Here are the Lincoln Council on Aging’s events and activities for the month of December.
[Read more…] about December activities at the Council on Aging
history
Coming up in Lincoln
Film about Lincoln architect Henry B. Hoover – Oct. 25
At its members’ appreciation event on Friday, October 25 at 7 p.m. at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, the Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln (FoMA) will hold a premier screening of the film Breaking Ground: The Architecture of Henry B. Hoover.
Commissioned by Hoover’s children, Harry Hoover and Lucretia Giese, and directed and produced by Molly Bedell, the film features biographical background, interviews, and stills and footage of several Hoover houses. Hoover (1902-1998) received his M.Arch. from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1926 and was among the pioneers of modernism in Lincoln.
Hoover designed some 100 houses from 1937 to 1988, with his last important commission in 1972. For Hoover, the site was all-important. Writing about one house, he commented, “the design has been taken care of by the site… the view was hidden by a ledge outcropping. Distance and height were unseen until one climbed around the cliff side, when space seemed to burst open. It was superb.” His objective was to try to “preserve that surprise.”
FoMA is especially pleased to hold the event at the deCordova, which was founded in 1950 and was an important center for contemporary art during this period. Besides highlighting New England art, it was a community center for lectures, music, and studio art classes. “The kind of museum I believe in is a social force; I’ve always treated art as a celebration,” said founding director Fred Walkey, noting the importance that modernists placed on the idea of community. Modern architecture celebrated art and science and was meant to inspire community through thoughtful design that which was affordable and accessible to all.
Space for the event is limited; members are admitted free but must RSVP in advance. There is a $25 fee for non-members. To become a member, go to the FoMA website and follow the “Join” link at the top of the page. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, and beverages will be served.
FoMA works to preserve Lincoln’s Modern architectural heritage. The town’s collection of Modern houses spans the range of a short-lived idealistic architectural period ranging from the 1930s through the 1960s.
Drumlin Farm Food Day – Oct. 26
Come for a day of tasty fun as Drumlin Farm celebrates statewide Food Day on Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Explore in the garden with farm staff, meet some native wildlife, and enjoy a taste from Drumlin’s farm stand. Farm teachers will be on hand to share the bounty of the fall harvest and help you learn how tasty sustainable agriculture can be. All activities are free with admission, which is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 2-12, and free for Mass Audubon members.
Special programs throughout the day:
- 10 a.m. — A Taste of Drumlin: Sample the fruits (and veggies!) of the season.
- 10:30 a.m. — Flying over Fields for Food: Visit with one of the wild birds that loves a farmland habitat.
- 11:30 a.m. — Garden Exploration: Open your senses during a garden scavenger hunt.
- 12:30 p.m. — Beyond Butter: Shake the jar with us to find out how easy it is to make your own flavored herb butter.
- 2 p.m. — A Taste of Drumlin: Sample the fruits (and veggies!) of the season.
- 2:30 p.m. — Chickens and Eggs: Scramble up a few fresh eggs with us and meet one of the chickens that laid them.
- 3:30 p.m. — Turtles Eat their Veggies: Meet one of our resident reptiles and watch him enjoy a favorite treat.
- 3:45 p.m. — Seeing Seeds: Explore the magic of how a seed turns into a new plant.
Lincoln Garden Club hosts talk on sustainable landscaping – Nov. 4
The Lincoln Garden Club and co-sponsor Greening Lincoln welcome Mark Richardson, the newly appointed Director of Horticulture at the New England Wild Flower Society, on Monday, November 4 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall.
Richardson, who oversees Garden in the Woods in Framingham and Nasami Farm in Whately, Mass., will update us on the new standards in sustainable landscaping. He will give examples in public gardens as well as our own Lincoln properties. He holds BS and MS degrees in urban horticulture and has lectured at Longwood Gardens and Brookside Gardens.
This is the Garden Club’s biggest program of the year and the public is invited, so bring extra friends and family for this function you wouldn’t want to miss.
Council on Aging announces October activities
For more information on any of these events, visit the Council on Aging website.
