Film: “In the Last Days of the City”

Lincoln Library Film Society presents “In the Last Days of the City” on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Arabic with English subtitles, unrated. The debut feature of filmmaker Tamer El Said tells the fictional story of a filmmaker from downtown Cairo as he struggles to capture the soul of a city on edge while facing loss in his own life.

Medicare open enrollment insurance update

Find out what changes could affect your Medicare coverage and how much you’ll pay in 2020 when Don Milan, Anne Meade, and Diana Chirita, Lincoln’s counselors from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE health benefits counseling program, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. Those of all ages and from all towns are welcome. This is the time to understand the changes for 2020, and  open enrollment — October 15 to December 7, 2019 — is your opportunity to make any changes to your Medicare coverage, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

Representatives from major health insurance plans serving Lincoln and surrounding towns will be present and have 2020 information of Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans. Also present will be Veterans Service Officer Peter Harvell. 

This program is designed to go over 2020 changes in basic Medicare, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance plans. On Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., SHINE will present an in-depth “Medicare 101” to go over the basics of Medicare and the different types of insurance plans available to supplement coverage. For information about SHINE, call 888-222-6171 or click here. For information on the Medicare update event, call the COA at 781-259-8811.

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Climate Justice Film Series continues

The Exxon Valdez leaking oil.

The St. Anne’s Episcopal Church’s Climate Justice Film Series continues on Tuesday, Sept. 24 with a free screening of the new film, “A Concerned Citizen: Civics in Action.” the film documents the work of Dr. Riki Ott, a whistleblower who predicted the Exxon Valdez oil spill hours before it happened and came to the aid of her Alaskan community in their battle for fair compensation for their loss of health and income. There will be a light vegetarian supper at 6:30 p.m.; the film starts at 7 p.m.

The film series, now in its fifth season, has become a space for community-building among local climate and environmental justice activists. Since this movie is short (41 minutes) there will be a time for announcements and updates on what’s happening related to climate and environmental work in the region afterwards. For more information, contact Alex Chatfield, adchat@aol.com, 781-697-0140.

Art show issues call for artists

Lincoln-affiliated artists and artisans of all ages are invited to show their two- and three-dimensional creations for sale or display at the fourth annual Lincoln Arts Show from Friday–Sunday, Oct. 25–27 in Hartwell Pod B. Sign up by Monday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m., at the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department or online here. Any late entries will be accepted on a space-available basis. Registrants will be sent an artist statement and labels to complete and email back by Monday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. Entry fees (waived for students):

  • 2-D works (paintings, photos, etc.): $10 per work; maximum four works per artist. 
  • 3-D works (pottery, hand crafts, etc.) on a 3’ x 8’ table, $25 for half-table; $50 for whole table.

There is no commission; artists are responsible for sales taxes. All work must be ready to hang or present. Artists or their designees will be responsible for hanging/displaying and removing their own works. Hanging materials and tools are provided. 

The schedule is as follows:

  • Hanging/displaying: Thursday, Oct. 24 from 4–6 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 25 from 9–11:30 a.m. 
  • Opening reception: Friday, Oct. 25 from 5–7 p.m.
  • Exhibit times: Friday, Oct. 25 from 3–5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 26 from 12–5 p.m.;  Sunday, Oct. 27 from 12–3 p.m.
  • Takedown: Sunday, October 22, 3–4:30 pm.

Questions? Contact Sarah Chester at schester636@gmail.com. Sponsored by the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department and the Lincoln Council on Aging.

Latest wildlife observations posted

As fall approaches, bids and butterflies are on the move, and acorns and deer are abundant in the area according to observations made and gathered by Gwyn Loud in her latest monthly wildlife column on the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust’s website. See the site’s blog archives for previous columns as well as other news items, photos, and videos.

deCordova readies museum-wide photography exhibition

Karl Blossfeldt, Urformen der Kunst (page 41), 1928/1929, photogravure. Gift of Arlette and Gus Kayafas in honor of Jennifer Gross. Photograph by Clements Photography and Design, Boston.

