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

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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.

News acorns

Codman Harvest Fair is this Sunday

Children of all ages and their families are invited to Codman’s annual Harvest Fair on Sunday, October 6 from noon–4 p.m. There will be games and activities for children, a skillet and hay bale toss for adults, the annual Rooster Run, Codman’s own burgers and hot dogs on the grill, and the Reasons to Be Cheerful Chillwagon! Bracelets for children’s games are $20 for members, $25 for non-members — and every bracelet gets a free ice cream. Entry is free for all, with treats, lunch and more for sale, including tickets for the Pig Roast and Barn Dance Harvest Feast on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5–9 p.m. — click here for tickets.

Blessing of the Animals at St. Anne’s

On Sunday, Oct. 6, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will will honor St. Francis, patron saint of animals, with a Blessing of the Animals at the 10 o’clock service with Holy Eucharist and Choir. Animals on leashes or in carriers are welcome, as are photos and stuffed animals. Other services on that day are Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and a Contemplative Eucharist at 5 p.m.

What Park & Rec / COA activities do you want?

The Lincoln Council on Aging (COA) and the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) invite residents of all ages to fill out a short survey on what programs and services you’d like now and in the future.

The short survey asks you a few simple questions about yourself and how you currently get information about COA and PRD programs and services, and your preferences for learning about what the two departments offer.  You may then choose activities in the areas of arts and humanities, community events, education/science/nature/technology, fitness, health/nutrition, legal/financial/benefits, music/dancing, social/supportive/recreational, social service programs, and trips.  The survey also asks about barriers to using COA and PRD programs and services and any additional comments you may have.

Fill out the survey online or pick up a paper survey at Parks and Recreation, Bemis Hall, Town Offices, or the library, then return them to either the COA or PRD. Please complete the survey by October 31. For more information, please call Carolyn Bottum of the COA at 781-259-8811 or Dan Pereira of the PRD at 781-259-0784.

L-S School Committee meet-and-greets

The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee will hold public input events on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 9–10 a.m.: Listening coffee with LSSC members Carole Kasper and Kevin Matthews at the deCordova Cafe
  • Thursday, Oct. 10 from 8–9 a.m.: Parent coffee with Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong on in L-S Conference Room A
  • Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6:30–7:30 p.m.: Listening coffee with LSSC members Ellen Joachim & Candace Miller in the Goodnow Library conference room (21 Concord Rd., Sudbury)

Upcoming deCordova offerings

Nature, Sculpture, and Movement Meditation with Jamie Hunt
Sunday, Oct. 5  from 10 a.m.–noon
To attune to the summer landscape, Jamie will weave together nature-based meditation practices, movement meditation, and observation of art in the Sculpture Park. We will explore several meditations to open our sense of awareness and deepen our appreciation and experience of deCordova’s sculptures. For ages 12+. $24 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Click here for tickets.

Ceramic Workshop: Ornamental Form, Surface, and Texture in Garden Sculpture
Saturdays, Oct. 5 and 12 from 10:30 a.m.–noon 
Create a unique sculpture for your own garden inspired by deCordova. In this two-part workshop, build and decorate a small garden sculpture that will stand the test of time and weather. All levels welcome. No ceramic experience necessary. For ages 16+. $85 for members, $95 for nonmembers. Click here for tickets.

The Aesthetics of Nature: Cyanotype Workshop with Kyle Browne
Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 
Artist Kyle Browne invites you to take a closer look at the aesthetics of nature through a focused exploration of the “All the Marvelous Surfaces” exhibit, walking through the deCordova grounds, followed by creating a cyanotype from natural materials. Participants will reflect on the practice of aestheticizing nature as well as design and print with natural materials to create a personal artwork. Click here to sign up.

Ceramic Sculpture Workshop: Expressive Vessels, Forms and Environments
Wednesdays or Thursdays starting October 30 or 31 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 
Create unique vessels and sculptures for your home or garden in this six-week course. Sessions will introduce new techniques, projects, and concepts inspired by museum exhibitions and installations in the Sculpture Park. No experience necessary; for ages 16+. Click here to sign up.

