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

arts

News acorns

Mass Innovation Night in Lincoln on Tuesday

This month’s Mass Innovation Night, where startup companies present their products, will be at Lincoln North (55 Old Bedford Rd.) on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 6–8:30 p.m. The event features networking with entrepreneurs, experts, and sponsors. The top four favorite product/companies from online voting prior to the event (as well as the in-person favorite) will present five-minute pitches.

“Once Upon a Mattress” this week

Performances of the LSB Players’ production of “Once Upon a Mattress” will take place on November 14-17 at  7:30 p.m. at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Click here for details.

Learn about using more green energy

Come join members of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee to ask questions about how you can reduce your impact on climate change or just listen to the ideas of others at an informal session on Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 1–2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Ask about energy assessments on your home, energy-efficient heating systems, electric cars, solar systems, the net-zero school project, the community choice aggregation program, or whatever you like.

Donate or purchase items to benefit domestic violence roundtable

Each year, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable sponsors a family from a local domestic violence agency for the holidays. These agencies need help to provide happy holidays for families in shelter and to meet the ongoing needs of additional families who have been victims of domestic violence. Sponsored families are anonymous, though the agency will share the number of family members and their ages. Match yourself with a smaller family to sponsor, or invite relatives, friends, and colleagues to join you in sponsoring a larger family.

For those who can’t sponsor a family, gift cards for food, clothing, and other necessities to stores such as Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, CVS, Target, and Stop & Shop are welcome. Wrapping paper, ribbon, and tape are also needed. Advocates from each agency provide help with “wish lists” for survivors and their children. The deadline for gift delivery is Monday, Dec. 3. To learn more about how you can help, contact:

Screening of “Westfront 2018”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “Westfront 1918” on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. The 1930 film (in German with French and English subtitles) follows a group of German infantrymen in the trenches of France during World War I.

Dobrow to speak on new book about Emily Dickinson

The Lincoln Public Library and the Lincoln Historical Society present Lincoln resident Julie Dobrow speaking about her latest book, After Emily: Two Remarkable Women and the Legacy of America’s Greatest Poet on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. Dobrow is a professor with appointments in Tufts University’s Department of Child Study and Human Development and the Tisch College of Civic Life. After Emily is the untold story of the mother and daughter who opened the door to Dickinson’s poetry. Copies of the book will be available for signing.

Works by Lincoln artist Milan on display

The Bemis Hall gallery will exhibit artworks by Lincoln artist Ellen Milan from mid-November through December. Milan has taught in Wisconsin, Israel, and in the Boston area. During a ten-year stay in Israel, she established regional art programs and a group studio/gallery in the Old City of Jerusalem. This show at Bemis Hall includes pastels, paintings on silk, and watercolors. Many of the pieces were inspired by the gardens and landscape in Lincoln at Farrar Pond Village.

News acorns

Election Day prayer services at St. Anne’s

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church is holding two simple prayer services on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 6) at 8 a.m. and noon. The services will include prayers for our nation, and all are welcome. 

First Parish news: Monday meditation, choir, Advent workshop, book group

  • There will be an evening meditation session in the First Parish of Lincoln’s Stearns Room on the first Monday of each month starting Monday, Nov. 5 from 7–8:30 p.m. The evening includes two 15-minute sittings with a walking meditation in between. Following the sittings, we will introduce ourselves and read together a passage from a book by Thich Nhat Hanh and share our impressions. We usually have a metta practice, sending our prayers to those we are concerned about, and end with a silent minute of meditation. Everyone from Lincoln and neighboring towns is welcome. For more information, email Joan Kimball at selenejck@gmail.com. 
  • The church choir will soon begin rehearsing for its Christmas Eve services, to be held Monday, Dec. 24 at 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and is seeking choir members. Anyone from Lincoln and surrounding communities is welcome to join the choir. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings in the sanctuary (4 Bedford Rd.) from 7–8:30 p.m.
  • The First Parish’s annual Advent workshop is on on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 10 a.m. in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.). All children are welcome to join in creating holiday treasures. Crafts will include decorative centerpieces, ornaments, cards, cookies, Swedish hearts and more. For more information, contact Margit Griffith, director of religious education, at 781-259-8118.
  • The First Parish book group will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. in the Stearns Room (4 Bedford Rd.) All are welcome to attend. The book to be discussed is The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers and a New York Times Bestseller of 2018. The group will discuss the book in sections in two subsequent meetings.

Jazz concert on Nov. 14

Jimmy Mazzy and the Last Minute Men will present a Vern Welch tribute concert in memory of Welch’s contributions to the local jazz scene on Wednesday, Nov. 14 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

Holiday artists’ market at deCordova

On Friday, Nov. 16, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum opens its 25th annual Holiday Artists’ Market with a variety of gift options, including handmade ceramics, creative home goods, jewelry and accessories, holiday ornaments, winter fashion, and more. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 6–9 p.m. More than 25 local and international artists and artisans will participate n the artists’s market, which will be open daily through December 31, with extended shopping hours December 17–23.

