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

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Thanksgiving contra dance and maybe more

turkey1Contra dance at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will sponsor a Thanksgiving Night Contra Dance on Thursday, Nov. 26 from 7-10 p.m. at the Smith School. The program will feature musicians Larry Unger and Julie Metcalf, and caller Chris Ricciotti. All ages and abilities are welcome. Tickets are $6 for adults and students, or $4 for children 10 and under. For more information, contact Kati Winchell at 781-259-0692 or kwinchell@comcast.net.

Seniors invited to Wednesday dinner

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School invites the seniors of both Lincoln and Sudbury to a Thanksgiving dinner at the school (390 Lincoln Road in Sudbury) on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at noon. Diners will be entertained by both student musicians and an intergenerational dance troupe. Call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Who wants to wobble?

Jen Flanagan of Lincoln is asking if Lincolnites are interested in the Thanksgiving morning Gobble Wobble again this year. Participants run or walk either 3.5 miles or 2.5 miles after donating an “entry fee” of one bag of nonperishable groceries. The food goes to Open Table in Concord, which has come to depend on the contributions. Flanagan will organize the event again this year if there is enough interest; email her at jen@flanagans.us.

L-S alumni soccer, anyone?

Another holiday tradition is the L-S soccer alumni game on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Organizers need to know if there is enough interest to reserve a field at the high school. If interested, leave a note on the L-S Soccer Alumni Facebook page or email tim_mangini@wgbh.org.

News acorns

harvestHarvest feast at Drumlin Farm

For the first time ever, Drumlin Farm will play host to their locally sourced Fall Harvest Feast on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 4:30-7 p.m. The event, arranged by Food and Farm Educator Emma Scudder, will feature the sustainable farm’s just-picked fall harvest and late summer yield preserves.

“We wanted to create casual, family-friendly dinner that happens to be made using all of the freshest, local ingredients,” says Scudder. “Farm-to-table is about community. It’s about appreciating the food we have growing around us and the farmers who grow it.”

Starting at 4:30 p.m., guests can roam the fields with Scudder and Katarina Goldenberg, Drumlin Farm CSA Coordinator, who will share their knowledge about sustainable farming and agriculture. After working up an appetite, guests can bundle up by a warm fire in Drumlin Farm’s Nature Center and enjoy pizza made with late summer and early fall harvest produce and meat. Also on the menu is squash soup, a heart kale salad, homemade beverages, and festive ice cream.

Advance registration is required.or Mass Audubon members are are $20 for adults and $12 for children, or $25 and $15 for nonmembers.  Register online or call Jennifer Riley at 781-259-2200.

Three school committees to hold public forum

Two communities, three districts… Are there ideas or topics that the Lincoln and Sudbury school communities should talk about together? Do you have questions about transitioning to the high school or community supports for social and emotional health, or are you interested in hearing about current research regarding school start times? The Lincoln preK-8, Sudbury K-8, and L-S School Committees invite Lincoln, Sudbury and Boston METCO community members to a public forum on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 7-9 p.m. in Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School library. The forum will begin with a short presentation period followed by an opportunity to brainstorm topics that are relevant to all three districts, and will conclude with a joint meeting of the three school committees.

Operatic divas, meditation programs, and Isabella Stewart Gardner at the library
  • Meditation workshop with Natalia Cepeda — Saturday, Oct. 17 from 3-4:30 p.m. Learn and practice easy meditation techniques and key philosophical principles to implement right away, plus tools for reducing stress, improving relationships, or just having more joy in your life.
  • “A Voice Fest: Operatic Divas with Erika Reitshamer” — Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. This lecture and multimedia presentation will feature world-renowned divas including Renata Tebaldi, Maria Callas, Leontyne Price, and Beverly Sills, as well as fabulous singers of the present day.
  • A reminder that character re-enactor Jessa Piaia will present a dramatic portrayal of Gardner in “A Visit with Isabella Stewart Gardner: America’s First Patroness of the Arts” at the library on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. (see the Lincoln Squirrel, September 4, 2015).

October doings from the Council on Aging

bemisHere are the October activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging.

Hot jazz for a cool fall afternoon
October 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Whether you like your jazz hot or cool, you’ll love the Trad Jazz Sextet free concert on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. This roving band of jazz-lovin’ retirees will have you on your feet dancing one minute, then reminiscing to favorites that will bring back sweet memories the next. Nothing is better for lifting your mood than music, so treat yourself to an afternoon of fun, entertainment, and uplifting old-timey tunes.