The Trustees and deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum announce the fall opening of Photosynthesis, a museum-wide celebration and examination of photography spanning a range of topics and artists. Opening October 12 and on view through March 29, 2020, Photosynthesis comprises three separate shows featuring works drawn from deCordova’s permanent collection along with loans from artists and private collectors. All of deCordova’s galleries will be devoted to photography during this period.

All the Marvelous Surfaces: Photography Since Karl Blossfeldt explores the impact of Blossfeldt’s acclaimed 1920s series “Art Forms in Nature” on present-day approaches to ornamentation, scale, and abstraction. Peter Hutchinson: Landscapes of My Life offers visitors a rare opportunity to view photographs and photo collages by an underrecognized pioneer of Land Art. Truthiness and the News examines the evidentiary role of photography from the first half of the 20th century to the current age of post-truth politics.

Charles “Teenie” Harris, Girl reading on stacks of Pittsburgh Courier newspapers, c. 1940, printed 2001, silver gelatin print. Gift of Gus and Arlette Kayafas. Photograph by Clements Photography and Design, Boston.

“We are excited to present three timely exhibitions that unite photography’s expansive capacity for artistic expression and engagement with urgent contemporary issues,” said Sarah Montross, senior curator. “Photography is often considered the most democratic artistic medium — a form of imagery that we all use and absorb daily but may not have time to question and appreciate. These shows blur the lines between nature and art, fact and fiction, and reveal photography’s potency in shaping perception of the world around us.”

Other events related to Photosynthesis:

Art and Journalism in the Era of Post-Truth Politics
Saturday, Nov. 2, 1–4:30 p.m.
In conjunction with Truthiness and the News, this symposium brings together journalists, historians, and artists to reflect on how we look at images and read the news critically in an age in which the concept of truth seems to hold ever less weight. Free with admission or membership

Gallery Talk with Artist Lucy Kim
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Join artist Lucy Kim and curator Sarah Montross for an in-gallery conversation about Kim’s work in relation to photographs in All the Marvelous Surfaces. Free; registration requested.

Peter Hutchinson, Conflicting Seasons: Alliterative Landscape Series, 2002, photo and ink on board. Collection of the artist. Photograph by Clements Photography and Design, Boston.

What’s Your Truth? Art-Making Workshop with Emily Bhargava
Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 am–12:30 pm
Using newspapers, magazines, and advertisements as source materials, put your truth on display with a glass and collage project inspired by the Truthiness exhibition. Tickets required ($40 for members, $45 for nonmembers).

Art and the Environment: A Local History
Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30–8 p.m.
How have artists responded to New England’s diverse coastal and river ecosystems, as well as the region’s layered indigenous, colonial, and industrial histories? Art historian Kirsten Swenson connects past and present environmental art and landscape design, from Frederick Law Olmsted to Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Mags Harries, and Lajos Héder. Free; registration requested.

Art Nouveau Mosaic Workshop
Wednesdays, December 4 and 11, 6:30–9 p.m.
Inspired by exhibition artworks and Karl Blossfeldt’s art nouveau influences, create a nature-inspired mosaic in this two-session workshop with artist Emily Bhargava. Tickets are $75 for members, $90 for nonmembers; click here to purchase.

Curator-led tour of Truthiness and the News
Thursday, Jan. 30, 6–7 p.m.
Join Koch Curatorial Fellow Sam Adams for an in-depth walkthrough of exhibition Truthiness and the News. Free; registration requested.

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Piano concert by Wanda Paik

Lincoln resident Wanda Paik will give a free piano concert on Friday, Sept. 26 at noon in Bemis Hall featuring works by Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff, with refreshments to follow. Handicap accessible; all are welcome.

American Girl dolls sought for social entrepreneurship program

Lincoln’s METCO Coordinating Committee (MCC) is seeking donations of American Girl dolls for use in a new social entrepreneurship program for both Boston and Lincoln students led by Lincoln METCO Director Marika Hamilton this year. She will be teaching the students finance, accounting, marketing, home economics, and social responsiveness. Students will create attire for American Girl dolls that will become part of American Girl baskets that will be sold at the huge MCC estate sale on November 15-16 here in Lincoln.

