The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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My Turn: A vision for gun control

Editor’s note: When it was originally scheduled in lat March, the Annual Town Meeting was to include a vote on this motion: “To see if the town will vote to support the proposal of the Eighth Grade Warrant Article Group to support the Parkland, Florida school students’ March for Our Lives [effort]  to end school shootings and shootings all over the country by raising the standard of gun ownership, and to halve the rate of gun deaths in ten years.” 

At the beginning of the year, interested eighth-graders in Lincoln came together and formed the Warrant Article Group of 2020. We were prepared to bring our petition regarding gun regulation to Town Meeting. As students, we feel strongly that we need more laws regulating guns and gun usage. We researched the topic and got the required signatures for a petition, along the way meeting with the K-8 School Committee, the Board of Selectmen and State Sen. Michael Barrett. Sadly, the coronavirus swept through the nation, and Town Meeting had to be postponed; however, we still want to share our ideas.

Over the past decade there has been a huge increase in mass shootings, resulting in the need for more gun laws. Since 2000 there have been more than 150 mass shootings in 43 of the 50 states in the United States, and over 50 have taken place in 2020. These shootings are getting so common that many of them are not even reported in the news. Over the past six years, gun violence has increased by 30%. Of these mass shootings 27.6% happen at school, and people of ages 15–24 in the United States are 50 times more likely to die in a shooting than in other countries of an equivalent economy.

One specific shooting that greatly affected our lives and interest in this subject was committed by a 19-year-old: the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School shooting in 2018 in Parkland, Fla. March for Our Lives is a nonprofit organization created by Parkland students who wanted to take a stand against school and mass shootings. Now they are working to get Congress to pass laws against gun violence, and to make schools a safer place, through a plan of action that goes by the acronym CHANGE:

Change the standards of gun ownership
Halve the rates of gun deaths in ten years 
Accountability for the gun lobby and industry
Name a director of gun violence prevention     
Generate community-based solutions
Empower the next generation

 In Massachusetts, 15-year-olds can possess a firearms ID card that allows them to own rifles and shotguns. Once you turn 18, you are eligible for a concealed carrier license. In addition, there is a “red flag” law in Massachusetts and 16 other states that allows family members, roommates, law enforcement, and school personnel to petition a court to order the revocation of one’s gun rights. In just the first year of this law, there were 20 cases sent to court in Massachusetts and 17 were approved.

The gun laws vary from state to state. Seven states make it legal for a resident to carry a handgun without a permit, 10 states have laws regarding assault weapons, 16 states require background checks when buying long guns privately, and 21 states require background checks for private sales of handguns.

We also reviewed the wording of the Second Amendment. Since 1788, we have created more lethal weapons, but we also have more efficient means of protection. The Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” It includes the word “regulated,” implying that the framers of the Constitution wanted there to be some regulations regarding guns. In the 1700s, people were using muskets, which were inaccurate and had minimal range — not semiautomatic handguns. No one could predict the guns we would have today.

Overall, we are not trying to eradicate every gun; we just feel that there is a lack of effective gun legislation being considered in our country today. Our idea is to urge our senators and representatives to highlight the need for gun control legislation and take the necessary action to make changes. In addition, we will notify March for Our Lives about our support of their program.

Though we didn’t have the opportunity to pass the citizen petition we worked so hard on, we still learned a great deal from everything we did. During this project, everyone learned about local government as well as about gun laws and legislation. Thanks to this work, in the future we will be able to apply these skills to other areas in our lives. There have always been inequalities in our world and it is important to be able to fight for them. With the skills we have learned from being a part of this group, we will be better able to make a difference.

Sincerely,

The 8th-Grade Warrant Article Group 2020: Gray Birchby, Hannah Bodner, Zoe Borden, Devon Das, Niko Kontos, Courtney Mitchell, and Alice Moynihan

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

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Budget Q&A on Thursday, June 4

There will be an “Virtual Q&A” about the proposed FY 2021 budget on Thursday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. in advance of the Annual Town Meeting on June 13. To keep the in-person Town Meeting as short and focused as possible, the Finance Committee hopes to address concerns and feedback in the virtual meeting, which will not include the full budget presentation (see below).

Please come with any questions or comments you have about the town budget. To join the Zoom meeting, click here (the password is “fincom”). The meeting will also be recorded and posted on the Town Meeting web page.