Save the Date: Flu Shot Clinic at Bemis Hall on November 2
Come to the Board of Health/COA flu clinic at Bemis Hall on Saturday, November 2 from 9-11 a.m. In accordance with federal CDC and state Department of Public Health guidelines, this clinic is for those 60 and over. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt. Vaccine supplies may be limited, so come early. A $2 donation to the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging is requested. Those who attend are also invited to bring non-perishable food that is not past its shelf life expiration date for the St. Vincent de Paul Grocery Distribution Program at St. Joseph Church.
October 4 at 10 a.m.
Coffee with Lincoln’s Town Administrator
Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, October 4 at 10 a.m. for coffee with Town Administrator Tim Higgins. Tim will update you on some of the projects going on around town and news, especially related to this fall’s “State of the Town” meeting, and answer your questions about town services and initiatives. He would also like to know your ideas and suggestions. Get to know Tim in an informal setting and chat about those aspects of the town that are most important to you.
October 7 at 9 a.m.
Watercolors with Jane
Rediscover the joyful soul within you through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Jane will offer fun dabbling in watercolor painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or perhaps some favorite sky. Two sessions of four classes will be offered each Monday and Friday beginning October 7 (first session) and October 28 (second session) from 9-11 a.m. The cost is $15. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.
October 7 at 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Academy—
Dr. Arthur Siegel and Chief Kevin Mooney on the Boston Marathon Disaster
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, October 7 at 12:30 to hear Dr. Arthur Siegel and Chief Kevin Mooney discuss the Boston Marathon disaster. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging will provide 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.
October 9 at 10 a.m.
Discuss Civil Rights at our Fireside Chat
If you enjoy a lively, but respectful discussion of topics in the news, come to the COA’s next “Fireside Chat” with Sharon Antia, who will facilitate an exploration of civil rights on Wednesday, October 9 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. The chat’s rules are simple: No one is right and no one is wrong. Ask questions to understand and spend little to no time arguing your point. Questioning and answering, it’s a great way to explore issues, don’t you think?
October 10 (leave Lincoln Station Mall at 9 a.m.)
Trip to Historic Saugus Iron Works
Travel to the banks of the Saugus River on Thursday, October 10 to explore the birthplace of the American iron and steel industry. Discover where European iron makers brought their skills in the 17th century to a young Massachusetts colony at the site of the archaeological excavations done by Lincoln native Roland W. Robbins. Enjoy morning options of a guided tour, orientation film, museum visit and nature trails at this nine-acre national park. You will depart from the Lincoln Mall at 9 a.m. by Doherty school bus. After a morning at the site, you ‘ll travel to Marblehead for lunch at a seafood restaurant at your own expense with the group. The bus will depart Marblehead by 2 p.m., arriving back at the Lincoln Mall by 3 p.m.
The non-refundable cost of the trip is $8 made payable by check to FLCOA Trips and mailed with your email or phone number to Rob Todd, 126 Old Concord Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Payment must be made by Saturday, October 5. Questions? Email Rob at hmbt@comcast.net or call 781-259-8820.
October 11 at 10 a.m.
Ayurveda, Part II: Living According to Nature’s Rhythms
Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old holistic health care system still in practice all over the world, focuses on keeping our body, mind, and spirit in balance in order to maintain health and well being. Come join Tracey Cornogg, an Ayurvedic educator and consultant, on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m., when she continues the very well-received discussion she began this past summer. This talk will focus on making changes in diet and daily practices based on Ayurvedic principles that are life enhancing as well as energizing to both body and mind. You do not need to have come to the first program to attend, though you may wish to stop by the COA to pick up the introductory handout.
October 11 at 1 p.m.
Check your Medication at a Brown Bag Pharmacy
Prescription and non-prescription medications, herbal remedies, and vitamin supplements can all interact with dangerous consequences. Come bring all your medications, herbs, and supplements to a “Brown Bag Pharmacy” on Friday, October 11 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall and have Christine McLellan, a pharmacist from Emerson Hospital, review them to check for possible interactions, side effects, or other problems. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up for a 15-minute appointment.
