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

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Discussion on surviving domestic violence

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will host an online discussion of “Covid-19’s Impact on Survivors of Domestic Violence” on Tuesday, May 12 at 3 p.m. on Zoom. To register, go to domesticviolenceroundtable.org.

Social distancing is a necessary strategy for keeping the community safe during this pandemic, but isolation in one’s home is having a profound effect on survivors of domestic violence and their families. This forum will feature representatives of local domestic violence agencies who will address several different situations that survivors might be in right now, including those who may be in controlling or abusive relationships and those who may have left a controlling and abusive partner. Panelists will look at the emotional, psychological, and economic implications of this complex time for survivors of domestic abuse and will answer questions from the online audience..

If you or someone that you care about is a survivor of domestic abuse and would like help or support, all of the local domestic abuse programs in the area are responding to phone calls and emails:

Two online programs from the COA

The Council on Aging invites you to two virtual programs. In “Making Decisions When It Matters Most: Conversations About Health Care Proxy, Five Wishes, and More!” on Wednesday, May 13 at 10 a.m. Mary Crowe and Joan Sullivan of Care Dimensions will discuss the importance of advance care planning and making one’s health care wishes known through the use of Five Wishes and other planning tools. Click here to register and attend.

Residents of all ages are invited to a “Conversation with a Select(man)” on Friday, May 15 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Join Board of Selectmen Chair Jennifer Glass to get the latest updates, ask your questions, and offer ideas. For information on how to join in, please email her at selectmen@lincolntown.org prior to the meeting.

A stay-at-home Bird-a-thon

Mass Audubon’s Bird-a-thon, which typically sends teams of birders rambling throughout the Commonwealth in a friendly competition to identify the most species in a 24-hour period, is staying at home this year to respect social distancing and will take place Friday to Saturday, May 15–16.

Mass Audubon’s biggest single fundraising event is again expected to attract hundreds of competitors of all abilities, but will be carbon-free, safety-focused, and family-oriented. Participants will select bird observation  spots—a window, backyard, or a green space within short walking or biking distance from their homes. From 6 p.m. on Friday the 15th through 6 p.m. on the 16th, they’ll spend time observing and identifying species from their birding positions, solo or with other household members.

Competitors join teams representing different Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries and programs. Their pledges can be directed to specific wildlife sanctuaries and programs or to the overall organization, the state’s largest nature conservation nonprofit. Participants can also earn points for their team by completing other fun, nature-based activities or as “Bird-a-thon Boosters,” who raise money while birding for fun (or not birding at all).

Last year’s event raised $240,000 and recorded 273 species, with Drumlin Farm garnering $30,850 for its work through the event. Sponsors this year include presenting sponsors Ream Design of Ayer and Camosse Masonry Supply of Worcester, and media sponsor WBUR.

To participate, donate, and to learn more about Bird-a-thon, visit www.massaudubon.org/birdathon.

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Virtual Carnival: resource for Lincoln online activities

Lincoln now has its own Virtual Carnival with links to online programs designed to stimulate, educate, support and motivate residents of all ages. The programs by town organizations include:

  • Home-based exercise classes and children’s activities offered by the Parks and Recreation Department
  • Active Aging, Stretch and Flex, and Line Dancing classes for seniors from the Council on Aging
  • Online read-alouds, personalized reading recommendations, and other activities for children and teens from the Lincoln Public Library. Kids who fill out the library’s Book Match form will receive customized lists of books (e-book, audio, and print format) suggestions from the children’s librarians.

Library activities and offerings

  • In lieu of the previously planned six-part seminar about Walt Whitman at the Lincoln Public Library, actor Stephen Collins has made available his one-man show, “Unlaunche’d Voices, an Evening with Walt Whitman,” via online video — click here to watch. Funding provided by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging and The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.
  • Residents can borrow virtual magazines from the library’s large online collection with hundreds of titles. Browse or search magazines on Overdrive by title, topic, or date added.
  • The library will hold its Friday Morning Book Group via Zoom on Friday, May 8 at 9:30 a.m. Participants will discuss Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen. Hepburn participated in the Dutch Resistance, working as a doctor’s assistant during the “Bridge Too Far” Battle of Arnhem, the brutal execution of her uncle, and the ordeal of the Hunger Winter of 1944. Copies of the books are available for download in eBook or audiobook formats. Email lincoln@minlib.netfor assistance and an invitation to the Zoom meeting.

