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

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L-S concerts coming up

The Choral Winter Concert at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School takes place Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., with the L-S Chorus and select L-S singing groups as well as performances by the  Curtis Middle School and Lincoln School choral groups. Music selections include those from America, England, Brazil and Zambia. The Instrumental Winter Concert will be on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. with performances by the orchestra, concert ,and symphonic bands. Both are free and open to the public. To learn more, visit the L-S Friends of Music website.

COA seeks donated toiletries and other items

During the holidays, Council on Aging staff visit homebound, frail, and needy seniors to deliver baskets full of basic necessities. The COA is collecting new, unopened, unscented, full-sized items to fill the baskets: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, lip balm, deodorant, disposable razors, shaving cream, kitchen sponges, trash bags, laundry soap, socks, coffee and tea, postage stamps, and pharmacy gift cards. Please bring your donations to the Council on Aging in Bemis Hall by Friday, Dec. 7. Questions? Call Abigail at 781-259-8811.

L-S School Committee seeks member

Lincoln and Sudbury residents are invited to apply for a vacancy on the L-S Regional School Committee created by the resignation of member Craig Gruber. The interim position will run from Jan. 8, 2019 and conclude at the end of the Annual Town Meetings for Lincoln and Sudbury in May 2019. At the Regional District Election in March 2019, a successor will be elected to serve the balance of the unexpired term ending in May 2020. Anyone interested should send a statement indicating interest in the position and a resume to be sent to Donna Cakert, L-S District Clerk 390 Lincoln Rd., Sudbury MA 01776 or districtclerk@lsrhs.net by Monday, Dec, 10.

LEAP a capella fundraiser

LEAP, the Lincoln Extended-day Activities Program is hosting its fifth annual A Cappella Night, a fundraising event that supports tuition assistance and enrichment programs, on ​Saturday, Dec. 15 from 7–9 p.m. Returning for the third time will be the Harvard VoiceLab, and ​Accent, ​​Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School’s co-ed student run group. There will also be hors d’oeuvre, desserts, a cash bar, raffle items, and a silent auction. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for kids. Email ​leap0615@gmail.com for more information.

Herscovitch appears at next LOMA

Lara Herscovitch is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Dec. 10 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Herscovitch will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Connecticut named Lara, who had five CDs to her credit, as its official State Troubadour. A fierce advocate for human rights, Lara invokes strength in “Let It Begin” from her “Four Wise Monkeys” CD.

LOMA is a monthly event. 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.

FELS pie sale a big success

The Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury had a record-breaking Thanksgiving Pie Sale to support its mission to award enrichment grants to L-S faculty and staff to pursue their professional and personal interests and passions. A total of 451 pies were sold; 105 of them were donated to food pantries in Lincoln and Sudbury (one pie for every client who came) and others were donated to senior citizen luncheons and members of the Lincoln and Sudbury public safety staff, or ordered as gifts for L-S teachers and staff. The FELS annual appeal is now underway. The annual FELSTalk will be on March 28 at 7 p.m. at L-S.

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Climate justice film on Tuesday

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church will host a screening of “Living in the Future’s Past” on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. following a light supper at 6:30. Academy Award winner, Jeff Bridges shares the screen with scientists and a dazzling array of living creatures to shows how no one can predict how major changes might emerge from the spontaneous actions of the many, and how energy takes many forms as it moves through and animates everything

Meeting on deCordova–TTOR integration

Those interested in learning more about the planned integration of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum and The Trustees of Reservations and its implications for the town are invited to attend a community meeting hosted by the deCordova on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Hear from the town’s deCordova Working Group; Linda Hammett Ory, president of the deCordova Board of Trustees; deCordova executive director John Ravenal; and Barbara Erickson, CEO of The Trustees. Learn more at www.decordova.org/integration.

Scouts selling Christmas trees, wreaths

Lincoln Scout Troop 127 is selling Christmas trees and decorated balsam wreaths at the corner of Codman Community Farms across from the police station every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. until Christmas, and we will be open as many weeknights as we can staff. All profits above cost will be used to fund scouting activities. Lincoln Troop 127 supports the Lincoln community in many ways, including setting up for the Memorial Day service and providing the July 4th cookout after the parade

Shop to help domestic violence victims

On Sunday, Dec. 2 from noon–4 p.m., Mango Tree Artisans of Sudbury will host a special shopping event to benefit the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable. At its new location at 593 Boston Post Road in Sudbury, Mango Tree Artisans sells handcrafted sterling silver and ethnic jewelry, ceramics, baskets, eco-friendly clothing, instruments, and other ethically sourced items from around the world. The Roundtable receives a percentage of proceeds from this event.

