The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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Council on Aging activities for March 2020

Lincoln Academy with James J. Noble, PhD: Glacier National Park and Lewis & Clark
March 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Join Noble and 200 fellow riders as they embark on the American Lung Association Transamerica Bicycle Trek from to Atlantic City. You will experience the grandeur of the Glacier National Park in Montana as well as 660 miles of the Lewis and Clark Trail. This video and PowerPoint presentation will have two connected takeaways. The first regards the natural beauty of Glacier NP, the nearby Canadian Rockies, and a global geographical anomaly unique to Glacier. The second focuses on some intriguing political and historical questions regarding President Jefferson, Merriweather Lewis, the Louisiana Purchase, and the 49th parallel. 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.

Relax on a noticing walk with John Calabria
March 3 at 1 p.m.
Place: TBD
Come for a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on March 3 from 1 to 2:30 at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

[Read more…] about Council on Aging activities for March 2020

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Civil disobedience training, climate film at St. Anne’s

St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church is offering nonviolent civil disobedience training on Saturday, Feb. 29 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The fight to reduce carbon emissions is “heating up,” and some citizens have realized that conventional forms of advocacy and political activism to combat climate change are not bringing about the urgent responses they’d like to see from elected leaders. A time-honored alternative to conventional activism has been nonviolent civil disobedience (CD) in the tradition of Thoreau, Gandhi, and King. 

Trainer Cathy Hoffman will offer legal and practical information about CD as well as experiential practice about CD and supporting others to engage. There will also be background on the local efforts to stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure. Please register for the event by clicking here. After you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with further explanation of what will happen at the training. Anyone with questions may call Alex Chatfield at 781-697-0140.

Also at St. Anne’s, there will be a free screening of the documentary film “Racing to Zero” on Sunday, March 1. A light vegetarian soup and bread supper will be served at 6:15 p.m. followed by the film at 7 p.m. and a discussion of waste reduction initiatives with Mothers Out Front at 8:15 p.m. “Racing To Zero” presents new solutions to the global problem of waste and the efforts of the city of San Francisco to achieve zero waste by 2020. The event is part of St. Anne’s Climate Justice Film Series. Everyone is also welcome to attend the 5 p.m. worship service prior to the event. For more information contact Alex Chatfield at adchat@aol.com or 781-697-0140.

LWV stages Civics Bee with teams from four towns

The League of Women Voters of Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and Concord-Carlisle will stage the 12th annual LMV Civics Bee featuring intergenerational town teams on Sunday, March 8 at 2 p.m. in the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School auditorium. Teams from the middle schools, high schools, and adults from the four towns will test their knowledge of government at the federal, state, and local levels. The event is free and open to the public. 

Friends of Lincoln Library seek volunteers

The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library (FOLL) are seeking volunteers to serve on their board of directors. FOLL provides funding for all of the library’s special programs, staff enrichment programs and training, and various other projects such as the soon-to-be-installed audiovisual system in the Tarbell Room (funding also provided by the Ogden Codman Trust). Volunteers are welcome to help organize fundraisers, organize the monthly book sales at Bemis Hall, deliver library materials to housebound residents and more.

The monthly FOLL book sale will take place on Saturday, March 14 from 9 a.m.–noon in the Bemis Hall basement. Purchase gently used (and some new) books, CDs and DVDs while supporting the library’s programs. There’s also an FOLL book sale cart in the library with new books added each week. All books are $2.00.

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Dancers to read, perform “The Secret Garden”

The Commonwealth Ballet will offer a reading of The Secret Garden geared to younger children accompanied by dancers from the ballet company acting out some of the parts on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. For all ages; no registration necessary.

HeatSmart events coming up

The Heatsmart Alliance, of which Lincoln is a member, is holding information sessions on environmentally friendly home heat pumps on the dates below. Meet installers to learn which systems might work for your heating and/or cooling your home. Talk with neighbors who have installed systems. Meet community heating/cooling coaches who can help you sort it all out. Find out about available financial incentives.