Nature Naturalist Online classes from Drumlin Farm

Drumlin Farm is offering a series of Nature Naturalist Online classes as well as a session on “Learning Bird Song Online” on Thursday, April 30 from 7–9 p.m. Each of the six Nature Naturalist Online program features a Wednesday evening online presentation along with questions and discussion; a week to complete guided outside exploration, observations, gather data, and develop questions; and a second online session for feedback, questions, and discussion. Fees are $25 per program for Mass Audubon members ($30 for nonmembers) or $125 for members for all six programs ($150 for nonmembers).

Program titles and dates are below. To learn more and register, click on one of the session titles, email dfeducation@massaudubon.org, or call 781-259-2220.

Council on Aging newsletter now online

Click here for the May COA newsletter, which includes:

  • Information on Town Meeting and the town elections
  • Greetings and reminders from Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s Public Health Nurse
  • Greetings from the food pantry
  • A Lincoln history trivia quiz by Jack MacLean
  • Practicing self-care
  • Benefits for veterans who are unemployed due to the pandemic
  • Information from the Fire Department on Knox Boxes and for those with special medical needs
  • Hosting virtual family get-togethers
  • News from the Conservation Department

Today’s Covid-19 updates for Lincoln

Donelan’s

Because a number of items are in short supply, Donelan’s has temporarily suspended its online shopping and delivery service. Lincoln store manager Jason Deveau told the Squirrel on Wednesday that the five-store grocery chain is considering offering early-morning hours exclusively for seniors to minimize their risk of public exposure, but stores would follow whatever policy the company is decided and can’t act individually.

As far as general restocking goes, the store is not always getting everything it orders, but deliveries continue. “Right now we’re doing the best we can ordering stuff, but I just don’t know what time or day things will come in,” Deveau said.

Other options for food and medication home delivery can be found here.

Transfer station

In an effort to minimize crowding at the transfer station, the Department of Public Works will has added Monday hours to the customary Wednesday and Saturday schedule. Effective Monday, March 23, the facility will be open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. As announced earlier, the swap table program has been indefinitely halted.

Real

Real is now offering takeout brought to your car three evenings a week. Please place your order before 5 p.m. with 30 minutes’ notice, or schedule ahead for later in the week. Pickup times are available from 5–6:45 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. At your chosen pick-up time, park in the back of the restaurant and call the restaurant at (781) 259-9464. Ruth-Anne or Tom will bring your order out to your car.

Drumlin Farm

Although Drumlin Farm is closed to the public, farming operations continue, and Drumlin is partnering with Codman Community Farms and Family Dinner to distribute produce. Residents can buy Drumlin Farm produce at the CCF farm store, which is open 24/7, and Family Dinner will deliver boxes of local produce right to your door. This week, Drumlin Farm is harvesting spinach, arugula, pea shoots, bok choy, and tatsoi for these partners, and is optimistic that they’ll be able to provide another season of CSA shares starting in May. If you haven’t already registered for one of its seasonal programs, shares are still available.

Educational offerings

Dozens of past presentations, including Lincoln Academy and other Council on Aging events, Bemis Lectures, and events hosted by the Lincoln Historical Society, Lincoln Public Library, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and more are all available for watching on your computer. Find videotaped events by going to lincolntv.viebit.com/ and clicking on an organization or topic from the vertical list of folders on the left.

For those interested in learning a new language or improving their skills,  the library offers Mango, which immerses you in real, everyday conversations in a wide variety of languages. It also features ESL instruction in English, tailored for speakers of more than a dozen languages. Transparent Languages offers courses and supplemental resources for learners of all levels looking to build their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in more than 100 languages. Click here to see links for these programs, as  well as free access to the New York Times online. You’ll need your library card number to log in.