Dungeons & Dragons group for teens

Kids in grades 6–12 who want to learn how to play Dungeons and Dragons are invited to join L-S student/dungeon master Roshan Kharbanda on Sundays beginning December 2 from 1:30–4:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. Have fun using your imagination and problem-solving skills while socializing with others who enjoy role-playing games. All materials will be provided. For middle and high school students only. Registration required; please email dleopold@minlib.net or call 781-259-8465 x4.

Discussion on teen vaping and pot

Recreational marijuana shops have opened, even as more teenagers are becoming addicted to nicotine through Juuls and other vaping devices. L-S Connections is sponsoring an event titled “Vaping and Legalized Marijuana: The ‘New Normal’?” on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the L-S Lecture Hall for parents. On hand will be Mary Cole, program coordinator of the Greater Boston Tobacco-Free Community Partnership, along with L-S counselors and administrators and representatives from the Lincoln and Sudbury police to talk with us about what they’re seeing in our communities and how parents, the school, and the community can work together to help our kids make healthy, well-informed decisions. Register here as space is limited. 

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Fireside Chats coming up

Now that Lincoln has voted in favor of being a “safe and welcoming community,” what does it mean? How are we currently honoring this charge, and how can we improve? Anyone who has (or has not) been made to feel safe and welcome is invited to join the discussion on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10–11:30 a.m. in the Lincoln Woods community room.

On Saturday, Dec. 22 (same time and place), the Fireside Chat will address “Healing Our Divisions.” Using Them: Why We Hate Each Other—and How to Heal by Ben Sasse, we’ll talk about why there’s so much anger in our country, how our everyday actions and decisions feed into this, and whether we can love our neighbors even when we have differing opinions.

CSA veggies for sale

Each year during Thanksgiving week, Lindentree Farm CSA offers an organic vegetable share for members and others—this year on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 20 and 21. If interested, email lindentreecsa@gmail.com.

Annual L-S alumni soccer game next week

The Lincoln-Sudbury Alumni Soccer Game is being held for the 26th time on Saturday, Nov. 24 at noon.  It’s a casual game for alumni from any era. To RSVP, email Tim Mangini at tim_mangini@wgbh.org or post on the group’s Facebook page.

Cradles to Crayons children’s clothing drive

Please drop off your donations of children’s gently used clothing at the Liepert home at 108 Trapelo Rd. in Lincoln (leave bags by garage door) for Cradles to Crayons before Friday, Nov. 30. Sizes infant through adult small. Most-needed items include sweaters and sweatshirts, but children’s clothing/shoes for any season are welcome. For a full list of accepted items, visit Cradlestocrayons.org. Email sarahliepert@me.com with any questions.

Buy crafts and gifts from local artisans

Samples of jewelry that will be on sale at the GiftLocal Lincoln event on December 1.

The Old Town Hall Exchange is hosting a local artisan/crafter holiday market at the Pierce House on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. On sale will be home-made chocolate bars, photographs, cards, woven household items, hand-blown glass bowls, upcycled mittens, jewelry, art clothing, knitted sweaters, soaps, and lotions. For details, visit the GiftLocalLincoln Facebook page.

Touch of Christmas Fair at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold its annual Touch of Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.). There will be many hands-on activities for children; Santa will arrive at 11 a.m., and children can have photos taken on Santa’s lap. There will be a baked-goods table and a handmade craft table, as well as second-hand antiques, housewares, jewelry, homemade holiday wreathes, and centerpieces for sale made by many volunteers the week before the fair. Lunch will be served from noon–1 p.m. Admission is free. 

Town seeks social worker, members for two groups

The Town of Lincoln seeks qualified applicants for the 12-hour-a-week grant-funded position of Town Social Worker. Under the direction of the Council on Aging director, this person will provide social work services to Lincoln residents under 60. Duties include case management, call reassurance and follow-up, and problem resolution as well as family counseling, home visits, and maintaining on-call status. A master’s degree in social work or an equivalent mental health field required with a minimum of three years of progressive experience. Pay range is $25–$30/hour. Please submit a cover letter and resume to Mary Day, Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln MA 01773 or jobs@lincolntown.org by Saturday, Dec. 1.

