The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

health and science

Council on Aging events in May

bemisMeet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
May 4 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, May 4 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 with him that he may be able to help with.

We honor veterans: end-of-life and survivor benefits
May 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Veterans and their families have special needs when it comes to end-of-life care, whether related to the unique life and health care experiences of veterans or to the benefits of the Veterans Administration for end-of-life health care, burial benefits, or survivor benefits. “We Honor Veterans” is an initiative of the Veterans Administration and local hospices and other care providers to make sure that veterans receive sensitive and compassionate care and know about all their benefits. Come find out more when Mary Beth Kawalek of Brookhaven Hospice comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, May 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Want to sit back and enjoy some old-fashioned harmony?
May 6 at 12:30 p.m.
A melody you can sing along with? Hum, tap your toes to? The Lincoln Traditional Jazz Sextet will be bringing those tunes you know and love to Bemis Hall on Friday May 6 at 12:30. “Geezers” swingin’ on piano, trumpet, clarinet, trombone, sax, bass and drums will be there to entertain you. Come join the regulars singing along to When You’re Smilin’, put a smile on your face with Ain’t Misbehavin’, do the Charleston or the Lindy Hop if you’re up for it. Or just put your feet up and relax.

Lincoln Academy with Kathi Anderson—The Walden Woods Project: keeping Thoreau’s legacy alive in Lincoln and beyond
 May 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, May 9 at 12:30 to hear Kathi Anderson discuss “The Walden Woods Project: Keeping Thoreau’s Legacy Alive in Lincoln and Beyond.” 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.

May 11 at 7 p.m.
Medicare 101: basics for those about to sign up and others
Learn the basics of Medicare on Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Minuteman Senior Services SHINE counselors Don Milan and Anne Meade. Come if you will be signing up soon or you just wish to understand your benefits better. Don and Anne will discuss traditional Medicare, medigap plans, Advantage plans, and medication drug coverage (Medicare, Parts A, B, C, and D), how to go about choosing the plan or plans that are best for you, timeframes for enrolling to avoid penalties and more. [Read more…] about Council on Aging events in May

Lincoln group working to create a new pollinator meadow

A Birches School student stakes out a plant plot for a pollinator meadow adjacent to the Smith school building to prepare the site for planting as part of People for Pollinators, an initiative supported by the Birches School, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and a private donor.

A Birches School student and helper stake out a plant plot for a pollinator meadow to prepare the site for planting.

A new Lincoln collaborative called People for Pollinators is sponsoring three events to advance its mission to promote, protect and create native habitat that supports the vitality of pollinators in the face of bee colony collapse.

People for Pollinators had its roots at an April 2015 symposium on pollinators in crisis with bee researcher Noah Wilson-Rich. The event sparked an idea to create plots of pollinator-friendly plants on Lincoln conservation land. Parents from the Birches School who were at the event approached the head of the school, which reached out to the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT). Together with Lincoln Agricultural Commission (AgComm) and the Lincoln Garden Club, both of which sponsored the Wilson-Rich talk, the partnership was created.

The People for Pollinators collaboration later grew to include the Conservation Commission, Stonegate Gardens and individuals in the Lincoln community as well. The effort is supported by grants from Birches School, the LLCT and a private donor.

The initiative first put boots on the ground (albeit small boots) earlier this month when students from Birches School together with some People for Pollinators members started preliminary work on a native, perennial, chemical-free pollinating meadow. The crew staked out plant plots on conservation land adjacent to the Smith School building and set up the solarization process to prepare the site for planting.

On Sunday, April 24 from 1-4 p.m., the Birches School will host “You’re a Citizen Scientist: People for Pollinators Project,” part of the Cambridge Science Festival. Visitors can learn from students in grades K-5 how to start their own grassroots effort to save the pollinators, set up experimental paradigms in their own gardens and have a positive impact on the ecosystem. The event is free, but please RSVP to events@birchesschool.org.

