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

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Dolls on sale as holiday gifts to benefit METCO

The Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee will have a table in front of Verrill Farm at 11 Wheeler Rd. in Concord on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. to sell dolls and doll gift baskets, furniture and accessories for the holidays. The American Girl, Pleasant Company American Girl, and vintage porcelain and other unique dolls were all donated by the generous people of Lincoln, Carlisle, Concord, Acton, Sudbury, Lexington, Bedford, Weston, and Newton. 100% of the proceeds go toward enrichment programs and opportunities for the METCO-enrolled children in the Lincoln Public Schools.

Film on teenage prescription drug abuse on Tuesday

If Only, a short film about the dangers of teenage prescription drug abuse, will be shown on Tuesday, Nov. 7 in the Lincoln-Sudbury auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The event introduction will feature co-writ​er​ and co-producer Jim Wahlberg of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, which produced the film. After the screening​,​ there will be a panel discussion featuring members of local law enforcement, former L-S students currently in recovery​, ​a​nd​ mental health workers. Come ask questions of the panel as we attempt to understand how this danger is impacting our communities and what we can all do together to fight it. Tickets are free, but organizers are asking people to register online so they can get a sense of how many people to expect.

“The Emoji Movie” screening at library

Kids are invited to watch the movie The Emoji Movie (PG) at the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. Hidden inside a smartphone, the bustling city of Textopolis is home to all emojis. During their travels through other apps, Gene and his emoji friends discover a great danger that could threaten their phone’s very existence.

Panel discussion on kids in nature

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust invites residents to a panel representation and discussion on “Kids in Nature” on Sunday, Nov. ​12 from 4–6 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Hear from education experts about how they stimulate a connection between children and youth and their natural surroundings, and the resulting positive benefits. Advice and resources will be shared, and there will be a Q&A period.​ Jeffrey Perrin, associate professor of psychology at Lesley University, will give opening remarks. Panelists will be:

  • Jill Canelli, director, Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm Community Preschool
  • Mairead Curtis, science and engineering curriculum coordinator, Lincoln Public Schools
  • Wendy Matusovich, executive director, Farrington Nature Linc
  • Katherine Parisky, Ph.D., associate head and science teacher, Birches School

More information is available at lincolnconservation.org.​

Farmer’s market invites vendors

Lindentree Farm will hold a farmer’s market at Codman Community Farms on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 9:30 a.m–1 p.m. and there are still spaces left for people who would like to sell their wares, crafts, goods made in certified kitchens, small projects for kids to do who are passing through, etc. Those interested should email Moira at lindentreecsa@gmail.com.

Tull replaces Hedgerow at next LOMA event

Anna Huckabee Tull will be the featured performer on Monday, Nov. 13, replacing Hedgerow. An award-winning singer/songwriter and a psychologist, Anna has appeared on TEDx talks and TV concerts but rarely in live performances. Mickey Zibello will back her on guitar and vocals. Her latest album, The Days of Your Opening, is a companion to her new book, Living the Deeper Yes.

Updates on multitude of issues planned for State of the Town

An agenda chock-full of information and discussion about issues affecting Lincoln’s future will greet residents at the State of the Town meeting on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in the Lincoln School auditorium. The event offers informational updates on important issues in town and (in some cases) a preview of measures that will come up for votes at the Annual Town Meeting in spring 2018.

The first 90 minutes will consist of presentations the two proposed campus building projects: the Lincoln School building project and the Community Center project. Recent Lincoln Squirrel articles on these topics include:

Other agenda items are below, and are also discussed in the latest Selectmen’s Newsletter. There will then be an open forum from 11:40 a.m.–noon and an opportunity to talk to representatives of the groups who presented during the meeting at information/discussion tables from 12:30–1 p.m.

Lincoln Station

The South Lincoln Implementation Planning Committee is studying improvements to the Lincoln Station area as well as possible rezoning, though a proposed zoning bylaw change is not likely by spring. There are five teams working on different topics for SLPIC, which reports to the Planning Board.

Plastic bags and bottles

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Environmental Club is revisiting its push to regulate the sale of disposable plastic grocery bags and single-use plastic water bottles in Lincoln. Warrant articles were tabled in Town Meeting in 2017 but passed in Sudbury. Town Meeting will feature either warrant articles or a general bylaw change proposal.

Recreational marijuana

The Board of Selectmen is forming a committee to help the town understand the 2016 statewide measure that legalized the cultivation, personal use and retail sale of recreational marijuana. The group will assess the law’s implications for Lincoln and make recommendations regarding potential policies, bylaws and regulations that may be desired and/or required to protect the town’s interests. Town Administrator Timothy Higgins said this week that a bylaw proposal may come up at a Special Town Meeting later in 2018 rather than the annual spring meeting.