Council on Aging activities for March 2020

Lincoln Academy with James J. Noble, PhD: Glacier National Park and Lewis & Clark
March 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Join Noble and 200 fellow riders as they embark on the American Lung Association Transamerica Bicycle Trek from to Atlantic City. You will experience the grandeur of the Glacier National Park in Montana as well as 660 miles of the Lewis and Clark Trail. This video and PowerPoint presentation will have two connected takeaways. The first regards the natural beauty of Glacier NP, the nearby Canadian Rockies, and a global geographical anomaly unique to Glacier. The second focuses on some intriguing political and historical questions regarding President Jefferson, Merriweather Lewis, the Louisiana Purchase, and the 49th parallel. The COA 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.

Relax on a noticing walk with John Calabria
March 3 at 1 p.m.
Place: TBD
Come for a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on March 3 from 1 to 2:30 at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

[Read more…] about Council on Aging activities for March 2020

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Restaurant benefit for L-S robotics

The Lotus Blossom restaurant at 394 Boston Post Rd. in Sudbury is holding a benefit night for Warrior Robotics, the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School robotics team, on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Part of the proceeds will help the team meet its goal of making it to the 2020 World Championships, including the costs of materials, competition fees, and more. For more information, email joshuaaltman1@gmail.com.

Documentary on voter suppression

“Suppressed: The Fight to Vote,” a 40-minute film documenting voter suppression in the 2018 midterm and gubernatorial elections in Georgia will be shown by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee on Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall (light refreshments start at 6:30 p.m.). Lincoln resident Andrew Glass will facilitate a discussion afterwards. Free and open to all.

Talking to children about race

Parents and children are invited to “Courageous Conversations: Talking to Children about Race” on Wednesday, March 4 from 5:30–7 p.m. at the First Parish in Lincoln parish house. Conversations about race and racism can be uncomfortable. We might make mistakes and are unsure where to begin, but not talking about race with children can send many unintended messages. Explore ways to have conversations with children about race, racism, diversity and inclusion. Co-hosted by the METCO Coordinating Committee and the First Parish in Lincoln, this facilitated conversation will use the NPR Podcast “Talking Race with Young Children” as a backdrop for identifying strategies to start the conversation with kids about racial differences, race, racism and more.

Dinner for adults and children will be served from 5:30–6 p.m. and childcare will be available from 6–7 p.m. during the discussion. Suggested donation for dinner: $10 for adults, $5 for children. Click here to sign up for childcare. Registration is requested but not required – feel free to join even if you have not signed up. For more information, email Gina Halsted at ginahalsted@gmail.com.

Film: “Bitter Moon”

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “Bitter Moon” (rated R, 1992) on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m. After hearing stories of her, a passenger on a cruise ship develops an irresistible infatuation with an eccentric paraplegic’s wife. Directed by Roman Polanski and starring Hugh Grant and Kristin Scott Thomas. Viewers are welcome to bring dinner or a snack.

Sap-to-Syrup breakfast at Drumlin Farm

Maple sugaring season has begun at Drumlin Farm, just in time for the annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast weekend on Saturday and Sunday, March 7–8. From 8:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. each day, hungry visitors of all ages can feast on hearty pancakes with real maple syrup, as well as Drumlin Farm sausage and roasted potatoes. Seatings take place every half hour, with 45-minute seatings taking place at 8:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for those needing a little extra time.

Other highlights include:

  • Seeing how sap is collected from the wildlife sanctuary’s own sugar maples
  • Exploring the natural history of trees as you learn about the distinctly “Northwoods” product of maple syrup
  • Learning about Native American sap-to-syrup techniques
  • Purchasing maple syrup made at Drumlin Farm to take home
  • Family-friendly, hands-on activities
  • Visiting the evaporator to smell and taste the sweet product made during the maple sugaring process
  • Exploring the property trails and visiting livestock and resident wildlife animals

Tickets are $15 for Mass. Audubon members, $18 for nonmembers, and free for kids 2 and under. Register online or by phone at 781-259-2200.

Program on hearing loss

Hearing Loss Association of America member Carol Agate will speak on “Understanding and Coping with Hearing Loss” on Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. The program is geared toward people with hearing loss, people who think they might have hearing loss, people whose friends tell them to get their hearing checked, or people who simply want to know what hearing loss is. The library will also be introducing its new hearing loop system.

Domestic Violence Roundtable presents “Boys Don’t Cry” 

Over the past five years, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable has participated in the White Ribbon Day Campaign by engaging our local communities in events designed to raise awareness and highlight the role of men and boys in ending gender-based violence. This year a group of male Roundtable members has worked together to promote discussions and create presentations to provide tools to help create more peaceful, healthy communities free of gender-based violence. The events began in February with a series of small group discussions on “What It Means to Be a Man” and how to raise boys to be healthy and respectful men.

The discussions will continue on Tuesday, March 10 at 3 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland) with a program featuring the screening of the White Ribbon Campaign video “Boys Don’t Cry.” Following the screening, there will be a discussion of the issues raised by the video led by Stephen Thompson and Jason Verhoosky, members of the Roundtable planning group. The program will also feature the raising of the White Ribbon Day Flag and a recitation of the pledge to end violence against women. The program will conclude by asking for commitments to action.

To continue this discussion, participants are also invited to the Roundtable’s first ever half-day summit entitled “Tough Guys and Gentle Men: Healthy Men in the Age of #MeToo” in Lincoln on Saturday, March 14 from 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. at St. Anne’s-in-the Fields Church. Registration for the summit is required. Details can be found at www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org.

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Volunteers sought for Pierce House Committee, CapCom

The Board of Selectmen is seeking interested volunteers for the Capital Planning Committee and the Pierce House Committee. The Capital Planning Committee (CapCom) is charged with evaluating capital requests as well as maintenance funding requests. Members are tasked with evaluating each proposal for need, viability, and the effect on operating budgets. The mission of the Pierce House Committee is to “be stewards of the historic property so that residents of Lincoln, neighbors and guests may continue to use the Pierce House as a venue to gather and celebrate in keeping with the spirit of John H. Pierce’s gift to the Town of Lincoln.”

Letters of interest for either position should be sent to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Selectmen’s Office, elderp@lincolntown.org. Click here for a volunteer application form or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601 for more information.

Library activities for school vacation week

School vacation week at the Lincoln Public Library will feature the following events for kids:

Origami Workshop
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 2–3 p.m. for grades 1–3, and 3:30–4:30 p.m. for grades 4–6
Learn how to fold 3D origami snowflakes with Lisa Corfman from Rocky Arts Unfolded. Registration is required. Call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net.

Singalong with Matt Heaton
Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m.
Musician Matt Heaton will be bringing his unique mix of rockabilly, surf, American roots and Irish traditional music to the library. All ages welcome; no registration necessary.

Family Bingo Night
Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.
Come one, come all for a fun night of bingo! All ages welcome, no registration required. Prizes for everyone.

Girl Scouts pancake breakfast on Feb. 29

The Lincoln Girl Scouts will host Pancake Breakfast, Take 2 (postponed from Winter Carnival week) on Saturday, Feb. 29 from 8–11 a.m. at the First Parish Church (14 Bedford Rd., Lincoln.) There will be plain, blueberry, chocolate chip, and gluten-free pancakes with pure maple syrup along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit, and face painting and crafts for kids. Girl Scout cookies will also be on sale. Tickets are $5 for children under 12 and $10 for everyone else ($30 family maximum).

Three-part series on opera singers

The Lincoln Public Library will host a three-part series on “Opera For Everyone: A Salute to Three Great Opera Singers” with Erika Reitshamer on Sundays, March 1, 8 and 22 at 2 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Each session will look at a different artist: Jessye Norman on March 1, Fritz Wunderlich on March 8, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky on March 22. Click here for more information. Reitshamer was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Company, has led opera tours to Europe, and served as vice president of the Boston Wagner Society for many years.

Poetry workshop for kids

The Lincoln Public Library will host a poetry workshop for kids in grades 4-6 on Mondays, March 2–30 from 4–5 p.m. with a PoetryFest performance on evening of April 6. Kids will read, write and perform poetry and create an accordion book to fill with favorite poems and artwork. the final session will be filled with lights, snacks, and poetry performances for friends and families. It’s important to attend all five sessions. Registration required; call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net. 

Lincoln Dems schedule caucus for state convention

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) will hold its annual caucus on Sunday, March 8 from 1:30–3:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Attendees will elect five delegates and four alternates to the Massachusetts Democratic Party 2020 Convention in  Lowell on Saturday, May 30.

