The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

kids

News acorns

Trunk or Treat is now on Friday

“Trunk or Treaters” now have two more days to get your costumes and/or trunk decorations perfected. Park and Rec’s Trunk-or-Treat event will now be held on Friday, Oct. 30 from 5-6 p.m. in the Brooks Gym parking lot.  If you are planning to be a “trunk,” please enter the lot between 3:30 and 4:15 p.m. No cars will be allowed to enter the lot after 4:15 pm. Trick-or-treaters can start at 5 p.m.

DeCordova releases video with drone footage

The deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park just released this video of the park incorporating aerial drone shots. It’s a useful tool for convincing out-of-town friends and relatives to visit Lincoln.

More Lincoln soccer uniforms going to African kids

Sandy Storer spotted a Lincoln Youth Soccer jersey (front row, third from left) on a recent visit to Uganda on behalf of FundaField. Photo: Sandy Storer.

Sandy Storer spotted a Lincoln Youth Soccer jersey (front row, third from left) on a recent visit to Uganda on behalf of FundaField. Photo: Sandy Storer.

More donated Lincoln Youth Soccer (LYS) uniforms will be appearing on young African athletes as another drive to collect used uniforms is underway.

LYS is collecting clean soccer uniforms and other equipment in a box near the registers at Donelan’s. “The soccer uniforms don’t have to be from Lincoln; uniforms from other towns or club teams are just as valuable to these kids,” said LYS Treasurer Ted Charrette. The group is also collecting extra cleats, balls, ball bags, nets, and other types of soccer equipment, as well as tax-deductible donations that will be used to buy more used uniforms from thrift stores.

This is not the first time that LYS uniforms will be finding their way to Africa. Several years ago, Lincoln resident Sandy Storer donated 24 jerseys collected by fellow Lincolnite Margit Griffith to a town in Uganda. Last summer, she was photographing a FundaField tournament in Kiboga, a remote village in northern Uganda, and was startled to see one of the players dressed in the familiar green shirt. 

In a separate effort about a year ago, Heather Broglio, another Lincoln resident, brought LYS uniforms to children in a hospital in Ethiopia.

FundaField is a nonprofit that works to enrich the lives of less fortunate kids in the developing world through sports, specifically building soccer fields and collecting gear. Storer initially got involved in because her son went to college with the people who started the organization.

Storer has gone to Uganda several times as a chaperon and photographer for FundaField and has also piloted a project to teach soccer players how to use donated digital cameras together with battery-powered printers to document the successes of the organization. In the future she plans to teach Ugandan women how to use the donated camera equipment to document their own lives.

News acorns

acornObserve and record nature on Oct. 14 at deCordova

Join Tom Gumbart, director of the Lincoln Conservation Department, in “Drawing on Nature,” a day-long observation of local flora and fauna from the deCordova Museum’s Rappaport Roof Terrace on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.,. Observe nature and record sightings through drawing, painting, poetry, photography, or data charts. Gumbart’s expertise on nature and local history provides opportunity for close observation and learning. Paper, drawing utensils, and binoculars are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring tools and materials of their choice for viewing and recording.

Corrections and an addition

In an Oct. 8 News Acorn about the upcoming Open Studio artists’ reception, the incorrect name and phone number were given. The person to contact for more information is Ruth Ann Hendrickson at 781-259-1551.

In the October 11 News Acorns item about the Lincoln Family Association’s Halloween activities, three names were given to contact for further information, when in fact the only person who should have been listed was Laura Taylor.

Next HATS meeting is Oct. 22

Hanscom Air Force Base Installation Commander Col. Michael Vogel will speak at the next HATS meeting (Hanscom Area Towns Committee) on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Office Building. Also on the agenda: updates on the Route 2 projects involving Crosby’s Corner and the bridge over I-95.

Piano recital by Rhapsody in Bemis Hall

On Sunday, Oct. 25, members of a group of amateur pianists known as Rhapsody will present a piano recital at 3 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The performance is free and open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. Featured on the program will be selections from Bartok, Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin, Handel, Liszt, Schubert and Schumann played on one of the finest Steinways in the Boston area. Rhapsody was formed in 2003 by visionary amateur pianists including Lincoln resident Ken Hurd who sought a venue in which to perform for each other, both to grow musically and to share their musical journey with others.  It has since grown to 18 people from the Boston metropolitan area, and members have met continuously every month for 12 years. This will be their sixth public performance on the beautifully restored Steinway at Bemis Hall.