At the town-wide “40 Years of Community” fair on Saturday, April 30 from 1-4 p.m. in Pierce Park, People for Pollinators will present information and facilitate several activities, including making a native-plant “seed bomb” for participants to take home with them to start a pollinator habitat of their own

Finally, at an a community-wide event on June 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., People for Pollinators and volunteers will plant plugs and seed the meadow site. Participants are encouraged to bring gardening gloves, a trowel and sturdy shoes. Hand tools will be provided for those who do not bring any. Long sleeves and pants recommended for ticks. Members of the collaborative and students from Birches School will help and direct participants. This is a drop-in event; the rain date is June 5.

In March, the state Department of Agricultural Resources released a draft of the Massachusetts Pollinator Protection Plan that was vehemently opposed by state beekeepers, who themselves released a plan last August called the Massachusetts Pollinator Protection Plan Framework. Beekeepers assert that pesticides, especially neonicintinoids—a class of insecticides used in agriculture and found in garden products—are the major source of the colony collapse problem.

News acorns

CaduceusEvent explores medicine as a career

Pat Roberts and Mike Rosenblatt of the Lahey Clinic will give a talk on “The Joy and Journey of Being a Physician” on Saturday, April 9 at 2 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The multimedia presentation will give an overview of medicine, discuss why high school students might want to go into medicine, role-play being a physician or surgeon by viewing videos of operations, and offer a hands-on experience with portable surgical trainers.

Roberts is chair of Surgery at Lahey Clinic and Rosenblatt is the chief medical officer at Lahey; both are Lincoln residents and parents of L-S students. The talk is part of a new library program launched in partnership with the Lincoln School and Lincoln-Sudbury High School called “Local Heroes” involving presentations by resident experts on topics that might inspire students about what to explore in their college years and beyond. Previous events in the series looked at computer science and robotics in December and designing a satellite mission to Mars in January.

Donate household items for domestic violence victims

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites area residents to donate new household items to help families transitioning from a shelter to establish a new home. The Shower for Shelters runs form Sunday, April 24 through Monday, May 9. New unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at the Lincoln Public Library, the Goodnow Library in Sudbury or the Wayland Public Library. Items may also be dropped off at the group’s Libations and Donations free wine-tasting event at Sudbury Wine and Spirits in the Rugged Bear Plaza (410 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury) on Friday, April 29 starting at 7 p.m.

Requested items include twin-size sheets, pillowcases, summer blankets and  comforters as well as pillows, crib sheets, bath towels and face cloths, unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent, laundry baskets, kitchen utensils, flatware, dishes, drinking glasses and small kitchen appliances. Gift cards are also welcome. For a complete list of requested items, please visit the Roundtable website. All gifts collected are donated to clients of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence.

Lecture on aerial landscapes at deCordova

Residents are invited to a lecture on “Disvalued Landscapes, Seen from Above” with aerial photographer Alex MacLean and Alan Berger, professor of landscape architecture and urban design at MIT, on Friday, April 28 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. McLean and Berger will discussing the art of aerial photography, suburban sprawl and other patterns of the land at the event, which is the kickoff for deCordova Friends of the Park, a new group dedicated to the care, support, and advocacy of the deCordova’s landscape and primary gallery. The talk is free and open to the public. The talk is part of the “Overgrowth in Conversation” discussion series.

New series invites residents to create their own ‘third age’

seniorsThis spring, the Lincoln Council on Aging invites residents to create their own “third age” (life after 60) their way with a new series of presentations and discussions that meets their individual needs physically, emotionally, spiritually and legally.

While everyone is encouraged to attend all the sessions since they interrelate, residents are also welcome to come to only those presentations they wish to. The programs will feature plentiful opportunities for small and large group discussion. There is no need to sign up, except for the introductory lunch on April 8, and all programs are free.

The series will kick off on Friday, April 8 at noon with a sandwich lunch provided by Newbury Court and continue through June 10 with seven programs on a wide variety of topics. Those who would like lunch on April 8 should call the COA at 781-259-8811 to reserve their place. All programs will be held at Bemis Hall. The full schedule is as follows:

Living your purpose—your reason for being
The Rev. Lilian J. Warner, Newbury Court chaplain
Friday, April 8 – lunch at 12 p.m., presentation at 12:30 p.m.