Additionally, the deCordova store will participate with 700 other museum stores world-wide in celebration of Museum Store Sunday on November 25, when it will offer special one-day-only discounts and giveaways, and a raffle for a $100 store gift certificate. Hours: 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Council on Aging activities in November

Coffee with photographer Barbara Peskin
November 1 at 2:45 p.m.
Join artist Barbara Peskin on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 2:45 p.m. to celebrate her exhibit “Moments in Nature,” shown in the Bemis Hall gallery through mid-November. Barbara enjoys sharing photos that play on the patience to let nature unfold as you observe, listen and watch and may come unexpectedly in quiet moments. Her photos come from places like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, along with photos of mergansers and puffins from Maine, and more from Lincoln and local areas.

Lunchtime jazz
November 2 at 12:30 p.m.
At lunchtime on Friday, Nov. 2, the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band will be upstairs at Bemis with a menu of delicious oldies but goodies for your enjoyment. Give yourself a break, join your fellow seniors. Relax, take the weight off, sit back and enjoy the music. Trombone, cornet, clarinet, piano, and drums will be in the house from 12:30–1:30.

Toni Lynn Washington and Sax Gordon Beadle play the blues
November 4 at 2 p.m.
All ages are invited to a free concert by renowned Boston-area blues vocalist Toni Lynn Washington and acclaimed saxophonist Sax Gordon Beadle on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The performance is the Second Annual Ronna Cooper Memorial Concert and is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. It is a gift from Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother’s life. Washington has delighted and awed audiences in Boston and around the country and the globe for decades as both a singer and songwriter. Marty Ballou on bass, Bryan Claunch on keyboard and Tom Avery on drums will back up Toni Lynn and Sax Gordon. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in November

deCordova aims to integrate with Trustees of Reservations

Facing financial straits, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum hopes to save itself by becoming part of the Trustees of Reservations.

Julian deCordova willed his estate and together with income to the town under the condition that it remain a public park and museum. However, the income from the estate, membership/admission fees and other sources has not been enough to sustain the organization, which has relied for years on large gifts from a handful of donors to keep operating. This year’s operating budget shortfall is about $1 million even after several major gifts, John Ravenal, the deCordova’s executive director, said at the October 20 State of the Town Meeting.

When Ravenal took the helm in 2015, he found an institution that was “thriving programmatically” but was “surprised to discover the financial difficulty,” he said. The deCordova has been operating under a “fragile financial model,” with an endowment that covers only 7 percent of operating expenses compared to about 22 percent for most other museums, “and this unstable model has finally collapsed,” he added.

Other possibilities for keeping the deCordova afloat were deemed unrealistic, Ravenal said. Downsizing would cause donors to drop away, so “our revenue would always fall faster than the savings would accrue,” he said. Partnerships with sister institutions wouldn’t work because “their difficulties merely duplicated our own.”

Pending approvals from residents at Town Meeting in March, the deCordova would become a subsidiary of the Trustees, while the town of Lincoln would retain ownership of the land and general oversight as the charitable trustee, according to an FAQ document handed out at the State of the Town.

The mission of the Trustees is to “preserve, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, cultural, and ecological value in Massachusetts”—properties that include Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich, the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, and World’s End in Hingham.

The integration would allow the deCordova to benefit from the fundraising, marketing, management, and legal resources of the larger Trustees of Reservations, Ravenal said. It will not alter its mission or approach, and no jobs will be lost, as the deCordova’s employees would become employees of the Trustees.

The Trustees aim to raise $15 million (of which $10 million has already been pledged) to fund the integration by adding to the deCordova’s endowment, retiring debt, investing in deferred maintenance, and closing this year’s budget gap.

The town currently does not provide any funding to the deCordova, and that too will not change, Ravenal said. The “only viable solution has actually evolved into a promising opportunity” for the deCordova and the town, since the plan would “reduce risk of an increased financial burden to residents,” he said.

The Board of Selectmen “has to look at the what-if scenario if the deCordova had to shut its doors,” Selectman James Craig said. At a minimum, the town would have to pay for upkeep of the sculpture park grounds and basic maintenance of the building.

Once the agreement is in place, “not a whole lot” will change, said Trustees President and CEO Barbara Erickson. “Our entire goal is to preserve what you know and love and what we deliver today… for us, it’s a win-win.”

News acorns

Halloween-themed events for kids

  • Dance in costume to children’s songs and Halloween favorites at two Halloween dance parties on Saturday, Oct. 20 and Wednesday, Oct. 31, both at 11 a.m. in the Lincoln Public Library. For ages 6 and under. No registration required.
  • Kids and car owners are invited to the Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Trunk or Treat in the Brooks parking lot on Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 5–6 p.m. Decorate your trunk or back of your car and pass out candy or toys, or have fun games for the kids. Car owners may register at www.lincolnrec.com or in the PRD office. Kids don’t need to register—just show up in costume
  • Come enjoy a fun live-action game event, “Escape from the Creepy Crypt,” led by gamemaster Matt Donle from Wicked Fun Games in two sessions on Monday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. For ages 10+. Registration required; email dleopold@minlib.netor call 781-259-8465 x4.

