The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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Climate science is focus of Groundhog Day at Drumlin Farm

Drumlin Farm’s resident groundhog, Ms. G.

The Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is set to host its annual Groundhog Day event on Sunday, Feb. 2, with a focus on climate science and weather.

Climate Action Day will feature activities centered on what children and adults can do to learn about and respond to the effects of climate change. The event will again feature Ms. G, the official state groundhog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as she emerges from her winter hibernation and determines whether or not spring will come early this year.

“The impact of climate change on people and wildlife in New England is already evident, but that doesn’t mean that there ‘s nothing that we can do about it,” said Drumlin Farm Sanctuary Director Renata Pomponi. “Climate Action Day is intended to be a way for families to engage with a serious issue in a positive way, focusing on the small but meaningful actions that they can take in their own lives to help meet this challenge. As the Commonwealth’s most prominent wildlife ambassador, Ms. G serves as a symbol of the animals and their habitat that we all can help to protect by working together in our communities.”

The traditional Groundhog Day ceremony and forecast start at 10 a.m. (encore at 11:15 a.m.), followed by winter activities such as meeting resident wildlife and exploring wilderness trails. There will be live music starting at 10:30 a.m., and hot cocoa and warm beverages will be provided throughout the day. Visitors can also purchase produce grown at Drumlin Farm.

The Groundhog Day/Climate Action Day events take place from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. and is free with paid admission ($9 adults and teens, $6 children 2–12 and seniors), and free for Mass Audubon members. Drumlin Farm is open that day from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Featured Programs:

  • Learn the forecast for spring’s arrival from our woodchuck weather expert (six more weeks of winter if she sees her shadow; an early spring if she doesn’t).
  • Visit with more of our resident wildlife and farm animals, learn about winter tracking, and explore the wildlife sanctuary’s trails
  • Listen to live music performed by the local band Sweet Wednesday starting at 10:30 am
  • Make winter crafts to take home
  • Investigate our local climate with Don McCasland of Blue Hill Observatory Science Center
  • Purchase produce grown at Drumlin Farm
  • Learn how climate change impacts hibernating species in New England

Ms. G was declared the Official State Groundhog by then-Governor Deval Patrick on July 31, 2014, when he signed the bill submitted by Wellesley’s Hunnewell Elementary School students. The measure also had its origins at Drumlin Farm (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Jan. 30, 2013).

Eighth-grader named as Lincoln’s Project 351 Ambassador

Devon Das

Lincoln School eighth-grader Devon Das has been selected as Lincoln’s Project 351 Ambassador, joined other other eighth-graders from every Massachusetts city and town for a transformational year of service, leadership development, and civic engagement.

The annual Launch and Service Day convened Project 351’s tenth Class of Ambassadors for a day of service and leadership to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gov. Charlie Baker, First Lady Lauren Baker, and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito joined the morning celebration at Faneuil Hall. The day included service in support of 18 nonprofit organizations including the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Pine Street Inn, Be Like Brit, and the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers Homes.

There is no application process; educators nominate and select their community’s ambassador based on criteria and a process provided by the organization. Devon was selected by the Lincoln School to represent Lincoln for demonstrating an ethic of service and the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude. “Devon has volunteered for everything I’ve offered this year and he will make the most of the opportunity,” said Steve Cullen, the eighth-grade social studies teacher.

Project 351 ambassadors develop the skills and confidence to mobilize schools and communities in statewide service campaigns. Their spring service will benefitting Cradles and Crayons and 9.11 Tribute Service with the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, while their fall service will addresses the challenge of hunger through support of hundreds of hometown food pantries. At the close of the Ambassador year, they can continue to hone skills and lead communities in service as members of the Alumni Leadership Council or alumni community.

Since its founding in 2011, 3,381 eighth graders have engaged as Project 351 Ambassadors, serving more than 720,000 neighbors through youth-led statewide service campaigns.

Lincoln getting ready for Winter Carnival

Lincoln’s annual Winter Carnival sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 30. The weekend is designed to foster a sense of community throughout the Town of Lincoln. All events are sponsored by local organizations.

