charity/volunteer

News acorns

April 7, 2016

Event explores medicine as a career

Pat Roberts and Mike Rosenblatt of the Lahey Clinic will give a talk on “The Joy and Journey of Being a Physician” on Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The multimedia presentation will give an overview of medicine, discuss why high school students might want to go into medicine, role-play being a physician or surgeon by viewing videos of operations, and offer a hands-on experience with portable surgical trainers.

Roberts is chair of Surgery at Lahey Clinic and Rosenblatt is the chief medical officer at Lahey; both are Lincoln residents and parents of L-S students. The talk is part of a new library program launched in partnership with the Lincoln School and Lincoln-Sudbury High School called “Local Heroes” involving presentations by resident experts on topics that might inspire students about what to explore in their college years and beyond. Previous events in the series looked at computer science and robotics in December and designing a satellite mission to Mars in January.

Donate household items for domestic violence victims

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites area residents to donate new household items to help families transitioning from a shelter to establish a new home. The Shower for Shelters runs form Sunday, April 24 through Monday, May 9. New unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at the Lincoln Public Library, the Goodnow Library in Sudbury or the Wayland Public Library. Items may also be dropped off at the group’s Libations and Donations free wine-tasting event at Sudbury Wine and Spirits in the Rugged Bear Plaza (410 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury) on Friday, April 29 starting at 7 p.m.

Requested items include twin-size sheets, pillowcases, summer blankets and comforters as well as pillows, crib sheets, bath towels and face cloths, unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent, laundry baskets, kitchen utensils, flatware, dishes, drinking glasses and small kitchen appliances. Gift cards are also welcome. For a complete list of requested items, please visit the Roundtable website. All gifts collected are donated to clients of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence.

Lecture on aerial landscapes at deCordova

Residents are invited to a lecture on “Disvalued Landscapes, Seen from Above” with aerial photographer Alex MacLean and Alan Berger, professor of landscape architecture and urban design at MIT, on Friday, April 28 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. McLean and Berger will discussing the art of aerial photography, suburban sprawl and other patterns of the land at the event, which is the kickoff for deCordova Friends of the Park, a new group dedicated to the care, support, and advocacy of the deCordova’s landscape and primary gallery. The talk is free and open to the public. The talk is part of the “Overgrowth in Conversation” discussion series.

News acorns

April 6, 2016

Organic gardening talk and plant sale

Naturalist and landscaper John Root will be on hand at “Organic Gardening for Everyone” on Wednesday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Learn natural and effective techniques for the cultivation of a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Perennials will also be offered for sale. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

Dinner and silent auction to benefit children’s charity

There will be an Indian dinner and silent auction to benefit Child Haven International on Saturday, April 23 at 6 p.m. at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church in Lincoln.

Child Haven International operates homes that provide food, education, healthcare, shelter and clothing for over 1,300 formerly destitute children in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Tibet. Child Haven was founded in 1985 by Bonnie and Fred Cappuccino and their family doctor, Nat Shah. The Cappuccinos decided to establish homes for children after adopting 19 children from around the world and their son, Robin Cappuccino, will be on hand to meet people at the dinner and show a brief slide show about the Child Haven Homes.

The silent auction will feature many items from Child Haven countries including wooden masks, metal and wooden statues of various deities, ornate jewelry, Tibetan singing bowls and other items sold to support the homes.

“Child Haven makes an incredible difference in the lives of hundreds of children and women in South Asia and does so in a way that fundamentally respects each participant’s dignity, humanity and individuality. I can think of few ways one can make a monetary donation go such a long way,” said Christine Damon of Lincoln, one of the event’s organizers.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling Damon at 781-879-5870 For more information, email her at christinehdamon@gmail.com.

Biennial “Trash and Treasurers” fair on April 9

April 3, 2016

Jewelry for sale at a previous May Market.

