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

charity/volunteer

News acorns

Public forums scheduled on Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan

The Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee is hosting four virtual public forums to review the Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan draft and collect feedback to improve the plan. There will also be a short presentation about the master plan at the State of the Town meeting in November.

The master plan, which was drafted by BPAC in consultation with the Planning Department, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and other town committees and departments, aims to make Lincoln to be more safe, green and accessible for residents and visitors traveling by foot and bike.

The public forums each focus on one region of Lincoln, but the BPAC will review the overall plan at each forum and are happy to discuss any region of town at any meeting if participants desire.

  • Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. — North Lincoln (Route 2 and north). Zoom link.
  • Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. — South Lincoln (Route117 and south). Zoom link.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. — East Lincoln (east of Lincoln Road/Bedford Road, south of Route 2 and north of Route117.) Zoom link.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. — West Lincoln (west of Lincoln Road/Bedford Road, south of Route 2 and north of Route117.) Zoom link.

More information:

Watering restrictions still in effect

With the continued Stage 3 drought, the state requires maintaining water use restrictions. To comply, the Lincoln Water Commission voted unanimously to extend water use restrictions in Lincoln beyond the traditional stop date of September 30. When drought restrictions are ended, a posting will be made on the town website and via other means. Don’t hesitate to contact the Lincoln Water Department if you have any questions (781-259-2669 or lafalamd@lincolntown.org).

During Stage 2 and above, Water Department staff monitors all sprinkler use in town and will stop to remind residents of the restriction policy. A first offence will result in a $100 fine, and subsequent violations will result in a $200 fine. For more information, see this Restrictions, Conservation & Water Use page and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ drought page.

Film screening: “After Life”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “After Life” (1998) directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. If you could choose only one memory to hold on to for eternity, what would it be? In Japanese with English subtitles. Free and open to all.

Walk to benefit SVdP food pantry

Join a walk to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston, which operates the food pantry for the two towns, on Saturday, Oct. 22 at St. Julia Church (374 Boston Post Rd., Weston) along Weston’s rail trail (approximately 2.2 miles). Check-in/same-day registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk at 9:30 a.m., with an ice cream social at 10:30 a.m. Pre-register by October 15 to receive an SVdP gift. Suggested donation: $10 per person/ or $25 per family. Click here to register and/or donate. For more information, email svdplincolnweston@gmail.com.

“Opera for Everyone” series returns

The Friends of the Lincoln Library present their annual “Opera for Everyone” series on three Sundays from 2–3:30 p.m. at the library. Opera lecturer Erika Reitshamer returns to enlighten, inspire and entertain while passing along her vast knowledge of opera and opera lore to Boston’s educational institutions. Her last offering for Lincoln Library was a lecture on “It Takes Two to Duet,” just in time for Valentine’s Day on February 12, 2022.

  • October 23 —Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love”
  • October 30 —  Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”
  • November 6 — Rossini’s “The Italian Girl in Algiers”

Click here for plot details.

Family Halloween activities at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum offers moonlit sculpture-building activities with deCordova faculty, self-guided mysteries to solve with friends and family, and a sweet treat or two along the way on Friday, Oct. 21 and Friday, Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $35 per family ($28 for member families); click here to select date and buy tickets. For more information, call 781-259-3647.

Pumpkin Palooza for kids at library

The Lincoln Public Library will host Pumpkin Palooza on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10:30 a.m.–noon. Wear your costume and join us on the library lawn for Halloween fun: pumpkin painting, activities, crafts, and more. Drop-in; best for ages 6 and under.

Purple lights highlight domestic violence awareness

Why are those buildings purple? Purple, it is said, is the color of courage, survival, honor, and hope. It is also the color recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month each October. For the past several years, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable, in collaboration with the Lauren Dunne-Astley Memorial Fund and First Parish in Wayland, has chosen to light the towns of Sudbury and Wayland in purple. They have lit numerous faith and public buildings in Sudbury and Wayland and have posted banners and signs in all three communities. The Roundtable invites local businesses and homeowners to join in by adding their own purple lights. Inexpensive 4.5 watt Feit purple LED Electric bulbs are available at Ace Hardware in Wayland and Aubuchon Hardware in Sudbury.

