kids

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.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”43″ gal_title=”Spelling Bee 2016″]

Click on an image and then click the “i” icon at the bottom to see the caption
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Hundreds of Lincolnites flock to the fair

May 2, 2016

Dancing around the maypole in Pierce Park.

There was something for everyone at Saturday’s “40 Years of Community” fair, and Lincolnites of all ages flocked to Pierce Park on a bright and sunny spring day to connect and have fun.

Visitors enjoyed music from Colonial fifes and drums, a grand piano, guitars and an a capella group; hundreds of hamburgers, hot dogs, snow cones and ice cream; bounce houses and fair games; an art exhibit; and tables showcasing dozens of Lincoln organizations where they could learn about everything from 19th-century rifles and toys to People for Pollinators, the Lincoln Diversity Committee, The Food Project and the Town Archives.

Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy, who helped out at the barbecue, estimated the attendance at well over 1,000. “It’s a great day for Lincoln. It’s been a lot of fun,” he said.

Here’s a gallery of images from the fair. For best results, view the pictures on a desktop computer. Click one of the images to see a larger version in the lightbox that pops out. Then you can:

Click on the “i” icon at the bottom of the image to see the caption at the upper right of your screen
Click the diagonal arrow button to see the maximum size image
Move between photos by moving your mouse cursor to the far left or right of your screen and clicking on the white arrow that appears.
To return to the Lincoln Squirrel, click the “x” in the upper right of your screen.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”42″ gal_title=”40 Years of Community”]

Photos by Alice Waugh

News acorns

April 28, 2016

Middle schoolers perform Baghdad Zoo on Friday

On Friday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Brooks auditorium, students will perform a short play, Baghdad Zoo, before performing it at the day-long Massachusetts Middle School Drama Festival in Fall River on Saturday. Drama teacher Kristin Hall has been working with students in grades 6-8 since September on the play, and the cast and crew would love an audience at their dress rehearsal on Friday. Baghdad Zoo by Kevin Dyer is a moving one-act play that tells the story of seven frightened children who protect the animals of the Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Due to its serious themes, this play is appropriate for grades 4 and up. Free admission.

“40 Years of Community” fair is on Saturday

The whole town will celebrate the 40th anniversary of three Lincoln institutions at the “40 Years of Community” fair on Saturday, April 30 in Pierce Park from 1-4 p.m. (rain date: May 1). Among the participants will be the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee, which will welcome two special guests: state Rep. Katherine Clark and state Sen. Michael Barrett, who will meet and greet residents from 1-2 p.m. Visitors to the Lincoln Housing Commission table can make an origami house and help decorate a dollhouse while learning about the group’s 47-year history of creating affordable housing and the new Affordable Accessory Apartment Program. See the fair’s website for a list of participating organizations, exhibits and more.

Urban farming talk in May

Join a discussion on the urban farming movement and the agricultural connections between Lincoln, Boston, the U.S. and the world at “Urban Farming: Growing Food in Our Communities” on Tuesday, May 10 from 7-9 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Speakers will be J. Harrison, executive director of the Food Project and a member of the Massachusetts Food Council Advisory Board, and Jen Hashley of Codman Community Farms, director of Tufts University’s New Entry Farming Project. Sponsored by the Lincoln Agricultural Commission.

News acorns

April 25, 2016

Climate justice film series kicks off Tuesday

St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church will show Just Eat It, the first in a series of films on climate justice, on Tuesday, April 26. A soup supper will be served at 6:30 p.m. and screening begins at 6:50 p.m. The evening is free and open to the public, though a donation to help cover the screening cost is appreciated. Just Eat It notes that as a society, we devour countless cooking shows, classes and blogs—so how could we possibly be throwing nearly 50 percent of our food in the trash?

The next film in the series, Divest: The Climate Movement on Tour, is on May 24. On June 28 is Oil and Water, the true story of two boys coming of age as they confront one of the world’s worst environmental disasters.

Second ‘fireside chat’ on refugees and asylum April 27

As a follow-up to the Council on Aging’s January “fireside chat” about challenges facing asylum seekers and refugees in the U.S., the group decided to continue the discussion and also consider how interested people in our community can lend a hand. On Wednesday, April 27 at 10 a.m., participants will discuss what they learned in January, the situations of refugees and those seeking asylum in our country and globally, and what opportunities to provide assistance locally, nationally and internationally those in the group might like to pursue. All are welcome whether you attended the January session or not. Sharon Carlson, one of the founders of Dignity in Asylum who spoke at the January meeting, will attend.

On Wednesday, May 25 at 10 a.m., group members will discuss their own stories of times when they felt they were treated as being “other,” whether because of demographic characteristics or other aspects of who we are. What happened? How did we feel? What did we learn about how and why people are made to feel as if they are “other” than the majority of people in our society? The Fireside Chat is a monthly discussion group where we respectfully discuss issues and experiences using questions and answers facilitated by Sharon Antia. All are welcome!