Registered Democrats may vote and are also eligible to be delegates. Enrollment cards provided by the Town Clerk’s office will be available for those who wish to register to become a Democrat at the caucus just before it opens. Democrats who will be 16 by February 2020 may pre-register at the caucus and participate and run as a delegate or alternate to the convention, although they are not eligible to vote in general elections until they are 18. Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add-on delegates to the caucus at www.massdems.org.

Anyone with questions may contact LDTC co-chairs Barbara Slayter (bslayter@comcast.net) or Joan Kimball (selenejck@gmail.com).

Talk on supporting healthy emotions in children

Erika Christakis, author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need From Grownups, presents “The Essential Connection: Supporting Healthy Emotions in Children” on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Nursery School at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Technology and the demands of 21st-century life can make it especially hard to see how children really think and feel. Christakis will share highlights from the science of early learning and explain how to improve the emotional “cueing system” between adult and child, with special attention to children’s need for autonomy, competence, and connection. Attendees are invited to read articles in The Atlantic and the The Washington Post before the event.

Council on Aging activities in February

The many faces of loss: a new group
February 3 at 10 a.m.
As we age we confront loss in many forms. It may be the death of loved ones or physical or cognitive changes in loved ones, friends, or ourselves. It may include regrets about lost opportunities or the recognition of our own mortality. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, a social worker with many years of experience helping people navigate the losses of later life, will facilitate a group which will give people the opportunity to talk about these issues in a supportive environment. The six-week group will run on Mondays from 10–11 a.m. beginning on February 3 at Bemis Hall. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Lincoln Academy with Ariane Liazos: Reforming the city — the contested origins of urban government, 1890–1930
February 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 3 at 12:30 p.m. when Ariane Liazos discusses “Reforming the City: The Contested Origins of Urban Government, 1890–1930.” Most American cities are now administered by appointed city managers and governed by councils chosen in nonpartisan, at-large elections. In the early twentieth century, many urban reformers claimed these structures would make city government more responsive to the popular will. But on the whole, the effects of these reforms have been to make citizens less likely to vote in local elections and local governments less representative of their constituents. How and why did this happen? Lincoln resident and author Ariane Liazos will examine the urban reform movement that swept through the country in the early twentieth century and its unintended consequences. The COA 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

Musical jazz lunch
February 7 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.

Lincoln Academy with Matt Burne — Exploring the natural history of Walden Woods
February 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 10 at 12:30 p.m. when Matt Burne discusses “Exploring the Natural History of Walden Woods.” Henry Thoreau famously walked the forests and fields of the historic Walden Woods for hours every day, collecting the grist for his important mill. Walden Woods, in Lincoln and Concord, today are largely protected and open to the public for recreation, connection, and inspiration. Discover what makes Walden Woods unique and distinct, and some of the natural treasures to be found here. Matt Burne is Conservation Director with the Walden Woods Project. The COA 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 wellness clinics for all ages
February 11 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. The Bemis Hall clinic is supported by the Pierce House.

Oriole Landing information session
February 13 at 10 a.m.
Join Christopher Fernandez of the Oriole Landing management team on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall for coffee, snacks, and an informational session about Oriole Landing, the new housing development that will open in Lincoln this spring. Find out about the affordable housing units that are still available as well as the market rate apartments, what the community has to offer and other amenities, floor plans, and more.

What you need to know: Municipal energy aggregation
February 14 at 10 a.m.
Join C.J. Volpone and Paul Shorb of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee on Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall to learn more about their municipal energy aggregation program before the Annual Town Meeting update. Also called community aggregation, municipal aggregation is an exclusive agreement with an electricity broker to provide energy to all residents. Our residential and commercial electricity supply is negotiated using our bulk purchasing power, which enables a community’s residents to receive energy from local sustainable sources. Specifying these local green sources of electricity in turn increases aggregate demand for renewables in the electricity market.

Art, movement, and fun for winter relaxation
February 14 at 1 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. when Catherine Collins, RN, MS, QTTT (Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher), leads a fun afternoon of using art, movement, and other playful techniques to de-stress, loosen up, and get ready to truly savor all the joys of the season. Winter weather doesn’t have to make you crazy. Whether you feel stressed or not, you’ll have a great time and learn some techniques you can use any time of the year. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Valentine singalong with Magic Garden
February 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Join the young children of Lincoln’s own Magic Garden for a singalong on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. in the Hartwell building on Ballfield Road. First each of the Magic Garden classes will sing a song or two, and then the audience will join for a couple of sing-along songs. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up so Magic Garden knows how many people to expect.