Teaching the mind and body to communicate
Arthur Gleiner, MD and Amanda McLain, MD
Friday, April 15 at 12:30 p.m.

Regular exercise is good medicine for mind and body
Terri Zaborowski, certified group fitness instructor
Thursday, April 21 at 2:15 p.m.

Readying your legal toolbox in case of the unexpected
Sasha Golden, elder law attorney
Friday, April 22 at 12:30 p.m.

Making and communicating about tough end-of-life decisions
Sally Pastorik, Brookhaven Hospice
Friday, May 13 at 12:30 p.m.

Creating independence at home with in-home services and technology
Hector Montesino, Deaconess Abundant Life Services
Friday, May 20 at 12:30 p.m.

Living in a small space and loving it
Lyn Spaeth, Transformations (home staging and interior redesign)
Friday, June 10 at 12:30 p.m.

“Life in the ‘third age’ has unique challenges, but also new opportunities for pursuing new skills and interests and being with family and friends,” said COA Director Carolyn Bottum. “Truly, your experience is largely determined by whether you look at life through a positive or negative lens, how you take care of your health, and how well prepared you are for the unexpected. This series is designed to give people the information they need to have the best ‘third age’ possible while also offering lots of time for discussion to share wisdom and life experiences with others.”

For more information, call the COA at 781-259-8811.

News acorns

Spring wellness clinics for all ages

Lincoln residents of all ages are invited to meet with a nurse through a free town service. Come to get your blood pressure checked, ask questions, or learn about wellness resources. Clinics will be held at the Community Building at Lincoln Woods (50 Wells Road) from 10 a.m. to noon on three Fridays: March 4, April 1, and May 13. These clinics are funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. For more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Dawn Kenney

Dawn Kenney

Dawn Kenney at LOMA on March 14

Dawn Kenney and Friends are the featured performers at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) in the Tarbell Room of the Lincoln Public Library on Monday, March 14 from 7-10 p.m. Dawn brings her love of bluegrass, country, folk and gospel music all woven together to create her own unique genre-defying sound. She has shared the stage at Carnegie Hall with the likes of Sarah McLachlan and Loreena McKennitt and she’s played a showcase in Nashville at the IBMA World of Bluegrass. Her Reverbnation page features some of her songs including One Step Ahead of the Rain.

LOMA is a monthly event. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. Names of those who signed up by 7:15 are drawn at random. We have a sound system with mikes & instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Conservation Commission seeks members

The Lincoln Conservation Commission seeks volunteers to serve on this seven-member board. Commissioner appointments are made by the Board of Selectmen and the terms are for three years unless the appointment is to fill out a previous commissioner’s term. The time commitment includes an evening meeting every third Wednesday as well as site visits, which are often held on the same day as the meeting and are typically held on weekday mornings. You will also be asked to participate in a Subcommittee or serve as a liaison to another board or organization.

The Conservation Commission’s work is diverse, but much of it is focused on wetlands permitting and open space management. Those with professional skills in reading and understanding construction plans are especially desirable, so a background in fields such as engineering, construction, architecture, or surveying is helpful. Also, those with legal experience or a strong environmental background (such as biology or botany) would help round out the current group of commissioners.

If interested, please submit the Volunteer Application form on the Town of Lincoln website to the Board of Selectmen’s office. Attendance at our meetings prior to appointment is strongly recommended for any interested applicant. See schedules and agendas for upcoming meetings as well as minutes of past meetings on the Conservation Commission web page.

LSF Spelling Bee slated for April 10
The ninth annual Lincoln School Foundation Spelling Bee is coming at light speed to Brooks Auditorium on Sunday, April 10. It is open to​ ALL children in grades 3-6 who reside​ ​in ​Lincoln​ or Hanscom or who attend school at one of the campuses run by the Lincoln Public School district. Each team will compete with other teams at the same grade level only. Kids can form teams of two to three (all must be in the same grade), or LSF has volunteers on standby to assist. Each participant receives a 2016 LSF Spelling Bee t-shirt, water bottle, backpack and snacks.