Background materials:

  • Video of the FinCom’s March 4 budget hearing, with a short preface outlining changes and updates due to the pandemic. It’s posted on YouTube for those who may want to use accelerated playback features to review material quickly.
  • Budget summary in the Board of Selectmen newsletter (see last page)
  • Town Meeting financial section and warrant plus cover memo concerning Covid-19
  • Town of Lincoln web page with presentations and documents for the 2020 Town Meeting
  • List of more public forum dates/times and links

Candlelight gathering on Friday evening

There will be a candlelight/cell phone light gathering on Friday, June 5 from 8–9 p.m. in Pierce Park. The event is being organized by a Lincoln high school student to show support for protestors demanding justice for George Floyd and all who are subject to racial profiling and discrimination. Participants are asked to bring their own cell phones/candles for light, as well as ear masks and practice social distancing.

Scout hopes to build picnic tables for Codman

Lucas Anthony

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Lucas Anthony, a junior at L-S and a Life Scout in Concord’s Boy Scout Troop 132, plans to build 10 picnic tables to replace and supplement those at Codman Community Farms, which are in poor condition. The picnic tables will allow Codman to better accommodate guests with seating when they hold their annual events.

He’s raising money via GoFundMe to buy the tools and materials (he’s raised $700 of the needed $1,500 so far) and will assemble them in his driveway by the fall. “Any donation you can make, big or small, helps greatly and improves Codman Farm’s ability to better serve our community,” he said. Click here to donate.

Kids’ workshop workshop offered by deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is offering “Trees Mend Us” for kids in grades 6-8 with Hive instructor Tracie Dunn (and Maura Clarke) on Mondays and Wednesdays, June 1 and 3 and June 8 and 10 from 2:30-4 p.m. For more information and registration, click on the link or email Donna at dberube@thetrustees.org.

Covid-safe energy assessments available

HomeWorks Energy is now conducting home energy assessments in a way that will keep employees and homeowners safe. Once a homeowner signs up for an assessment, they are asked to take specific photos of their home and schedule a time to talk to an energy specialist about insulation and other energy saving measures. Afterward, the homeowner receives the no-cost LED light bulbs they requested, shipped free of charge.

Residents who sign up for a virtual home energy assessment by July 31 will receive 100% off the cost of insulating their homes. The insulation will be installed after the state stay-at-home orders are lifted. To sign up, go to LincolnEnergyChallenge.org.

HomeWorks Energy has partnered with the Lincoln Green Energy Committee since 2016 on the MassSave energy efficiency program, which helps homeowners reduce their use of fossil fuels and save money. Since 2016, more than 300 Lincoln homes have had assessments. On average, a home energy assessment saves residents about 28% on utility bills. 

Letter to the editor: McFall invites students and parents to discuss racism

To the Lincoln community:

I write to you from a place of humility, acknowledging that, at this point in time, there are so many areas of uncertainty that I do not have clear responses to or concrete action plans to address. However, what is weighing most heavily on me right now is how to respond, in my role as a superintendent, to the civil unrest taking place across our country and the inequities and injustices experienced by members of our communities.

I know that this message will not resonate with everyone. I also know that I may make points that may be misconstrued. My intent is to acknowledge what many of us are experiencing and feeling and to share some possible ways to come together as a community for reflection, sharing, and consideration of our collective responsibility to make things better.

I do not presume to understand what it is like to be a person of color in our country. But, the only way I know to make sense of what is happening is by making connections to my own personal experiences.

In 1992, I was a middle school teacher in an unincorporated (not a town or city) area of Los Angeles County — Lennox, Calif. This was the community that I grew up in and began my career in education. It is a poor community where most parents work in service industries in and around the Los Angeles airport. The schools were a safe haven for students within the community. I am providing this context because what is taking place now, and has taken place for decades, mirrors what occurred in Los Angeles in 1992 in response to the acquittal of four police officers related to the beating of Rodney King.

As the riots ensued, most school districts closed, but we remained open knowing that our parents were not in positions of privilege and could not stay home from work to care for their children. We kept our students in self-contained classrooms and provided opportunities for discussion about what was taking place and how they were feeling. As you can imagine, my students expressed a wide range of emotions including anger, frustration, fear, inability to reconcile the outcomes with the evidence, and a sense of hopelessness. I perceived their expressions as an overall knowing that they were not valued and protected in our society.

As their teacher, I had a feeling of deep despair. My messages to my students had always been expressions of hope: if you have a goal and you work hard, you can succeed. I held myself up as a model for my students as someone who grew up in their neighborhood and attended the same schools. But in this moment I knew that much of what my students were feeling was the truth and that my message that all you need to do is work hard was not a truth. While much of our lived experience was the same, the color of my skin provided me with privilege and opportunities that they did not have. And the color of my skin provided me with the very basic necessity of a level of safety that they did not experience.

