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

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Garden Club party for prospective members

The Lincoln Garden Club is hosting a wine and hors d’oeuvre party for prospective members on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. To RSVP, call Susan Seeley (781-259-0841) or Ann Parke (781-259-0276) or email membership@lincolngardenclub.org. The club maintain an active yearly schedule of speakers, workshops, and field trips on a range of gardening and nature topics. Members contribute to the community by designing, planting and maintaining various public planters and garden sites, such as Station Park across from the mall. Members also create flower arrangements for the library, Council on Aging events and delivery to local shut-ins at various holidays. No level of skill or expertise is required, just an interest in gardening.

Minuteman offers after-school program for middle schoolers

Registration is open for Minuteman High School’s fall after-school program for area middle school students that starts on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Now in its second year, Minuteman’s Career Pathways After-school Program is an opportunity for students in grades 6–8 to choose from 19 project-based classes including “Build a Steam Powered Putt-Putt Boat,” “Create an Android App,” “Intro to Graphic Design, “The Celebrity Look” (cosmetology), The Importance of Plumbing” and “Basic Plant Science.” The sessions will be taught by Minuteman faculty at Minuteman High School in Lexington.

There will be two, four-day sessions running from 4:15–6:15 p.m. Session A will run October 3, 5, 10, and 12. Session B will run October 17, 19, 24, and 26. Students must register for the program and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to students from Minuteman’s member towns. Students from non-member communities including Lincoln will be accepted if space is available. Tuition for students from member communities is $100 per session, or $500 per session for those from non-member communities. Click here to see a complete list of course titles or to register for one or both sessions.

Scarecrow Classic steps off Oct. 15

The 5th annual Scarecrow Classic 5K Run/Walk takes place on Sunday, Oct. 15. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9:30 a.m. (start and finish are both at the Mall at Lincoln Station). Registration is $30 in advance or $35 on race day. The event supports the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, which helps manage over 2000 acres of land and nearly 80 miles of public trails as a regional recreational resource for the greater Boston area. Click here to register.

South Sudanese organization offering programs in Lincoln

Susan Winship (right), head of the South Sudanese Enrichment for Families, with administrative assistant Carolyn Montie. Behind them is a painting by Sudanese refugee Jacob Lueth Achol titled “Drumming and Dancing” (click to enlarge).

Lincoln has a long track record of helping South Sudanese refugees, and this fall, that tradition will continue when the town hosts the Saturday Bridges Program run by the South Sudanese Enrichment for Families (SSEF).

The Saturday program, which previously has been held in Arlington and Malden, has several components. There will be workshops for adults on writing and financial literacy, as well as an infant/preschool babysitting program. At the same time, older children can participate in a program at Drumlin Farm (or in the Brooks gym in case of rain). The workshops and babysitting take place in Pods A and B on the Hartwell campus on October 14, 21 and 28, November 4 and 18, and December 2 from 1:30–5:30 p.m.

Adult and teenage volunteers are needed to help with the infant/preschool babysitting and the Drumlin Farm program under the supervision of program adults. The training will be on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at the home of SSEF executive director and president Susan Winship at 10 Meadowdam Rd. in Lincoln. Anyone interested in learning more or helping out should contact her at 781-424-8774 or SusanWinship@comcast.net.

Winship is one of those who helped resettle 150 “lost boys” in the Boston area starting in 2000 in the wake of the 22-year civil war in Sudan. Boys who were several miles away from their villages during the day returned to find their homes under attack or destroyed. Groups of homeless and often orphaned children (mostly boys) walked hundreds of miles to arrive in refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia, where they lived for several years before emigrating to the United States.

Lincoln has many connections to the “lost boys.” For a time, three of them lived at Codman Community Farms and attended Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. There are currently two Sudanese families living in Lincoln, including the family of Akuot Deng Leek, the SSEF’s community liaison who matches clients with agencies and services in the Boston area. Carolyn Montie of Lincoln is SSEF’s administrative assistant, and her daughter Eve (now a college sophomore) was a long-time volunteer in the Saturday Bridges Program.

For 12 years, Winship headed the Sudanese Education Fund, which helped pay education costs for the “lost boys.” Those boys grew up, and many returned to Sudan to marry and then and came back to the U.S. The organization was consequently renamed the South Sudanese Enrichment for Families to reflect its expanded mission to assist South Sudanese women and their children.

Most of these women got less education in Africa than the men, and taking classes here is harder since they care for their children while their husbands work. In addition to workshops and tutoring and acting as a social hub for the community, the SSEF offers help with housing, preschool scholarships and summer camp opportunities.