To learn more about the committee, contact Higgins at 781-259-2604 or higginst@lincolntown.org. To apply, submit a letter of interest to Administrative Assistant Peggy Elder at elderp@lincolntown.org.

At Town Meeting in 2017, residents approved a moratorium on allowing use of land or structures for recreational marijuana establishments until November 30, 2018 pending new regulations from the Cannabis Control Commission and possible zoning amendments in Lincoln.

Historic District

The Historic District Commission and Friends of Modern Architecture are working with property owners interested in adding their Modern houses to the Lincoln Historic District. At Town Meeting, residents will vote on a proposal that would allow at least 17 owners of Modern homes to voluntarily join the Lincoln Historic District. The district currently consists of 73 properties in four different areas.

Sanctuary Town

A planned Town Meeting measure seeks to make Lincoln an official Sanctuary Town, which organizers hope will safeguard illegal immigrants in Lincoln from federal immigration enforcement and otherwise help immigrants feel protected

Mothers Out Front

This group has been working on local responses to climate change such as curbing greenhouse gas emissions by fixing gas leaks from underground pipes. Members are expected to propose a resolution at Town Meeting calling for the repair of utilities’ leaking gas pipes.

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Speakers to discuss Israel-Palestine conflict

The Lincoln-based GRALTA Foundation is hosting two talks by human rights activists in the Lincoln Public Library as part of its ongoing series exploring the Israel-Palestine conflict:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. — Lubnah Shomali, Administrative and Financial Affairs Manager, BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights. Lubnah Shomali will discuss BADIL’s comprehensive, rights-based approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the applicability of international humanitarian and human rights law on forced population transfer, refugees, and internally displaced persons.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 p.m. — Haggai Matar, Executive Director, +972 magazine and Local Call. He will speak about the role of media in the rise of populist regimes and its potential role in unifying the progressive camp to fight back.

On Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall, GRALTA will reports on its recent micro-delegation to Israel and Palestine with reports from Bill Stason, Janet Simmon, and Steve Low. For more information, contact Low at 781-259-1300 or steve.low@gordianconcepts.com.

Durant to give Rappaport Prize Lecture at deCordova

Sam Durant.

Sam Durant will give the annual Rappaport Prize Lecture at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) Durant is the 18th recipient of the prestigious Rappaport Prize, an annual award of $25,000 given to a contemporary artist with strong connections to New England. This program is FREE, but registration is requested. Free tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Free concert with Toni Lynn Washington

Sax Gordon and Toni Lynn Washington.

All ages are invited to a free concert by renowned Boston-area blues vocalist Toni Lynn Washington and acclaimed saxophonist Sax Gordon Beadle on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The performance—a gift from Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother’s life—is the first annual Ronna Cooper Memorial Concert and is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging.

Washington, who has starred for decades as both a singer and songwriter, has received the Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award and seven Blues Music Award nominations. Gordon Beadle, known for his “hard-blowing, exciting, gutsy” signature style, has performed around the world and won numerous awards. The Duke Robillard rhythm section (Bruce Bears on keyboard, Jesse Williams on bass, and Mark Teixeira on drums) will back up Toni Lynn and Sax Gordon. For more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Talk on gardening with native plants

Claudia Thompson, founder and president  of Grow Native Massachusetts, will speak on “Gardening with Native Plants” on Monday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. She will explain the differences among native, naturalized and invasive plants and explore the food web that links plants to insects, birds, wildlife, and humans. Open to all Lincoln residents; sponsored by the Lincoln Garden Club.

Paws for the Holidays on Nov. 12

The Pierce House Mansion in Lincoln will open its doors on Sunday, Nov. 12 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m., decorated for the holidays and filled with hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn, live music, holiday baskets, arts and crafts, silent auction items and pet supplies.

The event benefits Phinney’s Friends, a Lincoln-based nonprofit that helps low-income people keep their pets in times of hardship. The mansion is dog-friendly, and there will be a room with activities for children. Santa will be available for pictures with families and their dogs. The festival will also offer items handmade by Phinney’s Friends volunteers. For more information, leave a message at 617-979-8705 or email phinneysfriends@gmail.com.

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“Aging in Nature” discussion on Friday

A two-part series titled “Aging in Nature: A Key to Our Well-Being” will begin with a panel discussion on Friday, Oct. 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Information about how and why access to nature is beneficial for older adults will be discussed by practitioners who will speak from both research-based and personal experiences. Panelists are Sophie Wadsworth, executive director of The Nature Connection in Concord; John Calabria, a certified wellness educator who teaches mindfulness yoga and spirituality; and Ellie Horwitz, the former chief of information and education at Massachusetts Fisheries & Wildlife for 35 years and a certified wildlife biologist and tai chi instructor.

