arts

News acorns

May 9, 2016

Composting workshop presented by Gearticks

A survey conducted by the Lincoln Blue Gearticks Lego Robotics Team determined that 40 percent of the town does not compost—so the team designed a class about composting. The Blue Gearticks will present free composting workshop at the Lincoln transfer station on Saturday, May 14 from noon-1 p.m. and 1-2 p.m. (Each Lego robotics team has to do a research project as well as build a robot, and the Blue Gearticks’ Lincoln composting research and recommendations won second prize in their competition.) The free class is sponsored by the Lincoln Recycling Committee. For more information, call 617-763-4633.

Panel discussion looks at 50 years of METCO

Like several other town entities, the METCO program is celebrating its anniversary this year, so the Lincoln Historical Society’s meeting on Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall will feature a panel discussion about the program over the past 50 years. Participants include:

Dr. Kahris Dianne White-McLaughlin, affirmative action officer for the Cambridge Public Schools and author of a dissertation on the METCO program in Lincoln. She served on both the Lincoln and L-S School Committees and is former board chairman of METCO, Inc.
Jane Kline, a former secretary to the METCO Director, academic adviser, and Social Worker for the Lincoln Public Schools.
Rena Wright, a manager at East Cambridge Savings Bank and graduate of the Lincoln and L-S METCO programs.
Rob Donaldson, who teaches history at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and grew up in Lincoln. His mother served on the Coordinating Committee and his family hosted several METCO students.
Lateefah Franck, the METCO Director in Lincoln since 2011. She is a former teacher and principal at the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School in Hyde Park.

Vietnam Gold Star Families sought

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall (a half-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.) is coming to Waltham in August. They are looking for families of military personnel who were killed in action during the Vietnam War so they can receive special invitations and participate in honoring our local heroes. Call Lincoln Veterans Services Officer Priscilla Leach at 781-259-4472 or lincolnvetservices@gmail.com if you are a member of such a Gold Star Family or know anyone who is.

Kumiko Asada exhibits her paintings at Bemis

In May and June, the Bemis Hall Lincoln Artists Gallery will host an exhibit of paintings by Lincoln resident Kumiko Asada. Kumiko, who was born in Osaka, Japan, came to the United States in the 1980s and attended painting classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, The deCordova, and the Cambridge Art Association. Her favorite artist is Giorgio Morandi.

Council on Aging events in May

May 2, 2016

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
May 4 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, May 4 at 1 p.m. to meet with Anthony Moreschi, Constituent Service Representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark. He will be available to assist residents with Social Security, Medicare, and MassHealth/Medicaid. You are also welcome to discuss other matters with him that he may be able to help with.

We honor veterans: end-of-life and survivor benefits
May 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Veterans and their families have special needs when it comes to end-of-life care, whether related to the unique life and health care experiences of veterans or to the benefits of the Veterans Administration for end-of-life health care, burial benefits, or survivor benefits. “We Honor Veterans” is an initiative of the Veterans Administration and local hospices and other care providers to make sure that veterans receive sensitive and compassionate care and know about all their benefits. Come find out more when Mary Beth Kawalek of Brookhaven Hospice comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Want to sit back and enjoy some old-fashioned harmony?
May 6 at 12:30 p.m.
A melody you can sing along with? Hum, tap your toes to? The Lincoln Traditional Jazz Sextet will be bringing those tunes you know and love to Bemis Hall on Friday May 6 at 12:30. “Geezers” swingin’ on piano, trumpet, clarinet, trombone, sax, bass and drums will be there to entertain you. Come join the regulars singing along to When You’re Smilin’, put a smile on your face with Ain’t Misbehavin’, do the Charleston or the Lindy Hop if you’re up for it. Or just put your feet up and relax.

