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

arts

Read the latest Lincoln Chipmunk – and help if you can

The  latest issue of the Lincoln Chipmunk has hit the stands (in the cloud, anyway), so be sure to check out the writing and visual artwork of your fellow Lincolnites:

chipmunk.lincolnsquirrel.com

(Remember, the link to the Chipmunk is always on the top righthand area of every page on the Lincoln Squirrel website.)

If you’d like to have your own work appear in the next issue, the deadline is January 22, 2021 — click here for details.

And now, here’s how you can help. Creating the Lincoln Chipmunk turned out to be a more time-consuming and expensive task than expected, so we’re launching a 30-day fundraising campaign to try to recoup some of the $8,000 cost. As an incentive, you can get some Lincoln Squirrel or Lincoln Chipmunk merchandise as a thank-you for donating at various levels. Click on the image below for details about the campaign and swag.

Even if you don’t donate, have a look at our new store for all your Squirrel/Chipmunk merchandise needs, including clothing, drinkware, stickers, coasters, and of course face masks. Just what you need for that hard-to-shop-for person in your life!

A huge thank-you to everyone who’s supported the Squirrel in various ways over the last eight years, and to those who waited patiently for the successor to the Lincoln Review finally make its debut. And thanks in advance to anyone who’s able to donate to the Lincoln Chipmunk. Happy holidays!

Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel and The Lincoln Chipmunk
lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com
617-710-5542 (mobile)

 

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Lincoln student wins Rhodes Scholarship

Shera Avi-Yonah (photo by Jon Chase/Harvard staff photographer)

Lincoln’s Shera Avi-Yonah is one of six Harvard University seniors to win a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University next year. As a reporter for The Crimson and now its managing editor, she helped break stories on sexual harassment, workplace abuse, and racism, according to the Harvard Gazette. Some coverage led to legal threats and even a subpoena, which prompted her interest on the limits of legal protections for the press — a topic she plans to focus on at Oxford, where she’ll compare the libel laws of the U.S. and the U.K.

Midway through her first year, Avi-Yonah discovered her love of history, the Gazette says. Her thesis adviser is Drew Faust, Harvard president emerita. “I’m a believer in studying the historical roots of problems you seek to change, and I hope examining the origins of limits to press freedom will allow me to pursue a career working to defend it,” Avi-Yonah said.

Hanscom student wins national fellowship

Morgan Gibson

Hanscom Middle School eighth-grader Morgan Gibson is one of 22 students from across the country selected for an iCivics-sponsored Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship. Morgan is the only middle school representative in the group and one of only two Massachusetts students chosen. As paid student ambassadors, fellows will lead a student-centered discussion on equity in civic education, build a national social media campaign, and launch a virtual showcase in June. Last year’s students attended SXSW EDU, participated in a variety of speaking engagements, and continue to use their experiences to influence the discussion on how to improve civics for all kids. Click here to learn more about the iCivics-sponsored Equity in Civics Youth Fellowship program. 

Outdoor Touch of Christmas Fair

The First Parish of Lincoln’s Touch of Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on the parish house playground (14 Bedford Rd.). Shop for treasures, holiday crafts, unique gifts, handmade mittens, sweet jams and sauces, wreaths, and more. Click here to order your wreath ahead of time. Masks required. Rain date: December 12.

COA collecting donations for gift bags

Each year, the Council on Aging visits homebound and needy seniors to deliver a gift basket full of basic necessities to them. The COA is collecting the following new, unscented, full-sized, and unopened items:

[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]

  • Pharmacy gift cards
  • Stamps
  • Shampoo
  • Dish soap
  • Paper towels
  • Facial tissue
  • Lotion 
  • Toothpaste/toothbrushes 

[/su_column] [su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]

  • Sponges
  • Razors/shaving cream
  • Deodorant
  • Kitchen trash bags
  • Coffee/tea
  • Soap
  • Laundry detergent 
  • Men’s/women’s socks

[/su_column][/su_row]

Please bring donations to Bemis Hall by Friday, Dec. 7. Questions? Call Abigail Butt at 781-259-8811.

See pictures and help pets in need

The Phinney’s Godparents Program tree near the Pierce House.

Instead of its annual holiday festival at the Pierce House, Phinney’s (also known as Phinney’s Friends) — a local nonprofit that helps low-income people keep their pets by paying for vet bills, medication, and pet supplies — has moved outside.