News acorns

Goats and owls at Farrington

Farrington Nature Linc is hosting two events in October: 

Baby Goat Yoga — Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.
Join us for an outdoor yoga class featuring a herd of friendly baby goats from Chip-In Farm in Bedford. Goat kids are naturally curious and playful and our little goats love to cuddle. $30 class with 50 minutes of yoga instructed by Julia Aronis from Little Elephant Yoga, and 10 minutes of picture time with the goats. Tickets are $30 (advance purchase required).

Eyes on Owls — Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
Join naturalist Marcia Wilson of Eyes on Owls as she demonstrates the hooting and lifestyle of each unique rehabilitated owl. Tickets are $20 each or $60 for a family four-pack (advance purchase required).

Cub Scout kickoff meeting on Oct. 12

Cub Scouts offers outdoor adventures like camping, fishing, and hiking, and exciting excursions: sleepovers at the Museum of Science and on the U.S.S. Massachusetts battleship. Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of the program is that it offers kids a real and fun alternative to screen time and gaming. If your child is interested in participating, plan to attend a meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Mason’s Lodge at 181 Lincoln Rd. We will discuss getting the Cub Scouts up and running again in Lincoln. Please contact Mark Soukup, troop leader, Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127, with questions: nickandnate@comcast.net.

Benefit cornhole tournament on Oct. 16

The Doo family is hosting Brain Games 2002, its fourth annual cornhole tournament to benefit moyamoya research at Boston Children’s Hospital, on Sunday, Oct. 16 from noon–5 p.m. at the Pierce House. Their daughter Kalea Rose was diagnosed at age four in June 2019 with moyamoya, a rare brain disease that causes the narrowing of the cerebral arteries resulting in strokes, and without surgery, death. (She has undergone three life-saving surgeries in the past three years.)

There will be a live band, inflatable fun for kids, a magician at 3 p.m., face painting from 1-4 p.m., a cornhole tournament for both kids and adults, raffles, beer from Mighty Squirrel & Barewolf Brewery, tie-dye fun, and food trucks. There is no charge for admission. If you’d like to register a cornhole team, get more details, or make a donation, visit www.doofamilyfun.com.

Tour the 1948 Schwann house

The Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln will host tours of the 1948 Schwann House and studio on Sunday, Oct. 16 every hour on the hour from 2–5 p.m. The house was designed by noted architect Walter Bogner, a resident of Lincoln and a professor of architecture at Harvard. He designed the house for the young William Schwann, an organist and musicologist who became widely known for publishing the Schwann Music catalogue.

Tours will be led FoMA board members Matt Andersen-Miller, who has recently restored the house, and Woodie Arthur, who will speak about the house restoration, Bogner’s design, and the Schwanns’ love for the house. Proceeds from ticket sakes ($50) benefit FoMA’s mission of preservation, documentation, and education about Modern architecture. Visit the FoMA donation page to purchase tickets; after specifying the dollar amount, indicate in the notes section which hour’s tour you would like to attend; we may have to adjust your time depending on demand.

Estate planning evening at deCordova

Join us for a free evening of art, cocktails, and estate planning at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. There will be a private tour led by Senior Curator Sarah Montross of the New Formations exhibit followed by a discussion about how thoughtful planning may strengthen your present finances, reduce taxes, and fulfill both charitable and personal aspirations: “What is Your Legacy?” with Drew McMorrow, President and CEO Ballentine Partners, and “Elements of a Good Estate Plan and Ways to Include Philanthropy” with Julia Satti Cosentino, partner at Nutter, McClennen, and Fish. The event is free but advance registration to reserve a spot is required.

Take survey on recreational land and water use

The National Park Service requires the state to complete a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) every five years to remain eligible for funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. As a part of the SCORP update, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is asking for opinions on outdoor recreation and open space from municipal employees, land trusts, and all users of Massachusetts’ outdoor recreational facilities. It’s critical for us to hear from as many residents as possible to know how to best distribute LWCF funding over the next five years. The response deadline is October 31. Click here to take the survey.

