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

conservation

Letter to the editor: join climate strike on Friday

To the editor:

I urge Lincolnites concerned about climate change to join the Global Climate Strike in Boston on Friday, Sept. 20, and to join in activities planned for the “Week of Action” to follow.

Responding to Greta Thunberg’s call for an uprising to raise awareness about the climate crisis, young people have organized a large climate strike event in Boston. This is part of a national and international campaign to demand faster action from our governments and industries on climate change. The more people who show up, the stronger the message!

The schedule for the day includes:

  • 10–11:30 a.m. — Community events at City Hall Plaza (art activities, partner organization tabling, sign making, community mural)
  • 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Main rally at City Hall Plaza (speakers, dances/songs/bands, slam poetry)
  • 1–1:30 p.m. — March to Massachusetts State House
  • 1:30–2:30 p.m. — Action at Massachusetts State House

Many Lincolnites will take the 9:09 a.m. train into Boston. If you arrive at the Lincoln platform by 8:45 a.m., you will be in time for a blessing by the new rector of St/ Anne’s Church. Possible return trains include the 3:30 from North Station.

As Bill McKibben recently wrote in The Guardian, September 20 “is shaping up to be the biggest day of climate action in the planet’s history… But it will only be a success on the scale we need if lots of people who aren’t the regular suspects join in. Many people, of course, can’t do without a day’s pay, or work for bosses who would fire them if they missed work. So it really matters that those of us with the freedom to rally do so.”

If you can’t make it to Boston on Friday, similar local events are planned in:

  • Sudbury (gather at First Parish UU Church, 327 Concord Rd., for sign creation at 11 a.m. and stand vigil at the common at noon)
  • Lexington (join the march from the Minuteman statue on the town green at 9:30 a.m., or gather at the Lexington High School football field at 10 a.m.)
  • other towns (I’ll be joining the event in Manhattan)

But wait, there’s more! The Week of Action following Sept. 20 includes the following opportunities for you:

  • Sunday, Sept. 22 — 350 Massachusetts will kick off its weeklong Charlie Baker Climate Catastrophe Tour. Gather at the State House steps from noon–1 p.m., then march to South Station, where our oversized Charlie puppet will give a press conference and set off on his statewide tour of climate catastrophes. The fun will include street theater and singing the new climate version of “Charlie on the MTA.” Find more details here.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 25 (preferably) — help flood the office of Chase Bank CEO Jamie Dimon with phone calls, demanding that Chase stop its massive lending to the worst parts of the fossil fuel industry. Find more background and a call script here.
  • Thursday, Sept. 26 — make your voice heard from 7–9 a.m. at the Framingham commuter rail station (details here).
  • Friday Sept. 27 — be at Dewey Park near South Station at 3:30 p.m. to join an action by Extinction Rebellion to “peacefully disrupt business as usual.” Find out more through their Facebook event page.
  • Saturday Sept. 28 — be in Bow, N.H., by 11 a.m. to join in the protest against the coal plant there. Go here to get more details, indicate interest, and/or donate.

Sincerely,

Paul Shorb
99 South Great Rd., Lincoln

Kids to learn first-hand about recycling

Lincoln children are invited to bring discarded plastics they’ve collected from their homes the previous week to an educational recycling event at the transfer station on Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 2–3:30 p.m. The event is being organized by Kim Jalet, chair of community service events for the Lincoln Family Association, along with Laura Berland and Susan Donaldson.

There will be a short presentation about trash and recycling in Lincoln, and the kids will determine which plastic items will go into the trash and which plastic items can be recycled. Jalet will then help them make reusable bags out of old pillow cases and read stories about being good stewards of the environment while Berland facilitates a discussion about ways to reduce plastic waste. The event is open to anyone with kids in Lincoln, but advance signup is required; click here to register.

Donations of old pillowcases are needed (they can’t have any holes, but can otherwise be well worn). Jalet can pick them up; email her at jaletkl@gmail.com.

Town to offer composting service at transfer station

Lincoln residents will soon be able to bring their food waste and other compostable items to the transfer station under a new service provided by the Department of Public Works.

The DPW and Mothers Out Front – Lincoln, which has been working with town officials to get the composting program underway, are also asking residents to answer an anonymous online survey about their current recycling and composting habits. Organizers are trying to learn about effective ways to reduce the amount of waste sent to the incinerator and move the town toward “zero waste.” Click here to take the survey.

Once the program starts, residents can collect their compostable materials in biodegradable compost bags or paper bags and drop them in one of three 64-gallon closed and lined compost barrels at the transfer station (loose items will not be accepted). The DPW will offer buckets and compost bags to residents for a modest fee. There will be education tables at Donelan’s and the transfer station in coming weeks with more information.

The compost material will be picked up each week by Black Earth Compost at a cost of about $2,000 per year — but diverting compostable materials from the trash will actually save the town about $15,000 to $20,000 annually. The general industry standard is that compostable material (primarily food waste) accounts for 25% of the waste stream, according to DPW Superintendent Chris Bibbo. Lincoln currently pays $69.54 per ton to have trash hauled from the transfer station to the Wheelabrator trash-to-energy incinerator in North Andover.