Lincoln Academy with Kathi Anderson—The Walden Woods Project: keeping Thoreau’s legacy alive in Lincoln and beyond
May 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, May 9 at 12:30 to hear Kathi Anderson discuss “The Walden Woods Project: Keeping Thoreau’s Legacy Alive in Lincoln and Beyond.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

May 11 at 7 p.m.
Medicare 101: basics for those about to sign up and others
Learn the basics of Medicare on Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Minuteman Senior Services SHINE counselors Don Milan and Anne Meade. Come if you will be signing up soon or you just wish to understand your benefits better. Don and Anne will discuss traditional Medicare, medigap plans, Advantage plans, and medication drug coverage (Medicare, Parts A, B, C, and D), how to go about choosing the plan or plans that are best for you, timeframes for enrolling to avoid penalties and more. [Read more…] about Council on Aging events in May

Hundreds of Lincolnites flock to the fair

May 2, 2016

Dancing around the maypole in Pierce Park.

There was something for everyone at Saturday’s “40 Years of Community” fair, and Lincolnites of all ages flocked to Pierce Park on a bright and sunny spring day to connect and have fun.

Visitors enjoyed music from Colonial fifes and drums, a grand piano, guitars and an a capella group; hundreds of hamburgers, hot dogs, snow cones and ice cream; bounce houses and fair games; an art exhibit; and tables showcasing dozens of Lincoln organizations where they could learn about everything from 19th-century rifles and toys to People for Pollinators, the Lincoln Diversity Committee, The Food Project and the Town Archives.

Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy, who helped out at the barbecue, estimated the attendance at well over 1,000. “It’s a great day for Lincoln. It’s been a lot of fun,” he said.

Here’s a gallery of images from the fair. For best results, view the pictures on a desktop computer. Click one of the images to see a larger version in the lightbox that pops out. Then you can:

Click on the “i” icon at the bottom of the image to see the caption at the upper right of your screen
Click the diagonal arrow button to see the maximum size image
Move between photos by moving your mouse cursor to the far left or right of your screen and clicking on the white arrow that appears.
To return to the Lincoln Squirrel, click the “x” in the upper right of your screen.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”42″ gal_title=”40 Years of Community”]

Photos by Alice Waugh

Fair celebrates 40 years of three town institutions

April 13, 2016

Lincoln is gearing up for the “40 Years of Community” Fair packed with activities, art, music and history on Saturday, April 30 to recognize four decades of the Council on Aging, Parks and Recreation and the Lincoln Review.

The fair will feature children’s games and activities including a live animal demonstration, games and activities, storytelling, crafts related to Lincoln’s architectural heritage, a photo booth with a frog cutout, reading by “grandparents,” a scavenger hunt, a trackless train, 18th-century games, a sewing project, carnival games, a sketching demonstration and chance to meet a canine author, an activity table, and seed bomb and pollinator habitat making.

Lincoln’s history will be front and center, with displays on Lincoln history and iconic Lincoln buildings and landscapes. The Lincoln Minute Men will demonstrate aspects of life in Lincoln in the 18th century. Local organizations will provide information and demonstrations on such important topics as energy efficiency, agriculture, heirloom plants, nature and pollination. They’ll also have valuable information about their activities, programs and services.

Lincoln and Lincoln-associated artists will show their best work in the Pierce House, which will also feature historic photos from the Town Archives. The exhibit in Pierce House will also be open on Saturday, April 30 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 from noon to 3 p.m.

What’s a fair without food? The Lincoln Police Department will host a barbecue while the Minute Men will offer baked goods and cider for a small cost. You’re also welcome to bring a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy a meal or a snack on the grass in the park.

While you’re enjoying all the activities, exhibits and art, you’ll be regaled by music by some of Lincoln’s many virtuoso musicians. Bands and performing groups will play outside on a stage while more musicians will play and sing classical and other musical genres inside the Pierce House. The Lincoln Minute Men musicians will also be on hand.