October 15 at 11:30 a.m. – St. Anne’s Church
Enjoy “Senior Dining”
Lincoln seniors are invited to a gourmet meal in an elegant setting at 11:30 on Tuesday, October 15 at St. Anne’s Church. You must reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead. The cost is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let the COA know if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, and St. Anne’s.
October 16 at 10 a.m.
Are you Interested in Joining a Chorale?
If you would be interested in joining a chorale, with weekly rehearsals culminating in performances, come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, October 16 at 10 a.m. Mezzo-soprano and choral director Letitia Stevens will discuss her plans to initiate a chorale for older adults under the auspices of Encore Chorales, an organization that supports chorales for older adults throughout the country. Letitia will share her ideas about repertoire and scheduling and answer your questions; she looks forward to meeting you.
October 17 at 10 a.m.
The World in your Pocket: Smartphones
So you received a smartphone as a gift from your children. What now? For many people, their smartphone is their phone, their computer, their GPS, their information on shops and restaurants, the weather, and more, all-in-one and traveling with them wherever they go. What is a smartphone? What can they do and why would you want to have one? How much do they cost and where do you buy the phone and sign up for service? Find out when Avram Kalisky comes to Bemis Hall on Thursday, October 17 at 10 am! Bring your questions, concerns, and, if you have one, your smartphone!
October 17 and 24 at 2:15 p.m.
Let the Scenes Begin! An Improvisation Workshop
Celebrate the “spirited” month of October with a lively improvisation workshop! Improvisation is a theatre technique in which participants create scenes without the use of a script or rehearsal. It is also a powerful tool for anyone who enjoys exercising their creativity, acting spontaneously, and working with others as they create both comic and thought-provoking scenes. Theatre games will be used as warmups. No acting experience is necessary! Led by Leslie Kilgore, “Let the Scenes Begin!” will be offered on two Thursdays, October 17 and 24, from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall.
October 18 at 10 a.m.
Balancing Life Cycle Loss with Living: A Discussion
Our experiences, especially those of loss, constantly change us across the life cycle. Come join Niki Pugach, MSW, of Parmenter VNA and Hospice on Friday, October 18 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall when she briefly summarizes the presentation last month on life cycle changes and what we can do to adapt, yet still honor those losses, then leads a discussion of your experiences, thoughts and ideas, and concerns.
October 18 at 1 p.m.
Lincoln Academy at the Movies—
Saptapadii with the film’s writer/actor and assistant director
The COA is proud to participate in the Discover India! Lincoln Cultural Festival 2013 with a special screening of the 2013 feature film Saptapadii and a discussion with writer/actor Chandu Shah and Assistant Director Eshani Shah on Friday, October 18 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Saptapadii is the story of how a wealthy Indian couple’s life and relationship is turned upside down when the husband learns that his wife’s attempts to cure a traumatized child while on vacation at a beautiful hill station can have disastrous consequences for his business and open up possibilities of independence for her.
October 21 at 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Academy—
Mark Hopkins: Good Graffiti—A Sampling of Spanish Street Art
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, October 21 at 12:30 to hear Mark Hopkins discuss “Good Graffiti: A Sampling of Spanish Street Art.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging will provide 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.
October 21 at 1:45 p.m.
Enjoy an Afternoon of Bridge and Desserts
Enjoy a fun afternoon with desserts and bridge on Monday, October 21 at 1:45 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Play with old friends or find some new partners after enjoying a selection of homemade desserts. All skill levels are welcome. If there is enough interest, the COA will offer more bridge opportunities and Bridge Dessert afternoons. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811!
October 25 at 10 a.m.
2014 Medicare Open Enrollment and Supplemental Insurance Update Session
Find out what changes could affect your Medicare coverage and how much you will pay in 2014 when Don Milan and Anne Meade, Lincoln’s counselors from the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE health benefits counseling program, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, October 25 at 10 am. This is an especially important time to be sure you understand and are satisfied with your benefits.
