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

charity/volunteer

My Turn: Many thanks for the Easter baskets

(Editor’s note: see related story about the finances of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.)

By Tomasina Lucchese

The members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston (SVdP) are deeply grateful for St. Anne’s in-the-Fields of Lincoln’s brilliant Easter basket project. Led by St. Anne’s parishioner and Weston resident Christy O’Brien, they provided charming homemade Easter baskets for SVdP Food Pantry clients. Adorned with beautifully colored chocolate eggs, marshmallow chicks, stuffed bunny toys, bubbles, games and more, all of our families received quite a hoppy-happy treat!

The idea of donating Easter baskets came to O’Brien while she was buying candy for her own children’s baskets. She acknowledged just how quickly the cost of these items adds up and felt compelled to contact SVdP. She asked, “If I were able to pull together a group of volunteers from church to create and donate baskets, is this something your families would enjoy?” Our answer was, “Certainly!”

Christy O’Brien and daughter Grace Colsman, parishioners from St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church, prepare beautiful Easter baskets and bags of Easter treats for SVdP Food Pantry families.

Wasting no time, O’Brien launched the initiative enlisting dozens of basket-making volunteers from many of our surrounding towns. The parishioners of St. Anne’s in-the-Fields not only created and donated enough Easter baskets for all the SVdP clients’ homes with children, but they made up bags of candy for each of the remaining households “just so everyone could enjoy an Easter treat,” she said. These beautiful baskets were as diverse as the people who created them.

Because it was the first time Easter baskets were distributed to SVdP clients, everyone was very surprised! Thank you to St. Anne’s in-the-Fields for putting your faith into action this Easter season and spreading so much joy, hope, and love, especially during these trying times. To echo what one of our pantry clients said in response to the Easter basket she was given, “It never fails to amaze me just how generous and thoughtful this community is!”

Lucchese is Vice President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.

 

 

”My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their 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.

October 2015October 2019October 2020
Households served at the food pantry196392
Clients served at the food pantry37141226
Bags of food given out62150300
Total expenses (food pantry plus
emergency financial help)		$22,714$50,925$84,484
Donations/grants received$18,498$61,157$77,099

News acorns

Paid summer internships available

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) and the Lincoln Conservation Department are seeking two paid summer interns to work as field assistants. Candidates will support the management of conservation land by controlling invasive species, maintaining trails, and performing various other land use projects. A detailed job description and salary are available here. Application deadline is Friday, April 2.

Garden Club hosts session on Roundup

The Lincoln Garden Club is presenting “Roundup and Alternatives” via Zoom on Tuesday, April 6 at 7 p.m. The patent has run out in the U.S. and Roundup is outlawed in Europe, but it works. So what are the alternatives and/or the consequences of using Roundup, now sold under a variety of generic names? This public panel presentation features Ed Stockman, cofounder and education director of Regeneration Massachusetts, and Richard Selden, a member of the Lincoln Conservation Commission. Click here to register for this meeting. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Help clean up the Lincoln School campus

Come join the community PUTT (Pick Up The Trash) event at the Lincoln School campus on Saturday, April 10 from 10 a.m. – noon. We will provide garbage bags so volunteers can spread out around the campus and pick up litter (socially distanced). Please bring your masks, gloves, sunscreen and water. Reusable items are encouraged! Check in at the Smith parking lot (the red playground) starting at 10 a.m. If the weather is too cold and/or wet, our rain date is the following day (Sunday, April 11). RSVPs are preferred but not required — email puttlincoln@gmail.com or call 978-430-9934. If the weather is iffy, feel free to call or text on Saturday morning to check on the status. Community service credit is available for L-S students. Many thanks to Donelan’s Supermarkets and the Lincoln School PTO for sponsoring the event.

SSEF event to feature Tom Brokaw, Ellen Barry

The Lincoln-based South Sudanese Enrichment for Families invites everyone to “Resilience 2021: A Celebration of the South Sudanese 21 Years in America” on Thursday, April 22 from 7–8 p.m. The celebration will include stories from members of the community, a keynote address by Ellen Barry (New England bureau chief of the New York Times who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her series of articles on the “Lost Boys”), a tribute from Tom Brokaw (special correspondent for NBC News, who won a National Press Club Award for his reporting on the “Lost Boys”), and the honoring of Melissa MacDonnell, president of Liberty Mutual Foundation. Register for this free Zoom event, and view and bid on items in the silent auction.

