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Council on Aging activities in May

Musical jazz lunch
May 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.

Watercolor class with Jane
May 6 and 20 at 9 a.m.
Rediscover your joyful soul through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Two classes of four sessions each will be offered on Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. beginning Mondays, May 6 and 20. The cost is $30 for each class of four sessions, materials included. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Lincoln Academy with Timothy Johnson, MD: The future of medicine
May 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Dr. Johnson will review current problems with American health care and propose possible solutions for each. He will also predict what will happen in the next ten years. Johnson was the chief medical correspondent for ABC News, giving medical information to millions of Americans in a way that was accurate yet accessible. 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.

Noticing walks with John Calabria
May 7 at 1 p.m.
Location: TBD
Enjoy a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on May 7 from 1–2:30 p.m. at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. Another walk will be held June 4. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in May

Boy Scouts retrace 1775 Minute Men march through Lincoln

Don Hafner answers Boy Scouts’ questions as Captain William Smith, Commander of the Lincoln Minute Men.

Shortly after sunrise on Friday, April 19, some 60 Boy Scouts and adult leaders met to hike in the historic pathway of American Revolution events of April 19, 1775. They were following the Minutemen’s Pursuit Trail, a National Historic Trail of the Boy Scouts of America that was created by the Spirit of Adventure Council and Concord Scout House.

As the militia-hikers crossed into Lincoln from Concord on the Battle Road trail and approached the Bloody Angle within the Minute Man National Park, they could hear fife music played by Lincoln’s Don Hafner, who portrayed Lincoln Minute Men Commander Captain William Smith and answered hikers’ questions. The music had the same intended effect on this group as it would have in 1775 — reviving tired souls five miles into the 20-mile pursuit. 

Around sunset, with the Boston skyline in the background and the Grand Union Flag hoisted above the tired but proud Scouts atop Prospect Hill Tower, they recognized the heroic actions of those who inspired the creation of this hike. Next year, April 19 will be on a weekend, making it an opportunity for even more Scouts to better understand what happened that day in 1775.

News acorns

Learn about natural burial

There will be an informational session about natural burial on Saturday, April 27 from 3-5 p.m. at the Ryan Estate facilitated by Lincoln resident Carol DiGianni, a former candidate for the Lincoln Cemetery Commission. Participants can learn and ask questions about the benefits of natural burials, which offer an alternative to the expense and environmental toxicity of traditional burial practices.

Spring cleanup at Codman

Some of the volunteers at a previous year’s Codman Community Farm spring cleanup.

Come volunteer at Farms Spring Cleanup Day at Codman Community Farms on Sunday, April 28 from 1-5 p.m. Bring gloves, work clothes, and a sense of fun; the farm will provide snacks and gardening tools. For more info and to RSVP, click here.

Event covers Mughal period in India

The next seminar in the India Discovery Center’s series on the history of India in Bemis Hall takes place on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will cover 1500–1800 AD, when Mughals ruled the country and established Islam and imposed the Persian language. Lincoln’s Bijoy Mishra will be one of the presenters. The organization is asking for a $25 donation but is offering 10 complimentary admissions for Lincoln residents. Click here for more information and registration.

Taraz performs at next open mic night

Diane Taraz

Diane Taraz is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, May 13 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Taraz will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. She directs the Lexington Historical Society’s Colonial Singers and draws inspiration from Celtic, British, French-Canadian, and American folk traditions. Click here for a video of the title cut from her 2014 CD release “Let’s Do It.” Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

“35 Shots of Rum” film screening

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “35 Shots of Rum” (2008, unrated) directed by Claire Denis on Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. The movie is an intimate family study centering on a widower and his adult daughter in Paris.

Patriots’ Day observances include Boy Scout hikes

Each year in mid-April, thousands of people flock to historic Lexington and Concord and Minute Man National Historical Park to celebrate Patriots’ Day, which falls on Monday, April 15 this year. Observances began on April 6 and the entire Patriots’ Day week is celebrated with parades, reenactments, and commemorative ceremonies.