Wellness clinics for all ages
October 2 at 10 a.m.
All Lincoln residents are invited to meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods’ Community Building at 50 Wells Rd. on Friday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. These clinics are funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. [Read more…] about October doings from the Council on Aging

Council on Aging activities for September

bemisSeptember 1 at 2:30
Coffee with artists Victoria and Bill Pearmain
Join Lincoln-born artists Victoria Pearmain (painter) and brother Bill Pearmain (multimedia visual artist) on Sept. 1st at 2:30 p.m. at a coffee to celebrate their exhibit at Bemis Hall’s Lincoln Artists Gallery. The exhibit will include paintings, photographs and sculpture and will be on view September and October. Victoria graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and her work has been in many shows and collections. Her paintings are primarily plein-air. Bill’s studies include New England College and Brandeis University. He has also exhibited in multiple shows and collections.

September 2 at 1 p.m.
Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, September 2 at 1 p.m. to meet with Anthony Moreschi, Constituent Service Representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark. He will be available to assist residents with Social Security, Medicare and MassHealth/Medicaid. You are also welcome to discuss other matters that he may be able to help with. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities for September

Beating the heat with local ice cream

icecream2Editor note: This article was submitted by Josh Blumberg, who is entering seventh grade at the Lincoln School. He submitted it to the Lincoln Squirrel at the suggestion of his writing coach, teacher Scot Dexter.

By Josh Blumberg

July was a hot, humid month and August is turning out the same way. I felt like I was melting in that sweltering summer weather! How do you beat the heat? Ever try ice cream? Here in Lincoln we are lucky. There are several excellent options available for the sweet, frozen treat. Here are a few of my favorites.

Dairy Joy in Weston is a delightful location on Route 117. There are nine soft-serve ice cream flavors and three soft-serve sherbets, all of which can be dipped in a delicious chocolate coating. Coffee is my personal favorite. Dairy Joy is a drive-in style ice cream stand with no indoor seating, so you have to hit it when the weather is right. There are plenty of tables in the sun, and only a few in the shade, so you have to eat your ice cream quickly!

Bedford Farms in Concord has marvelous ice cream. There are thirty-six different flavors on the menu, plus nine yogurt flavors for you calorie counters. They also have a killer topping bar—M&Ms, peanut butter cups, sprinkles… you name it, they have it! The Thoreau Street location is fun to visit because it’s in a historic train station right beside the commuter rail. There are plenty of seats inside for rainy days, and a few choice spots outside for viewing passing trains. Here I recommend Cookie Dough in a cone. It’s spectacular!

Finally, there’s Orange Leaf in Wayland Center. Talk about soft-serve flavors! Is 80 enough to satisfy you? At any given time, you will find 20 flavors. These rotate frequently. Plus, there are sugar- and dairy-free options. The toppings bar here is crazier than any other! Be smart about your toppings because they weigh the food, then price it. There are around ten machines and each serve two that can be mixed into a third flavor. You get to serve yourself so the younger kids love it. Parents hate the idea because you can’t put it back!

Do yourself a favor and visit any of these three ice cream places before the end of the summer. They are fun, delicious and very different, making each a unique heat-beating experience. Happy summer!

Council on Aging activities in August

bemisDid you enjoy the strawberry social? Come hear more jazz!
August 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Did you hear the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Sextet belting it out while you munched away? Did you like what you heard? Well, there’s more where that came from. The sextet will be back at Bemis on Thursday, Aug 6 at 2:30 to give you their renderings of those tunes and others like them. So come on down, put your feet up or tap them to the music, and hum along. What better way to spend a pleasurable hour on a summer afternoon?

Veterans summer BBQ
August 10 at 12 p.m.
Veterans and their spouses are invited to a special barbecue on Monday, August 10 at 12 p.m. at Bemis Hall featuring a delicious lunch of barbecued pork or chicken. The COA is hoping to create a dynamic veterans community here in Lincoln and would love to see you and your spouse at the barbecue. You must sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 by August 3 so that they will have enough meals. Unfortunately, they will not be able to accommodate those who do not sign up. A $5 donation is requested.

What you need to know about rescuing animals
August 17 at 10 a.m.
Lincoln residents share our backyards, our conservation land, and more with animals who come from the wild or, sometimes, may have been bought as pets but then left on their own for one reason or another. Knowing what to do when you encounter an animal, especially one who may be sick or who is in danger, is essential to your own and the animal’s safety. Find out about the animals you may come across in Lincoln and what to do when you would like to help but do not know how. Daniela Caride, President of the Board of Phinney’s Friends, comes to Bemis Hall on Monday, August 17 at 10 a.m. Caride will also discuss the mission and services of Phinney’s Friends, a Lincoln-based nonprofit dedicated to helping people keep their pets in times of crisis.

Searching Consumer Reports online free
August 20 at 10 a.m.
Consumer Reports has information about products from cars to airlines to cleaners to shoes, food, insurance, and everything in between. Because the Lincoln Public Library has a subscription, any Lincoln resident can search for product reviews from their homes on their computers for free! Get a demonstration of how to do this when Kate Tranquada, one of Lincoln’s reference librarians, comes to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m.