“When you resettle refugees, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Their needs go on and on as they assimilate to a new culture and raise their children,” Winship said. “We really feel strongly that part of our mission is to have the current and next generation as self-sufficient as possible.”

Students holding yard sale to benefit hurricane victims

Three Lincoln students are holding a yard sale on Saturday, Sept. 16 to raise money for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The sale will be held from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at 22 Tabor Hill Rd. in Lincoln.

Organizing the sale of household items, toys, clothing, and books are seventh-grader Calum Stein, eighth-grader Liam O’Leary, and ninth-grader Caroline Hodge. Caroline attends Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and Liam and Calum are at the Meadowbrook School in Weston.
The charities they’ve chosen are:
  • The American Red Cross, which is using donor dollars to provide shelter, food, and emergency support for individuals and families affected by the hurricanes.
  • Catholic Charities USA Hurricane Relief, the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. Donations will support disaster response and recovery efforts including direct assistance, rebuilding, and health care services.
  • Focus on the Family is partnering with Convoy of Hope, whose on-the-ground in the disaster area providing displaced families with basic needs including food, water, hygiene supplies, and other essential items.

Auction attracts dolls and dollars for Lincoln METCO group

A Marilyn Monroe doll poses for her eBay portrait in Joanna Schmergel’s home (click to enlarge).

An unusual but generous donation of vintage dolls will benefit enrichment and recreational programs for the Lincoln School’s Boston-based students via the Lincoln’s METCO Coordinating Committee (MCC).

The MCC organizes and funds academic and social activities outside of school for Boston and Lincoln students in grades K-8. Lincoln is one of 35 suburban school districts that participates in METCO, the voluntary Boston school desegregation program begun in 1966.

The windfall came about when Lincoln resident Seth Rosen was looking to donate his late mother’s large doll collection. His friend Joanna Schmergel—who volunteers in the MCC’s after-school kindergarten reading program that connects adult readers from Lincoln with pairs of students—offered to sell the dolls on eBay to raise money for the MCC. After researching each doll’s history and value, she posed them artfully in various spots in her house to photograph them.

Rosen’s mother collected the dolls over about 20 years. Most are from the Franklin Mint, although there are also some older antique dolls and random doll-related or doll-house-related items. “I bought her a doll once for her birthday, and that’s what caused her to have an interest in them,” he said. “She always loved her dollhouse as a little girl, so I think somehow this struck a nerve and she enjoyed it.”

The items are listed on Schmergel’s eBay store. As of September 9, 20 dolls had been sold for a total $998.91 and shipped to buyers in seven states as well as France, Poland and Great Britain, she reported. She hopes to clear $3,000 if the other 40 dolls still on the site are sold.

In addition to Rosen’s dolls, Schmergel is seeking donations of American Girl dolls in good condition for her eBay auction, because they have a a high resale value and are less costly to package than porcelain.

The MCC’s annual budget has grown from about $9,000 in 2014-15 to $13,000 in 2016-17, according to MCC liaison Pilar Doughty. This summer, the MCC collaborated with the METCO office, the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Codman Trust to provide almost full scholarships to Lincoln Summer Day Camp for 29 Boston-based children. During the school year, the MCC also helps pay for bus transportation for METCO kids who want to participate in the Lincoln After-school Activities Program (LEAP).

In addition, the organization partnered last year with the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, Stonegate Gardens and the PTO to get kids involved in community activities such as fall bulb-planting in Lincoln’s pollinator meadow and a day of scarecrow-making in October.

The MCC’s biggest non-monetary need is volunteers to help run programs and chaperone events. “Without committed volunteers who can take a leadership role, we can’t continue to offer the diverse programs and social engagement opportunities that we were able to offer last year,” Doughty said.

Later this year, the MCC—which is now a registered nonprofit that can accept tax-deductible donations—hopes to hold a fund-raising event. And the dolls definitely help.

“Much as I would love to take credit for any of this, the reality is that it was 100% Joanna’s effort, ideas, and energy that caused this to happen,” Rosen said. “I was simply looking to part with these dolls, and she turned it into an awesome opportunity to do something helpful and kind for our extended community.”

Food project workers grow food justice awareness along with crops

Ben S. of Winchester and Mariell A. of Roslindale pick carrots. (Photo by Alice Waugh)

They say you reap what you sow, but few people take it to heart more than the Food Project‘s Seed Crew.

The group of 26 youths aged 14-17 spent more than six weeks in July and August getting their hands dirty in Lincoln doing the hard work of farming. They were paid a stipend but also earned valuable knowledge about sustainable food systems, personal development, and serving at hunger relief organizations.

