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

charity/volunteer

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.”

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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.

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Scarecrow Classic steps off this Sunday

More than 550 participants are expected to join the LLCT for the sixth Annual Scarecrow Classic on Sunday, Oct. 14. The race kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Codman Road by the fire station and runs along Lincoln’s scenic roads, fields, and trails.

After the race, there will be a raffle with prizes, live music, cider donuts, seasonal soup, and prizes for the top three runners in each age category. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at the LLCT offices, from LLCT trustees, or on October 14 before the race. Online registration is open through Friday, Oct. 12 and same-day registration is available starting at 8 a.m. Visit scarecrowclassic5k.com for the route map and online registration.

In keeping with conservation principles, participants are asked to bring a refillable water bottle (they can place it at the finish line ahead of time). There will be a hydration station and limited emergency water supplies for those without a water bottle. All utensils, cups, bowls, and napkins will be 100% compostable.

Diaper drive headed by Lincoln residents seeks donations

Residents are urged to drop off disposable diapers at the Lincoln Public Library for the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive, which runs through Sunday, Oct. 21. Diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, Lexington, and Lincoln. Donors may also purchase diapers from these Amazon or Target registries and having them sent directly to the WIC office.

The diaper drive began six years ago after Kerstin Sinkevicius (now of Lincoln) and Aimee Mills of Somerville read an article detailing how difficult it was for financially challenged families to afford diapers. Neither WIC nor SNAP benefits cover the cost of diapers. Two years ago, Kim Jalet of Lincoln replaced Mills as co-coordinator. A full list of collection points can be found at mbdiapers.org.

The Metro-Boston Diaper Drive was formerly called the Somerville Moms’ Diaper Drive, but “we changed the name this year to the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive because it has grown far beyond the original scope of Somerville now that we have 31 collection points in eight towns,” said Jalet said. A full list of collection points can be found at mbdiapers.org. Last year, the event donated more than 22,000 diapers. This year, organizers hope to donate at least 30,000 diapers.

College planning seminar at L-S

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Adult Ed is offering a college planning seminar for parents of ninth- and tenth-graders on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 7–9 p.m. in the L-S lecture hall. Tuition is $20/family and pre-registration at www.lsrhs.net/sites/adulted/ is required. Todd Richman, founder of Achieve Admissions, and Annika Noren, co-founder of InspireDo LLC, will address how colleges evaluate applicants, academic planning during high school, extracurricular and summer activities, considerations for student-athletes, when to take standardized tests, and why sophomore year is important to financial aid. 

Tales of the Night at Drumlin

Put on your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and come to Tales of the Night, Drumlin Farm’s  family-friendly Halloween tradition, on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 25 and 26 from 6:30–9 p.m. Visitors will have the chance to:

  • Explore the farm at night, lit by a display of over 100 jack-o-lanterns
  • Meet some of the nocturnal wildlife of Massachusetts
  • Enjoy treats, “spider cider,” and “witches’ brew” at the ghoulish graveyard
  • Step into a story on the Nursery Rhyme Trail to meet your favorite characters
  • Venture out into the fields for a haunted hayride full of spooky surprises (7–8:30 p.m.)

Tickets ($15 for Mass Audubon members, $17 for nonmembers) must be purchased in advance—no admission at the gate. Purchase tickets online or register by phone at 781-259-2206.

Amelia Earhart events at library

Actor Sheryl Faye returns to the Lincoln Public Library to portray aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. As attendees learn how Earhart follows her dream with an indomitable spirit, her story will inspire them to pursue their own budding interests and passions. Local historian and Medford Public Library Director Barbara Kerr will discuss Earhart’s Boston-area connections on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to all.

Seminar covers Hindu period in India history

The next seminar in the India Discovery Project (IDP) covering the Hindu period (500–1500 AD) is on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The seminar is an all-day event with slide presentations, lectures and music; lunch and tea will be provided. Presenters will include Lincoln resident and IDP President Bijoy Misra. The public online registration fee is $25, but Lincoln residents can get a $5 discount by sending a check to the India Discovery Center, 180 Bedford Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773.

Sales of dolls, antiques providing big share of MCC budget

Joanna Schmergel (left) and Erica Gonella, MCC treasurer and director of annual giving, in a room full of dolls to be sold by the organization (click images to enlarge).

What began last year as an eBay auction of donated vintage dolls has turned into a multipronged nonprofit effort that has netted thousands of dollars for METCO and provided summer camp scholarships for 34 kids.