  • Saturday, Feb. 29 from 1–3 p.m. — Harvey Wheeler Community Center, 1276 Main St., West Concord
  • Wednesday, March 4 from 7–9 p.m. — Wayland Town Building, Large Hearing Room, 41 Cochituate Rd., Wayland

FELS invites L-s alumni to submit essays on high school’s impact

FELS, the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury, is seeking essays of 500–700 words in preparation for its annual FELS Talk on March 26. This year, in honor of the 20th anniversary of FELS, the topic of the event will be “Warrior Letters: How L-S Influenced My Life.”

L-S alumni and current and retired faculty and staff are invited to submit essays by noon on Sunday, March 1 that tell a good story and explore questions including: What impact has L-S had on the lives of the L-S community? How was L-S a positive, formative influence on who you are today, or the path you chose to pursue? Organizers want a snapshot of a place in time, an event, or a person at L-S that had a profound impact on you. Your story can involve a challenge, a relationship, a gift, a class you took, or some other aspect of your experience at L-S .   

FELS will choose up to 12 essays to be read at the annual FELS Talk on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in the lecture hall at L-S by a panel of selected readers. Organizers are also collecting L-S trivia, so whether you want to write an essay or submit a short sentence or two of L-S trivia to be collated for the program, your contribution of interesting/unusual/funny bits of L-S history are welcome. You’re also welcome submissions of up to five photos from your days at L-S.

All submissions should be emailed to Admin@FELSGrant.org. With your essay, please provide your name, phone number, profession and where you live, and a brief biographical paragraph. Questions? Email admin@FELSGrant.org.

Josie Toney headlines next LOMA night

Josie Toney

Josie Toney is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, March 9 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Toney will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Toney combines virtuoso fiddle play and guitar work with forceful vocals. She graduated from the Berklee College of Music, where she received the Sam Eisenson Award for Country Music. Here’s her band on YouTube playing her original song “Cryin’ Lonesome.” 

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.

Test-drive an electric vehicle

There will be a test drive of electric vehicles hosted by the Lincoln Green Energy Committee (GEC) and the Green Energy Consumers Alliance at the Mall at Lincoln Station parking lot on Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (rain date: March 22). Find volume-discount EV pricing and government-sponsored incentives at Greenenergyconsumers.org/drivegreen. For other questions about electric vehicles, email Peter Watkinson at pjwatkinson@mac.com. The event is part of the EV 2020 campaign, a GEC initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Lincoln.

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Restaurant benefit for L-S robotics

The Lotus Blossom restaurant at 394 Boston Post Rd. in Sudbury is holding a benefit night for Warrior Robotics, the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School robotics team, on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Part of the proceeds will help the team meet its goal of making it to the 2020 World Championships, including the costs of materials, competition fees, and more. For more information, email joshuaaltman1@gmail.com.

Documentary on voter suppression

“Suppressed: The Fight to Vote,” a 40-minute film documenting voter suppression in the 2018 midterm and gubernatorial elections in Georgia will be shown by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall (light refreshments start at 6:30 p.m.). Lincoln resident Andrew Glass will facilitate a discussion afterwards. Free and open to all.

Talking to children about race

Parents and children are invited to “Courageous Conversations: Talking to Children about Race” on Wednesday, March 4 from 5:30–7 p.m. at the First Parish in Lincoln parish house. Conversations about race and racism can be uncomfortable. We might make mistakes and are unsure where to begin, but not talking about race with children can send many unintended messages. Explore ways to have conversations with children about race, racism, diversity and inclusion. Co-hosted by the METCO Coordinating Committee and the First Parish in Lincoln, this facilitated conversation will use the NPR Podcast “Talking Race with Young Children” as a backdrop for identifying strategies to start the conversation with kids about racial differences, race, racism and more.