The town is also seeking volunteers for the Historic Commission and the Historic District Commission. More information on the mission and purview of the organizations can be found on their website. The deadline for submittals is Friday, Nov. 30. Click here for an application. For more information, call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.

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FELS pie ordering deadline extended

The FELS Thanksgiving Pie order deadline has been extended through midnight on Sunday, Nov. 11. Online orders will be accepted for pies for pickup, as a gift for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School teachers/staff, or donation—go to www.FELSGrant.org.  Pecan, pumpkin, apple and chocolate pies will be available for pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 20 in Lincoln or Sudbury. FELS will also deliver gifts of pies to teachers and staff at L-S and will gratefully accept donations of pies for the L-S Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon, food pantries in Lincoln or Sudbury, or Lincoln or Sudbury fire and/or police.

COA seeks donations for holiday gift baskets

During the holidays, Lincoln Council on Aging staff visit homebound, frail, and needy seniors to deliver baskets full of basic necessities. They are collecting new, unopened, unscented, full-sized items to fill the baskets: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, lip balm, deodorant, disposable razors, shaving cream, kitchen sponges, trash bags, laundry soap, socks, coffee and tea, postage stamps, and pharmacy gift cards. Questions? Call Abigail at 781-259-8811. Please bring your donations to the Council on Aging in Bemis Hall by December 7.

Youth in Philanthropy accepting applications

For eighth-graders and high school students interested in making an impact in their community and becoming a civic leader, the Foundation for MetroWest is currently accepting applications for their Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program. Lincoln School eighth-graders and high school students who live or learn in MetroWest communities are eligible; meetings take place from January to May (dates, times, and locations vary by program). The Lincoln School program meets Mondays and Fridays from 2:20–2:50 p.m. starting Monday, Dec. 3. High school program details and applications are available online at www.yipmetrowest.org/students and are due by Friday, Dec. 7.

YIP helps participants become engaged and informed civic leaders in our community by teaching the importance of philanthropy and the needs that exist in our backyard. YIP also helps local youth develop valuable 21st-century skills including critical thinking, understanding budgets, public speaking, reaching consensus, and case-making. Ultimately, the group of 20 students work together to evaluate grant applications and distribute funds to worthy nonprofits working to serve youth in our communities.

Since launching in 1997, the Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy program (one of the largest youth philanthropy education programs in the country) has educated over 1,250 students who have granted over $1.1 million to over 200 MetroWest youth development organizations. For more information, visit www.yipmetrowest.org.

Photo day, replica dollhouse raffle at Pierce House

The Pierce House is hosting a photo day and a raffle for a hand-crafted replica dollhouse.

On Sunday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., photographer Alex Gordias will take portraits of individuals or groups (including pets) for use a holidays cards, engagement photos, professional head shots, etc., with a choice of backdrops including one of the Pierce House’s stately fireplaces (with roaring fire), the grand staircase and other locations.

A 20-minute portrait session with two high-resolution digital images is $85 (or $100 for groups of more than 10 people), with advance payment required. At the end of the session, you’ll be given a link to view your proofs after November 12. Additional prints or files may be ordered separately.

Reservations are required; please call the Pierce House at 781-259-9757 or email nancy@piercehouse.com to schedule your shoot.

Custom-made dollhouse

Tickets are on sale until December 1 for a custom-made dollhouse that comes with furnishings for every room. All proceeds will go toward renovations of the Pierce House per donor request. The dollhouse measures 34” high x 41” wide plus two side porches. Click on an image below for a larger version:

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Donor Barbara Frentz “Bobbie” Kurson was a custom interior designer and decorator who lived in Concord. She commissioned the Pierce House replica doll house and decorated it with beautiful doll house furniture. It was donated to the Pierce House by her daughters, one of whom (Robin Frentz Isaacs) lives in Lincoln. Overall, it’s in great shape but may require tender loving care and is raffled as is. The dollhouse will be on display at the Paws for the Holidays event at the Pierce House on Sunday, Nov. 11 and in the Lincoln Public Library from November 20–29.

Tickets ($10 each or three for $25) can be purchased at the Pierce House or online, or email nancy@piercehouse.com. The drawing will take place at the Pierce House on Saturday, Dec. 1 at  2 p.m. The purchaser need not be present to win but must pick up the dollhouse within 15 days (the Pierce House is not responsible for delivery or shipping).

