The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

charity/volunteer

Council on Aging activities in February

Domestic Violence Services Network office hours
February 1 at 10 a.m.
If you are experiencing violence or abuse by a family member, whether physical, emotional, or sexual, or you are concerned about someone who is, come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 1 between 10 a.m. and noon to have a confidential discussion with an advocate from Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. Come find out more about domestic violence, and how to cope with it, as well as learn about available resources in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. All conversations are completely confidential.

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

What you need to know about Annual Town Meeting bylaw proposals
February 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Important new bylaws and changes to existing bylaws that affect your everyday life will be voted on at Annual Town Meeting in March. Come find out more and have a chance to ask questions in an informal setting when Jennifer Burney, Director of Planning and Land Use, and members of committees proposing the bylaws will be at Bemis Hall on Friday, Feb. 3 at 9:30 a.m. One proposal would change the solar bylaw to reflect industry standards, eliminating the 12-inch setback requirement and adding in a waiver provision. Another would impose a possible moratorium on recreational marijuana. An Affordable Accessory Apartment Bylaw would create accessory apartments that qualify for the town’s affordable housing inventory. A proposed tax exemption would allow the portion of the property dedicated to an affordable accessory apartment to be tax exempt. A request to the Community Preservation Committee would create a fund for homeowners to access interest free loans for renovating or creating an affordable accessory apartment. Finally, a proposed amendment to a bylaw would allow the sale of farm products for conforming parcels between 80,000 square feet and 5 acres. Come find out more and bring your questions, concerns and ideas!

Trad jazz band
February 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Come join your neighbors who never miss a session. The Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band be at Bemis on Friday Feb. 3 from 12:30–1:30 to entertain you. There will be some good old tunes to sing along to, maybe Ain’t She Sweet or When You’re Smilin’ or All of Me or maybe something completely different this time. Maybe the music will put you in the mood to get up and dance like some of the audience do. Or maybe you’d prefer to just sit and tap your toes. See you there!

Lincoln Academy with Mark Hopkins—Walking the thornfeld: saving Africa’s most dangerous and beautiful creatures
February 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Join Earthwatch volunteer Mark Hopkins as he hikes 60 miles through scenic thornveld landscapes, accompanied by an armed Zulu ranger, counting wild rhino, giraffe, buffalo, elephant, and a dozen other large mammal species, then returning to the campsite for close-up photographic visits with lions, leopards, hippos and crocodiles. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

Coffee with watercolor artist Jack Foley
February 7 at 2:30 p.m.
Join Lincoln artist Jack Foley for a celebration of his exhibit of watercolors at Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 2:30 pm. Jack says, “I started painting watercolors in the early ’80s, usually just on vacations. I paint most of my watercolors on site and occasionally at my kitchen table. I sell paintings, donate them to charities, or just paint for fun. Lincoln’s a great place to paint.” His work has been shown at the Clark Gallery, Concord Art, the New England Watercolor Society, the Attleboro Arts Museum, and other venues. The exhibit will run through February.

Communicating across lines of difference
February 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Effective and respectful communication between people with differing characteristics and life experiences has never been more important yet can seem ever more difficult. How do we know if we have inadvertently offended someone and what do we do about it? How do we get started talking to each other about such topics as race, gender, economic status, and other such issues in a way that strengthens relationships as well as recognizes our many commonalities? Mandy Beal, Ministerial Intern at First Parish who has completed special training, will lead a discussion at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 9:30 a.m. about communicating around lines of difference, focusing not on being “good” or “bad” but on effectiveness. The 90-minute session will include a short presentation on current thinking and research followed by a group discussion using reflection and questions and answers.

Drawing
February 8 at 10 a.m.
Drawing is a way to capture the world as you see it and the gateway to painting and other art forms. Learn to draw and you have created a new language for yourself! Get started when Bernadette Quirk, a local artist and experienced art teacher, teaches a four-session course on Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon beginning February 8 at Bemis Hall. This session will start with simple still life objects to develop skills in measuring and perspective. The cost is $20 for the course. No prior experience necessary or expected! We provide all supplies. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up as space is limited.

Reframing as a technique for greater happiness
February 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Whether it is a traffic jam, loss of an opportunity, or a negative life story, reframing can change your perspective and outlook on life. Learn various ways to use this technique of being honest about your situation, but finding new ways to look at its opportunities, advantages, and challenges when Pam Mizrahi, the COA’s assistant director and a social worker, holds a discussion on Friday, Feb. 10 at 9:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall. The discussion will focus on actual examples you can use every day.

First look at Annual Town Meeting: town and public schools budgets and projects
February 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Selectmen Peter Braun and Renel Fredriksen, Town Administrator Tim Higgins, Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Becky McFall, and Lincoln School Committee Chair Jennifer Glass will present an overview of FY18 budget priorities on Friday, Feb. 10 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Find out what is on the Annual Town Meeting warrant for the town and school budgets. There will also be a discussion of the current status of a Lincoln school building project, and any related warrant articles that might be up for a vote at Town Meeting as well as town-related projects and initiatives. This is your opportunity to discuss the budget, the School building project, and other school and town-related topics in an informal, conversational setting. They welcome your questions, your ideas and concerns.

Valentine’s Day jazz brunch
February 12 at 10:15 a.m.
What could be more fun for Valentine’s Day than a delicious jazz brunch at Trail’s End in Concord? Join the Lincoln COA on Sunday, Feb. 12 when you’ll have a wonderful brunch while listening to some of the best local jazz around! The fun starts by boarding Doherty’s bus at the Mall at 10:15 to go to Concord. Once there, you can choose from menu items including eggs, an omelette, French toast or granola parfait, coffee, tea, juice, sides like bacon, fruit, etc. The venue does have some stairs inside. The cost is $10, with the cost of breakfast on your own. To reserve a space, send your check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Claire Mount, 123 Tower Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone and email so she can send you a menu. Space is limited. Questions? Contact Claire at 781-259-8695.