Sign up online for hazardous waste drop-off

Residents wishing to participate in one of the hazardous waste collection dates this year must pre-register online here. You can choose any of the eight dates listed, along with a time slot. There is also a place to indicate roughly how much waste you will be bringing. Anyone with questions may call 781-259-2614.

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Emerson Hospital launches community needs survey

Emerson Hospital is conducting a community health needs survey to get input from residents, health care providers, and social service workers in the cities and towns served by Emerson. Anyone who lives or works in the region can participate. Click here for more information and a link to the survey.

Event spotlights male survivors of sexual assault

While all survivors of sexual assault face barriers, male survivors experience a unique set of challenges when choosing to come forward and seek support. Amplifying the voices of male survivors helps end the stigma and raise awareness surrounding male survivors of sexual assault. In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, please join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, April 13 at 3 p.m. for their next Spotlight Series event: Amplifying the Voices of Male Survivors of Sexual Assault. This event will feature male survivors from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center’s (BARCC) Survivor Speakers Bureau, who will share their stories and what they want the community to know. The conversation will be moderated by a staff member from BARCC and allow time for participants to submit questions via chat. Registration is required, and can be completed through the Roundtable’s website at www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org. For questions, email infodvrt@gmail.com. Recording or taking pictures of this event is prohibited.  

Pastel workshop offered

The Lincoln Public Library is offering “Dandelions: A Pastel Workshop with Greg Maichack” on Wednesday, April 21 from 6–8 p.m. via Zoom. In this highly researched two-hour event, participants have fun producing their own original pastel painting of Millet’s “Dandelions,” creating smaller versions from parts of his painting. Registration opens on Friday, April 2 at 9 a.m. The workshop is limited to 24 participants who are age 18+. All art materials will be supplied prior to the workshop. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

South Sudanese Fund events celebrates 21 years

South Sudanese Enrichment for Families invites everyone to “Resilience 2021: A Celebration of the South Sudanese 21 Years in America” on Thursday, April 22 from 7–8 p.m. Help celebrate and contribute to the ongoing work to build and support the next generation — the children of the “lost boys and girls of Sudan.”

  • Register for this free Zoom event
  • Silent auction from April 9–26 — view and bid
  • Donate online by going to SSEFBoston.org or send a check to SSEF, P.O. Box 492, Lincoln, MA 01773.

Volunteer sought for Board of Assessors

The Board of Selectmen seeks candidates to serve a one-year term as an appointee to the Board of Assessors. The appointee would need to submit nomination papers and stand for election in March 2022 in order to continue on the board. Download and submit this application form to the Selectmen’s Office, c/o Peggy Elder (elderp@lincolntown.org), by April 30 at 5 p.m. Interviews will be conducted in June and the appointment will be effective immediately thereafter. Dorothy Blakely, administrator for the Board of Assessors, is available (blakelyd@lincolntown.org) to answer questions about the duties and role of the board.

Lincoln gets nod from Boston Magazine

Lincoln is one of four Boston suburbs spotlighted in the magazine’s “Top Places to Live 2021” issue. The magazine reports that the median price for a single-family home in town is $1,375,000 and has increased by 15% in the past year. Coldwell Banker’s Susan Law is quoted as saying about Lincoln: “It’s really amazing to me to see how many people are active and involved… to make things work for the town, not just for themselves.”

Azzure Annacacis chosen as Project 351 Ambassador

Azzure Annacacis

Lincoln School eighth-grader Azzure Annacacis has been selected as Lincoln’s 2021 Project 351 Ambassador. She joins other eighth-graders representing the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts for a transformational year of youth-led service, leadership development, and civic engagement.