Registration is $25 and runs from March 1-18. Check-on begins on noon on the day of the event. Entry forms and fees can be found online​ ​​at www.LincolnSchoolFoundation.org, in backpacks and at school.​ E-mail Bee@lincolnscoolfoundation.org for assistance. May the force BEE with you!

Council on Aging activities for February

bemisSeniorSpeak theater performance
February 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Join the SeniorSpeak group for a theatre performance on Monday, Feb. 1 at 12:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The performance is an outgrowth of the work participants were engaged in as they rediscovered their voice as older adults. Drawing upon memories, feelings, and life lessons, participants have created a performance piece that incorporates turning points and events that shaped their lives both as individuals and as a group. The piece uses scenes and music as tools to capture key moments. After the performance, all are invited to join a discussion with the performers about the development of the theatre piece and the insights gained in the process.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
February 3 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 3 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 with him that he may be able to help with. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities for February

News acorns

satelliteTalk on high-schoolers and satellite missions

Can a high school design, build and operate a satellite mission to the moon and beyond? Come hear Paulo C. Lozano, Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Director at MIT’s Space Propulsion Laboratory, when he speaks at the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. Rethink space exploration and consider how advances in miniaturization and spacecraft engineering allow students to design their own satellite and put it in space.

Run for local office in Lincoln

Looking for a rewarding if occasionally vexing way to feel more connected? Willing to undertake new challenges? Unafraid to speak up? Then run for local office! The annual Town Election will take place on Monday, March 28, 2016. Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office now. Papers must be returned by 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8. For additional information, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607.

The following offices will appear on the March ballot: Board of Selectmen for three years; Board of Assessors for three years; K-8 School Committee for three years; Water Commissioner for three years; Board of Health for three years; Cemetery Commission for three years; Planning Board, two seats for three years; Commissioner of Trust Funds for three years; deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park for four years; Housing Commission for three years; Parks and Recreation Committee for three years; Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee, two seats for three years each; Bemis Trustee for three years; Town Clerk for three years; and Library Trustee for three years.

Aka Bistro discount for Lincoln Public Library patrons

The Lincoln Public Library and Aka Bistro are offering Lincoln residents who hold Lincoln library cards a 1o percent discount on food at Aka Bistro during the months of January and February. Drinks are not included, and the offer is not available on Valentine’s Day weekend (February 12-14).

hermione

Photo: Philippe Leray/Thalassa

Hear about seven months at sea

Come to an hourlong presentation detailing the maritime adventures of Adam Hodges-LeClaire, recently returned from seven months of sailing aboard the recreated frigate l’Hermione on her maiden voyage from France to the United States, on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Adam, currently a history major at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, grew up in Lincoln and brought his love for recreating the 18th-century to work on this French tall ship. Hi’s adventures were the subject of a lengthy article in the Boston Globe this year. Topics he’ll address include the context of the original l’Hermione, its connection to Lafayette, and its significance in French naval operations during the War of American Independence.

Council on Aging activities for December

bemisMeet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
December 2 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 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 with him that he may be able to help with.

Toe-tappin’ jazz at Bemis
December 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 2:30 when a traditional jazz combo gathers around the magnificent piano at Bemis Hall for an afternoon of old-time favorites. Share in the fun as trumpet, sax, clarinet, trombone, bass, drums and piano belt out foot stompers of the ‘20s, ’30s and ’40s. Tap your toes to good ole oldies such as Ain’t She Sweet, Somebody Stole My Gal, Bei Mir Bist Du Shein, or I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World.