I am certain that students in our schools are feeling these same emotions and always have. The recent acts of violence against persons of color and the ensuing injustices have not created these feelings; they have always been there. When our institutional systems clearly tell you that you have no voice, then you are forced to find other means of communication. I do not say this to universally condone the actions that have been taken, only as an understanding of how we have ended up where we are. It is difficult to think about my experience in L.A. 28 years ago and to see that the experience for black and brown people in our country has not changed. Combined with a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting communities of color, racial inequities have been magnified, and my heart goes out to our families who are shouldering the impact of it all right now.

Please remember that our principals, social workers, school psychologists, and other school personnel are available if you need assistance.

An opportunity for members of our community to come together is scheduled for Thursday evening. Lincoln School grade 5-8 students will have the opportunity to join a discussion group on Thursday during the day. I am providing information below and hope that you will join us.

Please be well.

All the best,

Becky McFall
Superintendent, Lincoln Public Schools

1. Anti-racism resources for parents and educators

2. Event for adults — Thursday, June 4 from 6–7:30 p.m.
A 90-minute webinar from with Kathy Lopes, LICSW for parents, staff, and community members to acknowledge the educational, health, and social-emotional impact of Covid-19 (inclusive of local and national racism) on their communities and the current racial violent acts occurring in the country. Lopes will provide data, age-appropriate strategies, and resources to support adults in navigating the topic of systemic racism and how to approach these tough conversations with children of varying ages.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://simmons.zoom.us/j/92663677391?pwd=Y3Y0OFBXZ2I3S3Y4TEh4ZXBmakxpQT09

  • Meeting ID: 926 6367 7391
  • Password: 459805
  • For call-Ins: (646) 558-8656

3. Student sessions for Lincoln School grade 5-8
There will be two group discussions, one for students in grades 5-6 and one for students in grades 7-8. Discussions will be guided by the students’ needs and the groups will be facilitated by mental health staff, METCO staff, and teachers. 

  • Grades 5-6: Thursday, June 4 from 10–11 a.m.
  • Grades 7-8: Thursday, June 4 11 a.m.–noon

The link to join will be sent in a letter of invitation to the student sessions on Monday.

Information for Hanscom Middle School student sessions will be provided early this week.

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Make a ruckus on Friday for graduating seniors

The Lincoln-Sudbury Class of 2020 will be completing their K-12 school years on Friday, May 29 at exactly 2:39 p.m. The L-S Senior Celebrations Committee asks that families, friends, neighbors, and community members join together at 2:38 p.m. and stand outside our homes separately, yet together — clapping, cheering, banging on pots. and otherwise celebrating to honor students from various schools who are marking a high school or college graduation milestone in this challenging spring.

Get ready for kindergarten

For parents of children who will be starting kindergarten in September, watch this “Welcome to Kindergarten” video and come to a virtual kindergarten orientation on Monday, June 8 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. The Google Meet link will be distributed earlier that day. Meanwhile, please complete the forms linked to this information sheet.

COA’s June newsletter available online

The Council on Aging’s June newsletter is now online — read it by clicking here. (Note that the new support group for those who have lost a loved one during the pandemic will begin on Tuesday, June 2, not June 5).

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Bella Wong of L-S agrees to contract extension

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee has announced that it has finalized a three-year contract extension with Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong. “We appreciate Ms. Wong’s work and dedication over the past seven years and are thankful to have her experience and leadership as we navigate the challenges caused by the pandemic. We look forward to working together as we confront the current crisis while continuing to move the District forward,” the panel said in a statement.

The School Committee also announced the hiring of Kirsteen Patterson as the Director of Finance and Operations for a three-year term beginning in July. Patterson brings many years of experience in public school finance, serving most recently as the Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Administration for the Medford Public Schools.

Watch town’s Memorial Day observance online

Lincoln’s traditional Memorial Day event has been cancelled. But the veterans of Lincoln and the Parks and Recreation Department have organized a brief and respectful ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25 and everyone is invited to watch on Facebook Live by clicking here.

LLCT hosts Wildlife Bingo

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is hosting virtual Wildlife Bingo on Wednesday, May 27 for wildlife bingo. You’ll see some of the same birds as the previous Bird Bingo, along with lots of other fun reptiles, amphibians, and mammals of New England. Prizes will include gift cards to local businesses and LLCT swag. Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive a zoom link, and we’ll email you further instructions and your bingo card. You’ll be able to access your bingo card from a browser, or you can download and print the card.