This year’s Medicare open enrollment period from October 15 to December 7, 2013 is your primary opportunity to change your plans, effective January 1, 2014. Representatives from the major supplemental health insurance plans serving Lincoln (Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts, Humana, Fallon, and AARP/United Health Care) will give 2014 information. It’s a unique opportunity for you to learn about their products and get answers to questions. Also present will be representatives of Prescription Advantage (the state’s secondary prescription assistance program) and Priscilla Leach (Lincoln’s Veterans Service Officer). This program was very helpful to many Lincoln residents last year.
October 25 at 1 p.m.
Choosing the Right Home Contractor
Your home is your biggest investment, so you want to make sure that whoever makes renovations and repairs to it is qualified and will treat you fairly and in a business-like way. Find out how to choose and work with the right contractor when Dan Walsh, Lincoln’s Building Commissioner, comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, October 25 at 1 p.m. He’ll explain about the process for getting good estimates, determining if a contractor has the proper credentials and insurance, criteria for choosing a contractor, legal requirements for contracts and permits, inspecting the work when completed, and what to do if you have a problem or complaint. Come with your questions and concerns.
October 28 at 12:30 p.m.
Lincoln Academy—
Barbara Slayter: Unraveling the Complex Relationships Among Food Security, Health, and Livelihoods for Rural Women in Sub-Saharan Africa
Come to Bemis Hall on Mondays at 12:30 to hear Barbara Slayter discuss “Unraveling the Complex Relationships among Food Security, Health, and Livelihoods for Rural Women in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging will provide 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.
October 31 at 10 a.m.
Fall Accessory Swap
Dress up your fall and winter wardrobe without spending a penny! Ria Vet will once again be facilitating an accessory swap on Thursday, October 31 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Just bring in a few accessories you no longer want and see if someone else has brought in the perfect accompaniment to your new dress or maybe a bit of bling for your holiday outfit that you would like to take home with you. Be sure to get here on time if you don’t want to miss getting the best stuff.
Saturday, November 16
Mark Twain & Harriet Beecher Stowe
Come join the COA on Saturday, November 16 to visit the fascinating homes of Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe. These two famous authors, who shared many interests, lived but a few yards apart in a section of Hartford known as Nook Farm. Twain wrote his most famous books while living in his ostentatious 19-room mansion. Stowe, the woman who wrote the book that started the Great War, lived by contrast in a modest Victorian next door. The trip will depart from the Lincoln Mall at 8:45 a.m. on a comfortable coach for this full-day excursion, with a delicious box lunch included. You’ll enjoy guided tours, and also have time to visit the small museums and view the short documentary films at each site. You will arrive back at the Lincoln Mall about 4:30 p.m. The non-refundable cost is $39, partially supported by the Hurff Fund. Send checks, payable to FLCOA Trips, to Virginia O’Brien, 4 Linway Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Please include phone number and email address. Space is limited, and payment must be made by Friday, November 1. Questions? Contact Virginia O’Brien at vobrien39@yahoo.com or 781-259-1291.
Reenactments help Minute Men experience history first-hand
Lincoln historian and Minute Man Richard Wiggin reads the Declaration of Independence before the parade.
By Brett Wittenberg
Dawn on a mid-April morning in Lincoln. The rising sun’s rays break over the Stone Church and strike the tricorn hats of the Lincoln Minute Men. Assembled with muskets in hand, the Minute Man company receives its marching orders. The call to action has sounded, and these ordinary citizens have arrived to answer that call to march to Concord—and to war.
[Read more…] about Reenactments help Minute Men experience history first-hand
Fourth of July parade in pictures
Hundreds of hot but happy residents of Lincoln and surrounding towns enjoyed Lincoln’s annual Fourth of July parade. This year’s theme was “Townies: Show your Pride!” Click on any of the photos to see a larger version.
If you’d like to add some information or a correction for any of the captions, or if you have your own photos you’d like to share on the Lincoln Squirrel, please leave a comment below or email lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com.