Click here for details on all the events sponsored by  Minute Man National historical Park, including the Captain William Smith House and the Hartwell Tavern in Lincoln, as well as sites in Concord and Lexington. Admission to all events is free except where noted. For more information, please call 978-396-6993.

Boy Scout troops from Maine, Cape Cod, and greater Boston will follow the historic trail of April 19, 1775 when the Minute Men pursued the British from Concord to Boston. They’ll trade in their troop numbers for “militia” names representing the towns along the route.

Not only is the hike an opportunity to learn more about this historic day, it fulfills a requirement of the Hiking Merit Badge. There is a 10-mile and a 20-mile option, both of which qualify for the badge. Scouts who wear their uniform and complete a questionnaire while at historic stops along the way can earn the Minute Men’s Pursuit Trail patch and/or medal after completing the trip.

Lincoln Cultural Council awards grants

Ms. G, official groundhog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, makes her annual prediction at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary as part of the Climate Action Day festivities sponsored by the Lincoln Cultural Council.

The Lincoln Cultural Council has announced ten grants totaling $4,700 to support cultural programs in Lincoln, Acton, Concord, and Sudbury.

The Lincoln Cultural Council (LCC) is part of a network of 329 local cultural councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth that will distribute more than $3.3 million in 2019. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

This year’s grant awardees are:

Decisions about which activities to support are made at the community level by a board of town-appointed volunteers. Lincoln Cultural Council members are Melinda Bruno-Smith, Catherine Coleman, Patrick Greene, Wendy Hubbard, Chris Loschen, Renata Pomponi, Diana Rich-Sheahan, and Meg Ramsey.

Applications and more information about the Local Cultural Council Program are available online at Applications for the next round of grants are due in October; go to www.mass-culture.org for details, or contact LCC Chair Meg Ramsey at meg.ramsey@verizon.net. The LCC strongly encourages anyone interested in supporting and promoting cultural events in Lincoln to volunteer to serve as a member of the LCC, and they welcome input and ideas.

News acorns

Town seeks tax work-off program coordinator

The town of Lincoln seeks qualified applicants for a stipend position of Work-Off Programs Coordinator. Under the direction of the Council on Aging director, this position will oversee implementation of the town’s Senior and Veterans’ Tax Work-Off Programs. Duties include assisting participants with applications and other forms, matching applicants and positions, and preparing and submitting administrative forms to the town. Excellent administrative, organizational, and verbal and written communication skills required. Annual $1,500 stipend. The Work-Off Coordinator may not participate in either work-off program while serving in this role. Please submit a cover letter and resume to Mary Day, Town Office Building, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln MA 01773 or jobs@lincolntown.org by Friday, April 19. The position begins July 1, 2019.

Survivor to speak at Domestic Violence Roundtable

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Round Table will present  “A Survivor’s Story” on Tuesday, April 9 at at 3 p.m. in the Community Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland). The speaker will share her journey of survival, recovery, and the reclamation of her strength and power. For more information or to volunteer for Roundtable events, please visit www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org.

Household hazardous waste collection dates announced

Pre-registered Lincoln residents may bring materials to the Minuteman Household Hazardous Products Regional Facility at 60 Hartwell Ave. in Lexington on one of eight dates in April through November. Choose a date that’s convenient and contact the Board of Health to obtain a registration form, which you must bring with you to the facility. You may visit the Board of Health in the Town Office Building Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on Fridays in the summer), or call Elaine Carroll at 781-259-2613. You will receive directions to the site and information about acceptable materials and how to dispose of unacceptable materials.

