The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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Council on Aging activities in February

Could you pay less for prescriptions?
February 1 at 11 a.m.
If you have costly prescriptions, you might be able to pay less through company programs, foundations that help with co-payments, discount cards, generic medications, and more. Find out about these options when Colleen Massey of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. She will also let you know about the many programs and services of MCPHS that can help you manage your medications.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the Lincoln Trad Jazz Band
February 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Don’t miss the free COA Valentine’s Day concert of traditional jazz music of the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s on Friday, Feb. 1 at 12:30 at Bemis Hall. The band will play music by such greats as Fats Waller, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and more, and you’ll get a chance to sing along on tunes made great by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Lincoln Academy with Alex MacLean: imagining sea level rise from above
February 4 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 4 at 12:30 when Alex MacLean discusses “Imagining Sea Level Rise from Above.” Alex will speak about his most recent work documenting with aerial images the impacts and vulnerabilities caused by sea level rise. Sea level rise is a definite indicator of global warming and climate change that is undeniable. It is also universal, permanent, irreversible and its rate of rising is accelerating. These photographs are intended to motivate us to act without delay in cutting our carbon emissions personally and collectively towards zero. 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.

Medical marijuana: what you need to know
February 8 at 10 a.m.
More and more these days doctors are prescribing medical marijuana for a host of health issues including anxiety, pain from many causes such as headaches, cancer, or nerve pain, nausea, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease, and many others. But is it safe? Will you become addicted? How do you obtain and take it? What are the side effects? Find out the answers to these and other questions you may have on Friday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. when Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s public health nurse, comes to Bemis Hall. Bring questions and concerns.
[Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in February

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Public hearings coming up

The Board of Water Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Lincoln Town Offices on its plan to institute first rate hike since 2015 (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Jan. 6, 2019).

The Historic District Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17 to consider the approval of a report recommending (1) the addition, at the request of the property owners below, of the following properties to the Brown’s Wood Historic District, and (2) the preparation of a warrant article to approve the same for vote at Town Meeting on March 23, 2019.

  • 8 Moccasin Hill Road (owned by Lewis and Rosemary Lloyd)
  • 18 Moccasin Hill Road (owned by Neal and Kimberly Rajdev)

The Lincoln School Committee will hold a formal budget hearing on Thursday, Jan. 10 and is scheduled to vote on the FY20 budget on Thursday, Jan. 24. All meetings begin at 7 p.m. the Multipurpose Room, Hartwell building. Copies of the proposed budget are available for review in the Lincoln Public Schools Business Office, 2nd floor, Hartwell building.

Cabaret concert at L-S

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Music Department presents its annual Cabaret Concert on Friday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the L-S cafeteria. The evening will feature contemporary, pop, Broadway, and jazz music performed by instrumental jazz ensembles and combos, and student vocal and a capella groups, including duets and soloists. Tickets are $5, with a $20 cap for families. Snacks and beverages will be sold by the L-S Friends of Music.

Find out about ranked-choice voting

Learn how ranked-choice voting could improve the fairness and effectiveness of elections when Jim Henderson, a board member of Voter Choice Massachusetts, leads a session on Sunday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m. in Bemis Hall (coffee and tea will be served starting at 2:45). (Coffee/tea at 2:45.)  Henderson will present the case for ranked choice voting and lead the audience in a voting exercise to find out how the process works.

Next up for play-reading group: “The Curious Savage”

The play-reading group at the Lincoln Public Library will read “The Curious Savage,” a 1950 comedy set in the living room of a sanatorium, on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and 15 at 11 a.m. All are invited to join the play-reading or just listen — no experience necessary. The group meets on every second and third Tuesday of each month at 11 am. For more information, call Sally Kindleberger at 781-799-4892.

Jazz night at deCordova

One of the photos by Larry Fink in the deCordova exhibition, Primal Empathy.

On Friday, Feb. 1 from 6–8:30 p.m., deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will host a Jazz Night, featuring a live performance by the Patrick McGee Quintet in the Larry Fink: Primal Empathy photography exhibition gallery. As a special treat, exhibiting artist Larry Fink will play harmonica with the band. The event also features cocktails (one per ticket with more for purchase, art-making activities for all ages, and access to all exhibitions on view. Click here to buy tickets ($25 for nonmembers, $20 for members, $10 for college students with ID, $5 for kids 17 and under).

Council on Aging activities in January

Tap your toes to trad jazz tunes
January 4 at 12:30 p.m.
Come join your fellow COA neighbors to tap your toes and bob your heads and sing to those tunes of yesteryear that we all know and love. Yes, the grandchildren can shake their heads and think we’re nuts, but we know where it’s at. Led by the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band, we’re gonna have a good time — you might even say a ball — around the old Steinway upstairs at Bemis Hall on January 4.

