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

arts

Council on Aging activities in February

The many faces of loss: a new group
February 3 at 10 a.m.
As we age we confront loss in many forms. It may be the death of loved ones or physical or cognitive changes in loved ones, friends, or ourselves. It may include regrets about lost opportunities or the recognition of our own mortality. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, a social worker with many years of experience helping people navigate the losses of later life, will facilitate a group which will give people the opportunity to talk about these issues in a supportive environment. The six-week group will run on Mondays from 10–11 a.m. beginning on February 3 at Bemis Hall. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Lincoln Academy with Ariane Liazos: Reforming the city — the contested origins of urban government, 1890–1930
February 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 3 at 12:30 p.m. when Ariane Liazos discusses “Reforming the City: The Contested Origins of Urban Government, 1890–1930.” Most American cities are now administered by appointed city managers and governed by councils chosen in nonpartisan, at-large elections. In the early twentieth century, many urban reformers claimed these structures would make city government more responsive to the popular will. But on the whole, the effects of these reforms have been to make citizens less likely to vote in local elections and local governments less representative of their constituents. How and why did this happen? Lincoln resident and author Ariane Liazos will examine the urban reform movement that swept through the country in the early twentieth century and its unintended consequences. 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

Musical jazz lunch
February 7 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.

Lincoln Academy with Matt Burne — Exploring the natural history of Walden Woods
February 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 10 at 12:30 p.m. when Matt Burne discusses “Exploring the Natural History of Walden Woods.” Henry Thoreau famously walked the forests and fields of the historic Walden Woods for hours every day, collecting the grist for his important mill. Walden Woods, in Lincoln and Concord, today are largely protected and open to the public for recreation, connection, and inspiration. Discover what makes Walden Woods unique and distinct, and some of the natural treasures to be found here. Matt Burne is Conservation Director with the Walden Woods Project. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Free wellness clinics for all ages
February 11 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. The Bemis Hall clinic is supported by the Pierce House.

Oriole Landing information session
February 13 at 10 a.m.
Join Christopher Fernandez of the Oriole Landing management team on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall for coffee, snacks, and an informational session about Oriole Landing, the new housing development that will open in Lincoln this spring. Find out about the affordable housing units that are still available as well as the market rate apartments, what the community has to offer and other amenities, floor plans, and more.

What you need to know: Municipal energy aggregation
February 14 at 10 a.m.
Join C.J. Volpone and Paul Shorb of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee on Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall to learn more about their municipal energy aggregation program before the Annual Town Meeting update. Also called community aggregation, municipal aggregation is an exclusive agreement with an electricity broker to provide energy to all residents. Our residential and commercial electricity supply is negotiated using our bulk purchasing power, which enables a community’s residents to receive energy from local sustainable sources. Specifying these local green sources of electricity in turn increases aggregate demand for renewables in the electricity market.

Art, movement, and fun for winter relaxation
February 14 at 1 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. when Catherine Collins, RN, MS, QTTT (Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher), leads a fun afternoon of using art, movement, and other playful techniques to de-stress, loosen up, and get ready to truly savor all the joys of the season. Winter weather doesn’t have to make you crazy. Whether you feel stressed or not, you’ll have a great time and learn some techniques you can use any time of the year. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Valentine singalong with Magic Garden
February 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Join the young children of Lincoln’s own Magic Garden for a singalong on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. in the Hartwell building on Ballfield Road. First each of the Magic Garden classes will sing a song or two, and then the audience will join for a couple of sing-along songs. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up so Magic Garden knows how many people to expect.

Lunch with town administrator Timothy Higgins
February 18 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch with friends new and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at St. Anne’s Church. Our special guest will be Lincoln’s town administrator, Tim Higgins. Come meet him, ask him your questions and give your ideas. Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s Public Health Nurse, will offer free blood pressure readings. The cost of lunch is $5 per person. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let us know 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.

Coffee with Sheila Beenhouwer: Russian art and my own work
February 18 at 2:30 p.m.
Join artist Sheila Beenhouwer at a Coffee with the Artist on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 at Bemis Hall as she shares with you art from her traveling life in Russia and a bit of her own work. The exhibit will be up in the Bemis Hall Gallery through the end of February.

Free beginning meditation
February 19 at 10 a.m.
Come to a free beginners’ meditation session Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. for a half-hour at Bemis Hall. Meditation opens the channels of our natural states of peace, joy, and health, and aids in decreasing the negative effects of aging. Experienced meditation teacher Lynne LaSpina will begin the session with a few minutes of stretching muscles to relax, and breathing exercises to help focus before meditating for about 10 minutes. Lynne will offer walking meditation for those who find it difficult to sit quietly for 10 minutes. For information, contact Lynne at 908-892-2408 or llas902551@aol.com.