Residents also have the option to sign up for curbside compost pick up with Black Earth Compost for $3.80 a week (plus purchase of an animal-proof 13-gallon bin for $24). The service will run in Lincoln if at least 30 households sign up, and customers get compost delivered to them several months later. Click here for details and to preregister.

For those with outdoor space, the DPW sells home composting bins at its Lewis Street headquarters for $60 apiece.

Lincoln joins other cities and town in Massachusetts (including the city of Boston) that are starting or expanding their composting programs to reduce their municipal waste and carbon footprint.

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Community invited to read and discuss book on climate change

This fall, Mothers Out Front and other Lincoln-based groups are sponsoring a community read of a book that will help us grapple with the question of how to combat climate change. Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, compiled and edited by Paul Hawken, outlines in detail the strategies at our disposal to fight climate change, from the individual level to the international.

Event co-sponsors (First Parish Lincoln, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Climate Justice Ministry, and the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee) invite residents to read or peruse the book and then gather in October as a community for an event to be announced. The Lincoln Public Library has copies of the book; click here to see a TED Talk about book and plan.

Codman Estate arts and crafts festival coming up

The 37th annual Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival will be on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Codman Estate (34 Codman Rd.) At the event, which features the work of more than 100 local artisans, shop for New England-made painting, woodworking, food products, jewelry, photography, glass, clothing, metalwork, and more. There will also be live entertainment, a food court, and first-floor tours of the Codman House Museum. Free to Historic New England members and children under 12, $5 for nonmembers. For more information, call 617-994-5914.

“Welcome to Lincoln” event for newcomers

Come to the “Welcome to Lincoln” Fireside Chat on Friday, Sept. 13 from 10–11:30 a.m. in Bemis Hall. Are you a newcomer to Lincoln? Are you curious about Lincoln’s Town Meeting, LincolnTalk, the Lincoln Squirrel, extensive hiking trails, the active volunteer scene and much more? Come join Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden, Fireside Chat founder Sharon Antia, and Barbara Slayter, member of the Lincoln Scholarship Committee and others to get acquainted with the opportunities, specialties, and idiosyncrasies of this town you now call home.

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Fall Ball benefits South Sudanese programs

A Fall Ball to raise funds for South Sudanese Enrichment for Families (SSEF) will be held on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Bemis Hall. The event includes a potluck dinner of American and Sudanese food and dancing. At the First Parish Church, kids can make art and bird houses, watch movies, and visit wildlife stations presented by Drumlin Farm.

The event will benefit the SSEF’s preschool and and Saturday Bridges programs, as well as scholarships for summer camp. This year, SSEF granted $25,000 in preschool scholarships and almost $14,000 in camp scholarships, enabling 30 kids to go to Camp Calumet and Camp Merrowvista in New Hampshire. The Saturday Bridges program at the Hartwell pods offers care for infants and preschoolers, trips to Drumlin Farm for school-age kids, and classes for parents on parenting skills, understanding the school system, financial literacy and job-hunting.

The Fall Ball starts at 6:30 p.m. but most Sudanese will not arrive until 8 p.m. No admission fee, but there will South Sudanese-style fundraising where people will be asked to put money into a hat while the group dances (most families will contribute between $50 and $200). Questions? Call Susan Winship 781-424-8774 or Laper Kom at 978-332-6881.

“Executive Transitions” with Tom Casey

Companies of all sizes will have to address the implications of aging baby boomers retiring from the work force. Hear Lincoln resident Tom Casey on Monday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library speak on his recently published book Executive Transitions 2: Leveraging Experience for Future Success! Casey, the author of seven books, is the founder and managing principal of Discussion Partner Collaborative, a global executive advisory film. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Management Executive Management Program as well as a licensed clinical social worker. Free and open to all.

“Tom of Finland” screening at library

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “Tom of Finland” (2017, Finnish with English subtitles) on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. Award-winning filmmaker Dome Karukoski shows the life and work of artist Touko Valio Laaksonen (a.k.a. Tom of Finland), one of the most influential and celebrated figures of 20th-century gay culture.

Beer, music, and art at the deCordova

Enjoy “Art and Ales” at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on Thursday, Sept. 12 from 5–8 p.m. Seasonal craft beers from Somerville’s Aeronaut Brewing Co. will be accompanied by live music by the Ways and Means Committee, tasty treats for purchase from Compliments Food Truck, and a view of the sunset from the Sculpture Terrace. Tickets including two full-size beers or four tastings, and access to art on view are $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers (free for kids 17 and under). Additional beer will be available for purchase. Click here for tickets.