The event is limited to 20 households, each of which will receive one set of bingo cards. If you register and find yourself unable to attend, please update your RSVP on Eventbrite so we can offer that spot to someone else. Click here to register.

How to talk to teens about relationships

Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable (DVR) and their partners at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence for a webinar entitled “How to Talk to Teens About Relationships” on Wednesday, May 27 from 9:30–10:30 a.m. This training is designed for parents, educators, clergy, and community members who interact with teens. The one-hour workshop will explore adult and teen perceptions of teen dating violence, discuss messages and barriers that uniquely impact youth relationships, and provide strategies to address these barriers when talking with teens. Registration is required and can be completed by clicking here or on the REACH website. Email Youth Education Specialist Molly Pistrang at molly@reachma.org with any questions.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the DVR is continuing its activities and programming. At the outset of the pandemic, the Roundtable donated $20,000 to five domestic violence agencies for emergency services. If you would like to help, please visit the DVR website for further information.

Drumlin Farm program provides fresh food for the needy

The Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is helping to provide fresh vegetables and eggs to Cambridge families in need. Each week, Drumlin delivers some of its sustainably grown produce to Cambridge, where Food for Free of Cambridge distributes it to those facing food insecurity, a situation made more dire because of the coronavirus.

Drumlin Farm has also been providing healthy produce to the Cambridge Public School system cafeterias for school lunches since 2017. With school districts shut down statewide and most of its client restaurants also on pause, the sanctuary was determined to keep growing food and ensuring that underserved communities would be a priority — hence the Drumlin Farm Food Donation Project. 

Sanctuary Director Renata Pomponi said this collaboration also offers a great opportunity in a time of stress and uncertainty for businesses and individuals to contribute meaningfully to the moral principle that people should have enough to eat. “It’s inspiring to work with Food For Free and other local hunger relief partners on such a worthy project, especially in this time of COVID-19, and generous donors are already stepping up,” she said. To support these efforts and learn more, visit the Drumlin Farm Food Donation Project website.

High school seniors recognized

The Board of Selectmen, on behalf of the Town of Lincoln, has officially proclaimed Sunday, June 7 as “Class of 2020 Day” in Lincoln to encourage everyone to support opportunities for graduating seniors, recognize their contributions and achievements.

Help for those with financial difficulties due to Covid-19

Many people in the Lincoln community are experiencing financial distress due to the Covid-19 crisis. The Council on Aging’s Emergency Assistance Fund and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Financial Assistance Program and Food Pantry are working together to help. Please contact the Council on Aging (bottumc@lincolntown.org or 781-259-8811) or the Society of  St. Vincent de Paul at St. Julia Parish (781-899-2611 or svdplincolnweston@gmail.com) if you are a Lincoln resident and:

  • Will not be able to pay your rent or utility bills once the State of Emergency is lifted
  • Cannot afford food, medication, health insurance, or other essential health-related costs
  • Are going into credit card debt to pay essential bills
  • Have other financial challenges that threaten your ability to live safely in our community

You may contact either organization for a private and confidential consultation to determine what services and benefits you may be eligible for, including possibly payment of some bills.

Both organizations are funded entirely by grants and donations. To make a donation to the Council on Aging Emergency Assistance Fund, please send a check payable to the Town of Lincoln with a memo line of “Emergency Assistance Fund” and addressed to COA c/o Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. To make a donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, please send a check to St. Vincent de Paul, PO Box 324, Lincoln, MA 01773.

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Kids’ programs this week from Farrington NatureLinc

Farrington NatureLinc is going virtual with partners sites to offer with live streaming outdoor adventures and nature crafts for kids twice every day this week. Topics will be:

  • Tuesday, April 21 — Cairns and Rocks (11 a.m.), Flowing Water (2 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, April 22 — Earth Day (11 a.m.), Nature Journals (2 p.m.)
  • Thursday, April 23 — Nature Weaving (11 a.m.), Bird Feeders (2 p.m.)
  • Friday, April 24 — The Story of the Land ( 11 a.m.), Backyard Wildflowers (2 p.m.)

Those who like FNL’s Facebook page in advance will get notified when each event is about to go live, or the programs can be viewed on its YouTube page a day or so after each Facebook Live event.

FNL will also host Goat Yoga online on Saturday, May 9 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; click here to register. Get a sneak peak at the baby goats in this Chip In Farm video.

Walden Woods Project offers virtual events

The Walden Woods Project has three more “Thursdays with Thoreau” scheduled. Each event takes place from 10–11 a.m. and from 4–5 p.m. Registration for each session opens the Thursday before at 5 p.m. Click here to register for the April 23 session.

