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

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Two virtual events from the Walden Woods Project

The Walden Woods Project is sponsoring two upcoming events. “A Virtual Lyceum: Writing Toward Resilience” on Friday, Nov. 6 from 7–8:15 p.m. will bring writers, scholars, and teachers together to examine the way society and individuals like Henry David Thoreau and Toni Morrison have protested and resisted injustices through their writing. The panelists will also discuss ways in which we, as individuals and as a society, can remain progressive and resilient to current obstacles and social injustices through writing, nature, and art. Suggested readings include Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” and Morrison’s “No Place for Self-Pity, No Room for Fear.” Click here for more information and registration.

On Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 7–8:15 p.m., Nathaniel Popkin and Gail Straub will discuss Popkin’s newest book, To Reach The Spring: From Complicity to Consciousness in the Age of Eco-Crisis. In the shadow of an escalating eco-crisis — a looming catastrophe that will dwarf the fallout from COVID-19 — how can we explain our society’s failure to act? Popkin explores the moral, social, and psychological dimensions of the crisis, outlining a path to a future spring. Click here for more information and registration.

Help clean up Minute Man NHP

Minute Man National Historical Park invites everyone to Park Day 2020 on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9–11:30 a.m. and 1–3:30 p.m. Sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust and Friends of Minute Man National Park, this annual event gives participants the opportunity to help preserve one of our nation’s most iconic and historic battlefields. Volunteers can sign up to provide assistance in leaf raking, invasive plant removal, and trail maintenance, while learning more about its history and ecology from park natural and cultural resource team leaders.

To ensure the safety of all volunteers, organizers will be limiting participation, requiring masks be worn at all times, and staggering work periods into morning and afternoon shifts. Volunteers can register to work individually or as a group (bubble) of five or less in different parts of the park where social distancing is feasible. Register by November 6 and receive a free Park Day 2020 T-shirt. Click here to register.

MBTA seeks feedback on service changes

The MBTA is seeking feedback on service changes that will be necessary in the face of drastically reduced ridership due to Covid-19 (for example, commuter rail is at roughly 12% of normal ridership). The T wants to hear from transit customers about the service people are using now, how often, and what their transit priorities are as part of Forging Ahead, the T’s plan to preserve transit access to shape the T’s upcoming decision about which transit-critical services to prioritize and protect, and which may need to be cut back until ridership and revenues return. 

On Monday, Nov. 9, the MBTA will announce its proposed service changes, after which public meetings and a public hearing will take place. These changes will generally not take effect until spring or summer of 2021. Customers are encouraged to provide online feedback here, and/or participate in a virtual public meeting, including an official public hearing. Click here to register for the meeting dedicated to the MetroWest region that includes Lincoln on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 6–8 p.m. Details are available at mbta.com/ForgingAhead. 

Library, GearTicks offer STEMtastic Challenges

The Lincoln Public Library Children’s Room is teaming up with the Lincoln GearTicks to promote their new monthly STEMtastic Challenges designed to encourage learning about a variety of engineering and science subjects. Each challenge will have a central STEM theme and is open to anyone. November’s challenge is “Marshmallow Architecture.” Click here for more information on the challenge and see a suggested list of books and websites to get you started. Books on the lists below (and more) are available to place on hold, or you can make an appointment to come in to the library to check them out. Call 781-259-8465 ext. 4 or email dleopold@minlib.net with any questions.

Volunteers needed for three town groups

The Select Board seeks candidates for appointment to the town’s Housing Commission, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), and the Pierce Property Committee.

The Housing Commission’s role is to develop and advocate for policies and programs that promote housing diversity in Lincoln. The group’s duties include policy formulation and advocacy, regulatory compliance, and management of town-owned housing units. Members work in close partnership with two other town housing organizations (i.e., the Affordable Housing Trust and the Lincoln Foundation) to ensure that the town remains in compliance with various state and federal housing regulations, while also developing strategies to help the town achieve its evolving housing needs.

Serving on the CPC affords an opportunity to learn about Lincoln’s historic preservation, affordable housing, open space preservation and recreational programs and initiatives, and to help determine how to most wisely invest limited Community Preservation Act funds. The Pierce Committee advises the Select Board on the use and maintenance of the Pierce House and Pierce Park and recommends annual budgets.