Joanne Schmergel’s Cerulean Way home is slowly being taken over by dolls, antiques and other items she’s collecting and selling to benefit the METCO Coordinating Committee. What was once an office become, in her words, “a full-blown doll shop, and our formal dining room is a living estate sale.”

When the MCC first began supporting the summer camp program, they dedicated a majority of funds from its annual mailing campaign—but this drastically reduced the funds available during the school year to pay for late METCO buses, MCC president Pilar Doughty said. When Schmergel approached the group with her doll sales idea, “we thought ‘we don’t have anything to lose.’ Little did we imagine that she’d be able to raise enough money to make doll sales the new cornerstone of our Boston-based student summer camp funding in 2017-18.”

A donated painting for sale, which Schmergel jokingly titles “Why Did We Buy a Farm Share?”

Last year, doll sales netted $7,800, or 45 percent of the MCC’s total annual budget. This allowed the group offer full scholarships to 48 Boston-based, METCO-enrolled Lincoln School children to the four-week Lincoln Parks & Recreation summer camp, allowing them to attend at minimal cost to them (though only 34 kids wound up participating).

Schmergel, who is in charge of MCC’s fundraising and special projects, collected more donated inventory during the summer, including 30 American Girl dolls (now on sale in individual baskets for $59.99 each) and 200 collectible Barbie dolls donated by Lincoln resident Erica Mason that will likely net $3,500–$4,500 on eBay. The MCC also plans to sell antique and vintage dolls at the Boston Toy Show and is marketing more items on LincolnTalk, including four Chinese mud clay figures and various estate-sale items.

Chinese figurines for sale by the MCC.

The next goal is raising money through various methods fund Boston-based middle-schoolers who would like to attend Lincoln Summer Day Camp. Because the middle camp tuition is costlier and the transportation logistics are tricky, the MCC hasn’t been able to advertise the camp scholarship program widely to middle schoolers.

“The MCC had seen steady, gradual decline in both volunteerism and monetary donations over the past five years, and this seriously impacted the number and frequency of programs that we have been able to offer,” Doughty said. “When Joanna came to the team with renewed energy and a ‘can-do and will-do’ attitude, she provided a breath of fresh air. Knowing that we’re on stable financial ground for the year (because of her fundraiser) allows our leadership team to step out of panic mode and plan more effectively for the future.”

News acorns

Fire station open house

The Lincoln Public Safety Dept. will hold an open house on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in observance of Fire Prevention Month. The day will include interactive demonstrations, a fire safety coloring contest, Smokey the Bear, and free pizza.

Free bike safety event for kids

Do you and your kids love to bike? Help keep your kids safe on the road! As part of her Gold Award project, Lincoln Girl Scout and Senior Ashley du Toit will be hosting a free two-hour bicycle safety event for the children of Lincoln on Sunday, Oct. 14 from 1-3 p.m. in Hartwell Pod B Activities include bike and helmet decoration, an educational course on safety, and a bike obstacle course. Be ready for a day of fun for all ages. Bring your bike and helmet. Questions? Email ashley1dutoit@gmail.com.

Outdoor painting, ceramics event at deCordova

Paint outdoors and celebrate love through ceramics in two events at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Bring your easel and supplies, pick a spot anywhere in the park, and enjoy creating art outdoors at the Paint Fest Plein Air Competition Sunday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Juried and People’s Choice prizes ($50–$250) will be awarded. Click here to sign up. At “The Sweetest Day” Date Night Clay Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 5–7 p.m., come with your spouse, partner, or friend for a ceramic sculpture project for pairs. No ceramic experience necessary. Click here to sign up.

Battle Road committee offers updates

The Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee invites area residents to a meeting to update the public on the group’s recent activities and offer feedback. The event takes place on Monday, Oct. 15 from 6–8 p.m. at the Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor’s Center.

The state-designated Battle Road Byway stretches from the Arlington/Cambridge line through Arlington, Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln to the national park. It traces the route of Colonial and British soldiers during the American Revolution and highlights historical and cultural sites along the way. (There is an additional loop in Lincoln that traverses Bedford Road to Baker Bridge Road and back up Route 126 to Route 2A that loop highlights Lincoln’s special historical, cultural, and architectural landmarks.) MassDOT’s District 4 has been an active participant.

Congress is expected to vote this fall on reinstating the Federal Program for Scenic Byways. If passed, the legislation could qualify the towns for federal money. At the October 15 meeting, the group will review what it’s done to date and invite ideas for future initiatives.