HATS meeting on Thursday

The next meeting of the Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) will be on Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Office Building. Paul Regan, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, will be speaking. Other agenda items include Fitchburg monopole installations in MBTA right-of-way, and possible updates on the Route 2 and Route 128 highway projects.

Read a story to a child at the town fair

At the “40 Years of Community” fair on Saturday, April 30, the Council on Aging is sponsoring a story time to celebrate the powerful relationship between grandparents or “grandfriends” and the important children in their lives. They’ve selected books from around the world from diverse cultures which embrace the connection between generations. Come and grab a good story, a blanket and snack, and take time from a busy day to have a quiet time to share a good book with a beloved child in your life. You don’t have to be a “real grandparent” to participate. In addition to stories, there will be music provided by Packy Lawler, Rob Todd and friends, who will sing old favorites and invite the audience to sing along when appropriate. The musical portion of the COA’s program will be from 2:30-3:00 p.m. Books and blankets may be borrowed any time from 1-4 p.m.

Garden Club plant sale on May 7

Paul Gingrich digging up Spirea for the Lincoln Garden Club plant sale.

Buy perennials, plant plugs and more at the Lincoln Garden Club‘s biennial plant sale on Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Codman barn. Some of the plants on hand will include trillium, bloodroot and phlox, plus innovative container gardens designed by garden club members just in time for Mother’s Day.

This year the club will be selling four species of native plant plugs: Sedum ternatum “Larinem Park,” Stokesia lavevis “Peachie’s Pick,” Cheolone lyoni “Hot Lips” and Pycnanthemum muticum. These are all popular with the pollinators and not with deer! There will also be the popular table of garden bric-a-brac. The sale will be held at Codman Barn, 58 Codman Rd, Lincoln, from 9am to 1 pm.

The sale supports Lincoln Garden Club activities such as arrangements for home-bound, plantings for the watering trough at Five Corners and the Codman/Lincoln Road intersection, and presentations for the whole town such as the April lecture in conjunction with the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on landscaping for song birds. It’s also a great time to meet neighbors and friends, ask gardening advice, and get inspiration for your garden.

Second annual Lincoln PMC Kids Ride is May 1

April 24, 2016

The start of the 2015 Lincoln PMC Kids Ride at the Lincoln School.

Bicyclers are gearing up for Lincoln’s second annual PMC Kids Ride on Sunday, May 1. The ride to raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Pierce House.

Children from ages 3-15 can participate by riding or volunteering. There are three routes: a loop around the Pierce House garden for the youngest riders (including those on tricycles and with training wheels) as well as two-mile and four-mile routes. Volunteers on bikes and on foot supervise the riders, who can register to ride singly or as part of a team. This year the Magic Garden Children’s Center has created a team of riders.

The Lincoln ride was organized last year for the first time by Will Levy, 13, who had been riding in similar events since he was six. The inaugural event (one of 37 rides modeled after the Pan-Mass Challenge for adults) drew more than 80 riders and raised more than $7,500. This year, Will made a presentation at the Lincoln School and distributed event bands. He also created an awareness day with a table at the transfer station.

Will Levy designed this PMC bracelet on sale at Something Special for $10.

Wally the Green Monster will make an appearance to congratulate the children for making a difference in the fight against cancer. Something Special is selling PMC Bracelets for $10 to support the community event. Click here for registration for riders and volunteers or to make a donation. Anyone with questions may email pattylevy.pmckidslincoln@gmail.com.

News acorns

April 21, 2016

Disneynature’s ‘Wings of Life’ to be shown

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust presents a family-friendly movie matinee, Disneynature’s Wings of Life, on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:45 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. The movie utilizes riveting high-speed, time lapse and macro filmmaking techniques to showcase in spectacular detail the unsung heroes of our planet: butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, bats and flowers. Running time: one hour, 21 minutes.

Rain barrel deadline coming up

Wednesday, April 27 is last day to order a rain barrel through the Lincoln Water Department’s special program. See the April 3 News Acorns for details.

Volunteer sought for town Personnel Board

The town is seeking an active member for Personnel Board, which aims to ensure fair and equitable wages and working conditions for town employees and to assist town departments in administering personnel policy. The board meets only on an as-necessary basis. For more information on the Personnel Board’s function, see the General By-laws of the Town of Lincoln starting on page 24. Anyone interested people should contactTown Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden at sarahcannonholden@gmail.com. A volunteer application can be found here.

News acorns

April 18, 2016

Family activities at deCordova this week

Cultivate curious gardens in the Sculpture Park re-discovering the sights and sounds of spring at deCordova. Join us for any or all of our vacation programs inspired by the exhibition opening in April, Overgrowth, and the promise of spring. Designed for families with children 5–12, but all are welcome. Free with admission or membership.