A question-and-answer period will follow the presentations. Light refreshments will be provided by Newbury Court and Deaconess Abundant Life Services, which is co-sponsoring the program along with the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the Lincoln Council on Aging, and The Commons in Lincoln.

Part 2 of the program will consist of a series of “noticing” walks hosted by Calabria on three of Lincoln’s trails for adults who are 55+. Walks will take place at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Oct. 10, 17, and 24. Selected trails will be rated easy, will have ample parking, and will be posted to the Land Trust’s website at lincolnconservation.org.

Program commemorates Gandhi legacy

The First Parish in Lincoln and the India Discovery Center will cosponsor a panel discussion commemorating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 2–4:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library.

Honoring Gandhi and his civic and spiritual legacy of civil disobedience will be panelists C. Gopinath, professor of business management at Suffolk University; Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, senior minister at the First Parish in Lincoln; and poet, educator and social activist Sajed Kamal. For more information, call Bijoy Misra at 781-259-0029.

Farnham replaces Buckland at next LOMA event

Karla Farnham will be the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) on Monday, Oct. 16 from 7–10 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library. Previously announced performer Eleanor Buckland had a last minute personal commitment.

Sandwich boards go solar in GearTicks project

The Lincoln GearTicks with the solar sandwich board and coaches Jim Hutchinson, Belinda Gingrich and Jennifer Haugh (kneeling).

Lincoln loves sandwich boards. In a small town with a handful of visible outdoor junctions, the signs are a means of sharing what’s going on in an old-fashioned, low-tech way—until now.

The Lincoln GearTicks robotics team, in a project to help the 2017 Solarize Mass effort in Lincoln, Wayland, and Sudbury, has designed and constructed a high-tech sign that absorbs and measures energy from the sun and flashes a message indicating whether that spot is suitable for solar.

The GearTicks crafted an A-frame sign that sports small solar panels and uses an Arduino processor and other circuitry. The setup measures sunlight in a location for 24 hours to determine how much solar energy could be absorbed at a site. After 24 hours, the sign uses LED displays to light up either a green check mark (yea) or a red X (nay), depending on how many kWh hours could be generated that day per watt of solar panel installed there.

“Is This a Good Site for Solar?” is a traveling exhibit that will appear in various locations around Lincoln for a few weeks before it makes its way to Wayland and Sudbury for more measurements.

The towns of Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy, are running a Solarize Mass program called Solarize LSW to help local residents learn about solar energy (photovoltaics for electricity and solar thermal for hot water) and to set them up with a carefully vetted installer who can help them evaluate and potentially install one or both of those systems at their home or business.

Info session on October 5

Residents can learn more in person at a “Get Solarized” event on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 7–9 p.m. at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. The sessions includes a quick presentation on the program from Solarize LSW and an opportunity for comments and questions about solar photovoltaics, solar hot water, the Solarize Mass discounts, and the incentives that typically result in paybacks in five to six years.

Prices for such systems have dropped significantly in recent years. For solar PV in particular, the 2012 Solarize LSW installation price was $3.75 per watt; this year, that price is down to $2.91 per watt. What this means is that consumers no longer need a “perfect site” for such a system to be a good deal financially. In other words, sites with only east- or west-facing roofs or partial shading can may now be good candidates for solar.

After figuring in applicable tax credits and likely solar renewable energy credit income, over the lifetime of the system, it is often possible to for consumers to generate electricity for themselves at a net cost of $0.05–$0.10 per kWh, compared to current Eversource rates of $0.19 per kWh.

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New kids’ singing groups at church

The First Parish in Lincoln is sponsoring two children’s singing ensembles open to all children in Lincoln and surrounding towns in grades K–5. There is no cost. The ensembles will begin rehearsals on Sunday, Oct. 1 at the First Parish in Lincoln. The two groups are:

  • Kid Sing (5–5:30 p.m.) — grades K–2 will focus on singing, movement, and musicianship.
  • Youth Choir (5:30–6:15 p.m.) — grades 3–5 will learn basic singing and choral skills, including singing in two-part harmony.

Rehearsals will take place roughly every other Sunday until June 2018. There is no cost to participate in either ensemble. For more information, contact Blake Siskavich at bsiskavich21@gmail.com or Sarah Bishop at srblincoln@hotmail.com.