Lincoln Academy with Tom Gumbart—Backyard butterflies, dragonflies and more
February 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 13, at 12:30 to hear Tom Gumbart discuss “Backyard Butterflies, Dragonflies and More.” Lincoln’s Conservation Director, Tom Gumbart, will give a photo show and talk on insects and other small critters found locally. Featured photos will be close-up images, especially of pollinator species on flowers. Tom spent a significant amount of time this past summer taking photos, mostly at his home in Stow, and will share his experiences with the audience. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

Free legal clinic
February 13 at 2 p.m.
Got a question about a legal issue? The Council on Aging is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, Feb. 13 from 2-4 pm. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but advance registration is required. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space is available. Register in advance by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Free wellness clinic for all ages
February 14 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Get blood pressure checks, nutrition and fitness information, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Science club: breeding and raising miniature sheep in Lincoln
February 16 at 10 a.m.
In 2008, Ray Tomlinson and Karen Seo began working on establishing Ouessant sheep in the United States, beginning in Oregon, later moving to Lincoln in 2010. This breed is the smallest in the world—25 to 45 lbs. and 16 to 20 inches at the shoulder—about one-quarter the size of an average sheep. Unfortunately, they exist only in Europe, from where it is illegal to import any kind of ruminant (cow, goat, sheep, etc.) into the U.S. So this has meant importing semen and upbreeding from a breed already present in the U.S., using artificial insemination to slowly, generation by generation, build a flock of increasingly purebred Ouessant sheep. Each succeeding generation of females is inseminated laparascopically with 100% Ouessant semen. So the filial generations are half Ouessant, then 3/4, then 7/8, and so on. Join Karen as she talks about her sheep, the statistics and process of upbreeding in a suburban environment, caring for and selling the sheep, and more on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m.

Coffee with a cop
February 16 at 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 1 to 2:30 pm to meet privately with a Lincoln police officer. Do you have a security concern regarding yourself, a family member, or neighbor? An idea for 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 each third Thursday of the month.

Rapture of the senses retreat
February 17 at 11 a.m.
Nourish your body, soul, and heart through this special workshop celebrating loving ourselves. It will be held on Friday, Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Create bath bombs using dried flowers and essential oils, learn how to make a luxurious face cream; let your mind and nerves be soothed with love songs and poems; write a love poem to yourself: tantalize your taste buds with delicious, healthy treats to fall in love with! Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up as space is limited.

Senior dining
February 21 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 Feb. 21 at St. Anne’s Church. 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 the COA 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. A special dessert will be provided by the staff and children of the Magic Garden Children’s Center.

Fireside chat: civic engagement
February 22 at 10 a.m.
What does it mean to you to be a “good citizen,” whether of the town, the nation or the world? What can and should we do as responsible citizens? How can we engage with others in listening and talking about public life? What are some ways we can still be a good citizen when we are limited in our participation, either by physical or other disabilities, a lack of finances or other circumstances? Come join others in a lively but respectful discussion of this topic facilitated by Sharon Antia using questions and answers on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. The purpose of the Fireside Chats is not to convince others of your opinion, but rather to share information and ideas so as to create dialogue and greater understanding.

Coloring as a meditation tool
February 24 at 9:30 a.m.
All over the country adults are finding that coloring designs like mandalas, peaceful scenes, and more is a way to center, to express creativity, and to aid in meditation. Plus, it’s easy and does not require supplies other than books of designs and some colored pencils or crayons. Come find out more about adult coloring and meditation and give it a try when Tracey Cornogg comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 so Tracey knows how many sets of materials to bring.

Mini-massage
February 24 at 11 a.m.
Jai Kaur (Annamaria San Antonio) will be offering seated mini back and neck massages as a gift or by donation February 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Massage reduces anxiety and stress, stiffness, fatigue and depression. Jai Kaur is a licensed and certified massage and bodywork therapist offering an integrative approach, yoga teacher and stress management instructor. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up for a 15-minute appointment.

Lincoln Academy with Ron McAdow and Betsy Stokey—A visit to Cuba with Mass Audubon
February 27 at 12:30 p.m.
A highlight of 2016 for Lincoln residents Ron McAdow and Betsy Stokey was their participation in a MassAudubon birding trip to Cuba. Ron and Betsy will show their pictures and describe their impressions of the island nation that has been so close and yet so far for most of our lives. The photos include birds—but plenty of other subjects were also photographed, making this a presentation of general interest rather than just for the “avi-centric.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

Free income tax preparation help
Volunteers certified under the AARP TaxAide program will prepare your federal and Massachusetts personal income tax returns or answer your tax questions. This free service can answer most of the tax issues faced by low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those over age 60. Appointments begin in February. Call the COA office at 781-259-8811 to schedule a confidential appointment and get a list of documents to bring.

Lincoln musician hopes to benefit causes with house concerts

Trevor Berens.

Millions of Americans concerned by the election of President Donald Trump marched on January 20, but for many, the question remains of what to do next. Lincoln musician Trevor Berens has a novel idea: offering house concerts for charity.

Berens, a pianist and composer specializing in contemporary/avant-garde classical music, will come to the home of anyone with a well-tuned piano and enough space for at least 15 guests. Rather than pay him a fee, the host would make a donation to a charity that focuses on the environment and climate change, minorities and/or women. The host could collect donations from guests or simply make a single larger donation himself or herself.

Though he’d had the idea for charity house concerts before the election, recent events brought it more into focus. “Like many people, I’ve been trying to figure out things I can actively do to help our situation, and one of the things I felt would be useful for me and probably others was to offer a space in which I could give music,” Berens said.

Berens is particularly interested in helping the National Resources Defense Council, Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union, but is open to playing for the benefit of other nonprofit organizations that have similar agendas. The dollar amount to be raised at house concerts is flexible, but he hopes that each concert would reap at least $300.