Lincoln Academy with MaryBeth Wise: From source to tap — Lincoln’s water system
January 7 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 7 at 12:30 when MaryBeth Wiser, Lincoln’s Superintendent of the Water discusses “From Source to Tap: Lincoln’s Water System.” How does water get from its source in nature to your tap and what happens to it in between? Find out where Lincoln gets its water, how it is treated, how it is tested, what it is tested for, how you know if there is ever a problem with your water, and how the Water Department makes sure that water will be available when you turn on the tap. 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
January 8 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Rd. in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 10 a.m.–noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 15 from 9–11 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.

Would you like to share writing memoirs with others?
January 9 at 10 a.m.
If you are interested in writing a memoir or just curious about what goes on in the memoir group, please come to the first winter meeting of the Memoir Group on Wednesday, Jan. 9 from 10 a.m.–noon at Bemis Hall and find out what we do. If you like what you hear and you want to continue, the cost of the ten-week term is $75. The dates for the term are January 9 and 23; February 6 and 20; March 6 and 20; April 3 and 17; and May 1 and 15. If you want more information, call Connie Lewis 781-259-9415 or email her at conlewis1000@gmail.com. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in January

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Give the Squirrel as a gift!

What do you get the Lincolnite who has everything? A one-year gift subscription to the Lincoln Squirrel for friends, neighbors, relatives, and business associates is the gift that keeps giving all year round, with fresh stories almost every weekday about our always-interesting town of Lincoln. Yearly subscriptions are usually $48, but act before December 24 and get one (or more) for just $39. Call 617-710-5542 or email lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com for details.

CCF’s Hashley profiled

Jennifer Hashley, Pete Lowy, and their son Abraham at Codman Community Farms.

Lincoln’s Jennifer Hashley, director for New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (a Tufts University initiative that works to strengthen local food systems by supporting new farmers) is one four women farmers profiled by Edible Boston in its winter issue (click here for story). She is also advisor to her husband Pete Lowy, the farm manager at Codman Community Farm, where they live with their son.

Library closings

The Lincoln Public Library will be closed for Christmas on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24 and 25. It will close at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and will be closed all day on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019.

Lecture series on the 1920s

A six-part lecture series on “The Roaring ’20s: Ford, Flappers and Fitzgerald” with history professor Gary Hylander begins on Sunday, Jan. 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. The era was known for the booming popularity of movies and the automobile as well as women’s suffrage and Prohibition.

Hylander led an earlier series in Lincoln on FDR’s America last spring. He is a visiting professor at Framingham State University and Boston University School of Education and a frequent lecturer at library forums, historical societies, and professional organizations. The talks are free and open to all; no registration necessary. Subsequent dates are January 27; February 10, 17, and 24; and March 31.

Robotics team hosts expo for aspiring young engineers

The GearTicks’ Laura Appleby (second from right) and Evan Lee (far right) congratulate teams in a blue-wigged high-five line at the awards ceremony.

By Evan Lee

Dozens of students gathered at Lincoln School’s Reed Field House on November 17 for Lincoln Legopalooza, an exciting day of fun with LEGO robotics and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).

FIRST Lego League Jr. (FLLJr) is a new addition to Lincoln’s robotics programs, allowing students as young as 5 to enter the STEM world. For the past two months, small groups of K-3 students have been industriously working in teams building and programming LEGO models as well as creating a “ShowMe” poster documenting their process.

Each year, FIRST creates a challenge for teams to tackle. This year’s “Mission Moon” challenged teams to learn about the moon and how to support a living environment in a moon base. The GearTicks, Lincoln’s local robotics team, organized the Legopalooza—Massachusetts’ first FLLJr Expo this season. The team’s middle- and high-school students helped kick-start and mentor all six of Lincoln’s FLLJr teams, bringing them together at the event to showcase their work.

The students’ excitement shone through the entire day and their season, highlighted in their quirky team names. GearTicks members served as reviewers, evaluating each of the teams’ models and posters. Camille of team Moon Ice Cream explained their moon base’s sliding door: the team used sensors to automatically open and close it. Pointing to a printout of their WeDo block programming code, she aptly noted, “It’s really, really long! It took us most of [a whole meeting] to program.”Moon Ice Cream’s obstacle-avoiding car won them the Master Programmer award.

Debra Daugherty, the team’s coach, appreciated GearTicks team members’ mentoring role through the season. “They tried to get the kids to think for themselves and to problem solve instead of just handing them the answers. The kids loved the final product,” she said.

