health and science

News acorns

October 22, 2015

Corrections

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.

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.

State of the Town promises plenty of discussion

October 20, 2015

stateofthetown-cropped Residents will have an opportunity to lean about and discuss several front-and-center Lincoln issues at the State of the Town meeting on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Brooks auditorium. Agenda items will be:

A status report on Ballfield Road campus planning efforts, incorporating information presented at the Campus Mater Planning Committee forum on October 17.
A general discussion of medical marijuana distribution and cultivation. There is no specific proposal on the table, but town officials have had informal talks (though not recently) with New England Wellspring, which is looking into locating facilities in one or more towns including Lincoln.
A preview of contemplated zoning bylaw amendments.
A discussion on the merits of installing solar power collection equipment at the closed Lincoln landfill adjacent to the transfer station.
A status report on Minuteman Regional High School’s proposed new building project.
A segment devoted to open discussion.

The morning will also include a very brief Special Town Meeting to vote on a proposed bylaw amendment that would ensure that Lincoln’s Annual Town Meeting always occurs in advance of its Annual Town Election.

The Lincoln Squirrel will have more information on some of these topics in the coming weeks.

Globe: Lincoln has high incidence of Lyme disease

October 14, 2015

deertick Lincoln had one of the highest Lyme disease infection rates in Massachusetts in 2014, according to state Department of Public Health data published in the Boston Globe on October 12.

A map showing the rates of infection per 100,000 residents by town shows that Lincoln’s rate was 248.35, which translates to about 16 actual cases for Lincoln’s population of 6,362 (as of the 2010 census). Only 28 of the 391 Massachusetts cities and towns had higher Lyme disease rates. Of the 28 towns with the highest rates (250 or more cases per 100,000 residents), the biggest concentrations were on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, followed by a cluster of towns in the southwest corner of the state.

Nationally, Lyme disease is most prevalent in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest, the article notes. Massachusetts had the third-highest overall rate of any state at 54.1 cases per 100,000 residents, behind only Maine (87.9) and Vermont (70.5).

A report from the Middlesex Tick Task Force earlier this year noted that 40 percent of ticks from Lincoln that were tested in 2014 carried Lyme disease. Almost as many carried the bacterium that causes Borrelia miyamotoi disease, which does not cause a rash but can be more serious than Lyme disease. It was first recognized in the Northeast in 2013.

October doings from the Council on Aging

September 27, 2015

bemis Here 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

News acorns

September 22, 2015

First Parish seeks teachers

The Youth Programs Committee at the First Parish Church in Lincoln is looking to hire two teachers, one for the nursery class and one for the K/1 program. The commitment is four hours per Sunday on 15 Sundays per year from September 27 until the end of May 2016.

The ideal candidates are those who enjoy and relate well with young children, have the ability to motivate and lead, and a willingness to work closely with parents. Preference will be given to those with previous experience working with children in a classroom or volunteer setting. To learn more, please contact Kathy Kronin, Acting Director of Religious Eduction, at kathycronin@firstparishinlincoln.org.

Yoga class starts this week

“Gentle Kundalini Yoga” will be presented at Bemis Hall for a 10-week session class from Wednesday, Sept. 23 through November 25 from 9:30–10:45 a.m. The class is subsidized for seniors by the Council on Aging, but all ages are welcome and encouraged. If you are 60 or over, the cost is $100 for the series; for those under 60, the cost is $150. If you’d like to try it out, you may attend two classes at $10 per class to see whether it’s a good fit for you. All yoga supplies are provided but you’re welcome to bring your own mat, pillow, blanket, or anything else for your comfort. Please bring water to class. For more information or to sign up, please contact Jai Kaur Annamaria San Antonio at asanajai@verizon.net or 781-738-1920.

The Flint homestead.

Horse show on Saturday

On Saturday, Sept. 26 starting at 8 a.m. at the Browning Field (Weston Road just north of Conant Road), share in Lincoln’s horsey history at the Lincoln Horse Show. Versions of this show, now primarily a low-key schooling event, have been taking place in Lincoln since the mid-1950s. The Old North Bridge Pony Club sponsors the most recent iteration and all money raised through entry fees goes to the maintenance of the town-owned ring.

This is a free, family-friendly, informal event that is perfect opportunity to enjoy a part of Lincoln’s unique history and perhaps introduce yourself and/or your child to the world of horses.

Tour the Flint homestead

The free tour on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 1-4 p.m. is a unique opportunity to view the interior of this historic Lincoln house dating back to the early 1700s. It has been in the Flint family for 11 generations and is filled with mementos of the town and the Flints. The homestead is on the National Register and is protected by a preservation restriction easement, the first agreement of its kind in Lincoln. The house is located on Lexington Road adjacent to Flints’ Field, across the road from the large white barn commonly referred to as Flint’s barn. There will be a special activity for kids as well. The tour is sponsored by the Lincoln Historical Society and the Lincoln Historical Commission.

Library news notes

Sunday hours to resume—Starting on October 18, the library will be open on Sundays from 1-5 p.m.
Delivery for home-bound residents—Books and other library materials can be delivered to Lincoln residents with temporary or chronic physical limitations. This is a service of the Friends of Lincoln Library (FOLL). For details, call the library at 781-259-8465, or Belinda Gingrich of FOLL at 781-577-7004.
“A Slice of Life with Ron Boisseau”—Join Lincoln resident Ron Boisseau on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 2-4 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room as he shares with you inspirational short pieces exploring love, politics, nature and more, including slices of his own life and those he has witnessed. Ron will entertain and inspire people of all ages as he brings his unique and insightful perspective to experiences we’ve all shared as well as those that are more unusual. Co-sponsored with the Lincoln Council on Aging.