Wildflower Society expert to speak

New England Wildflower Society propagator and stock bed grower Dan Jaffe will give a talk titled “Weeds!” on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Sponsored by the Lincoln Garden Club.

“Cat’s Play” on the screen

The Lincoln Public Library Film Society will screen Cat’s Play (1974) on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 p.m. It’s a heartbreaking story of two unmarried sisters who cast wistful glances back at their lives while still believing in hope and love. In Hungarian with English subtitles. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.

Blues musicians play Bemis

Sax Gordon Beadle and Toni Lynn Washington

All ages are invited to a free concert by renowned blues vocalist Toni Lynn Washington and acclaimed saxophonist Sax Gordon Beadle on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The performance is the second annual Ronna Cooper Memorial Concert (a gift from Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother’s life) and is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging. Washington has received the Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award and seven Blues Music Award nominations, and released five CDs. Beadle has performed around the world and won numerous awards. The Duke Robillard rhythm section (Bruce Bears on keyboard, Jesse Williams on bass, and Mark Teixeira on drums) will play backup. For more information, call the Council on Aging at (781) 259-8811.

Program looks at Lincoln and World War I

The Lincoln Historical Society will present “Lincoln and the Armistice: A Centennial Celebration of the End of WWI” on Sunday, Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. This event, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, recalls the celebration held in Lincoln when the war ended 100 years ago. The program, which looks at Lincoln’s role in WWI and the impact that the war had on the town, will include biographical sketches of Lincoln’s World War I veterans, the awarding of service medals, and a discussion of life on the home front highlighting the role of Lincoln and New England women. There will also be a display of World War I artifacts, tastings of period foods, and renditions of patriotic songs from the period.

“Once Upon a Mattress” at L-S

The LSB Players, the theater performance company of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, will present Once Upon a Mattress, the musical based on The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Anderson, in the L-S Kirshner Auditorium on Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 14–17 at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Carly Evans, music-directed by Michael Bunting, and conducted by Tom Grandprey. Tickets (15 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens) may be reserved by e-mailing LSBtickets@gmail.com.

News acorns

Two events on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The GRALTA Foundation is sponsoring two upcoming events at the Lincoln Public Library. On Thursday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., there will be a video presentation by Israeli Knesset member Aida Touma-Sliman, who will who explain and analyze the impact of a new law that declares Israel as “the Nation-State of the Jewish people.” Touma-Sliman heads the Knesset’s Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality. She founded the Women Against Violence Association and is the former editor in chief of Al-Ittihad newspaper.

On Sunday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m., there will be a screening of Voices Across the Divide followed by a discussion of the film and other topics by co-director Alice Rothchild.The film is a documentary and oral history project exploring the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through rarely heard personal stories. Rothchild is a physician, author, and filmmaker who has focused her interest in human rights and social justice on the Israel/Palestine conflict since 1997. For more information, contact Steve Low at 781-259-1300 or steve.low@gordianconcepts.com.

Exhibit, presentation focus on World War I posters

The Lincoln Public Library will host two events and an exhibition as part of “America at War: Patriotic Posters of WWI” to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

On Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1:15 p.m., join a reception with Lincoln residents George Seeley and Jenifer Burkett-Picke, who will be exhibiting a selection of original posters from their extensive collection of World War I posters advertising the need for full national participation in the war effort. The exhibit will be changed in mid-month to more fully illustrate America’s total commitment to the war through shipbuilding and military recruitment (October 28–November 13), and then bond drives and food conservation efforts (November 14–25).

Seeley will give a multimedia presentation on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 1:15 p.m. of original World War I-era posters and songs and a discussion of how these represented a much different mood and spirit in the America of a century ago than one could ever imagine today. Though actively involved in the fighting for just two years, America produced more war posters in that time than all the other combatants combined. These colorful large-scaled prints are by many of the best-known lithographers from that era such as James Montgomery Flagg , Howard Chandler Christy, and Charles Livingston Bull.

Lincoln musicians perform in upcoming concerts

There will be two concerts featuring Lincoln musicians at Bemis Hall in coming weeks. On Sunday, Oct. 28, members of Rhapsody will offer a piano recital at 3 p.m. in Bemis Hall in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Rhapsody was formed in 2003 by a few visionary amateur pianists including Lincoln’s Ken Hurd who sought a venue in which to perform for each other, both to grow musically and to share their musical journey with others.  It has since grown to 18 people from the Boston metropolitan area, and this is the ninth annual concert on Bemis Hall’s restored Steinway. The program will feature selections from Albeniz, Brahms, Celentano, Grenados, Grieg, Guastavino, Liszt, Mozart, Piazzolla, Scarlatti, Scriabin, and Schumann. 