Ongoing

Build your snow sculpture when snow arrives, then snap a photo with you in it and send it to David Sequeira at Parks & Rec at dsequeira@lincnet.org. Submit as many sculptures as you like. Submissions accepted until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb 2. Winners will be announced on Friday, Feb. 7.

Thursday, January 30

FoMA Film: “Visual Acoustics”
6:30–9 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln is pleased to present this documentary about the charming and productive life of Julius Shulman, widely regarded as the greatest architectural photographer of the 20th century who played a significant role in bringing to light the architectural Modernist movement. Beautifully crafted by director Eric Bricker (2009). Film begins at 7.

Friday, January 31

Intergenerational sing-along
3:45–5:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
The LEAP after-school program, the Council on Aging, and the Magic Garden Children’s Center invite residents of all ages to enjoy a multigenerational sing-along. Groups from each of the three organizations will sing favorite folk songs, children songs, and more.

LPTO Bingo Night
5:30–7:30 p.m., Brooks Gym
Come celebrate Family Bingo Night with even more chances to win. Prizes awarded for each winning bingo board, plus raffle prizes. Pizza sales start at 5:30 p.m., with additional snacks and drinks available for purchase. Free admission. Bingo cards $5 (15 game multipack); raffle tickets 1/$1; 6/$5; 15/$10 suggested donation.

Saturday, February 1

Girl Scout community pancake breakfast
8–11 a.m., First Parish Church
Start the Saturday slate of Winter Carnival activities with delicious pancakes and real maple syrup! Plain, blueberry, chocolate chip, and gluten-free pancakes along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit. This event is great for everyone from the very young to the young at heart. Meet friends, catch up with neighbors, and enjoy crafts for kids. Girl Scout cookies will be on sale. Tickets: $5 for children under 12, $10 for those 12 and older ($30 family maximum)

Farrington Nature Linc family animal tracking
10 a.m.–noon, Farrington Nature Linc (291 Cambridge Turnpike)
Join us for a family-friendly morning of animal tracking activities on our trails and in our barn! We will head outdoors to look for signs of local wildlife–using snow, mud, dirt, trees, scat, and more–then return inside for tracking-themed craft-making and movement, plus hot chocolate. Free but registration required; click here.

Winter fun at Magic Garden
11 a.m.–1 p.m., Ballfield Road
Come visit with friends and neighbors at Magic Garden. Enjoy carnival games, arts and crafts, story time, and indoor “ice skating” in your socks. This event is best suited for children ages 5 months to 5 years. Free.

4th Annual Lincoln Holistic Wellness Fair
11 a.m.–4 p.m., Pierce House
Join local area Holistic Wellness professionals for the 4th Annual Holistic Wellness Fair as they bring their healing skills and talents to share with the community. The Fair is a rare opportunity for all to experience a varied representation of wellness services from A (acupuncture) to Z (zero Balancing), and many modalities in between. Meet the practitioners who help fill a gap in health care today and find effective solutions to chronic and acute health concerns. Hot beverages and delicious, healthy snacks round out the offerings ensuring a rejuvenating oasis for the senses. Free.

Community skating and bonfire
1–3 p.m., Cemetery Pond
Enjoy skating, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows by the campfire. Bring your own skates and stay tuned to www.LincolnRec.com for weather updates.

LFA energy blaster
3–5 p.m., Brooks Gym
Jump in a bounce house, run through an obstacle course, climb, and slide. The gym will be filled with fun ways to let out some energy! Free for 2020 LFA members (join or renew on the spot at www.lincfam.org for $50/year); $10 per child for non-members.

Acoustic Coffeehouse 2020
7–10:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Our annual night to showcase local musicians and performers! We have a diverse roster of performers — some returning, some new — ready to play for you, and there’s a good chance you know some of them! Coffee/tea and desserts will be served. Doors open at 7pm. General Admission is $10. Table of 8 is $160. Online registration is recommended at www.LincolnRec.com. General admission seats also sold at the door on a space available basis.

Sunday, February 2

Make your own elf/fairy garden
10:30 a.m.–12 p.m., Lincoln Nursery School (deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum)
Create your own garden using natural materials such as moss, acorns, and pine cones. Feel free to bring along anything you would like to add to your garden. Hot chocolate will be served. Free.