The site is open on the following days from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

  • April 20
  • May 18
  • June 15
  • July 20
  • August 17
  • September 15 (Sunday)
  • October 19
  • November 2

Wedding showcase at Pierce House

​The Pierce House and Boston Event Divas invite you to a wedding showcase on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28 from noon–4 p.m. at the Pierce House. Vendors including wedding planners, caterers, florists, and photographers and more will be on hand. There will be door prizes, and during the April 28 event, the Lincoln Minutemen and His Majesty’s Troops of the Boston Garrison muster at the Pierce House. Tickets on both days are $10 for groups up to four people; click here to register.

Talk on Codman and Edith Wharton

Historic New England is hosting a brown bag lunch and slide talk on “Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman: A Creative Kinship Talk and Tour” on Wednesday, April 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall, followed by a special access tour of Codman House from 1:30–2:30 p.m. (a single exception to the closure for construction; see News Acorns, March 26). Ogden Codman, Jr. and Edith Wharton wrote the 1897 classic The Decoration of Houses. Using original letters from Historic New England’s Codman collection, this illustrated talk offers an inside peek into their artistic friendship, which spanned more than 40 years.

Free to Lincoln residents, $10 for Historic New England members, $15 for nonmembers. Registration recommended; please call 617-994-6690 or buy tickets online. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

Krzysztof Wodiczko

Lecture features artist Krzysztof Wodiczko

The 2019 Paul J. Cronin Memorial Lecture featuring acclaimed artist Krzysztof Wodiczko takes place on Friday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Wodiczko is renowned for his large-scale slide and video projections on architectural facades and monuments that address themes of trauma, collective memory, and the power of mass media to disseminate and manipulate information. $5 for members and students; $10 for nonmembers; click here to register. Come early for a casual reception starting at 6 p.m. with wine, beer, and nonalcoholic beverages. Your lecture ticket includes one complementary drink ticket; additional alcoholic drink tickets will be available for $5 each.

Pastel painting workshop at library

Have you ever wanted to do a landscape, portrait, or special project in pastels? Bring a simple photo or just come to participate in an art workshop, lecture and demonstration with award-winning pastel painter Gregory John Maichack on Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Participants will receive an engaging hands-on experience of basic pastel painting as well as advanced techniques. Everyone will receive help tailored to their projects, whether landscape, still-life or portraiture.

Participants are encouraged to experiment with the artist’s professional-grade hard, soft and super soft pastels, professional pastel paper, etc. However, if you have your own pastels, please bring them. For adults and those over 14 if accompanied by an adult. Class is limited to 30 people and registration is required. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Funding for the workshop was also provided by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

One-man play about Herman Melville

Stephen Colins as Herman Melville

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Herman Melville’s birth by enjoying a free performance of “Sailing Towards My Father” by actor Stephen Collins on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The play chronicles the life of Melville (best known for his whaling epic Moby-Dick) from youth to old age, concentrating on his evolution as a writer and his complex relations with God, his parents and siblings, his wife and children, and Nathanial Hawthorne. It was written and directed by Carl A. Rossi. For more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

News acorns

Celebration of the life of Lucretia Giese

Lucretia Giese

The family of Lucretia Hoover Giese will host a celebration of Lucretia’s life on Thursday, May 23 at 3 p.m. in the Pierce House (see obituary, October 15, 2018). Among her many accomplishments, Lucretia was professor of art history at the Rhode Island School of Design, an expert on the paintings of Winslow Homer, chair of the Lincoln Historical Commission, and co-founder of the Friend of Modern Architecture/Lincoln. Please RSVP by Monday, April 15 to Henry B. Hoover, Jr. (hbhoover@aol.com).

L-S Jazz Night on Thursday

The L-S Music Department presents Jazz Night on Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School auditorium. The concert will feature students from L-S and Curtis Middle School; L-S groups include the Symphonic and Concert Jazz Ensembles as well as the Jazz Warriors and Select Jazz Combo. The groups led by Thomas Grandprey, Director of Instrumental Music, will perform jazz literature from the Great American Songbook as well as funk, and Latin genres. The concert is open to the public and admission is free.

Appointee to library board sought

The Lincoln School Committee invites and encourages any town resident with an interest in connecting the schools and the library to submit a short statement of interest as the committee’s appointee to the Lincoln Public Library Board of Directors. The School Committee thanks Martin Dermandy for serving in this capacity for the past six years, during which time he started the Local Heroes program and worked to connect the library and the schools, building on what the librarians had already developed.

The statement of interest for this three-year term should be sent to schoolcomm@lincnet.org by Friday, April 5. There will be interviews of all candidates in an open meeting of the School Committee on Thursday, April 11 at 7:15 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room on the Ballfield Road Campus. Please address questions to schoolcomm@lincnet.org or to Jacquelin Apsler, chair of the Library Board of Trustees, at jgu.lincoln@gmail.com.

Wednesday “Crafternoons” at the library

The Lincoln Public Library is starting a new children’s program called Crafternoons every Wednesday at 2 p.m. Participants will get creative with crafts that emphasize reusing and recycling household items. All materials will be supplied by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library. Intended for grades 1 and up. No registration required. Call the Children’s Room for more information at 781-259-8465 x4.

Lincoln seniors can work off $1,500 in property taxes

Lincoln residents 60 and over who own and occupy property on which they pay taxes and are listed on the title may apply now to be part of the town of Lincoln’s Senior Tax Work-Off Program. Through the program, seniors work for a town department for up to 125 hours at $12/hour and receive an abatement of up to $1,500 on their May property tax bill.

Jobs may include administrative, outdoor, computer, programming, or other work and can be completed in any town department or the schools. Seniors may work fewer than 125 hours if they choose. Their schedule is up to them and the department they work for. For more information or to apply, call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 and ask for COA Director Carolyn Bottum.

Two-part series on French history

The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library and the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging are offering a two-part presentation on French history on Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m. and Wednesday, May 15 at 7 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. Retired teacher John Gardella will give an overview of the French Revolution at the first session and the age of Napoleon at the second. The series will serve as a stepping stone to the library’s trip to the Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday, June 8 for a private tour of Toulouse-Lautrec and the stars of Paris (details TBA) Come to one or both sessions; both are free and open to people of all ages and no registration is required.

Council on Aging activities in April

Lincoln Academy with Richard Pierson: Healthy aging — a new science, a new art
April 1 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 1 at 12:30 p.m. when Richard Pierson, M.D., retired professor of medicine at Columbia University discusses “Healthy Aging: A New Science, A New Art.” As more and more people live to their 90s and 100s, “healthy aging” has become both absolutely essential and more complex. Pierson will talk about how ideas of aging have changed over the millennia, how our body composition changes and affects our health as we age, and how this will affect society and our everyday lives. All ages welcome.

Noticing walks with John Calabria
April 2 at 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Mt. Misery parking lot on Rt. 117
Enjoy a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on April 2 from 1-2:30 p.m. at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. Other walks will be held May 7 and June 4. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

Lincoln Trad Jazz Band
April 5 at 12:30 p.m. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in April

News acorns

Gordon to speak on climate change action

On Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m. in Bemis Hall, the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will host Andrew Gordon, the legislative coordinator with grassroots climate movement 350 Mass, will give a talk on “Becoming an Effective Advocate on Climate Change and Environmental Justice.” Following a brief presentation, Gordon will lead a conversation about how we can make a difference. Coffee and pastry will be served starting at 9:45 a.m.

Donate used bikes to benefit Bikes Not Bombs

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School junior Ethan Webber is organizing a Bikes Not Bombs Bike Drive to collect used bikes to benefit Bikes Not Bombs on Sunday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Hartwell Pod A on the Lincoln School campus. Bikes Not Bombs is a nonprofit organization that collects used bikes and ships them to international programs in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, or uses bikes to teach local youth about bicycle mechanics. 