Jazz band on Sunday

Classic Jazz at Lincoln Public Library presents Dave Whitney and His Big Band on Sunday, Oct. 1 from 2–5 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Free and open to all. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Learn about net zero buildings

“Net Zero Buildings in Lincoln: A Presentation and Conversation with Bill Maclay” will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 7–9 p.m. in the Tarbell Room at the Lincoln Public Library. Before plans for the Lincoln School are finalized, come learn about how buildings in Lincoln can achieve net zero energy use to save energy and money, reduce environmental impacts, increase resilience, and improve the health, comfort, and productivity of occupants. Bill Maclay, founding principal of Maclay Architects of Waitsfield, VT, has been recognized as a leader in innovative, ecological planning and architectural design since 1971. Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Green Energy Committee and Mothers Out Front. Anyone with questions may call Sheila Dennis at 413-834-2239.

Group to screen “The Gatekeepers”

The GRALTA Foundation will show the next film in its series, a 2013 Israeli documentary called The Gatekeepers, on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Nominated for an Academy Award (2013), The Gatekeepers tells the story of the Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet, and offers insight into Israel’s management and control of the occupied Palestinian territories. No charge; light refreshments will be provided. Click here to watch the trailer.

Tour the new Hanscom Middle School

The School Building Committee (SBC) is scheduling a tour of the recently completed Hanscom Middle School on Friday, Oct. 13 from 12:30–2:30 p.m. The building was designed by the firm of EwingCole, part of a two-firm partnership hired to design a Lincoln School project. Anyone interested must provide his or her name (exactly as it appears on your driver’s license or ID) and birth date to Janice Gross (jgross@lincnet.org) by noon on Friday, Oct. 6 (attendees’ names must be on the approved list to pass through the Hanscom security gate.)

October movies at library

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen the following films in October:

  • October 2 — House of Games directed by David Mamet, starring Lindsey Crouse and Joe Mantegna (1 hr 42 min., rated R). A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.
  • October 16—Nine Queens directed by Fabien Bielinsky, starring Ricardo Darin, Gaston Pauls (1 hr 54 min., rated R). Two con artists try to swindle a stamp collector by selling him a sheet of counterfeit rare stamps (the “nine queens”).
  • October 23—Read My Lips directed by Jacques Audiard, starring Vincent Cassel, Emmanuelle Devos (1 hr 55 min., rated R). She is almost deaf and she lip-reads; he is an ex-convict. She wants to help him, but he thinks no one can help except himself.
  • October 30—The Spanish Prisoner directed by David Mamet, starring Steve Martin, Ben Gazzara (1 hr 50 min., rated R). An employee of a corporation with a lucrative secret process is tempted to betray it. But there’s more to it than that.

All screenings begin at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Eleanor Buckland at next LOMA

Eleanor Buckland

Eleanor Buckland will be the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Oct. 16 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Buckland will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Buckland’s band Lula Wiles, which has played at venues such as the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, the Green River Music Festival and Club Passim, released a self-titled CD in 2016.

LOMA is a monthly event. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Council on Aging activities in October

Lincoln Academy with Meghan Lytton—Stories, facts and photos from the Iditarod Trail
October 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 2 at 12:30 to hear Meghan Lytton discuss “Stories, Facts and Photos from the Iditarod Trail.” Save yourself the long trip to Nome, Alaska to learn about the Iditarod Trail Race, where dogs pull a sled and their musher 1,000 miles over some of the toughest terrain. Meghan will be sharing her adventure to Alaska in 2016 to see what some have called the toughest race on earth. If you would like, you can meet a real sled dog. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

You’ve been selected…
October 4 from 2–3 p.m.
…to drop by and visit with a member of the Board of Selectmen. Bring your ideas, feedback, questions, or favorite Lincoln anecdote. Whether you stop by for a minute or stay for the hour, we hope to see you.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Katherine Clark
October 4 at 1 p.m.
Jimmy Santos, constituent services and military liaison for Congresswoman Katherine Clark, will hold Office Hours at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 1–2 p.m. on federal benefits and other concerns. No need to sign up.

Get to know Abby Butt, our new COA assistant director
October 5 at 10:30 a.m.
Come meet and greet the COA’s new Assistant Director, Abby Butt, on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 10:30 a.m. Abby provides assistance in evaluating in-home needs and finding services, as well as crisis intervention, and general support to Lincoln seniors, families, and caregivers, individually or in groups. She brings many years of experience working in other COAs as well as conducting community needs assessments, program and policy development, and more. Bring your questions, concerns and ideas.