Team Galactic Bots was thrilled with their Inquiring Minds award.

Team Blast to the Past took a recreational approach for their moon base, including a central area with campfires and diving boards. The students’ focus on fun was evident as they proudly presented their model and poster. Each team won a unique award, recognizing the strengths of each of their presentations.

Legopalooza also had a slew of other fun activities for the kids. Imaginations ran wild at the LEGO free-build table, and students were able to give their medal name tags a unique personal touch with colorful LEGO studs and cones at the medal decoration table. The Green GearTicks FIRST LEGO League had a display alongside the GearTicks FIRST Tech Challenge robot, introducing the younger generation to the next steps in the organization’s progressions of competition and inspiring them to continue pursuing STEM activities.

The event was a significant step in fostering a culture of STEM with Lincoln’s young students. “The FIRST progression of programs is beautifully designed to increase the challenges as students grow,” said Tim Hawkey, a coach of both FLL and FTC teams. Richard Gammack agreed. “It’s incredible how rapidly they progress from simple fun toy robots to sophisticated, engineered, 3D printed and machined robots,” he said. “I was thrilled to share my love of STEM with these aspiring engineers, and I hope we continue to organize FLLJr teams and events in years to come!”

Council on Aging activities in November

Coffee with photographer Barbara Peskin
November 1 at 2:45 p.m.
Join artist Barbara Peskin on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 2:45 p.m. to celebrate her exhibit “Moments in Nature,” shown in the Bemis Hall gallery through mid-November. Barbara enjoys sharing photos that play on the patience to let nature unfold as you observe, listen and watch and may come unexpectedly in quiet moments. Her photos come from places like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, along with photos of mergansers and puffins from Maine, and more from Lincoln and local areas.

Lunchtime jazz
November 2 at 12:30 p.m.
At lunchtime on Friday, Nov. 2, the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band will be upstairs at Bemis with a menu of delicious oldies but goodies for your enjoyment. Give yourself a break, join your fellow seniors. Relax, take the weight off, sit back and enjoy the music. Trombone, cornet, clarinet, piano, and drums will be in the house from 12:30–1:30.

Toni Lynn Washington and Sax Gordon Beadle play the blues
November 4 at 2 p.m.
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. 4 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The performance is the Second 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. Washington has delighted and awed audiences in Boston and around the country and the globe for decades as both a singer and songwriter. Marty Ballou on bass, Bryan Claunch on keyboard and Tom Avery on drums will back up Toni Lynn and Sax Gordon. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in November

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Two events on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The GRALTA Foundation is sponsoring two upcoming events at the Lincoln Public Library. On Thursday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., there will be a video presentation by Israeli Knesset member Aida Touma-Sliman, who will who explain and analyze the impact of a new law that declares Israel as “the Nation-State of the Jewish people.” Touma-Sliman heads the Knesset’s Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality. She founded the Women Against Violence Association and is the former editor in chief of Al-Ittihad newspaper.

On Sunday, Oct. 21 at 2 p.m., there will be a screening of Voices Across the Divide followed by a discussion of the film and other topics by co-director Alice Rothchild.The film is a documentary and oral history project exploring the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through rarely heard personal stories. Rothchild is a physician, author, and filmmaker who has focused her interest in human rights and social justice on the Israel/Palestine conflict since 1997. For more information, contact Steve Low at 781-259-1300 or steve.low@gordianconcepts.com.

Exhibit, presentation focus on World War I posters

The Lincoln Public Library will host two events and an exhibition as part of “America at War: Patriotic Posters of WWI” to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

On Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1:15 p.m., join a reception with Lincoln residents George Seeley and Jenifer Burkett-Picke, who will be exhibiting a selection of original posters from their extensive collection of World War I posters advertising the need for full national participation in the war effort. The exhibit will be changed in mid-month to more fully illustrate America’s total commitment to the war through shipbuilding and military recruitment (October 28–November 13), and then bond drives and food conservation efforts (November 14–25).

Seeley will give a multimedia presentation on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 1:15 p.m. of original World War I-era posters and songs and a discussion of how these represented a much different mood and spirit in the America of a century ago than one could ever imagine today. Though actively involved in the fighting for just two years, America produced more war posters in that time than all the other combatants combined. These colorful large-scaled prints are by many of the best-known lithographers from that era such as James Montgomery Flagg , Howard Chandler Christy, and Charles Livingston Bull.

