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

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Talk on Lincoln and the Revolutionary War

“April 19, 1775: The Battle of… Lincoln?” is the subject of a talk by author/historians Rick Wiggin of Lincoln and Don Hafner on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Minute Man National Park Visitor Center in Lincoln. How did the people of this small farming community respond to the April 19 alarm? What effect did a prolonged war have on them? Wiggin and Hafner will discuss the distinctive features of the town of Lincoln, its leadership, and the historical quirks that placed it at the center of American history. Free and open to the public.

Kids invited to apply for philanthropy program

The Foundation for MetroWest is currently accepting applications for its Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program for seventh- and eighth-graders interested in learning about philanthropic outreach in their community and becoming civic leaders. Students from any town in the area are eligible to participate in the program, which meets at the Lexington Community Center on Wednesday nights beginning November 28. Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 5 and are available online at www.yipmetrowest.org.

Twenty students will work together to evaluate grant applications and distribute funds to nonprofits as they learn about understanding budgets, public speaking, reaching consensus, and case-making. Lincoln School students in the program selected Save a Dog and Lucy’s Love Bus to receive grants in 2017. Since 1997, YIP has educated over 1,250 students who have granted over $1.1 million to over 200 MetroWest youth development organizations.

Join others in biking to school

The Cycling Safety Advisory Committee is organizing Bike/Walk to School days each Friday this fall. Organizers hope Lincoln kids will join their friends to get to school under their own power in order to get some exercise, help the environment, and have fun. Anyone interested in being reminded of Bike to School days, finding out who in your neighborhood bikes to school, or contacting other family biking enthusiasts in Lincoln to discuss routes, gear, etc., may join an email list by clicking here.

Monthly book sale benefits library

Support the Lincoln Public Library by shopping at the Friends of the Lincoln Library (FOLL) book sale on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m.–noon in the basement of Bemis Hall. New books are added each week from the donation box in the bemis Hall entryway. Hardcovers are $2 and paperbacks are $1. The FOLL has also added a book sale cart in the first-floor hallway at the library. Bemis Hall book sales take place on the second Saturday of each month except August.

Workshops on special ed at the high school

SEPAC (the Special Education Parent Advisory Council at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School) is hosting four workshops this fall. Each begins at 7 p.m. and offers a chance to ask questions about the special education process and services, transitioning into or out of high school and chat with like-minded parents. For more information, email lssepac.chair@gmail.com.

  • Tuesday, Oct. 2 (L-S conference room B) — An overview from the Federation for Children with Special Needs of the transition planning process for families of students with disabilities ages 14-22 who are on IEPs.
  • Monday, Oct. 15 (Goodnow Library, Sudbury) — “Strategies for Reducing Academic Stress and Creating Successful Students.” Learn how to help your child get “unstuck” when he/she has trouble initiating tasks, help your child keep track of his/her belongings and schoolwork, enhance working memory and sustain attention.
  • Thursday, Nov. 1 (L-S conference room B) — Victor Hernandez, deputy assistant commissioner at the Department of Developmental Services, will review resources available to families of students with special needs, regardless of income.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 29 (Goodnow Library, Sudbury) — “The Impact of Anxiety and Depression on Learning.” Diagnoses including depression and anxiety can significantly alter cognitive functioning, particularly memory retention and the absorption of knowledge. 

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Palestinian storyteller at library

Fidaa Ataya

Fidaa Ataya, a traditional Palestinian storyteller, puppeteer, drama-in-education specialist and actress, will tell stories for children age 3-9 at the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. Drop in. Sponsored by GRALTA.

Springsteen ticket auction to benefit Codman Farm

Codman Community Farms is holding a benefit silent auction for a pair of tickets in the first 10 rows of the center orchestra section at a “Bruce Springsteen on Broadway” concert in New York this fall. The winner can choose the date of the show they would like to attend between September 26 and December 14. The auction ends on Saturday, Sept. 22 at noon, and the winner will be announced at the Harvest Feast that night. Click here to enter a bid.