Lunch with town administrator Timothy Higgins
February 18 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch with friends new and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at St. Anne’s Church. Our special guest will be Lincoln’s town administrator, Tim Higgins. Come meet him, ask him your questions and give your ideas. Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s Public Health Nurse, will offer free blood pressure readings. The cost of lunch is $5 per person. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let us know if you need transportation or a seating partner. 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.

Coffee with Sheila Beenhouwer: Russian art and my own work
February 18 at 2:30 p.m.
Join artist Sheila Beenhouwer at a Coffee with the Artist on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 at Bemis Hall as she shares with you art from her traveling life in Russia and a bit of her own work. The exhibit will be up in the Bemis Hall Gallery through the end of February.

Free beginning meditation
February 19 at 10 a.m.
Come to a free beginners’ meditation session Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. for a half-hour at Bemis Hall. Meditation opens the channels of our natural states of peace, joy, and health, and aids in decreasing the negative effects of aging. Experienced meditation teacher Lynne LaSpina will begin the session with a few minutes of stretching muscles to relax, and breathing exercises to help focus before meditating for about 10 minutes. Lynne will offer walking meditation for those who find it difficult to sit quietly for 10 minutes. For information, contact Lynne at 908-892-2408 or llas902551@aol.com.

Cash benefit for families of some deceased veterans
February 20 at 10:15 a.m.
Surviving spouses of veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities may be eligible for the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monetary benefit, and many other Massachusetts benefits. Come find out more at a presentation by Lincoln’s Veterans Services Officer, Peter Harvell, on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 10:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Parents who were financially dependent on a service member or veteran who died from a service-related cause may also be eligible for the Parents’ DIC.

Breakfast with Carolyn: Caregiving 101
February 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Are you new to caregiving and would like to be pointed in the right direction? Come have breakfast with Carolyn Bottum, the COA Director, on Friday, Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall. You’ll learn what services can be provided in your home or in the community, who can help you evaluate and monitor services, and tips and strategies for reducing your stress while being a caregiver.

Empowering you to thrive at home
February 21 at noon
You are invited to join Tori Taylor, PT, executive director of Deaconess Abundant Life Services, on Friday, Feb. 21 at noon when she reviews safety and balance tips to keep you active and thriving in your homes. She will also discuss how home care may be brought in to help you remain independent, whether temporarily if you are not well, or for a more extended period of time.

Lincoln Academy with Judith Ann Foster, PhD — The obesity epidemic: why we must get the science right
February 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Currently, more than a third of the country is now obese, making the U.S. one of the fattest countries in an increasingly fat world. Mounting research suggests that U.S. life expectancy may be starting to decline for the first time since 1993. Most now believe that the increase in obesity is due to the increase in average caloric consumption, increased consumption of refined carbohydrates high in simple sugars, and a sedentary lifestyle with little exercise. Unfortunately, the U.S. Low-Fat Diet Recommendations of 1977 may have contributed to the increase in weight gain. Dr. Foster is Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine. The COA 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.

Memory Café
February 27 at 10:30 a.m.
The Commons in Lincoln, Right-at-Home In Home Care and Assistance, and the Lincoln Council on Aging invite those with dementia and their family, friends, and caregivers to the free Lincoln Memory Café on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the main building of The Commons in Lincoln. Enjoy refreshments and the entertainment of “Ragtime” Jack Radcliffe, a fiddle, guitar, and piano performer, in a fun, informal, social atmosphere. The Memory Café is held each fourth Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Commons in Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Kaupp of Right at Home at 781-275-1400 or the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Meet other independent scholars for ideas and feedback
February 28 at 10 a.m.
Independent scholars who do research in history, science, the social sciences and more without being formally employed by an academic or research institution are publishing distinguished books and making important contributions to their fields. Sometimes only after you stop working full-time can you pursue that passion you have been quietly studying for decades but never had the time to fully explore. Independent scholars and those interested in learning more are invited to join us on Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. for the first meeting of the Independent Scholars Gathering. If there is interest, the group will meet monthly to share resources and ideas, give feedback, and be a scholarly conclave.