  • April 23: Society — What do these times suggest about us as a society and how can Thoreau’s words help us reflect on where we currently stand as a society?
  • April 30: Spring — “Shall a man not have his spring as well as the plants?” (Journal, June 1850). How have you been able to experience and observe the transformations of spring this year? Has social distancing allowed you more or less opportunity to notice these seasonal changes? What metaphorical lessons, many noted by Thoreau, does spring have to offer us?
  • May 7: Living Without Regrets — May 6 marks the anniversary of Thoreau’s passing. On his deathbed, Thoreau stated that he had no regrets about his life. What would it take to come to the end of one’s life and have no regrets? In what ways did Thoreau’s life and outlook put him in that position? Are you inspired in this way by Thoreau’s life?

Do you have a question about Thoreau, his work, life, family, or friends? Ask Thoreau scholar and author Jeffrey S. Cramer, WWP Curator of Collections, on Thursday, April 27 from 1–2 p.m. Participants may submit questions prior to the virtual event, or during the chat. Click here to register (participants will receive Zoom access information after registering).

In honor of its 30th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, please click here to donate to the Walden Woods Project and help fund its free virtual events.

L-S seniors will get plants instead of balloons

Because of the Covid-19 epidemic, the L-S Class of 2022 Steering Committee will modify its traditional fundraiser.  Instead of selling and attaching balloons to the mailboxes of graduating seniors, they’ll distribute potted red blooms donated by Cavicchio Greenhouses located close to the high school in Sudbury.

Social distancing requirements mean that gathering dozens of volunteers to inflate and tie up the balloons won’t be possible. In addition, helium is in short supply because it’s used for a type of respiratory therapy as well as for cooling the superconducting magnets used in MRI scanners.

Any balloon orders already received can be converted to these red potted blooms. Pennant orders will be honored unless we hear otherwise in the coming weeks from the manufacturer. Pickup and delivery will be coordinated with the school in keeping with health guidelines with details to come. Recipients can get creative with their displays by adding, bows, flags, signs, and items to the planters in a display that honors graduates and the contributions they’ve made as an LS students.

Orders for plants can be made until May 20 by clicking here. Anyone with questions may email celebrateourgraduates@gmail.com.

Covid-19 updates in Lincoln

Town health and government

The town has established a Covid-19 updates page here. Public health questions should be addressed to Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean at PublicHealthNurse@lincolntown.org. Questions regarding town services and response planning should be directed to Town Administrator Tim Higgins at higginst@lincolntown.org. Board of Selectmen Chair Jennifer Glass is also available to answer questions at selectmen@lincolntown.org.

Town officials will continue to make use of customary communication channels including the town’s website, LincolnTalk, the Lincoln Squirrel, cable television, periodic mailings, reverse 911 phone calls when appropriate, our public safety message boards, and social media.

A group of residents has assembled this list of resources and contacts for those who want to help as well as those who need help during the Covid-19 crisis. 

Lincoln Public Schools

All school events are cancelled and all meetings including staff meetings, professional development, student conferences, IST meetings, and IEP team meetings are cancelled or postponed. All school buildings are closed and no entry will be allowed, except to carry out essential functions related to Covid-19 cleaning or required building and district operations. Administrators are monitoring who enters the building to carry out essential operations and are using strict cleaning protocols following access. 

The state Commissioner of Education has amended the rules so that schools are not required to make up closed days beyond the 185th day on the school calendar. The last day for students on both campuses will be Friday, June 19 as noted on the 2019-2020 academic calendar.

During the closure, schools will not attempt to run school virtually or conduct a formal online learning program, as students have a range of learning needs, access to technology, and levels of support at home. However, they’re providing families with a collection of home learning resources to use as a menu of activities and learning experiences. They are provided “as-is” and will not be evaluated, assessed, or graded.  Assistant Superintendent Jess Rose will share these resources with parents via email by the end of the day on Monday, March 16.

Faculty and staff are checking their email, though they may not be able to respond immediately because they are home with their families. Teachers have been given recommendations for work they can do from home to ensure that they’re fully prepared for the return to school.

Families are reminded that social distancing means staying approximately 6 feet away from others. You may be able to go for a run, hike in the woods, play in the yard or driveway, or have a Skype visit, but not have a group sleepover or multi-person playdate. School administrators strongly urge parents to supervise their children and ensure they are not participating in group activities.

Drinking water is safe

The Covid-19 virus has not been detected anywhere in drinking water, and the Lincoln Water Department assures customers that the town’s water treatment plant is well equipped to remove and disinfect viruses through the filtration and disinfection process. The department is following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations with treatment requirements for public water systems that prevent waterborne pathogens such as viruses from contaminating drinking water. Click here for more information.

School Building Committee

The March 18 community forum to present items that were to be voted on at the Special Town Meeting. on March 28 has been canceled. The SBC will hold a virtual community forum on a  date to be announced. The March 18 SBC meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. The meeting is necessary in order to vote approvals for expenditures, but it will probably take place virtually. This is possible because Gov. Baker signed an executive order that relaxed the Open Meeting Law rules for remote participation. The meeting must still be open to the community and there must be a quorum in order to make decisions, but the quorum does not need to be present in the same location. The town is determining the best way to hold virtual meetings so that the format and accessibility is as uniform as possible.

Parks and Rec

The Parks and Recreation Department has canceled all classes and programs through Friday, March 27. The office along with all school campus buildings are closed for cleaning, and staff will be working remotely. Those with questions may contact Park and Rec Director Daniel Pereira at 781-389-0280 or dpereira@lincnet.org.

Magic Garden

Both locations of the Magic Garden Children’s Center are closed through March 27. On March 13, the preschool disinfected the classrooms and office spaces, and all classroom equipment, toys, and materials at both locations. A professional cleaning company will also complete a deep cleaning process on Monday and Tuesday, March 16 and 17. Although the available information indicates that the Covid-19 virus does not live on soft surfaces, the preschool is also having its classroom rugs and couches disinfected and cleaned.

Magic Garden teachers will be in touch with families on a daily basis to provide them with ideas for things to do with their children at home. They’ve also shared their regular classroom schedules as a guide to support parents. 

Drumlin Farm

Mass Audubon has closed its state headquarters in Lincoln as well as Drumlin Farm and other nature centers, museums, and shops, and all programs are canceled through March 31. For more information about Mass Audubon’s response to Covid-19, visit massaudubon.org/covid19.

Codman Community Farms

Codman Community Farms is open, even as it continues to reassess farm operations each day and makes adjustments as needs dictate. CCF has increased orders with its local vendors and will be receiving deliveries through the upcoming week to keep shelves as full as possible. They’re also reaching out to local farms to see what locally grown produce they can supply, and to help support local growers.

At the farm store, staff are wiping down all surfaces at least twice per day, including all handles and electronic terminals, and they’ve added a second electronic checkout terminal in the barn to speed checkout and reduce congestion. The farm store is open 24/7 so off-hours shopping is encouraged. There is a healthy supply of both pork and beef in farm freezers.

The store is adding new products, with yogurt from Sidehill Farm plus knockwurst and nitrite-free kielbasa hot dogs and locally made pasta (frozen and dried plus sauces) expected this week from Deano’s in Somerville. The hens continue to lay eggs, and a new flock of almost 1,400 hens is due to arrive arrive in less than a month. CCF has increased its grain orders to keep livestock well fed in the coming weeks, and has identified other farms that can fill the gap should inventory run low.

Visitors to the rest of the farm are welcome, but please make sure you’re wearing gloves or wash your hands both before and after leaving the farm, and avoid touching surfaces around the farm if possible. 

Lincoln Public Library

The library is closed until at least March 29. However, its online service Kanopy has assembled a collection of online films that patrons can watch for free for the next 30 days. Kanopy Kids, which offers films and TV series that help children develop empathy, mindfulness, and self-esteem through entertaining and educational videos, is also free online. The library recently added BookFlix, a digital literacy resource for students in grades PreK–3. It pairs classic storybooks with related nonfiction titles and offers many options to read along, listen to stories, and/or watch stories come to life. 

For information on any of of the library’s digital/online services for both adults and kids including audiobooks, movies, magazines and music, visit www.lincolnpl.org. Some services require users to be either a Lincoln residents or Lincoln library card holders.

Stonegate Gardens

Stonegate Gardens is open but is frequently sanitizing shopping carts, work surfaces, countertops, bathrooms, phones (including personal cell phones), and door handles according to CDC standards. They are also having cashiers handle the credit card processor for customers and are discouraging the use of cash. Delivery vehicles (steering wheel, door handles, etc.) are wiped down after every use and drivers are also implementing social distancing.

First Parish offers August summer program for kids

The First Parish in Lincoln is introducing Summer Spirit, a full-day program running from August 10–21 for kids who’ve completed grades K-7, with counselor-in-training opportunities for eighth-graders.

“I’ve heard parents mention the lack of an in-town opportunity for ‘good’ (i.e., fun, interesting, safe, etc.) childcare in between the time Lincoln Summer Day Camp (and others) end, and the start of the school year,” said Margit Griffith, director of religious education at the First Parish in Lincoln. Many families have two working parents, “and they don’t all choose to vacation during the last two weeks of August, and not all have nannies, especially once children begin school. College-age summer caregivers start to head back to their schools. This all leaves a child care dilemma here in town.”

Summer Spirit will be headquartered at the church’s Parish House (the stone church) at 14 Bedford Rd., across from Bemis Hall), “and we’ll make use of the historic building, grounds, and abutting conservation lands,” Griffith said.

Each of the two weeks has a theme: “Spirit of Earth” and “Spirit of Lincoln.” Details on activities as well as the parent handbook, registration form, dates and rates, tuition assistance, and contact information can be found at www.fplincoln.org/summer-spirit.

“The program is quite secular in the sense that activities and themes are distinctly summer-day-camp-ish,” Griffith said. “However, our guiding principles in how we interact with each other and with the children focuses on kindness, caring, community service, and support We will relate everything we do to how we nurture each other, our neighbors, and the earth. We may practice moments of mindfulness, but religious practices and beliefs will not be part of Summer Spirit.

Funding for Summer Spirit operations is fronted from the church’s Religious Exploration budget for children and youth programs, with the hope that the program gets enough participants to cover costs, Griffith said. Tuition assistance is available. Any proceeds after all program operations costs are covered will be used to fund scholarships.

The program will run from from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. with optional early drop-off at 8 a.m. or late pickup until 5 p.m. for an additional charge. The cost per child is $290 for one week or $530 for both weeks, with discounts for multiple children.

“We also seek to form community partners through this and all church endeavors. Working together is the best way for local organizations to more fully meet the needs of all residents,” Griffith said. “First Parish in Lincoln has rededicated itself to reaching out to continue old tried-and-true traditions and find new, outside-the-box ways of serving with and for all our neighbors.”

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Dancers to read, perform “The Secret Garden”

The Commonwealth Ballet will offer a reading of The Secret Garden geared to younger children accompanied by dancers from the ballet company acting out some of the parts on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. For all ages; no registration necessary.

HeatSmart events coming up

The Heatsmart Alliance, of which Lincoln is a member, is holding information sessions on environmentally friendly home heat pumps on the dates below. Meet installers to learn which systems might work for your heating and/or cooling your home. Talk with neighbors who have installed systems. Meet community heating/cooling coaches who can help you sort it all out. Find out about available financial incentives.

  • Saturday, Feb. 29 from 1–3 p.m. — Harvey Wheeler Community Center, 1276 Main St., West Concord
  • Wednesday, March 4 from 7–9 p.m. — Wayland Town Building, Large Hearing Room, 41 Cochituate Rd., Wayland

FELS invites L-s alumni to submit essays on high school’s impact

FELS, the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury, is seeking essays of 500–700 words in preparation for its annual FELS Talk on March 26. This year, in honor of the 20th anniversary of FELS, the topic of the event will be “Warrior Letters: How L-S Influenced My Life.”

L-S alumni and current and retired faculty and staff are invited to submit essays by noon on Sunday, March 1 that tell a good story and explore questions including: What impact has L-S had on the lives of the L-S community? How was L-S a positive, formative influence on who you are today, or the path you chose to pursue? Organizers want a snapshot of a place in time, an event, or a person at L-S that had a profound impact on you. Your story can involve a challenge, a relationship, a gift, a class you took, or some other aspect of your experience at L-S .   

FELS will choose up to 12 essays to be read at the annual FELS Talk on Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. in the lecture hall at L-S by a panel of selected readers. Organizers are also collecting L-S trivia, so whether you want to write an essay or submit a short sentence or two of L-S trivia to be collated for the program, your contribution of interesting/unusual/funny bits of L-S history are welcome. You’re also welcome submissions of up to five photos from your days at L-S.

All submissions should be emailed to Admin@FELSGrant.org. With your essay, please provide your name, phone number, profession and where you live, and a brief biographical paragraph. Questions? Email admin@FELSGrant.org.

Josie Toney headlines next LOMA night

Josie Toney

Josie Toney is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, March 9 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Toney will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Toney combines virtuoso fiddle play and guitar work with forceful vocals. She graduated from the Berklee College of Music, where she received the Sam Eisenson Award for Country Music. Here’s her band on YouTube playing her original song “Cryin’ Lonesome.” 

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.