The Sonic Liberation Players featuring Lincoln pianist and composer Trevor Berens will play on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Last season, SLP performed a U.S. premiere, a commission and five Boston premieres. SLP plays uncommonly heard works and commission new works that investigate the area between “academic/intellectual” and “pop-influenced classical. “At the November 18 concert—inspired in equal parts by gardens, birds, and music—they’ll present two more Boston premieres, Nachtlied by Dean Harold and Dreamgarden by Ian Wilson, as well as Canticle of the Birds by John Luther Adams, Ryoanji by John Cage and Birds in Warped Time 2 by Somei Satoh. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Thanksgiving pie sales aid FELS and local charities

FELS (the Foundation for Educators at L-S) is sponsoring its annual Thanksgiving pie sale featuring gourmet apple, pumpkin, pecan and chocolate pies baked by Joyce’s Pies of Leominster. Pies are $19 each. Order for your family or donate to a listed local organization or charity; one donation of $19 can benefit two organizations. Proceeds fund enrichment grants for L-S faculty and staff. Order online at www.felsgrant.org by Friday, Nov. 9 and will be available on November 20.

Paws for the Holidays

Daniela Caride (center), president of Phinney’s Friends, and companions at Paws for the Holidays.

Pets and their humans are invited to the Paws for the Holidays festival on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Pierce House. There will be baked goods, live music, arts and crafts, Santa pictures with the whole family (human and canine), activities for children, a silent auction, Thanksgiving baskets, a pet yard sale and more. All proceeds go to Phinney’s Friends, a Lincoln-based organization that helps low-income and chronically ill people keep their pets.

News acorns

Fire station open house

The Lincoln Public Safety Dept. will hold an open house on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in observance of Fire Prevention Month. The day will include interactive demonstrations, a fire safety coloring contest, Smokey the Bear, and free pizza.

Free bike safety event for kids

Do you and your kids love to bike? Help keep your kids safe on the road! As part of her Gold Award project, Lincoln Girl Scout and Senior Ashley du Toit will be hosting a free two-hour bicycle safety event for the children of Lincoln on Sunday, Oct. 14 from 1-3 p.m. in Hartwell Pod B Activities include bike and helmet decoration, an educational course on safety, and a bike obstacle course. Be ready for a day of fun for all ages. Bring your bike and helmet. Questions? Email ashley1dutoit@gmail.com.

Outdoor painting, ceramics event at deCordova

Paint outdoors and celebrate love through ceramics in two events at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Bring your easel and supplies, pick a spot anywhere in the park, and enjoy creating art outdoors at the Paint Fest Plein Air Competition Sunday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Juried and People’s Choice prizes ($50–$250) will be awarded. Click here to sign up. At “The Sweetest Day” Date Night Clay Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 5–7 p.m., come with your spouse, partner, or friend for a ceramic sculpture project for pairs. No ceramic experience necessary. Click here to sign up.

Battle Road committee offers updates

The Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee invites area residents to a meeting to update the public on the group’s recent activities and offer feedback. The event takes place on Monday, Oct. 15 from 6–8 p.m. at the Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor’s Center.

The state-designated Battle Road Byway stretches from the Arlington/Cambridge line through Arlington, Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln to the national park. It traces the route of Colonial and British soldiers during the American Revolution and highlights historical and cultural sites along the way. (There is an additional loop in Lincoln that traverses Bedford Road to Baker Bridge Road and back up Route 126 to Route 2A that loop highlights Lincoln’s special historical, cultural, and architectural landmarks.) MassDOT’s District 4 has been an active participant.

Congress is expected to vote this fall on reinstating the Federal Program for Scenic Byways. If passed, the legislation could qualify the towns for federal money. At the October 15 meeting, the group will review what it’s done to date and invite ideas for future initiatives.

Buy coffee, support L-S Ultimate

Sudbury Coffee Works will donate 10 percent of its proceeds for the day to the Ultimate teams at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, where about 70 students play Ultimate. L-S students receive a 15 discount discount anytime they visit the store.

More from the Masonic Lodge

The October 8 News Acorn item about the October 20 open house to be hosted by Lincoln’s Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge neglected to include this photo from the group’s Lincoln charity night that included several Lincoln residents. The group raised $17,000 for the following organizations, most of which serve Lincoln: Gifts of Hope Unlimited, the Lincoln Fire Department’s SAFE Program, the Food Project, the Cotting School, Shriners Hospital for Children, the Lincoln Garden Club, the JWS Masonic Angel Fund, Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Greater Waltham ARC, the Lincoln School Foundation, the Wayland Public School Foundation, Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc., Fischer House of Boston, Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging, and Lincoln’s Parks & Recreation Department. (Click photo to enlarge)

News acorns

Public notices

  • The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. to consider the application by Lincoln Station LLC, 145 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA for the transfer of an on-premises all alcoholic beverages restaurant license.
  • There will be a bank auction of the property at 129 Concord Rd. formerly owned by Richard D. Salwitz and Susan Fulmer Salwitz on Friday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m.

Open house at Masonic Lodge

Members of Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge of Lincoln invite the public to an open house on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Residents can learn about Freemasonry, the numerous local charities they support, educational and leadership skills they impart, and the ability for qualified men to seek the best version of themselves. The lodge is in the old South School at 181 Lincoln Rd. On a recent Charity Night, the Lincoln group donated more than $17,000 to regional charities.

Train schedule change will happen Oct. 29

The adjustments to the commuter rail schedule  affecting Lincoln will take effect on October 29, not October 22 as originally announced. Click here for the October 1 News Acorn.

Parent-child ceramics at deCordova

Parents and children age 6-9 can create unique ceramic sculpture together in deCordova’s professional clay studio during “Family Clay Saturdays: Parent-Child Ceramic Series” on Saturdays, October 13 to November 3 from 10 a.m.–noon. Learn basic hand-building and glazing techniques as you work side by side to create a hanging mobile and a seasonal spirit house. Click here for more information and registration. Questions? Contact Julie Bernson at jbernson@decordova.org or 781-259-3649.

Concert, open house at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will present a “Live in Lincoln Center” concert on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.) with works by Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi, Bach and de Boismortier performed by musicians from the Handel & Haydn Society. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $30.

The following day (Sunday, Oct. 21), the church will hold an open house coffee at 11:15 a.m. in the sanctuary’s Stearns Room (4 Bedford Rd.). following the 10 a.m. worship service. Everyone interested in learning more about First Parish in Lincoln is welcome to attend.

Author talk by Cai Emmons

The Lincoln Public Library will host a talk by Lincoln native Cai Emmons, author of the recently published novel Weather Woman, on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Tarbell Room. Emmons, who grew up in Lincoln, teaches in the University of Oregon’s Creative Writing Program and is the author of two earlier novels, His Mother’s Son and The Stylist. Copies of Weather Woman will be available for purchase and signing.

Talk on Codman Estate portraits

From high-end works by John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart to others by once-famous artists to humble family snapshots, the Codman Estate’s portrait collection extends over 200 years of changing styles. “Portraits and Personalities” on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. takes a fresh look at this collection, including rarely seen works of art. Hear the real stories of the people behind these pictures, both the subjects and the artists. $15 for Historic New England members, $20 for nonmembers. Registration required; call 617-994-6690 or click here.

Two new classes at L-S Adult Ed

Lincoln-Sudbury Adult Education has added two classes to its fall/winter offerings. Lisa Cukier, a partner with Burns and Levinson will host sessions on estate planning and probate administration in Massachusetts on two Wednesdays, Nov. 7 and 14, from 7–8:30 p.m. in Room B330. She will also discuss estate litigation, family disputes, and financial exploitation by caregivers relating to the assets of individuals with diminished mental capacity. “Les Petits Chefs” is a hands-on cooking class for seventh- and eighth-graders 0ffered by L-S faculty members Dot Samsi and M.J. Galano (the ability to speak French is not required). A mini-lesson on French culture will accompany each session. The class will he held on three Thursdays (Nov. 29, Dec. 13, and Jan. 24) in Room C124. Click here for more information and to register for classes.

deCordova announces new exhibits, Rappaport Prize winner

Sheila Pepe, Red Hook at Bedford Terrace (detail with artist), 2008, shoelaces, cotton yarn, and nautical towline. Smith College Museum of Art, Purchased with gifts from members of the Museum’s Visiting Committee in honor of the retirement of Ann Johnson, courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum.

Two new exhibits will open at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on Friday, Oct. 19: Sheila Pepe: Hot Mess Formalism, a major survey that includes her expansive fiber-based sculptures and small-scale assemblages, and Larry Fink: Primal Empathy, a distinctive presentation of his iconic candid black-and-white photography. Both will be on view through March 10, 2019.

The museum (including the Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Room) will be closed through October 18 while the fall exhibitions are being installed. Admission to the Sculpture Park will be half-price during this time.

“Despite their contrasts, both artists capitalize on the spontaneity of art and life and solicit feelings of connectivity among people through their work. Pepe and Fink are also tremendous educators, and their path-breaking influence is evident in the work of many younger artists today,” said curator Sarah Montross. 

For over 20 years, Pepe has made large-scale sculptures and installations using domestic and industrial fibers. This exhibition, the first mid-career survey of Pepe’s work, examines how the artist plays with feminist and craft traditions to counter patriarchal notions of art making.

Suspended in the light of his camera’s flash, Fink’s subjects are absorbed in sensual connection, unspoken familiarity, and comic revelry. Drawn largely from deCordova’s permanent collection, this exhibition focuses on the central role of empathy in Fink’s work and explores his critical compassion across series that span his extensive career, including his best-known project Social Graces, his surprisingly tender images of boxers, and close studies of flora and fauna around his Pennsylvania farm. 