Sustainable products available at Donelan’s

Zero Waste Lincoln, a subgroup of Mothers Out Front, works with the DPW to run the swap shed and encourage recycling at the transfer station. The group also works on the purchasing side of the trash problem and has worked with Donelan’s Supermarket manager Jason Deveau to stock sustainable alternatives to products that are often packed in plastic, including:

  • Laundry detergent in cardboard (three brands available)
  • Shampoo and conditioner bars (Brixy brand)
  • 100% recycled toilet tissue and paper towels (two brands available)   
  • Compostable single-use plates/utensils/cold cups and straws
  • Compostable trash bags
  • 100% recycled aluminum foil
  • Juices in glass bottles
  • Paper bags for school lunches
  • Single-use water bottles in aluminum
  • Locally grown produce

If there are other items you’d like to see in local stores or have other ideas or energy to contribute, email pmokiwi@comcast.net 

Phinney’s holiday festival on Nov. 6

Phinney’s, a Lincoln-based all-volunteer nonprofit that helps keep people and their pets together, will hold its Holiday Festival at Lincoln’s Pierce House on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. This free event will feature caroling and the lighting of Phinney’s Angels Tree. Purchase refreshments and hand-painted ornaments as well as unique wares such as eco-friendly, washable pet pads. Visit phinneys.org/events to learn more. 

Volunteers need for MCC estate sale

The Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee’s Downsize for Diversity fundraiser is seeking volunteers for its final two-day Estate Sale Extravaganza on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 18 Cerulean Way. We will be selling off all pre-Covid inventory of fine china, pottery, linens, luxe decor, estate jewelry, small antiques, holiday décor, and other curiosities donated by generous supporters from all over eastern Massachusetts. Are you a high school student who needs volunteer hours? We are a 501(c)3 and can sign your volunteer form. Volunteers are needed to move and unpack items on November 16 and 17 from 9 a.m.–noon, as well as for various shifts during the sale days and on November 20. Please call, text, or email Joanna Schmergel to volunteer at owenjoanna@yahoo.com or 617-645-9059.

Read the Downsize for Diversity story and see photos of items they’ve sold to raise money in Downsize for Diversity: How We Raised $122,000 with a Pickup Truck and a Little Help from Our Friends.

View recording of postponed piano concert

Abla Shocair

Abla Shocair recently gave a classical piano performance on Bemis Hall’s Steinway grand. The concert, which can be viewed here on Zoom (passcode: de#W1j&$) was a spontaneous preparation owing to a last-minute cancellation of a piano duo performance. She played the Liszt/Paganini Etude No.3,”La Campanella” and Chopin’s 12 Etudes Opus 10, dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt. Despite being a civil/structural engineer by profession, Abla kept up her piano performances in different cities. She was born in Amman, where she started her piano lessons at age 4.

 

 

Grants available for Lincoln growers to supply the SVdP food pantry

The Agricultural Commission is offering funding to Lincoln growers who can supply fresh produce for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston (SVdP) food pantry.

The commission is offering a limited number of grants ranging from several hundred dollars to over $1,000 to qualified Lincoln growers. Grant recipients in the Farm to Food Pantry Program must deliver (or have their products ready for pickup) to the Lincoln food pantry early on at least one day on Wednesday morning, or the Tuesday preceding for nonperishable items.  

Applications are due by Monday, June 27. If you would like to participate, contact Ari Kurtz at arikurtz60@gmail.com. Specify the type of crops you wish to grow, quantities, and expected delivery dates.

The food pantry also recently received $3,000 as part of the Sudbury Foundation’s 2022 round of grants to 31 area nonprofits totaling $374,595. Another grant recipient: the Lincoln-based Food Project, which received $15,000 to redesign its website.

Summer is particularly challenging for food-insecure families with children at home. The food pantry especially welcome donations of Cheerios or Honey Nut Cheerios (which are versatile since they’re gluten-free) and salad dressings of all kinds, including oil and vinegar, since they can source the necessary produce. Other items that are always in demand: canned solid white tuna in water, Chocolate Ensure, and pasta sauce.

The food pantry serves neighbors who live, work, or attend school in Lincoln or Weston and are in need of food or emergency assistance, regardless of their religious affiliation or background. It’s located behind St. Joseph Church at 142 Lincoln Rd. in Lincoln.

Lincolnite sees her refurbished car go to a young war veteran

>(Editor’s note: This account was posted on the LincolnTalk listserv on June 15 and is reprinted with permission, though she asked that we not use her name.)

The Lincoln resident (right) who donated her car to Second Chance Cars with Marine veteran John Thomas, who was the recipient after voc-tech students fixed up the vehicle.