Cash benefit for families of some deceased veterans
February 20 at 10:15 a.m.
Surviving spouses of veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities may be eligible for the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monetary benefit, and many other Massachusetts benefits. Come find out more at a presentation by Lincoln’s Veterans Services Officer, Peter Harvell, on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 10:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Parents who were financially dependent on a service member or veteran who died from a service-related cause may also be eligible for the Parents’ DIC.

Breakfast with Carolyn: Caregiving 101
February 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Are you new to caregiving and would like to be pointed in the right direction? Come have breakfast with Carolyn Bottum, the COA Director, on Friday, Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall. You’ll learn what services can be provided in your home or in the community, who can help you evaluate and monitor services, and tips and strategies for reducing your stress while being a caregiver.

Empowering you to thrive at home
February 21 at noon
You are invited to join Tori Taylor, PT, executive director of Deaconess Abundant Life Services, on Friday, Feb. 21 at noon when she reviews safety and balance tips to keep you active and thriving in your homes. She will also discuss how home care may be brought in to help you remain independent, whether temporarily if you are not well, or for a more extended period of time.

Lincoln Academy with Judith Ann Foster, PhD — The obesity epidemic: why we must get the science right
February 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Currently, more than a third of the country is now obese, making the U.S. one of the fattest countries in an increasingly fat world. Mounting research suggests that U.S. life expectancy may be starting to decline for the first time since 1993. Most now believe that the increase in obesity is due to the increase in average caloric consumption, increased consumption of refined carbohydrates high in simple sugars, and a sedentary lifestyle with little exercise. Unfortunately, the U.S. Low-Fat Diet Recommendations of 1977 may have contributed to the increase in weight gain. Dr. Foster is Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine. 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.

Memory Café
February 27 at 10:30 a.m.
The Commons in Lincoln, Right-at-Home In Home Care and Assistance, and the Lincoln Council on Aging invite those with dementia and their family, friends, and caregivers to the free Lincoln Memory Café on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the main building of The Commons in Lincoln. Enjoy refreshments and the entertainment of “Ragtime” Jack Radcliffe, a fiddle, guitar, and piano performer, in a fun, informal, social atmosphere. The Memory Café is held each fourth Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Commons in Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Kaupp of Right at Home at 781-275-1400 or the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Meet other independent scholars for ideas and feedback
February 28 at 10 a.m.
Independent scholars who do research in history, science, the social sciences and more without being formally employed by an academic or research institution are publishing distinguished books and making important contributions to their fields. Sometimes only after you stop working full-time can you pursue that passion you have been quietly studying for decades but never had the time to fully explore. Independent scholars and those interested in learning more are invited to join us on Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. for the first meeting of the Independent Scholars Gathering. If there is interest, the group will meet monthly to share resources and ideas, give feedback, and be a scholarly conclave.

Annual Town Meeting preview
February 28 at 1 p.m.
Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, March 28, but you can get a preview on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Town Administrator Tim Higgins. You’ll hear about the budget and other issues that are on the agenda for the Annual Town Meeting such as the recommendations of the Property Tax Study Committee, new zoning regulations related to South Lincoln, and more, and you can ask questions and give ideas. This is your opportunity to become informed about and discuss issues of importance to the town in an informal setting.

Save the date:

Museum of Fine Arts in March
Join the Council on Aging on Thursday, March 19 for a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. The group will have a one-hour guided tour, “Highlights of the Art of the Americas,” featuring masterpieces from the Art of the Americas collection. Then you are free to wander the museum and grab lunch (not included in the fee) in one of their four restaurants and visit the gift shop. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9 a.m. and leave the MFA at 2 p.m. to return to Lincoln by 3 p.m. This trip requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time. The cost is $30 and is non-refundable. To make a reservation send a check payable to FLCOA/Trips to Ginny O’Brien, 4 Linway Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Include your telephone number and email. Your reservation is complete when your check has been received. Questions? Contact Ginny at 781-259-1291 or vobrien39@yahoo.com.

News acorns

Forum on South Lincoln rezoning proposal is Feb. 5

Residents can hear the latest on the proposed rezoning of the Lincoln Station area at a public forum on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.

Officials have been working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to rezone on rezoning Lincoln’s village center to create equitable transit-oriented development that will allows for housing options and create a vibrant, active walkable, and sustainable village center. The South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee’s Planning and Zoning team.

Last May, the group presented its proposal for the new South Lincoln Village District would have two subareas: business, which emphasizes commercial or mixed use, and residential, which provides a variety of housing options close to transit and retail amenities. The residential subarea would allow buildings up to three and a half stories further back from Lincoln Road to accommodate greater density.