Book describes Revolutionary War service by hundreds from Lincoln
Richard Wiggin displays a copy of his book about Lincoln soldiers in the Revolutionary War. (Photo: Alice Waugh)
Most Lincoln residents know that the town played a key role in the start of the Revolutionary War as the site of Paul Revere’s capture, but few know very much about the hundreds of men with Lincoln connections who served in the eight-year conflict that followed. Those stories were researched and collected by Lincoln resident Richard Wiggin in a new book, Embattled Farmers: Campaigns and Profiles of Revolutionary Soldiers from Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1775-1783, which will be available at an author’s reception at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Patriots Day) in the Lincoln Public Library.
[Read more…] about Book describes Revolutionary War service by hundreds from Lincoln
Lincoln Minute Men events to observe Patriot’s Day
Mark your calendars for a variety of historical observances with the Lincoln Minute Men.
Paul Revere’s Capture Ceremony
Saturday, April 6 at 3 p.m.
Minute Man National Historical Park
The Lincoln Minute Men march down Battle Road and narrate the story of Paul Revere’s capture at the actual site. Hear Revere, Samuel Prescott, William Dawes, Mary Hartwell, even Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Music, dramatic reading and musket fire in the Park. For all ages. [Read more…] about Lincoln Minute Men events to observe Patriot’s Day
Historic Gropius House lives on
(This article was originally published in the Lincoln Journal on August 2, 2012.)
By Alice Waugh
The front of the Gropius House on Baker Bridge Road.
In the Lincoln of the late 1930s, Walter Gropius’ home was certainly different. Although the world-renowned architect incorporated a few New England touches into his blocky white modern house atop a hill on Baker Bridge Road, neighbors were skeptical—never dreaming that one day this “lonely little petunia in an onion patch of traditional architecture” would become a national historic landmark.
During a recent “Evening at Gropius,” site manager Wendy Hubbard offered an in-depth look at the house and its designer to a handful of visitors who toured the house at dusk and experienced the dramatic lighting effects he created.
Oldies but goodies at antique auto show
(This article was originally published in the Lincoln Journal on July 20, 2012.)
By Alice Waugh
Strolling the landscaped grounds of the Codman Estate on Sunday, visitors could take in dozens of antique cars ranging from a Ford Model T to a 1960s Dodge Dart.
The annual antique car show was sponsored at Codman for the 28th year by Historic New England as a fundraiser and a way to attract people to the estate who might not otherwise visit. Some of the cars and owners, including John Bartley of Watertown, have been coming to the show since it began 28 years ago.
Bartley’s car, a 1937 Ford Touring Deluxe, is unusual because it’s only had two owners—Bartley and his late mother. Because of rationing during World War II, she was unable to get a new tire to replace one that was damaged, so she sold the car to her son for $2 in 1943, and he’s owned it ever since. In the glove compartment, Bartley still keeps the notebook in which he jotted down the expenses incurred on a road trip to Canada on his honeymoon in 1951 ($8 for a hotel room, $3.85 for supper, $2.02 for 8.1 gallons of gas).
Bartley’s car is also unusual in that it’s had very little work done on it, since he’s taken good care of it over the years.
“I’m not into restoration. I like ’em clean,” he said.
Another car at the show that’s stayed in the family for a while was the 1975 baby-blue Volkswagen Beetle owned by Laurence and Nancy Zuelke of Lincoln. Because the odometer wasn’t working for a while, they’re not sure exactly how many miles they’ve put on it, though Nancy estimates it at “two-hundred-something thousand.”
Next to the Zuelkes’ car was another 1957 Beetle, this one in metallic gold. Some have asked owner John Henry of Dunstable, if that’s really the original color. He explained that VW offered gold Bugs for two years in honor of the one-millionth Beetle that rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg, Germany in 1955. For the show, Henry added a period touch with some musty old suitcases tied to a 1950s VW roof rack with twine (though he used more reliable modern bungee cords for the drive down to Lincoln).
Perhaps the most unusual customization on view was the paint job on a black 1962 Cadillac convertible. Owner John Dunton of Waltham did the painting himself, with advice from an artist friend. Radiating along the sides are subtle red “ghost flames”; because of the technique he used, the flames sparkle in bright sun but almost completely disappear in low light. Dunton even removed the door handles and other appendages from the sides of his 18-foot-long car to enhance the sleek effect.
Click on pictures to see larger versions: