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

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Council on Aging activities in January

Here are some of the January activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For a full list, including exercise classes, regular meetings of interest groups, and online chats with town officials, see the COA’s calendar page or January newsletter. Contact the COA at 781-259-8811 or gagnea@Lincolntown.org for Zoom links to events.

Lincoln Academy: The “Boy and His Dog” statue

Monday, Jan. 11 from noon–1 p.m.
The talk will explore the life and work of sculptor Cyrus Dallin with a focus on his Lincoln masterpiece, Storrow Memorial, given to Lincoln in 1925. Known affectionately to those in Lincoln as “Boy and his Dog,” the statue stands near the entrance of the Lexington Road cemetery and is a great feature of both Lincoln and Dallin’s work. The presentation is in conjunction with the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum, the Lincoln Historical Society, the Cemetery Commission, the Lincoln Town Archives, and COA. Details to follow.

Learn to host meetings on Zoom with Andy Payne

Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m.
Andy will present some basic lessons and give you a chance to learn and explore Zoom’s settings and features in a low-stakes environment. Zoom is a very popular system for video chats with groups and is supported on Mac, Windows, iPhone/iPad, and Android devices. Click here to download Zoom if you don’t have it on your device. Once you have it installed, just click on a Zoom link to participate in a meeting. Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/577144331

Lincoln Academy: The Story Behind the Greatest of Liberations

Monday, Jan. 25 from noon–1 p.m.
This session with Bernice Lerner, author of All the Horrors of War, follows Glyn Hughes, a high-ranking British officer, and Rachel Genuth, a teenager from the Hungarian provinces, as they navigate their respective forms of hell during the final brutal year of World War II. Their stories converge in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where Hughes finds himself responsible for an unprecedented situation: 25,000 of 60,000 war-ravaged inmates are in need of immediate hospitalization, and Rachel is among those at death’s door. Their narratives tell a larger story about the suffering of the victims, the struggles of liberators who strove to save lives, and the human capacity for fortitude and redemption. For more information, call 781-259-8811 x102 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org.

Wanda Paik: Classical piano music recital

Monday, Feb. 1
Wanda Paik will present a recital of some her favorite classic piano pieces, anchoring it with a masterpiece: J.S. Bach’s “Toccata, Fantasia and Fugue in D major.” Also on the playbill are works by Frederic Chopin (“Impromptu in A-flat major,” “Nocturne in C-sharp minor,” and “Etude in A-flat major,” which was thought to make the piano sound like an Aeolian harp); Brahms’s iconic “Intermezzo in E-flat minor,” which weaves an ancient Gregorian chant throughout the piece; and Debussy’s luminously beautiful “Clair de Lune” from the “Suite Bergamasque,” followed by his sweeping, jazzy Prelude from the “Suite Pour le Piano.” For details, email gagnea@lincolntown.org.

Caring transitions: educate yourself before a healthcare crisis

Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m.
Join elder law attorney Sasha Golden and Emily Tamilio of Deaconess Abundant Life to learn about navigating healthcare in a crisis. These local professions will walk us through the continuum of care from skilled nursing to rehab and back home again. For details, email gagnea@lincolntown.org.

Council on Aging news

Here are some of the December 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 clinics, groups, and online chats with town officials, see the COA’s calendar page or newsletter.

Lincoln Academy talks

To register for either event, call Amy at the COA at 781-259-8811 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org. Please register at least two business days prior to lecture.

Justice Denied: A Personal Perspective
Monday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m.
Margie Yamamoto tells a personal story of a Japanese American family, following them from immigration to imprisonment during World War II and as they rebuilt their lives during the post-War years. Illustrated with family and historic archival photographs.

Overcoming Poverty in Rural Honduras: Stay or Emigrate?
Monday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.
Learn what life is like in a small Honduras village. This slide presentation by photographer Mark Hopkins, tells how American volunteers have helped in this country. The challenges that lie ahead for these hardworking people will be explained.

Health Webinar: Taming Your Mind with Mindfulness Techniques

Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
When stress levels rise, our minds can become filled with worried, anxious thoughts. Mindful- ness, the practice of focusing on the present moment, can quiet your mind and help you feel calmer. Join Janet to learn breathing exercises and a five minute sitting meditation. Presented by Janet Fontana, RN and sponsored by Blue Cross/BlueShield. Click here to register.