Memorial event for Sylvia Kennedy (1934-2018)

St. Julia Parish, Weston/Lincoln invites you to join us on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 2–4 p.m. at Bemis Hall in Lincoln as we share our memories of a beloved parishioner, Sylvia Kennedy (1934-2018) and her contributions to our community. Please RSVP to Colm McGarry (cmcgarry@stjulia.org) if you plan to attend. All are welcome.  

Gustafson-Zook featured at next LOMA

Sadie Gustafson-Zook

Sadie Gustafson-Zook is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Feb. 10 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and she’ll perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30.

Gustafson-Zook holds a master’s degree in jazz and contemporary music from the Longy School of Music. Since moving to Boston from Indiana in 2017, she’s collaborated with some cutting-edge acoustic musicians from New England including Julian Pinelli (violinist with Ben Sollee), Ethan Setiawan (national mandolin champion) and Dan Klingsberg (bassist of Ruthless Moon). 

Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

News acorns

Art sale, climate film at St. Anne’s

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church will host a Haiti Art Sale on Sunday, Jan. 26 after morning worship (8 a.m. spoken Eucharist, 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with choir). Items made by artisans from Haiti will be for sale, and all proceeds benefit the artists who are helping support their families. That evening at 5 p.m., St. Anne’s is hosting a four-parish Evensong — St. Anne’s choir will be joined by choirs from Church of the Good Shepherd in Acton, Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord, and St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Sudbury. A reception will follow. All are welcome.

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, St. Anne’s will host a free screening of the 2019 documentary “Necessity: Oil, Water and Climate Resistance” on There will be a light supper at 6:30 p.m. The film will start at 7 p.m. and there will be a discussion via video link with filmmaker Jan Haaken at 8:15 p.m. This is the fifth season of the church’s Climate Justice Film Series. For more information, contact Alex Chatfield at adchat@aol.com or 781-697-0140.

Domestic Violence Roundtable collecting Valentine’s Day donations

Area residents are invited to donate items and help fill Valentine’s Day bags for those temporarily living in local domestic violence shelters and transitional housing programs on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. in the Wayland Public Safety Building.

Each February, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable collects gift bag  items for women, children and men who are being assisted by REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence. The bags were decorated by the children from the Sudbury Extended Day program. Small gestures like the gift bags let families know they are supported in their decision to leave an abusive situation and brighten their day.

Items needed for the bags include gift cards for CVS, Target, grocery stores, etc.; personal items such as full-size bath products, socks, cosmetics, nail polish, hair products, phone cards, journals, postage stamps etc.; and items for children such as crayons, coloring books, small stuffed animals, nonviolent toys, and stickers, as well as bath and hair products, books, diaries, movie passes, iTunes cards and candy for older kids.

Anyone interested in contributing to the collection may contact the Roundtable at info@dvrt.org. There will be a collection basket in the lobby of the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd.) from February 6-11. In past years the Roundtable has provided as many as 125 bags for families in shelter and transitional housing.

Minute Man NHP offers internship

Minute Man National Historical Park has a one-year full-time internship opening for a Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) starting in February. Applicants must be U.S. citizen between the ages of 18 and 30. See this CVA web page for more information or email Margie Coffin Brown at margie_coffin_brown@nps.gov.

Ceramics and photography classes, collage tour at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum offers “Ceramic Sculpture Workshop: Expressive Vessels, Forms, and Environments” on Wednesdays, February 26 to April 1, and Thursdays, February 27 to April 2 (both from 10 a.m.–1 p.m.) This is a ceramic sculpture course for the unrealized or developing artist, homeowner, or design aficionado looking to enhance indoor or outdoor spaces with one’s own ceramic installations or art, or anyone striving for an ideal in sculptural expression through one-of-a-kind vessels and sculpture. Techniques for building with clay, and thematic analysis of decoration will be explored, drawing inspiration from deCordova’s concurrent exhibition All the Marvelous Surfaces. Click on one of the days above to register.

The deCordova is offering “The Art of Photographing Nature,” a hands-on digital photography class designed for photographers interested in exploring the natural world with their cameras. With the sculpture park’s picturesque grounds as our backdrop, we will explore techniques, tips, and sensibilities common to landscape photography. The 10-week class starts on Thursday, March 5 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. (no class on March 19 or March 26) and costs $300 for members or $375 for nonmembers. Click here for details and registration.

Join Koch Curatorial Fellow Sam Adams and Curatorial Assistant Elizabeth Upenieks for an in-depth tour of some of the museum’s most elaborate and dense collages on view on Thursday, March 12 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Click here to register.

