kids

News acorns

September 25, 2016

Rev. Kate Malin (kneeling) with Pam Bartter and Jane Bartter (right) at last year’s Blessing of the Animals service.

Blessing of the Animals at St. Anne’s on Oct. 2

On Sunday, Oct. 2, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will honor St. Francis, patron saint of animals, with Blessing of the Animals at both morning services( Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and Holy Eucharist with Choir at 10 a.m.). Animals on leashes or in carriers are welcome; photos and stuffed animals are welcome, too. The “Still Your Soul” service will take place at 5 p.m. with a service of Holy Eucharist for Healing and Wholeness with laying-on of hands.

Build a scarecrow at Stonegate Gardens

Stonegate Gardens’ annual Build-a-Scarecrow event will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 1-4 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its retail location (339 South Great Road, Lincoln). All proceeds will benefit the Lincoln Parent Teacher Organization, which provides enrichment programming at the Lincoln School. For $15 per scarecrow, Stonegate Gardens provides hay, twine, stakes, craft supplies for decorating and embellishments, and step-by-step instructions. Bring a pillowcase for their scarecrow’s head, old clothing (pants with belt loops and long-sleeve shirts; teenage or adult sizes are best), and any personal accessories such as hats, masks, light-sabers, etc. Everyone will have the opportunity to further personalize their scarecrows by giving them a name. Lincoln PTO volunteers will be there to lend a hand, but parental supervision is required (this is not a drop-off event). Students and community members may opt to take their scarecrows home or display them along Ballfield Road.

Youth in Philanthropy program kicks off in Lincoln

The Foundation for MetroWest is launching a Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program in Lincoln, with meetings starting on Thursday, Oct. 6 from 3-4 p.m. in the Lincoln School (Room B135). The program is open to all seventh- and eighth-grade students who live or go to school in Lincoln. The fall schedule can be found here.

YIP is a unique opportunity for students to take the lead on grant-making. During the program, they form their own board of trustees, run for leadership positions, do fund-raising, research and visit local nonprofit organizations, and distribute the Foundation for MetroWest youth development grants. Since 1997, 1,100 students have participated in YIP, giving more than $1 million to local, youth-serving nonprofits. Launched in 1997, it remains one of the largest youth philanthropy education programs in the country. For more information, see the YIP website or watch this video.

Learn how to start a conversation about abusive relationships

Have you ever been concerned about a friend or family member’s relationship but didn’t know what to say? Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Raytheon Room at the Wayland Public Library to learn the warning signs of an abusive relationship and how to support a loved one in an unhealthy relationship. Featured speakers will be Jessica Teperow, Director of Prevention Programs for REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, and M.J. Wright, a Wayland librarian who has spoken on behalf of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence to share her personal experience as a survivor from domestic abuse. The event is free and open to the public.

Kirsten Maxwell at next LOMA event

Kirsten Maxwell

Kirsten Maxwell is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) on Monday, Oct. 17 from 7-10 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Maxwell will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. She performs the title cut of her new album “Crimson” in this video.

LOMA is a monthly event. 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.

News acorns

September 18, 2016

Meeting to look at region’s traffic issues

A roundtable discussion of traffic management will be the focus of the next meeting of HATS (Hanscom Area Towns Committee) on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall’s Donaldson Room. Participants will include Timothy Higgins, Lincoln town administrator; Kevin Kennedy, Lincoln’s police chief; David Kucharsky, Lexington assistant planning director and chair of the Lexington Traffic Safety Working Group; Adrienne St. John, Bedford Public Works engineer; and a Concord participant to be announced. Also on the agenda are updates on the Route 2 and Route 128 projects as well as Hanscom Field and Hanscom Air Force Base.

Middlesex DA, Lincoln police chief to offer crime updates

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy will be at Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 23 at 12:30 p.m. for an update on the latest crimes and threats to safety for older adults and others, including scams, computer security and fake charities. Ryan will also discuss initiatives on topics in the news such as the opioid crisis and preventing and prosecuting violent crime. While the program will focus on scams targeting elders, those of all ages can easily become victims, too, and all will also find the update on prevention initiatives informative.

A special focus will be on identifying potential scams through “red flags” by way of calls, emails and solicitations, as well as and the best way to respond. “Scam artists are skilled, and anyone can fall victim,” Ryan said. “Still, there are things individuals can do to educate and protect themselves from these sorts of crimes.” There will be a question-and-answer session following the program. Please call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 to sign up so Ryan will know how many informational packets to bring.