Plans underway for First Day 2019

Plans for the Lincoln New Year’s Day open house (known as First Day 2019) at the Pierce House are underway, and organizers are looking for help. AVolunteer Planning Committee is forming to help with:

  • Ideas for improving the event
  • Soliciting monetary support from other associations, private individuals
  • Planning food and beverages to be served
  • Organize volunteer staffing for day of event (setup/food prep/clean up)

If you would like to join the committee, contact Nancy Beach at nancy@piercehouse.com or call 781-259-9757.

Open house on new adult programs at Minuteman

Minuteman Technical Institute (MTI), a branch of the Minuteman School District, is hosting an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 12 from 6–8 p.m. to share information on five new evening training programs for adults beginning October 1. Click here to register for the open house.

New MTI offerings include culinary arts, electricity, metal fabrication and joining, and advanced manufacturing. Students must have a high school diploma or GED. Discounted rates are available to in-district residents. You may also call 781-861-7151 or e-mail MTI@minuteman.org. Click here for details including start dates, hours, costs, and how to apply. Minuteman Technical Institution and Minuteman Community Education also offer additional day, afternoon, and evening programs for adults and school-age students.

Jewelry workshops at deCordova

Design and create unique jewelry made of glass, stone, and found objects as glass artist Emily Bhargava offers three mosaic jewelry workshops at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum:

Each session is $40 for deCordova members or $45 for nonmembers. Sign up for one workshop or all three by clicking on a title above. No mosaic experience necessary; all materials will be provided.

“Rally Sunday” at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold “Rally Sunday” on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.). With the service marking the official start of the church year, new visitors are encouraged and welcome to attend. Interim Senior Minister Jenny Rankin will lead worship. There will be an opportunity to learn about First Parish and register for its religious K-8 education program, which also starts September 16 (and there will be bagels and muffins for kids as well).

Founder of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives to speak

Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., co-founder and president of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, will introduce the FDFI’s “One Million Abolitionists” project and speak to the issue of abolition from the days of Thoreau and Douglass to the present on Monday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Walden Woods Project (44 Baker Farm Rd., Lincoln). Morris is the great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great grandson of Booker T. Washington.

Attendees are asked to donate at least $4 to cover the cost of a special bicentennial edition of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave for a school with limited financial resources. Doors open at 7 p.m. for a wine and cheese reception. Seating is free but limited; click here to RSVP online or register by phone at 781-259-4707. Co-sponsored by The Robbins House; reception supported by the Cheese Shop in Concord.

Adult education classes at L-S

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Adult Education is offering new enrichment classes this fall including classes on foreign languages, WordPress, creative arts, cooking, fitness, finance, and college planning. Visit the LSAD website for more information, schedules and registration.

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Yayoi Kusama, “Where the Lights in My Heart Go,” 2016. Collection of Lauren and Derek Goodman, courtesy Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore/Shanghai and Victoria Miro, London/Venice, © Yayoi Kusama.

New sculpture, artists talk at deCordova

On Wednesday, July 5, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum opens “Where the Lights in My Heart Go” by acclaimed contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. The sculpture (the first Infinity Mirror Room to be shown in the Boston area) will be installed outdoors on the Pollack Family Terrace and viewable through October 28. 

The sculpture is a 10-by-10-foot polished stainless steel chamber with a mirrored interior. Small holes in the walls and ceiling allow natural light to penetrate the darkened room. Multiplied by the reflective surfaces, these pinpricks of light create a magical, celestial experience when visitors step inside. Kusama refers to the work as a “subtle planetarium,” an intimate and enclosed space that also gives the illusion of a continuously expanding universe. Support for this special presentation is generously provided by Lauren and Derek Goodman, James and Sabra Alden, Nina and David Fialkow, Kumi and Bill Martin, Andrei Soran, and Marc and Charlotte Zawel.

On Wednesday, July 18 from noon–1 p.m., the deCordova will host an outdoor conversation about Nari Ward’s G.O.A.T. sculptures with Ruth Erickson, Mannion Family Curator at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art Erickson coordinated the ICA’s celebrated “Nari Ward: Sun Splashed,” the largest survey of the artist’s work to date.