Among the groups participating are the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Drumlin Farm, First Parish, Food Project, Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Green Energy Committee, Historic New England, LEAP, Lincoln Council on Aging and Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging, Lincoln Family Association, Lincoln Garden Club, Lincoln Historical Society, Lincoln Minute Men, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln PTO, Lincoln Review, Lincoln School Foundation, Magic Garden, METCO Coordinating Committee, Old Town Hall Exchange, People for Pollinators, and the Town Archives.

For more information about the fair, call Carolyn Bottum at the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 or Dan Pereira at Parks and Recreation at 781-259-0784. Local businesses interested in donating goods are also welcome to call Carolyn or Dan.

News acorns

April 8, 2016

Robert Altman movies on tap starting Sunday

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents a series of films by Robert Altman, a five-time nominee for Best Director who was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2006. All screenings are at 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 10 — “M*A*S*H” (1970) starring Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould and Sally Kellerman. A satirical look at the Korean War through the eyes of two very talented and jaded surgeons.
Sunday, April 24 — “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” (1971) starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, described as an “anti-Western” Western.
Saturday May 7 — “The Long Goodbye” (1973). A neo-noir film starring Gould stars as private detective Philip Marlowe.
Saturday, May 14 — “Cookie’s Fortune” (1999) starring Glenn Close, Julianne Moore and Patricia Neal. A criminal comedy film,featuring a town filled of odd balls.

More borrowing opportunities from the library

Lincoln residents now have free access to a dramatically expanded list of digital books. After initial setup, there’s no waiting for eBooks from the Commonwealth eBook Collections—if it’s listed, it’s available. Find e-books in the library catalog and click through, or visit cec.masslibsystem.org to explore. You may need to create an account prior to downloading, and depending on the device you’re using, you may be required to download an app or other reader. Reference librarians are happy to assist with any questions. CEC includes three products:

Axis 360: Best-sellers, test preparation guides, travel guides and more.
BiblioBoard Library Primary sources, historical documents, images, video and more. Check out the graphic novels or the “Dummies” books.
EBL: Items to help with academic research as well as personal interests from cooking to gardening.

CEC is brought to you by the Massachusetts Library System in partnership with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and participating libraries and is funded in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. CEC is offered in addition to Overdrive eBooks, which are still available to library card holders.

Lincoln Country Day Preschool open house

Lincoln Country Day Preschool is hosting a Spring Open House for prospective students from 2.9 years of age in September 2016 through 5-6 years of age (pre-K) on Sunday, April 24 from 3-5 p.m. The school welcomes families from Lincoln, Concord, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and other local towns. Parents and their children can take a tour of our school, play in our Threes, Fours and Pre-K classrooms, and make a souvenir spring project to take home. Please RSVP at 781-259-860. Lincoln Country Day is located at 147 Concord Road, Lincoln, in St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church.

News acorns

April 7, 2016

Event explores medicine as a career

Pat Roberts and Mike Rosenblatt of the Lahey Clinic will give a talk on “The Joy and Journey of Being a Physician” on Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The multimedia presentation will give an overview of medicine, discuss why high school students might want to go into medicine, role-play being a physician or surgeon by viewing videos of operations, and offer a hands-on experience with portable surgical trainers.

Roberts is chair of Surgery at Lahey Clinic and Rosenblatt is the chief medical officer at Lahey; both are Lincoln residents and parents of L-S students. The talk is part of a new library program launched in partnership with the Lincoln School and Lincoln-Sudbury High School called “Local Heroes” involving presentations by resident experts on topics that might inspire students about what to explore in their college years and beyond. Previous events in the series looked at computer science and robotics in December and designing a satellite mission to Mars in January.

Donate household items for domestic violence victims

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites area residents to donate new household items to help families transitioning from a shelter to establish a new home. The Shower for Shelters runs form Sunday, April 24 through Monday, May 9. New unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at the Lincoln Public Library, the Goodnow Library in Sudbury or the Wayland Public Library. Items may also be dropped off at the group’s Libations and Donations free wine-tasting event at Sudbury Wine and Spirits in the Rugged Bear Plaza (410 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury) on Friday, April 29 starting at 7 p.m.