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. Click here for an application or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601 for more information.

News acorns

Drive-in choir worship service

All are welcome to St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m., when the church choir will offer a drive-in Evensong service. Evensong is a service primarily led by the choir, with the priest chanting pieces and the congregation singing hymns. Choir members will sing into microphones in their cars, and the congregation, sitting in their own cars, will tune in to an unused FM radio station and hear the singing in real time.

Kathryn and Bryce Denney of Marlborough figured out the equipment and procedures needed for Driveway Choirs, and they took it on the road for the first time at St. Anne’s in August. For more information, contact Music Director Jay (jay@stanneslincoln.org) or Communications Director Kristina DeFrancisco (kristina@stanneslincoln.org).

Free flu shot clinic for Lincolnites

The Town of Lincoln will offer a free drive-through flu shot clinic on Monday, Nov. 9 from noon–4 p.m. at the Lincoln North office park at 55 Old Bedford Rd. for Lincoln residents and school children ages 3 and up (the high-dose vaccine for seniors will not be offered at this clinic.) To participate:

  1. Review the available time slots and sign up (indicating the number of appointments needed for your car) by clicking here. Slots after 2 p.m. for school-age children and their families.
  2. Bring with you a completed Walgreens Patient Consent form and a health insurance card for each person to be vaccinated.
  3. Arrive at Lincoln North five minutes ahead of your appointment. After getting vaccinated, park your car and get a snack or just hang out for 15 minutes in the waiting area. 

Donate Thanksgiving staples to food pantry

The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston will be distributing all the trimmings for a turkey dinner, plus a grocery card to buy the turkey this year, to food pantry clients in Lincoln and Weston. Click below for more details and to sign up to participate. Click here to donate nonperishable Thanksgiving food and/or a grocery card.

Council on Aging activities in November

Here are some of the November activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For more information and a full list, including regular meetings of groups and online chats with town officials, see the COA’s calendar page or newsletter.

  • Line dancing with Katrina Rotondi — Wednesdays at 11 a.m. On November 4, the class will be held in person in the Pierce House tent. November 11 and 25 classes will take place via Zoom.
  • Blue Cross/Blue Shield webinar — Friday, Nov. 6 at 10:30 a.m. for anyone transitioning into Medicare or who is already on Medicare and wants to understand the various types of Medicare plans. Topics include the timeline for enrolling, pros and cons of Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans, and an explanation of Medicare Part D. To register, call Amy at the COA at 781-259-8811 by Nov. 4.
  • SAIL fitness classes with Derry Tanner, retired nurse and certified personal trainer in SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life), on Fridays starting November 6 from 10–10:45 a.m. To register, email Amy Gagne at gagnea@lincolntown.org. 
  • Chair yoga — Mondays starting November 9 from 10–10:45 a.m. To register, email Amy Gagne at gagnea@lincolntown.org. 

Learn media literacy for gender-based violence prevention

Rachel Matos

Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 3-4:30 p.m. for a Zoom program on “Unmasking Media.” The conversation will challenge participants to examine the messages they receive about consent, relationships, power dynamics, and violent behavior from movies, TV shows, music, and more. The workshop aims to identify harmful media while providing the skills to take action in practicing media literacy as a key piece of gender-based violence prevention. Facilitated by Rachel Matos, the outreach and prevention manager at Voices Against Violence. Click here to register in advance (required). For more information, please email infodvrt@gmail.com.

“Aging with Wisdom” retreat

Olivia Hoblitzelle

The First Parish in Lincoln will host “Aging With Wisdom,” a half-day online retreat on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m.–noon. led by teacher, therapist and writer Olivia Hoblitzelle. Participants will explore the gifts, challenges, and emotions of aging through teachings, meditation, and small group sharing to discover the opportunities for growth and deepening wisdom in our elder years. Register by Monday, Nov. 9 at by emailing  sarah@fplincoln.org. There is no charge, but donations are welcome to support the costs of this event. Click here for details.