Council on Aging activities for September

August 25, 2015

September 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

40 percent of Lincoln ticks tested positive for Lyme in ’14

July 21, 2015

By Alice Waugh

Forty percent of ticks submitted by Lincoln residents for testing in 2014 came back positive for the bacterium that causes Lyme disease—but some also carried bacteria that cause lesser-known tick-borne diseases.

In this recent Bedford Citizen article, Dr. Anne Kiessling presented data from testing gathered by the Middlesex Tick Task Force, a group of public health staff members and residents from 32 Massachusetts towns including Lincoln that was formed in September 2012 to confront public health issues posed by tick-borne diseases. A statewide Community Innovation Challenge Grant provided free testing of approximately 100 ticks in each of the 32 towns last summer.

Lincoln residents submitted 113 ticks for testing in 2014, and 40 percent of those insects were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Nine percent of the tested ticks were also positive for Babesia microti, which can cause babesiosis, and 3 percent carried Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which can cause anaplasmosis. Babesiosis can results in flu-like symptoms or anemia, since it infects the red blood cells, but it may also cause no symptoms at all. Anaplasmosis symptoms vary, but it can be a serious illness that requires hospitalization.

The 2014 testing also showed that 38 percent of Lincoln ticks carried Borrelia myamotoi. Patients with this newly emerging disease (first reported in the Northeast in 2013) can have symptoms similar to those of Lyme disease (fever, headache and muscle aches) but do not have a bull’s-eye rash. Anaplasmosis likewise does not cause a rash, but patients with this disease may have a rash anyway because they are also infected with Lyme disease at the same time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here are data on the four most common tick-borne bacteria gathered by the Tick-Borne Disease Network over the period from 2006-2014:

Time period: 2006-2014	B. burgdorferi	A. phagocytophilum	B. microti	B. myamoti
Massachusetts	29.9%	4.5%	4.4%	3.3%
Lincoln	39.5%	6.9%	6.9%	10.7%

Tick-borne diseases are estimated to be underreported by a factor of 10 due to lack of good surveillance methods because persons with symptoms of a tick-borne disease are usually prescribed medication before they actually test positive for the infection, according to the Bedford Citizen article.

Although the state grant for free tick testing has expired, Massachusetts residents may still send any species of tick for testing at a cost of $50 apiece to the Tick Borne Disease Network.

July activities at the Council on Aging

July 3, 2015

What to expect when you or your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease
July 13 at 9:30 a.m.
One of the most difficult aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, whether in yourself or a loved one, is not knowing what to expect as the disease progresses. Knowing that certain changes and behaviors are part of having the disease, rather than your fault or the fault of your loved one, can help you cope and reduce stress. All are invited to find out more when Pamela Taylor, LICSW, Community Educator with CareDimensions, comes to Bemis Hall on Monday, July 13 at 9:30 a.m. She will discuss changes in the brain, why some behaviors occur, and how to minimize unwanted behaviors, and give suggestions on improving communication with someone with the disease. All ages welcome.

Stay cooler and prevent heatstroke
July 16 at 10 a.m.
Summer heat can be dangerous, especially for those who are older. Even if you never had trouble with the heat before, age-related changes can make you more susceptible to falling ill from the heat. Come hear the Lincoln Fire Department on Thursday, July 16 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall talk about why heat can send you to the hospital, how to keep yourself cooler, symptoms of heat stroke, and what to do if you think you may be getting heat stroke.

The Wheel of Life for gratitude and growth
July 20 at 1 p.m.
The Wheel of Life is a visual representation of the many components of our lives—physical, spiritual, financial, work/volunteering, social, mental, and family. Come find out how you can use the Wheel of Life both to enhance your gratitude and for personal growth when Pamela Mizrahi, LICSW, of the COA, presents a workshop at Bemis Hall on Monday, July 20 at 1 p.m. You’ll learn how to look at each component singly and in relation to one another and live more fully, healthfully, and happily. All ages welcome!

Basic self-defense
July 27 at 1 p.m.
Whether you are at home in Lincoln or traveling, you need to know how to prevent crime or, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, how to get away unharmed. Find out the best ways to secure your home and your vehicle as well as learn strikes, blocks, kicks, and patterns of movement to get you out of a situation in which you are being attacked when Ian Spencer of the Lincoln Police and Jena Salon come to Bemis Hall on Monday, July 27 at 1 p.m. The methods you learn will use minimal energy with the goal being escape. Those who attended the previous workshops will benefit from the refresher provided by this workshop.

What you want to know about drug addiction but are afraid to ask
July 29 at 1 p.m.
Abuse of prescription medications is replacing alcoholism as the most common form of addiction for residents of affluent communities. And among teenagers, heroin use has become an epidemic in our suburbs. The impact of addiction to these substances can be devastating for both the addicts and their families. Spouses, parents and grandparents are often confused about what to do and are too embarrassed to ask for advice. On July 29^tfrom 1 p.m. to 2:30 at Bemis Hall, Dan Boynton, the founder of Bay Cove, Boston’s leading drug treatment facility, will provide a practical overview of today’s addictive drugs and the treatment options that work. His wife, Janet Boynton, will show brief video interviews with young people in recovery. Participants will be encouraged to share their concerns.

Save the date:

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 U.S. Senate on Friday, September 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. Signup begins in September.

Council on Aging events in June

June 4, 2015

An exploration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition
June 5 at 2:30 p.m.
The 19^th-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.

May activities with the Council on Aging

May 4, 2015

Arabic 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