Please place your gently loved American Girl dolls in a bag and drop them in one of the labeled donation bins in the Smith and Brooks School main lobby. Please contact Marika if you would like a 501(c)3 receipt for your American Girl Doll donation at mhamilton@lincnet.org.

Drug disposal kits available at Bemis

Expired or unneeded drugs in your medicine cabinet can be deadly temptations to family members or others. You may drop off unused drugs at the Public Safety Building, but you can also pick up one or more Safe Disposal Drug Kits at Bemis Hall. Empty medications into the pouch, fill halfway with warm water and wait 30 seconds, then seal, shake, and throw it out with the regular trash. See Carolyn Bottum or Joan Ingersoll at the Council on Aging at Bemis Hall to get kits.

Volunteers sought at Old Town Hall Exchange

The Old Town Hall Exchange (the nonprofit that maintains the 1848 Greek Revival building across from the town offices) is looking for volunteers. The Exchange sells consigned antiques, artisanal crafts, baby gifts, books, penny candy, etc., and crafters and consignors retain 70% of retail prices. Profits raised contribute to the operations and maintenance of the Old Town Hall. This is an all-volunteer organization working to maintain a part of Lincoln’s history, going strong since 1962. Volunteer commitment is 2.5 hours per week; no special skills needed. For details, email Stacy Osur at stacyosur@gmail.com.

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Community invited to read and discuss book on climate change

This fall, Mothers Out Front and other Lincoln-based groups are sponsoring a community read of a book that will help us grapple with the question of how to combat climate change. Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, compiled and edited by Paul Hawken, outlines in detail the strategies at our disposal to fight climate change, from the individual level to the international.

Event co-sponsors (First Parish Lincoln, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Climate Justice Ministry, and the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee) invite residents to read or peruse the book and then gather in October as a community for an event to be announced. The Lincoln Public Library has copies of the book; click here to see a TED Talk about book and plan.

Codman Estate arts and crafts festival coming up

The 37th annual Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival will be on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Codman Estate (34 Codman Rd.) At the event, which features the work of more than 100 local artisans, shop for New England-made painting, woodworking, food products, jewelry, photography, glass, clothing, metalwork, and more. There will also be live entertainment, a food court, and first-floor tours of the Codman House Museum. Free to Historic New England members and children under 12, $5 for nonmembers. For more information, call 617-994-5914.

“Welcome to Lincoln” event for newcomers

Come to the “Welcome to Lincoln” Fireside Chat on Friday, Sept. 13 from 10–11:30 a.m. in Bemis Hall. Are you a newcomer to Lincoln? Are you curious about Lincoln’s Town Meeting, LincolnTalk, the Lincoln Squirrel, extensive hiking trails, the active volunteer scene and much more? Come join Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden, Fireside Chat founder Sharon Antia, and Barbara Slayter, member of the Lincoln Scholarship Committee and others to get acquainted with the opportunities, specialties, and idiosyncrasies of this town you now call home.

Council on Aging activities in September

Noticing walks with John Calabria
September 3 at 1 p.m.
Location TBA
Enjoy a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on September 3 from 1–2:30 p.m. at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. Other walks will be held October 1 and November 5. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

Musical jazz lunch
September 6 at 12 p.m.
Celebrate fall by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The band will play on Friday, Sept. 6 starting at noon.

Lincoln Academy with Richard Boynton: Global warming and climate change
September 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 9 at 12:30 p.m. when Richard Boynton discusses “Global Warming and Climate Change.” How can the earth be warming when Boston has had one of the biggest snowfalls in recent history? Besides, who cares if the earth warms by 4 degrees in 100 years. In his lecture, Mr. Boynton, a former rocket scientist, will separate fact from oil company propaganda. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Free wellness clinics for all ages
September 10 at 10 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Rd. in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 9–11 a.m. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. The Bemis Hall clinic is supported by the Pierce House. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in September