Library hosts the Great Lincoln Read

If you’ve been watching the PBS series “The Great American Read” and America’s 100 most-loved novels, then you’ll know what inspired the Lincoln Library to come up with the Great Lincoln Read List. Vote on your three top favorite titles of all time at the ballot box in the library lobby. There are also books from the Great American Read on display. Vote by Friday, July 13. The library will tally the results and let everyone know what Lincoln’s best-loved books are.

Antique and classic car show at Codman Estate

See more than 200 classic and antique autos, trucks, and motorcycles from all over New England on the picturesque grounds of the Codman Estate at Historic New England’s Antique and Classic Car Show on Sunday, July 15 from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. This annual festival includes entertainment, food, and tours of the Codman House Museum. Rain or shine. Admission is $5 (free for HNE members).

Summer services at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold summer services on two Sundays, July 22 and August 12 at 10 a.m. Rev. Rosemary Lloyd will preach at the July 22 service and Rev. John Nichols will lead the August 12 service.

Council on Aging activities in June

Lincoln Trad Jazz Band
June 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Dance if you wanna dance, sing if you wanna sing, the regulars know what tomorrow will bring… the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band! Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, June 1 when the band returns for another sell-out lunchtime concert from 12:30–1:30. And it’s not just because it’s free—it’s because it’s fun! So take a welcome break from all that weeding and mowing, straighten up and sit up and enjoy. Or sing. Or dance if you can’t resist the urge.

Lincoln Academy with Bijoy Misra: India’s discovery of humanity
June 4 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, June 4 at 12:30 to hear Bijoy Misra discuss “India’s Discovery of Humanity.” What is humanity? What is that special endowment that the humans have that distinguishes them from other creatures? Philosophical reflections on topics like this engaged the Indian scholars around 900BC when they happened to ponder on the cosmology of the universe.  Massive wars and major conflicts had already happened resulting in huge loss of life and long periods of unrest. We will examine the philosophical speculations that have flourished to build humanity as a rational discovery. Humanity is not grandiose, but it is joyful internal peace. 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.

Mindfulness walks in nature
June 5 at 1 p.m.
PLACE: TBD
Spring can be a very special time to connect with nature through walking in a mindful way. Join naturalist John Calabria for a walk in one of Lincoln’s most beautiful places on Tuesday, June 5 beginning at 1 p.m. Where the walks will take place is to be determined. Unplug, disconnect from the world for a while and let your senses come alive in nature. These are co-sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Lincoln Council on Aging. For more information, including locations of the walks, go to lincolnconservation.org.

You’ve been selected…
June 6 at 2 p.m.
…to drop by and visit with a member of the Board of Selectmen. Bring your ideas, feedback, questions, or favorite Lincoln anecdote. Whether you stop by for a minute or stay for the hour, the selectmen hope to see you from 2–3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6 at Bemis Hall.

Piano concert with Abla Shocair
June 8 at 2:15 p.m.
All ages are invited to a piano concert with Abla Shocair at Bemis Hall on Friday, June 8 at 2:15 p.m. The program will include “Four Impromptus” by Schubert, “Torre Bermeja (Serenata)” and “Leyenda” by I. Albeniz, “La Campanella” by Paganini/Liszt transcribed, and “Mephisto Valzer” by Liszt. The audience will also enjoy performances of an “Old Fashioned Waltz” “Lavender’s Blue,” and “The Bear Went Over the Mountain” by Abla’s grandson Zaineddeen Kawaf, and Beethoven’s “Für Elise” by her grandson Nooreddeen Kawaf. Abla, originally from Jordan, is a civil engineer who started playing piano at age 4.

Free elder law clinic
June 11 at 3 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, June 11 from 3–4 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.

Free wellness clinic for all ages
June 12 at 10 a.m.
PLACE: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Rd. in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, June 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Playreading: “Summer and Smoke”
June 12 at 11 a.m.
Free your inner thespian! Sally Kindleberger leads a group in reading Tennessee Williams’ romantic drama “Summer and Smoke” on Tuesdays, June 12 and 19 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Sally will bring copies.

Staying in touch
June 12 at 2 p.m.
You are invited to join this informal group which focuses their monthly discussion on social, cultural, and technological issues of the day. Please join them the second Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. All are welcome and encouraged to bring topics that interest them.

Surviving… and thriving through life’s challenges
June 13 at 9:30 a.m.
No matter what you have encountered in life, you can learn and apply the scientifically-proven tenets of Positive Psychology to become more resilient and happier. Come to Bemis Hall at 9:30 on Wednesday, June 13 to learn practical strategies, share practices, build connections and support each other. Facilitated by Alyson Lee, social worker, life coach, certified and licensed facilitator of Positive Psychology. Funded by the Friends of the COA.

June 13 at 10 a.m.
Cooking for one: a new way of cooking and eating
Cooking for one can be both a challenge and an opportunity to try new foods and ways of cooking. How do you cook without wasting food? How can you eat all those leftovers? How do you downsize recipes? Whether you have lived alone for a long time or it’s a new experience for you, come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, June 13 at 10 a.m. when Karen Halloran of CareOne in Concord will provide a demonstration of how to cook efficiently and deliciously for one and then give tips on using healthy and alternative food choices. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 so they know how many to expect.

Public safety cookout
June 15 at 11 a.m.
Join Public Safety on Friday, June 15 at 11 a.m. for a cookout at the Pierce House. You’ll start off by finding out more about current trends in frauds and scams and how to avoid being a victim, home safety from both police and fire perspectives, and services offered by Public Safety. At noon, Public Safety will cook up hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers with all the fixin’s. Because the event will be under the tent, the cookout will happen rain or shine. Please sign up by June 8 by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Newcomers coffee
June 20 at 1 p.m.
Are you new to Lincoln or the COA? Come on down to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, June 20 at 1 p.m. for coffee and conversation with staff from the COA and others who are new. You’ll have a chance to get to know some people, become familiar with the COA and its programs and services, and ask some questions about Lincoln and all it offers. This will be a fun, informal time to enjoy being with others and make some new acquaintances. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to let them know you are coming!

Celebrate summer at a strawberry ice cream social
June 21 at 12 p.m.
Celebrate this special time of year at the annual strawberry ice cream social at Bemis Hall on Thursday, June 21 at noon. The Social is sponsored by the COA and the Friends of the COA. Bring a bag lunch at noon or just come for dessert. Make your own ice cream sundae with luscious ice cream topped with strawberries, chocolate, and more, then share conversation with friends old and new. Please RSVP to the COA by calling 781-259-8811 (tell them when you call if you will need a ride).

FDR’s America: World War II
June 21 and 28 at 7 p.m.
PLACE: Library
The Friends of the Lincoln COA and the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library invite you to a free series about FDR’s America: The Great Depression and World War II given by Gary Hylander, PhD, of Framingham State University and Boston University. Sessions on Thursday, June 21 and 28 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the library will focus on World War II, including the beginning of the war in Europe and how the U.S. was plunged into the war in 1941 with Pearl Harbor. All ages are welcome, and you do not need to have come to earlier sessions to attend these two.

What to do when it’s time to retire from driving
June 22 at 10 a.m.
If you’re wondering if it might be time to stop driving or are concerned about someone else’s driving, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, June 22 at 10 a.m. when Michelle Ellicks of the Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles will host an interactive discussion highlighting older driver issues. Topics include reporting procedures, relicensing requirements, liability, older driver assessment, the importance of obtaining a Massachusetts ID card when retiring from driving, functional impairments, and the effects of medications. You’ll learn about the warning signs of unsafe driving, RMV policies and procedures, and best practices to use when talking with older drivers about their driving. Information on disability plates and placards, the application process, eligibility, as well as a list of do’s and don’ts is also provided.

Preventing, diagnosing, and treating tick-borne diseases
June 22 at 1 p.m.
Get the latest information on ticks, how to prevent tick-borne diseases, and what to do if you have a tick bite when Lincoln School nurse and Town Nurse Maureen Richichi, RN, comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, June 22, at 1 p.m. She will discuss the appearance and life cycle of ticks, habitats and activity seasons of ticks, risky times to be bitten and risky activities, tick borne diseases and their symptoms, how tick borne diseases are diagnosed and treated, personal protection—how to do tick checks, safely remove ticks, safely repel ticks, and personal advocacy with your doctors. This program will be of interest and is open to all ages. Bring your questions and concerns.

Fruitlands Museum Hudson River School exhibit with lunch
June 25 at 9:30 a.m.
PLACE: Mall parking lot
Come with the COA on a trip to the Fruitlands Museum and Café on Monday, June 25. You’ll have a guided tour through the exhibition “A New View: Landscapes from the Permanent Collection.” The walls on the South Gallery will be resplendent with a salon-style display of the largest grouping in decades of landscape paintings from the museum’s permanent collection. Featuring more than 50 paintings from Hudson River School painters including Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole, and Frederic Church, the 19th-century oil paintings will transport visitors to 1947, when museum founder Clara Endicott Sears first presented them to the public. Expect to be standing and walking. Space is limited. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and return by 2:30 p.m. The non-refundable cost of the trip is $35, which includes lunch in the Fruitlands Café. To reserve a space, send your check payable to FLCOA/Trips to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone and email. Your reservation is complete when Donna receives your check. Questions? Contact her at 781-257-5050 or email her at donna@ecacbed.com.

Fireside chat: Town Meeting—is the current format still the best option?
June 27 at 10 a.m.
Town Meeting has served our community well for over 250 years. Is the current format still our best option? Are there tweaks we can make, small or large, that would allow it to be more inclusive without sacrificing its integrity and purpose? Join Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden at 10 a.m. on June 27 as we mull over this long-standing tradition. Fireside chats are held the fourth Wednesday of the month in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods.

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Talk on school anxiety Thursday

School refusal, including school phobia and school anxiety, is an increasingly prevalent yet often misunderstood condition among pre-teens and teens. Join Dr. Ryan Conway for “Understanding School Anxiety and School Refusal” on Thursday, May 17 from 7–9 p.m. in Conference Room A at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional high School to learn about the warning signs of school refusal and what you can do to help teenagers who demonstrate these behaviors. 

Conway is a licensed clinical psychologist who utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral interventions for youth who struggle with anxiety and mood disorders. She recently founded NESCA’s Back to School program, an intensive treatment for school-refusing students. RSVP is suggested for materials preparation to lssepac.chair@gmail.com.

Donate old wheels in Bikes Not Bombs drive

Donate bikes, parts, accessories and tools to benefit Bikes Not Bombs in Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.in the Hartwell parking lot. Bikes not Bombs will ship your old bike to international partners in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean or use them to teach local youth. They request a $10 per bike donation to defray storage, processing and shipping costs. 

Book talk and signing with Lincoln writer Burckett-Picker

Join Lincoln resident Jenifer Burckett-Picker as she speaks on her new book, Dad and Dunk in the Great War, on Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The book tells the very personal story of two young World War I soldier-engineers who met in training camp in Maryland, shipped over to France together, and worked behind the front lines in the Verdun area. It tells the story of a friendship forged in the horrors of war and continuing today through the fourth generation of the men’s families. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Brinkley to speak on Thoreau

The Walden Woods Project and RESTORE: The North Woods will host Douglas Brinkley speaking on “Henry David Thoreau and the History of America’s Public Lands” on Tuesday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Walden Woods Project (44 Baker Farm Rd., Lincoln). Tickets are $30 for the VIP wine and cheese reception starting at 6:30 p.m. or $15 for general admission starting at 7 p.m. Click here to buy tickets.

Brinkley is CNN’s Presidential historian, a professor of history at Rice University, and author of numerous award-winning books on Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. His 2016 publication, Rightful Heritage, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency and analyzes the tension between business and nature with respect to our natural resources. He won the National Outdoor Book Award for The Quiet World: Saving Alaska’s Wilderness Kingdom. Questions? E-mail wwproject@walden.org or call 781-259-4700.

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L-S students raise money for kids at Emerson Hospital

Left to right: Vicky Hopley from Emerson’s Pediatric Intervention Team (PIT), Gabriella DeSantis and Julia Hultin of the L-S Pediatric Intervention Club, and Mallory Harrison from the PIT. Gabriella is a senior heading to Fairfield University in the fall as a nursing student. Julia is a junior and will become the president of the club in September.

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Pediatric Intervention Club (PIC) recently raised more than $500 through bake sales at the school, which they donated to Emerson Hospital’s Pediatric Intervention Team to support the Coping Kit program. The kits contain developmentally appropriate comfort tools and activities for children receiving care at Emerson. More than 30,000 Coping Kits have been distributed to children at Emerson since 2006. In addition to raising funds for the hospital, the PIC updates photos in the hospital’s Emergency Department to provide an engaging distraction activity for families in the waiting area.

Two library events to be rescheduled

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Lincoln Public Library has had to cancel the May 16 Cabaret Night with Mary Crowe and Evelyn Harris (to be rescheduled in the fall) and the May 17 session on President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to be rescheduled later this spring.

Vets and seniors can work for town to pay property taxes

Residents 60 and older or veterans of any age who are the owners of record of the Lincoln home they live in can earn discounts of up to $1,500 (for seniors) and $1,000 (for veterans) on their property tax bills by working for the town. Participants are paid the minimum wage ($11 an hour), and a variety of jobs are available in many different town departments and in the schools. For more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Farmers’ market seeks vendors

The Lincoln Farmers’ Market organizers are looking for additional vendors for the market that begins on Saturday, June 16 and will run into October at the Codman Community Farms from 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. featuring live jazz music. Candidates include small, family-run vegetable farm vendors or producers of hand-made goods including baked items, coffees and teas, flowers, crafts, etc. Items must be produced or assembled in Lincoln or adjacent towns (no vendors with items for resale). Vendors must commit to at least half of the 20-week season, and there is a $10 fee per day. For details, email lindentreecsa@gmail.com.

Council on Aging activities in May

Piano class with Wanda Paik
May 1 and 15 at 10 a.m.
Dust off your piano music books and come to the piano class at the COA led by Wanda Paik. This class is open to all pianophiles, whatever your level, to play, share, and learn more about how to play and practice to help reach your goals. This class will be held on May 1 and 15 from 10–11:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall.

Mindfulness walks in nature
May 1 at 1 p.m.
Spring can be a very special time to connect with nature through walking in a mindful way. Join naturalist John Calabria for a series of walks in some of Lincoln’s most beautiful places on Tuesdays May 1 and June 5 beginning at 1 p.m. Where the walks will take place is to be determined. Unplug, disconnect from the world for a while and let your senses come alive in nature. These are co-sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Lincoln Council on Aging. For more information, including locations of the walks, go to lincolnconservation.org.

Surviving and thriving through life’s challenges
May 2 at 9:30 a.m.
No matter what your phase of life or what you have encountered in life, you can learn and apply the scientifically-proven tenants of Positive Psychology to become more resilient and happier. Come to Bemis Hall at 9:30 on Wednesdays, May 2, 16, and 30 and June 13 to learn practical strategies, share practices, build connections and support each other. Facilitated by Alyson Lee, Social Worker, Life Coach, Certified and Licensed Facilitator of Positive Psychology. Funded by the Friends of the COA.

The many faces of loss: a new group
May 2 at 10 a.m.
As we age we confront loss in many forms. It may be the death of loved ones. It may also be dealing with physical health, or cognitive changes in loved ones, friends or in ourselves. It may include regrets about lost opportunities and we may also confront the recognition of our own mortality. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, one of the COA’s social workers with many years of experience helping people navigate the losses 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 Wednesdays 10–11:30 on May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and June 6. Signing up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 is helpful but not required. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in May

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Talk on Lincoln farming past, present and future

“Lincoln Has Long Been a Farming Town—Where Will This Heritage Take Us?” is the topic of a program presented by the Lincoln Historical Society and the Agricultural Commission on Sunday, May 6 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

It’s garlic mustard pull time

Fight invasive plants and pull garlic mustard with your neighbors from April 25 through May 31. Free paper leaf bags will be distributed to residents at the transfer station on Wednesday, April 25 and Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m.–noon. After that, bags will be available at the Conservation office above Lincoln Kitchen in the mall (courtesy of the Lincoln Garden Club).

Drop off full bags behind the DPW Lewis Street near the cell tower Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m. (no wall lettuce or yard clippings). The DPW will also pick up bags through May 31 if you contact them at 781-259-2612 or stacyc@lincolntown.org. Allow a few days for pickup. For more information and a fact sheet on garlic mustard, click here.

First Parish holds May Market

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold its annual May Market “Trash and Treasurers” fair on Saturday, May 5 from 9 a.m.–noon in the parish house auditorium (14 Bedford Rd.). The fair offers antiques, collectibles, jewelry, household goods, furniture, and much more. Shoppers who arrive before 9 a.m. can enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee while they wait for the doors to open. All proceeds go to the First Parish in Lincoln. Past fair proceeds have funded projects such as a kitchen renovation, a sidewalk between the church and Parish House, and the Children’s Chapel. “It takes two years to collect the treasures and it’s recycling at its best. You’ll find things you never knew you needed,” said Tucker Smith, May Market committee chair. Any leftover items are donated to Households Goods, Inc., an Acton-based nonprofit that provides donated furniture and household items to the needy.

Teach a class at L-S Adult Ed

Are you interested in teaching an adult education class in fall or early winter, or a course you’d like to see offered by Lincoln-Sudbury Adult Education? The program is especially looking for classes in technology, literature, writing, foreign languages, and history for students in middle school and older. They’re happy to help you design a course and work with you on the details. For more information, email adult.ed@lsrhs.net by May 31. 

Free tours at Gropius House, Codman Estate

There will be free guided tours on the half-hour of the Gropius House and the Codman Estate on Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area has invited the 45 towns and cities within its bounds to participate in “Hidden Treasures 2018,” a regional celebration.

Mother’s Day Country Breakfast at Pierce House

The Pierce House will host two Mother’s Day Country Breakfasts on Sunday, May 13 at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. under the tent, complete with lawn games and music. Advance reservations required; see the menu and reserve by May 10 by clicking here. $45 for adults, $40 for seniors and $20 for children 6-12 (free for children under 5). Catered by Tastings Caterers. Private rooms are available at an additional cost of $35; a minimum of eight people is needed to reserve a private room, with a maximum of 18 people.

Cabaret with Crowe and Harris

The Lincoln Public Library presents and evening of cabaret with Mary Crowe and Evelyn Harris on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Cabaret originated in France in the 16th century, expanded to Germany and England in the 1930s and crossed the pond to the U.S. soon afterwards. Many songs were written by classical composers. Crowe and Harris will perform cabaret songs by Poulenc, Britten, Bolcolm, and Weill, as well as contemporary cabaret songwriters Carole Hall, Harriet Goldberg and Crowe herself.

The pair perform as a duo and with the Lincoln Hill Trio at jazz clubs at art centers, retirement communities and libraries throughout the Boston area. Their latest CD of Mary’s original songs, “Rebound,” was well reviewed in Metronome Magazine. Crowe has been on the Voice Faculty of Indian Hill Music School for 20 years and Evelyn Harris teaches Suzuki piano from her studio in Lincoln. For more information and calendar of upcoming performances, click here. The concert is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Fee fife fo fum? (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Before the annual Patriots Day “Lincoln Salute: A Festival of Fife & Drum Music” featuring some of the best fife and drum groups from New England, the United States, and abroad, the groups are invited to the Pierce House for a luncheon hosted by the 4-H Fifes & Drums and the Lincoln Minute Men. But it wasn’t the British Invasion.

Because fifers and drummers stood alongside officers and played a vital role in communication in 18th-century armies, it was important for officers to be able to identify musicians readily—so if the coat colors of the unit, for instance, were blue coats with red facings, then the musicians would wear red coats with blue facings, explained Don Hafner, a Belmont resident and professor of political science at Boston College.

Thus, the redcoats who appear to be invading the Pierce House are in fact “friendlies”—American fifers and drummers. And the young man in the blue coat with red facings (below right) from the William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps is wearing what the regular soldiers would have worn (though as a musician, he really should have been in red as well, Hafner noted).

(Photos courtesy Nancy Beach)

The musicians gathered at the Brooks School Auditorium in Lincoln later in the afternoon (rather than Pierce Park in a concession to the weather) for a fife and drum concert. Other guests at this year’s event included the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps, the Colonial Williamsburg Fife & Drum Corps, the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps, the Bluff Point Quahog Diggers, the Musick of Prescott’s Battalion, the Sudbury Ancients, and the Aleppo Pipe Band.

News acorns

Wine tasting benefits Domestic Violence Roundtable

Sudbury Wine and Spirits (410 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury) will host a complimentary wine tasting for the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable’s annual Shower for Shelters fundraiser on Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. Please bring a new, unwrapped housewarming gift to the event.

New household items are vital for helping survivors of domestic violence establish new homes. Requested items include twin-size sheets and pillowcases, summer blankets, and comforters as well as bed 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. Donations also help the Shelters and Transitional Housing Programs of Reach Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence.

Learn about India’s golden period at daylong event

The India Discovery Center‘s next day-long on India’s cultural history will look at “The Golden Period of India: 200 BC to 500 AD” on Saturday, April 28 from 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. in Bemis Hall. There will be survey talks on various aspects of Indian life during the period, including art and culture, language and literature, politics, philosophy and religion, and participants will celebrate the era with a church choir, a Sanskrit song, and a grammar recitation. Organizers request a donation of $20 ($15 for Lincoln residents). For more information, contact India Discovery Center president and Lincoln resident Bijoy Misra at misra.bijoy@gmail.com or 781-259-0029.

Talk focuses on “deeper learning” in public schools

Harvard Graduate School of Education professor and Lincoln resident Jal Mehta will discuss findings from his forthcoming book, In Search of Deeper Learning: Inside the Effort to Remake the American High School, in a talk on Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The talk, which is sponsored by the Lincoln School Foundation and the Bemis Trustees, will include audience interaction and Q&A.

Drawing on research in 30 schools across the nation, the talk will explore what it means to understand something deeply, why such learning is rare in American public schools, and how some teachers and schools manage to transcend these realities and create powerful, intellectually enlivening education. Mehta will suggest both reformist and radical ways to make the kind of powerful learning which is currently the exception in American public schools the rule.

Lecture series on FDR in May and June

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Lincoln Public Library and the Lincoln Council on Aging present a six-part lecture series on President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Great Depression and World War II on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room starting Thursday, May 3. The lecture series is presented by Gary Hylander, visiting professor at Framingham State University and the Boston University School of Education. Come to one session or all; no registration required. The schedule is as follows:

  • May 3 — The Great Crash Turns into the Great Depression
  • May 17 — 1932: The Worst Year of The Depression and the New Deal; Could Roosevelt Meet the Challenge?
  • May 24 — The “100 Days” in Review
  • May 31 — A Growing Threat in Europe
  • June 7 — September 1, 1939: Hitler Invades Poland/the Arsenal of Democracy
  • June 28 — War on Two Fronts

Concert to raise awareness about campus projects

The Lincoln-based cover band Dadda (Mike Killick, Doug Carson, Bryce Wells, and Andy Ory) is hosting a musical event to “rock the vote” on Saturday, May 5 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall to raise awareness about the campus project vote that will take place at a Special Town Meeting on June 9. The event is free for Lincoln residents. There will be speakers and information available about the school and community center projects now under consideration.