Puppy Bowl
12–1:30 p.m., First Parish Church
Let the tailgating and tail wagging begin! Everyone is invited to join First Parish for lunch and the screening of Animal Planet’s 2019 Puppy Bowl. Bring your own lunch or enjoy hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, drink, and cookie $5 for lunch (admission is free). Meet and greet actual tail-waggers. Optional: please bring a pet supply to donate to Buddy Dog.

Awesome Robb magic show
2–3 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
Celebrate Winter Carnival with Awesome Robb and his interactive comedy/magic show. Best for ages 4 and up, but all are welcome.

Family life In Lincoln at the time of the Revolution
2–4 p.m., Bemis Hall
Experience life for parents and children in 18th-century Lincoln. Every man had to have a soldier’s equipment and skills. Every woman had to feed, clothe, and cure the illnesses of her family. Children learned school lessons with quill pens and still had time for games. We debated the important issues of the day and made our own music for entertainment. Come join the Minute Men to talk about life in 1775 Lincoln and try your hand at the tasks, skills, and amusements of the time. Hands- on activities for all. Patriots preferred; redcoats and loyalists welcome. Free.

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LSB Players present “Beanstalk!”

LSB Players, the theater production company of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, present “Beanstalk!” by Ross Mihalko and Donna Swift on Friday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Kirshner Auditorium. The 11 a.m. show will be a special sensory-friendly performance. Audiences of all ages will enjoy this fun adaptation of a classic fable. There will be lobby activities for young children. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens/students, and $5 for children age 5 and under. Tickets may be reserved at LSBtickets@gmail.com and will also be available at the door.

Town Meeting warrant now open for citizens’ petitions

Residents who are interested in sponsoring a citizens’ petition at the Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 28 must submit paperwork by the close of business Monday, Jan. 27. Petitions often take the form of resolutions urging local, state or national leaders to take certain action on legislative or public policy matters, or proposed town bylaw amendments. Petitioners are urged to consult with the Town Clerk or Town Administrator’s office to ensure that proper process is followed, and that any contemplated petitions are legally valid.

Massachusetts automatic voter registration now in effect

As of January 1, 2020, Massachusetts has implemented Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) to make registering to vote as streamlined as possible for eligible Massachusetts residents. AVR comes into play when visiting the state Registry of Motor Vehicles and state agencies within the MassHealth and Health Connector programs. Individuals who visit these agencies and are eligible to vote will be registered as Unenrolled voters will (no party) unless they decline the option of registering to vote completely. Only first time voters will be registered as unenrolled; anyone already registered will retain their current status. Lincolnites can still register to vote or change their voter registrations at the Town Clerk’s Office or online at www.sec.state.ma.us/ovr/.

 If you are registered as Unenrolled and would like to join a party, come to the Town Clerk’s Office to fill out a Party Enrollment Card, or change your party online (see above). Also note that any name changes when filling out agency paperwork (for example, using a middle initial instead of your full middle name) prompts a notice of change to your voter registration, and you will receive an Acknowledgment Notice by mail from Lincoln’s Town Clerk. Anyone with questions may call Town Clerk Valerie Fox at 781-259-2607.

Architecture documentary, Holistic Wellness Fair during Winter Carnival

Friends of Modern Architecture will show Visual Acoustics on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 6:30–9 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. The film explores the charming and productive life of Julius Shulman, widely regarded as the greatest architectural photographer of the twentieth century, who played a significant role in bringing to light the architectural Modernist movement. Refreshments and conversation after the film.

The fourth annual Lincoln Holistic Wellness Fair organized by the Lincoln Area Wellness Collaborative takes place on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 1–4 p.m. in the Pierce House. The event is part of the Parks & Recreation Department’s Winter Carnival. Visitors can learn about holistic health methods such as acupuncture, Ayurveda, BEMER therapy, higher brain living, Kundalini yoga, massage and bodywork, reflexology, sound and energy healing, therapeutic touch, zero balancing, and more. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, and Debra’s Natural Gourmet will donate refreshments. Practitioners will offer free sample treatments, short classes, demos and presentations. For more information or to sign up in advance for demos, email Jai Kaur San Antonio at asanajai@verizon.net.