“In January I donated my 2006 Subaru Forester to Second Chance Cars, a Concord nonprofit organization that matches car donations with in-need recipients who are looking for cars to be able to get to work.

“After my donated car was checked out by a second chance mechanic, it traveled to Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School in Wakefield, where the mechanics class instructor and students thoroughly went over the car, looking for anything to fix or adjust. Then it went to the body shop students who spent months learning how to fix and paint the many dents I had put on it over the 15 years I owned it.

“I’m happy to report that last Friday I attended the car award ceremony for my vehicle and got to meet the person who received my car — a young Marine veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who was spending a grueling four hours a day using public transportation to get to and from his job on a fishing boat in Gloucester. Now he will be able to get there on his own in just over an hour.”

Second Chance Cars made a short video introducing the teachers and students who worked on the car, as well as a visibly moved John Thomas (the ex-marine) and the car donor, who revealed that she came from a long line of Detroit auto workers. She added that she’s a big fan of vocational schools (“I would have loved to have done this!”) and was happy her car could go to a “real person” who needed it. “I like to recycle and I think there’s no reason you should sell a car for parts,” she said.

Students then pulled the cover off the car to reveal a like-new vehicle with all the dents removed. “I want it back!” the donor joked.

St. Vincent de Paul scholarship opportunity for Lincoln residents

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) of Lincoln and Weston is pleased to announce a scholarship opportunity for Lincoln residents in need and for all our food pantry clients. The scholarships are intended for highly motivated adults who would like to take courses or attend job training to improve their earning capability but cannot afford to do so. They are not intended for young adults heading to college for the first time, nor are they normally awarded for master’s-level work and above.

Scholarships of up to $2,000 are awarded on a rolling basis. The goal of this program is to encourage neighbors to imagine a better future and to work towards making lasting changes and gaining financial stability.

SVdP is grateful for the ongoing support of the trustees of Ogden Codman Trust who are going to fund scholarships for the next three years. They have also awarded grants for financial emergency assistance and a matching grant for the recent SVdP spring concert fundraiser.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston provides financial emergency assistance and scholarships to financially disadvantaged neighbors and operates a food pantry in Lincoln. To apply for a scholarship or inquire about other programs, email SVdPLincolnWeston@gmail.com, call the St. Julia Parish office at 781-899-2611 ext. 4, or visit www.svdplincolnweston.org.

News acorns

Lincoln co-ed summer softball returns

A scene from a Lincoln Co-Ed Softball League game.

Sign up to play softball with the Lincoln Co-Ed Softball League, a “mildly competitive” league dedicated to recreation, sportsmanship, gender equality, and community for players of all skill levels. Registration is $50. Each team will play one or two games per week (games are on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays). Click here for more information and photos of the 2016 season and Lincoln baseball teams from the past, and click here to register.

Farrington Nature Linc fundraiser gala

Farrington Nature Linc invites everyone to their adults-only outdoor summer fundraiser with dinner, drinks, live music, and an auction of outdoor adventures on Saturday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. All funds raised from this event will go toward FNL’s summer youth programs. Purchase individual tickets ($100), tables of four ($350), or tables of 10 ($900). Individual ticket-holders may be seated with others to make a table of four. Click here for details and to buy tickets.

Six summer performances at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum has announced its 2022 Summer Performance Series that invites viewers to explore ideas of kinship, connection, and ancestry through the performing arts. These themes are also explored by exhibiting visual artists in The New England Triennial and Melvin Edwards: Brighter Days. Each event offers different experiences of cultures, traditions, and familial connections. Some events are in the Dewey Family Hall while others are on Linda’s Lawn. Concerts are on Thursdays at 6 p.m. on June 23; July 7, 14, and 28;  August 18; and September 8. Click here for more information and to to buy tickets ($28 or $35 for adults, $12 or $15 for children.

My Turn: SVdP concert fundraiser was a success

To the editor:

The “Gather on the Grass for Music” al fresco SVdP spring concert fundraiser was a huge success! It is with much gratitude that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul thanks our local sponsors for providing the raffle gifts and supporting the communities of Lincoln and Weston. We thank all who supported this fundraising event either with a contribution or with your warm applause from the audience. SVdP could not continue this important work with you!

Sincerely,

Karen Salvucci
President, Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

News acorns

Trail use forum on May 18

There will be a Lincoln trail-use public forum held on Zoom on Wednesday, May 18 from 7–8:30 p.m. sponsored by the Lincoln Conservation Commission and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. The two organizations have completed a comprehensive review of the multiple uses of Lincoln’s trails and how best to manage them for the protection of open space and overall public benefit. Over the last year, they’ve sought public comments and feedback regarding ways people use and enjoy our open spaces and trails.

At the forum, the Conservation Commission will review the process we used to evaluate changes in allowed trail uses, present draft trail use regulations, and discuss proposed changes to our trail biking map and dog walking rules. Additional comments will be sought during and after this meeting. Afterwards, the commission will post the draft trail-use regulations on the Conservation Department website. Submit any comments to the Conservation Department (conservation@lincolntown.org or 781-259-2612) by Tuesday, May 25. Click here for the May 18 Zoom link.

The new phone books are here!

The long-awaited 2022 Lincoln directory produced by the Friends of the Lincoln Library will be delivered to all households in Lincoln this week. If you do not want a printed phone book, please bring your copy to either the main post office or the library.

News acorns

Support 8th-grade grads at their sole fundraising event

The Lincoln School’s eighth-graders are getting ready to graduate. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to have dances or bake sales again this year, which are the usual sources of funds, so they need to do some serious fundraising to support the cost of the graduation celebration and the traditional class gift to the school. They will hold a car wash on Saturday, May 21 at the Town Hall from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (rain date: May 22). Click here to purchase a ticket ($20) and/or make a donation. This is their one opportunity to raise the needed funds, so please consider making a donation. This cohort has been particularly impacted by COVID, missing out on all the major middle school field trips, dances, and many enrichment activities, so we really hope to make this an extra-special graduation.

Open Studio artwork to be shown

Artworks by participants in Lincoln Parks and Recreation’s Open Studio will soon be on display in the Lincoln Public Library gallery, with an opening reception for the exhibit on Thursday, May 19 from 4-6 p.m. Open Studio meets weekly in a large, light-filled room during the school year on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Hartwell Pod A. For more information, call 781-259-0784 or contact Sarah Chester at schester636@gmail.com.

COA&HS topics include cooking, driving, probate 

Here are some of the May activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For a full list — including clinics, exercise classes, regular meetings of interest groups, and online chats with town officials — see the COAHS’s calendar page or May newsletter. Call 781-259-8811 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org for Zoom links and other information.

Brain-Healthy Cooking For One
Friday, May 13 at 1 p.m.
Learn to eat nutritiously, reduce food waste, and stretch your shopping budget when cooking for one. Senior Living residence chefs will show us how to prepare several tasty Mediterranean-style meals from a short list of cost-effective, brain-healthy ingredients. Please RSVP by calling 781-259-8811 by May 11.

The Driving Dilemma
Friday, May 20 at 1 p.m.
This presentation will review what we know about driver safety for seniors, how to keep driving safely, and the warning signs that may signal it is time to retire from driving. Beth Dugan, an Associate Professor of Gerontology at UMASS Boston, is actively investigating healthy aging She serves on the Governor’s Council to Address Aging Issues in Mass., has been a guest on WGBH, and is author of The Driving Dilemma: The Complete Resources Guide for Older Drivers and Their Loved Ones.

Probate Avoidance & Beneficiary Designations
Friday, May 27 at 1 p.m.
Elder law attorney Sasha Golden will share important news regarding probate avoidance and beneficiary designations. There have been many changes in the laws recently concerning naming beneficiaries of retirement plans. Sasha is a Lincoln resident and donates her expertise for monthly legal clinics & programs.

Summer farmer’s market kicks off on June 4

The first Lincoln Arts and Farmers Market for the 2022 season will be Saturday, June 4 from  9 a.m.–1 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Tack Room at 145 Lincoln Rd. The market will run weekly June-October. This year there will be more vendors, more produce, and more coffee along with music, food, arts and crafts. Stay updated on planning and vendor availability each week via this Facebook page.