The Food Project hires teens from diverse cultural, racial, economic, and geographic backgrounds to work on Seed Crews at their farms in Lincoln, Boston, Beverly, Wenham, and Lynn. The crews work in the fields and take part in workshops on issues including sustainable agriculture, food access, and social justice. The teenagers also spend one day a week at a local hunger relief organization preparing and serving the produce they’re grown.

Seed Crew members can progress after their first summer to the Dirt Crew, which designs and executes a self-directed project to address food access issues in a community during the academic year. Root Crew members have more responsibility running the Food Project’s farms and markets in a yearlong program where they also serve as peer leaders for the Seed Crew and teach others in the community about food justice and food systems. They play important roles in the organization’s mission to promote access to fresh and affordable produce by building raised-bed gardens for residents and organizations, offering garden-based educational programming, and providing opportunities for people to use SNAP/EBT benefits to purchase fresh food.

Ezekiel Mercer-McDowall (left), who is in his 10th year at the Food Project, harvests beets with second-year worker Brendan Murtha of Watertown. (Photo by Alice Waugh)

On a midweek day in August, workers in bright green Seed Crew T-shirts were harvesting bright orange carrots from the brown soil in one section of the Food Project’s 30-acre site near Route 126 and Baker Bridge Road. Nearby, a melon patch was protected by flash tape (twisted Mylar tape that flashes silver and red in the breeze to scare off birds).

Another weedy patch of land nearby was lying fallow. Last summer, it held a potato crop that was devastated by Colorado potato beetles. Because the Food Project uses only organic farming methods, pesticides are not an option, so Seed Crew workers are sometimes assigned to don gloves, pick the beetles off the plants and squash them, explained supervisor Angel Araiza. Crew members undoubtedly find digging up bright orange carrots of all shapes and sizes more satisfying.

“I like the outdoors and gardening and also social justice—both of those things brought me out here,” said Seed Drew member Ben S. of Winchester (the Food Project does not release the last names of teenage volunteers to protect their privacy).

The field work is not easy. Seed Crews weed, harvest and do other outdoor tasks even if it’s raining. Very hot days are tough on the crops as well as the workers because they have move fast to wash, transport and and store the fruits and vegetables in a walk-in cooler.

“On hot days, we have a lot of moving parts—we have to get the field heat out of the crops as fast as possible,” Araiza explained on an unusually cool August morning. “Any time we can get a day like this, it’s a blessing.”

News acorns

Conservation Commission seeks assistant

The town of Lincoln seeks qualified candidates for an administrative assistant to work 30 hours a week under the direction of the conservation director and the Conservation Commission. Duties include processing wetlands permit applications, preparing and posting meeting agendas, taking and finalizing meeting minutes, working with office volunteers and student interns, and updating the Conservation Department webpage.

The administrative assistant is the primary point person for fielding inquiries regarding wetlands permitting and other conservation-related issues from residents, builders, realtors, consultants, etc., and therefore must have strong customer service skills. Attendance is required at Conservation Commission public meetings on Wednesday nights every three weeks. Municipal experience and an interest in and knowledge of wetlands, open space, and natural history preferred. Starting pay is $21.48–$23.48/hour, based on experience. Submit cover letter and resume to Mary Day, Assistant Town Administrator, Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln MA 01773 or jobs@lincolntown.org by September 26.

Bemis lecture on Ogden Codman Trust

Bemis Free Lectures presents “Philanthropy Shaping Lincoln: The Ogden Codman Trust,” a special conversation with Bill Tyler, trustee emeritus and founding trustee of the Ogden Codman Trust and Susan Monahan, current trustee, on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

House concert on Sept. 22

Lincoln pianist and music therapist Trevor Berens is organizing a house concert in Lincoln on Friday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. The music will include solo piano music by Lincoln resident Richard Cornell (Lutine Bell), Toru Takemitsu’s crystalline Rain Tree Sketch II, and the “Thoreau” movement from Charles Ives’s iconic Concord Sonata. The second half features soprano Jessica Berens performing her husband Berens’s song cycle Pomes Penyeach (based on the poetry of James Joyce) and Lazarus by French composer Jacques Burtin, and written for the couple.

Tickets are $12 at the door, and light refreshments will be served. Proceeds will help defray concert expenses and benfit future recordings by the Sonic Liberation Players, a nine-member musical group that includes Berens and Tunick that “investigates the area between ‘academic/intellectual’ and ‘pop-influenced’ classical,” according to its website.

Email Berens at trevorberens1@gmail.com to reserve seats (seating is limited) and receive the address for the house concert.