Dinner for adults and children will be served from 5:30–6 p.m. and childcare will be available from 6–7 p.m. during the discussion. Suggested donation for dinner: $10 for adults, $5 for children. Click here to sign up for childcare. Registration is requested but not required – feel free to join even if you have not signed up. For more information, email Gina Halsted at ginahalsted@gmail.com.

Film: “Bitter Moon”

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “Bitter Moon” (rated R, 1992) on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m. After hearing stories of her, a passenger on a cruise ship develops an irresistible infatuation with an eccentric paraplegic’s wife. Directed by Roman Polanski and starring Hugh Grant and Kristin Scott Thomas. Viewers are welcome to bring dinner or a snack.

Sap-to-Syrup breakfast at Drumlin Farm

Maple sugaring season has begun at Drumlin Farm, just in time for the annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast weekend on Saturday and Sunday, March 7–8. From 8:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. each day, hungry visitors of all ages can feast on hearty pancakes with real maple syrup, as well as Drumlin Farm sausage and roasted potatoes. Seatings take place every half hour, with 45-minute seatings taking place at 8:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for those needing a little extra time.

Other highlights include:

  • Seeing how sap is collected from the wildlife sanctuary’s own sugar maples
  • Exploring the natural history of trees as you learn about the distinctly “Northwoods” product of maple syrup
  • Learning about Native American sap-to-syrup techniques
  • Purchasing maple syrup made at Drumlin Farm to take home
  • Family-friendly, hands-on activities
  • Visiting the evaporator to smell and taste the sweet product made during the maple sugaring process
  • Exploring the property trails and visiting livestock and resident wildlife animals

Tickets are $15 for Mass. Audubon members, $18 for nonmembers, and free for kids 2 and under. Register online or by phone at 781-259-2200.

Program on hearing loss

Hearing Loss Association of America member Carol Agate will speak on “Understanding and Coping with Hearing Loss” on Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. The program is geared toward people with hearing loss, people who think they might have hearing loss, people whose friends tell them to get their hearing checked, or people who simply want to know what hearing loss is. The library will also be introducing its new hearing loop system.

Domestic Violence Roundtable presents “Boys Don’t Cry” 

Over the past five years, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable has participated in the White Ribbon Day Campaign by engaging our local communities in events designed to raise awareness and highlight the role of men and boys in ending gender-based violence. This year a group of male Roundtable members has worked together to promote discussions and create presentations to provide tools to help create more peaceful, healthy communities free of gender-based violence. The events began in February with a series of small group discussions on “What It Means to Be a Man” and how to raise boys to be healthy and respectful men.

The discussions will continue on Tuesday, March 10 at 3 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland) with a program featuring the screening of the White Ribbon Campaign video “Boys Don’t Cry.” Following the screening, there will be a discussion of the issues raised by the video led by Stephen Thompson and Jason Verhoosky, members of the Roundtable planning group. The program will also feature the raising of the White Ribbon Day Flag and a recitation of the pledge to end violence against women. The program will conclude by asking for commitments to action.

To continue this discussion, participants are also invited to the Roundtable’s first ever half-day summit entitled “Tough Guys and Gentle Men: Healthy Men in the Age of #MeToo” in Lincoln on Saturday, March 14 from 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. at St. Anne’s-in-the Fields Church. Registration for the summit is required. Details can be found at www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org.

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Volunteers sought for Pierce House Committee, CapCom

The Board of Selectmen is seeking interested volunteers for the Capital Planning Committee and the Pierce House Committee. The Capital Planning Committee (CapCom) is charged with evaluating capital requests as well as maintenance funding requests. Members are tasked with evaluating each proposal for need, viability, and the effect on operating budgets. The mission of the Pierce House Committee is to “be stewards of the historic property so that residents of Lincoln, neighbors and guests may continue to use the Pierce House as a venue to gather and celebrate in keeping with the spirit of John H. Pierce’s gift to the Town of Lincoln.”

Letters of interest for either position should be sent to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Selectmen’s Office, elderp@lincolntown.org. Click here for a volunteer application form or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601 for more information.