The Connections Program

A new four-week session begins on Sunday, Dec. 13. The Connections Program provides a social connection and benefits the Lincoln-Sudbury student who receives community service. Learn more at www.connections01773.org. Please call the COA 781-259-8811 x102 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org if you’re interested in participating in this intergenerational program. After you sign up, complete this online survey Friday, Dec. 11 to be matched with an eager high school student. The weekly connections can be made by letter, email, phone, Facetime, or Zoom (the senior chooses the communication mode).

Podiatry clinic

The clinic will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Bemis Hall, following Board of Health protocols. All participants must preregister by calling 781-259-8811. Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first served basis. Suggested $10 donation. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging and the Pierce House.

Free salt buckets delivered

If you would like a free sand/salt bucket to help with slippery spots on your driveway or walkway, contact the COA by phone at 781-259-8811 to sign up, and the Girl Scouts will arrange to deliver one to you.

New medication drop box

The Lincoln Police Department has a new medication drop box in the public safety building lobby where residents can safely dispose of old medications, vitamins, ointments, and prescriptions for people and pets. Please do not put bags, needles, liquids, or loose pills in the box.

Council on Aging activities in October

Here are some of the October 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.

Medicare update
Friday, Oct. 23 at 10 a.m.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. Now is your opportunity to make changes to the various types of Medicare coverage including hospital, medical, and prescription drug coverage effective January 1, 2021. Don Milan, Lincoln counselor from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE Program, will review Medicare basics, then present the 2021 Medigap and Medicare Advantage insurance plans available to supplement basic Medicare coverage as well as discuss changes for 2021. To register for this Zoom event, email gagnea@lincolntown.org or call 781-259-8811 ext. 102. Please note that a Medicare 101 session to go over basic Medicare in great detail will also be held in the near future.

Drive-through flu shot clinic
Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m.–noon
Lincoln residents aged 65+ are invited to come to the high-dose flu clinic at the Lincoln North Office Park (55 Old Bedford Rd.). Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up. Forms are available on the COA website or by mail. Bring a photocopy of your insurance card to clinic. Services will be provided free of charge by Emerson Hospital Home Care. This clinic is a joint collaboration between the COA, Fire Department, and the Lincoln public health nurse.

Drive-through shredding event
Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 1–4 p.m.
Bring your items for shredding in your car to the First Parish Church parking lot across from Bemis Hall. We’ll place the items on a cart and Highland Shredding will shred these documents on site free of charge. No need to remove staples. Arrival times are staggered by the first letter of your last name:

  • A–G: arrive between 1 and 2 p.m.
  • H–R: arrive between 2 and 3 p.m.
  • S–Z: arrive between 3 and 4 p.m.

Participants must wear a mask and stay in their car. This event is sponsored by Friends of Lincoln COA.

Outdoor podiatry clinic
Tuesday, Oct. 27 and November 24
All participants must preregister by calling 781-259-8811. Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Suggested $10 donation. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging and Pierce House.

Estate planning 101
Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m.
Elder Law Attorney Sasha Golden will share important information and encourage everyone to have important documents up to date. Email gagnea@lincolntown.org to register.

Living well: making every moment count
Friday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m.
Educator Mary Crowe, LICSW, ACHP-SW, C.D.S. from Care Dimensions will share ways to make every moment count. To register, click here. You’ll receive a confirmation email after you register.

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.

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.

News acorns

Transfer station ends Monday hours

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DPW temporarily added Monday service hours to the transfer station schedule in an effort to reduce crowding.  This expanded service will end Monday, Aug. 31. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the transfer station will return to its normal operating schedule of Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Library news

Library now open by appointment

The Lincoln Public Library is reopening by appointment with separate times for high-risk patrons. The library is limiting capacity to five adult library users and five children’s services users at any time. Contactless pickup of reserved materials is still available as well. Click here for information on hours and making an appointment.

Help with job searches 

Looking for advice on finding a job and getting hired? The library is offering a weekly Q&A session with Patty Levy, founder of Hired Insider, each Monday from 12–12:30 p.m. via Zoom. The sessions are open to anyone who is currently searching for employment and needs advice on search strategies, interviewing, networking, communicating value, creating a standout resume, and LinkedIn branding tips. To receive a zoom invitation, email lrothenberg@minlib.net.

Reading for racial justice

The library is hosting a book group exploring racism and racial justice, reading both fiction and nonfiction. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom. To receive an invite to Zoom or to obtain more information, please email rrapoport@minlib.net.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo — Monday, September 21 at 7 p.m.

Oluo explores the complex reality of today’s racial landscape, from white privilege and police brutality to systemic discrimination and the Black Lives Matter movement, offering straightforward clarity that readers need to contribute to the dismantling of the racial divide Copies are available in book format, Overdrive E book, Overdrive Digital Audio book and Hoopla audio book. 

How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi — Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.

Kendi is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities at Boston University, and the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research. He is the author of five books including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. Available as an Overdrive E-book and Digital Audio book

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones — Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American dream and the New South, but their lives are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. This love story is a deeply insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. Available in hardcover, Overdrive e-book & digital audio book.

Lincoln residents raise funds to fight cancer

Lincolnites Jane O’Rourke and Peter von Mertens will choose their own route on October 4 for the annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai. Participants are encouraged to walk wherever they choose: around their neighborhood, a local hiking trail, a treadmill, or anywhere else they’re comfortable. While the event will not physically bring walkers together along the Boston Marathon course, it will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The event has raised more than $145 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 30+ year history. Click on either person’s name to donate.

News acorns

Events from the Lincoln Public Library

  • Harper Kincaid will speak on her newest mystery, To Kill A Mocking Girl, via Zoom on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The library invited her after one of its book groups enjoyed the book last month. The book is available online either as an e-book or a digital audio book through an Overdrive Advantage subscription. To access the title without a waiting list, you will need to log in with a Lincoln Library card. For an invite to the Zoom meeting, please
  • Mandy Roberge will host a virtual mini-dreamcatcher craft activity for children 10 and up. Sign up to receive a craft material package via curbside pick up at the library, then join artist and teacher Mandy Roberge for the craft class via Zoom. Limited to 12 screens. Email sfeather@minlib.net to register and receive program information, including when to pick up materials and the Zoom link and password.
  • The library will host Virtual Trivia Night with the Trivia Brothers. This is an invitation-only program for children going into grades 4-7 who have completed their Summer Reading Challenges. Return your completed Summer Reading Challenge to dleopold@minlib.net to receive your invite. The deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Talk on monarchs and milkweed

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is sponsoring a virtual talk on “Monarchs, Milkweed, and Citizen Science“ with Kristin Steinmetz on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. Steinmetz, the education coordinator at Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, will cover information about milkweed plant species and how to collect seed, as well as citizen science opportunities and resources. She’ll also provide an update on the status of monarchs in our area this year. Free, but registration is required; click here.

Dash ’n Dine for seniors

The Council on Aging is sponsoring a Dash ’n Dine drive-through box lunch pickup for Lincoln seniors on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Real Restaurant. Seniors must register by calling 781-259-8811 or emailing GagneA@Lincolntown.org by August 11. Contactless pickup offered by COA staff. Co-sponsored by Deaconess Abundant Life Services and The Commons.

News acorns

L-S Mutual Aid Network webinar on Tuesday

The Lincoln-Sudbury Mutual Aid Network, which helps facilitate community connections between neighbors to provide and receive support, will host a webinar on Tuesday, July 28 from 6–7 p.m. On the call, participants will talk about some of the work that’s been done, get to know each other, and think towards the future. All those with suggestions or interest in getting involved are welcome. Click here to register to get the Zoom link.

Food truck picnic on Friday

The food truck picnic at the Pierce House has been rescheduled for Friday, July 31 from 4–8 p.m. On the menu will be food from Moyzilla (Asian food), the Bacon Truck, and the Shuck Truck (fresh local seafood). Please bring your own blanket. There will be sanitizing stations throughout the grounds, and all staff and guests are required to maintain social distancing and wear masks when not eating. A restroom inside the Pierce House will be available. Entry is free; click here to register. Upon arrival, a Pierce House staff member will check you in — just show your EventBrite invitation and you will be told where to park.

Drive-in movie: “Twister”

“Twister” will be shown in the Lincoln mall parking lot as a drive-in movie with car-side meal delivery from Real on Sunday, Aug. 2. Parking for dinner opens at 7:45 p.m. and the movie starts at 8:45 p.m. The cost is $25 per vehicle plus food. Pre-registration is required (click here), and dinner must be pre-ordered from Real by Thursday, July 30 (click here to order). Registration closes on August 2 at noon, or when capacity (35 cars) is reached. Sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Rural Land Foundation.

Voting information for upcoming primary

In response to recent legislation passed, the state has mailed a vote-by-mail application form to all registered voters. If you did not receive a vote-by-mail postcard application and would like one, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 781 259-2607. You can also call if you have already submitted a vote-by-mail application and would like to confirm they have it on file.

A completed vote-by-mail postcard can either be mailed or dropped in the front entrance mailbox at Town Hall. If you are an independent/unenrolled voter, please select the party ballot you would like to receive for the September 1 primary.

Early voting in person for the September 1 primary will be offered from Saturday, Aug. 22 to Friday, August 28 at Town Hall. Details will be posted on the town website when confirmed. The deadline to register to vote in the primary is August 22. Applications to vote by mail must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

COA now loaning medical equipment

The Lincoln Council on Aging has restarted its medical equipment loan program. The COA is are accepting returned equipment and loaning sanitized equipment by appointment only, Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811.

Items currently available to for loan include but are not limited to automated pill dispensers, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, shower benches, seats, and stools, bed rails, grabbers, grab bars, leg braces, shoe horns, rollators, CAPTCHA telephones, commodes, commode liners, hearing aid cleaners, and portable voice amplifiers.

News acorns

Educational grants available

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lincoln and Weston administers a grant from the Codman Trust to provide need-based scholarships to Lincoln residents. If you or somebody in your family is a student enrolled in any type of formal educational or skills training program and would like to apply, please send an email to svdplincolnweston@gmail.com indicating your interest, need, and type of program. Grants vary in size from under $100 to $2,000 and are offered on a rolling basis depending on the availability of funds.

Donate to challenge grant for domestic violence victims

Due to the pandemic, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable (DVR) had to cancel its annual Shower for Shelters fundraiser, and it’s not feasible to collect in-kind donations. Stay-at-home orders, closed schools and camps, and job losses present unique challenges and dangers for families struggling with domestic violence or trying to get free from an abusive relationship. DVR agency partners who deliver direct services say that the demand for services is at historic levels. This increased demand is expected to continue for some time and will exceed normal operating costs for these agencies.

The DVR has received a special donation from a generous donor that will allow it to offer a challenge grant., matching up to $2,500 in new contributions through Labor Day (Sept. 7, 2020). All money raised will be given to DVR agency partners to fund the most urgent needs of their clients during the pandemic. Donations may be made online via the DVR website www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org, or mail checks to:

Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable
P.O. Box 543
Sudbury, MA 01776

Mass Audubon earns top rating from Charity Navigator

For the seventh consecutive year, Lincoln-based Mass Audubon has earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest and most consulted evaluator of charities, recognizing Mass Audubon’s consistent financial health and commitment to accountability. Charity Navigator has placed the state’s largest nature conservation organization within the top 10 percent of the thousands of charities it assesses. Only 7% of the evaluated charities have received at least seven consecutive four-star evaluations.

Mass Audubon offers virtual summer camps

With many outdoor camp experiences for children shuttered or limited due to the pandemic, Mass Audubon is offering virtual camps for K-2 and 3-5 age groups beginning Monday, July 20 and running through late August.

Campers will get to know one another and make friends through live virtual meetings. The one-week classes will include discussion and instruction from Mass Audubon teacher-naturalists, videos and hands-on activities designed to get children outside and exploring nature in their backyards or neighborhoods, a “Wacky Wednesday” dress-up theme, a Thursday evening all-camp program, and more.

“Nature-based education has been a foundational element of our mission for generations, and we are committed to this important work especially in such challenging times,” Mass Audubon Director of Education Kris Scopinich said. “Studies have shown that spending time outside in nature can bring significant benefits to our health. It can help to relieve stress, help us feel more connected, and build resiliency.”

Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm in Lincoln is now open on weekends by reservation. Restrooms are open but the buildings and shop are closed.

To learn more and register for Virtual Summer Camp, visit massaudubon.org/virtualcamp.