Annual Town Meeting preview
February 28 at 1 p.m.
Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, March 28, but you can get a preview on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Town Administrator Tim Higgins. You’ll hear about the budget and other issues that are on the agenda for the Annual Town Meeting such as the recommendations of the Property Tax Study Committee, new zoning regulations related to South Lincoln, and more, and you can ask questions and give ideas. This is your opportunity to become informed about and discuss issues of importance to the town in an informal setting.

Save the date:

Museum of Fine Arts in March
Join the Council on Aging on Thursday, March 19 for a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. The group will have a one-hour guided tour, “Highlights of the Art of the Americas,” featuring masterpieces from the Art of the Americas collection. Then you are free to wander the museum and grab lunch (not included in the fee) in one of their four restaurants and visit the gift shop. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9 a.m. and leave the MFA at 2 p.m. to return to Lincoln by 3 p.m. This trip requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time. The cost is $30 and is non-refundable. To make a reservation send a check payable to FLCOA/Trips to Ginny O’Brien, 4 Linway Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Include your telephone number and email. Your reservation is complete when your check has been received. Questions? Contact Ginny at 781-259-1291 or vobrien39@yahoo.com.

LLCT hosts events tied to pollinator corridor action plan

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is creating a corridor of biodiversity and climate resilience throughout the town of Lincoln by rebuilding functionally diverse native ecosystems through pollinator habitat installations based on scientific study. The following events are free and open to all. For more information, visit lincolnconservation.org.

Threatened Ecosystems: The People-Plant-Pollinator Solution
Sunday, Jan. 26 from 1–2:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Robert Gegear, professor of biology at UMass-Dartmouth and director of the Beecology Project, will give a foundational talk discussing the critical need to protect and restore native pollinator systems — native pollinators and native plants — for biodiversity and climate change resiliency. Dr. Gegear will discuss his plans for three years of scientific study of pollinator populations in Lincoln.

“Hometown Habitat: Stories of Bringing Nature Home” (film)
Thursday, Feb. 13 from 7:30–9 p.m., LLCT office (145 Lincoln Rd., Suite 102A)
This Valentine’s Day, send flowers to the ones you love, pollinators included This film highlights Hometown Habitat heroes who are reversing detrimental impacts on the land, one garden at a time. The stories illustrate the benefits of native plants and conservation landscaping. Narrated by renowned entomologist and author Douglas Tallamy (Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants).

“Designing Biodiversity: Toolkits to Create Pollinator Habitat and Connectivity”
Sunday, March 1 from 1–2:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Evan Abramson, principal at LandscapeInteractions and architect of Lincoln’s pollinator corridor action plan, will discuss how to create and maintain functionally diverse native pollinator habitat, increase biodiversity, and improve the resiliency of landscapes. There will be plenty of time for questions.

Council on Aging activities in January

Musical jazz lunch
January 3 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis Hall while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.

Explore the poetry of Robert Frost
January 4 at 2 p.m.
Join Stephen Collins for a free four-session interactive seminar on the poetry of Robert Frost at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 4, 11, and 25 at the Lincoln Public Library, and on January 18 at Bemis Hall. Sponsored by the Council on Aging and the library. Stephen performs one-man shows and teaches courses on historical figures like Melville, Walt Whitman, James MacNeill Whistler, and William Shakespeare.

What new discussion groups would you like?
January 6 at 10 a.m.
The COA loves to offer discussion groups for people who would like to discuss their experiences in a supportive group environment where they can share with others their concerns and challenges and get and give tips and strategies. We want to make sure that they are providing the groups you are most interested in. In the past, they have held groups about coping with losses, change, and difficult family issues. Which of these topics would you like to see offered again or what new topics would you like to talk about? Come to Bemis Hall at 10 a.m. on January 6 to brainstorm with the COA, or call Carolyn at 781-259-8811 with your ideas. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in January

News acorns

Winter concerts at L-S

The L-S Choral Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium will feature the L-S Chorus and Choir as well as Achoired Taste and the Acafellas, the L-S Chamber Singers, and the new L-S Treble Choir, as well as performances by the Curtis Middle School and Lincoln School choral groups.