New reading circle, performance at Walden Woods Project

The Walden Woods Project (44 Baker Farm Rd.) invites you to join our new Reading Circle. We will read and explore works by Thoreau as well as authors whose work contributes to an even deeper examination of Thoreau’s ideas. At the first session on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 7–8:30 p.m., we will begin discussing Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, Slavery in Massachusetts by Thoreau, and Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Click here to register.

The Aurea Ensemble will perform “Of Nature Composed,” which explores the intersection of nature, science, the arts and humanities, and the sanctity of our environment, on Thursday, March 5 from 7–9 p.m. at the Walden Woods Project (doors open at 6:30 p.m.; wine and cheese reception to follow). “Of Nature Composed” includes the words and music of 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner John Luther Adams; American composers, Charles Griffes, John Cage, Lou Harrison, and Charles Ives; and words of naturalist Henry David Thoreau, Pulitzer Prize winning poet Galway Kinnell, and Ted Kooser. Click here to register.

Lincoln getting ready for Winter Carnival

Lincoln’s annual Winter Carnival sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 30. The weekend is designed to foster a sense of community throughout the Town of Lincoln. All events are sponsored by local organizations.

Ongoing

Build your snow sculpture when snow arrives, then snap a photo with you in it and send it to David Sequeira at Parks & Rec at dsequeira@lincnet.org. Submit as many sculptures as you like. Submissions accepted until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb 2. Winners will be announced on Friday, Feb. 7.

Thursday, January 30

FoMA Film: “Visual Acoustics”
6:30–9 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln is pleased to present this documentary about the charming and productive life of Julius Shulman, widely regarded as the greatest architectural photographer of the 20th century who played a significant role in bringing to light the architectural Modernist movement. Beautifully crafted by director Eric Bricker (2009). Film begins at 7.

Friday, January 31

Intergenerational sing-along
3:45–5:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
The LEAP after-school program, the Council on Aging, and the Magic Garden Children’s Center invite residents of all ages to enjoy a multigenerational sing-along. Groups from each of the three organizations will sing favorite folk songs, children songs, and more.

LPTO Bingo Night
5:30–7:30 p.m., Brooks Gym
Come celebrate Family Bingo Night with even more chances to win. Prizes awarded for each winning bingo board, plus raffle prizes. Pizza sales start at 5:30 p.m., with additional snacks and drinks available for purchase. Free admission. Bingo cards $5 (15 game multipack); raffle tickets 1/$1; 6/$5; 15/$10 suggested donation.

Saturday, February 1

Girl Scout community pancake breakfast
8–11 a.m., First Parish Church
Start the Saturday slate of Winter Carnival activities with delicious pancakes and real maple syrup! Plain, blueberry, chocolate chip, and gluten-free pancakes along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit. This event is great for everyone from the very young to the young at heart. Meet friends, catch up with neighbors, and enjoy crafts for kids. Girl Scout cookies will be on sale. Tickets: $5 for children under 12, $10 for those 12 and older ($30 family maximum)

Farrington Nature Linc family animal tracking
10 a.m.–noon, Farrington Nature Linc (291 Cambridge Turnpike)
Join us for a family-friendly morning of animal tracking activities on our trails and in our barn! We will head outdoors to look for signs of local wildlife–using snow, mud, dirt, trees, scat, and more–then return inside for tracking-themed craft-making and movement, plus hot chocolate. Free but registration required; click here.

Winter fun at Magic Garden
11 a.m.–1 p.m., Ballfield Road
Come visit with friends and neighbors at Magic Garden. Enjoy carnival games, arts and crafts, story time, and indoor “ice skating” in your socks. This event is best suited for children ages 5 months to 5 years. Free.

4th Annual Lincoln Holistic Wellness Fair
11 a.m.–4 p.m., Pierce House
Join local area Holistic Wellness professionals for the 4th Annual Holistic Wellness Fair as they bring their healing skills and talents to share with the community. The Fair is a rare opportunity for all to experience a varied representation of wellness services from A (acupuncture) to Z (zero Balancing), and many modalities in between. Meet the practitioners who help fill a gap in health care today and find effective solutions to chronic and acute health concerns. Hot beverages and delicious, healthy snacks round out the offerings ensuring a rejuvenating oasis for the senses. Free.

Community skating and bonfire
1–3 p.m., Cemetery Pond
Enjoy skating, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows by the campfire. Bring your own skates and stay tuned to www.LincolnRec.com for weather updates.

LFA energy blaster
3–5 p.m., Brooks Gym
Jump in a bounce house, run through an obstacle course, climb, and slide. The gym will be filled with fun ways to let out some energy! Free for 2020 LFA members (join or renew on the spot at www.lincfam.org for $50/year); $10 per child for non-members.