Click here to see the full list of Winter Carnival events taking place from January 30 to February 2.

Screening of “Un Cuento Chino”

The Lincoln Film Society will show Un Cuento Chino (Chinese Take-Out) on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. In Spanish with English subtitles. A well-ordered hardware store owner in Buenos Aires will see his life turn upside down when he helps a stranded Chinese man who doesn’t speak a word of Spanish find his uncle in the bustling city. But can this coexistence bear fruit? (IMDb.com)

Thoreau Animal Index Blitz

Join the Walden Woods Project to co-create an index of all of the animals mentioned in Thoreau’s journals during its Thoreau Animal Index Blitz on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 1–8 p.m. at its headquarters at 44 Baker Farm Rd. in Lincoln. Like Ray Angelo’s Botanical Index, this will become a valuable resource to Thoreau scholars for years to come. We only have three and a half volumes left to index and we fully expect to finish at this event, with a champagne toast when we’re done. Click here to register.

Girls in STEM Camp at Minuteman

Minuteman High School will hold its fifth-annual Girls in STEM Camp for any interested female students in seventh and eighth grade during February school vacation, from Tuesday to Friday, Feb. 18–21 from 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. The Girls in STEM Camp involves activities led by Minuteman High School students who are in the school’s Girls in STEM mentoring program, along with faculty advisors. The Minuteman students, who are mentored by young women currently attending college or working in a STEM field, get to share their knowledge with middle-school students during the Girls in STEM Camp experience. The camp runs twice a yea,: once during February school vacation and again in August.

Students who live in one of Minuteman’s district towns may attend for free; those from towns outside the district (including Lincoln) will be charged $149. Visit minuteman.org to register or contact Michelle Roche, Minuteman’s director of career technical education, at 781-861-6500 ext. 7236 or m.roche@minuteman.org.

Events coming up at deCordova

  • Join photographer Claire Beckett and Koch Curatorial Fellow Sam Adams on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. for a tour of Truthiness and the News, which includes Beckett’s work and that of other photographers, photojournalists, and conceptual artists who test the limits of believability. Click here to register.
  • Inspired by the plants in Blossfeldt’s photographs, experience a new way of arranging flowers and learn the history, styles, and concepts of ikebana arranging at an ikebana workshop led by Joanna Caccavale, president of the Ikebana International Boston Chapter, on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Click here to register.
  • Enjoy an evening of ceramics activity for couples at Valentine’s Date Night with Clay. Work as a team on the wheel, decorating clay hearts or building your own signature romantic sculptures. Workshop includes firing, materials, and refreshments. Over 1.5 hours of instruction and assistance in building a unique gift. All levels welcome (21+). Valentine’s Day is sold out, but a few spots remain on February 12 and February 13 (click a date to register).
  • Artist Max Razdow will facilitate a Land Art workshop inspired by the Peter Hutchinson: Landscapes of My Life exhibition on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10:30 a.m.–noon. The program will begin in the galleries, move outdoors to make Land Art, and then into deCordova’s studios. Participants will have a chance to creatively document their projects and bring home a record of their intervention. Click here to register.

LEGOPalooza brings STEM excitement to Lincoln

Left to right: GearTicks Audrey Gammack, Ben Morris, Erin Crisafi, Laura Appleby, Amelia Pillar, and Prerna Karmacharya at LEGOPalooza (click to enlarge).

By Olivia Crisafi

On November 23, 12 teams of Lincoln School students wrapped up their FIRST Lego League Jr. (FLL Jr.) season at Lincoln’s Reed Field House for the second Annual Lincoln Legopalooza. The event, organized by the Lincoln GearTicks, was created last year to showcase and celebrate the months of hard work each team had put into their Lego models and programs.

The GearTicks are a local FIRST Tech Challenge team comprised of middle and high school students who take pride in spreading their engineering knowledge with students in the local community. Kevin Ji, who attended and helped organize the LEGOpalooza both years, said he enjoyed seeing the kids he mentored using their creativity to solve engineering problems.