Halloween events for kids of all ages

jackolanternPumpkin decorating and parade

The Lincoln Family Association will host pumpkin decorating in Codman Barn on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 12-2:30 p.m. and its annual LFA Halloween Party and Parade at Codman Barn on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, email Laura Taylor.

Movies, muffins, music at Lincoln Public Library
  • Halloween Movies and Muffins — Friday, Oct. 23 at 3:30 p.m. Not-too-scary short Halloween films based on beloved children’s books. For ages 2 and up.
  • Halloween Concert with the Stacey Peasley Band — Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. Come hear a special not-too-spooky Halloween concert by this Parents Choice award-winning band. For all ages. Drop in.
Trunk or Treat

The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring “Trunk or Treat,” a free event on Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 5-6 p.m. in the Brooks Gym parking lot, where young trick-or-treaters can roam the closed lot amid parked cars and trucks whose back ends are creatively decorated for Halloween. Get a reserved spot for your trunk by registering for the activity on the Parks & Red website, then decorate and pass out candy or non-candy items to the trick-or-treaters. If you can’t participate, candy donations are welcome. Registered cars can enter lot between 3:30 and 4:15 p.m.

“Tales of the Night” at Drumlin

At “Tales of the Night” at Drumlin Farm on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 29 and 30 from 6:30-9 p.m., kids can put on their favorite costumes, grab a flashlight, and join one of Lincoln’s the silliest, spookiest, and most family-friendly Halloween traditions. Check the Fright-o-Meter when you arrive to see what activities will trick or treat you. Visitors will have the chance to:

  • Learn about animals at a nocturnal wildlife demonstration
  • View our display of over one hundred jack-o-lanterns
  • Enjoy some spooky treats, spider cider, and witches brew at the ghoulish graveyard
  • Step into a story on our Nursery Rhyme Trail to meet your favorite characters
  • Venture out into the fields for a Haunted Hayride full of spooky surprises for the brave at heart (7-8:30 p.m.)

This is a fundraising event that provides critical support for Drumlin’s education and conservation programs. Click here to purchase; tickets are $12 for members and $13 for nonmembers in advance, or $14 and $15 if purchased on October 29. Advance registration is strongly recommended as this event often sells out.

News acorns

Lincoln Family Association open meeting Wednesday evening

On Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. the Lincoln Family Association is hosting a wine and cheese social and open meeting for parents, to kick off its 20th season. Enjoy some snacks and refreshments, find out about upcoming events, and offers your ideas and suggestions. The LFA is actively looking for a few good folks to help continue its annual and seasonal programming. Iif you know someone new to town with children, please invite them as well. Please RSVP to LFA President Erica Gonella at egonella@gmail.com for event address and so we can ensure that we have enough libations and snacks on hand.

The 1940 Gaskill House in Lincoln designed by John Quincy Adams.

The 1940 Gaskill House in Lincoln designed by John Quincy Adams.

Tour Lincoln houses on Saturday

Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln and Docomomo-US have organized a tour of seven modern houses in five area towns, including two in Lincoln, on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The seven houses on the tour, designed between 1930 and 1960, include the 1940 Gaskill House (John Quincy Adams), and the 1942 Jacobs House (Walter Bogner), both of whom lived in Lincoln. Other towns included in the tour are Belmont, Concord, Carlisle and Weston, with houses by Edwin Goodell, Carl Koch, and Marvin Goody.

Participants will be greeted by volunteers at each home on this self-paced tour. Light refreshments will be available at the Concord Museum from 9:30- 11 a.m. Tickets are $85 for general public and $70 for members of FoMA/Lincoln, the Concord Museum, Docomomo, and students. To purchase, visit the Concord Museum website or call 978-369-9763.

Lincoln Country Day Preschool open houses scheduled

Lincoln Country Day Preschool (LCDP) is hosting two morning open houses and one evening open house for prospective students from 2.9 years of age in September 2016 through 5-6 years of age for our pre-K program. The morning open houses will be held on Friday, Oct. 16 and Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 9:30-10:30 a.m., and our evening open house will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12 from 5-7 p.m.

Parents and their children are invited to take a tour of our school, speak with our teachers, and play in our Threes, Fours and Pre-K classrooms. Please RSVP at 781-259-8607. If you cannot attend any of these open houses, feel free to call to schedule another time and day to meet. The preschool is currently accepting applications for the 2016-2017 school year. LCDP is located in St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church (147 Concord Road in Lincoln) and welcomes families from Lincoln, Concord, Sudbury, Wayland, Weston and other local towns.