A majestic blue spruce on the park grounds has been decorated with multicolored lights and watercolor ornaments honoring pets in need as part of the Phinney’s Godparents Program, which offers a personalized way to provide monthly support to a specific pet or pets in need. Hand-painted ornaments on the tree feature some of the neediest pets in the program, including an elderly dog with cancer who lives with an HIV-positive owner and a lively cat who keeps her owner with cerebral palsy company.

Visitors can scan the QR code posted near the tree to learn more about the featured pets. With a donation of $25 or more, the donor gets a paper holiday ornament painted in watercolor of the sponsored pet that can be hung on the Phinney’s Angels Tree with a unique message along with the existing ornaments, or shipped to them or someone else as a special holiday gift. See their stories and donate by clicking here.

Submit your stuff for the next Lincoln Chipmunk

The deadline for submitting poetry, fiction, first-person writing, photos, artwork, etc. to the Lincoln Chipmunk is Wednesday, Nov. 24. Share your creativity with your fellow Lincolnites and beyond.

chipmunk.lincolnsquirrel.com

The Lincoln Chipmunk, successor to the Lincoln Review, is part of the Lincoln Squirrel, our town’s #1 news source. Subscriptions to both are just $4.50 a month or $54.00 a year, but everyone can read three articles per month for free. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing your work!

Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel and The Lincoln Chipmunk
lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com

617-710-5542 (mobile)

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Drive-in choir worship service

All are welcome to St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m., when the church choir will offer a drive-in Evensong service. Evensong is a service primarily led by the choir, with the priest chanting pieces and the congregation singing hymns. Choir members will sing into microphones in their cars, and the congregation, sitting in their own cars, will tune in to an unused FM radio station and hear the singing in real time.

Kathryn and Bryce Denney of Marlborough figured out the equipment and procedures needed for Driveway Choirs, and they took it on the road for the first time at St. Anne’s in August. For more information, contact Music Director Jay (jay@stanneslincoln.org) or Communications Director Kristina DeFrancisco (kristina@stanneslincoln.org).

Free flu shot clinic for Lincolnites

The Town of Lincoln will offer a free drive-through flu shot clinic on Monday, Nov. 9 from noon–4 p.m. at the Lincoln North office park at 55 Old Bedford Rd. for Lincoln residents and school children ages 3 and up (the high-dose vaccine for seniors will not be offered at this clinic.) To participate:

  1. Review the available time slots and sign up (indicating the number of appointments needed for your car) by clicking here. Slots after 2 p.m. for school-age children and their families.
  2. Bring with you a completed Walgreens Patient Consent form and a health insurance card for each person to be vaccinated.
  3. Arrive at Lincoln North five minutes ahead of your appointment. After getting vaccinated, park your car and get a snack or just hang out for 15 minutes in the waiting area. 

Donate Thanksgiving staples to food pantry

The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston will be distributing all the trimmings for a turkey dinner, plus a grocery card to buy the turkey this year, to food pantry clients in Lincoln and Weston. Click below for more details and to sign up to participate. Click here to donate nonperishable Thanksgiving food and/or a grocery card.

Council on Aging activities in November

Here are some of the November activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For more information and a full list, including regular meetings of groups and online chats with town officials, see the COA’s calendar page or newsletter.

  • Line dancing with Katrina Rotondi — Wednesdays at 11 a.m. On November 4, the class will be held in person in the Pierce House tent. November 11 and 25 classes will take place via Zoom.
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield webinar — Friday, Nov. 6 at 10:30 a.m. for anyone transitioning into Medicare or who is already on Medicare and wants to understand the various types of Medicare plans. Topics include the timeline for enrolling, pros and cons of Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans, and an explanation of Medicare Part D. To register, call Amy at the COA at 781-259-8811 by Nov. 4.
  • SAIL fitness classes with Derry Tanner, retired nurse and certified personal trainer in SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life), on Fridays starting November 6 from 10–10:45 a.m. To register, email Amy Gagne at gagnea@lincolntown.org. 
  • Chair yoga — Mondays starting November 9 from 10–10:45 a.m. To register, email Amy Gagne at gagnea@lincolntown.org. 