L-S Boosters ski and sports sale

The ninth annual L-S All Sports Boosters Ski and Sports Sale will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m.–noon at the Fieldhouse at 31 Union Ave. in Sudbury. Come grab your sticks, rackets, bats, clubs, balls, helmets, pads, cleats, skates, snowboards, skis, boots, bags, bikes, and backyard games—all sizes and age ranges represented. If you’re cleaning out before then, please drop off donations on September 21 and 22 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Fieldhouse. All proceeds go to L-S Boosters, which supports L-S athletics at all levels.

COA activities in September

New fitness classes for all levels
September 5 at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Looking for an opportunity to get fit and toned, limber up, and enhance your physical and mental well-being? Try one of the Council on Aging’s new fitness classes at Bemis Hall. At 11:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, come to Stretch and Flex for all fitness levels. You’ll start with a gentle warmup, then progress to resistance training with bands or weights. At 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, come to Active Aging that begins with a stretch followed by muscle toning and strengthening with weights, aerobic dance, and cooldown. Both classes are $3 a session with no signup needed and begin September 5. Attend when you like. The certified instructor, Terri Zaborowski, teaches these two classes in other COAs where they are so popular they have wait lists. For more information, call the COA at 781-259-8811.

Think you might want to join the memoir group?
September 6 at 10 a.m.
If you’re interested in writing your memoirs or just curious about what goes on in the group, please come to the first meeting of the Memoir Group on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at Bemis Hall and find out what they do. If you like what you hear and want to continue, the cost of the eight-session term is $75. The dates for the term are September 6 and 20; October 4 and 18; November 1, 15, and 29; and December 13. If you want more information, call Connie Lewis 781-259-9415 or email her at conlewis1000@gmail.com.

Line dancing
September 6 at 11 a.m.
Enjoy the fun and fitness of line dancing Wednesdays at 11 a.m. beginning September 6 at Bemis Hall with Katrina Rotondi. Those who come to the line dancing class love it. $3 payable the day of the class. No signup needed. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Katherine Clark
September 6 at 1 p.m.
Jimmy Santos, constituent services and military liaison for Congresswoman Katherine Clark, will hold office hours at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. on federal benefits and other concerns. No need to sign up.

Join a new group to declutter and get organized
September 6 and 20 at 2 p.m.
Decluttering and getting organized can seem overwhelming, but you can do it with some help, and you will enjoy your living space more and feel better about yourself and your life. Come to a new decluttering group facilitated by Pam Mizrahi at Bemis Hall on September 6 and 20 at 2 p.m. and every other week thereafter to talk about why we clutter and learn strategies.

Coffee with artist Susan Wu
September 7 at 2:15 p.m.
Come join Lincoln artist Susan Wu for Coffee with the Artist on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 2:15 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Wu will be showing her Chinese brush paintings at Bemis Hall in September and October. Originally from Taoyuan, Taiwan, Wu has studied Chinese brush painting at the deCordova Museum and with Qinxiong Ma. She is a member of the Chinese Painting Guild of Boston and is a featured artist on their website, chinesepaintingguild.org, and is also a member of the Sumi-e Society of America (Sarasota, Fla., chapter). She has shown her work in the annual Art in the Park exhibits at University Park in Sarasota since 2001 and has won many awards. Wu has also exhibited her work at the deCordova Museum and the Lincoln Library, among other places.

Lincoln Academy with Donald L. Hafner, Captain, Lincoln Minute Men—The “Inexplicable” Captain: William Smith and Lincoln’s Minute Men of 1775
September 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 11 at 12:30 to hear Donald L. Hafner, Captain of the Lincoln Minute Men, discuss “The “Inexplicable” Captain: William Smith and Lincoln’s Minute Men of 1775.” What explains the election of William Smith as Captain of Lincoln’s Minute Men in 1775? A report in 2007 for Minute Man National Historical Park asserted that Smith’s election was “inexplicable,” and it does seem puzzling. Among the Minute Men were long-time Lincoln residents, military veterans, and men older than William Smith. Yet to command them in battle, they elected Smith, who had moved to Lincoln barely a year earlier, was only 28 years old, and had no military experience. Various explanations have been offered for William’s election, but are they persuasive? Come join the conversation, review the evidence, and judge for yourself whether William Smith was the “inexplicable” captain. Donald L. Hafner is a retired professor of political science and a long-time member of the Lincoln Minute Men. His most recent book, published by the Lincoln Historical Society, is William Smith, Captain: Life and Death of a Soldier of the American Revolution. 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.