Buy coffee, support L-S Ultimate

Sudbury Coffee Works will donate 10 percent of its proceeds for the day to the Ultimate teams at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, where about 70 students play Ultimate. L-S students receive a 15 discount discount anytime they visit the store.

More from the Masonic Lodge

The October 8 News Acorn item about the October 20 open house to be hosted by Lincoln’s Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge neglected to include this photo from the group’s Lincoln charity night that included several Lincoln residents. The group raised $17,000 for the following organizations, most of which serve Lincoln: Gifts of Hope Unlimited, the Lincoln Fire Department’s SAFE Program, the Food Project, the Cotting School, Shriners Hospital for Children, the Lincoln Garden Club, the JWS Masonic Angel Fund, Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Greater Waltham ARC, the Lincoln School Foundation, the Wayland Public School Foundation, Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc., Fischer House of Boston, Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging, and Lincoln’s Parks & Recreation Department. (Click photo to enlarge)

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Public notices

  • The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. to consider the application by Lincoln Station LLC, 145 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA for the transfer of an on-premises all alcoholic beverages restaurant license.
  • There will be a bank auction of the property at 129 Concord Rd. formerly owned by Richard D. Salwitz and Susan Fulmer Salwitz on Friday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m.

Open house at Masonic Lodge

Members of Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge of Lincoln invite the public to an open house on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Residents can learn about Freemasonry, the numerous local charities they support, educational and leadership skills they impart, and the ability for qualified men to seek the best version of themselves. The lodge is in the old South School at 181 Lincoln Rd. On a recent Charity Night, the Lincoln group donated more than $17,000 to regional charities.

Train schedule change will happen Oct. 29

The adjustments to the commuter rail schedule  affecting Lincoln will take effect on October 29, not October 22 as originally announced. Click here for the October 1 News Acorn.

Parent-child ceramics at deCordova

Parents and children age 6-9 can create unique ceramic sculpture together in deCordova’s professional clay studio during “Family Clay Saturdays: Parent-Child Ceramic Series” on Saturdays, October 13 to November 3 from 10 a.m.–noon. Learn basic hand-building and glazing techniques as you work side by side to create a hanging mobile and a seasonal spirit house. Click here for more information and registration. Questions? Contact Julie Bernson at jbernson@decordova.org or 781-259-3649.

Concert, open house at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will present a “Live in Lincoln Center” concert on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.) with works by Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi, Bach and de Boismortier performed by musicians from the Handel & Haydn Society. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $30.

The following day (Sunday, Oct. 21), the church will hold an open house coffee at 11:15 a.m. in the sanctuary’s Stearns Room (4 Bedford Rd.). following the 10 a.m. worship service. Everyone interested in learning more about First Parish in Lincoln is welcome to attend.

Author talk by Cai Emmons

The Lincoln Public Library will host a talk by Lincoln native Cai Emmons, author of the recently published novel Weather Woman, on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Tarbell Room. Emmons, who grew up in Lincoln, teaches in the University of Oregon’s Creative Writing Program and is the author of two earlier novels, His Mother’s Son and The Stylist. Copies of Weather Woman will be available for purchase and signing.

Talk on Codman Estate portraits

From high-end works by John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart to others by once-famous artists to humble family snapshots, the Codman Estate’s portrait collection extends over 200 years of changing styles. “Portraits and Personalities” on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. takes a fresh look at this collection, including rarely seen works of art. Hear the real stories of the people behind these pictures, both the subjects and the artists. $15 for Historic New England members, $20 for nonmembers. Registration required; call 617-994-6690 or click here.

Two new classes at L-S Adult Ed

Lincoln-Sudbury Adult Education has added two classes to its fall/winter offerings. Lisa Cukier, a partner with Burns and Levinson will host sessions on estate planning and probate administration in Massachusetts on two Wednesdays, Nov. 7 and 14, from 7–8:30 p.m. in Room B330. She will also discuss estate litigation, family disputes, and financial exploitation by caregivers relating to the assets of individuals with diminished mental capacity. “Les Petits Chefs” is a hands-on cooking class for seventh- and eighth-graders 0ffered by L-S faculty members Dot Samsi and M.J. Galano (the ability to speak French is not required). A mini-lesson on French culture will accompany each session. The class will he held on three Thursdays (Nov. 29, Dec. 13, and Jan. 24) in Room C124. Click here for more information and to register for classes.