Lincoln musicians perform in upcoming concerts

There will be two concerts featuring Lincoln musicians at Bemis Hall in coming weeks. On Sunday, Oct. 28, members of Rhapsody will offer a piano recital at 3 p.m. in Bemis Hall in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Rhapsody was formed in 2003 by a few visionary amateur pianists including Lincoln’s Ken Hurd who sought a venue in which to perform for each other, both to grow musically and to share their musical journey with others.  It has since grown to 18 people from the Boston metropolitan area, and this is the ninth annual concert on Bemis Hall’s restored Steinway. The program will feature selections from Albeniz, Brahms, Celentano, Grenados, Grieg, Guastavino, Liszt, Mozart, Piazzolla, Scarlatti, Scriabin, and Schumann. 

The Sonic Liberation Players featuring Lincoln pianist and composer Trevor Berens will play on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Last season, SLP performed a U.S. premiere, a commission and five Boston premieres. SLP plays uncommonly heard works and commission new works that investigate the area between “academic/intellectual” and “pop-influenced classical. “At the November 18 concert—inspired in equal parts by gardens, birds, and music—they’ll present two more Boston premieres, Nachtlied by Dean Harold and Dreamgarden by Ian Wilson, as well as Canticle of the Birds by John Luther Adams, Ryoanji by John Cage and Birds in Warped Time 2 by Somei Satoh. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Thanksgiving pie sales aid FELS and local charities

FELS (the Foundation for Educators at L-S) is sponsoring its annual Thanksgiving pie sale featuring gourmet apple, pumpkin, pecan and chocolate pies baked by Joyce’s Pies of Leominster. Pies are $19 each. Order for your family or donate to a listed local organization or charity; one donation of $19 can benefit two organizations. Proceeds fund enrichment grants for L-S faculty and staff. Order online at www.felsgrant.org by Friday, Nov. 9 and will be available on November 20.

Paws for the Holidays

Daniela Caride (center), president of Phinney’s Friends, and companions at Paws for the Holidays.

Pets and their humans are invited to the Paws for the Holidays festival on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Pierce House. There will be baked goods, live music, arts and crafts, Santa pictures with the whole family (human and canine), activities for children, a silent auction, Thanksgiving baskets, a pet yard sale and more. All proceeds go to Phinney’s Friends, a Lincoln-based organization that helps low-income and chronically ill people keep their pets.

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Scarecrow Classic steps off this Sunday

More than 550 participants are expected to join the LLCT for the sixth Annual Scarecrow Classic on Sunday, Oct. 14. The race kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Codman Road by the fire station and runs along Lincoln’s scenic roads, fields, and trails.

After the race, there will be a raffle with prizes, live music, cider donuts, seasonal soup, and prizes for the top three runners in each age category. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at the LLCT offices, from LLCT trustees, or on October 14 before the race. Online registration is open through Friday, Oct. 12 and same-day registration is available starting at 8 a.m. Visit scarecrowclassic5k.com for the route map and online registration.

In keeping with conservation principles, participants are asked to bring a refillable water bottle (they can place it at the finish line ahead of time). There will be a hydration station and limited emergency water supplies for those without a water bottle. All utensils, cups, bowls, and napkins will be 100% compostable.

Diaper drive headed by Lincoln residents seeks donations

Residents are urged to drop off disposable diapers at the Lincoln Public Library for the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive, which runs through Sunday, Oct. 21. Diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, Lexington, and Lincoln. Donors may also purchase diapers from these Amazon or Target registries and having them sent directly to the WIC office.

The diaper drive began six years ago after Kerstin Sinkevicius (now of Lincoln) and Aimee Mills of Somerville read an article detailing how difficult it was for financially challenged families to afford diapers. Neither WIC nor SNAP benefits cover the cost of diapers. Two years ago, Kim Jalet of Lincoln replaced Mills as co-coordinator. A full list of collection points can be found at mbdiapers.org.

The Metro-Boston Diaper Drive was formerly called the Somerville Moms’ Diaper Drive, but “we changed the name this year to the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive because it has grown far beyond the original scope of Somerville now that we have 31 collection points in eight towns,” said Jalet said. A full list of collection points can be found at mbdiapers.org. Last year, the event donated more than 22,000 diapers. This year, organizers hope to donate at least 30,000 diapers.

College planning seminar at L-S

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Adult Ed is offering a college planning seminar for parents of ninth- and tenth-graders on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 7–9 p.m. in the L-S lecture hall. Tuition is $20/family and pre-registration at www.lsrhs.net/sites/adulted/ is required. Todd Richman, founder of Achieve Admissions, and Annika Noren, co-founder of InspireDo LLC, will address how colleges evaluate applicants, academic planning during high school, extracurricular and summer activities, considerations for student-athletes, when to take standardized tests, and why sophomore year is important to financial aid. 

Tales of the Night at Drumlin

Put on your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and come to Tales of the Night, Drumlin Farm’s  family-friendly Halloween tradition, on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 25 and 26 from 6:30–9 p.m. Visitors will have the chance to:

  • Explore the farm at night, lit by a display of over 100 jack-o-lanterns
  • Meet some of the nocturnal wildlife of Massachusetts
  • Enjoy treats, “spider cider,” and “witches’ brew” at the ghoulish graveyard
  • Step into a story on the Nursery Rhyme Trail to meet your favorite characters
  • Venture out into the fields for a haunted hayride full of spooky surprises (7–8:30 p.m.)

Tickets ($15 for Mass Audubon members, $17 for nonmembers) must be purchased in advance—no admission at the gate. Purchase tickets online or register by phone at 781-259-2206.

Amelia Earhart events at library

Actor Sheryl Faye returns to the Lincoln Public Library to portray aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. As attendees learn how Earhart follows her dream with an indomitable spirit, her story will inspire them to pursue their own budding interests and passions. Local historian and Medford Public Library Director Barbara Kerr will discuss Earhart’s Boston-area connections on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to all.

Seminar covers Hindu period in India history

The next seminar in the India Discovery Project (IDP) covering the Hindu period (500–1500 AD) is on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The seminar is an all-day event with slide presentations, lectures and music; lunch and tea will be provided. Presenters will include Lincoln resident and IDP President Bijoy Misra. The public online registration fee is $25, but Lincoln residents can get a $5 discount by sending a check to the India Discovery Center, 180 Bedford Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773.

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Public notices

  • The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. to consider the application by Lincoln Station LLC, 145 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA for the transfer of an on-premises all alcoholic beverages restaurant license.
  • There will be a bank auction of the property at 129 Concord Rd. formerly owned by Richard D. Salwitz and Susan Fulmer Salwitz on Friday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m.

Open house at Masonic Lodge

Members of Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge of Lincoln invite the public to an open house on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Residents can learn about Freemasonry, the numerous local charities they support, educational and leadership skills they impart, and the ability for qualified men to seek the best version of themselves. The lodge is in the old South School at 181 Lincoln Rd. On a recent Charity Night, the Lincoln group donated more than $17,000 to regional charities.

Train schedule change will happen Oct. 29

The adjustments to the commuter rail schedule  affecting Lincoln will take effect on October 29, not October 22 as originally announced. Click here for the October 1 News Acorn.

Parent-child ceramics at deCordova

Parents and children age 6-9 can create unique ceramic sculpture together in deCordova’s professional clay studio during “Family Clay Saturdays: Parent-Child Ceramic Series” on Saturdays, October 13 to November 3 from 10 a.m.–noon. Learn basic hand-building and glazing techniques as you work side by side to create a hanging mobile and a seasonal spirit house. Click here for more information and registration. Questions? Contact Julie Bernson at jbernson@decordova.org or 781-259-3649.

Concert, open house at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will present a “Live in Lincoln Center” concert on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.) with works by Corelli, Handel, Vivaldi, Bach and de Boismortier performed by musicians from the Handel & Haydn Society. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $30.

The following day (Sunday, Oct. 21), the church will hold an open house coffee at 11:15 a.m. in the sanctuary’s Stearns Room (4 Bedford Rd.). following the 10 a.m. worship service. Everyone interested in learning more about First Parish in Lincoln is welcome to attend.

Author talk by Cai Emmons

The Lincoln Public Library will host a talk by Lincoln native Cai Emmons, author of the recently published novel Weather Woman, on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Tarbell Room. Emmons, who grew up in Lincoln, teaches in the University of Oregon’s Creative Writing Program and is the author of two earlier novels, His Mother’s Son and The Stylist. Copies of Weather Woman will be available for purchase and signing.

Talk on Codman Estate portraits

From high-end works by John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart to others by once-famous artists to humble family snapshots, the Codman Estate’s portrait collection extends over 200 years of changing styles. “Portraits and Personalities” on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. takes a fresh look at this collection, including rarely seen works of art. Hear the real stories of the people behind these pictures, both the subjects and the artists. $15 for Historic New England members, $20 for nonmembers. Registration required; call 617-994-6690 or click here.

Two new classes at L-S Adult Ed

Lincoln-Sudbury Adult Education has added two classes to its fall/winter offerings. Lisa Cukier, a partner with Burns and Levinson will host sessions on estate planning and probate administration in Massachusetts on two Wednesdays, Nov. 7 and 14, from 7–8:30 p.m. in Room B330. She will also discuss estate litigation, family disputes, and financial exploitation by caregivers relating to the assets of individuals with diminished mental capacity. “Les Petits Chefs” is a hands-on cooking class for seventh- and eighth-graders 0ffered by L-S faculty members Dot Samsi and M.J. Galano (the ability to speak French is not required). A mini-lesson on French culture will accompany each session. The class will he held on three Thursdays (Nov. 29, Dec. 13, and Jan. 24) in Room C124. Click here for more information and to register for classes.

Council on Aging activities in October

Watercolor class with Jane
October 1 at 9 a.m.
Rediscover your joyful soul through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. One class of four sessions will be offered on Mondays, Oct. 1 and 15 and Fridays, Oct. 5 and 12 from 9–11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Cost is $30, materials included. Sign up now by calling the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Lincoln Academy with Timothy Johnson, MD: 35 years at ABC News
October 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 1 at 12:30 to hear Timothy Johnson, MD, discuss “35 Years at ABC News.” For 35 years, Dr. Tim Johnson was the chief medical correspondent for ABC News, giving medical information to millions of Americans in a way that was accurate yet accessible. His contributions to such shows as Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Nightline, 20/20, and more helped viewers understand their medical conditions as well as how they can take charge of their own health. He will discuss his decades at ABC News and answer your questions. 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.

Noticing walks with John Calabria
October 2 at 1 p.m. (location TBD)
Come for a series of gently paced walks through nature guided by John Calabria beginning Oct. 2 from 1 to 2:30 at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. More walks will be held November 6 and December 4. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. on the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

Find out who’s in your family tree
October 2 at 2 p.m.
Tracing your family tree is like a treasure hunt of self-discovery. Enjoy sharing stories, tips, and resources with others (and hearing about what works for others might help you, too) on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall at a discussion group for genealogy enthusiasts.

New Russian conversation group
October 3 at 1 p.m.
Come brush up on your Russian by speaking it with others the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. In October the group will meet on October 3 and 17. Please come whether you are a native speaker, beginner, or in-between. All ages welcome.

The challenges of change and loss 
October 4 at 10 a.m.
As we age we face changes in many aspects of our lives. We may be dealing with changes in physical or cognitive health in loved ones, friends or ourselves or the death of a loved one. It may be negotiating the transition to retirement and the loss of professional identity. We may be making decisions about whether to stay in our homes or to move to a retirement community. Relationships with adult children may also change and at times we may have to address their sense of what is good for us and what we want. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, the COA’s social worker with many years of experience helping people navigate the issues of later life, will be facilitating a group that will give people the opportunity to talk about these issues in a supportive environment. The six-week group will run on Thursdays from10-11:30 on October 4, 11, 18, 25, and November 1 and 8. Sign up by calling the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 is helpful but not required.

Coffee with photographer Barbara Peskin
October 4 at 3 p.m.
Join artist Barbara Peskin on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. to celebrate her exhibit “Moments in Nature” shown in the Bemis Hall gallery October through mid-November. Barbara enjoys sharing photos that play on the patience to let nature unfold as you observe, listen and watch and may come unexpectedly in quiet moments. Her photos come from places like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, along with mergansers from Rangeley, ME, puffins from Machias Seal Island, ME, and more from Lincoln and local areas. Barbara has exhibited her photography at local libraries and COA’s, Concord’s Reasons to Be Cheerful and Stow’s Nancy’s Air Field Cafe. She’s won awards from the Lincoln Garden Club and Parker River Wildlife Refuge.

Trad jazz band
October 5 at 12:30 p.m.
You are not alone if when you turn on the radio you find yourself wishing they’d play On The Sunny Side of the Street or Ain’t Misbehavin’ or Toot-Toot-Tootsie. You can get your wish on Friday, Oct. 5 when the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serves up a lunchtime platter of those golden oldies at Bemis from 12:30–1:30. Come upstairs, kickoff your shoes, enjoy. 

Technology workshops hosted by local Boy Scout troop
October 6 at 2 p.m.
Jacob Anthony, a member of Concord Boy Scout Troop 132 and resident of Lincoln, will be leading two technology workshops for Lincoln seniors. The workshops will take place on October 6 and December 2 from 2-4 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Each workshop will consist of a presentation on email (October 6) and internet safety (December 2), followed by a chance for COA members to work with scouts from the troop and troubleshoot any issues they have with their portable electronic devices. The classes will conclude with a refreshment period for socializing. Seniors are invited to bring their personal electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) that they would like help with to the workshop. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

The Supreme Court with Walter Bossert
October 6 at 2 p.m.
Get a deeper understanding of the Supreme Court that has influenced almost every aspect of American life for over 200 years when Lincoln resident Walter Bossert presents “The Supreme Court.” The program will be on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 2 to 4:15 p.m. at the library (not Bemis Hall). First, you’ll watch a video by C-Span including interviews with 11 justices about the role, traditions, and history of the Court and a tour of the Supreme Court building. Following the video, Bossert will discuss the Supreme Court case Central Hudson v. PSC (1980), a seminal case on commercial freedom of speech. For that case, Bossert successfully organized and led a three-man team for a favorable 8–1 decision, and was a co-author of the winning brief. Questions will be welcomed after the discussion. Co-sponsored by the COA and the Lincoln Public Library.

Free wellness clinic for all ages
October 9 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad
October 11 at 9:30 a.m.
The COA’s programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that they have asked him to come back yet again. Andy will be at Bemis Hall on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m. to give you more information on the operation and features of iPhones and iPads and answer your questions. If you have tips for using your iPhone or iPad, bring those, too.

What you need to know about Instagram
October 11 at 11 a.m.
Instagram is the latest thing among the kids and you might enjoy this fun and simple way to share photos and videos with your friends and family. Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. to hear Andy Payne talk about Instagram, what it is, how to use it safely, and how to communicate via hashtags. He will demonstrate what it is, show you how to set up an account, and give some tips.

LGBT-focused group for older adults to share tea and conversation
October 12 at 10 a.m.
All are invited to enjoy tea and conversation at a new LGBT-focused group to be held the second Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Come share your thoughts, ideas, and life experiences. Another group will also be held November 9. Older adults from other towns most welcome.

Town Clerk voter update
October 12 at 11 a.m.
Join Interim Town Clerk Valerie Fox on Friday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall to find out what you need to know to make sure you can make your voice be heard by voting November 6. The deadline for registering to vote for the November 6 election is October 17. Find out about how to get an absentee ballot and vote absentee, early voting, making sure you’re registered, and more. Valerie will even check to make sure you’re on the voting rolls.

A trunk full of tales – sharing personal and family stories
October 12 at 1 p.m.
Our lives are made of stories. Stories of our family members and ancestors who influenced our lives, and our own stories of the experiences that helped us become who we are today. They live inside us, but too often we don’t feel they are valuable to others or we just don’t know how to tell them. Sharing and hearing both the fun and tough stories is healing for ourselves and important for our children, grandchildren, and peers. Join Lincoln native and professional storyteller Elisa Pearmain on Friday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall for an engaging and playful workshop on remembering, shaping, and sharing personal and family stories. You may bring an item (or facsimile) that has been passed to you, or that represents an experience that touched your life. No experience necessary.

Lincoln Academy with Avram Kalisky: A voyage through Scandinavia
October 15 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 15 at 12:30 to hear Avram Kalisky discuss “A Voyage Through Scandinavia.” Join Avram Kalisky as he takes you on a voyage through Scandinavia that he and Esther enjoyed in 2004. You will visit, vicariously, Copenhagen, Sweden, and a number of locations in Norway, where you will take a train trip with an old steam engine, visit churches, have a barbecue next to a lake, eat shrimp fresh from the sea, and more. Avram will also share thoughts on the current situation in Israel. 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 elder law clinic
October 15 at 2 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. 15 from 2–3 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Senior dining
October 16 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. 16 at St. Anne’s Church. Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let them know when you call 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. Enjoy a Lunch free during your birthday. All you need to do is let them know at the reception desk.

Fall barbecue for veterans and spouses/partners
October 17 at 12 p.m.
All Lincoln veterans and their spouses/partners are welcome to another of the COA’s famous Veterans Barbecues on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at noon. The BBQ will feature a delicious lunch of barbecued pork or chicken or beef brisket. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 by October 10. A $5 donation is requested.

Tour of Trinity Church and tea at the Boston Public Library
October 18 at 10 a.m.
Join the COA on Thursday, Oct. 18 for a guided tour of Trinity Church in Boston, designated as “one of the ten most important buildings in America” by the American Institute of Architects. It was founded in 1734. You will then take a short walk to the Boston Public Library for High Tea in the Courtyard Restaurant. The High Tea features assorted savory tea sandwiches, scones, petit fours and tea. The caterer is incredible and you will not be disappointed. There will be time to view the Gallery and tour the architecture of its famed Central Library buildings as well as the art treasures within. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 10 a.m. and return at approximately 3:15 p.m. This trip is rated moderate with walking, standing and negotiating stairs. The cost of the trip is $39.00. 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.