Events at Farrington Nature Linc

Join others at Farrington Nature Linc nature education program for several events. Registration is required for the September 24 and November 23 events; please email Brianne@naturelinc.org.

Saturday, Sept. 24 — STEM in the Woods
Join us at Farrington for a family STEM adventure in our woods.

Saturday, Nov. 5 — Put the Garden to Bed Volunteer Day
Join us to help clean up the garden and get it ready for winter.

Wednesday, Nov. 23 — Gratitude on Thanksgiving Eve
Bring the whole family (or get everyone else out of your kitchen!).

Insects, drought talk, Scarecrow Classic on offer from LLCT

September 12, 2016

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust invites residents on a fall walk, a talk about the drought, and the annual Scarecrow Classic.

“Night-Singing Insects: A Fall Walk”
Sunday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m., Lindentree Farm (10 Old Concord Rd.)
In the fullness of summer, we become aware of a swelling clamor of trills, ticks, and scrapes as the call of singing insects rise to a crescendo. By means of careful listening and song matching, using an audio field guide, participants will learn how to discriminate and identify, by ear, species of crickets and katydids. Lead by local naturalist Norman Levey. Dress for the weather (e.g., wet grass and dropping temperatures), and protect yourself from ticks and mosquitos. Rain date: Sunday, Sept. 25. Free and open to all. Pre-register for materials by emailing llct@lincolnconservation.org.

“The Drought: Brown is the New Green”
Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m., Bemis Hall
Signs of drought are everywhere, from brown lawns to mosquito-free evenings. What is the impact on our flora and fauna? What actions have been taken and are recommended by the state and our town? What can we do as private citizens and a community? Come to a free panel presentation and discussion about the drought with:

Richard Primack, professor of biology at Boston University
Greg Woods, Superintendent of the Lincoln Water Department
Daniela Caride, member of the Lincoln Garden Club

Scarecrow Classic 5K Run/Walk
Sunday, Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m. (registration opens at 8 a.m.), Mall at Lincoln Station
The Scarecrow Classic is a 5K road and trail race that winds through the scenic roads, fields and trails of our historic New England town. Proceeds from this event support the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT), a non-profit organization that helps manage over 2000 acres of land and nearly 80 miles of public trails as a regional recreational resource for the greater Boston area. Participants who register by October 3 get a tech shirt. There will be prizes for the top three runners in each category, as well as post-race food, drink and entertainment. Registration fee: $30 before October 16 (click here to register online) and $35 on race day. Register online now.

News acorns

September 6, 2016

In-town soccer starts Saturday

The Lincoln In-Town Soccer program will start Saturday, Sept. 10 at Smith Field. Pre-K and kindergartners will begin at 8 a.m., and grades 1-2 at 9 a.m. There will be two instructors from the Revolution Academy soccer program present to assist us in implementing practice plans and for coaching guidance; parent volunteers are responsible for coaching the teams with instructors’ help. Please register your child before the first practice if possible at www.lincolnsoccer.com. If you’ve already registered, please double-check the website to confirm, as players must be registered in order to play. Parents, even those without soccer experience, who are interested in volunteering should contact Deepak Dibya at 515-203-5986 or dibyadeepak@gmail.com .

Lecture on Gropius-Breuer partnership

A talk titled “When Imitation is the Best Form of Flattery: Tracing Forms and Legacy in the Gropius-Breuer Partnership” will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 7-9 p.m. at the Gropius House (68 Baker Bridge Road). Join architectural historian Amy Finstein for an evening exploring the literal and figurative inspiration that Lincoln’s Gropius House provided for other architectural patrons and designers in the late 1930s and early 1940s. We’ll use one particular commission to explore how Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer used their own homes as models for subsequent architectural commissions, and how the literal imitation of certain elements may have impacted public reception of finished designs.

Tickets are $5 for Historic New England members or $10 for nonmembers. For details, click here, call 781-259-8098 or buy tickets online.

9/11 commemoration details

The Veterans of Lincoln, Mass. (VOLMA), with the support of the Department of Recreation, are sponsoring a flag display and brief memorial ceremony on the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11. A flag to represent each person killed in the attacks in New York, Washington and Shanksville, Penn. (almost 3,000 in total) will be stationed on the lawn around the library on the corner of Trapelo and Bedford Roads before the anniversary and until a week later, when they will be returned to the town.

The event will include an official U.S. Army Color Guard, the singing of the national anthem, a rifle salute, bugle taps, and a group singing of Irving Berlin’s classic “God Bless America.” The veterans hope many Lincoln residents and other local citizens will be able to attend this solemn and dignified event. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside Bemis Hall.

Talks on Lincoln photographer, investing and retirement

The Lincoln Public Library will host the following guest speakers in September:

Passive Investing with Jerome Moisand

Thursday, Sept. 22 from 7-8:30 p.m. Learn the ins and outs of Boglehead investing, which follows the principles of Vanguard founder John Bogle.

‘Juxtapositions’ with Judy Polumbaum

Saturday, Sept. 24 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. As a photojournalist, the late Ted Polumbaum of Lincoln documented some of the most important news events and social movements of the second half of the 20th century, from Muhammad Ali to Ted Kennedy to the volunteers of Freedom Summer. Revisit his photographic works as his daughter Judy Polumbaum, Professor Emeritus at University of Iowa School of Journalism & Mass Communications, speaks about her new book Juxtapositions: Images from the Newsmuseum Photo Collection of Ted Polumbaum. All of Polumbaum’s 200,000 images are archived at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.; more information about the collection is available here.

Retirement Planning with Ahmet Atamar

Thursday, Sept. 29 from 7-8:30 p.m. With over 30 years of experience in investing, Ahmet Atamar of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management will lead a seminar in retirement planning and answer questions.

News acorns

July 26, 2016

HATS meeting on Thursday

The next meeting of HATS (Hanscom Area Towns Committee) on Thursday, July 28 will host a round-table discussion of regional transportation issues. Click here for the agenda and expected guests. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Town Offices.

Middle-school girls’ soccer clinic scheduled

The Warriors Soccer Clinic for girls entering grades 5-8 clinic will take place on August 22-24 from 9-11:30 a.m. on the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School turf field. The clinic, which is the primary fundraising event for the L-S girls’ soccer program, will be run by returning members of the L-S varsity girls’ soccer team supervised by at least one of the L-S girls’ soccer coaches. The cost is $90. The first 25 players to sign up will have an opportunity to enter a free raffle. Register online and mail a check for $90 made out to “LSRHS Girls Soccer” to LSRHS Girls Soccer c/o Hayley Barnes, 42 Mary Catherine Lane, Sudbury, MA 01776. E-mail lsgirlssoccer@gmail.com with any questions.

Lincoln summer events kick off Wednesday

June 27, 2016

Lincoln’s summer concert series sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department starts on Wednesday, June 29 with the Nathan Ward Band, followed by The Nays (born and bred in Lincoln) on July 6 and the Damn Tall Buildings on July 13. Concerts begin at 6 p.m. at the Codman Pool.

The Fourth of July in Lincoln starts at 8:30 a.m. with registration for the Firecracker Run at 8:30 starting at the Town Office Building. Participants have the choice of a 2.5- or 4-mile scenic run. Registration is $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

Because of the road race and parade later that morning, Lincoln Road will be closed to traffic (except floats) from 8:20 a.m. to noon.

Other events on July 4:

10 a.m. — Children’s bike parade (Lincoln Road/Upland Field Road)
10:30 a.m. — Reading of the Declaration of Independence (Town Offices)
10:40 a.m. — July 4th parade (Ballfield Road to the Public Library)
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Boy Scout Cook Out (Pierce House)
Noon to 7 p.m. — Town-wide free swim (Codman Pool)
1-3 p.m. — Pick-up Soccer (Brooks Field, Ballfield Road)
7 p.m. — Concert, barbeque and fireworks (Codman Pool). Parking is available in the Ballfield Road campus for $20/car.

For more information, see the July 4 and summer concert flyer.

Summer programs for kids at the library

The Lincoln Public Library’s summer programs for kids begin with a Red, White and Blue Dance Party on Tuesday, July 5 at 11 a.m. Other events next week:

Wednesday, July 6 — Singer Vanessa Trien (11 a.m.), Summer Lego Club (4-5 p.m.)
Thursday, July 7 — Pajama Storytime (7 p.m.)
Friday July 8 — “Drive-in” Movies and Muffins. Children will first make their own “cars” out of boxes and then watch the Winnie the Pooh 2011 feature film in their cars (10:30 a.m. to noon).

The library has downloadable calendars with kids’ events for July and August. Programs sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

News acorns

June 12, 2016

Clark Gallery showcases Pochesci works, prison photos

“The Blue Chest” (2014) by Linda Pochesci.

During the month of June, see paintings at the Clark Gallery by Linda Pochesci showing interior images of her Truro, Mass., studio and living quarters that open onto dunes that are fabricated from the artist’s imagination, as are the studio interiors containing mirrors reflecting spaces outside the visible space. Until Friday, June 18, the Clark Galley is also exhibiting “Danny Lyon: Conversations with the Dead” and “Richard Ross: Juvenile in Justice,” which were reviewed by the Boston Globe in May. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.n, and by appointment.

Lincoln kids’ triathlon is June 18

Kick off the summer at the Lincoln Kids Triathlon (also known as Splash, Mash and Dash) on Saturday, June 18 at 8:30 a.m. at the Codman Pool in Lincoln. The event is open to all kids ages 5-14. Register before race day and save $10. Event information, including race distances and an online registration link, can be found at www.kidstri.net. To volunteer, email Ginger Reiner at ginger.reiner@gmail.com. There are T-shirts, goody bags, and medals for every participant plus great awards and raffle prizes.

Kids’ summer kickoff at library

Come to a summer kickoff party at the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, June 22 from 3:30-5 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to the library for balloon sculpting, crafts, a raffle, make-your-own sundaes and a magic show by Ed Popielarczyk at 4 p.m. Kids can pick up their summer reading challenge forms. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Event looks at Gropius jewelry

Discover the jewelry collection and stylistic trendsetting of Mrs. Ise Gropius during this special evening talk and tour, “Small but Perfect Things: The Style and Jewelry Collection of Ise Gropius,” on Thursday, June 23 from 7-9 p.m. at the Gropius House (68 Baker Bridge Rd.). Historic New England Associate Curator Laura Johnson shows you Mrs. Gropius’s collection of unique designs using intriguing modern materials, with original examples of jewelry on view. $10 for Historic New England members, $15 for nonmembers. Space is limited and registration required; call 781-259-8098 or buy online.

Mass Audubon invites photo contest submissions

“Picture This: Your Great Outdoors Photo Contest,” the annual competition sponsored by Mass Audubon in Lincoln, is now underway, with hundreds of participants expected to submit images of the Bay State’s natural beauty and wildlife diversity before the competition ends on September 30. Photographers of all abilities, ages and backgrounds are encouraged to fan out across the state to take their best shots of birds and other animals, friends and family members enjoying the outdoors, and more. For the 2016 contest, photographers will be able to submit up to 10 entries—double the number allowed previously. Categories include People in Nature, Birds, Mammals, and Other Animals, as well as a single category for Landscapes, Plants, and Fungi. For complete contest rules and submission guidelines as well as a gallery of the winning photos from 2015, visit the “Picture This” website.

News acorns

June 6, 2016

Town Clerk’s Office looking for part-time help

If you’re interested in what and who makes local government tick, if you’re a “people person” with a good sense of humor, if you have a reverence for history and would like to play a role in preserving and creating it, if you’re a “systems thinker” with computer skills you’d like to employ and enhance, if you have a penchant for order and a high tolerance for disorder… consider a part-time, long-term position with the Town Clerk’s Office. The position is available immediately, with schedule negotiable. Resumes should be submitted no later than Monday, June 20 to brookss@lincolntown.org, or call 781-259-2607 for further details.

Drumlin Farm hosts two events this weekend

Celebrate the bounty of spring with “Farm-to-Table Cooking: Spring Harvest” at Drumlin Farm on Friday, June 10 from 6-9 p.m. as we visit the fields to harvest tender greens, juicy strawberries, nutty pea shoots, baby turnips, spicy radishes, sweet spring carrots, and more. Return to the kitchen for a hands-on cooking class, where we will craft these ingredients into an array of dishes to enjoy together. Open to adults and anyone age 12 or older with an adult; fees apply to all participants. Tickets are $55 for Mass Audubon members and $66 for nonmembers. Registration is required; register online or call 781-259-2200 to register by phone.

Drumlin Farm will also host Dairy Day on Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy exclusive milking access to Drumlin Farm’s dairy cows (while milk supply and cow’s patience last!) as well as crafts and games for kids in our Get Moovin’ zone; cheese-, butter-, and ice cream-making demonstrations; up-close viewing of our heritage breed cattle; and free hayrides to celebrate the crowning of the Drumlin Farm Dairy Princess. The schedule of activities:

10-11 a.m. — Cow milking (also at 12:30, 2:00 and 3:30)
10 a.m. to noon — Ice cream making demonstration
11:30 a.m. to noon — Dairy Court hayride
Noon-2 pm — Cheese-making demonstration
1:30-2 p.m. — Dairy Court hayride
2-4 pm — Butter-making demonstration

Purchase tickets online: $8 for Mass Audubon members and $10 for nonmembers (children under age 2 free). Dairy Day will take place rain or shine.

River storyteller at library on Saturday; Riverfest next week

Award-winning storyteller Tony Toledo will present his original story, “Listening to the Rolling Rivers—Three Rivers, One Story,” which introduces children and their families to the wonders of our local rivers, in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room on Saturday, June 11 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. This free performance is suitable for ages 6 and older, and will be ASL interpreted. In this specially commissioned story, Tony Toledo will weave a tale about the old turtle who has seen many wonderful things while paddling along the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord rivers. Come hear this fascinating story of special places and times past.

This performance is sponsored by the Wild & Scenic River Stewardship Council (WSRSC) with funding from the National Park Service in celebration of the Park Service’s 100th anniversary and by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

The WSRSC also hosts Riverfest Also on June 18 and 19, a weekend full of free paddles, hikes, and family-friendly activities offered on and along the Concord, Sudbury and Assabet Rivers, with events from Lowell to Framingham. Highlights include the annual bike for the rivers, free pontoon boat rides and canoe rentals, animal guests for kids at USFWS Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and the ever-popular closing solstice event on June 19 with music and bonfire in Concord. For a full listing of events (all free), please visit www.sudbury-assabet-concord.org.

Cleaning the cruiser (Lincoln Through the Lens)

May 23, 2016

Lincoln School eighth-graders gave Lincoln Police Department Officer Matt Forance’s cruiser a good cleaning on Saturday, May 21, one of dozens of cars that were tended to during a car wash fundraiser for graduation. Sixty-two students will celebrate at Bemis Hall after the graduation ceremony on June 15. (Photo by Susan Taylor)

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

LSF spelling bee is a B-L-A-S-T

May 2, 2016

By Liz Lieblich

The Lincoln School Foundation‘s ninth annual town-wide Spelling Bee, a springtime ritual for grades 3-6, saw another record-breaking year, with 137 excited and bright students from Lincoln and Hanscom schools participating in the April 10 event. The Star Wars-themed event was filled with teamwork, spelling and even a Wookie.

The third-grade teams kicked off the day with three heats of competition, the winners of which went on to the championship round. The Omega Ms team with Mia Arvelo, Miguel Bannister and Morgan Gibson won the championship round with the word prohibit.

Three heats of fourth-grade teams competed to make it to the championship round. Under the team name Sparkleberries—Micayla Herlihy, Annabella LaPuma and Travis Rabe won with their final word pursue.

In keeping with the LSF’s mission to bring innovative ideas into our schools, this year’s fifth-graders helped pilot a new style of Spelling Bee competition. Every team was given the same word to spell out on a whiteboard and double elimination helped ensure that one extraordinarily hard word didn’t wipe out the whole group unfairly. A big congratulations goes out to fifth-grade team Buzz Killers—Oliver Ansin, David Christenfeld and Henry Johnson-Cramer won for the third year in a row by spelling the final word imagery.

For the sixth grade, it was Amal Dirrane, Emily Feng and Emma Griffith who won as Werd Nerds, ending the Bee by correctly spelling the word dramatically.

The LSF extends a special thank-you to Callahan’s Karate in Bedford. Richard and Winnie Callahan and a team of martial arts students dressed up as Star Wars characters and put on an exciting light-saber demonstration for the audience.

As always, the LSF had great support from school faculty and the community. Many thanks to the pronouncers: Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall; Assistant Superintendent Patricia Kinsella; Principals Beth Ludwig, Sharon Hobbs and Erich Ledebuhr; and the judges: teachers Jennifer Mastrullo, Deb Carpenito, Joe Colombo, Nancy Rote and Blake Siskavich as well as Officer Ian Spencer from Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Director Dan Perira, and Lincoln Public Library children’s librarians Debbie Leopold and Denise Shaver.

The LSF is also immensely grateful to the local businesses that sponsored the Bee: 440 Labs, Budget Printing in Concord, Boston Sports Clubs, Callahan’s Karate, Cambridge Trust Company, Coldwell Banker, Doherty’s Garage, Donelan’s Supermarkets, Doug Carson Real Estate, the Hanscom Air Force Base Commissary, Marquis Tree Service, Mystic Valley Music Together, Party City, Something Special and the Whistle Stop.

The LSF is a nonprofit organization that solicits community donations for projects proposed by Lincoln Public Schools teachers and staff to enhance education. Click here to see projects funded by the LSD in 2015-16. Individuals may also donate to the LSF’s HATS program (Honor a Teacher and Staff) to fund grants.

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