Get a Surprise Bag from the library

For everyone who’s missing out on browsing the shelves, the Lincoln Public Library is now offering “surprise bags.” Discover a new author or genre, or  try a totally different reading/watching experience. Each bag will contain a combination of fiction and nonfiction titles, a DVD, a music CD, and maybe a magazine. Topics include cooking, healthy lifestyles, history, armchair travel, guilty pleasures, and hodgepodge. Call the Reference Desk at 781-259-8465 x3 to a bag for contactless pickup.

Drumlin Farm’s Pomponi promoted

Renata Pomponi

Mass Audubon announced that Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary Director Renata Pomponi has been named Director of Mass Audubon Metro West as part of the organization’s pledge to become a more effective, efficient, and responsive organization. In this role, she will continue to oversee the Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln as well as Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick, Waseeka Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton, Habitat Education Center in Belmont, and Brewster’s Woods Wildlife Sanctuary in Concord (not yet open for visitation).

Pomponi, a Sudbury resident, has become a well-known figure in the area since she was elevated to the Drumlin Farm director position in 2015, after having served for eight years in education and visitor-engagement roles at the popular wildlife sanctuary and working farm. Prior to joining Mass Audubon in 2007, she spent 12 years as a management consultant, specializing in strategic planning and business development in Fortune 500 organizations. She holds a PhD in technology management from MIT.

News acorns

Casting your ballots

Town Hall is open for early voting in the upcoming election at the following times:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 27 — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 28 — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29 — 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 30 — 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You can also vote in person on Election Day (Tuesday Nov. 3) at the Smith gym. Mail-in ballots can be returned by mail in the envelope provided or dropped off at Town Hall. There is a drop box behind the building and a second box to the right of the front door.

Photo project benefits food pantry organization

Corey Flint, who ran Lincoln’s Front Steps Project last spring to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP), is offering to take similar photos of residents dressed in their Halloween costumes on Saturday, Oct. 31. Participants will receive a professional photo of themselves and any family members (taken outdoors at their home for public health safety); in return, they write a check in any amount to SVdP, which supports needy Lincoln and Weston residents with food and funds. Go to his Front Steps Halloween web page to book a time.

Halloween-themed activities from Mass Audubon

Try your hand at pumpkin-carving using stencils.

Mass Audubon’s Fall Fest offers online and in-person activities with seasonal and spooky-themed activities this week up through Halloween night. For family-friendly Halloween thrills and chills, meet creatures of the night (hint: including some that hoot), gather around to hear spooky stories, and unleash your inner wild thing, howling and yowling on the evening of the 31st, when Halloween reveals a “blue moon” (a second full moon in a calendar month).

On the “treat” side, crunch through fallen leaves on explorations of Drumlin Farm and other Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries, join with other crafters to carve pumpkins and make fall-themed gifts, and check out seasonal volunteer projects. An online silent-auction “fun-raiser” offers chances to win exclusive Mass Audubon experiences like private strawberry-picking, visits with goats, Cape Cod adventures, and more.

Thanks to the support of Highland Street Foundation, visitors can enjoy Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary for free on October 30 with a reservation. See all the activities and programs at www.massaudubon.org/fallfest.

Fallen leaves pose a risk for stormwater pollution

Stormwater pollution is the toxic mix of bacteria, chemicals, metals, nutrients, and other contaminants that washes over pavement and other impervious surfaces and flows down storm drains to waterways. As the leaves fall, proper disposal of leaf litter is essential for reducing stormwater pollution and flooding issues. See these tips from the Lincoln Conservation Department for the proper disposal of leaf litter:

  • Keep fallen leaves out of streets – Leaf litter leaches nutrients into stormwater runoff and contributes to pollution in our waters.
  • Clear storm drains of debris – Leaf litter and yard debris plug storm drains and increase flooding issues.
  • Don’t dump in ditches or streams – Decaying leaf litter releases excess nutrients causing eutrophication and algal blooms.
  • Compost leaves and yard clippings – Reduce added chemicals in your yard and garden by creating a natural fertilizer with composted leaves.

Click here to learn more about the town’s initiatives to address stormwater and climate change.