Berens and his wife, singer and voice teacher Jessica Tunick, moved from their native Los Angeles to the Boston area so he could earn a graduate degree in music therapy from Lesley University (they’ve lived in Lincoln for seven years). He’s now a music therapist and private piano teacher who usually teaches in students’ homes. Both are also active performers; they are members of the Sonic Liberation Players, which is giving its next concert on February 3 at 8 p.m. at the Third Life Studio in Somerville. Musicians from that group may be available to play with Berens at house concerts if the host wants.

Though classically trained, Berens’s repertoire consists of recent music. Some of his favorite modern composers are John Cage, Frederic Rzewski, Morton Feldman and Giacinto Scelsi. “I think modern music engenders more conversation and has the ability to better reflect current times. The classics were written in a time when things were different. It’s important to look at the artists of now and the recent past to better understand where we are,” he said. “I hope the way I present this kind of music isn’t like dropping a foreigner in a new country and leaving them there—I’m hopefully taking them by the hand and leading them there.”

Those interested can see more on Berens’s website or listen to samples of his compositions and other performance pieces on SoundCloud. He and Tunick also have a separate website for their teaching.

Lincoln on the march

For the Women’s March on January 21, the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee organized a bus to Boston Common for 50 participants under the group title of “Lincoln Marchers,” while many other residents made the trek to the nation’s capital. Marches in Washington and other U. S cities drew at least 1 million people in total, and thousands more participated in similar events around the world.

“The Washington Women’s March for America was amazing from start to finish,” said Barbara Slayter, one of the Lincoln DTC riders. “The crowd included people of all ages and races—men as well as women, Muslims, and even, I observed, a gentleman wearing a Sikh turban. There were children in strollers and baby carriages as well as on foot, and there were disabled or elderly people in wheelchairs. The mood was upbeat and even jubilant.

“These exuberant good spirits were accompanied by a huge array of largely homemade signs ranging from humorous to mocking to lighthearted, angry, compelling or uplifting [see the end of this gallery]. As we marched—very slowly—we frequently sang or chanted or contributed to great shouts rolling like waves through the crowd. Chants included ‘We want a leader, not a creepy tweeter,’ ‘Education, not deportation,’ ‘Women’s rights are human rights,’ and ‘Hands too small! Can’t build the wall!’

“Sometimes we sang songs such as This Land is Your Land or old union songs. One group knew songs from the musical Hamilton and entertained us for a bit along the way, as did several different drummers. And one cluster of some 30 or 40 marchers even sang a rousing Happy Birthday—to me—tipped off by my daughter, much to my surprise.”

The crowd were so large that Slayter’s group never got close enough to the podium  hear the speakers address the crowd, or even to the official march route. Instead, they made their way alongside the mall down Madison Avenue along with throngs of other marchers. “From 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. we were ‘on the move’ and it proved to be a thrilling day. Now we are trying to reflect on how we can build on the momentum the march has given us,” she said.

Here are pictures and words from other Lincoln marchers.

Janet Boynton, Larry Buell, Dilla Tingley, Marie Roberts, Lucretia Giese, Kim Buell, Elizabeth Cherniack, Julie Hibben and Al Schmertzler on Boston Common.

Rosamond DeLori marches in Boston.

Dilla Tingley and her friend Marie Roberts of Lexington. “The march restored my sense of humor and some hopefulness—there was lot of camaraderie and solidarity. We will need it,” Tingley said.

Jessica Tunick and her husband Trevor Berens went to the Washington event. “The feeling of the march was one of diversity, solidarity, love and determination,” Berens said.

Three generations march in Boston: Lincoln residents Natalie McNerney (front right) and her daughter Mary McNerney (front center) with her son Tim McNerney (back left) and 14-year-old granddaughter Sofia McNerney of Shutesbury.

Gwyn Loud and Rosamond DeLori on Boston Common.

Carolyn Montie and her daughter Eve in Boston.

Barbara Slayter (left) just happened to bump into Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall at the march in Washington. “Can you imagine a chance encounter of two Lincolnites in a sea of 500,000+ people and an extraordinary number of pink hats? It was an astonishing moment!” she said.

Jennifer Morris (right), her niece Norah Deluhery (left) and her sister Andrea Morris. Jannie and Andrea stayed in Washington with Norah, who was an Obama administration appointee in the Department of Agriculture for eight years.

Virginia Rundell (right) and her daughter Elisabeth, a senior at Drexel University. “As a mom, you never know if the values you try to instill in your children will stick—but this demonstration, and the conversations it prompted, proved to me that she’s been listening with her heart all along!”

Al Schmertzler, Julie Hibben and Lucretia Giese in Boston. “The crowds and their enthusiasm were tremendous. The trick will be to use that enthusiasm to effect change in the House and Senate,” Schmertzler said. “The attendees must make their goals painfully clear so that particularly Republicans know that if they do not change their positions, they will be voted out of office immediately just as the Democrats were in this recent election. 2018 will be the first test.”

Current and former Lincoln residents Houwa Ibrahim, Suzanne Karl, Rayna Caplan, Susan Taylor and Paula Waterman. “We packed into the Red Line car at Alewife—so tightly packed I couldn’t turn around,” Taylor said. “In the middle of the car, held up only by the press of other passengers, was a young mother with purple dyed braids and a still-toothless baby in a front pack dressed as SuperGirl. The ride was slow and the car began to get hot and stuffy. SuperGirl began to cry. Two young women who were squeezed up against the mother began to sing to SuperGirl: ‘Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…’ Concentric ripples of passengers began to join in the song until, when everyone reached the verse ‘I simply remember my favorite things,’ the entire car of at least 100 people shouted out ‘And then I don’t feel so bad!’ little SuperGirl had stopped crying, and everyone in the car was laughing. Solidarity, sisterhood, femininity at its best, and joy of common purpose.”