Aging in nature: key to our well being (panel and walks)
October 6 at 12:30 p.m.
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust invites you to (1) a special panel on how and why access to nature is a key ingredient to our well-being as we age and (2) nature walks. Older adults who have the opportunity to spend time in nature have improved physical and mental health, as well as cognitive functioning, and are more likely to have social connections around them and in the community. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 6 at 12:30 to hear John Calabria, yoga teacher and expert in mindfulness and nature, who will share his outings with an elder friend who cares for 60 bluebird nest boxes; Ellie Horwitz, certified wildlife biologist and tai chi instructor; and Sophie Wadsworth, executive director of the Nature Connection. They will discuss how contact with nature benefits them and those they work with. A question and answer period will follow and all are invited to share their own experiences with keeping in contact with nature. All are welcome. Refreshments will be provided. Then join naturalist John Calabria for a series of walks in some of Lincoln’s most beautiful places on Tuesdays, Oct. 10, 17, and 24 at 1 p.m. Unplug, disconnect from the world for a while and let our senses come alive in nature. These programs are co-sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the Lincoln Council on Aging, and Deaconess Abundant Life Services and Newbury Court. For more information, go to lincolnconservation.org.

Free wellness clinic for all ages                                     
October 10 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Tour of the State House and lunch
October 11 at 9:15 a.m.
These historic and truly beautiful buildings house the story of Massachusetts. John Adams’s passion for justice, community and learning are evident in the stunning 19th-century courthouse where the Supreme Judicial Court or Appeals Court meets right across the street from the Massachusetts State House where the docent led tours begin. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9:15 a.m. sharp and plans to be back in Lincoln by 4 p.m. Lunch will be on your own at The Union Oyster House. The cost of the trip is $15 and is supported by the Hurff Fund so the trip is limited to Lincoln seniors. Both buildings have elevators but expect to be standing on both tours. Send your check payable to FLCOA, along with your phone # and email, to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 or call 781-257-5050 or email donna@ecacbed.com.

Celebrate fall’s cool days with the Trad Jazz Band
October 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Join the Trad Jazz Band regulars, including a busload who come from the Commons each month, in the COA’s series of lunchtime old time jazz concerts at Bemis. Come find out what brings them in. The band plays your favorites that bring back memories and get you up on your feet dancing and clapping. This month’s concert is on Friday, Oct. 13 from 12:30 to 1:30.

Play to your strengths: A new course with Alyson Lee
October 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Learn to identify your unique strengths and then, in a playful, upbeat environment, discover how to live life by leading with those strengths in a new free course given by Alyson Lee on Mondays Oct. 16, 23, and 30 and Nov. 6 at 9:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Ms. Lee will use presentation of information, discussion of meaningful experiences, and strength-based games to help you improve your overall well being and relationships. Lee is a co-active life coach, social worker and certified positive psychology instructor who taught the wildly popular Positive Psychology course and the new monthly Positive Psychology Practice group. This course is supported by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. All are welcome to any session.

Lincoln Academy with Antje Duvekot—Two words for travel 
October 16 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 16 at 12:30 to hear Antje Duvekot discuss “Two Words for Travel.” Lincoln resident and nationally touring singer-songwriter Antje Duvekot believes there should be two distinct words for travel, one when traveling for business and another when traveling for adventure or learning. The 40 year old artist has done both. After more than a decade building a grass roots music career on the road brought her loneliness and burnout she began traveling to places like Guatemala, Uganda and the West Bank for humanitarian purposes. This is about those divergent experiences. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Free elder law clinic
October 16 at 3 p.m.
Got a question about issues such as estate planning, MassHealth, protecting assets for a loved one with a serious disability, guardianship, conservatorship, or probate? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, Oct. 16 from 3-4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the thirty-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781- 259-8811.

Gourmet luncheon
October 17 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with new friends and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at St. Anne’s Church. They welcome new diners often — give them a try. Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead even if you have previously attended. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let them know if you need transportation or a seating partner when you sign up. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club.

The COA Science Group: 4,000 feet of climate change
October 19 at 10:15 a.m.
Join physicist Stanley Solomon on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 10:15 a.m. in Bemis Hall for the first in a three-part series exploring the physicists’ view of climate change using articles from three issues of Physics Today, a professional journal published by the a.m.erican Physics Society and read by physicists worldwide. In the first session, Stan will provide brief comments about the sun and about geologic records. He plans to distribute copies of the articles before the sessions, so if you would like copies, please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to leave your name and address.

A discussion of Lincoln values and the school project
October 20 at 12:30 p.m.
You are invited to join a discussion of the Lincoln School Project with members of the School Building Committee (SBC) and their design team, and with members of the Community Center Preliminary Planning and Design Committee (PPDC), on Friday, Oct. 20 at 12:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The two committees are working collaboratively to develop plans for the Ballfield Road campus, and will take this opportunity to update members of the COA on the work so far, and to engage in a discussion of the town’s values and priorities. The SBC will be working with its project manager, Daedalus Projects, Inc., and its design team from SMMA, and with the PPDC, to design a school and a campus that reflect those values and priorities–come and make your voice heard.