Tai chi for health, rehabilitation, and wellness
September 11 at 1 p.m.
Tai chi has been shown to develop a better sense of overall well being, reduce stress, help with posture and balance, increase strength and flexibility, and more. It is beneficial for anyone who wants to increase wellness in general or who is recovering from an illness and wants a gentle movement routine. The COA’s fall tai chi classes begin September 11 and continue until the week of December 11 at Bemis Hall. Level I (Beginners) is taught on Mondays from 2:15– 3:15 p.m., Wednesdays from 1–2 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:15–10:15 a.m. Level 2 is taught Mondays from 3:15-4:15 and Thursdays from 10:15–11:15. Level 3 is taught on Wednesdays from 2:15–3:15. The cost is $60 for 1 hour a week, $80 for 2 hours a week, and $100 for 4 hours a week. Instructors are Jane Moss, Ellie Horwitz, and Cynthia Rosenberger. For information, contact Jane Moss, at 781-259-9822 or mindbodyjm@comcast.net. Beginners may sign up now by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. Continuing students do not need to sign up.

Free elder law clinic
September 11 at 3 p.m.
Got a question about issues such as estate planning, MassHealth, protecting assets for a loved one with a serious disability, guardianship, conservatorship or probate? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, Sept. 11 from 3–4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the thirty-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Free wellness clinic for all ages                                     
September 12 at 10 a.m.
PLACE: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Monthly positive psychology group
September 13 at 9:30 a.m.
All are welcome to come to a new group to support each other in Positive Psychology practices like gratitude, mindfulness, resilience, coping, and more. The group will focus on incorporating Positive Psychology into our daily lives through community-building, support, shared practices, facilitated discussions, and social media like Facebook. You don’t need to have attended previous Positive Psychology groups. The group will be facilitated by Alyson Lee, who is certified to teach Positive Psychology. The group will meet at 9:30 on Wednesdays, Sept. 13 and 27, and then monthly every second Wednesday. Funded by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad
September 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Our programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that the COA has asked him to come back yet again. Andy will be at Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 15 at 9:30 a.m. to give you more information on the operation and features of iphones and ipads and answer your questions. You are welcome to attend whether you came to the other sessions or not. If you have tips for using your iPhone or iPad, bring those, too.

Using social media like Facebook and Twitter: it’s easier than you think
September 15 at 11 a.m.
These days, if you’re going to get the latest information about events and other things, you need to know how to use the Internet’s social media like Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. If you’d like to know which site has what kind of information, how to sign up, how to keep your private information private online, and more, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m., when Andy Payne will give an introduction to what social media is and how to use it.

Lincoln Academy with Heather Korostoff Murray—African-American improvisational quilts
September 18 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 18 at 12:30 to hear Heather Korostoff Murray discuss African-American improvisational quilts. She will introduce you to African-American improvisational quilts: the unique qualities of these extraordinary textiles, their possible African connections, and the stories behind their creators, including their inspirations and astonishing talents. Heather’s talk will focus on the lives and work of eight significant African-American improvisational quilt makers, with slides from the extensive quilt collection and research of her mentor, quilt scholar and curator Eli Leon. On exhibit will be several antique and vintage quilts from her collection, illustrating the key characteristics of the genre. 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.

Hand drumming for fun and wellness
September 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Hand drumming is a fun and unique way to spend enjoyable time with others, improve musical skills for playing any instrument, and de-stress, relax, and feel more positive. Learn this special art with acclaimed drummer Mike Connors from the Concord Conservatory of Music on six Tuesday mornings at 9:30 beginning September 19 at a cost of $78. Sign up now.

Gourmet luncheon with friends old and new
September 19 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with new friends and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at St. Anne’s Church. They welcome new diners often—give them a try. Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead even if you have previously attended. The cost of each meal is $5. 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.

Techno teach-in with LEAP students
September 20 at 2:30
Middle school students from the LEAP afterschool program invite you to join them at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 2:30–3:30 p.m. to get help with a variety of devices, such as computers, cell phones, ipads and tablets, and more. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up today.

Science and technology club: the science and economics of developing new drugs
September 21 at 10:15 a.m.
Every new medication undergoes years of development and testing between the initial spark of scientific innovation and the time patients’ lives are saved or improved. What is the scientific process of bringing a drug from idea to market, and what are the costs involved that can raise the price of a medication to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars a dose? Find out when Mary Elisabeth Field comes to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10:15 a.m. Field, a Lincoln resident, has provided quality assurance and compliance services to Genzyme and other pharmaceutical corporations as they develop new medications for over 30 years.

Coffee with a cop—share concerns and ideas with the Lincoln Police
September 21 at 1 to 3 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 1–3 p.m. to meet privately with an officer from the Lincoln Police Department. Do you have a security concern regarding yourself, a family member, or neighbor? An idea the police should try? Would you like guidance about a situation? Come on down—no need to make an appointment. An officer will be at Bemis on the third Thursday of every other month from 1–3 p.m.