Sharon Antia and her granddaughter Armani Sims on the bus in Boston. Antia borrowed Armani’s pink Hello Kitty hat for her pussy hat.

The Washington march was “an amazing experience,” said Nancy Bergen. “There was a wonderful sense of unity and support for the democratic values that most of us want in our country. It was just incredible to look out at a sea of united people, many holding signs expressing why they were there. I wish there had been a place to put all the signs as they were so beautiful and creative. I experienced a great feeling of community, kindness and camaraderie among everyone there. Being at the march gave me hope that change can happen even in times like these, and that speaking up matters.”

Susan Pease brought a pair of signs to Boston.

Former Lincoln resident Isabel Peterson.

Various signs photographed by Barbara Slayter.

News acorns

LSSC hosts Lincoln presentation on High Tech High

L-S faculty and staff who traveled out to High Tech High in California to delve a bit more deeply into maker spaces, innovation hubs and social entrepreneurship (areas being explored for future classes and extracurricular at L-S) will give a presentation at the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee’s meeting in the Hartwell multipurpose room on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

PTO talk on anxiety in kids

The PTO welcomes Jessica Minahan for an evening presentation on “Reducing Anxiety in Kids” on Monday, Feb. 6 from 7- 9 p.m. in the Brooks auditorium. Minahan—a behavior analyst, author, special educator, and consultant to schools—will discuss the importance of understanding the role anxiety plays in children’s behavior and how to use preventive strategies and interventions to help reduce anxiety and increase self-regulation and self-monitoring.

Film, talk on Zionism hosted by GRALTA

The GRALTA Foundation (Grass Roots Awareness, Learning, Travel and Action) will screen the Academy Award-Nominated documentary Promises on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The film, which is included in the Lincoln Public Schools’ seventh-grade curriculum, introduces seven Palestinian and Israeli children living only 20 minutes apart in a Palestinian refugee camp, a West Bank Israeli settlement, and East and West Jerusalem neighborhoods. On Sunday, Feb. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library, GRALTA hosts Mitchell Silver, professor of philosophy at UMass Boston, who will give a talk on “The Origins of Zionism: A History of Modern Jewish Nationalist Thought.”

Speakers sought for Lincoln Academy, sci/tech club

The Lincoln Council on Aging is looking for speakers of all ages for two of its lecture series, the Lincoln Academy and the COA Science and Technology Club.

The Lincoln Academy is a weekly lecture series held each Monday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. from September through June. Speakers generally are Lincoln residents or have a Lincoln connection of some kind. Topics range from history to travelogues to the arts and humanities to interesting projects making the world a better place to science and beyond. Speakers may talk about professional work they are doing, a fascinating trip they took, a historical, arts, or humanities subject they have studied, a moment in history they participated in, and more. The COA is happy to provide technical assistance in preparing the presentation and is particularly looking for speakers for the fall of 2017.

The COA Science and Technology Club offers presentations on a wide variety of science and technology topics in a new series on the third Thursday of each month at 10:15 a.m. Previous and scheduled subjects have included Internet security, ethics and climate change, the evolution of science, and breeding miniature sheep. Again, speakers may present on current work they are doing or a science/technology topic they have studied and would like to share. The COA, which is looking for speakers for both the spring and fall of 2017, can’t provide an honorarium for either series, but we do have enthusiastic and engaged audiences.

People of all ages are welcome to not only be presenters but also to attend presentations in either series. Information on speakers and topics for any given month is generally available on page 3 of “News from Bemis Hall” newsletter and is listed in the Lincoln Journal and the Lincoln Squirrel. If you’re interested in speaking, please call Carolyn of the COA at 781-259-8811 or bottumc@lincolntown.org.

Upcoming library events

  • Family movie: The Secret Life of Pets—Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.
  • The Lincoln Library Film Society presents The Conformist directed by Bernard Bertolucci on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. A weak-willed Italian man becomes a fascist flunky who goes abroad to arrange the assassination of his old teacher, now a political dissident. Rated R; in Italian with English subtitles. Movie style refreshments will be served.
  • Friends of the Lincoln Library book sale—Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Bemis Hall basement.
  • Valentine’s Day Dance Party for ages 6 and under—Saturday, Feb. 11 from 11 a.m. to noon. Come shake it with your kids!  We’ll have a sweet time dancing to children’s songs, oldies and some pop favorites. Drop in.

February vacation classes at Minuteman

Minuteman High School offers February vacation courses on Tuesday through Friday, Feb. 21-24 for kids in grades 1-9. Morning sessions are from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions run from noon-3 p.m; you may register for one or both sessions. Programs include a mix of old favorites and new offerings: Alien Planet, Artrageous Art, Aspiring Chefs, Beginner Baking, Creative Writing, Digital Photography, Engineering and Electricity, Games Galore, Graphic Design, Kids’ Cool Chemistry, and Minuteman Sports. Register online, by phone at 781-861-7150, by fax at 781-861-7250, or in person.

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Inauguration Day meditation

The Lincoln Meditation Group will hold a special sitting on Friday, Jan. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room for the well-being of all people, the environment and our country. We will sit in silence, read a poem or two, and offer metta (prayers) for peace for all beings. Everyone is invited.

Talk on civil disobedience by Standing Rock visitors

Lincoln residents Jason and Jessica Packineau will lead a discussion about their recent activities at the Standing Rock in North Dakota and give a talk titled “What Role Does Civil Disobedience Play in Modern-day America?” and Jeffrey S. Cramer, Curator of Collections at Walden Woods Project and Thoreau, will speak about civil disobedience and how it relates to us today.]on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library. This lecture is part of the Thoreau Bicentennial Statewide Read Program. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Henry David Thoreau’s birth.