Acoustic Coffeehouse 2020
7–10:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Our annual night to showcase local musicians and performers! We have a diverse roster of performers — some returning, some new — ready to play for you, and there’s a good chance you know some of them! Coffee/tea and desserts will be served. Doors open at 7pm. General Admission is $10. Table of 8 is $160. Online registration is recommended at www.LincolnRec.com. General admission seats also sold at the door on a space available basis.

Sunday, February 2

Make your own elf/fairy garden
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m., Lincoln Nursery School (deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum)
Create your own garden using natural materials such as moss, acorns, and pine cones. Feel free to bring along anything you would like to add to your garden. Hot chocolate will be served. Free.

Puppy Bowl
12–1:30 p.m., First Parish Church
Let the tailgating and tail wagging begin! Everyone is invited to join First Parish for lunch and the screening of Animal Planet’s 2019 Puppy Bowl. Bring your own lunch or enjoy hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, drink, and cookie $5 for lunch (admission is free). Meet and greet actual tail-waggers. Optional: please bring a pet supply to donate to Buddy Dog.

Awesome Robb magic show
2–3 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
Celebrate Winter Carnival with Awesome Robb and his interactive comedy/magic show. Best for ages 4 and up, but all are welcome.

Family life In Lincoln at the time of the Revolution
2–4 p.m., Bemis Hall
Experience life for parents and children in 18th-century Lincoln. Every man had to have a soldier’s equipment and skills. Every woman had to feed, clothe, and cure the illnesses of her family. Children learned school lessons with quill pens and still had time for games. We debated the important issues of the day and made our own music for entertainment. Come join the Minute Men to talk about life in 1775 Lincoln and try your hand at the tasks, skills, and amusements of the time. Hands- on activities for all. Patriots preferred; redcoats and loyalists welcome. Free.

News acorns

LSB Players present “Beanstalk!”

LSB Players, the theater production company of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, present “Beanstalk!” by Ross Mihalko and Donna Swift on Friday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Kirshner Auditorium. The 11 a.m. show will be a special sensory-friendly performance. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this fun adaptation of a classic fable. There will be lobby activities for young children. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens/students, and $5 for children age 5 and under. Tickets may be reserved at LSBtickets@gmail.com and will also be available at the door.

Town Meeting warrant now open for citizens’ petitions

Residents who are interested in sponsoring a citizens’ petition at the Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 28 must submit paperwork by the close of business Monday, Jan. 27. Petitions often take the form of resolutions urging local, state or national leaders to take certain action on legislative or public policy matters, or proposed town bylaw amendments. Petitioners are urged to consult with the Town Clerk or Town Administrator’s office to ensure that proper process is followed, and that any contemplated petitions are legally valid.

Massachusetts automatic voter registration now in effect

As of January 1, 2020, Massachusetts has implemented Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) to make registering to vote as streamlined as possible for eligible Massachusetts residents. AVR comes into play when visiting the state Registry of Motor Vehicles and state agencies within the MassHealth and Health Connector programs. Individuals who visit these agencies and are eligible to vote will be registered as Unenrolled voters will (no party) unless they decline the option of registering to vote completely. Only first time voters will be registered as unenrolled; anyone already registered will retain their current status. Lincolnites can still register to vote or change their voter registrations at the Town Clerk’s Office or online at www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/.

 If you are registered as Unenrolled and would like to join a party, come to the Town Clerk’s Office to fill out a Party Enrollment Card, or change your party online (see above). Also note that any name changes when filling out agency paperwork (for example, using a middle initial instead of your full middle name) prompts a notice of change to your voter registration, and you will receive an Acknowledgment Notice by mail from Lincoln’s Town Clerk. Anyone with questions may call Town Clerk Valerie Fox at 781-259-2607.

Architecture documentary, Holistic Wellness Fair during Winter Carnival

Friends of Modern Architecture will show Visual Acoustics on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 6:30–9 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. The film explores the charming and productive life of Julius Shulman, widely regarded as the greatest architectural photographer of the twentieth century, who played a significant role in bringing to light the architectural Modernist movement. Refreshments and conversation after the film.

The fourth annual Lincoln Holistic Wellness Fair organized by the Lincoln Area Wellness Collaborative takes place on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 1–4 p.m. in the Pierce House. The event is part of the Parks & Recreation Department’s Winter Carnival. Visitors can learn about holistic health methods such as acupuncture, Ayurveda, BEMER therapy, higher brain living, Kundalini yoga, massage and bodywork, reflexology, sound and energy healing, therapeutic touch, zero balancing, and more. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, and Debra’s Natural Gourmet will donate refreshments. Practitioners will offer free sample treatments, short classes, demos and presentations. For more information or to sign up in advance for demos, email Jai Kaur San Antonio at asanajai@verizon.net.