Learn media literacy for gender-based violence prevention

Rachel Matos

Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a Zoom program on “Unmasking Media.” The conversation will challenge participants to examine the messages they receive about consent, relationships, power dynamics, and violent behavior from movies, TV shows, music, and more. The workshop aims to identify harmful media while providing the skills to take action in practicing media literacy as a key piece of gender-based violence prevention. Facilitated by Rachel Matos, the outreach and prevention manager at Voices Against Violence. Click here to register in advance (required). For more information, please email infodvrt@gmail.com.

“Aging with Wisdom” retreat

Olivia Hoblitzelle

The First Parish in Lincoln will host “Aging With Wisdom,” a half-day online retreat on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m.–noon. led by teacher, therapist and writer Olivia Hoblitzelle. Participants will explore the gifts, challenges, and emotions of aging through teachings, meditation, and small group sharing to discover the opportunities for growth and deepening wisdom in our elder years. Register by Monday, Nov. 9 at by emailing  sarah@fplincoln.org. There is no charge, but donations are welcome to support the costs of this event. Click here for details.

Get a Surprise Bag from the library

For everyone who’s missing out on browsing the shelves, the Lincoln Public Library is now offering “surprise bags.” Discover a new author or genre, or  try a totally different reading/watching experience. Each bag will contain a combination of fiction and nonfiction titles, a DVD, a music CD, and maybe a magazine. Topics include cooking, healthy lifestyles, history, armchair travel, guilty pleasures, and hodgepodge. Call the Reference Desk at 781-259-8465 x3 to a bag for contactless pickup.

Drumlin Farm’s Pomponi promoted

Renata Pomponi

Mass Audubon announced that Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Director Renata Pomponi has been named Director of Mass Audubon Metro West as part of the organization’s pledge to become a more effective, efficient, and responsive organization. In this role, she will continue to oversee the Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln as well as Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick, Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton, Habitat Education Center in Belmont, and Brewster’s Woods Wildlife Sanctuary in Concord (not yet open for visitation).

Pomponi, a Sudbury resident, has become a well-known figure in the area since she was elevated to the Drumlin Farm director position in 2015, after having served for eight years in education and visitor-engagement roles at the popular wildlife sanctuary and working farm. Prior to joining Mass Audubon in 2007, she spent 12 years as a management consultant, specializing in strategic planning and business development in Fortune 500 organizations. She holds a PhD in technology management from MIT.

Council on Aging activities in September

Here are some of the September activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For more information and a full list, including regular meetings of groups for memoir writing, foreign language conversation, etc., see the COA’s calendar page or newsletter.

Special COA Zoom meetings
  • September 11 at 10 am — Mindfulness 101 with Catherine Collins
  • September 11 at  1 p.m. — Meditation with Lynne La Spina (30 minutes)
  • September 16 at 10 a.m. — Chat with Town Nurse Tricia McGean
  • September 18 at  2 p.m. — Chat with Selectman Jennifer Glass
  • September 25 at 10 a.m. — Artist showcase: Watercolors by Jack Foley
  • September 29 at  2 p.m. — Presentation to help our neighbors/Domestic Violence Services Network with J. Apsler

Please register for Zoom activities via email to GagneA@Lincolntown.org or call 781-275-8811 x102.

New COA in-person exercise classes

These classes will be held this month under the tent in front of the Pierce House.

  • Stretch and Flex — Tuesdays/Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
  • Active Aging — Tuesdays/Thursdays, 1–1:45 p.m.
  • Line Dancing — Wednesdays, 11 a.m.
  • Meditation — Wednesday, 10 a.m.
  • Meditation — Wednesdays, 3 p.m. (location: Lincoln Woods patio)

To participate, register by calling 781-259-8811 x102.

Outdoor podiatry clinic

Dr. Glenn Ruhl will hold a podiatry clinic outside Bemis Hall on September 22 (rain date: September 29). Call 781-259-8811 for details.

Chamber orchestra offers “Music-Grams”

Lyrica Boston, a chamber orchestra with several Lincoln residents, is offering “Music-Grams” of 30–60 minutes to bring live music to the doorsteps of Boston-area residents and organizations while still keeping everyone safe.

“It’s really for people that could use a pick-me-up,” said violin/viola player Laura Bossert of Lincoln, noting that the group has performed on the lawn of a woman who had recently had surgery, as well as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. “People are going through such a hard time, and we just wanted to offer some positive to send out.”