Is your home safe for your pets?
August 24 at 10 a.m.
Sometimes even the most loving home can be dangerous for pets. Food, plants, medicine, and household chemicals can be toxic. Furniture with sharp edges can cause injuries. Pets can get locked into rooms, dryers, and other places. Buttons and strings can cause choking and more. Find out what you need to know to make sure your home is safe for your pets when Lincoln veterinarian Doug Meade comes to Bemis Hall on Monday, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. Doug will let you know what to look out for and answer your questions.

—Hold the date: Friday, Sept. 25—
Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate
Learn about the U.S. Senate in an interactive and exploratory way on a trip to the new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate on Friday, Sept. 25. After a short introduction, folks can independently wander through the museum with a tablet which allows them to engage fully in the democratic process. An issue of the day also enhances the experience. A full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber and other exhibits are also on view. The Institute opened this past March to rave reviews. Note that this is a self guided tour with quite a bit of walking, but that there are places to sit throughout the building. The tour lasts between an hour to an hour and a half. The bus will leave the Lincoln Mall at 9:30 a.m. and return about 3 p.m. The cost is $15 per person. Lunch is still to be arranged. For more information about the Institute, go to https://www.emkinstitute.org. Signup begins in September.

News acorns – 6/18/15

flagJoin Lincoln’s annual Fourth of July parade

Get your float ready for the July 4 parade! This year’s theme (recycling last year’s, as the parade was rained out) is “Lincoln: Something to Crow About!” First settled in the 1650s by farmers, Lincoln today is home to numerous farms and nearly 800 farm animals, including 417 chickens and roosters. Now that’s a lot of crowing! This year the stakes are high as the first-place winner will have their team picture displayed in Town Hall. The top three winners will also receive Golden Rooster trophies.

Download a parade application, fill it out, and scan and email it to eventssubcommittee@gmail.com or mail it to the Parks and Recreation Department at 16 Lincoln Road. On the morning of July Fourth, please meet on Ballfield Road before 9:45 a.m.

[Read more…] about News acorns – 6/18/15

Milk it for all it’s worth at Dairy Day

dairyDrumlin Farm is celebrating National Dairy Month with Dairy Day on Saturday, June 13 (rain or shine) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The barns will be open on this special day for up-close access to our favorite dairy animals and the tasty treats they help us produce.

Highlights include exclusive milking access to Drumlin Farm’s dairy cows (while milk supply and cows’ patience last!); crafts and games for kids in our Get Moovin’ zone; cheese, butter, and ice cream making demonstrations; up-close viewing of our heritage breed cattle; and free hayrides to celebrate the crowning of the Drumlin Farm Dairy Princess. The Posto Mobile wood-fired pizza truck will be on hand to provide tasty picnic lunch options for purchase made with fresh Drumlin Farm produce, and Reasons to Be Cheerful will have plenty of local ice cream to enjoy.

Schedule of activities:

  • All day – Ice cream and pizza truck; farm stand and country store; Get Moovin’ crafts and games; livestock display
  • 10-11 a.m. – Cow milking (while supply lasts)
  • 10 a.m. to noon – Ice cream making demonstration
  • 11:30 a.m. to noon – Dairy Court hayride
  • Noon to 2 p.m. – Cheese-making demonstration
  • 12:30-1 p.m. – Goat milking demonstration
  • 1:30-2 p.m. – Dairy Court hayride
  • 2-3 p.m. – Cow milking (while supply lasts)
  • 2-4 p.m. – Butter-making demonstration
  • 3:30-4 p.m. – Goat-milking demonstration

Tickets for this special fundraising event are $8 for Mass Audubon members, $10 for nonmembers, children under 2 free, and can be purchased by calling 781-259-2206 or online at www.massaudubon.org/drumlinprograms.

Council on Aging events in June

bemisAn exploration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition
June 5 at 2:30 p.m.
The 19th-century Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky is an ambitious musical work in 10 movements, each inspired by a particular artwork at an exhibition he visited. Come hear a live performance and learn about how and why it was composed as well as about the artworks that each movement interprets when Abla Shocair plays and discusses this work on Friday, June 5 at 2:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. She will also play Papillons by Robert Schumann, which is believed to have had an influence on the Pictures suite and Franz Liszt’s Rhapsody #6 as it relates to Mussorgsky’s piano training. Abla, a civil engineer originally from Jordan, started playing piano at age 4.

[Read more…] about Council on Aging events in June

May activities with the Council on Aging

bemisArabic conversation
May 4 and May 18 at 9:45 a.m.
Azza Omer from Sudan has generously offered to teach a free informal, light and easy conversational Arabic language class on Monday, April 6 at 9:45 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Learning something completely new is great for brain fitness and for having fun! You’ll learn some common words and phrases. Come give the class a try!

Lincoln Academy with Alison Taunton-Rigby: Biotechnology in Massachusetts
May 4 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, May 4 at 12:30 to hear Alison Taunton-Rigby discuss “Biotechnology in Massachusetts.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. [Read more…] about May activities with the Council on Aging