Film screening to benefit girls’ school in Afghanistan

Students Together Empowering Women, a club at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, will host a viewing of the documentary What Tomorrow Brings on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the L-S auditorium. The film tells the story of Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation in Afghanistan. The foundation and the school it supports embrace and promote education as the key to positive, peaceful change for current and future generations, empowering Afghan girls and young women to work toward bright futures in their own villages and beyond. Tickets are $8 for students and $15 for adults, and all proceeds will be donated to the Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation.

Adult ed and test prep classes at L-S

Registration is now open for adult and teen classes on test prep, interviewing and completing college applications as well as creative arts, fitness, home and garden, and financial matters. Click here for the catalog.

Climate change film at St. Anne’s

There will be a showing of the film Merchants of Doubt at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, Jan. 31 as part of the church’s ongoing series of films on climate justice. This film examines the role of the fossil fuel industry in distorting and denying the science on climate change over several decades in order to prevent meaningful regulation of carbon emissions. It will help give a perspective on the choices the incoming administration is making for key cabinet posts like EPA and the Secretary of State.

A simple vegetarian soup supper will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the film will begin at 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted to help with the cost of screening rights.

Community discussion on book by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Come to a Lincoln/METCO community book discussion about Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Brooks gym. The discussion will be facilitated by Lincoln School English teachers Hillary Skelton and Jenny Nam, as well as Jaime Moody, the school’s METCO academic advisor. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner, but feel free to come anytime, as there will be various points at which late-comers can easily join the discussion. Please pre-register on the Lincoln METCO website.

Winter Carnival begins next Friday

Lincoln’s annual Winter Carnival kicks off on Friday, Jan. 27 with a showing of movie The Last Waltz and wraps up on Sunday, Jan. 27 with “CSI Lincoln: Tales from Police Blotters Past.” See this list or the Lincoln Squirrel calendar for a full list of activities.

Weekend-long activities

Snow Sculpture Contest 
Design and build a winter sculpture in your own front yard. Call to register with Parks & Recreation by 5 p.m. on Saturday (781 259-0784). Judging will take place on Sunday morning with awards to the best in show and superlative awards to all, so get creative!

Discover Drumlin Farm in the Winter
Visit our animals in their winter homes, look for wildlife tracks or other signs of animals in the snow, or check out our feeders at our wildlife blind by the deer enclosure. Drop-in naturalist programs take place on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.. Free admission for residents. Call 781-259-2200 for more information.

Friday, Jan. 27

Generational Sing-Along for Kids and Seniors
3:30 p.m., Bemis Hall 
The LEAP After-School Program, the Lincoln Council on Aging, and Magic Garden Children’s Center invite residents of all ages to enjoy a free multigenerational Concert and Sing-Along! The program will include performances from each of the organizations and an audience sing-along at the end.

Lincoln PTO Family Bingo Night
5:30–7:30 p.m., Brooks Gym 
Come celebrate 10 years of Family Bingo Night with even more chances to win! Prizes awarded for each winning bingo board, awesome raffle prizes and free give-aways. Pizza dinner sales start at 5:30 p.m., with snacks and drinks available for purchase all night. Open to all. Free entry. Bingo cards are $5 for a 20-game multi-pack; raffle tickets are $1 each, six for $5, and 15 for $10.

FoMA Movie Night: Scorsese’s The Last Waltz 
7-9 p.m. Bemis Hall 
Step back in time to enjoy a defining rock event, the 1976 farewell concert of seminal rock group The Band. The film captures the aura that includes guest appearances by Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton and more. The New Yorker calls it “the most beautiful rock film ever made.”

Saturday, Jan. 28

Girl Scout Pancake Breakfast 
8-11 a.m., Stone Church
Start your Saturday off with some delicious pancakes with real maple syrup. $5 children under 12, $10 ages 12+, $30 family max. Plain, blueberry, chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit. Face painting and crafts for kids, and Girl Scout cookies will be on sale.

Snow Shoe Tours 
10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum 
Enjoy nature and art in winter and discover a fun and active way to explore the Sculpture Park. Tours are led by a deCordova Museum Guide and a trained EMS instructor. Visit decordova.org/calendar to purchase tickets. Adults: $15 for members or $25 for non-members plus $12 for snowshoe rental. Youths 8-18: $12 for members, $20 for non-members plus $12 for snowshoe rental.

Magic Garden Preschool Fun
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Magic Garden Children’s Center 
Come visit with friends and neighbors and enjoy carnival games, and arts and crafts activities. Located in the Hartwell building on the Lincoln School campus.

Community Skating and Bonfire 
Open skating, 12-1:30 p.m.; pick-up hockey, 1:30-3 p.m.
Cemetery Pond, Lexington Road
Enjoy skating, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows by the campfire. Bring your skates. Check www.lincolnrec.com for weather updates.

Lincoln Holistic Wellness Fair 
Noon to 3 p.m., Bemis Hall 
Lincoln wellness practitioners are hosting a drop-in “clinic” to help you learn about alternative/complementary medicine while experiencing a respite from cold, stress, or illness. Receive mini-treatments/assessments in acupuncture, therapeutic massage, foot reflexology, holistic nutrition, yoga, therapeutic touch, dowsing, Alexander technique and more. Healthy warm teas, muffins and treats will be available. Contact Jai Kaur Annamaria at asanajai@verizon.net with questions. 

LFA Energy Blaster
3-5 p.m., Brooks Gym 
Join your friends (and their parents) and burn some energy! Jump in a bounce house, create some art and try your skill at a variety of fun indoor games. Bring cash to enjoy healthy snacks. Fun and prizes for all! Free for Lincoln Family Association ’17 members; otherwise $10 per child. An LFA membership or renewal at the door includes admission, or renew now at www.lincfam.org.