Requested items include twin-size sheets, pillowcases, summer blankets and comforters as well as pillows, crib sheets, bath towels and face cloths, unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent, laundry baskets, kitchen utensils, flatware, dishes, drinking glasses and small kitchen appliances. Gift cards are also welcome. For a complete list of requested items, please visit the Roundtable website. All gifts collected are donated to clients of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence.

Lecture on aerial landscapes at deCordova

Residents are invited to a lecture on “Disvalued Landscapes, Seen from Above” with aerial photographer Alex MacLean and Alan Berger, professor of landscape architecture and urban design at MIT, on Friday, April 28 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. McLean and Berger will discussing the art of aerial photography, suburban sprawl and other patterns of the land at the event, which is the kickoff for deCordova Friends of the Park, a new group dedicated to the care, support, and advocacy of the deCordova’s landscape and primary gallery. The talk is free and open to the public. The talk is part of the “Overgrowth in Conversation” discussion series.

News acorns

March 31, 2016

Page wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Katherine Hall Page

Mystery writer and Lincoln resident Katherine Hall Page will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Malice Domestic mystery writers’ conference in April. She is one of the only authors to have won an Agatha Award in all three categories: Best Novel, Best Short Story and Best First Novel. Page’s latest book, The Body in the Wardrobe, features part-time sleuth, minister’s wife and caterer Faith Fairchild, alongside new series favorite Sophie Maxwell, last seen in The Body in the Birches and now a newlywed living in historic Savannah, Ga., where she crosses paths with murder.

Town seeks volunteers for Community Preservation Committee

The Board of Selectmen seeks volunteers to fill several vacancies on the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). This is an opportunity to help your town, to learn about its historic preservation, affordable housing, open space preservation and recreational programs and initiatives, and to help determine how to most wisely invest our limited Community Preservation Act funds. Visit the town website for a volunteer application and information about other volunteer opportunities. Applications should be submitted to the Selectmen’s Office, attn: Peggy Elder, administrative assistant: elderp@lincolntown.org or 781 259-2601.

Andrew McNight plays at next LOMA

Andrew McKnight

Andrew McKnight will perform at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mic Acoustic) night on Monday, April 11 from 7-10 p.m. He’ll perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30 p.m. His powerful, entertaining show provides one-man theatre delivered with down-home comfort with finely crafted songs weaving together humorous stories and poetic drama. He frequently performs with Les Thompson, founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

LOMA is a monthly event. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mike day) for a slot. We have a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style.

Hazardous waste dates for 2016

The following is a list of the 2016 collection dates for household hazardous waste at 60 Hartwell Ave, in Lexington from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

April 16
May 14
June 18
July 16
August 13
September 18 (the only Sunday date)
October 15
November 12

All Lincoln residents must pre-register by calling Elaine Carroll at 781-259-2613 or by coming to the Lincoln Board of Health office at 16 Lincoln Rd., second floor. Latex paint will not be accepted at this facility since it is not a hazardous product. Please contact the Board of Health office for ways to properly dispose of latex paint.

News acorns

March 18, 2016

Spelling Bee registration extended through this weekend

The Lincoln School Foundation‘s annual spelling bee is April 10, and the registration deadline has been extended until Monday morning. Kids who want to participate but don’t have a team can email bee@lincolnschoolfoundation.org to be matched with teammates. Click here to register online.

Kids can create art with Peeps

The Lincoln Public Library is holding its first annual Peeps Diorama Day on Wednesday, March 23 starting at 2 p.m. Kids ages 4 and up are invited to come create a piece of art with Peeps marshmallow candy. Registration required; call 781-259-8465 ext. 4.

Photo exhibit at library

“Plastic Bag Lady” by Ellen Morgan.