Ethan’s volunteer work at Bikes Not Bombs preparing bike shipments to Ghana and El Salvador inspired him to launch a bike drive in Lincoln and support the use of bikes for international social change. Suggested donation of $10/bike to defray storage, processing, and shipping costs.

Garden Club hosts talk on Thoreau and trees

The Lincoln Garden Club invites residents to a lecture on “Thoreau and the Language of Trees” by author Richard Higgins on Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall, in anticipation of the group’s Lincoln Tree Tour event this coming June. The talk is free of charge and open to the public. Higgins (a photographer, former Boston Globe staff writer, and co-author and editor of several books) will explain how trees inspired Thoreau’s creativity as a writer, his work as a naturalist, his philosophical thought, and his spiritual life. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

News acorns

Codman Estate closed until late May

The Codman Estate on Codman Road in Lincoln is closed until late May for major construction and preservation projects. Residents may have already noticed the heavy equipment and closed signs at each entrance to Codman Estate. For everyone’s safety, please do not drive or walk onto the property until it re-opens at the conclusion of the preservation project in late May 2019. Dog-walkers are welcome to use surrounding conservation land, but please do not enter the Codman Estate. For more information, call 781-259-8098.

L-S offers additional college prep classes

Two new classes for high school students starting in late April and May are being offered by Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s adult education program: “SAT II: Biology Test Review” taught by L-S science teacher Regina Shopiro, and “Writing An Effective Personal Statement for College Applications and Scholarships” taught by L-S English teacher Annalisa Notaro. For more information and to register, click here.

Discussion on “Difficult Conversations”

All are invited to a community book discussion on “Difficult Conversations: Talking with and Supporting Our Children, Our Students” on Monday, April 1 from 7-9 p.m.in the Lincoln School’s Brooks library. Facilitators Corinne Jairston-Parris, Jenny Nam, and Alyssa Rosenfeld will use the novel Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng as the basis for the event. Interested participants should read the book before April 1; copies are available for loan at the Brooks library. Please register online.

Liz Simmons at next LOMA night

Liz Simmons

Liz Simmons is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, April 8 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Simmons will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Her current trio, Low Lily, won Falcon Ridge’s “Most Wanted Band” award in 2016, and she’s toured internationally and shared the stage with such luminaries as Tom Chapin and Livingston Taylor.

Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Adams shares Gropius memories

“Memories of Walter and Ise Gropius: An Oral History by Douglas Adams” will be offered on Sunday, April 7 from 4-6 p.m. at the Thoreau Institute (44 Baker Farm Rd., Lincoln). The event is sponsored by Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln.

Kids’ activities at the library

Kids ages 4+ are invited to come create a piece of art with Peeps as the Lincoln Public Library will host its fourth annual Peeps Diorama Fun Day on Thursday, April 4 at 4 p.m. The library will also host the following activities during school vacation week. For events requiring registration, call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net.

  • Friday, April 12: Flower Yoga for children (ages 2-5) and families from 10-10:30 a.m. Registration required.
  • Saturday, April 13: Author and illustrator Sarah S. Brannen will read and talk about her two new books, Bear Needs Help and Seashells: More Than a Home (written by Melissa Stewart) at 11 a.m. Drop in; recommended for ages 3+.
  • Tuesday, April 16: “All About Frogs” from 11-11:45. Ages 4+. Registration required.
  • Wednesday, April 17:
    • “Peepshi” at 5:30 p.m. Inspired by Japanese sushi-making, Peepshi combines food and craft as kids learn about different kinds of sushi while making making their own copies with marshmallow Peeps, Rice Krispy treats, and fruit roll-ups. For children in grades 5 and up. Registration required.
    • Duckling Dance Party from 11-11:45 a.m. No registration. Ages 6 and under.
  • Thursday, April 18: “Make & Take” Fairy House Craft Program from 2-3 p.m. for ages 5+ Registration required.
  • Friday, April 19: Movies and Muffins at 10:30 a.m. Gentle springtime-themed films for ages 2+.