Harvard’s Lessig to give Bemis Free Lecture

The Bemis Free Lecture Series presents “They Don’t Represent Us: Reclaiming Our Democracy,” a talk by and conversation with Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard University, on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. In his talk, he will make the case that our government “does not represent us” and that reform is both essential and possible. Lessig ran for president in 2016 and has advocated for campaign finance and electoral reform with a Second Constitutional Convention.

Volunteers, donations needed for diaper drive

The Metro-Boston Diaper Drive organized by Lincoln mothers Kim Jalet and Kerstin Sinkevicius, will run October 5–20 and needs volunteers to manage collection boxes at collection sites in Lincoln and surrounding towns. The diapers will go to recipients of WIC (Women, Infants and Children) aid, which does not cover the cost of diapers.

All diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Lincoln as well as Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, and Lexington. Donors can also visit the Diaper Drive website for links to their Amazon and Target registries for sending donations directly to the WIC office. Volunteers will:

  • Obtain a box big enough for diaper donations, wrap or make it look presentable in some other way, affix a flyer, and bring it to one of the local collection sites by Friday, Oct. 4:
    • Lincoln: Lincoln Public Library, Smith School,  Lincoln Country Day School, Lincoln Preschool
    • Bedford: Bedford Free Public Library
    • Lexington: Lexington Children’s Place, The Waldorf School of Lexington (pending approval for box), Lexington Bright Horizons
  • Leave your name and number with someone at the collection site so they can contact you to empty the box if it fills during the drive (but this is rare).
  • After the drive ends, pick up the diapers and deliver them either to the Lincoln home of one of the organizers, or directly to the WIC office in Somerville. 

Anyone interested in managing a collection box or approaching area stores for in-kind diaper donations should email Jalet at jaletkl@gmail.com.

Lincoln Nursery School schedules open house

Thinking about preschool for next year? Lincoln Nursery School (LNS) is hosting its annual Open House on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9–11 a.m. where families can visit the classroom studios and talk with teachers and current parents. Children are welcome. LNS is a parent cooperative established in 1944 and inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and is located at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

Learn about ranked-choice voting at house party

There will be a house party on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 3–5 p.m. to learn about ranked-choice voting (RCV) and have some fun testing it out. RCV allows voters to rank candidates on a ballot in order of preference. The system is already in place in Maine and in Cambridge (for city elections), and Voter Choice MA is gathering signatures to put it on the statewide ballot. Please RSVP to Selectman Jennifer Glass at jlrglass@mac.com.

Allendorf to perform at next LOMA night

Ric Allendorf

Ric Allendorf is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Oct. 21 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and he’ill perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. A meticulous finger-style guitarist and captivating vocalist, Ric is a frequent performer at Club Passim and other venues, and last year he released his debut album, “Take It All In.”

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.

Domestic violence survivors to share stories

To commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will gather to honor the stories and reflections of survivors who have experienced domestic violence in their intimate relationships on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 3–4:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Sudbury Police Department (75 Hudson Rd., Sudbury). There will be a panel presentation by survivors from area communities and the advocates from The Second Step who support them.

Benefit at deCordova for breast cancer awareness

Join Emerson Hospital at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum for “An Evening of Inspiration” to support breast cancer awareness on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5:30–9 p.m. The event will feature Ann Jillian, a three-time Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress and breast cancer survivor raised in Cambridge. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drink tickets and a complimentary gift. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds supporting patients who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit emersonhospital.org/inspiration or call Julie at 978-287-3221.

News acorns

“Embrace Change” sessions at library cancelled

All evening sessions of the “Embrace Change” series at the Lincoln Library have been cancelled. Daytime programs will be held at Pierce House as scheduled (see updated News Acorns, Sept. 4, 2019). For more information, see FullyEmbraceChange.com.

Garden Club event for prospective members

All Lincoln residents with an interest in gardening and the natural environment that surrounds us are welcome to the Lincoln Garden Club’s fall wine and cheese party for new and prospective members. Come learn about their activities on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. RSVP to Annparke@verizon.net, Lucypage@aol.com or Membership@lincolngradenclub.org to receive the event location.