FLL Jr., a hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) enrichment program by the robotics organization FIRST, was first introduced to Lincoln’s existing program last year. The GearTicks thought that even earlier exposure to STEM activities would benefit Lincoln’s youth, and parents were thrilled with the prospect of signing FLL students’ younger siblings up for FLL Jr.

Over the course of two months, teams of six K-3 students worked to solve the annual challenge put out by FIRST. This year, the challenge, “Boomtown Build,” encouraged the young engineers to use their love of LEGO to imagine, design, and create a healthy and happy community.

The teams ran with this mission and thought of fun and creative solutions to real-world problems. The Lincoln Elephants were excited to share their mall equipped with a chocolate store, and a Japanese restaurant that featured an industrial-inspired lifting car garage. The Golden Dragons utilized the motor in the We-Do kit to create a moving drawbridge for their castle.

Along with parent coaches and GearTick mentors, teams from Lincoln and Sudbury met after school and on the weekends to build and program Lego models. They then worked to create a “Show Me” poster documenting their process.

To foster a fun environment, the GearTicks led a free build table, a medal decoration table, and a robot pit as well as gave each team a thematic trophy. “I was thrilled to see how far the students had come with their intricate programs and carefully designed models,” GearTick team member Audrey Gammack said.

“FLL Jr. is a great start to the progression of FIRST programs that leads to FLL and FTC for older students,” GearTicks coach Anne Hutchinson said.

Letter to the editor: Gearticks urge better home insulation

The fifth-grade Purple Gearticks include (left to right) William Mendelson, Evie Packineau, Jasper Clark, Lucy Reiner, and Quinn Clark. (Photo courtesy Ginger Reiner)

To the editor:

We are the Purple Gearticks (a Lincoln First Lego League robotics team). We are working on a project to decrease energy wasted in houses and making energy greener. These days we’re all worried about climate change, and you can do your part by reading this letter and taking some of the advice at the bottom of the page.

One of the important things we learned is that two-thirds of the energy you use is heat loss: one-third goes through the walls despite insulation and one-third is leakage from windows and doors through cracks. Some ways to improve on this are window seals or door seals. You could also install more insulation or attic caps. Most people do not have enough insulation in their houses.

We hope you will contribute to this effort by sealing your windows and doors. You can consider getting a free energy audit with MassSave. They will come to your house and give you ideas on how to lose less energy.

Sincerely,

The Purple Gearticks, 5th grade: William Mendelson, Quinn Clark, Jasper Holleran Clark, Evie Packineau, and Lucy Reiner

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Dress rehearsal (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Children and teachers from Magic Garden’s Sunshine Room were all dressed up and ready to go for Halloween last week. Back row, left to right: Sue Church, Alyssa Salguero, and Alia Tawfik.

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

News acorns

Property tax forum on Tuesday

The Property Tax Study Committee will hold its second public forum on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 7–8:30 p.m. in Town Hall. The group was formed in reaction to concerns about the large tax increase required for the $93 million school project. At its first forum in June, the group presented two possible measures: a means-tested circuit breaker program and a residential exemption for certain properties.

Family fun at Walden Woods Farm

The Lincoln-based Walden Woods Project offers a day of fall-themed family activities at its organic Farm at Walden Woods (1047 Concord Turnpike/Rt. 2 eastbound, Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. There will be an interactive full-size model of Thoreau’s Walden Pond house, packets of milkweed seeds to plant at home for monarch butterfly habitat, free apple cider and a ”solitude” selfie station. The event is part of the Concord Festival of Authors.

Scarecrow Classic 5K on Oct. 20

The seventh annual Annual Scarecrow Classic on Sunday, Oct. 20 starts at 9:30 a.m. on Codman Road by the fire station and runs along Lincoln’s scenic roads, fields, and trails. Proceeds from this event support the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT). After the race, there will be a raffle with prizes, live music, cider donuts, seasonal soup, and prizes for the top three runners in each age category. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at the LLCT offices, from LLCT trustees, or on October 14 before the race. Register online or at the event starting at 8 a.m. Visit scarecrowclassic5k.com for the route map and online registration.