L-S students win prestigious award

Anisha Kundu

Caleb Yee

Superintendent Bella Wong and the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee congratulate Anisha Kundu of Sudbury and Caleb Yee of Lincoln for receiving the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents’ Award for Academic Excellence. To be considered for the award, students must have a cumulative GPA that places them in the top 5% of their class and must also consistently demonstrate traits of leadership, social responsibility, respect for their fellow students, and involvement in various aspects of the school community.

Library open by appointment; pickup now in vestibule

The Lincoln Public Library has moved contactless pickup to the vestibule now that the weather has cooled. The service is offered every day except Sunday. Click here for more information on contactless pickup. The library is also open by appointment. Call 781-259-8465 (ext. 3 for the adult department, ext. 4 for children’s services). The first hour of each day is reserved for patrons over 60 years old or with health risks for Covid-19.

News acorns

Guidelines issued for trick-or-treating

Lincoln will continue the tradition of trick-or-treating on Halloween night (Saturday, Oct. 31), but residents are being asked to follow state public health protocols to minimize the spread of Covid-19.

For children and families: 

  • Trick-or-treat in small groups
  • Maintain social distancing as per guidelines and do not crowd doorways
  • Wear masks (costume masks are not a substitute!)

For those passing out candy:

  • Consider “one-way” trick-or-treating — leave treats on trays (not bowls) on porches/front stairs
  • If you greet people at the door, wear a mask and social distance
  • Pre-wrapped treats ONLY – no homemade goodies or items wrapped at home
  • Indoor parties are discouraged and maximum gathering sizes must be maintained

Presentation on saving Lincoln’s twisting catalpa tree

Sean Halloran of Arnold Arboretum with a cutting from Lincoln’s twisted tree.

The Lincoln Garden Club is sponsoring a virtual talk by Sean Halloran, Arnold Arboretum’s plant propagator, on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. Sean has been instrumental in efforts by the Garden Club and the Lincoln Public Library to preserve Lincoln’s iconic twisting catalpa tree. As the tree is well beyond its expected life span, he is also working with a community group trying to produce a twisting clone of the tree for the library. He will be speaking about those efforts as well as the biology of twisting characteristics in trees. He will also discuss the latest research into tree planting. This topic relates to a proposed community effort to raise a twisted tree from the cloned seedlings. Click here to register for the meeting on Zoom; you’ll then receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

Middle-school book group forming

A new book share for children in seventh grade and above will met on the third Wednesday of each month starting on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. We’ll share what we’re reading, what we’re making, and how we’re changing the world. Please email sfeather@minlib.net to register or for more information.

Pandemic increases need for diaper donations

The annual Metro-Boston Diaper Drive has begun, and the need is greater than ever due to families affected by Covid-19. The diaper drive, which runs through October 25, is organized by Lincoln mothers Kerstin Sinkevicius and Kim Jalet. All diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Lincoln as well as Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, and Lexington. Donors can visit the diaper drive’s website at mbdiapers.org for links to Amazon and Target registries to send donations directly to the WIC office. They also have a Facebook page.

“In normal times, we have about 40 collection sites for diapers in the Metro-Boston area, and we are able to take opened packages of diapers,” Jalet said. “However, the drive has to be entirely virtual this year, so we worry that donations may be down even though need is higher than at any time since the drive started nine years ago.” WIC reports that, due to Covid-19, many income earners in families served by WIC have lost jobs but did not qualify for relief benefits, resulting in difficult decisions between food, diapers, and other needs, as diapers are not covered by WIC and SNAP benefits.

Cultural council invites grant applications

The Lincoln Cultural Council (LCC) is accepting grant proposals until November 15. Submit your request via this link. Based on community input, the LCC gives priority to projects that provide work for performing artists severely impacted by the pandemic, show an ability to successfully present a virtual experience or have secured a local venue, serve families and/or the elderly, or focus on local history, environmental issues, and the natural world. Questions? Please contact Meg Ramsey at meg.ramsey@verizon.net.