Wednesday, April 20 (drop in 1-3 p.m.) — “Sculpting the Lawn.” Sometimes sculptures take shape as we add to forms. Sometimes sculptures are revealed as we trim, snip, and cut away. Let’s shape the grass blades to our liking as we create turf sculptures.
Thursday, April 21 (drop in 1-3 p.m.) — “Sound Garden.” Inspired by Paul Matisse’s Musical Fence, we will create a field of sounds, a nursery of notes from found objects to our bodies. What will you hear when you walk through?
Friday, April 22 (drop in 1-3 p.m.) — “Rock Sculpture Gardens.” What if gardens grew stones instead of greenery? How will you arrange pebbles and stones on the ground and into sculptures?

Spring cleaning at Codman Farm

Lend a hand and learn more about what’s going on at the farm on Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24 from 1-5 p.m., rain or shine. Projects include tidying up the barnyard, raking out gardens, cleaning up the fields, painting projects and more. Individuals and families welcome. Bring gloves, rakes, hand tools, good humor and snacks. Please RSVP to info@codmanfarm.org.

Pruning workshop at deCordova

The Lincoln Garden Club and the Lincoln-based tree company SavATree are holding a workshop on shrub pruning techniques at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. The event is open to all Lincoln residents and is free of charge. Lincoln Garden Club Horticultural Director Jane Solar will gather attendees 15 minutes earlier at DeCordova parking lot just outside of the gift shop. SavATree certified arborist Rafael Adevelo will do the pruning demonstration on the museum grounds, and answer questions, which may take one to two hours. The event will take place rain or shine.

Spring concert of baroque music

The First Parish in Lincoln presents its spring concert at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Baroque music by Vivaldi, Bach, Telemann and others will be performed by world-class musicians from the Handel & Haydn Society in Boston. Featured performers at this “Live in Lincoln Center” event include Ian Watson, music director at the First Parish in Lincoln, on harpsichord; Guy Fishman on cello; and Aisslinn Nosky and Susanna Ogata on violin. There will be a reception following the concert. Suggested donation is $30 per person, and any amount is appreciated.

News acorns

April 14, 2016

School vacation events for kids at library

Wednesday, April 20 — Bugworks: “Creepy Crawley” for ages 3-5 at 11 a.m. and “Bugology” for kids age 3-5 at noon. Sign up in advance by calling 781-259-8465.
Thursday, April 21 at 3 p.m. — “I Spy Butterfly” puppet workshop. Puppeteer Faye Dupras presents a “see/make/play” puppet workshop for ages 3 and up. Advance signup required; call 781-259-8465.
Friday, April 22 at 10:30 a.m. — Springtime Movies and Muffins. Short films based on beloved children’s books Caterpillar and the Polliwog, Picnic and Blueberries for Sal. For ages 2 and up.

Programs sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

May 2 panel hosted by new Lincoln Diversity Committee

Lincoln residents of all ages are invited to a public forum to discover and celebrate the diverse group of people that comprise Lincoln on Monday, May 2 from 7-9 p.m. at Bemis Hall.

The evening will begin with five panelists talking about the diversity they see in Lincoln in their roles in the community. This will be followed by a general question-and-answer period and small group discussions. The panelists will be Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy; Superintendent of School Becky McFall; Manish Mishra-Marzetti, senior minister of the First Parish Church in Lincoln; Jacquelin Apsler, executive director of the Domestic Violence Services Network; and Carolyn Bottum, director of the Council on Aging.

This is the first event planned by the newly forming Lincoln Diversity Committee and hopefully just the beginning of a dialogue discovering what diversity looks like in Lincoln and learning how we can better support and embrace all members of our community. If you have any questions or would like more information, please email CFCE.Lincoln@gmail.com or call 617-593-0141.

Kickin’ in Lincoln registration deadline extended

The registration deadline for the Kickin’ in Lincoln kickball tournament on May 22 has been extended to Thursday, April 28. Click here for details on age groupings and a downloadable registration form. All proceeds go to the Lincoln School Legacy Fund, which provides financial assistance to families for school related programs and activities.

Co-ed spring flag rugby for grades K-8

MetroWest Youth Rugby is currently accepting registrations for its inaugural spring season. No experience necessary. The goal is to develop the game of flag rugby (non-contact) among boys and girls in grades K-8. Experienced rugby players and coaches will teach your child flag rugby through fun, interactive games and drills. Practices are on Sunday mornings from May 1 through June 12 (no session Memorial Day weekend) with four sessions at the Lincoln School and two at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. The fee is $95 and includes a MetroWest Rugby shirt. For more information and registration, visit www.metrowestrugby.com. Questions? Email metrowestrugby@gmail.com.

Toddler openings at Magic Garden

The Magic Garden Children’s Center has a few openings in its Toddler Room, which provides care and education for children ages 15 months to 2.9 years. This classroom usually has a long waiting list. For more information, call director Lori Leo at 781-259-8161.

Fair celebrates 40 years of three town institutions

April 13, 2016

Lincoln is gearing up for the “40 Years of Community” Fair packed with activities, art, music and history on Saturday, April 30 to recognize four decades of the Council on Aging, Parks and Recreation and the Lincoln Review.

The fair will feature children’s games and activities including a live animal demonstration, games and activities, storytelling, crafts related to Lincoln’s architectural heritage, a photo booth with a frog cutout, reading by “grandparents,” a scavenger hunt, a trackless train, 18th-century games, a sewing project, carnival games, a sketching demonstration and chance to meet a canine author, an activity table, and seed bomb and pollinator habitat making.

Lincoln’s history will be front and center, with displays on Lincoln history and iconic Lincoln buildings and landscapes. The Lincoln Minute Men will demonstrate aspects of life in Lincoln in the 18th century. Local organizations will provide information and demonstrations on such important topics as energy efficiency, agriculture, heirloom plants, nature and pollination. They’ll also have valuable information about their activities, programs and services.

Lincoln and Lincoln-associated artists will show their best work in the Pierce House, which will also feature historic photos from the Town Archives. The exhibit in Pierce House will also be open on Saturday, April 30 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 from noon to 3 p.m.

What’s a fair without food? The Lincoln Police Department will host a barbecue while the Minute Men will offer baked goods and cider for a small cost. You’re also welcome to bring a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy a meal or a snack on the grass in the park.

While you’re enjoying all the activities, exhibits and art, you’ll be regaled by music by some of Lincoln’s many virtuoso musicians. Bands and performing groups will play outside on a stage while more musicians will play and sing classical and other musical genres inside the Pierce House. The Lincoln Minute Men musicians will also be on hand.

Among the groups participating are the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Drumlin Farm, First Parish, Food Project, Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Green Energy Committee, Historic New England, LEAP, Lincoln Council on Aging and Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging, Lincoln Family Association, Lincoln Garden Club, Lincoln Historical Society, Lincoln Minute Men, Lincoln Parks and Recreation, Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln PTO, Lincoln Review, Lincoln School Foundation, Magic Garden, METCO Coordinating Committee, Old Town Hall Exchange, People for Pollinators, and the Town Archives.

For more information about the fair, call Carolyn Bottum at the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 or Dan Pereira at Parks and Recreation at 781-259-0784. Local businesses interested in donating goods are also welcome to call Carolyn or Dan.

News acorns

April 8, 2016

Robert Altman movies on tap starting Sunday

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents a series of films by Robert Altman, a five-time nominee for Best Director who was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2006. All screenings are at 2 p.m.

Sunday, April 10 — “M*A*S*H” (1970) starring Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould and Sally Kellerman. A satirical look at the Korean War through the eyes of two very talented and jaded surgeons.
Sunday, April 24 — “McCabe and Mrs. Miller” (1971) starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, described as an “anti-Western” Western.
Saturday May 7 — “The Long Goodbye” (1973). A neo-noir film starring Gould stars as private detective Philip Marlowe.
Saturday, May 14 — “Cookie’s Fortune” (1999) starring Glenn Close, Julianne Moore and Patricia Neal. A criminal comedy film,featuring a town filled of odd balls.

More borrowing opportunities from the library

Lincoln residents now have free access to a dramatically expanded list of digital books. After initial setup, there’s no waiting for eBooks from the Commonwealth eBook Collections—if it’s listed, it’s available. Find e-books in the library catalog and click through, or visit cec.masslibsystem.org to explore. You may need to create an account prior to downloading, and depending on the device you’re using, you may be required to download an app or other reader. Reference librarians are happy to assist with any questions. CEC includes three products:

Axis 360: Best-sellers, test preparation guides, travel guides and more.
BiblioBoard Library Primary sources, historical documents, images, video and more. Check out the graphic novels or the “Dummies” books.
EBL: Items to help with academic research as well as personal interests from cooking to gardening.

CEC is brought to you by the Massachusetts Library System in partnership with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and participating libraries and is funded in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. CEC is offered in addition to Overdrive eBooks, which are still available to library card holders.

Lincoln Country Day Preschool open house

Lincoln Country Day Preschool is hosting a Spring Open House for prospective students from 2.9 years of age in September 2016 through 5-6 years of age (pre-K) on Sunday, April 24 from 3-5 p.m. The school welcomes families from Lincoln, Concord, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and other local towns. Parents and their children can take a tour of our school, play in our Threes, Fours and Pre-K classrooms, and make a souvenir spring project to take home. Please RSVP at 781-259-860. Lincoln Country Day is located at 147 Concord Road, Lincoln, in St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church.