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold its May Market “Trash and Treasurers” fair on Saturday, April 9 from 9 a.m. to noon in the auditorium of the Parish House (14 Bedford Road).

The “white elephant” sale offers antiques, collectibles, jewelry, household goods, furniture, and much more. Shoppers who arrive before 9 a.m. can enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee while they wait for the doors to open. All proceeds go to the First Parish in Lincoln.

A tradition at First Parish in Lincoln since 1981, May Market is held biennially to allow time to collect a large assortment of saleable items. Proceeds from previous fairs have funded projects such as a church kitchen renovation, the sidewalk between the church and Parish Hall, and refurbishments to the minister’s office.

“May Market is a wonderful tradition at First Parish in Lincoln and truly is recycling at its best,”said Tucker Smith, May Market committee chair. “This is at least the 20th year in which I’ve been involved. Our 2014 May Market was a record-breaker in terms of revenue, and we’re hoping for another great event this year.”

Following the fair, any leftover items are donated to Households Goods, Inc., an Acton-based nonprofit that provides donated furniture and household items to the needy. Any questions about May Market may call Smith at 781-259-9320.

Kids and Flints raise $1,400 for charity with maple syrup

April 1, 2016

Jack Doyle, Mira David and Audie Wells sell maple syrup at Town Meeting.

Lincoln School third-graders, with the help of Flint Farm’s Nancy Bergen and Ephraim Flint, successfully raised $1,400 for charity as part of a maple syrup science project.

The children collected and measured sap from maple trees and then correlated daily sap production with temperature, finding that sap flows more quickly on warm days. To collect the sap, they tapped three trees on the school campus, and Flint Farm tapped another 40 trees around town, such as along those Baker Bridge Road.

The Flints donated their time and equipment to boil the sap into delicious maple syrup. Third-graders Mira David, Jack Doyle, Law deNormandie and Audie Wells sold the maple syrup at the recent Annual Town Meeting. They sold a total of 22 quarts and 11 pints, and Flint Farm decided to give half of the proceeds ($700) to Codman Farm to support all of the great work they do in town.

The entire third grade also discussed a number of worthwhile charities to which the rest of proceeds could be donated, and decided that this year they will support Save the Children.

—Submitted by Michelle Doyle

Town Meeting applauds service of Eckhouse and others

March 20, 2016

Selectmen Noah Eckhouse (right) and Peter Braun at last year’s Fourth of July parade in Lincoln.

By Alice Waugh

At an Annual Town Meeting notable for relatively little controversy, attendees were at their noisiest during several standing ovations for fellow Lincoln residents who have given volunteer service to the town in various capacities.

The most prominent retiree was Selectman Noah Eckhouse, who decided not to run for a third three-year term (James Craig is running unopposed for the vacant seat). Selectman Peter Braun paid tribute to “the fun-loving Noah, the high-energy, full of life Noah, the Noah who brings his A game to everything he does.”

Eckhouse played a key role in the Town Office Building renovation project, Braun noted. “Noah put blood, sweat and tears into that building… this was a true labor of love and we are the true beneficiaries of a building that will last a long, long time.”

Town Administrator Tim Higgins also praised Eckhouse as “the town cheerleader and chief tone-setter” who motivated town employees, “empowering them and encouraging them to do their best work.” Both Higgins and Braun also highlighted the entire Eckhouse family’s commitment to public service.

“Noah’s been a voice in favor of giving continuous support to our volunteer culture, and we should be as grateful if not even more so for that than for the building,” Higgins said.

After thanking his colleagues and family, Eckhouse offered some advice to his fellow Lincolnites, exhorting them to keep uncivil discourse out of Lincoln, to provide solutions rather than identifying problems, and to get involved rather than default to inaction.

“Not to decide is to decide,” he said. “Consider the cost of doing nothing. Sometimes our desire to utterly dissect a decision stops us dead in our tracks. I argue that our most precious asset is not money or land or the Lincoln Way—it is our volunteer energy. Squandering that resource is something we all must guard against. Consider the opportunity cost when raising an issue.” (The full text of Eckhouse’s remarks is available here.)