Acoustic Coffeehouse 
7-10 p.m., Bemis Hall 
Lincoln’s annual night to showcase local musicians and performers. Coffee and desserts will be served. Seating reservations can be made at www.lincolnrec.com. Reservation for a table of eight is $160; general admission is $10. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seasoned performers and fresh talent are lined up, so come join us for a treasured community event!

Sunday, Jan. 29

Lindsay and Doodle, one of her puppet pals.

Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals
2-3 p.m., Lincoln Public Library 
Lindsay Aucella’s highly interactive, comedic performances feature larger-than-life, hand-crafted puppets to charm even the most timid audience members and provide memorable characters for positive short stories and skits. All ages.

Make Your Own Elf/Fairy Garden 
10:30 a.m. to noon, Carriage House at deCordova 
The title says it all… a great new event for children, so come join us! Sponsored by the Lincoln Nursery School and deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

CSI Lincoln: Tales From Police Blotters Past 
3-5 p.m., Bemis Hall 
Don’t miss this chance to hear fascinating stories about dramatic events in Lincoln, such as the famous unsolved case of a missing woman and an infamous drug raid, as told by Chiefs Arena, Bowles, Mooney and Kennedy. Presented by the Lincoln Historical Society.

First Parish group visits Arizona migrant crossing

The FPL delegation on the Arizona borderlands. Left to right: Dan Boynton, Janet Boynton, Susan Taylor, Katie Bigelow, Ben Wells, Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, Melissa Brooks (co-founder of the Green Valley Samaritans), Bill Stason, Jeani Welsh, Jillian Darling, Cate Maas, Cy King (Borderlinks facilitator), Peter Pease, Sue Stason, John Snell and Julie Hibben (click image to enlarge).

By Kathy Harvey-Ellis

While immigration issues have been prominent in the news this year, much of the tragedy that occurs at the Arizona/Mexico border can feel removed from Lincoln. For 14 members of the First Parish in Lincoln (FPL) in November, however, the harsh conditions became very real when they traveled to Tucson, Ariz., and the surrounding area to learn about the plight of Latino migrants, the efforts and courage of the humanitarians who help them, and the ways that they personally can contribute to change.

The group, led by the church’s Senior Minister Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, partnered with BorderLinks in Tucson, an organization that uses education to “raise awareness about the impact of border and immigration policies and inspire action for social transformation.” Housed in dormitory-style accommodations, the travelers spent a busy week visiting points along the migrants’ journeys and often dining with guest speakers and humanitarians in the evenings.

Led by the Green Valley Samaritans, a faith-based volunteer organization that delivers humanitarian aid to migrants, the Lincoln delegation hiked the desert, following a route the migrants often take to reach the United States. FPL member Jillian Darling noted the danger they encounter as they travel by night, crossing ground thickly covered with cacti.

The group also headed to the border town of Nogales, a legal port of entry between Arizona and Mexico. There, the FPL parishioners observed surveillance towers manned by U.S. Border Patrol officers and the border wall adorned with crosses and artwork marking the migrants who died there.

“I kept thinking back to the Berlin Wall, and what a difference it made once it came down,” said Darling.

Susan Taylor was taken aback by the border patrol’s military presence. “I expected to see the plight of the migrants. I expected to be moved by that… I did not expect the militarization of the border patrol,” she said.

One of the most poignant visits took place at the federal courthouse in Tucson, where the FPL delegation witnessed the legal process and sentencing of those who have crossed the border without documentation. Herded into the courtroom in a large group “like cattle” as Dan Boynton described it, the migrants were sent back to Mexico or jailed, their only crime being caught at the border.

“The depth of this, the human cost, definitely affected me,” said Taylor. “The setup is so predetermined. You’re caught, that’s it.”

The lives of the Americans living near the border also had an impact on the Lincoln group. “One of the most striking things is how limited financial means there can be, and I’m talking about the American side,” said Rev. Mishra-Marzetti. “It’s modest living there, near the border.”

Boynton was struck by the blatant inequity occurring at the border checkpoints. “There is rampant racism that is part of the border control procedures. There are people who are legitimately American, who happen to have brown skin, who are harassed on a daily basis,” he said.

Rev. Mishra-Marzetti decided to organize the border trip after traveling with a clergy group there in November 2015.  Before the 2016 trip, he helped prepare the FPL delegation by teaching a class that explored questions such as the causes of migration and the spiritual and ethical questions surrounding it.

The delegation left the border deeply affected by all they had seen. “I really believe this country should be welcoming to all, and our criminalization of immigrants is a serious issue,” said Darling. “After we came back here, we thought about what our action should look like. We’re so conditioned to give what’s immediately needed. But what does it mean to advocate for fair wages? What does it mean to have their backs?”

On Sunday, Jan. 29 at 11:30 a.m. in the Parish House Auditorium at 14 Bedford Road, members of First Parish in Lincoln’s mission trip delegation will share photos of their trip. The public is invited to attend.

Addendum

Another town government volunteer opportunity is available in addition to those posted in News Acorns on January 8: a slot to fill a one-year vacancy on the Housing Commission, for a total of two openings on that panel. The original article has bene updated to reflect this addition.

News acorns

Calling all public servants

Looking for a rewarding if occasionally vexing way to feel more connected? Willing to undertake new challenges? Unafraid to speak up? Then run for local office! The annual Town Election will take place on Monday, March 27. Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office now, and must be returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The following offices will appear on the March ballot:

  • Board of Selectmen (two seats, one for one year and one for three years)
  • Board of Assessors (two seats, one for two years and one for three years)
  • K-8 School Committee (two seats, both for three years)
  • Water Commissioner (three years)
  • Board of Health (three years)
  • Cemetery Commission (three years)
  • Planning Board (two seats for three years each)
  • Commissioner of Trust Funds (three years)
  • deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park Trustee (four years)
  • Housing Commission (two seats, one for one year and one for three years)
  • Parks and Recreation Committee (three years)
  • Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee (two seats for three years each)
  • Bemis Trustee (three years)
  • Town Moderator (three years)

For more information, call the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607.