Azzure was selected by the Lincoln School to represent Lincoln for an inspiring ethic of service and the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude. In her application, she wrote, “Community service is important to me because it helps underprivileged people change their circumstances and allows them to go back and help their community. Also, because it helps privileged people use their privilege to help less fortunate communities. In addition, it helps humanize each group to each other, thereby creating a stronger bond. Lastly, community service is essential because the community is a strong foundation of society it helps everyone.” When the teachers read this, they could not think of a better representative to be present on behalf of the community of Lincoln.

On March 7, Ambassadors celebrated the official start of their service year at a virtual Launch featuring remarks from Gov. Charlie Baker honoring the legacy of civil rights hero and Congressman John Lewis. Launch marks the start of ten months of community-building and transformational service in support of nonprofit partners including Cradles to Crayons, Hope & Comfort, Wonderfund, and hundreds of food pantries across the state.

Ambassadors are now engaged in a four-week Service Leadership Academy to build the knowledge and skills to lead and serve. Highlights include a community meeting with First Lady Lauren Baker and anti-bias, anti-discrimination training through the Playbook Initiative, a partnership with the Boston Celtics.

Through Project 351, which is funded entirely by the private sector and individuals, Ambassadors gain skills for a lifetime of service, strengthen the ethic of civic engagement, and scale service impacts to address the causes and consequences of poverty. More than 4,000 eighth-graders have participated since the program was founded in 2011.

News acorns

Winter Carnival features scavenger hunt, ice sculpture demonstration

As part of Lincoln’s annual Winter Carnival, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust/Rural Land Foundation (LLCT/RLF) invites the public to participate in two of its featured free events:

  • From Saturday, Feb. 20 through Sunday, Feb. 28, the LLCT/RLF will host a Winter Animals Scavenger Hunt. Gear up and take a hike on Lincoln’s many walking trails in search of the various animal sculptures hidden on trails and created by local artists and students at the Birches School. Take a selfie at each sculpture and submit your photos to be eligible to receive a $10 gift card from Twisted Tree Cafe or Something Special (one per household while supplies last). Click here for instructions and scavenger hunt clues.

    Ice sculptor Donald Chapelle with a frog in progress.

  • On Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m, the LLCT/RLF and William Jackson Associates will host an ice sculpture demonstration featuring Donald Chapelle, a local artist with 40 years of ice carving experience and founder of Brilliant Ice Sculpture. In addition to showcasing a number of pre-made ice sculptures, which he’ll have on-site, Chappelle will use chainsaws, ice picks, and various carving elements to bring a moose to life out of a block of ice. The demonstration, which takes place on the green at the Mall at Lincoln Station, is a great fun-for-the-whole-family experience (physical distancing protocols will be in place). Twisted Tree Cafe will set up a pop-up shop with hot chocolate and cookies starting at 10:30. Hint: the moose will be the last sculpture on the scavenger hunt (see above).

See and hear spring birds in fireside chat

The LLCT is also sponsoring a Zoom fireside chat and photo-sharing session with Lincoln resident and photographer Barbara Peskin about spring birds on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. Spring is a time of renewal, return and migration, and Peskin will highlight spring visitors to our yards, woods and fields, including rose-breasted grosbeaks and a scarlet tanager, a pair of cardinals, black-capped chickadees, pileated woodpeckers, and more. She’ll also play some of the calls and songs of these backyard friends. Along with the spring songbirds will be a few local and special photos. After her remarks, there will be time for questions and conversation. The program is free and open to all, but registration is required.

Library works to improve contactless pickup

Since the Lincoln Public Library second closure to the public, patrons have had to rely on reserving books online and picking them up in paper bags in the library vestibule. But because of limited space and demand outstripping the skeleton staff’s ability to quickly fill all the requests, the library has announced some changes.

As of February 18, items will no longer be put into separate paper bags so as to maximize the limited space in the vestibule. Staff are also looking into more temporary shelving in the small space. Empty paper bags and hand sanitizer are available. The staff also asks that patrons fill out the online pickup scheduling form only after they receive notification that they have an item ready for pickup. Complete information and links are available on the library’s Contactless Pickup web page.