The high school’s Instrumental Winter Concert takes place on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. with performances by the orchestra, concert and symphonic bands. For details, visit L-S Friends of Music at www.lsfom.org.

Gift Local and Touch of Christmas Fair

Heather Ring and her daughter Serena with the wreaths delivered for sale at the First Parish in Lincoln’s Touch of Christmas fair on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The ninth annual Gift Local Artisan and Craft Show organized by the Old Town Hall Exchange will take place in Bemis Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Gift Local is a holiday market hosting a variety of talented local artists, jewelers, ceramicists, woodworkers, and more.

The First Parish Church’s annual Touch of Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. features baked goods, crafts, gifts, and children’s activities.

Advent/Christmas events in St. Julia Parish

  • Parishioners of St. Joseph Church in Lincoln and St. Julia Church in Weston are asked to take a tag from one of the Christmas Giving Trees now up in both churches. Presents will be given to local families served by St. Vincent de Paul as well as children in the tri-parish collaborative in Dorchester. Presents must be back by Sunday, Dec. 8 to give volunteers a chance to sort and, if necessary, purchase gifts. 
  • The annual parish Christmas luncheon will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7 beginning at noon in the Hastings Room of the Embassy Suites Hotel (550 Winter St., Waltham). All parishioners and friends are invited. Tickets are $35; see the parish website to make reservations.
  • Tim Muldoon, a popular local author of Catholic parenting books, will be on hand during and after Café Julia on Sunday, Dec. 15 to talk about the challenges and joys of raising Catholic kids. All are invited to stay in the Parish Hall (St. Julia Parish Center Hall. 374 Boston Post Rd., Weston) for this presentation. On the same day and location at 3 p.m., the parish’s annual Christmas pops concert and singalong will take place.

L-S hosts mattress fundraiser and Music Zoo

Lincoln-Sudbury Friends of Music welcomes children ages 5–13 with their parents to visit the second annual Music Zoo on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 1–3 p.m. at the high school. Touch, try, hear, and learn about a variety of musical instruments with demonstrations from L-S student musicians and enjoy student vocal performances. If your child is interested in music, private lessons or joining a school band, orchestra or choral group, this is a chance for them to explore and experiment with instruments.

This program will be held in conjunction with the L-S Music Department’s annual mattress sale fundraiser and chamber concert in the L-S cafeteria on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Visitors can browse and try out name-brand mattresses including Therapedic, Simmons Beautyrest and others, saving up to 50% off retail on all styles and sizes while supporting the L-S music program. Local customers can order a mattress delivered to their home within two weeks, or arrangements can be made to pick up mattresses from the warehouse. Ask any L-S music student for a “buy one, get one free” pillow coupon (no mattress purchase necessary). Stop by at 1 p.m. for a free chamber concert in the L-S auditorium featuring a string quartet, violin ensemble, flute choir and Brass Boyz. For more information about any of the events, visit www.lsfom.org.

Get your Christmas tree from the Boy Scouts

Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127 us now selling Christmas trees ranging from tabletop size up to 10 feet, along with fresh, decorated wreaths at the corner of Lincoln and Codman roads across from the police and Fire Department on weekends from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and weeknights when the lights are on. Proceeds support the troop’s activities for the year, such as the recently installed Codman Farm trellis.  

Chuck Hall performs at next LOMA

Chuck Hall

Chuck Hall is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Dec. 9 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Chuck will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Chuck originally studied classical guitar but later began performing his own compositions while living in a cabin on Temple Mountain in New Hampshire. He has released several CDs including his most recent, “Down at the Old Canal.”

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.

Group hopes to build community/school connections through books

Some of the books on learning and education on display at the library.

The Lincoln School Committee has assembled a list of curated books on learning and education in hopes of sparking conversation within the community. The Lincoln Public Library has copies on display downstairs by the reference desk as well as upstairs next to the parenting section. These are books that educators and community members have read and referenced in conversation and that have influenced the district in some way. Lincoln schools have used some in professional learning, while others have been the focus for school and community book clubs, or titles whose ideas have impacted the schools’ strategic planning. Additional titles will be posted as new topics are undertaken.