Library activities for school vacation week

School vacation week at the Lincoln Public Library will feature the following events for kids:

Origami Workshop
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 2–3 p.m. for grades 1–3, and 3:30–4:30 p.m. for grades 4–6
Learn how to fold 3D origami snowflakes with Lisa Corfman from Rocky Arts Unfolded. Registration is required. Call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net.

Singalong with Matt Heaton
Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m.
Musician Matt Heaton will be bringing his unique mix of rockabilly, surf, American roots and Irish traditional music to the library. All ages welcome; no registration necessary.

Family Bingo Night
Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.
Come one, come all for a fun night of bingo! All ages welcome, no registration required. Prizes for everyone.

Girl Scouts pancake breakfast on Feb. 29

The Lincoln Girl Scouts will host Pancake Breakfast, Take 2 (postponed from Winter Carnival week) on Saturday, Feb. 29 from 8–11 a.m. at the First Parish Church (14 Bedford Rd., Lincoln.) There will be plain, blueberry, chocolate chip, and gluten-free pancakes with pure maple syrup along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit, and face painting and crafts for kids. Girl Scout cookies will also be on sale. Tickets are $5 for children under 12 and $10 for everyone else ($30 family maximum).

Three-part series on opera singers

The Lincoln Public Library will host a three-part series on “Opera For Everyone: A Salute to Three Great Opera Singers” with Erika Reitshamer on Sundays, March 1, 8 and 22 at 2 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Each session will look at a different artist: Jessye Norman on March 1, Fritz Wunderlich on March 8, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky on March 22. Click here for more information. Reitshamer was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Company, has led opera tours to Europe, and served as vice president of the Boston Wagner Society for many years.

Poetry workshop for kids

The Lincoln Public Library will host a poetry workshop for kids in grades 4-6 on Mondays, March 2–30 from 4–5 p.m. with a PoetryFest performance on evening of April 6. Kids will read, write and perform poetry and create an accordion book to fill with favorite poems and artwork. the final session will be filled with lights, snacks, and poetry performances for friends and families. It’s important to attend all five sessions. Registration required; call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net. 

Lincoln Dems schedule caucus for state convention

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) will hold its annual caucus on Sunday, March 8 from 1:30–3:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Attendees will elect five delegates and four alternates to the Massachusetts Democratic Party 2020 Convention in  Lowell on Saturday, May 30.

Registered Democrats may vote and are also eligible to be delegates. Enrollment cards provided by the Town Clerk’s office will be available for those who wish to register to become a Democrat at the caucus just before it opens. Democrats who will be 16 by February 2020 may pre-register at the caucus and participate and run as a delegate or alternate to the convention, although they are not eligible to vote in general elections until they are 18. Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add-on delegates to the caucus at www.massdems.org.

Anyone with questions may contact LDTC co-chairs Barbara Slayter (bslayter@comcast.net) or Joan Kimball (selenejck@gmail.com).

Talk on supporting healthy emotions in children

Erika Christakis, author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need From Grownups, presents “The Essential Connection: Supporting Healthy Emotions in Children” on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Nursery School at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Technology and the demands of 21st-century life can make it especially hard to see how children really think and feel. Christakis will share highlights from the science of early learning and explain how to improve the emotional “cueing system” between adult and child, with special attention to children’s need for autonomy, competence, and connection. Attendees are invited to read articles in The Atlantic and the The Washington Post before the event.

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Megan Kate Nelson

Lincoln author gives book talk

Lincoln resident and historian Megan Kate Nelson will talk about her new book, The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West, on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Concord Bookshop (65 Main St., Concord). Exploring the connections among the Civil War, the Indian wars, and western expansion, Nelson reframes the era as one of national conflict—involving not just the North and South, but also the West. She portrays how nine charismatic individuals fought for self-determination and control of the region, showing the importance of individual actions in the midst of a larger military conflict.