Scholarship committee seeks member

The Board of Selectmen seeks volunteers to fill a vacancy on the Lincoln Scholarship Committee. The committee administers the information, applicant review, and selection processes for several scholarships and awards available to Lincoln students graduating from secondary schools. The group also fundraises on behalf of the Lincoln Permanent Scholarship Fund and mails an annual appeal letter to residents of Lincoln. For more information about the Committee, you can visit their webpage or email LincolnScholarship@LincolnTown.org

Letters of interest should be addressed to Select Board Chair James Craig and sent to Peggy Elder, administrative assistant in the Selectmen’s Office, at elderp@lincolntown.org. Residents are also welcome to fill out and submit this volunteer application or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.

News acorns

(This post was edited on January 13 to include a link to a movie of the winning marble run.)

Library pickup hours reduced

Due to staffing issues, the Lincoln Public Library, which is now closed to the public, is reducing its contactless pickup hours as of Wednesday, Jan. 13. The new hours are:

  • Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 1–6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Friday and Saturday: 1–5 p.m.

Visit the library’s FAQ page for the latest information on changes to services and contactless pickup times. If you have any questions regarding your pickup, the best way to reach the library is via email to lincoln@minlib.net.

Please pick your materials up on the requested day. There is not sufficient staffing at library to handle leftover bags. Also, the library’s elevator is out of service, which is also resulting in a delay processing requests, but it should be fixed by the end of the week.

GearTicks name winner of December STEMtastic Challenge

Devon’s marble run starts at top left, runs down through a hose along the backs of two chairs, then around a cardboard track to another hose, where it emerges to glide over the top of a guitar and down a final pipe before hitting a bell suspended on a string and then a foam backstop. Click image to see a short video of the marble run in action.

Congratulations to 14-year-old Devon, the December winner of the GearTicks STEMtastic Challenges. Devon’s marble run featured unique household objects, and his ingenious use of a guitar in his marble run especially impressed the GearTicks. Click here to see a short video of the marble run in action.

January’s STEMtastic Challenge theme is vehicles. More challenge details can be found here. To access the Lincoln Public Library’s STEMtastic resources, click here
and scroll down. If you have any suggestions for future challenge topics or ways to improve the challenge, please use this Google form. For more information about the GearTicks team, visit www.gearticks.com or email hello@gearticks.com.

Second youth talent show to benefit St. Jude’s Hospital

Plans are in place for a youth talent show on Zoom on Friday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. This is the second such event organized by L-S seniors Achla Gandhi and Dasha Trosteanetchi as kids4humanity.org. The first show on December 23 raised more than $2,500 for Save the Children.

St. Jude’s Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children’s catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. The hospital costs about $2.8 million a day to run, but patients are not charged for their care.

“Right now we’re trying to get as many kids involved as possible. We aren’t looking for perfection or child prodigies — just children willing to step up to make our world a little brighter,” Gandhi said. Any kind of talent is welcome as well as any age children (the last show featured performers from 1 to 19). Performances will be pre-recorded and sent to organizers ahead of time to make the process easier for parents with younger children.

To register to perform, email kids4covid.19@gmail.com with names, ages, and talents by Friday, Jan. 29. Donations are always encouraged but none are required to perform or to attend the show — click here to donate. Videos are due by February 5. If you have any questions or would like to see past performances to get a sense of the format — or if your company has a matching program and you’re interested in getting involved — send an email to the same address.

Virtual award presentation for three Lincoln houses

Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln (FoMA) invites everyone to its annual awards ceremony with a presentation on “Updating an Original: Three 20th Century Houses in the 21st Century” on Sunday, Jan. 24 from 4–6 p.m. (click here to watch on Zoom). Meet the award-winning owners and their architects/designers for outstanding renovations that were sensitive to the original house, while maintaining the “character of place” established in their respective neighborhoods. The houses are:

  • 1956 Swanson House, Laurel Drive, original design by Dan Compton and Walter Pierce
  • 1959 Wales House, Moccasin Hill Road, original design by Henry B. Hoover and Walter Hill
  • 1967 Kuhn House, Tower Road, original design by Constantin Pertzoff

For more information, see the FoMA website or email fomalincoln@gmail.com.