Fall and winter safety with the Fire Department
September 22 at 11:30 a.m.
Place: Public Safety Building
Fall and winter will soon be here, so brush up on how you can prevent a fire, accident, or related tragedy. Join Ben Juhola of the Fire Department on Friday, Sept. 22 at 11:30 at the Public Safety Building to learn about such topics as burning leaves, using space heaters safely, shoveling snow the right way, and more. The Fire Department will be serving a sandwich lunch, so please sign up.

Piano recital of music by Schumann, Gershwin, and Liszt by Abla Shocair
September 22 at 2:15 p.m.
You are invited to enjoy an afternoon of piano music with Abla Shocair on Friday, Sept. 22 at 2:15 p.m. at Bemis Hall. She will play Schumann’s Carnaval, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C# minor. Abla, originally from Jordan, started playing piano at age 4. She is a civil engineer and has given many piano concerts in a variety of venues.

Greatest artworks of the 20th century
September 23 at 3 p.m.
Place: Library
Adults of all ages are invited to take a five-week free course that will reveal the genius behind various 20th century artworks and artists from Picasso to Pollock and beyond and discuss their own thoughts and reactions to each piece. The course will be from 3–4:30 p.m. at the Library on Saturdays Sept. 23, October 7, 21, and 28, and November 4. The course is taught by Steven Kendall, tour leader and teacher. The course is co-sponsored by the Library and COA and made possible by the Friends of the Lincoln Library and the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging. Please sign up by calling the library at 781-259-8465.

Lincoln Academy with Susan MacMillan Kains (Siusaidh Nic a’Mhaoilean Cahans)—Gaelic woman on a braided path
September 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 25, at 12:30 to hear Susan MacMillan Kains discuss “Gaelic Woman on a Braided Path.” This presentation will trace the interweaving of Susan’s life as a Scots-Gael, moving among and living with her Gaelic-speaking relatives of Canada and the North American Indian tribes, especially the Oglala Lakota Sioux of western South Dakota, with whom she has been an adopted family member for 35 years. 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.

Fireside chat: what’s on your bucket list?
September 27 at 10 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Woods
What’s on your bucket list? What should/could be in it but isn’t? What is your favorite list item, either something you’ve done or have yet to do? Get together with others and have some fun talking about things you want to do or have done and things that make us happy on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. at the new location in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods, 50 Wells Rd. The Fireside Chat meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m. and is facilitated by Sharon Antia.

Get what you need from your financial advisor
September 29 at 10 a.m.
Financial advisors vary significantly in not only their expertise, but also in how dedicated they are to meeting your needs instead of theirs. To make sure that you are getting the right advice from the right advisor, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. when attorney Christine R. Fitzgerald will talk about the suitability of investments, questions to ask when offered a financial product, and what to look for in financial advisors. Fitzgerald, a founder of the Belcher Fitzgerald law firm, has extensive experience with legal issues related to the financial services industry. Bring your questions and concerns.

Good habits to reduce inflammation for health
September 29 at 1 p.m.
Chronic inflammation is associated with major diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and depression. You can help reduce chronic inflammation through eating the right foods, exercising, reducing stress, sleeping better and more. Find out about what foods to eat and avoid, how to exercise, and more when Jane Polley, MS, RD, LDN, and Laila Vehvilainen, MS, MPH, NASM, come to Bemis Hall Friday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m..

Save the date:

Tour of the State House and lunch
Come to the Massachusetts State House and the John Adams Courthouse on Wednesday, October 11. These historic and beautiful buildings house the story of Massachusetts. Think you know our history? John Adams’s passion for justice, community and learning are evident in the stunning 19th-century courthouse where the Supreme Judicial Court or Appeals Court meets right across the street from the Massachusetts State House, where the group will begin a docent-led tour. Do you know our state motto? Why do we have a state insect? Who owned this land? Who designed this beautiful building? Why is our Constitution so important? There’s a lot to learn. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9:15 a.m. sharp and plan to be back in Lincoln by 4 p.m. Lunch will be on your own at the Union Oyster House, the oldest continually operating restaurant in the country. The cost of the trip is $15 and is supported by the Hurff Fund so the trip is limited to Lincoln seniors. Both buildings have elevators but expect to be standing on both tours. Send your check payable to FLCOA, along with your phone numer and email, to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 or call 781-257-5050 or email donna@ecacbed.com.

Let’s bowl!
Let’s go bowling on Thursday, Nov. 9. Most of us haven’t bowled in years and certainly not with large balls. Don’t worry, the group will be using small balls (candlepin bowling). They will have four bowlers to a lane and maybe get a little competition going. Afterwards they’ll head for an early dinner at a nearby restaurant to discuss their bowling skills or lack thereof.