News acorns

Tour de Codman bike event on Sunday

The inaugural Tour de Codman on Sunday, Oct. 11 will start at Codman Farm and will take bike riders on a nearly 12-mile loop through Lincoln along roads and paths, featuring stops at three remote pastures where farm staff and volunteers will give a short talk on the farm’s sustainable, pasture-based agriculture before returning to the farm for coffee, cider, and donuts. All ages welcome, but riders must be comfortable maintaining a 10-12 mph pace along Lincoln’s roads.

The route will spend as much time as possible on bike paths and quiet roads. Any bike in good working order should suffice. Please plan to bring your own water and snacks for the route. The ride leader will have basic tools but riders should plan to be self-sufficient. The total time for the ride, with stops, should be under two hours. Masks required. Staggered start times beginning at 9:30 a.m., in groups of eight participants maximum. Click here to sign up ($15 per person).

Brain research fundraiser features trivia, DIY cornhole

The Doo family of Lincoln is hosting the second annual Brain Games Fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 18 to benefit Moyamoya Research at Boston Children’s Hospital. Because of Covid-19, this year’s event will consist of virtual Challenge Trivia with the Trivia Brothers (who were featured at the Lincoln Public Library’s summer reading celebration) and “DIY cornhole.” There will be a family friendly version at 2:30 p.m. and an adult trivia competition at 4 p.m. Tickets are $50 per team (up to six players per team).

DIY Cornhole competitors are asked to post a photo or video on social media while playing (tag @wickedcornhole on Instagram or facebook); organizers will pick one creative post as the winner. There’s no charge to play, post, or be entered to win a prize. Post anytime between now and October 18. Additionally, everyone who donates to the Boston Children’s Hospital giving site will be entered into a raffle. Click here for details and registration.

Last year’s inaugural event at Codman Community Farms raised over $12,000 for research into moyamoya disease, a rare brain disorder that affects the Doos’ five-year-old daughter. The progressive disease required surgery for her last year and more is likely.

Register for Halloween Trunk or Treat

The Parks and Recreation Department is hosting its annual annual Trunk or Treat event in a drive-through edition on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 3–5 p.m, at St. Anne’s Church. Click here to register trunks, or go to lincolnrec.com and register under Fall 2020 >> Special Events.  Registration is open until Friday, Oct. 23.

News acorns

Fall farm fun for church group

First Parish in Lincoln church members and friends enjoyed socially distanced picnicking, pumpkin-picking, hay ride, and ice cream truck hired by the church at Matlock Farm on September 27. FPL member families, whose children have missed seeing each other on Sunday mornings, were happy to be together again on a beautiful fall day. Several parents commented that without the Flints’ pumpkin patch, they wouldn’t have felt comfortable engaging in the fall tradition of going into a field to get a pumpkin, as the larger farms are often crowded. The farm will be open for family fun every weekend this month (see the Lincoln Squirrel News Acorns on September 21 for details).

Confronting the climate change crisis

“24 Hours of Reality” with former Lincoln residents Ariel Hoover & Bob Moore, an international event organized by the Climate Reality Project, takes place via Zoom on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. For 24 straight hours, activists from around the world will lead digital presentations and discussions highlighting what people can do to confront these challenges. To receive the Zoom link, RSVP to climatereality.leecountychapter@gmail.com and indicate you’re from the Lincoln Public Library. Participation is free and open to all.

Scarecrow Classic 5K on Oct. 18

On Sunday, Oct. 18 from 8 a.m.–noon, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is holding the eighth Annual Scarecrow Classic 5K as a limited in-person race. There will be many physical distancing protocols in place, and runners will sign up for a start time, with each time capped at 10 participants. There also won’t be a gathering before or after.

To offer maximum flexibility, the Scarecrow Classic 5K will also include a virtual race option. Participants who sign up will receive their race shirt in the mail and can choose to run anytime, anywhere from October 11–18. They’re are encouraged to share pictures and experiences on social media.

Register by Wednesday, Oct. 7 to get your shirt on race day. There will be no day-of registrations and space is limited, so sign up today. The race directly supports LLCT and helps fund conservation acquisition projects, land stewardship goals, and educational programming. For registration and more details about safety protocols, visit www.scarecrowclassic5k.com.