Other volunteers who were recognized for their service at Town Meeting:

Andy Beard, who is stepping down after 15 years on the Capital Planning Committee. “I got more by serving than I gave to the town,” he said. “I got a deeper understanding of how the town works and built a set of personal relationships I wil value for many years.” He encouraged others to get involved in town service as the best way to follow the dictum “think globally, act locally.”
Jim Meadors, who is leaving the Conservation Commission after 12 years (11 of them as co-chair). The other co-chair, Peter Von Mertens, praised Meadors’s knowledge of natural history, hard work and dedication. “If you ever wondered who it is that picks up roadside trash, cleared all the windblown plastic bags off the fences at the Transfer Station, and stops in the middle of jogging to pick up micro trash on the trail, that’s Jim,” he said.
Bryce Wolf, who is stepping down after 10 years on the Planning Board. “All I can say is, what a long strange trip it’s been,” Wolf said. “Ive met a lot of very wonderful and very interesting people, and I really encourage to get involved in the town because you’ll never regret it.”
Retired Town Clerk Nancy Zuelke, who received the town’s annual Bright Light Award. Zuelke, who remains active with the Council on Aging and helping out at town elections, said, “I always thought [the award] was for someone with a bright idea and I’ve had no bright ideas. I’m just letting my light shine, that’s all.”
Deborah Dorsey, who is stepping down after 10 years on the Disability Commission. Dorsey was not able to attend Town Meeting.

Several of the honored volunteers have moved on to other important town offices for the coming year, however. Eckhouse and Beard were elected fence viewers, while Dorsey, Meadors and Wolf were elected Measurers of Wood and Bark.

News acorns

March 3, 2016

Sap to Syrup Breakfast on March 12-13

Maple sugaring season started a few weeks early at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, giving us the perfect opportunity to reap the benefits of a warm winter at the annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast on March 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feast on hearty pancakes with local maple syrup, as well as Drumlin Farm sausage and home fries. Diners are welcome to stay at the farm for as little or as long as they’d like and enjoy special maple-themed activities:

Visit Drumlin Farm’s maple grove and see sugaring in progress
Learn about traditional sap-to-syrup techniques
Sample and take home Drumlin Farm’s very own maple syrup

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children age 2+ (free for children under 2). Register online or by calling 781-259-2206.

“40 Years of Community in Lincoln” event gearing up

The Lincoln Council on Aging, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Lincoln Review are all turning 40 this year, and there will be a town-wide celebration with activities, food, performances, arts and crafts, and more on Saturday, April 30 from 1-4 p.m. in Pierce Park (rain date: May 1). Organizers have created this website to provide updates on planning and solicit individuals and town organizations who would like to offer an activity, serve food, or set up a display. Some of the activities already being planned include an obstacle course, an art and photo exhibit, a hayride and more.

Those who would like to participate should fill out this application, which is also available on the “40 Years of Community in Lincoln” website. Organizers also invite exhibits by artists who live in Lincoln or are affiliated with Lincoln-based art programs to fill out an artists’ application. Anyone with questions may call Carolyn Bottum (Council on Aging) at 781- 259-8811 or Dan Pereira (Parks and Rec) at 781-259-0784.

Honduras kids are latest recipients of Lincoln soccer gear

March 2, 2016

Two boys in xxx sport Lincoln Youth Soccer uniforms.

Two boys in Uganda sport Lincoln Youth Soccer uniforms. Photo: Sandy Storer

Lincoln Youth Soccer continues to (charitably) expand its brand among kids in other countries who are delighted to have used LYS uniforms and soccer equipment.

Honduras is the third country to receive donated LYS gear. Kids from Ethiopia and Uganda have previously gotten Lincoln Youth Soccer gear.