Express your love of nature with watercolors with Jane Cooper
Rediscover the joyful soul within you through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Jane will offer fun dabbling in watercolor painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. Four classes will be offered on October 13, 16, 20, and 23 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $30, all materials included. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up now.

Medicare 101
Are you turning 65 in the next year? Save November 1 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall for a program about what Medicare offers, how to choose a plan, when to sign up, and more, provided by the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE program. The federally funded SHINE program only has funding through March 2018 due to federal budget cuts, so this may be your last opportunity to attend a program about Medicare benefits.

News acorns

Clarification on Elizabeth Warren town hall location

Due to the editor’s oversight, the location for the August 25 town hall with Sen. Elizabeth Warren was omitted from the August 22 edition of News Acorns. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Concord-Carlisle High School (500 Walden St., Concord). Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

School Council seeks new member from the community

The Lincoln School Council is an advisory body to the school principals that includes parents, teachers and a community member. Due to a resignation, the group is seeking a new community member to serve. The council meets on a monthly basis, typically during the school day. Recent School Council work includes supporting goals in areas of homework, community building, and technology. Anyone who has questions or is interested in participating may contact one of the Lincoln School principals:

FOLL book sale seeks volunteers

The Friends of Lincoln Library Book sale is looking for additional volunteer help, The group meets on Tuesday afternoons from 1–3 p.m. to sort and cull donations of used books and other materials. The book sale takes place on the second Saturday of the month in the Bemis Hall basement from 9 a.m.–noon. Getting involved is a great way to get first dibs on books for yourself and family, or just to meet with like-minded bibliophiles. For more information, contact Susan Hallstein at reerichards1@gmail.com or 781-259-1023.

L-S Boosters membership now open

L-S All Sports Boosters membership is now open. Your $85 donation gets each family member an L-S Boosters card to use for admission to all home games (excluding playoffs). Get your card now and join us for the first home football game on Friday, Sept. 8. To purchase a membership or find more information, go to www.lsboosters.org.

Council on Aging activities in August

Lincoln Trad Jazz Band
August 3 at 12:30 p.m.
August 31 at 12:30 p.m. (both at Bemis Hall)

Regular exercise for wellness and independence
August 10 at 11:30 a.m.
Our bodies are meant to move. As we age our bodies lose muscle mass and bone density, a condition known as sarcopenia, which the National Institutes of Health has called “one of the most important causes of functional decline and loss of independence in older adults.” Regular exercise can slow and reverse this process leading to greater wellness that can help you stay independent and help to prevent diseases and fall risk and even brighten your mood and mental sharpness! Learn more about sarcopenia and the benefits of exercise as we get older and try a few of the exercises for yourself when Terri Zaborowski, the COA’s aerobic and strength training instructor who teaches classes for every fitness level, comes to Bemis Hall Thursday, Aug. 10 at 11:30 a.m.. Terri is an AFAA-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor and AAAI/ISMA older adult trainer with over 16 years experience in senior fitness. Come in comfortable clothing.

Adapt your home for disabilities
August 14 at 10 a.m.
The Home Modification Loan Program, administered in Lincoln by the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC), provides loans of up to $30,000 to elders and adults with disabilities and families with children with disabilities to make disability-related modifications to their homes. In many cases, the loan only needs to be repaid when the property is sold or transferred. You can have an income of up to $144,800 for a one-person household with higher maximums for larger households and still qualify. Landlords may get loans to modify units for renters with disabilities. Find out more about this program when Susan DiClemente Aaron of SMOC comes to Bemis Hall on Monday, Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. Pam Gallup of the Lincoln Housing Commission will also be on hand to discuss the town’s new Affordable Accessory Apartment program.

Free elder law clinic
August 14 at 3 p.m.
Got a question about issues such as estate planning, MassHealth, protecting assets for a loved one with a serious disability, guardianship, conservatorship, or probate? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, Aug. 14 from 3–4 p.m. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Luncheon for veterans and spouses
August 16 at noon
Veterans, spouses, and partners are invited to a special lunch on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at noon at Bemis Hall featuring Hebrew National all beef hot dogs and turkey dogs (all available with classic condiments and toppings), coleslaw, and vegetarian beans. Widows and widowers of veterans are most welcome to join us. The COA is hoping to create a dynamic veterans community here in Lincoln and would love to see everyone at the luncheon. Sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 by August 9.