Domestic Violence Roundtable hosts “What to Do, What to Say”

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites area residents to its meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m., where staff from REACH Beyond Domestic Violence leading a discussion entitled “What to Do, What to Say.” This hourlong workshop will review warning signs and patterns of abusive relationships, identify available resources, and develop the skills of friends, family, and neighbors to support loved ones in their lives. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting the organization’s website.

Please note that the meeting will be recorded. Those who wish to not be viewed in the recording are encouraged to turn off their video. We will hide those with videos turned off from the recording. Folks are also welcome to change their name for the meeting. We will review how to hide video and change one’s name at the start of the meeting. Anyone with questions may email infodvrt@gmail.com.

Fill out online survey for Connections

Connections, a program to connect high school students and seniors, kicks off during the week of October 17, and the program has launch a website (www.connections01773.org) where all participants can fill out a brief survey about their interests, schedule, and preferred method of communication (phone, Zoom, or paper letter). Click here to go to directly to the survey page. The deadline is Friday, Oct. 16.

Library event celebrates voting rights anniversary

Sheryl Faye as Susan B. Anthony

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote and learn all about Susan B. Anthony’s life in an immersive multimedia show where Sheryl Faye will portray Anthony followed by a Q&A session on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Free and open to all ages. For a Zoom invitation, email lrothenberg@minlib.net. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Library.

LLCT hosts author Richard Primack

Richard Primack

Join the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust for a talk by Richard Primack, author of Walden Warming: Climate Change Comes to Thoreau’s Woods on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The evening will begin with a brief business meeting to elect/re-elect trustees.

Primack is a professor of biology at Boston University with a specialization in plant ecology, conservation biology, and climate change biology. He and his team have been using Thoreau’s records from the 1850s to document changing flowering and leafing out times of plants, earlier flight times of butterflies, and changes to migratory bird patterns. As his work gains momentum, he is extending his research to look at changes to the autumn season as well.

All are welcome to this free program; click here to register. If you would like to attend but need help registering, email llct@lincolnconservation.org. 

Lincoln’s Emanuel wins award from WGBH

Gabrielle Emanuel

WBGH reporter and Lincoln resident Gabrielle Emanuel has been named a 2021 Margret and Hans Rey/Curious George Fellowship awardee by WGBH. She’s among a group of five WGBH content creators who were recognized for their outstanding work with the Boston public media producer. The award noted that Emanuel has produced “thoughtful and in-depth journalism, unveiling nuanced stories on subjects such as the opioid trials in federal court and the untold history of the Reverse Freedom Riders.” Made possible through a bequest from author Margret Rey through the Curious George Foundation, this fellowship recognizes GBH creators who work in areas reflecting Rey’s broad interests, including science, public affairs, arts, health and children’s programming. Emanuel has received numerous other awards for her reporting, including national and regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, a Sigma Delta Chi Award, and a Clarion Award. 

Buy used books at the library

The Lincoln Public Library is now open by appointment, and visitors are welcome to browse carts of used books for sale in the connector lobby. Books are $2 each; please bring dollar bills as staff will no be able to make change. All revenue from book sales supports programs and special equipment at the library.

Face masks required for everyone on school campus

Face masks are now required by everyone on school property (students, staff, parents, visitors, and construction workers) at the Lincoln School and on school vehicles. Masks must be worn securely over nose and mouth at all times indoors, and outdoors any time you’re within six feet of another person. The policy follows recommendations by the CDC, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters, open-chin, triangle bandanas, and face coverings containing valves, mesh material, or holes of any kind will not be considered appropriate. Masks must have at least two layers of breathable material and must be worn by all individuals in school buildings, on school grounds, and on school transportation.

Masks may be removed during “mask breaks” and while eating and drinking. Appropriate accommodations will be made for those who are unable to wear masks due to medical conditions, disability impact, or other identified health or safety concerns. If students are in violation of this policy, the building principal will consult with the parent/guardians to determine whether an exception is appropriate, or the student may be removed from the school building and transferred to remote learning until such time as they can comply with the requirement or the requirement is lifted. This policy will remain in place until rescinded by the School Committee.