There’s still time to apply for energy/fuel assistance

If you spend more than 30% of your income on housing costs (rent, condo fee, mortgage, electricity, heating, property tax, homeowner’s insurance, etc.) and have not yet applied for Lincoln’s Fuel Assistance program, there’s still time. Fuel Assistance is a federally funded program that helps eligible households with energy and/or heating costs during the winter months. Depending on your household income, you may qualify if you own or rent your home, even if heat is included in your rent. The program covers oil, gas, electric, propane, kerosene, and wood. Those approved for Fuel Assistance are also eligible for a discount on utility bills, weatherization for your home, and a program to repair or replace your primary heating system.

To apply for Fuel Assistance, residents of all ages can contact the Council on Aging at 781-259-811 to set up an appointment. They will let you know what documents you’ll need.

Just two days left in the Lincoln Chipmunk fundraising drive

Last month we asked supporters of the Lincoln Chipmunk (Lincoln Squirrel’s sister publication for the arts) for help in defraying some of the $8,000 cost of creating the Chipmunk’s website. The Indiegogo fundraising drive ends on Wednesday, Jan. 6, so please consider making a contribution to a vital platform for Lincoln’s artists, writers, and photographers. As an incentive, you can get some Lincoln Squirrel or Lincoln Chipmunk merchandise as a thank-you for donating at various levels. Click on the image below for details:

Lincoln Squirrel subscribers have free access to the Lincoln Chipmunk, so please see what your artistic neighbors have been doing, and learn about how to contribute some work of your own.

Even if you don’t donate, have a look at our new store for all your Squirrel/Chipmunk merchandise needs, including clothing, drinkware, stickers, coasters, and of course face masks.

A huge thank-you to everyone who’s supported the Squirrel in various ways over the last eight years, and to those who waited patiently for the successor to the Lincoln Review to finally make its debut. And thanks in advance to anyone who’s able to donate to the Lincoln Chipmunk!

News acorns

Christmas tree pickup benefits Fire Dept.

The Lincoln Fire department will pick up Christmas trees on Saturday, Jan. 9 from residents who’ve made a $20 donation toward their fundraiser. For details, contact Caleb Hagerty at hagartyc@lincolntown.org.

Send in suggestions for next talent show beneficiary

The deadline is Thursday, Jan. 7 for submitting nominations for a charitable cause that will benefit from the next Lincoln youth talent show. Organizers will keep all suggestions anonymous. Two options have already been presented:

  • Marc Day, a 2018 L-S graduate who is battling Stage 4 cancer
  • The Lincoln chapter of St. Vincent de Paul Society, which runs a food pantry and emergency fund to help people in the community who are having trouble financially

Please email achlagandhi24@gmail.com or kids4covid.19@gmail.com with ideas. Organizers will send out a survey on LincolnTalk next week to let the community can vote. Here are links to videos of the first talent show on December 23: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Event looks at domestic abuse survivors from South Asia

On Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m., the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will host a talk by Divya Chaturvedi and Rita Shah, co-executive directors of Saheli, about the organization’s work supporting domestic abuse survivors from South Asia. They’ll highlight how Saheli focuses on people’s unique cultural beliefs and backgrounds when offering programs and services. The presentation will include:

  • A closer look at some of the specific cultural factors — such as acculturation stress, limited support structure in the U.S., and limited English proficiency — that make it more difficult for people who have immigrated from South Asia to access support
  • The hows and whys of Saheli’s focus on economic empowerment, awareness of legal rights, reducing isolation, and fostering healthy relationships.
  • Suggestions on how friends, neighbors, and family members can best support people from South Asia who may be living with abuse.

To get the Zoom link to the program, please register here or through the Roundtable’s website. Over the course of the year, the Roundtable will be presenting several programs in its Spotlight Series focusing on segments of our communities that face additional barriers when considering if and how to seek help or support. For questions, please email infodvrt@gmail.com

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Town-wide scavenger hunt runs through Jan. 3

Join the Lincoln trails scavenger hunt now until January 3. Go to the six locations in town, find a hidden QR code, and scan it — you’ll be taken to a Padlet page for that location, where you can post a selfie to prove you were there. Visit all six spots and claim a $10 gift certificate to the Twisted Tree Café or Something Special (one certificate er household while supplies last). Open to all who live, work, or go to school in Lincoln. Click here for more information.