Museum trip with library

The Lincoln Public Library is offering a trip to the Peabody Essex Museum to see the “Shoes: Pleasure and Pain” exhibit on Saturday, Feb. 25, leaving the library at 10 a.m. and returning at 3 p.m. The museum admission and guided tour is $20, and the cost for the bus will depend on the number of riders. Lunch is not included. For more information or to sign up, contact Lisa Rothenberg at 781-259-8465 ext. 202 or email lrothenberg@minlib.net.

In conjunction with the trip, the  library will host a talk on the history of shoes by fashion historian Karen Antonowicz on Thursday, Feb. 23 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Minuteman offers STEM camp for girls in February

Minuteman High School will host “Girls in STEM” (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) camp from February 21-24. from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It is free for seventh- and eighth-grade girls from communities in the Minuteman school district (Acton, Arlington, Belmont, Bolton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Dover, Lancaster, Lexington, Lincoln, Needham, Stow, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston), and bus transportation will be provided. There is a $149 fee (and no bus) for students who live outside the district. The class will be led by female students from Minuteman who are certified in mentoring and are enrolled in STEM majors, facilitated by are Minuteman teachers Becky Quay (engineering) and Sarah Ard (horticulture and landscape technology). For more information or to register, click here or contact Director of Career and Technical Education Michelle Roche at 781-861-6500 ext. 7326 or mroche@minuteman.org. Seats are limited, so register early.

Council on Aging activities in January

Domestic Violence Services Network hours
January 4 at 10 a.m.
If you are experiencing violence or abuse by a family member, whether physical, emotional, or sexual, or you are concerned about someone who is, come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 4 between 10 a.m. and noon to have a confidential discussion with an advocate from Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. Come find out more about domestic violence, and how to cope with it, as well as learn about available resources in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. All conversations are completely confidential.

Memoir group welcomes new members
January 4 and 18 at 10 a.m.
The Memoir Group welcomes new members in September and January if there is room in the group. If you are interested in joining us for the January term or want information about the group, please email the facilitator, Connie Lewis (conlewis1000@gmail.com). Memoirs meets on January 4 and 18 at 10 a.m.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Katherine Clark
January 4 at 1 p.m.
Jimmy Santos, constituent services and military liaison for Congresswoman Katherine Clark, will hold Office Hours at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 1–2 p.m. on federal benefits and other concerns. No need to sign up.

Free wellness clinic for all ages!
January 5 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods on Thursday, Jan. 5 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.

Get yourself to declutter
January 6 at 10 a.m.
You know you need to declutter, but sometimes you just can’t. You may be overwhelmed with feelings of loss, sadness or anxiety at the thought of letting something go. People accumulate too many material objects for many reasons, and sometimes it has to do with old memories, good and bad, rather than the value of the object itself. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. when Pam Mizrahi, the COA’s co-assistant director and a social worker, explores some of the reasons why it can be so hard to let go of objects and how we can be more comfortable doing it. Bring your experiences, questions, and concerns.

Ring in the new year with the oldies 
January 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Sing in the New Year with good ol’ oldies of the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s on Friday, Jan. 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall with the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band. Enjoy remembrances of Bing Crosby, Fats Waller, Irving Berlin, Louis and Ella, and maybe a hint of Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson—lyrics provided to songs like Pennies From Heaven, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.

Pastels with Juliet
Express your most vibrant self with the brilliant colors of pastels in a class with Juliet Rago. She will begin with a short introduction to drawing for those who feel they need it. The class will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on January 9, 13, 20, 23, 27 and 30. No experience is necessary. All materials will be furnished. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. Limit of six people. The fee is $40.

Lincoln Academy with Don Southall: up close and personal with lions, leopards, birds and more in South Africa’s Kruger Park
January 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 9 at 12:30 to hear Don Southall discuss “Up Close and Personal with Lions, Leopards, Birds and More in South Africa’s Kruger Park.” Don Southall has spent 250 nights on safari in South Africa’s Kruger National Park (the size of Connecticut) taking amazing photos and studying animal behavior up close and personal. He shares stories of his many encounters with predators and prey, winged beauties, and beasts of all kinds and the best of his immense collection of photos. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

Free legal clinic
January 9 at 2 p.m.
Got a question about a legal issue? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, Jan. 9 from 2-4 p.m. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but advance registration is required. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space is available. Register in advance by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Get help with iPhones and iPads
January 12 at 9:30 a.m.
The COA’s programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that they have asked him to come back yet again! Andy will be at Bemis Hall on Thursday, Jan. 12 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!

Internet and social media: it’s easier than you think!
January 12 at 11a.m.
These days, if you are going to get the word out about events or other things, you need to know how to use the Internet’s social media like Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter. A growing number of people, especially those who are younger, get all their information online. If you are in charge of publicizing events for an organization or yourself, or you want other people to know about something you are offering or selling, come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Jan. 12 at 11a.m. when Andy Payne will give an introduction to what social media is and how to use it. It’s easier than you think!

Learn about plans for the Wang property
January 13 at 9:30 a.m.
Join representatives from Parks & Recreation, the Rural Land Foundation and the Birches School on Friday, Jan. 13 at 9:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall to discuss their private-public partnership focused on the former Wang property, located at 100 Bedford Road in Lincoln. The current plan, if approved at the March 2017 Town Meeting, is to develop the 16-acre property as the home of Birches School, to set aside nine acres for conservation and three acres to install an athletic field. The effort, which will be discussed at Town Meeting, is a once-in-a-generation effort to create the first new athletic field in Lincoln in nearly 50 years.

Senior dining
January 17 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, Jan. 17 at St. Anne’s church. 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 the COA 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. A special dessert will be provided by the staff and children of the Magic Garden Children’s Center.