February vacation programs at Minuteman

Minuteman Community Education is offering hands-on learning programs for students in grades 1-12 during February school vacation (Tuesday–Friday, Feb. 18–21). Programs for grades 1-8 include Artrageous Art; Aspiring Chefs; Beginner Baking; Creative Writing; Digital Photography; The Language of Java (computer programming); Business Sharks; Earth, Space, and Sea; and Expert Architects. Minuteman also offers a driver’s education course for students in grades 9-12 and a Girls in STEM Camp for students in grades 7 and 8.

Morning sessions run from 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions from noon–3 p.m. Students may register for just one program or bring lunch and stay the full day. Visit the Minuteman Community Education website to register.

Food Project receives grant

The Food Project has received a grant of $150,000 from the Ann Theodore Foundation to support the employment, training, and mentorship of youth participating in its three-tiered youth development program.

“Now more than ever, young people must learn to transcend difference through shared work in service of a more just and compassionate world,” said Anne Hayes, executive director of The Food Project. “This substantial grant from the Ann Theodore Foundation will expand our foundational Seed Crew program in greater Boston while supporting our entire youth development program in greater Boston and the north shore.”

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Forums present focus group results on L-S racial climate

At two upcoming community forums, civil rights attorney Richard Cole and his associate Steven Flythe will present results of focus groups that were held at L-S to hear views and recommendations regarding the L-S school climate and culture, with an emphasis on race, color, and national origin-related issues. The first will be on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Melnea Cass Recreation Center (120 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Boston) and the second will be on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the L-S Chorus Room. 

L-S Cabaret Concert on Friday

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s annual Cabaret Concert will feature small vocal groups and soloists as well as student rock combo, jazz combo, and jazz ensembles in the high school café on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 ($20 maximum per family). L-S Friends of Music (LSFOM) will have snacks and beverages available for sale, including cheese plates and dessert.

Music Zoo, mattress sale to benefit L-S music programs

LSFOM welcomes all children ages 5–13 and their parents to visit the second annual Music Zoo on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 1–3 p.m. at the high school. Touch, try, hear, and learn about a variety of musical instruments with demonstrations from L-S student musicians, enjoy student vocal performances, and learn about music groups and lessons.

This program will be held in conjunction with the L-S Music Department’s annual mattress sale fundraiser from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The L-S  cafeteria will be transformed into a mattress showroom, where people can browse and try out name-brand mattresses and pillows. Get up to 50% off retail on all styles and sizes while supporting the L-S music program. There will also be a free chamber music concert at 2 p.m. in the auditorium featuring a string quartet, violin ensemble, flute choir, brass ensemble, and vocal groups.

Events explore what it means to be a “good man”

The Domestic Violence Roundtable invites men and boys of Sudbury, Wayland, and Lincoln to come together and discuss the definition of manhood in 2020, examine characteristics traditionally associated with masculinity, and consider the societal pressures that affect the social-emotional development of boys and men in a series of events that will examine what it means to be a “good man.” They’ll culminate in a March 14 summit, “Tough Guys and Gentle Men: Healthy Men in the Age of #MeToo,” featuring guest speakers and discussions.

The events will kick off this month with small group discussions of men and/or boys on the subject of “What Does it Mean to be a Man?” These groups will be led by male members of the local White Ribbon Campaign planning committee and will include faith-, student- and senior-based discussions. The campaign has grown to an international movement bringing men together as part of the solution to help end gender-based violence.

Details about the summit will be released soon. For more information on time and location of the discussions, call Roundtable president Sue Rushfirth at 508-265-8748 or email infodvrt@gmail.com.

Committee now accepting scholarship applications

The Lincoln Scholarship Committee has opened its 2020 application process. Click here for information on the available scholarships and awards as well as the procedures for applying. Application forms and instructions are available here. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 30.

Two new sculptures at deCordova

“Conservatory for Confectionery Curiosities,” 2008/2019, Mixed media installation, New York/Los Angeles. Photo by Jeffrey Jenkins.