“First Communion, Bronx, NY,” 1961, from the series “Making Out 1957-1980,” silver gelatin print, gift of Stephen L. Singer and Linda G. Singer, ©Larry Fink. 

Rappaport Prize

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum has announced Titus Kaphar is the 19th recipient of the prestigious Rappaport Prize, an annual $25,000 award given to a contemporary artist with strong connections to New England and a proven record of achievement. 

Kaphar is a painter and sculptor whose practice examines the history of representation. In his art, he appropriates styles and conventions from the art historical canon and, using techniques like cutting, shredding, and erasing, he represents them to illuminate social inequalities and address African-American experiences from our country’s founding to today.

 

The public is invited to attend the Rappaport Prize Lecture with Kaphar on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. (reception and light refreshments/cash bar with the artist) at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Admission is free, but registration is requested.

 

 

 

Council on Aging activities in October

Watercolor class with Jane
October 1 at 9 a.m.
Rediscover your joyful soul through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. One class of four sessions will be offered on Mondays, Oct. 1 and 15 and Fridays, Oct. 5 and 12 from 9–11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Cost is $30, materials included. Sign up now by calling the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Lincoln Academy with Timothy Johnson, MD: 35 years at ABC News
October 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 1 at 12:30 to hear Timothy Johnson, MD, discuss “35 Years at ABC News.” For 35 years, Dr. Tim Johnson was the chief medical correspondent for ABC News, giving medical information to millions of Americans in a way that was accurate yet accessible. His contributions to such shows as Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Nightline, 20/20, and more helped viewers understand their medical conditions as well as how they can take charge of their own health. He will discuss his decades at ABC News and answer your questions. 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.

Noticing walks with John Calabria
October 2 at 1 p.m. (location TBD)
Come for a series of gently paced walks through nature guided by John Calabria beginning Oct. 2 from 1 to 2:30 at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. More walks will be held November 6 and December 4. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. on the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

Find out who’s in your family tree
October 2 at 2 p.m.
Tracing your family tree is like a treasure hunt of self-discovery. Enjoy sharing stories, tips, and resources with others (and hearing about what works for others might help you, too) on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall at a discussion group for genealogy enthusiasts.

New Russian conversation group
October 3 at 1 p.m.
Come brush up on your Russian by speaking it with others the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. In October the group will meet on October 3 and 17. Please come whether you are a native speaker, beginner, or in-between. All ages welcome.

The challenges of change and loss 
October 4 at 10 a.m.
As we age we face changes in many aspects of our lives. We may be dealing with changes in physical or cognitive health in loved ones, friends or ourselves or the death of a loved one. It may be negotiating the transition to retirement and the loss of professional identity. We may be making decisions about whether to stay in our homes or to move to a retirement community. Relationships with adult children may also change and at times we may have to address their sense of what is good for us and what we want. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, the COA’s social worker with many years of experience helping people navigate the issues of later life, will be facilitating a group that will give people the opportunity to talk about these issues in a supportive environment. The six-week group will run on Thursdays from10-11:30 on October 4, 11, 18, 25, and November 1 and 8. Sign up by calling the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 is helpful but not required.

Coffee with photographer Barbara Peskin
October 4 at 3 p.m.
Join artist Barbara Peskin on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. to celebrate her exhibit “Moments in Nature” shown in the Bemis Hall gallery October through mid-November. Barbara enjoys sharing photos that play on the patience to let nature unfold as you observe, listen and watch and may come unexpectedly in quiet moments. Her photos come from places like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, along with mergansers from Rangeley, ME, puffins from Machias Seal Island, ME, and more from Lincoln and local areas. Barbara has exhibited her photography at local libraries and COA’s, Concord’s Reasons to Be Cheerful and Stow’s Nancy’s Air Field Cafe. She’s won awards from the Lincoln Garden Club and Parker River Wildlife Refuge.

Trad jazz band
October 5 at 12:30 p.m.
You are not alone if when you turn on the radio you find yourself wishing they’d play On The Sunny Side of the Street or Ain’t Misbehavin’ or Toot-Toot-Tootsie. You can get your wish on Friday, Oct. 5 when the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serves up a lunchtime platter of those golden oldies at Bemis from 12:30–1:30. Come upstairs, kickoff your shoes, enjoy. 