Coffee with artist Dilla Gooch Tingley
January 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Join artist Dilla Gooch Tingley at “Coffee with the Artist” at Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 2:30 p.m. to see her fabric wall hangings inspired by Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and The Group of Seven. The Group of Seven are Canadian landscape painters including Lawren Harris, J.E.H. MacDonald, A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, Frankin Carmichael, F.H. Varley and Frank Johnson who produced exciting paintings of the spectacular Canadian wilderness and who believed that art should permeate all our lives.

The COA science group: the evolution of science
January 19 at 10 a.m.
The evolution of science presents a number of fundamental questions. Join John Getsinger, an attorney who has studied mathematics, medicine, and science, as he explores three questions he finds particularly interesting on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. (1) Foundations: How is science even possible? (the physics of thought); (2) Dynamics: What makes the evolution of science possible? (things change vs. ideas change); (3) Open problems: does science have to evolve in order to explain NASA’s em-drive experiment? (or, “wait, what happened to the action-reaction law?”) If you have any thoughts on these questions you would be willing to share with John in advance, email him at jrgetsin@gmail.com.

Coffee with a cop
January 19 at 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to meet privately with a Lincoln police officer. Do you have a security concern regarding yourself, a family member or neighbor? An idea for 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 each third Thursday of the month.

Better relationships for a better life
January 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Having close friends and family can reduce stress and depression and even help you live longer. But our later years may bring challenges to our relationships when we move, after we retire, when friends and family become ill or pass away, or when we have trouble getting out to be with others. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Jan. 20 at 9:30 when social worker Claire Gerstein discusses the importance of healthy relationships, how we can improve the relationships we have, and find people with whom to form new ones. Whether you are feeling more isolated than you would like, or just want to learn more about the interconnection between health and relationships, come hear what Claire has to say, and give your own thoughts and ideas.

A traveler’s-eye view of Japan
January 20 at 12:30 p.m.
“Japan: Where Tradition Meets the Future” is more than just the national tourism board slogan. Temples, shrines, and imperial history mixed with bullet trains, harajuku girls and anime to create a fascinating and unique place that should be on every traveler’s radar. Come to Bemis Hall on January 20 at 12:30 when Peggy Dawson will share ideas and tips from her recent trip.

2017 Top of the Town winter gala
January 21 at 5 p.m.
Are you planning to go to the Top of the Town Winter Gala on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the deCordova Museum? If so, please send in the reservation form on the invitation mailed to you in December. The form must reach the FLCOA at PO Box 143, Lincoln, MA 01773 or Bemis Hall by January 12 to confirm your attendance. This is a catered party, and an accurate head count is important! Because there is a space limit of 200 persons, the FLCOA will start a wait list if replies reach that number. They request that you let them know promptly if you must cancel so they can notify the next person on the list. While the Friends of the Lincoln COA are pleased to host this event with free admission for Lincoln residents, they greatly appreciate your donations to show your support for this event.

Lincoln Academy with Nancy Bergen and Sally Kindleberger: Icelandic adventures on horseback
January 23 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 23 at 12:30 to hear Nancy Bergen and Sally Kindleberger discuss “Icelandic Adventure on Horseback.” Nancy Bergen and Sally Kindleberger share their adventures in Iceland last summer. Riding Icelandic horses through breathtaking forests and along a beautiful beach, taking a monumental hike, swimming in a “hot river” and seeing beautiful scenery including geysers and the largest falls in Europe are just some their experiences. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

World hand drumming for fun and well-being
January 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Hand drumming is a fun and unique way to express yourself and enhance well-being that’s sweeping the country. It’s a great way to spend enjoyable time with others, improve overall musical skills, and de-stress, relax and feel more positive. Come try hand drumming in a special one-time, free demonstration workshop with acclaimed drummer Mike Connors from the Concord Conservatory of Music on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 9:30 a.m. No need to bring a drum. If there is interest, the COA will offer a spring class.

Fireside chat: saving Planet Earth
January 25 at 10 a.m.
How helpful are limiting family size or veganism in our efforts to save the planet? Come join others in a lively but respectful discussion of this topic using questions and answers on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. The Fireside Chats happen once each month, on the fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m., and are facilitated by Sharon Antia. The purpose is not to convince others of your opinion, but rather to share information and ideas so as to create dialogue and greater understanding.

January 27 at 9:30 a.m.
Have a tax prep question?
If you have a simple question about your taxes or preparation of your returns, come to Bemis Hall on January 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. when Packy Lawler will hold “office hours.” Packy is one of Lincoln’s highly trained AARP/IRS TaxAide counselors who provides free preparation of federal and state tax returns each year. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up for an appointment.

Multigenerational sing-along
January 27 at 3:30 p.m.
The LEAP after-school program, the Lincoln Council on Aging and the Magic Garden Children’s Center invite Lincoln residents of all ages to enjoy a free Multigenerational Concert and Sing-Along as part of the Winter Carnival on Friday, Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The program will include singing groups from each of the three organizations and then a sing-along including all groups and the audience at the end. Members of the audience will enjoy favorite folk songs, children songs, and more. Then, audience members will join seniors and kids in a short sing-along of some songs that are beloved from childhood and others that are new and delightful.

Lincoln Academy with Donald L. Hafner (Captain, Lincoln Minute Men): Mary Flint Hartwell and the Alarm on April 19, 1775
January 30 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 30 at 12:30 to hear Donald L. Hafner, Captain of the Lincoln Minute Men, discuss “Mary Flint Hartwell and the Alarm on April 19, 1775.” Mary Flint Hartwell has a prominent role in local lore about the events of April 19, 1775. The most vivid version has Mary Hartwell carrying the alarm to her neighbor, Captain William Smith. This engaging version, however, is contradicted by older evidence. Still, she may be entitled to more, rather than less, credit in spreading the alert. Inaccuracies in the modern version therefore risk doing disservice to her role and courage on April 19th. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.