Click here to see the full list of Winter Carnival events taking place from January 30 to February 2.

Screening of “Un Cuento Chino”

The Lincoln Film Society will show Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Out) on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. In Spanish with English subtitles. A well-ordered hardware store owner in Buenos Aires will see his life turn upside down when he helps a stranded Chinese man who doesn’t speak a word of Spanish find his uncle in the bustling city. But can this coexistence bear fruit? (IMDb.com)

Thoreau Animal Index Blitz

Join the Walden Woods Project to co-create an index of all of the animals mentioned in Thoreau’s journals during its Thoreau Animal Index Blitz on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 1–8 p.m. at its headquarters at 44 Baker Farm Rd. in Lincoln. Like Ray Angelo’s Botanical Index, this will become a valuable resource to Thoreau scholars for years to come. We only have three and a half volumes left to index and we fully expect to finish at this event, with a champagne toast when we’re done. Click here to register.

Girls in STEM Camp at Minuteman

Minuteman High School will hold its fifth-annual Girls in STEM Camp for any interested female students in seventh and eighth grade during February school vacation, from Tuesday to Friday, Feb. 18–21 from 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. The Girls in STEM Camp involves activities led by Minuteman High School students who are in the school’s Girls in STEM mentoring program, along with faculty advisors. The Minuteman students, who are mentored by young women currently attending college or working in a STEM field, get to share their knowledge with middle-school students during the Girls in STEM Camp experience. The camp runs twice a yea,: once during February school vacation and again in August.

Students who live in one of Minuteman’s district towns may attend for free; those from towns outside the district (including Lincoln) will be charged $149. Visit minuteman.org to register or contact Michelle Roche, Minuteman’s director of career technical education, at 781-861-6500 ext. 7236 or m.roche@minuteman.org.

Events coming up at deCordova

  • Join photographer Claire Beckett and Koch Curatorial Fellow Sam Adams on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. for a tour of Truthiness and the News, which includes Beckett’s work and that of other photographers, photojournalists, and conceptual artists who test the limits of believability. Click here to register.
  • Inspired by the plants in Blossfeldt’s photographs, experience a new way of arranging flowers and learn the history, styles, and concepts of ikebana arranging at an ikebana workshop led by Joanna Caccavale, president of the Ikebana International Boston Chapter, on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Click here to register.
  • Enjoy an evening of ceramics activity for couples at Valentine’s Date Night with Clay. Work as a team on the wheel, decorating clay hearts or building your own signature romantic sculptures. Workshop includes firing, materials, and refreshments. Over 1.5 hours of instruction and assistance in building a unique gift. All levels welcome (21+). Valentine’s Day is sold out, but a few spots remain on February 12 and February 13 (click a date to register).
  • Artist Max Razdow will facilitate a Land Art workshop inspired by the Peter Hutchinson: Landscapes of My Life exhibition on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10:30 a.m.–noon. The program will begin in the galleries, move outdoors to make Land Art, and then into deCordova’s studios. Participants will have a chance to creatively document their projects and bring home a record of their intervention. Click here to register.

News acorns

Event looks at adult children and aging parents

Share dinner and discussion during “A Conversation Between Adult Children and Aging Parents” on Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 5:30–7 p.m. in the First Parish in Lincoln’s parish house auditorium. This exploration of how parents and adult children address the challenges of aging while respecting independence and privacy is part of the church’s “Food for Thought” monthly community dinner and conversation. Led by Lincoln therapist Jane O’Rourke, a panel of elders and mid-life children will start off the discussion. Over dessert and coffee, there will be time for you to exchange your thoughts and ideas with your table companions. All are welcome. The First Parish provides child care and supper (including gluten-free and child-friendly options). Suggested donation: $10 for adults, $5 for children.

Ceramics class, snowshoe tours at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is offering “Expressive Vessels, Forms and Environments,” a ceramics workshop on five Thursdays starting January 9 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Techniques for building with clay and thematic analysis of decoration will be explored, drawing inspiration from deCordova’s current exhibition, All the Marvelous Surfaces. No experience necessary. All materials provided, and optional studio time is included. Click here for more information and registration.

Looking for a fun new way to explore the sculpture park this winter? Make a day out of a trip to the park with snowshoe tours, lunch in the cafe, and a visit to the museum. Offered every Saturday from January 11 to March 7. Tickets include a guided tour with a deCordova guide and a trained EMS instructor. Rentals are available if needed. For ages 8+. Click here for more information and registration.