Test-drive an electric vehicle

There will be a test drive of electric vehicles hosted by the Lincoln Green Energy Committee (GEC) and the Green Energy Consumers Alliance at the Mall at Lincoln Station parking lot on Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. (rain date: March 22). Find volume-discount EV pricing and government-sponsored incentives at Greenenergyconsumers.org/drivegreen. For other questions about electric vehicles, email Peter Watkinson at pjwatkinson@mac.com. The event is part of the EV 2020 campaign, a GEC initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Lincoln.

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Volunteers sought for Pierce House Committee, CapCom

The Board of Selectmen is seeking interested volunteers for the Capital Planning Committee and the Pierce House Committee. The Capital Planning Committee (CapCom) is charged with evaluating capital requests as well as maintenance funding requests. Members are tasked with evaluating each proposal for need, viability, and the effect on operating budgets. The mission of the Pierce House Committee is to “be stewards of the historic property so that residents of Lincoln, neighbors and guests may continue to use the Pierce House as a venue to gather and celebrate in keeping with the spirit of John H. Pierce’s gift to the Town of Lincoln.”

Letters of interest for either position should be sent to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Selectmen’s Office, elderp@lincolntown.org. Click here for a volunteer application form or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601 for more information.

Library activities for school vacation week

School vacation week at the Lincoln Public Library will feature the following events for kids:

Origami Workshop
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 2–3 p.m. for grades 1–3, and 3:30–4:30 p.m. for grades 4–6
Learn how to fold 3D origami snowflakes with Lisa Corfman from Rocky Arts Unfolded. Registration is required. Call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net.

Singalong with Matt Heaton
Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m.
Musician Matt Heaton will be bringing his unique mix of rockabilly, surf, American roots and Irish traditional music to the library. All ages welcome; no registration necessary.

Family Bingo Night
Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.
Come one, come all for a fun night of bingo! All ages welcome, no registration required. Prizes for everyone.

Girl Scouts pancake breakfast on Feb. 29

The Lincoln Girl Scouts will host Pancake Breakfast, Take 2 (postponed from Winter Carnival week) on Saturday, Feb. 29 from 8–11 a.m. at the First Parish Church (14 Bedford Rd., Lincoln.) There will be plain, blueberry, chocolate chip, and gluten-free pancakes with pure maple syrup along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit, and face painting and crafts for kids. Girl Scout cookies will also be on sale. Tickets are $5 for children under 12 and $10 for everyone else ($30 family maximum).

Three-part series on opera singers

The Lincoln Public Library will host a three-part series on “Opera For Everyone: A Salute to Three Great Opera Singers” with Erika Reitshamer on Sundays, March 1, 8 and 22 at 2 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Each session will look at a different artist: Jessye Norman on March 1, Fritz Wunderlich on March 8, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky on March 22. Click here for more information. Reitshamer was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Company, has led opera tours to Europe, and served as vice president of the Boston Wagner Society for many years.

Poetry workshop for kids

The Lincoln Public Library will host a poetry workshop for kids in grades 4-6 on Mondays, March 2–30 from 4–5 p.m. with a PoetryFest performance on evening of April 6. Kids will read, write and perform poetry and create an accordion book to fill with favorite poems and artwork. the final session will be filled with lights, snacks, and poetry performances for friends and families. It’s important to attend all five sessions. Registration required; call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net. 

Lincoln Dems schedule caucus for state convention

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) will hold its annual caucus on Sunday, March 8 from 1:30–3:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Attendees will elect five delegates and four alternates to the Massachusetts Democratic Party 2020 Convention in  Lowell on Saturday, May 30.

Registered Democrats may vote and are also eligible to be delegates. Enrollment cards provided by the Town Clerk’s office will be available for those who wish to register to become a Democrat at the caucus just before it opens. Democrats who will be 16 by February 2020 may pre-register at the caucus and participate and run as a delegate or alternate to the convention, although they are not eligible to vote in general elections until they are 18. Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add-on delegates to the caucus at www.massdems.org.

Anyone with questions may contact LDTC co-chairs Barbara Slayter (bslayter@comcast.net) or Joan Kimball (selenejck@gmail.com).

Talk on supporting healthy emotions in children

Erika Christakis, author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need From Grownups, presents “The Essential Connection: Supporting Healthy Emotions in Children” on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Nursery School at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Technology and the demands of 21st-century life can make it especially hard to see how children really think and feel. Christakis will share highlights from the science of early learning and explain how to improve the emotional “cueing system” between adult and child, with special attention to children’s need for autonomy, competence, and connection. Attendees are invited to read articles in The Atlantic and the The Washington Post before the event.