News acorns

artshow

Open Studio art to be displayed in library

During the month of October, artworks by members of Lincoln’s Open Studio group will be displayed and on sale at the Lincoln Public Library.The show features the group’s best work in recent years in a variety of styles. The group meets every Thursdays in Hartwell pod B from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and new artists are welcome. Register through the Parks and Recreation website or call 781-259-0784.

Pumkpin fun at Codman Farm

The 4th annual Lincoln Girl Scouts Pumpkin Sale takes place on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 2-5 p.m. at Codman Farm (rain date: Oct. 25). Come and support the Lincoln Girl Scouts and enjoy a bake sale, face-painting and pumpkin decorating as you stock up on pumpkins for Halloween.

Talk about death at the Death Café

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church is hosting a Death Café on Sunday, Oct. 25 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. as it did last year (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Oct. 8, 2014). Death Café is an international movement started in Europe dedicated to taking death out of the closet and discussing it publicly. At a Death Café, people come together to eat cake, drink tea and to discuss death in a relaxed and non-threatening setting. There are no agendas or objectives. It is not a bereavement or grief support group, nor is it a counseling session; it is simply conversation. The event is free, but space is limited and preregistration is required. Register via the St. Anne’s website. Learn more at www.DeathCafe.com.

Kids’ book author visit, ongoing groups

Sarah Brannen, who grew up in Lincoln, reads and discusses her new picture book Madame Martine Breaks the Rules on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 4-5 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. Recommended for ages 4-7 but all are welcome; no registration necessary. The library also has several children’s book groups starting up:

  • Together Time Tales — For kids in grades 2 and 3 and their parents; meets on the first Monday of the month from 6-6:45 beginning October 5. Each family will receive one copy of the book to be read together. Books will be available two weeks prior to the meetings. The first book is The Firework-Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman. Advance signup required; email dleopold@minlib.net.
  • Books and Bites — for kids in grades 4-6; meets every other Thursday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. beginning October 8. Books are available at the Children’s Desk two weeks prior to the meeting. The book for the Oct. 9 meeting will be The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett. No signup required.
  • Middle Grade Book Share — for seventh- and eighth-graders; meets on the last Monday of the month from 7-8 p.m. beginning on October 26. No signup required. This is an opportunity to share what you’re reading and discover new books based on other kids’ recommendations.

See the children’s program page on the library’s website for other reading groups and activities for kids of all ages.

New exhibits, kids’ activities at the deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will debut two fall exhibitions on October 3 and is offering several new children’s activities next month.

Fall exhibitions

Drawing Redefined presents the distinctive work of Roni Horn, Esther Kläs, Joëlle Tuerlinckx, Richard Tuttle, and Jorinde Voigt, artists who have maintained a discipline of drawing as a constituent element of their artistic practice. For these artists, drawing is a forum for experimentation, a study, and an expansion of the vocabulary of images that recur in their art. In these artists’ hands and through their bodies, the traditional practice of drawing is transformed into an exploration of time and space manifest in forms beyond conventional linear representation in photographic, painterly, and sculptural work. See the Drawing Redefined web page for more information on the accompanying catalog.

The Sculptor’s Eye: Prints, Drawings, and Photographs from the Collection—drawn from deCordova’s permanent collection, this exhibition features works on paper and photographs by more than 30 artists who are primarily considered sculptors. Their work reveals the multitude of connections between two- and three-dimensional art-making processes and the means by which artists nurture and expand their creative vision. On view are photographs of sculptural forms that explore shared issues of space and volume. Pencil and charcoal drawings display the inventive ways in which artists experiment with spatial illusion on flat surfaces with graphic gestures, contours, and colors. Plans for large-scale art installations exemplify the tradition of artists considering architectural and environmental spaces. Altogether, these works emphasize the interplay of materiality, line, and form across artistic media. For details on the artists int he exhibition, see the Sculptor’s Eye web page.

Drawing Redefined and The Sculptor’s Eye will run through March 20.

“Enveloped by Drawing”

In conjunction with October’s worldwide drawing festival, The Big Draw, families are invited to participate in creating a temporary large-scale drawn sculpture in the galleries with artist Julia Von Eichel. “Enveloped by Drawing” takes place at the deCordova on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2-4 p.m. For families with children of all ages. Free with admission or membership.

A glimpse of "What does the imagination look like?"

A glimpse of “What does the imagination look like?”

Lincoln Nursery School collaboration

Also on view through November 11 is What Does the Imagination Look Like?—an educational exhibit presented in partnership with Lincoln Nursery School (LNS). The interactive exhibit delves into the process of imagination, drawing directly from young students’ conversations and explorations.

During the past academic year, LNS faculty and deCordova’s Learning and Engagement staff explored the process of imagination through children’s inquiries, negotiations, and transformation of materials. This exhibit showcases their research and makes visible the importance of imagination in students’ learning. Visitors to the exhibit can read LNS students’ conversations, view images drawn by the students, build a collaborative city, or create their own unusual sound score.

In conjunction with the exhibit, noted author and educator John Nimmo and LNS faculty will hold a dialogue on the topic of “The Story Behind the Story: Teachers as Collaborators in Supporting Children’s Inquiry” on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 7-9 p.m. The program will include discussion about the role of the teacher in making curriculum decision and explore the challenges of collaboration, the potential of learning through conflict, and the importance of seeing teaching as a process of inquiry. Registration and $10 fee required.

Support for deCordova’s Family Learning and Engagement Programs has been provided in part by a grant from the Bessie Pappas Charitable Foundation.

Ongoing kids’ programs

Throughout the year, the deCordova offers two recurring monthly programs for children. The next ARTfull play for ages 2-5 will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 10:30-11:30 a.m., and the next ARTfull Explorations for ages 2-12 will be on Sunday, Oct. 1 from 1-3 p.m.

Drumlin hosts caterpillar activities on Sept. 12

Caterpillar Celebration_GenJoin renowned biologist Samuel Jaffe at Drumlin Farm a day of exploration and discovery with his “Caterpillar Lab” on Saturday, Sept. 12. Through a combination of photographs, art, scientific study and live animals, visitors will marvel at the variety, beauty and behavior of these creatures. Take a look at giant caterpillars as they inch their way along branches and even get a chance to hold them! All activities are free with admission ($8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children age 2-12, free for Mass Audubon members).

Schedule of free drop-in activities (weather permitting):

  • 10 a.m. — Curious Chickens: Did you know that chickens eat insects? Learn about the ecology behind our egg-mobile and pastured chickens.
  • 10:30 a.m. — Meet a Pond Turtle: Turtles love ponds because of the water and tasty insects that live in them! Join us for an up-close look at one of our native turtles.
  • 11:30 a.m. — Busy Bees: Check out one of our new beehives and learn some of the science behind these fascinating pollinators.
  • 12:30 p.m. — Meet a Screech Owl: You probably know that owls are nocturnal, but have you ever thought about the food that’s around at night for an owl to eat? Join us to find out!
  • 2:00 p.m. — Meet a Songbird: Meet one of our resident small birds and learn why being an “insectivore” is important for the environment.
  • 2:30 p.m. — Cockroaches, Meal Worms, and Crickets, Oh My! Check out the creepy critters in our insect collection and find your favorite.
  • 3:30 p.m. — Exploring Compost and Worms: Do you know the difference between a worm and a caterpillar? Come find out as we explore the world beyond the dirt.
  • 3:45 p.m. — Meet a Kestrel: Watch out, crickets and grasshoppers, here comes New England’s smallest raptor!

Ongoing throughout the day:

  • Sam Jaffe’s Caterpillar Lab (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
  • Caterpillar/Butterfly Crafts
  • Insect Scavenger Hunt

 

Beating the heat with local ice cream

icecream2Editor note: This article was submitted by Josh Blumberg, who is entering seventh grade at the Lincoln School. He submitted it to the Lincoln Squirrel at the suggestion of his writing coach, teacher Scot Dexter.

By Josh Blumberg

July was a hot, humid month and August is turning out the same way. I felt like I was melting in that sweltering summer weather! How do you beat the heat? Ever try ice cream? Here in Lincoln we are lucky. There are several excellent options available for the sweet, frozen treat. Here are a few of my favorites.

Dairy Joy in Weston is a delightful location on Route 117. There are nine soft-serve ice cream flavors and three soft-serve sherbets, all of which can be dipped in a delicious chocolate coating. Coffee is my personal favorite. Dairy Joy is a drive-in style ice cream stand with no indoor seating, so you have to hit it when the weather is right. There are plenty of tables in the sun, and only a few in the shade, so you have to eat your ice cream quickly!