Tales from the Night at Drumlin Farm

Put on your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and join us for Tales of the Night — the silliest, spookiest, and most family-friendly Halloween tradition on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26 at Drumlin Farm, from 6:30–9p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Visitors will have the chance to:

  • Explore the farm at night lit by our display of over 100 jack-o-lanterns
  • Meet some of the nocturnal wildlife of Massachusetts
  • Enjoy spooky treats, spider cider, and witch’s brew at the ghoulish graveyard
  • Step into a story on our Nursery Rhyme Trail to meet your favorite characters
  • Get a festive face painting at the Crossroads Barn
  • Venture out into the fields for a haunted hayride full of spooky surprises for the brave at heart (7–8:30 p.m.)

Tickets are available via advance purchase only — admission cannot be purchased at the gate. Mass Audubon members: $15. Nonmembers: $17. Free for children under age 2. Register early, as this event often sells out.

News acorns

Film: “The River and the Wall”

There will be a free screening of the documentary “The River and the Wall” on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Filmmaker Ben Masters and colleagues traveled 1,200 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border via horse, mountain bike, and canoe. Sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee.

Event focuses on climate change

The topic of Lincoln’s first Drawdown Forum sponsored by several town organizations will be “Finding Optimal Solutions to a Changing Climate: Closing the Sequestration Gap” on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the First Parish Church. The speaker is William Moomaw, professor emeritus of international environmental policy at Tufts University. Food and conversation begin at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Sponsored by Mothers Out Front Lincoln, the Green Energy Committee and the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee, with support from the First Parish Green Committee, St. Anne’s Climate Justice Ministry, Codman Community Farms, the Conservation Commission, the Lincoln Land Conservation trust, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Sonic Liberation Players concert

The Sonic Liberation Players, including Lincoln husband-and-wife musicians Jessica Tunick Berens (third from left) and Trevor Berens (far right).

The Lincoln-based Sonic Liberation Players begin their fourth season with a concert celebrating their roots on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The concert features three rarely performed pieces by Cage (including two solos) and two of Feldman’s mind-expanding mid-career works), along with music by James Tenney and Stephen “Lucky” Mosko, SLP co-founder Berens’s composition teachers at the California Institute of the Arts. Also on the program is a revision of his “Cella Duru” for varied sextet. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Programs for all ages at Minute Man NHP

Halloween lantern walks
Saturdays, Oct. 19 and 26 from 5:30–6:15 p.m.
Hartwell Tavern (112 North Great Rd., Lincoln)
Celebrate Halloween with the Guild of Historic Interpreters on slightly spooky lantern walks (for younger children) down the Battle Road Trail to meet the spirits of 1775. Free; recommended for children 6 and under.

“Revolutionary Dog: Paws for the Cause”
Sunday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m.
Minute Man Visitors Center (250 North Great Rd., Lincoln)
Join a park ranger for a guided walk on Battle Road Trail to explore the lives of dogs in colonial America. Visitors are welcome to bring their own dogs.

Historic fencing workshop
Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Noah Brooks Tavern (33 North Great Rd., Lincoln)
Learn about the various methods of colonial and contemporary livestock fencing and help repair the park’s livestock fencing. Wear sturdy shoes and bring lunch and water. Pre-registration required; email margie_coffin_brown@nps.gov.

Boys from two continents join to build birdhouses for charity

Richard Kelleher (right), father of two Lincoln Boy Scouts, helps South Sudanese boys build birdhouses in Bemis Hall.

On a recent Saturday night, the Lincoln Boy Scouts helped South Sudanese boys construct dozens of bird houses to help fund the ongoing operations of the Lincoln-based South Sudanese Enrichment for Families (SSEF).

Bemis Hall was buzzing with energy as Scouts and members of the Sudanese community and Boy Scouts worked side by side assembling wren and bluebird houses along with bird feeders.

“I am so so grateful to the Boy Scouts who made birdhouses with the Sudanese — they are incredible!” said Susan Winship, executive director of SSEF, which had its origins in helping resettle some of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” Local artists who are interested in painting those birdhouses should call her at 781-424- 8774. The birdhouses will be sold at a gala in May celebrating the “lost boys” being in America for 20 years.

The Boy Scouts are accepting new members in grades 6-10. The troop meets Thursday nights from 7–8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Mark Soukup, troop leader, at nickandnate@comcast.net.