Property tax assessment and ways to pay less
October 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Join Ellen Meadors from Lincoln’s Board of Assessors on Friday, Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall to learn how your property is assessed and what to do if you think your property should be valued differently. Also, come find out whether you might be eligible for one or more opportunities for abatements, exemptions, and deferrals to lower your bill including those for veterans, people with disabilities, and those with low incomes.

Lincoln Academy with Ray Anthony Shepard—The Emancipation Sword: The Story of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment
October 23 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 23 at 12:30 to hear Ray Anthony Shepard discuss “The Emancipation Sword: The Story of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment.” He will speak about his just published biography Now or Never!: Massachusetts 54th Infantry’s Fight to End Slavery. The author shared a working draft at the Lincoln Academy in the spring of 2015 and returns to share how and why he wanted to tell the story of the “glory” regiment for a new audience. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Fireside chat: the key to staying health and happy
October 25 at 10 a.m.
What is the key to staying happy and healthy? Genes, luck and finances have a role, but what have you found keeps you going? Some people seem to stay young and active longer than others. Some people with all sorts of ailments or disadvantages still seem to be living a good life. What is the key? Discuss your thoughts and ideas with a group on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at the Fireside Chat’s new location in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods, 50 Wells Rd. The Fireside Chat meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m. and is facilitated by Sharon Antia.

Medicare open enrollment insurance update 
October 27 at 10 a.m.
Find out what changes could affect your Medicare coverage and how much you will pay in 2018 when Don Milan and Anne Meade, Lincoln’s counselors from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE Program-health benefits counseling for Medicare enrollees, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. This is an important time to understand the changes for 2018 and to be sure you are satisfied with your current health insurance benefits. Medicare open enrollment period—October 15 to December 7, 2017—is your opportunity to make any changes to your Medicare coverage, effective Jan. 1st. Representatives from most major supplemental health insurance plans (Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts, Fallon, and AARP/United Health Care) will have 2018 information for Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans and Part D plans. Also present will be Priscilla Leach, Veterans Service Officer. Note: This program is designed to go over 2018 changes in basic Medicare, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance plans.

On Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., SHINE will present an in-depth “Medicare 101” to go over the basics of Medicare and the different types of insurance plans—see below.

Minuteman Senior Services provides a variety of services that help seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. For more information, call toll-free 888-222-6171 or visit www.minutemansenior.org.

African story time: Uganda in the spotlight
October 27 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 27 at 12:30 p.m. to expand on your knowledge about Uganda, a country located in the eastern part of the African continent. Please join Gaspar Kalemera for some ice cream and a wonderful time while he tells you interesting things about this country that was once known because of its dictator President Idi Amin during the 1970s. Come socialize and learn.

Lincoln Academy with Gordon Woodington—Japan: Impressions and Highlights
October 30 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 30 at 12:30 to hear Gordon Woodington discuss “Japan: Impressions and Highlights.” Gordon invites you to enjoy the highlights of his many trips to Japan, including a number of cities, his impressions of the people and culture, what turned him into a Japanese “foodie,” and interesting aspects of everyday communication. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Medicare 101: What to know, how to choose
November 1 at 7 p.m.
Come find out the basics of Medicare on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Minuteman Senior Services SHINE counselors Don Milan and Anne Meade. This introduction to Medicare is especially for those who will be signing up in the next year, but is also for those who just wish to learn more and understand their benefits better. Don and Anne will discuss traditional Medicare, Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and medication drug coverage (Medicare, Parts A, B, C, and D), how to go about choosing the plan or plans that are best for you, avoiding penalties when you sign up late, and more. Bring your questions and concerns. Minuteman Senior Services provides a variety of services that help seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. For more information, call toll-free 888-222-6171 or visit www.minutemansenior.org.

Save the date:

Toni Lynn Washington and Sax Gordon Beadle sing and play the blues

All ages are invited to a free concert by renowned Boston-area blues vocalist Toni Lynn Washington and acclaimed saxophonist Sax Gordon Beadle on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The performance is the First Annual Ronna Cooper Memorial Concert and is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. It is a gift from Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother’s life. Ms. Washington has delighted and awed audiences in Boston and around the country and the globe for decades as both a singer and songwriter. She has received the Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, had seven Blues Music Award nominations, and released five CDs. Sax Gordon, known for his “hard-blowing, exciting, gutsy” signature style, has performed around the world, won numerous awards, and recorded six CDs. The Duke Robillard rhythm section: Bruce Bears on keyboard; Jesse Williams on bass; and Mark Teixeira on drums, will back up Toni Lynn and Sax Gordon for this fabulous afternoon of music.