Be prepared for winter’s fury: lunch and learn
December 4 at 12 p.m.
We all learned last year how challenging New England winters can be, but blizzards, power outages, and other potential disasters can be easier if you are prepared. Join Ben Juhola of the Lincoln Fire Department on Friday, Dec. 4 at 12 p.m. at the Public Safety Building for lunch and a presentation about how you can be sure you are ready for winter, including what supplies you need, ensuring you have communication, what to take if you need to go to a shelter, how Public Safety will be there to serve you, and more. Please sign up in advance by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 so Public Safety knows how many people to expect.

Celebrate the holidays with other veterans and spouses
December 7 at 9 a.m.
Celebrate the holidays with other veterans and their spouses on Monday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. You’ll be treated to pancakes with butter and syrup, coffee, and great conversation! This is a social time just to chat and get to know other veterans in town. The breakfast will be followed by the Veteran to Veteran discussion group at 10 a.m. The breakfast is free, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities for December

November activities at the Council on Aging

bemisLincoln Academy with Avram Kalisky—From the desert (Israel) to the midnight sun (Scandinavia)
November 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 2 at 12:30 to hear Avram Kalisky discuss “From the Desert (Israel) to the Midnight Sun (Scandinavia).” 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.

Minuteman High School building conversation
November 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Join the Minuteman High School Building Committee on November 3 at 2:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall to get an update on plans to build a new Minuteman High School. The project, with Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) support, is now in the schematic design phase. Building a new school was determined to be the least expensive alternative for local taxpayers and the option with the most educational benefits for students by Minuteman and the MSBA. The new building will be in Lincoln, next to the existing high school. Come with questions and concerns. [Read more…] about November activities at the Council on Aging

News acorns

correction-smCorrections
  • The calendar listing for the October 29 climate change talk described in the October 16 News Acorns gave an incorrect location. It will be held in Bemis Hall.
  • In the photo of the National Merit Scholarship Commended Students on October 15, two names were omitted. Adam Thompson of Lincoln and Tiger Zhang of Sudbury are also Commended Students but did not appear in the photograph.
More Halloween activities for kids

Celebrate Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. with the Friends of Minuteman National Park at the annual Spooky Colonial Tales, lantern walk and singalongs featuring the Lincoln Public Library’s Sally Kindleberger. Meet at Hartwell Tavern (off Route 2A opposite the intersection with Bedford Road). Suggested donation for mini lanterns: $5 per person or $10 per family. This activity is best for children age 8 and under. See the October 11 Lincoln Squirrel for other Halloween events for kids of all ages.

The First Parish Church will host a pizza potluck and pumpkin carving party on Sunday, Oct. 25 in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Rd. from 5:30-8 p.m. Bring your favorite pizza to share or make a donation toward purchased pizzas. Bring your pumpkin, carving tools, and newspaper. All ages and families invited. This event is sponsored by the church’s Youth Program Committee. For more information, email Kathy Cronin.

cap

A hat found near Doherty’s (click for larger view).

Is this your hat?

Found: a colorful, soft hand-knit hat found near Doherty’s Garage parking lot. If this hat belongs to you or your child, please call Alessandra at 508-314-2194.

Discussion at L-S on adolescent behaviors and health

Where do L-S students feel bullying is taking place at school? How many L-S students are smoking e-cigarettes? Who is at greater risk for engaging in self-harming behaviors? How many L-S students feel that they lives are “very stressful”? How many L-S students are driving after smoking marijuana? These questions and more will be addressed at the World Cafe discussion regarding the 2014 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey on Wednesday, Oct. 28 in the L-S cafeteria at 7:30 p.m. There will be an introduction to the survey results and then L-S students will help facilitate topic-based table discussions.

Zoning Board of Appeals needs volunteers

Lincoln’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is seeking new members for open seats on the board. The ZBA is a land use board that interprets and applies the town’s zoning bylaw. It acts on a case-by-case basis on requests for variances, special permits, and appeals of decisions by the building inspector, considering the impact on the town and neighborhoods and the requirements of the bylaws. The board, which has five regular members and three associate members, generally meets one evening a month. For information or an application, please visit this Town of Lincoln volunteer web page or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.