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Climate change film at St. Anne’s

There will be a showing of the film “Burned: Are Trees the New Coal?” at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Oct. 30 as part of the church’s ongoing series of films on climate justice. This film tells the little-known story of the accelerating destruction of forests for fuel, and probes the policy loopholes and subsidies of the burgeoning biomass power industry.

Halloween parade at Lincoln Woods

An image from last year’s Halloween parade.

All Lincoln residents of all ages are invited to the second annual Halloween parade at Lincoln Woods. Costumes encouraged but not required. Gather in the parking lot at 50 Wells Rd. beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31; the parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. The parade is short and is accessible for most people, strollers, wheelchairs, wagons, ghouls and of course, brooms. Free parking for the event in the MBTA lot behind Donelan’s.

Fall Work Day in the Sculpture Park

The deCordova Sculpture Park is looking for volunteers to help beautify the park for fall visitors. Meet in front of deCordova store on Saturday, Nov. 3 anytime between 10 a.m. and noon. There will be water, snacks, and “I Dig deCordova” T-shirts to thank volunteers. Please RSVP via email to dduddy@decordova.org, and bring work gloves and some of your own tools if possible (rakes, pruners, spades, brooms). Children are welcome to help with parental supervision.

Water Dept. seeks assistant

The town’s Water Department is looking to hire a part-time (24 hours a week) administrative assistant. Responsibilities include processing accounts-payable invoices; water meter billing; water meter database management; and payroll, general clerical, and project-based work. The hourly rate range is $22.02–$27.89 based on experience. Click here for the full job description and application information, or email jobs@lincolntown.org by November 9.

Fuel and financial assistance available from town

If you need help paying your winter fuel bill, the Fuel Assistance Program may be able to help. The program provides a cash benefit, payable to an authorized fuel provider, for both home owners and renters with eligible incomes and heating costs. Recipients may be eligible for other benefits, such as weatherization services, heating system repairs, and discount utility rates. To apply for fuel assistance, residents of all ages should call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 to set up an appointment.

When Lincoln residents of any age have an unforeseen and extreme financial emergency that threatens their well-being, the Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund and the Small Necessities Project may be able to help. The fund is supported entirely by the Ogden Codman Trust, the First Parish of Lincoln, and donations. For more information or to ask for assistance from the fund, call the COA at 781-259-8811.

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L-S officials to hold coffee, listening sessions

The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee will be hosting three office hours/listening sessions this week, including one in Lincoln:

  • Thursday, Oct. 25 from 7–8 p.m. — Goodnow Library (second-floor conference room), Sudbury
  • Friday, Oct. 26 from 9–10 a.m. — deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum Cafe, Lincoln
  • Friday, Oct. 26 from 11 a.m.–noon — Karma Coffee, Sudbury

Click here for the full 2018-19 list of dates and times for listening sessions.

L-S Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong will also host a Parent Coffee for parents of current L-S students on Monday, Oct. 29 from 8–9 a.m. in Conference Room A (sign in and get directions at the main office).

St. Anne’s to hold service of remembrance

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will mark All Saints Sunday on November 4, remembering those who have died with a special service of remembrance at 5 p.m. The choir will sing Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, accompanied by guest organist David Carrier.  All are welcome.

L-S students commended for PSAT scores

Lincoln residents Irene Terpstra and Colton Volpe are among the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School commended students recognized for their exceptional academic promise by the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. Nationwide, commended students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2019 competition by taking the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).  

Donate used Lincoln Youth Soccer gear

The First Parish in Lincoln’s Youth Group is collecting used Lincoln Youth Soccer uniforms and gear to send to Ethiopia with Jen Gill and Sylvia Perry when they go to serve as part of a medical team. Collection bins are located on the steps of the Parish House at 14 Bedford Rd. and at the Parks and Recreation office in Hartwell pod A on Ballfield Road. Any used LYS uniforms and gear collected after Sylvia and Jen’s November travel will be sent to an equally deserving soccer program.

 

deCordova aims to integrate with Trustees of Reservations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

News acorns

Two events on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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

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

Exhibit, presentation focus on World War I posters

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

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

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

Lincoln musicians perform in upcoming concerts

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

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

Thanksgiving pie sales aid FELS and local charities

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

Paws for the Holidays

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

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

Clarification

An October 8 News Acorn about the Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge noted that the lodge had raised $17,000 for charity. That was the amount awarded at a recent charity night, not the total for the entire year. The article has bene updated to reflect this correction.