Bedford Farms in Concord has marvelous ice cream. There are thirty-six different flavors on the menu, plus nine yogurt flavors for you calorie counters. They also have a killer topping bar—M&Ms, peanut butter cups, sprinkles… you name it, they have it! The Thoreau Street location is fun to visit because it’s in a historic train station right beside the commuter rail. There are plenty of seats inside for rainy days, and a few choice spots outside for viewing passing trains. Here I recommend Cookie Dough in a cone. It’s spectacular!

Finally, there’s Orange Leaf in Wayland Center. Talk about soft-serve flavors! Is 80 enough to satisfy you? At any given time, you will find 20 flavors. These rotate frequently. Plus, there are sugar- and dairy-free options. The toppings bar here is crazier than any other! Be smart about your toppings because they weigh the food, then price it. There are around ten machines and each serve two that can be mixed into a third flavor. You get to serve yourself so the younger kids love it. Parents hate the idea because you can’t put it back!

Do yourself a favor and visit any of these three ice cream places before the end of the summer. They are fun, delicious and very different, making each a unique heat-beating experience. Happy summer!

Longtime Magic Garden teacher bids a fond farewell

mcsweeney-table-adj

Peggy McSweeney with one of her young students in class.

By Alice Waugh

When Peggy McSweeney started working as one of the teachers at the Lincoln’s Magic Garden Children’s Center when it opened more than three decades ago, she had no idea she would one day be teaching the children of one of her first students.

McSweeney, who retired from the preschool last month after 33 years, started her career as a third-grade teacher in Randolph. After taking time off to raise her own children, she worked with special-education preschoolers in Concord and then as a teacher assistant for older kids.

“That’s when I realized I really loved preschool children,” she said. “Then once we started [at Magic Garden], I just said, ‘This is where I’m staying’—not knowing it would be 33 years.”

Magic Garden started in a single classroom in the Smith building and later moved into one of the Hartwell pods, sharing space with LEAP (the Lincoln Extended-day Activities Program). In the early years, there was a loft and a huge cage filled with birds that belonged to the building’s maintenance man, McSweeney recalled. The preschool has occupied several rooms in the main Hartwell building for the last 15 years.

One of McSweeney’s students back in the day was four-year-old Bowen Holden, whose grandmother used to come in and read stories to the kids, McSweeney recalled. Holden grew up, started a family and returned to Lincoln—and her own two children passed through McSweeney’s care at Magic Garden not too long ago.

Dozens of Magic Garden parents and alumni threw a going-away party in the form of a hoedown with a live band and square dance caller in the Codman Barn at the end of May. The format was chosen because she has fond memories of community square dances during summers in Marshfield growing up.

“So many families came from years and years ago—it was a big reunion of Magic Garden folks,” McSweeney said. Fellow teachers offered up an affectionate spoof and sang “You Are My Sunshine” with McSweeney-specific lyrics.

“It was absolutely fantastic—I was blown away,” she said. “I was just so touched.”

Peggy McSweeney and fellow Magic Garden teacher xxx at "Peggy's Garden" named for the retiring teacher.

Peggy McSweeney and fellow teacher Michael Graves at a school-wide dedication picnic where staff and the children named the Magic Garden area in honor of the retiring teacher.

“Peggy has abundant warmth and energy, and an irrepressibly positive attitude that has made her beloved among Magic Garden families,” said Andrew Pang, a Magic Garden parent and president of the program’s board of directors. “When I’ve told longtime Lincolnites that my sons go to Magic Garden, almost invariably the first response is, ‘Does Peggy still teach there?’”

The preschool’s board has established the Peggy McSweeney Fund for Enrichment at Magic Garden to sustain and enhance programs in art, music, movement, languages, science and outdoor learning. “These special programs complement the curriculum and, like Peggy, are particularly memorable parts of a Magic Garden education,” Pang said.

Other changes are on the horizon for McSweeney as well. She and her husband Leo are planning to sell their house in Lexington and move into a condo in the same town. The couple recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

Once they get resettled, McSweeney hopes to do volunteer work in a school, hospital or library. She keeps active doing tai chi, swimming and walking her dogs, even though she won’t be running around after toddlers every day.

“It’s just been an amazing journey,” she said.