Michael Sailstorfer, “Factories,” 2017, bronze, concrete, courtesy of the artist and König Galerie. Photo by Roman März.

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum has unveiled two new sculptures: Factories by Michael Sailstorfer and Conservatory of Confectionery Curiosities by Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood. Factories comes from a group of five unique beehive box sculptures in which bees play the role of “factory workers” as they complete and transform the sculpture. The finished sculpture is then cast in bronze. Conservatory was originally created for the Tuileries in Paris and recalls nineteenth-century horticultural hothouses, window panes allow visitors to gaze at the colorful desserts but not touch. The octagonal glass structure entraps stacks of Jell-O-like molds covered in insects partaking in the sugary sweets.

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.

Lincoln hospice house wins several awards

The Care Dimensions Hospice house in Lincoln.

The Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln has won four awards for excellence in architecture, interior design, and construction.

The 18-bed facility, which opened in April 2018, is located on Winter Street at the Waltham town line. The 27,600-square-foot inpatient hospice house offers hospital-level care for hospice patients requiring 24/7 medical care for acute pain and symptom management. An interdisciplinary team provided medical, emotional, and spiritual care to 460 patients and their families in the hospice house’s first year of operation.

At its 2019 Designer Awards, the International Furnishings & Design Association’s New England chapter honored Beverly-based SV Design in the Commercial Healthcare category for its work on the interior design of the hospice house. SV Design’s visions was a relaxed residence that could accommodate a range of needs, with a focus on the emotional and practical needs of its patients and their families, that echoed the natural surroundings that are integral to the facility’s environmental mood and aesthetic.

In its 27th annual Excellence in Construction Awards, the Massachusetts chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) recognized Windover Construction of Beverly, Mass., with its Merit Award, which recognizes overall excellence in project execution, craftsmanship, safety, innovative elements and challenges, and client satisfaction

In its 2019 Design for Aging Review, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) cited EGA, a Newburyport-based architectural design and planning firm, for successfully achieving a balance between a home-like environment and the highest quality of clinical elements in the facility’s design.

The hospice house solarium.

A patient’s room with an exit to a patio overlooking the Cambridge reservoir.

In its sixth annual Senior Housing News (SHN) Architecture & Design Awards, SHN, an Aging Media Network Publication, awarded second place to the Care Dimensions Hospice House in its 2019 Hospice category. More than 100 residential senior communities across the country and globe submitted new construction and renovation projects for commendation, vying for top honors across SHN’s nine individual award categories.

Eighth-grader named as Lincoln’s Project 351 Ambassador

Devon Das

Lincoln School eighth-grader Devon Das has been selected as Lincoln’s Project 351 Ambassador, joined other other eighth-graders from every Massachusetts city and town for a transformational year of service, leadership development, and civic engagement.

The annual Launch and Service Day convened Project 351’s tenth Class of Ambassadors for a day of service and leadership to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gov. Charlie Baker, First Lady Lauren Baker, and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined the morning celebration at Faneuil Hall. The day included service in support of 18 nonprofit organizations including the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Pine Street Inn, Be Like Brit, and the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers Homes.

There is no application process; educators nominate and select their community’s ambassador based on criteria and a process provided by the organization. Devon was selected by the Lincoln School to represent Lincoln for demonstrating an ethic of service and the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude. “Devon has volunteered for everything I’ve offered this year and he will make the most of the opportunity,” said Steve Cullen, the eighth-grade social studies teacher.

Project 351 ambassadors develop the skills and confidence to mobilize schools and communities in statewide service campaigns. Their spring service will benefitting Cradles and Crayons and 9.11 Tribute Service with the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, while their fall service will addresses the challenge of hunger through support of hundreds of hometown food pantries. At the close of the Ambassador year, they can continue to hone skills and lead communities in service as members of the Alumni Leadership Council or alumni community.

Since its founding in 2011, 3,381 eighth graders have engaged as Project 351 Ambassadors, serving more than 720,000 neighbors through youth-led statewide service campaigns.