Technology workshops hosted by local Boy Scout troop
October 6 at 2 p.m.
Jacob Anthony, a member of Concord Boy Scout Troop 132 and resident of Lincoln, will be leading two technology workshops for Lincoln seniors. The workshops will take place on October 6 and December 2 from 2-4 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Each workshop will consist of a presentation on email (October 6) and internet safety (December 2), followed by a chance for COA members to work with scouts from the troop and troubleshoot any issues they have with their portable electronic devices. The classes will conclude with a refreshment period for socializing. Seniors are invited to bring their personal electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) that they would like help with to the workshop. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

The Supreme Court with Walter Bossert
October 6 at 2 p.m.
Get a deeper understanding of the Supreme Court that has influenced almost every aspect of American life for over 200 years when Lincoln resident Walter Bossert presents “The Supreme Court.” The program will be on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 2 to 4:15 p.m. at the library (not Bemis Hall). First, you’ll watch a video by C-Span including interviews with 11 justices about the role, traditions, and history of the Court and a tour of the Supreme Court building. Following the video, Bossert will discuss the Supreme Court case Central Hudson v. PSC (1980), a seminal case on commercial freedom of speech. For that case, Bossert successfully organized and led a three-man team for a favorable 8–1 decision, and was a co-author of the winning brief. Questions will be welcomed after the discussion. Co-sponsored by the COA and the Lincoln Public Library.

Free wellness clinic for all ages
October 9 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad
October 11 at 9:30 a.m.
The COA’s programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that they have asked him to come back yet again. Andy will be at Bemis Hall on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m. to give you more information on the operation and features of iPhones and iPads and answer your questions. If you have tips for using your iPhone or iPad, bring those, too.

What you need to know about Instagram
October 11 at 11 a.m.
Instagram is the latest thing among the kids and you might enjoy this fun and simple way to share photos and videos with your friends and family. Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. to hear Andy Payne talk about Instagram, what it is, how to use it safely, and how to communicate via hashtags. He will demonstrate what it is, show you how to set up an account, and give some tips.

LGBT-focused group for older adults to share tea and conversation
October 12 at 10 a.m.
All are invited to enjoy tea and conversation at a new LGBT-focused group to be held the second Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Come share your thoughts, ideas, and life experiences. Another group will also be held November 9. Older adults from other towns most welcome.

Town Clerk voter update
October 12 at 11 a.m.
Join Interim Town Clerk Valerie Fox on Friday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall to find out what you need to know to make sure you can make your voice be heard by voting November 6. The deadline for registering to vote for the November 6 election is October 17. Find out about how to get an absentee ballot and vote absentee, early voting, making sure you’re registered, and more. Valerie will even check to make sure you’re on the voting rolls.

A trunk full of tales – sharing personal and family stories
October 12 at 1 p.m.
Our lives are made of stories. Stories of our family members and ancestors who influenced our lives, and our own stories of the experiences that helped us become who we are today. They live inside us, but too often we don’t feel they are valuable to others or we just don’t know how to tell them. Sharing and hearing both the fun and tough stories is healing for ourselves and important for our children, grandchildren, and peers. Join Lincoln native and professional storyteller Elisa Pearmain on Friday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall for an engaging and playful workshop on remembering, shaping, and sharing personal and family stories. You may bring an item (or facsimile) that has been passed to you, or that represents an experience that touched your life. No experience necessary.

Lincoln Academy with Avram Kalisky: A voyage through Scandinavia
October 15 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 15 at 12:30 to hear Avram Kalisky discuss “A Voyage Through Scandinavia.” Join Avram Kalisky as he takes you on a voyage through Scandinavia that he and Esther enjoyed in 2004. You will visit, vicariously, Copenhagen, Sweden, and a number of locations in Norway, where you will take a train trip with an old steam engine, visit churches, have a barbecue next to a lake, eat shrimp fresh from the sea, and more. Avram will also share thoughts on the current situation in Israel. 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 elder law clinic
October 15 at 2 p.m.
Got a question about issues such as estate planning, MassHealth, protecting assets for a loved one with a serious disability, guardianship, conservatorship or probate? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, Oct. 15 from 2–3 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Senior dining
October 16 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with new friends and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at St. Anne’s Church. Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let them know when you call if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club. Enjoy a Lunch free during your birthday. All you need to do is let them know at the reception desk.

Fall barbecue for veterans and spouses/partners
October 17 at 12 p.m.
All Lincoln veterans and their spouses/partners are welcome to another of the COA’s famous Veterans Barbecues on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at noon. The BBQ will feature a delicious lunch of barbecued pork or chicken or beef brisket. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 by October 10. A $5 donation is requested.

Tour of Trinity Church and tea at the Boston Public Library
October 18 at 10 a.m.
Join the COA on Thursday, Oct. 18 for a guided tour of Trinity Church in Boston, designated as “one of the ten most important buildings in America” by the American Institute of Architects. It was founded in 1734. You will then take a short walk to the Boston Public Library for High Tea in the Courtyard Restaurant. The High Tea features assorted savory tea sandwiches, scones, petit fours and tea. The caterer is incredible and you will not be disappointed. There will be time to view the Gallery and tour the architecture of its famed Central Library buildings as well as the art treasures within. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 10 a.m. and return at approximately 3:15 p.m. This trip is rated moderate with walking, standing and negotiating stairs. The cost of the trip is $39.00. To reserve a space, send a check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone number and email address. Your reservation is complete when your check is received. Questions? Contact Donna at 781-257-5050 or donna@ecacbed.com.