“Portraits of Sudanese Women: Photographs by Ellen Morgan, 2009-2015″ is on display at the Lincoln Public Library until March 31. Morgan traveled to South Sudan in 2009 with a young refugee, one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, as he returned to pick out a wife. These photographs are of women at the bride price negotiations in Sudan and also of other village wives here in the Boston area.

Letter to the editor: Mattes seeks support as Bemis trustee

March 13, 2016

To the editor:

I am writing to ask the citizens of Lincoln for your support of my candidacy for the Bemis Trust at the polls on Monday, March 28. (This year, the election follows our Annual Town Meeting by one week.) In the 1990s, I was honored to serve as a Bemis trustee.

The Bemis Trust is an example of the generosity of one of Lincoln’s luminaries: George Bemis. In 1892, Mr. Bemis provided money for “a new Town Hall in which shall be a room of sufficient capacity and proper construction for public lectures… and to provide an annual course of public lectures in said Hall of an instructive and elevating character,” resulting in the Bemis Free Lecture Series. In 1982, another generous Lincolnite, John Todd, left a bequest to complement the Bemis endowment and expand the charge to provide “entertainment and recreation.”

The series has brought the town together to be entertained and to both listen to and discuss important topics of the day. I would hope, if honored with election this year, to work with fellow trustees to continue that tradition and to continue the tradition of collaboration with other town organizations, both public and private. In my past life as a trustee, we worked with the Lincoln Public Schools and the PTO to bring programs to the classroom and the lecture hall. Who can forget the wolves of “Mission: Wolf” walking around a circle of children seated on the floor of the Smith gym!

We also co-sponsored, with the Rural Land Foundation (RLF) and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, a memorable evening with Warren Flint, Sr., who shared stories of Lincoln and how our innovative land conservation efforts came to be. Also, the Bemis Trust worked with the Planning Board and the RLF to bring a weekend of events, culminating in several hundred Lincolnites coming together in an all-day charrette to dream and reimagine the future for our commercial retail center—brought to reality as The Mall at Lincoln Station.

The Bemis Trust has brought us memorable events over the years, and the current trustees have some exciting event planned for this spring and fall. I would be honored and delighted to join them for future planning. I ask for your consideration and your vote on Monday, March 28.

Sincerely,

Sara Mattes
71 Conant Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

News acorns

March 13, 2016

Middle schoolers perform “Music Man Jr.”

Come see “Music Man Jr.,” based on the classic Broadway show and 1962 movie, in the Donaldson auditorium on Wednesday, March 16 at 3 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. The story follows the escapades of of a fast-talking salesman who masquerades as a traveling band leader and his plans to swindle the naive parents of a small Iowa town. Instead, he falls for the town’s librarian and risks everything to be with her. This production features a cast and crew of close to 70 students and has been supported by dozens of parent volunteers. Drama teacher Kristen Hall is the show’s director and producer. Musical direction is by music teacher Blake Siskavich and choreography by fifth-grade teacher Maurisa Davis. Tickets will be sold at the door: adults $10, students and seniors $5. Suitable for all ages.

Library/Aka Bistro discount

The Lincoln Public Library and AKA Bistro are offering a 10 percent food discount (drinks not included) for Lincoln residents with Lincoln Public Library cards. For more information, see the AKA Bistro website.

Environmental film festival from river group

OARS (a nonprofit group that works to protect, preserve, and enhance the natural and recreational features of the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Rivers and their watersheds) is hosting an evening of films from the largest environmental film festival in the nation on Wednesday, March 30 from 7-10 p.m. at Maynard’s Fine Arts Theatre Place (19 Summer St.) With the theme “A Change of Course,” these engaging films bring theater-goers close to magnificent wilderness, as well as to the people who work to protect their communities’ environment. Sixteen films ranging from 2 to 18 minutes will be shown. including “Denali,” “The Fable of the Wolf” and “The Accidental Environmentalist.” Tickets are $13 and may be purchased online, or contact OARS at 978-369-3956 or office@oars3rivers.org.