Go bowling November 9
Let’s go Bowling at the Acton Bowladrome Thursday, Nov. 9. Most of us haven’t bowled in years, but don’t worry—bowlers will be using small balls (candlepin bowling). The group will have four bowlers to a lane and maybe get a little competition going. Afterwards, they will head for an early dinner to Not Your Average Joe’s to discuss their bowling skills or lack thereof. They will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 2 p.m. and plan to be back in Lincoln by 6:15 p.m. Traveling in a Doherty’s School Bus, the cost of the trip is $15 which includes lane and shoe rental and dinner will be on your own. To make your reservation, send your check to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln, MA, 781-257-5050.

December 8 at the Boston Pops
Join conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops on Friday, Dec. 8 in a performance filled with holiday music favorites, the traditional sing-along and a visit from Santa Claus himself. You will be attending the 4 p.m. matinee performance. The seats are excellent, floor table seats, front orchestra, side section. They have just 30 seats, so don’t delay in signing up. The air-conditioned air-ride bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 2:15 p.m., returning at approximately 7:30 p.m. This trip is rated easy for physical ability, and entails only a moderate a.m.ount of walking. The price for the trip is $67 per person. The cost is non-refundable and does not include the price of snacks and drinks served at the concert. Funded by the Hurff Fund, this trip is open to Lincoln seniors only. To reserve a space, send a check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone number and email address. Your reservation is complete when your check is received. Questions? Contact Donna at 781-257-5050 or donna@ecacbed.com.

 

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Get school project news via email and enter to win

Subscribe to the Lincoln School Project website any time before Friday, Sept. 29 at noon and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Donelan’s or a Lincoln Parks and Recreation program (whichever one you choose). Those who’ve already subscribed are also entered to win. There are multiple ways to subscribe. See below for details:

  1. Go to lincolnsbc.org and type your email in the box “subscribe to SBC updates.” You’ll then receive an email from the SBC that you will have to confirm.
  2. Email SBC@lincnet.org and type “subscribe me” in the subject line. The SBC Outreach team will enter your email into the website. Once you receive your follow-up email from the SBC, please click on “confirm” to be included in the drawing.

Once you subscribe, you’ll receive Lincoln School Project updates direct to your inbox. You don’t have to search for the latest news on the SBC, school or town websites, or ask your friends; the updates will be sent to you automatically. Note that subscribing does not commit you to anything. It just keeps you informed on the latest school project news in a timely manner.

Fall wellness clinics for all ages

Lincoln residents of all ages are invited to meet with a nurse through a free town service. Come to get your blood pressure checked, ask questions, or learn about wellness resources. Clinics will be held at the Community Building at Lincoln Woods from 10 a.m.–noon on Tuesdays, Oct. 10, Nov. 14, and Dec. 12. These clinics are funded by the Ogden Codman Trust. Additional clinics will be held at Bemis Hall on Tuesdays, Oct. 17, Nov. 21, and Dec.19 from 9–11 a.m. These are supported by the Pierce House. Services for all clinics are provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. For more information, please call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Domestic violence survivor shares her story

A domestic violence survivor will share her powerful story of surviving and moving beyond domestic violence at a meeting of the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 3 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room of the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland). The program is free and open to the public. The speaker is a member of the Survivor Speaker’s Bureau of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, an area domestic violence agency that provides a variety of services to individuals and families dealing with the issue of abuse.

Concerts, book talk coming up

Christopher Poulit

  • There will be a free live jazz concert with Sarah Spencer and Her Transatlantic All-stars on Wedneday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Presented by Classic Jazz at the Lincoln Library, sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library. The group playing music of the 1930s and ’40s features Herb Gardner on piano, Justin Meyer on bass, Jimmy Mazzy on banjo, Bill Doyle on guitar, Jeff Hughes on cornet, John Clark on reeds, Gerry Gagnon on trombone, Steve Taddeo on drums and Sarah Spencer on sax
  • Come to a short reading, book talk and signing with author Erica Ferenick on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. Ferenick is the author of the thriller novel The River at Night, voted a #1 pick by Oprah.com, and an Entertainment Weekly “Must Read.” Copies will be available for purchase and signing.
  • Christopher Poulit will give a piano concert on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall featuring music by Mozart, Beethoven, Poulenc, Schubert and Cage. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

All three events are sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library. For more information, call the library at 781-259-8465.

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Garden Club party for prospective members

The Lincoln Garden Club is hosting a wine and hors d’oeuvre party for prospective members on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. To RSVP, call Susan Seeley (781-259-0841) or Ann Parke (781-259-0276) or email membership@lincolngardenclub.org. The club maintain an active yearly schedule of speakers, workshops, and field trips on a range of gardening and nature topics. Members contribute to the community by designing, planting and maintaining various public planters and garden sites, such as Station Park across from the mall. Members also create flower arrangements for the library, Council on Aging events and delivery to local shut-ins at various holidays. No level of skill or expertise is required, just an interest in gardening.