Lincoln teens pitch in to help those affected by Covid-19

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School made the national news this week after dozens of students attended a party a party on September 11, forcing the school to delay the start of in-person classes due to worries about the possible spread of Covid-19. But other students are getting involved in projects designed to help seniors and the homeless affected by the same disease.

Joanna Schwartz, co-founder of Connections.

Joanna Schwartz, an L-S senior from Lincoln, got the idea last spring to do something to try to counteract the loneliness many people, especially senior citizens, were feeling as the pandemic lockdown took hold last spring. She partnered with the Lincoln Council on Aging to launch Connections, a program where seniors can converse with a high school student via Zoom, phone, or letter. Students can get community service credit, and both young and older participants can forge new bonds by sharing their life experiences or just chatting about their week.

Seniors are invited to a Zoom open house on Monday, Oct. 5 from 4–5 p.m. to learn more about the program. Schwartz will email a survey link to gather information on interests and preferred means of communication to match students with seniors. To get the Zoom link for the open house, contact Amy Gagne at the COA at 781-259-8811 x102 or gagnea@lincolntown.org by Friday, Oct. 2.

“My mom is a general practitioner, and would often tell me how her older patients were expressing feelings of loneliness and isolation during this time,” said Schwartz, a Lincoln resident who got the idea for the program last spring during the initial Covid-19 lockdown. “Moreover, I was frequently talking with my own grandparents on the phone and heard that they too were feeling isolated because of the pandemic. They missed getting together with their friends and seeing their family. I soon learned that just a 10-minute phone call would brighten their day.”

For those opting for Zoom or phone, the program will initially comprise four 20-minute weekly sessions starting in mid-October at times arranged by the participants. “Pen pals” will mail about one letter per week to each other over the four-week period, with the students initiating.

“That said, I hope the program will continue on after the pandemic, as there’s always a need for bridging the generation gap in our communities. And what better way to connect the generations than through conversations?” Schwartz said.

Swapping services for donations

More than 30 L-S students have banded together as the Coupon Collective, offering personal services and products to people in the area in exchange for donations to the Pine Street Inn in Boston.

“We ask the providers of the product to tell us how much they think their product is worth, perhaps for a little markup for charity; then we put that on our website and we ask people to donate that amount,” Rhea Karty, a senior from Lincoln, told Boston 25 News. Instead of pocketing the cash for what they provide, the students donate 100% of what they would’ve earned to the COVID Relief Fund of the Pine Street Inn, Boston’s largest homeless shelter.

The services and products that the group is offering include yard work, babysitting, friendship bracelets, baked goods, custom artwork, web design, and instruction in coding, languages, piano, volleyball, and more. They’ve also “sold” gift cards from businesses who’ve donated, including Learning Express and several restaurants.

Other students from Lincoln involved in the Coupon Collective are Samantha Broglio, Jennie Christenfeld, Bella Omar, Dasha Trosteanetchi, and Caleb Yee. The group has already raised about $2,000 for the Pine Street Inn.

“We’ve been able to have students at our school and others provide things they are very passionate about so they are able to keep doing what they love during a time they may be stuck at home and especially help people who may not have a home,” Sudbury senior Davin Martin told Boston 25 News.

The latest efforts add to the roster of public service projects recently undertaken by Lincoln youth.

News acorns

Fall weekend fun through October at Matlock Farm

Matlock Farm of Lincoln, continually run by the Flint Family since the 17th century, will host fall weekend events with pumpkin-picking and other family-friendly activities starting on Saturday, Sept. 26 from noon–4 p.m. Visitors can enjoy socially distanced hay rides, farm-themed photo ops, crafts for sale, and more in the farm’s field on Lexington Road. Events will take place on September 26 and 27 as well as October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and 24-25, weather permitting. For more information call 781-259-8402.

Speakers to address global climate crisis

On Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m., the Walden Woods Project will participate in the TEDx Countdown, a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action. The goal is to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in the race to a zero-carbon world.