LYS treasurer Ted Charrette again spearheaded the latest drive, which tallied many types of equipment: 215 jerseys, 43 pairs of shorts, 65 pairs of socks, 18 pairs of shin pads, 30 pairs of cleats, 17 balls, and an assortment of goalie jerseys, shorts, gloves and miscellaneous supplies.

Roughly half the items were given to Suzanne Burgos, a Vermont resident who is active in ACTS Honduras and will ferry the items to a remote region in northeastern Honduras. The rest was given to Sandy Storer, the Lincoln resident who kicked off the long-term effort by distributing gear in Uganda. LYS gear will be used in a Uganda tournament run by Fund a Field, which has distributed almost 12,000 uniforms, socks, cleats, balls and more, according to its website.

News acorns

February 22, 2016

Spring wellness clinics for all ages

Lincoln residents of all ages are invited to meet with a nurse through a free town service. Come to get your blood pressure checked, ask questions, or learn about wellness resources. Clinics will be held at the Community Building at Lincoln Woods (50 Wells Road) from 10 a.m. to noon on three Fridays: March 4, April 1, and May 13. These clinics are funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. For more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Dawn Kenney

Dawn Kenney at LOMA on March 14

Dawn Kenney and Friends are the featured performers at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) in the Tarbell Room of the Lincoln Public Library on Monday, March 14 from 7-10 p.m. Dawn brings her love of bluegrass, country, folk and gospel music all woven together to create her own unique genre-defying sound. She has shared the stage at Carnegie Hall with the likes of Sarah McLachlan and Loreena McKennitt and she’s played a showcase in Nashville at the IBMA World of Bluegrass. Her Reverbnation page features some of her songs including One Step Ahead of the Rain.

LOMA is a monthly event. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. Names of those who signed up by 7:15 are drawn at random. We have a sound system with mikes & instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Conservation Commission seeks members

The Lincoln Conservation Commission seeks volunteers to serve on this seven-member board. Commissioner appointments are made by the Board of Selectmen and the terms are for three years unless the appointment is to fill out a previous commissioner’s term. The time commitment includes an evening meeting every third Wednesday as well as site visits, which are often held on the same day as the meeting and are typically held on weekday mornings. You will also be asked to participate in a Subcommittee or serve as a liaison to another board or organization.

The Conservation Commission’s work is diverse, but much of it is focused on wetlands permitting and open space management. Those with professional skills in reading and understanding construction plans are especially desirable, so a background in fields such as engineering, construction, architecture, or surveying is helpful. Also, those with legal experience or a strong environmental background (such as biology or botany) would help round out the current group of commissioners.

If interested, please submit the Volunteer Application form on the Town of Lincoln website to the Board of Selectmen’s office. Attendance at our meetings prior to appointment is strongly recommended for any interested applicant. See schedules and agendas for upcoming meetings as well as minutes of past meetings on the Conservation Commission web page.

LSF Spelling Bee slated for April 10

The ninth annual Lincoln School Foundation Spelling Bee is coming at light speed to Brooks Auditorium on Sunday, April 10. It is open to ALL children in grades 3-6 who reside in Lincoln or Hanscom or who attend school at one of the campuses run by the Lincoln Public School district. Each team will compete with other teams at the same grade level only. Kids can form teams of two to three (all must be in the same grade), or LSF has volunteers on standby to assist. Each participant receives a 2016 LSF Spelling Bee t-shirt, water bottle, backpack and snacks.

Registration is $25 and runs from March 1-18. Check-on begins on noon on the day of the event. Entry forms and fees can be found online at www.LincolnSchoolFoundation.org, in backpacks and at school. E-mail Bee@lincolnscoolfoundation.org for assistance. May the force BEE with you!

News acorns

February 18, 2016

The cover of the new book by Lincoln authors Lucretia Giese and Henry B. Hoover Jr.