Healing motion for life: a free movement workshop
October 19 at 9 a.m.
Being in touch with the way our bodies move, and working to keep our movements unrestricted and fluid help bring health and clarity to every aspect of our lives. Join Susanne Liebich on Friday, Oct. 19 at 9 a.m. at Bemis Hall to experience a variety of sustainable exercises including expressive movement, breathing and relaxation in a program sponsored by Deaconess Abundant Life Services and Newbury Court. Susanne’s movement practice helps you achieve body awareness, presence, physical strength, balance, focus, and serenity. Another session will be held in November.

The flu shot clinic is back!
October 19 at 10 a.m.
Lincoln residents 65 and over are invited to come to the Board of Health/COA flu clinic at Bemis Hall on Friday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt and bring your insurance cards, but there is no out-of-pocket charge to you. They will have the quadrivalent form of the vaccine which makes up approximately 80 percent of available 2018-2019 vaccine and is indicated for a majority of the adult population. Check with your doctor if you have questions about the high-dose vaccine. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Stay on your feet with the Better Balance Fair
October 19 at 1 p.m.
Find out how to improve your balance and prevent injury if you fall at a Better Balance Fair on Friday, Oct. 19 from 1–3 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The fair is free and sponsored by the Lincoln Fire Department and the COA. At 1 p.m., attend a demonstration by Jane Moss, a COA tai chi teacher, of how tai chi improves balance, or watch a video about how to prevent fall injuries. At 2 p.m., attend a demonstration by Lana Israel, who teaches Lana’s Ultimate Fitness classes for the Parks and Rec Department, of exercises that can help you improve and maintain your strength and balance to prevent falls or practice how to fall to prevent injury. You will also be able to take home lots of information about other programs and services. The Fire Department will be providing delicious refreshments.

Share tips or get help at smartphone meetup
October 22 at 11 a.m.
Do you have a smart phone that you would like to learn more about or be able to use better? Or, can you give smart phone pointers? Come to a group that will be facilitated by Carol Peskin for smart phone users to share tips and get help on Monday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. This isn’t a class, but rather a chance for people to teach each other. Whether you’re new to smart phones or are a pro, this group is for you.

Lincoln Academy with Carol Paik: NYC landmarks from a recycled doll’s perspective
October 22 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 22 at 12:30 to hear Carol Paik discuss “NYC Landmarks from a Recycled Doll’s Perspective.” A recycling project became much more than that when former corporate litigator Carol Paik, daughter of Lincoln residents Frank and Wanda Paik, decided to combine her passion for dollmaking with her being a quintessential New Yorker, creating a new handmade doll and outfit out of old discarded stuff every week for one year, pairing them with iconic NYC landmarks such as the Met, Central Park, the Cloisters, Natural History Museum, Botanical Gardens, WTC, Whitney Museum, Governors’ Island, Roosevelt Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Chinatown, Staten Island ferry, the Plaza Hotel, etc., delving lightly into history, literature, poetry and celebrity quotes. Come hear Carol describe her project and exhibit a sampling of her resting stitch face dolls and their write-ups. You can see more of her dolls at www.restingstitchfacenyc.com. 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.

Medicare open enrollment insurance update
October 26 at 10 a.m.
Find out what changes could affect your Medicare coverage and how much you will pay in 2019 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. 26 at 10 a.m. This is an important time to ;understand the changes for 2019 and to be sure you ;are satisfied with your current health insurance benefits. Medicare open enrollment period—Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2018—is your opportunity to make any changes to your Medicare coverage, effective Jan. 1. Representatives from most major supplemental health insurance plans (Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts, Fallon, and AARP/United Health Care) will have 2019 information for Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans and Part D plans. Also present will be Peter Harvell, Veterans Service Officer.

Note: This program is designed to go over 2019 changes in basic Medicare, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance plans. On Monday, Nov. 5 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 (Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage) available to supplement coverage. SHINE provides accurate, unbiased information regarding health insurance and prescription drug options through community education and free, confidential counseling for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. 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.

Lincoln Academy with Ruth Mendelson: Producing Jane Goodall
October 29 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Oct. 29 at 12:30 to hear Ruth Mendelson discuss “Producing Jane Goodall.” For the past two years, composer/producer Ruth Mendelson has been working with longtime friend Dr. Jane Goodall, creating the updated audio version of her classic book, My Life with the Chimpanzees. After recording and editing Dr. Goodall’s narration track, Ruth created an elaborate soundscape for the audio book—akin to an old-fashioned radio show in which all text is illustrated with sound. For this week’s Lincoln Academy, Ruth will discuss aspects of production, demonstrating how she created the soundscapes for the book as well as premier tracks. 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.