Minuteman offers after-school program for middle schoolers

Registration is open for Minuteman High School’s fall after-school program for area middle school students that starts on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Now in its second year, Minuteman’s Career Pathways After-school Program is an opportunity for students in grades 6–8 to choose from 19 project-based classes including “Build a Steam Powered Putt-Putt Boat,” “Create an Android App,” “Intro to Graphic Design, “The Celebrity Look” (cosmetology), The Importance of Plumbing” and “Basic Plant Science.” The sessions will be taught by Minuteman faculty at Minuteman High School in Lexington.

There will be two, four-day sessions running from 4:15–6:15 p.m. Session A will run October 3, 5, 10, and 12. Session B will run October 17, 19, 24, and 26. Students must register for the program and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to students from Minuteman’s member towns. Students from non-member communities including Lincoln will be accepted if space is available. Tuition for students from member communities is $100 per session, or $500 per session for those from non-member communities. Click here to see a complete list of course titles or to register for one or both sessions.

Scarecrow Classic steps off Oct. 15

The 5th annual Scarecrow Classic 5K Run/Walk takes place on Sunday, Oct. 15. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9:30 a.m. (start and finish are both at the Mall at Lincoln Station). Registration is $30 in advance or $35 on race day. The event supports the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, which helps manage over 2000 acres of land and nearly 80 miles of public trails as a regional recreational resource for the greater Boston area. Click here to register.

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Selectmen’s Sept. 25 meeting at deCordova

The Board of Selectmen will hold its regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 25 in the new café at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.  The meeting begins at 7 p.m., and as always, it’s open to the public and will be taped for later broadcast. Items on the agenda will include:

  • An update from the deCordova
  • Roadways & Traffic Committee (RTC) recommendation on Old Winter Street
  • South Lincoln Planning & Implementation Committee (SLPIC) recommendations
  • A status update from the newly formed Housing Options Working Group (HOW)

At future meetings this fall, selectmen expect to:

  • Receive regular updates from the Community Center Planning & Preliminary Design Committee (PPDC) and the School Building Committee (SBC)
  • Form a group to understand the implication of the recreational marijuana law and study the town’s choices for implementation
  • Plan for the November 4 State of the Town Meeting, which will include reports form the PPDC and  SBC as well as previews of Town Meeting by-law proposals and citizens’ petitions

The board will also be scheduling twice-monthly listening sessions at different locations around Lincoln. These will be opportunities for residents to meet with a selectman to ask questions and share ideas. Dates and locations TBA.

Submit nature photos for LLCT calendar

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is looking for high-resolution nature photos from the trails and fields of Lincoln for consideration for use in its annual Open Spaces of Lincoln Calendar and note card series. Funds raised from the sale of the calendar help fund educational and conservation efforts of LLCT and the Rural Land Foundation. Photos may be submitted through Monday, Sept. 18. Email submissions to llct@lincolnconservation.org, or mail a CD or flash drive to Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (Attn: Calendar Photos), P.O. Box 10, Lincoln MA 01773 (mailed submissions will not be returned unless by special request.)

For a complete list of directions on style, format, usage and notification procedures, see the LLCT project guidelines. Photographers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate!.

Tret Fure at First Parish

Tret Fure

Acclaimed folk singer-songwriter Tret Fure will perform on Sunday, Sept. 24 at the First Parish in Lincoln during the 10 a.m. worship in the Parish House (14 Bedford Road). The service is open to the public and refreshments will be provided. Fure has 15 albums to her credit and has won the South Florida Folk Festival Singer/Songwriter competition in two out of three categories, as well as the prestigious Jane Schliessman award for outstanding contributions to women’s music.

Codman Harvest Weekend coming up

Codman Community Farms’ annual Harvest Weekend kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. in the Codman barn with a farm feast catered by Blue Ribbon Barbecue with beer, wine and lemonade followed by a barn dance for all ages. Tickets ($40 for adults, $15 for children (12 and under) must be purchased in advance at the farm or online at www.codmanfarm.org. The CCF Harvest Fair takes place on Sunday, Sept. 24 from 1–4 p.m. with games for children and families, hay rides, a petting zoo and a rooster run. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children (free for CCF members). For more information, call 781-259-0456 or email info@codmanfarm.org.

Apply to show your art in the library

Applications for 2018 shows in the Lincoln Public Library’s main art gallery are now available and will be accepted until September 30. Copies of the application and art exhibitor agreement form can be found here. Copies are also available at the Reference Desk.

Adult ed classes at L-S

Lincoln-Sudbury Adult Education’s fall program is underway, with new classes including Social Media Marketing, Make an iPhone App, Learn to Draw, Container Gardening, Men’s Pick-up Basketball, Zumba and Yoga. Click here to see the brochure and registration information.