Climate Sunday offers workshops on environmental topics

Join the First Parish in Lincoln and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) for Climate Sunday on Sunday, Jan. 12 starting at 10 a.m. Climate Sunday is a gathering for those interested in learning more about how to take action on environmental justice, clean transportation, zero-waste initiatives, and more. Interactive workshops on issues such as environmental justice, transportation, and zero waste will focus on the current state of environmental advocacy in Massachusetts from experts working on the ground.

Participants are welcome to come for the entire day or just the lunch and afternoon workshops. Below is the schedule of events. Space is limited; please click here to RSVP.

  • 10 a.m. — The First Parish in Lincoln morning service with sermon by Rev. Jenny Rankin and reflections by Peter Shelley, CLF’s senior counsel.
  • 11:15 a.m. — Check-in opens at the Stone Church.
  • 11:15 a.m.–12 p.m. — Environmental fair featuring booths and informal presentations by CLF, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, HomeWorks Energy, and others. Learn what you can do to combat climate change.
  • 12 p.m. — “How to Stay Optimistic in a Warming World,” a lunchtime presentation by CLF President Brad Campbell.
  • 1 p.m. — Workshop #1: Staci Rubin, CLF’s senior attorney, will discuss her work around environmental justice and clean transportation, as well as how you can get involved.
  • 1:45 p.m. — Workshop #2: Kirstie Pecci, CLF’s Zero Waste Project director and senior fellow, will discuss her work on plastics and zero-waste initiatives and how you can take action.

Anyone with questions may contact Katie Ardrey at 617-850-1729 or kardrey@clf.org.

Schools ask residents to create “portrait of a learner”

The Lincoln Public Schools are asking themselves what skills, traits, and knowledge will our students need in order to thrive in and transform the 21st century. Can we create a “portrait of a learner” to ground the curriculum and assessments as we refine what and how we teach, and how to gauge the district’s success? School and community members gathered several times in 2019 to generate ideas and priorities. To contribute your thoughts, please respond by Monday, Jan. 13 to this quick online survey that asks you to think about the purpose of school and the current and future challenges and needs in the country and the world to help the schools create a first draft of a portrait of a learner.

Borrello headlines next LOMA

Matt Borrello

Matt Borrello is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Jan. 13 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Borrello will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. He is a Bob Dylan acolyte, regularly performing at Dylan tribute shows, and plays venues like Passim, Lizard Lounge, Toad and the Rose Garden, and further afield through the Mid-Atlantic to the Carolinas. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Panel explores sexual exploitation in the community

Massage parlors in the area and all over the country have been the focus of police raids targeting sexual exploitation. Do you wonder if people choose this life are are being forced into it? Would legalizing prostitution make things better for all involved? How is the issue of prostitution being addressed locally and within the state of Massachusetts? Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable for a panel presentation and discussion on “Sexual Exploitation: It’s Happening In Our Communities” on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. in the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland).

Panelists will include Peter Qualliotine, co-founder of the Seattle-based Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS), and an advocate from RIA House, a local program that supports women with experience in the commercial sex trade and its associated exploitation, trafficking and prostitution. The remaining panelists will be community members who knew something wasn’t right and explored ways to deal with what was happening in their community.

Council on Aging activities in January

Musical jazz lunch
January 3 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis Hall while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.

Explore the poetry of Robert Frost
January 4 at 2 p.m.
Join Stephen Collins for a free four-session interactive seminar on the poetry of Robert Frost at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 4, 11, and 25 at the Lincoln Public Library, and on January 18 at Bemis Hall. Sponsored by the Council on Aging and the library. Stephen performs one-man shows and teaches courses on historical figures like Melville, Walt Whitman, James MacNeill Whistler, and William Shakespeare.

What new discussion groups would you like?
January 6 at 10 a.m.
The COA loves to offer discussion groups for people who would like to discuss their experiences in a supportive group environment where they can share with others their concerns and challenges and get and give tips and strategies. We want to make sure that they are providing the groups you are most interested in. In the past, they have held groups about coping with losses, change, and difficult family issues. Which of these topics would you like to see offered again or what new topics would you like to talk about? Come to Bemis Hall at 10 a.m. on January 6 to brainstorm with the COA, or call Carolyn at 781-259-8811 with your ideas. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in January

News acorns

Join the Christmas Bird Count

The annual Christmas Bird Count, a nationwide event sponsored by National Audubon, will take place in Lincoln on Sunday, Dec. 29 when participants record the visitors to their bird feeders. If you have established feeders (meaning they are already up and being used), can watch them for at least an hour, and are confident in identifying the species of birds you see, email Gwyn Loud at gwynloud555@gmail.com and she will send you a checklist and other information.