Healing motion for life: a free movement workshop
October 19 at 9 a.m.
Being in touch with the way our bodies move, and working to keep our movements unrestricted and fluid help bring health and clarity to every aspect of our lives. Join Susanne Liebich on Friday, Oct. 19 at 9 a.m. at Bemis Hall to experience a variety of sustainable exercises including expressive movement, breathing and relaxation in a program sponsored by Deaconess Abundant Life Services and Newbury Court. Susanne’s movement practice helps you achieve body awareness, presence, physical strength, balance, focus, and serenity. Another session will be held in November.

The flu shot clinic is back!
October 19 at 10 a.m.
Lincoln residents 65 and over are invited to come to the Board of Health/COA flu clinic at Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt and bring your insurance cards, but there is no out-of-pocket charge to you. They will have the quadrivalent form of the vaccine which makes up approximately 80 percent of available 2018-2019 vaccine and is indicated for a majority of the adult population. Check with your doctor if you have questions about the high-dose vaccine. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Stay on your feet with the Better Balance Fair
October 19 at 1 p.m.
Find out how to improve your balance and prevent injury if you fall at a Better Balance Fair on Friday, Oct. 19 from 1–3 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The fair is free and sponsored by the Lincoln Fire Department and the COA. At 1 p.m., attend a demonstration by Jane Moss, a COA tai chi teacher, of how tai chi improves balance, or watch a video about how to prevent fall injuries. At 2 p.m., attend a demonstration by Lana Israel, who teaches Lana’s Ultimate Fitness classes for the Parks and Rec Department, of exercises that can help you improve and maintain your strength and balance to prevent falls or practice how to fall to prevent injury. You will also be able to take home lots of information about other programs and services. The Fire Department will be providing delicious refreshments.

Share tips or get help at smartphone meetup
October 22 at 11 a.m.
Do you have a smart phone that you would like to learn more about or be able to use better? Or, can you give smart phone pointers? Come to a group that will be facilitated by Carol Peskin for smart phone users to share tips and get help on Monday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. This isn’t a class, but rather a chance for people to teach each other. Whether you’re new to smart phones or are a pro, this group is for you.

Lincoln Academy with Carol Paik: NYC landmarks from a recycled doll’s perspective
October 22 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 22 at 12:30 to hear Carol Paik discuss “NYC Landmarks from a Recycled Doll’s Perspective.” A recycling project became much more than that when former corporate litigator Carol Paik, daughter of Lincoln residents Frank and Wanda Paik, decided to combine her passion for dollmaking with her being a quintessential New Yorker, creating a new handmade doll and outfit out of old discarded stuff every week for one year, pairing them with iconic NYC landmarks such as the Met, Central Park, the Cloisters, Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens, WTC, Whitney Museum, Governors’ Island, Roosevelt Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, Staten Island ferry, the Plaza Hotel, etc., delving lightly into history, literature, poetry and celebrity quotes. Come hear Carol describe her project and exhibit a sampling of her resting stitch face dolls and their write-ups. You can see more of her dolls at www.restingstitchfacenyc.com. 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.

Medicare open enrollment insurance update
October 26 at 10 a.m.
Find out what changes could affect your Medicare coverage and how much you will pay in 2019 when Don Milan and Anne Meade, Lincoln’s counselors from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE Program-health benefits counseling for Medicare enrollees, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. This is an important time to ;understand the changes for 2019 and to be sure you ;are satisfied with your current health insurance benefits. Medicare open enrollment period—Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2018—is your opportunity to make any changes to your Medicare coverage, effective Jan. 1. Representatives from most major supplemental health insurance plans (Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts, Fallon, and AARP/United Health Care) will have 2019 information for Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans and Part D plans. Also present will be Peter Harvell, Veterans Service Officer.

Note: This program is designed to go over 2019 changes in basic Medicare, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance plans. On Monday, Nov. 5 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 (Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage) available to supplement coverage. SHINE provides accurate, unbiased information regarding health insurance and prescription drug options through community education and free, confidential counseling for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. Minuteman Senior Services provides a variety of services that help seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. For more information, call toll-free 888-222-6171 or visit www.minutemansenior.org.

Lincoln Academy with Ruth Mendelson: Producing Jane Goodall
October 29 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 29 at 12:30 to hear Ruth Mendelson discuss “Producing Jane Goodall.” For the past two years, composer/producer Ruth Mendelson has been working with longtime friend Dr. Jane Goodall, creating the updated audio version of her classic book, My Life with the Chimpanzees. After recording and editing Dr. Goodall’s narration track, Ruth created an elaborate soundscape for the audio book—akin to an old-fashioned radio show in which all text is illustrated with sound. For this week’s Lincoln Academy, Ruth will discuss aspects of production, demonstrating how she created the soundscapes for the book as well as premier tracks. 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.