TEDxTheWaldenWoodsProject starts with a live virtual session via Zoom with author and journalist Bill McKibben, co-founder of the climate campaign group 350.org, on “Using One Crisis to Solve the Next: What Does Covid Teach Us About How to Think in Emergencies, And How Might It Set Us Up to Address the Overarching Climate Predicament?” After that, there will be streamed global presentations from several other leading climate activists and experts, including former Vice President Al Gore and HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. Registering for the program gives access to all sessions, which run until 3:45 p.m. Click here for details about the speakers and schedule, and a link to register.  

Session on cutting your carbon footprint

Join physicist and businessman David Green on a Zoom webinar on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. as he discusses the financial benefits he experienced as he brought his home carbon footprint to zero. He’ll walk us through his analysis of the incentives and carbon reduction of different home systems from heating to windows. Geared to Lincoln residents and open to all. Free, but registration is required. Each attendee will receive an e-book copy of his book, Zero Carbon Home.

Caleb Yee

Lincoln’s Yee is a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School has five semifinalists including Caleb W. Yee of Lincoln in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Competition. The students will continue in competition for approximately 7,500 scholarships that will be offered in the spring of 2021. The others from L-S are Achla H. Gandhi, Josephine A. Halporn, Alexander W. Kornblum, and Riya Misra of Sudbury.

Drumlin Farm and other sanctuaries offer free admission to military

Mass Audubon is expanding to year-round an offer of free admission to its wildlife sanctuaries including Drumlin Farm for active-duty members of the military and their families. Since 2014, Mass Audubon has been a participant in the Blue Star Museums program, which offers free admission to active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve and their families each summer. The program typically begins in mid-May and runs through Labor Day in early September. Although it was officially suspended for 2020 because of the pandemic, Mass Audubon maintained the program, and will now honor it 12 months a year. Service members and/or families may simply present a valid military ID card to sanctuary staff. The offer applies to a maximum of five people per ID card.

Corrections

The story headlined “My Turn: On this WWII anniversary, remember Lincolnites who served” was mistakenly published on September 1 rather than September 2, the 75th anniversary of the signing of the surrender documents by Japan that ended World War II.

The September 1 story headlined “Chamber orchestra offers “Music-Grams” gave the wrong date for the Lyrica Boston concert at Farrar Pond. It is on October 18, not October 28. The story and calendar listing have been corrected.

News acorns

Young promoted to fire chief

Brian Young at the virtual Board of Selectmen meeting where he was named fire chief for the town.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Young has been promoted to Lincoln Fire Chief, succeeding former fire chief Steve Carter, who resigned for health reasons last year. Young previously served as acting chief and interim deputy chief. In recent months, he has been a key part of the town’s public health team that was created due to the pandemic  and successfully navigated budget and staffing issues as well as “quickly winning the admiration and support of his colleagues in surrounding towns,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said at the August 24 Board of Selectmen meeting where Young was appointed to his new role.

Hatha yoga in Pierce Park

Lincoln resident and certified hatha yoga instructor Melinda Bruno-Smith is leading free hatha yoga sessions in Pierce Park on the next four Thursdays (September 3, 10, 17, and 24) from 4–5 p.m. Please bring a yoga mat, towel, or blanket to practice on and wear loose-fitting clothing. The session will be cancelled in case of rain. All levels welcome. 

Author presentation, auction at Farrington Nature Linc

Farrington Nature Linc will host James Edward Mills for a special presentation on “Over the Adventure Gap: the Path of Progress Toward Lasting Social Change” as part of their end-of-summer celebration on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. The event will also include a celebration of their staff and students and an online auction to support their work.

Mills is a freelance journalist who specializes in telling stories about outdoor recreation and environmental conservation. He is the author of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors and the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent.” Tickets are free with suggested donation. A limited number of signed copies of “The Adventure Gap” are available. Click here for tickets.

Used books on sale in library

Now that the library is reopening on a reduced scale, the Friends of the Lincoln Library remind patrons that the used book carts in the building are open and ready for buyers. All books on the cart are $2, and a cash box is attached to the cart. Since the staff cannot make change, please either bring small bills or coins, or plan to purchase several books. Income from the cart sales helps to fund many library programs, equipment purchases, and museum passes. For information on the reopening and how to set up an appointment, click here.