Reading and dancing to “The Nightingale”

The Lincoln Public Library will host a reading of “The Nightingale” by Hans Christian Andersen on Saturday, March 5 at 11 a.m. accompanied by dancers from the Commonwealth Ballet Company acting out some of the parts while in their rich and colorful costumes. All ages. Free of charge.

Book event on architect Henry Hoover

Come to a presentation by Lincoln residents Lucretia Hoover Giese and Henry B. Hoover Jr. on Saturday, March 12 from 3-5 p.m. in the Tarbell Room of the Lincoln Public Library. Giese and Hoover are the authors of the recent book Breaking Ground: Henry B. Hoover, New England Modern Architect (University Press of New England), which chronicles the life and work of Henry B. Hoover. The authors will discuss their father’s work in the area and his many contributions to the field of modern architecture. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. [Read more…] about News acorns

Grant boosts aid to needy from St. Joseph’s

January 27, 2016

St. Vincent de Paul volunteers pack bags of groceries on January 26 at St. Joseph Church.

By Alice Waugh

Lincoln’s only food pantry recently got a boost for the Lincoln families it serves—a $20,000 grant from the Ogden Codman Trust.

The St. Vincent de Paul, St. Joseph’s Conference (SVdP) operates a food pantry at St. Joseph Church and also offers emergency financial help to clients who live or work in Lincoln or Weston. It’s run by the St. Julia Parish in Weston, of which St. Joseph’s is a part. The grant money is earmarked for Lincoln residents, and most of it will be used for helping clients with sudden financial needs such as rent or utility payments, heating oil, car repairs, medications and other expenses.

“Many of our clients work hard to support themselves and their families. They manage to do that until some unexpected event such as illness, job loss, car trouble, extra-cold weather requiring more heating oil, or other unforeseen expense makes it impossible for them to cover all their bills,” said Christine Brandt, vice president of SVdP. “By supporting them temporarily, we make it possible for them to stay in their apartments and to recover their independence.”

SVdP currently serves 44 clients (tied for its most ever) in 24 households. Even though the Great Recession is over, “it’s not getting better—there definitely is a strong need at the moment,” said Ursula Nowak, SVdP president.

In addition to the strong support within their own parish, the organization receives cash and grocery donations from many sources, including parishioners of St. Anne’s and the First Parish Church in Lincoln; Donelan’s, which donates day-old bread; Hope and Comfort, a Newton nonprofit that contributes personal hygiene products; and Land’s Sake farm in Weston, a source of fresh produce during the growing season. More than half the food it distributes comes from the Greater Boston Food Bank, which provides pantries with food at little or no cost.

When clients visit the food pantry (which is open once a month), each household gets one bag of groceries per family member as well as paper towels, toilet paper and other household and toiletry items. Clients also receive food for a Thanksgiving meal and grocery store gift cards at Christmas and Easter so they can buy the ingredients for a meal of their choice. St. Vincent de Paul also tries to connect clients with other resources—for example, a local summer camp each year offers one summer “campership” for a child from client families.

Anyone who would like to contribute may send a check to SVdP, P.O. Box 324, Lincoln MA 01773. If you would like to drop off non-perishable food items, please enter St. Joseph Church at the side entrance by the ramp and leave them in the basket near the door. Please make sure to check the “best by” dates, as the organization is not allowed to distribute outdated food. For further information, contact Nowak at unowak@stjulia.org or 781-259-4297. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please call St. Julia Parish at 781-899-2611.

The Ogden Codman Trust, the First Parish Church and individual donations also fund the Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund (LEAF) and the Small Necessities Project, which are administered by the Council on Aging along with the state’s Fuel Assistance Program. LEAF provides assistance of up to $700 per year or $1,000 per lifetime in those situations where that amount will allow someone to stay in the community. The Small Necessities Project can provide immediate help if a resident has no food in the house, needs emergency medication, needs a night or two of lodging due to a fire or flood, or has a similar crisis. For more information or to ask for assistance from either program, call Pam Mizrahi at the COA at 781-259-8811.