The series is also committed to bringing music to culturally underserved youth, the elderly, and those with special needs. Other Lincolnites in the group are Laura’s mother Muriel (piano), Tyler James (cello), and Jeffrey Cua (violin/viola).

Music-Grams feature solo musicians, duos, trios, or quartets. There is no charge but donations are appreciated. Click here to order. For those who are interested but aren’t in the area or don’t have a socially distanced outdoor space, the group will send a performance via YouTube. They’re also planning a concert on Farrar Pond on October 18 where attendees can listen on land or aboard their boat; click here for more information.

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Transfer station ends Monday hours

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DPW temporarily added Monday service hours to the transfer station schedule in an effort to reduce crowding.  This expanded service will end Monday, Aug. 31. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the transfer station will return to its normal operating schedule of Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Library news

Library now open by appointment

The Lincoln Public Library is reopening by appointment with separate times for high-risk patrons. The library is limiting capacity to five adult library users and five children’s services users at any time. Contactless pickup of reserved materials is still available as well. Click here for information on hours and making an appointment.

Help with job searches 

Looking for advice on finding a job and getting hired? The library is offering a weekly Q&A session with Patty Levy, founder of Hired Insider, each Monday from 12–12:30 p.m. via Zoom. The sessions are open to anyone who is currently searching for employment and needs advice on search strategies, interviewing, networking, communicating value, creating a standout resume, and LinkedIn branding tips. To receive a zoom invitation, email lrothenberg@minlib.net.

Reading for racial justice

The library is hosting a book group exploring racism and racial justice, reading both fiction and nonfiction. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom. To receive an invite to Zoom or to obtain more information, please email rrapoport@minlib.net.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo — Monday, September 21 at 7 p.m.

Oluo explores the complex reality of today’s racial landscape, from white privilege and police brutality to systemic discrimination and the Black Lives Matter movement, offering straightforward clarity that readers need to contribute to the dismantling of the racial divide Copies are available in book format, Overdrive E book, Overdrive Digital Audio book and Hoopla audio book. 

How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi — Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.

Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. He is the author of five books including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. Available as an Overdrive E-book and Digital Audio book

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones — Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American dream and the New South, but their lives are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. This love story is a deeply insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. Available in hardcover, Overdrive e-book & digital audio book.

Lincoln residents raise funds to fight cancer

Lincolnites Jane O’Rourke and Peter von Mertens will choose their own route on October 4 for the annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. Participants are encouraged to walk wherever they choose: around their neighborhood, a local hiking trail, a treadmill, or anywhere else they’re comfortable. While the event will not physically bring walkers together along the Boston Marathon course, it will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The event has raised more than $145 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 30+ year history. Click on either person’s name to donate.

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Events from the Lincoln Public Library

  • Harper Kincaid will speak on her newest mystery, To Kill A Mocking Girl, via Zoom on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The library invited her after one of its book groups enjoyed the book last month. The book is available online either as an e-book or a digital audio book through an Overdrive Advantage subscription. To access the title without a waiting list, you will need to log in with a Lincoln Library card. For an invite to the Zoom meeting, please
  • Mandy Roberge will host a virtual mini-dreamcatcher craft activity for children 10 and up. Sign up to receive a craft material package via curbside pick up at the library, then join artist and teacher Mandy Roberge for the craft class via Zoom. Limited to 12 screens. Email sfeather@minlib.net to register and receive program information, including when to pick up materials and the Zoom link and password.
  • The library will host Virtual Trivia Night with the Trivia Brothers. This is an invitation-only program for children going into grades 4-7 who have completed their Summer Reading Challenges. Return your completed Summer Reading Challenge to dleopold@minlib.net to receive your invite. The deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Talk on monarchs and milkweed

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is sponsoring a virtual talk on “Monarchs, Milkweed, and Citizen Science“ with Kristin Steinmetz on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. Steinmetz, the education coordinator at Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, will cover information about milkweed plant species and how to collect seed, as well as citizen science opportunities and resources. She’ll also provide an update on the status of monarchs in our area this year. Free, but registration is required; click here.

Dash ’n Dine for seniors

The Council on Aging is sponsoring a Dash ’n Dine drive-through box lunch pickup for Lincoln seniors on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Real Restaurant. Seniors must register by calling 781-259-8811 or emailing GagneA@Lincolntown.org by August 11. Contactless pickup offered by COA staff. Co-sponsored by Deaconess Abundant Life Services and The Commons.