If you’ve posted your photos from all six locations, send an email to selectmen@lincolntown.org with your name and address, and indicate which gift certificate you’d like (as of December 28, three groups had already finished the hunt and written in to claim their gift certificates. If you’re having trouble with the technology, take a selfie at each location and send them to the same email address.

Second youth talent show in the works

The Lincoln youth talent show hosted via Zoom on December 23 was a resounding success, and the organizers are planning to make it a recurring event, with the next show on February 12.

L-S seniors Achla Gandhi and Dasha Trosteanetchi dreamed up the event to boost community spirit during the holidays and raise money for Save the Children, a nonprofit currently focused on helping kids who have been impacted by the pandemic. Twenty-two groups performed and almost 50 families attended online. The original fundraising goal was $1,000 but as of December 28, the event was just $30 short of its new $2,250 target. Here are links to videos of the talent show: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

For the February 15 show, Gandhi and Trosteanetchi are letting Lincoln residents decide which charity or cause that donations should benefit. To send suggestions or to register to perform, email kids4covid.19@gmail.com (please include your name, age and talent if you’re an aspiring performer).

You can give Fire Dept. access to your home in emergencies

The Lincoln Fire Department participates in the Knox Box program, whereby residents may purchase a lockbox with a key to their home. The lockbox that mounts on the outside of your home can be unlocked only by the Fire Department with a master key. Click here to purchase a box. If you need one only for a short time, contact Ben Juhola at the Fire Department (781-259-8113) about renting one.

Also, if anyone in your household is on oxygen or other any other medical machine that would create a risk during a power outage, you may let the Fire and Police Departments know by calling 781-259-8113. They can then check on you when the power goes out or let you know of a scheduled outage.

Honor a teacher and staff this holiday season

The Lincoln Public Schools are one of the few districts in the state that has remained open for full-time in-person learning, and this has only been possible because of the efforts of LPS administrators, teachers, and staff. For a special way to thank a teacher, administrator, teaching team, or other staff member, consider giving an Honor a Teacher or Staff (HATS) certificate. The Lincoln School Foundation’s HATS program lets you recognize specific Lincoln educators while supporting the LSF. For a small donation, the LSF will prepare a certificate of appreciation with your personalized message, to be delivered by email. Click here for details. Donations support LSF’s grants to teachers and innovation in the classroom, which have been all the more important this year.

News acorns

Youth talent show coming up on Wednesday

The Kids4Covid talent show will be live on Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 23. Entrance starts at 5 p.m., and the show begins at 5:15. Everyone is welcome; donations from adults who watch are requested, but organizers understand that the pandemic has affected everyone differently. All donations will go straight to Save the Children. The goal is $1,000 and the effort has raised $665 so far. Donate here, and watch on Zoom here.

Mass Audubon offers free admission for foster families

Furthering its commitment to connect people of all ages and backgrounds to nature, Mass Audubon is now participating in the Wonderfund Access Card program, which serves thousands of children in foster care with the state Department of Children and Families (DCF). Foster families can now enjoy free access in 2021 for up to four individuals per visit to Mass Audubon’s network of wildlife sanctuaries, including Drumlin Farm. Wonderfund, which serves more than 5,000 DCF foster families statewide, joins other programs for which Mass Audubon is a participating partner year-round, including EBT Card to Culture, ConnectorCare Card to Culture, and Blue Star Families.

College magazine profiles alumna and MCC fundraiser Schmergel

Joanna Schmergel and her successful ongoing estate sale to benefit the Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee is the focus of a story in the Norwich Bulletin, a publication of her alma mater, Norwich University. Quoting fellow Lincolnites Erica Gonella and Pilar Doughty, the article described how Schmergel, a former lieutenant in the army’s 82nd Airborne division, “jumped in feet-first, Airborne style” when she was first asked for a donation to the MCC.