Bees, butterflies and flowers with Tom Gumbart
August 16 at 2 p.m.
Join Lincoln Conservation Director Tom Gumbart on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. for a short walk at the Muster Field conservation land. This will be to view summer wildflowers and the abundance of pollinator species, such as bees and butterflies, that use these flowers. You will also visit the new boardwalk that is located nearby at the Lincoln School. Park and meet in the field at the intersection of Sandy Pond Road and Baker Bridge Road. The field is on the south side of the road and there will be signs for where to enter the field. This will be in the full sun so please bring hats, water, and sunscreen.

Brush up on CPR and auto defibrillators to save family and friends
August 23 at 10 a.m.
Knowing CPR and how to use an automatic defibrillator (AED) can help you save a life. Come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. for a brush-up or an introduction to CPR and use of a defibrillator given by the Fire Department. This free workshop will not lead to certification, but it will give you the basics of what to do if you are with someone who has a medical crisis for which CPR or a defibrillator are appropriate. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up. All ages are welcome (maximum of 20).

Charles Reid, painter: a film and discussion with Jane Cooper
August 28 at 10 a.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. to see a film by acclaimed watercolorist and teacher Charles Reid, The Figure in Watercolor. The film shows you step by step how to use watercolors to depict the human figure in a way that is expressive of what you are trying to convey. Lincoln COA’s watercolor instructor Jane Cooper will then lead a discussion and give her own insights into the art of watercolor painting. This program will be of interest whether you are an accomplished painter, a beginner, or just thinking of getting started!

Save the date:

Greatest artworks of the 20th century
In this five-week free course co-sponsored by the Lincoln Library and the COA, the genius behind various 20th-century artworks and artists from Picasso to Pollack and beyond will be revealed and the group will discuss their own thoughts and reactions to each piece. The course will be from 3–4:30 p.m. at the library on Saturdays, Sept. 23 and 30, and October 7, 21, and 28. It is open to all adults. Please sign up by calling the library at 781-259-8465.

World hand drumming for fun and well being
Hand drumming is a fun and unique way to spend enjoyable time with others, improve musical skills for playing any instrument, and de-stress, relax, and feel more positive. Learn this special art with acclaimed drummer Mike Connors from the Concord Conservatory of Music on six Tuesday mornings at 9:30 beginning September 19 at a cost of $78. Sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Memoir group
If you are interested in writing your memoirs or just curious about what goes on in the group, please come to the first meeting of the Memoir Group on Wednesday, September 6 from 10 a.m. to noon and find out what they do. If you like what you hear and you want to continue, the cost of the eight-session term is $75. The dates for the term are Sept. 6 and 20; Oct. 4 and 18; Nov. 1, 15, and 29; and Dec. 13. If you want more information, contact Connie Lewis at 781-259-9415 or conlewis1000@gmail.com.

Fall tai chi classes
The COA’s fall tai chi session will begin September 11 and finish the week of December 11. Beginners may sign up now for Mondays from 2:15–3:15, Wednesdays from 1–2 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:15­–10:15 by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. The cost is $60 for one hour a week, $80 for two hours a week, and $100 for four hours a week. Continuing students do not need to sign up. For info, contact Jane Moss at 781-259-9822 or mindbodyjm@comcast.net.

AmeriCorps crew restores section of Farrar Pond trail

A crew of AmeriCorps volunteers recently restored several eroded sections of trail on the eastern and southern shores of Farrar Pond that had become difficult to walk on due to erosion.

Fred Winchell and other members of the Farrar Pond Conservation Trust identified 10 spots in three sections of trail that needed the most work. A retaining wall and fill were installed to cover exposed roots and provide a level walking surface in one area. The crew also installed check steps—timbers placed across the trail to act as both low dams to slow water flowing down a trail and as steps for trail users. Some trail parts were also widened or rerouted slightly.

Over a 10-day period in late May and June, the five AmeriCorps crew members refurbished on a total of almost 8,000 feet of trail, including 250 feet of new trail and the 35-foot-long retaining wall.

Based in the Berkshires in northwestern Massachusetts, the Student Conservation Association’s (SCA) Massachusetts AmeriCorps program is a residential community of emerging leaders who devote five or 10 months to full-time educational and conservation service.

“Though our [Farrar Pond] projects were things we had little previous practice in and were hard work, we were motivated by visits from lots of furry and feathered friends. During one lunch break, Ryan played peek-a-boo with a weasel. Two swans made constant rounds with their four new babies in tow. And we were visited many times a day by our site contact, Fred [Winchell], and his friendly dog, Finnick,” AmeriCorps crew leader Caitlin Faulds wrote.

The project was funded by the Farrar Pond Associates via donations from pond abutters and other friends of Farrar Pond as well as a generous gift from Bob Davoli and Eileen McDonagh.

Photos courtesy SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps and Fred Winchell; click here to see more.

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