Dramatic Shakespeare compilation on tap

The Lincoln Public Library will host “Shake-scene” on Friday, June 10 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Join Shakespearian performers Stephen Collins and Poornima Kirby for a rollicking ride through some of the bard’s finest poetry and most compelling characters in this original compilation of scenes, monologues and sonnets woven together with facts and lively banter. A Q&A period will follow the hour-long presentation. This program is cosponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Library and the Friends of the COA.

Musical duo in Pierce House tent

“Elizabeth & Ben Anderson: Scottish Fiddle and Cello Duo” will take place under the tent at the Pierce House on Wednesday, June 15 at 7 p.m. Blending Scottish tunes with lively rhythms and innovative harmonies, the pair create a sound rooted in tradition, inspired by the contemporary but completely original. This program is supported by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Garden club hosts Roaring ’20s fundraiser

The Lincoln Garden Club’s Roaring 2022 Prohibition Party fundraiser extravaganza takes place on Friday, June 17 from 6-9 p.m. in the Pierce House tent. Fine hors d’ oeuvres and wine, along with two signature cocktails (“hooker’s lips” highballs and chocolate mint mojitos) will be served. Lincoln resident Nicholas Ribush will be performing with his 1920s brass band along with Amy Kucharik, who will sing naughty flapper songs. The Minuteman Model A Club of Sudbury will also be on hand with eight of their 1920s cars to provide ambience and beautiful photo backdrops as guests arrive.

This is not a costume party but the dress code is “cocktail glam,” so bring out the shimmer, sparkle and shine! No password required at the door at this speakeasy, but you must show your vaccine card with three or four shots. Tickets are $55 and must be purchased in advance. All proceeds will go towards maintaining Lincoln’s Station Park as well as towards many other community service projects stewarded by the Garden Club. Questions? Call Joanna Schmergel at 617-645-9059.

News acorns

Volunteers sought for school bike week

Monday through Friday, May 2–6 is Walk, Bike & Roll to School Week at the Lincoln School, and organizers are looking for volunteers to help as crossing guards and to hand out between 7:20 and 8 a.m. on any morning. Click here to volunteer. Students and families are challenged to ditch the car and get to school under their own power. Bus riders can participate by walking or biking to the bus stop or around their neighborhood. Walkers and bikers will collect a different colored bracelet each day. Collect all five colors for a Friday afternoon prize.

Celebrate “No Mow May” in Lincoln

Participate in No Mow May and take an easy first step towards reversing climate change. Commit to letting the flowers bloom in your lawn this month and help redefine what a lawn is supposed to look like.

By mowing less frequently throughout the summer, we can continue to support the pollinators that flourished during No Mow May. Let low-growing flowers such as self-heal, clover, violet, and wild strawberry continue to add color, beauty, and ecological diversity to a lawn. Over time, consider replacing some or all of the lawn with native perennials, shrubs, and trees. Deeply rooted plants, once established, require less ongoing care than a lawn, offer beautiful flowers, and pull carbon deep into the ground. And a garden that blooms throughout the season offers an uninterrupted supply of nectar to pollinators.

If you’re worried what the neighbors will think, start a conversation about No Mow May and invite them to tour your burgeoning meadow. Lincoln Common Ground (part of Lincoln Mothers out Front) is also working on signage that can be displayed on the unmown lawn. To get involved, email Emily Haslett at emhaslett@gmail.com. Click here for pollinator-friendly plant suggestions from the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. to join the LLCT volunteer mailing list, email llct@lincolnconservation.org.

Learn about heat pumps for heating and cooling

Tired of dragging out your window air conditioners every year? Looking for the most comfortable, cost-effective way to cool your home? Join the Green Energy Committee on Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m. for a webinar all about air-source and ground-source heat pumps, the most climate-friendly home heating and cooling options available today. We’ll cover the ins and outs of replacing an old, inefficient system or adding a brand-new a supplemental unit or a whole-house system to your home. Dandelion Energy, a ground source heat pump installer, will answer questions, and you can hear from your neighbors about their experiences with heat pumps. Click here to register for this Zoom meeting.

International Honor Society of Nursing to induct Montie

Lincoln’s Helen Montie will be inducted into the International Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau (Delta Mu chapter at Yale Graduate School of Nursing). Upon completion of her MSN in 2023, she will sit for her boards to become a pediatric nurse practitioner/advanced practice nurse. Helen is a proud graduate of Lincoln Nursery School, the Lincoln School, LSRHS and Amherst College.