Library offering automatic renewals

Automatic renewals are coming to the Lincoln Public Library and the Minuteman Library Network. Eligible library materials (books, DVDs, CDs) will be automatically renewed two days prior to their due dates. Items that are automatically renewed must meet the following criteria:

  • There are no holds on that title
  • Your library allows this type of item to renew
  • The item has not reached its maximum allowed renewals
  • Your library card is not blocked or expired

Patrons will receive a courtesy reminder two days before due date if an item cannot be renewed. If you do not have an email address associated with your library account, items will still be automatically renewed. You can check due dates by logging into My Account at the MLN website at www.minlib.net or by calling the circulation desk at 781-259-8465.

Film: “Ayiti Mon Amour”

The Lincoln Film Society will show “Ayiti Mon Amour (Haiti My Love)” on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. In the film (in French with English subtitles), a magical fable weaves together the lives of three different people in Haiti five years after the devastating earthquake.

Lincoln-Sudbury recognized for German program

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School has been chosen as one of the few recipients of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) School of Distinction school plaque award, in recognition of its exceptional partnership in fostering long-term youth exchange between the U.S. and Germany.  

Since 2003, the high school’s GAPP coordinator, Joan Campbell, has been organizing exchanges with the Gymnasium Vilshofen in Vilshofen, Germany, bringing students together with host families in their respective countries and building lasting relationships between teachers, administrators, schools and participating communities. GAPP program is supported by the German government, the U.S. Department of State, and the Goethe-Institut.

“With this recognition, we highlight and celebrate the school’s dedication to student growth and inclusion of global perspectives, and we celebrate the work of everyone involved in the GAPP exchange,” said GAPP Executive Director Molly Rowland.

News acorns

Ugly sweater party to benefit FELS

The Rustic Twenty-Nine restaurant (29 Hudson Rd., Sudbury) is hosting an Ugly Sweater Party on Thursday, Dec. 26. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury. Bring friends and enjoy holiday movies, festive cocktails, door prizes and raffles in support of FELS. No reservations necessary — just don your ugliest attire and bring what’s left of your holiday cheer. Show your Facebook RSVP at the door to get two free raffle tickets.

Indian ballet performance at Bemis

Biswajit Das, the lead dancer from the international Saptavarna troupe that toured the United States and visited last summer, is returning to the Boston area over the holidays and will perform in Lincoln on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 4 p.m. in Bemis Hall. the event is free for Lincoln residents. Das will perform the traditional new year ritual that takes place each year at the Konark Sun Temple in India.

News acorns

Artist’s reception with Chester

There will be an artist’s reception for “Storytelling: An Exhibit” by Lincoln artist Sarah Chester on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 5–7 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. For more information, email Chester at schester636@gmail.com.

Toys for Tots drive

The Lincoln Police Department is sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive at the Lincoln Public Safety Building (169 Lincoln Rd.). Donations will be accepted until Thursday, Dec. 12. For more information, please call 781-259-8113.

Cookies and cider at book sale

The monthly Friends of the Lincoln Library book sale and jigsaw puzzle swap/sale on Saturday, Dec. 14 in Bemis Hall from 9 a.m.–noon will include home-made cookies and cider as well as cookbooks galore and many other adult and children’s books. FoLL also has a cart of recently discarded library books for sale at $2.00 apiece on a cart inside the library.

Christmas events at St. Anne’s

  • The high-school Teen Formation group at Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church is planning an Advent service of anticipation at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15. Join us to sing and to ponder the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary as we prepare to welcome Mary’s child into the world. 
  • On Sunday, Dec. 22 at 5 p.m., St. Anne’s will offer Christmas Lessons and Carols. This a festive celebration is modeled on the famous and beloved Anglican service of Nine Lessons and Carols held in King’s College, Cambridge, using traditional language, the King James Bible, favorite congregational carols, and glorious anthems sung by the choir. 
  • On Christmas Eve (Tuesday, Dec. 24), there will be worship services at 3 p.m. (Family Holy Eucharist) and and 5:30 and 10 p.m. (Holy Eucharist with choir). On Sunday, Dec. 29, there will be a service of Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m. The normal worship schedule (Holy Eucharist at 8:a.m., Holy Eucharist with choir at 10 a.m.) returns on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Robert Frost series at library

The Lincoln Public Library  the Council on Aging present “Exploring the Poetry of Robert Frost” with Stephen Collins, a four-session interactive seminar on the poetry of Robert Frost, on Saturdays, January 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 2 p.m. All sessions will be held at the library except for January 18, which will be at Bemis Hall. Collins performs one-man shows and teaches courses on historical figures like Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Frost, James MacNeill Whistler, and Shakespeare. No registration required; come to one session or the entire series.