The Lincoln Chipmunk is here!

Dear Lincoln Squirrel readers,

After an lengthy gestation period due to unexpected software complications, I’m happy to announce the birth of the Lincoln Chipmunk — the direct offspring of the Lincoln Review:

chipmunk.lincolnsquirrel.com

Along the top of the screen, you’ll see links to pages that give a bit of history and guidelines on submitting your work. I’m sure there will be questions that aren’t covered on those pages, so please send them along. Suggestions for changes or improvements are also welcome — have a look and let us know what you think. The next issue is tentatively planned for October 1, but we’ll post a notice well in advance for those who want to submit work.

Many thanks to everyone who submitted their creative work — and to the readers who patiently waited for this day. Enjoy!

Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel (and the Lincoln Chipmunk)
lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com
617-710-5542 (mobile)

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Chat with Lincoln’s public health nurse

Do you have questions about Covid-19 prevention, transmission, symptoms, or treatment? Are there other concerns you have about seasonal health issues such as ticks and Lyme disease or EEE? Do you have general health questions? Join Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s Public Health Nurse, on Wednesday, June 10 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Tricia will answer your questions and provide you with accurate and science-based information To attend, email bottumc@lincolntown.org. Advance registration required. 

Contribute to the town’s Covid-19 time capsule

To preserve our recollections of this time, the Lincoln Public Library is starting a digital Covid-19 time capsule. Everyone is invited to submit recollections, photographs, and videos. You can submit materials as many times as you want — daily, weekly or when you come across something that makes an impression on you. We would like to make the items and reflections open to the public, but we will only publish them or make them available in our archives with your permission. Click here to make submissions to the time capsule. If you have any questions or need assistance, please email lincoln@minlib.net. The time capsule form can also be found on the library’s website.

Town recognizes eighth-graders

The Board of Selectmen, on behalf of the Town of Lincoln and especially its eight-grade students, proclaimed the days of June 9 and 10 as “8th Grade Class of 2020 Days” within the Town of Lincoln. The proclamation was approved at the board’s June 8 meeting

Kids’ summer reading program event next week 

The Lincoln Public Library’s Children’s Room Summer Reading Program kick off Wednesday, June 17 from 1–6 p.m. (rain date: June 18 at the same time). Children and families are invited to drive to the library any time during that period to pick up summer reading materials, including information about virtual summer programs and the beloved Summer Reading Challenge. 

Families will remain in their cars while a masked staff member greets you and safely hands the reading materials to a masked family member in your car ready. The library is discouraging arrivals on foot or by bike and is asking all participants arrive and remain in their car. Come see what costumed character is on the lawn waving hello. Anyone with questions may email dleopold@minlib.net.

deCordova announces Cronin lecture speakers

Artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood will be the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s 2020 Paul J. Cronin Memorial Lecture speakers in a live event taking place virtually on Wednesday, June 24 at 6:30 p.m. Dion and Sherwood often collaborate on projects that explore how dominant ideologies and public institutions shape our understanding of history, knowledge, and the natural world. Their work exposes the human desire to tame nature and impose traits and categories on animals, plants and natural phenomena. For this live event, they will share insights into their collaborative process and offer a view into their studio practice from Copake, N.Y., where they live and work.

The artists’ collaborative installation, Conservatory for Confectionery Curiosities, is currently on view at the deCordova. Recalling a nineteenth-century horticultural hothouse, the octagonal windowed structure houses a display of what appears to be jellied desserts covered in insects partaking in the sugary sweets. Conservatory emphasizes how humans construct heightened, artificial versions of nature, particularly in cultivated gardens and sculpture parks.

“We’re excited to present this unusual opportunity to visit with Mark and Dana in their studios. Their work offers imaginative and often fantastical explorations of some of today’s central issues, including the relationship of humans to the natural world,” said John Ravenal, vice president of arts and culture for the Trustees of Reservations and the deCordova’s artistic director.

The lecture series was established in 1981 to consider topics broadly focused on changing attitudes towards contemporary art. The Cronin Lecture series is made possible by a generous grant to deCordova from the Grover J. Cronin Memorial Foundation. For more details and to register for the webinar, visit decordova.org/calendar/cronin-2020.