Become a volunteer at Lincoln’s hospice house

Are you able to visit with patients, listen to their concerns, and provide a supportive, comforting presence? Can you hold a hand or engage in a shared interest or hobby? Care Dimensions will offer a four-week training program beginning in mid-September. Choose from two schedules: Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 1–3:30 p.m. from September 18 to October 11, or Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6–8:30 p.m. from September 17 to October 10. All sessions are at the Care Dimensions Hospice House at 125 Winter St. in Lincoln. For more information, contact Abigail Langmead at 781-373-6583 or ALangmead@CareDimensions.org.

LLCT presents walks, talk on bird feeding

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust’s “Noticing Walks” with John Calabria return on Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 1–2:30 p.m. Meet at the Lincoln Station parking lot to walk to Farm Meadow and into Bergen-Culver conservation land. Subsequent walks will be on October 1 and November 5 (locations TBA; visit www.lincolnconservation.org). These gently paced walks are a great way to slow down, unplug, and enjoy nature. Walks are co-sponsored with the Lincoln Council on Aging and geared towards 55+ but all are welcome. In case of inclement weather, call the LLCT at 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. on the morning of the walk for information.

Join the LLCT and Tia Pinney for “Bird Feeding 101: Feeding and Caring for Birds in an Era of Climate Change” on Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 7–8:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Pinney will cover everything from types of feeder, seeds for different birds, when to feed, and more, as well as the benefits of creating diverse habitats in the yard that enhance local ecosystems, help mitigate the impacts of climate change, and attract birds for us to enjoy. Pinney is the senior naturalist and ecological management and adult program coordinators at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Drumlin Farm makes “Best of Boston”

Boston Magazine’s annual Best Of Boston feature honored Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary as the “Best Family Friendly Activity” in the western suburbs. “Extensive seasonal programming—from beloved “Woolapalooza” sheep-shearing days to strawberry picking—is the pitch-perfect blend of authentically agrarian and totally accessible,” the magazine wrote.  “One visit…and you’ll see why this Lincoln oasis has been a cherished tradition for generations of families.”

Conservation Commission seeks members

The Conservation Commission has one and possibly two openings for new commissioners. The group is responsible for permitting building and other activities that take place in or near wetland areas in accordance with the state act and our local by-law, and members often do site visits on the morning of their meeting to get an accurate sense of the property and issues under consideration. Because conservation is an integral part of many town activities, commissioners are expected to participate as liaisons with other boards or committees such as the Agricultural Commission, the School Building Committee, etc.

Those interested are invited to come to a meeting to see how it functions. The group meets every third Wednesday starting at 7 p.m.; the next few are on September 4, September 25, and October 16. For more information please call the Conservation Department at 781-259-2612.

Open house at Codman Community Farms

Codman Community Farms will host an open house on Saturday, July 27 from 10 a.m.–noon, with tours of the farm, cold drinks in the barn, and a chance for Q&A with CCF staff and board members. It’s a great chance to learn more about the farm and how it produces meat and eggs using sustainable, ethical practices. The farm store will be selling pasture-raised chicken, eggs, beef, pork, raspberries, and vegetables.

Walking tours leave from the main barn next to the farm store starting at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Longer and shorter routes will be available. RSVP on the farm’s Facebook page or by emailing jon@codmanfarm.org.

EV charging station installed at Drumlin Farm

One of the EV charging stations installed at Mass Audubon sanctuaries by Eversource.

Visitors can now charge their electric vehicles while exploring Drumlin Farm, thanks to a partnership between Mass Audubon and Eversource.

The new facility at Mass Audubon headquarters in Lincoln is one of six EV charging stations either installed or under construction in the statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries. Eversource covers all electrical infrastructure costs and manages the process of installing the charging stations; participants only have to purchase and install the charging equipment. Charging stations have been installed at Moose Hill in Sharon, Wellfleet Bay in Wellfleet, and Broadmoor in Natick, with others under construction at the Boston Nature Center in Mattapan and North River in Marshfield.

To help Massachusetts achieve its goal of having 300,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2025, Eversource has committed to install nearly 3,500 individual EV ports at up to 400 locations across Massachusetts by 2020, 10% of those in environmental justice communities. The company also plans to install 67 DC fast-charging stations along major roadways.

“Since 2003, Mass Audubon has reduced its annual carbon emissions from its buildings and vehicles by almost 50%,” said Mass Audubon Vice President for Operations Bancroft Poor. “As Massachusetts’ largest nature conservation nonprofit, we believe that working with Eversource to expand EV charging access demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and creating a clean environment. We’re proud to offer our visitors electric vehicle charging options.”

“In Massachusetts, more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector,” said Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner. “That’s why we’re actively working with municipalities and companies across the state to make EV charging stations more accessible. Our partnership with Mass Audubon is a perfect example of how we’re collaborating in the communities we serve to help address climate change.”

Que solar solar! (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Codman Community Farm is about to go “net zero” in terms of energy use, thanks partly to the rooftop solar panels now being installed. It’s the first town building to host a solar project, though certainly not the last — the renovated Lincoln School will also be net-zero. Click here for more photos, and see the Lincoln Squirrel articles on April 7 and May 13, 2019 for more background.