Codman Community Farms Harvest Feast rescheduled

Due to concerns about Eastern equine encephalitis and the potential risks of holding evening events before the first hard frost, Codman Community Farms has decided to move its annual Harvest Feast from October 5 to Saturday, Nov. 2. The annual CCF Harvest Fair will be held as scheduled on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Fall events at Farrington Nature Linc

The following children’s events will take place at Farrington Nature Linc (295 Cambridge Turnpike, Lincoln):

Goat Yoga with Chip in Farm and Julie Aronis of Little Elephant Yoga
Sunday, Sept. 15 from 10–11 a.m.
Join us for an outdoor yoga class featuring a herd of friendly baby goats from Chip-In Farm. Goat kids are naturally curious and playful and our little goats love to cuddle. While this may not be the most meditative and relaxing yoga class you’ve ever been to, it will surely be the most memorable. Learn more on leader Julie Aronis’s Facebook page. Bring your own mat, blanket, or towel but be prepared for the goats to potentially taste test everything. We recommend towels for easy cleaning. In case of rain, the class will be inside the barn. $25 class fee includes 50 minutes of yoga instruction with 10 minutes of goat cuddling and photos.

Tales and Treats Family Storytelling with Doria Hughes
Saturday, Sept. 21 from 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Join us for a crisp evening by the fire as Doria Hughes tells us stories about the fall, nature, and animals and everyone makes s’mores.

Wild Edibles with Stephen DeFlorio
Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m.–noon
Led by Naturalist Stephen DeFlorio, a 30-year veteran of outdoor education. Explore the world of ethnobotany. The class will focus on edibles in the woods but also cover medicinals such as lip balms, salves, tinctures, poultices, etc. Geared for adults, but children welcome. Limited to 25 attendees.

Slightly Spooky, Mostly Kooky Fall Fun Fest
Saturday, Oct. 19 from 4–9 p.m.
Come as a family wearing your favorite Halloween costumes to enjoy fall crafts, outdoor games, a hike and some Halloween treats.

Mah Jongg Mondays set to begin

Have you always wanted to learn mah jongg? Are you a new or former player looking to improve your skills? Are you an experienced player looking for a friendly game? Every Monday from 1–4 p.m. beginning on September 30, the Lincoln Council on Aging in Bemis Hall will host Mah Jongg lessons as well as a drop-in game for those who know how to play. It is a four-player tile game of strategy, luck and skill that offers many of the same cognitive benefits as chess and bridge. Bring your 2019 Mah Jongg card or we will provide one for $9. For more information and to register for lessons or a game, contact Joan Ingersoll at ingersollj@lincolntown.org or 781-259-8811.

“Hikes Through History” presentation at library

The Lincoln Public Library presents “Hikes Through History” with Alison O’Leary on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. A hike is more than a stroll through the woods when you know how the land was used in the past. O’Leary is coauthor of AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near Boston. This program is sponsored by Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Tour historic houses and neighborhood

On Sunday, Oct. 6, Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln and Historic New England are offering a rare opportunity to compare the interior and exterior of Gropius House and the 1939 home of Walter Gropius’s esteemed Harvard colleague, Walter Bogner. This special, ninety-minute tour begins at Gropius House and continues with a short walk through the adjacent Woods End Road neighborhood. Woods End Road features an exceptional cluster of Modern houses, including a home designed by celebrated Modern architect and designer Marcel Breuer, and the home of Harvard ethicist and housing specialist James Ford and writer Elizabeth Morrow Ford, designed by Gropius and Breuer. Tours start at the Gropius House (68 Baker Bridge Rd.) every half-hour from 1:30–4 p.m. Tickets are $65. Click here to register and select a time.

Kids to learn first-hand about recycling

Lincoln children are invited to bring discarded plastics they’ve collected from their homes the previous week to an educational recycling event at the transfer station on Wednesday, Sept. 18 from 2–3:30 p.m. The event is being organized by Kim Jalet, chair of community service events for the Lincoln Family Association, along with Laura Berland and Susan Donaldson.

There will be a short presentation about trash and recycling in Lincoln, and the kids will determine which plastic items will go into the trash and which plastic items can be recycled. Jalet will then help them make reusable bags out of old pillow cases and read stories about being good stewards of the environment while Berland facilitates a discussion about ways to reduce plastic waste. The event is open to anyone with kids in Lincoln, but advance signup is required; click here to register.

Donations of old pillowcases are needed (they can’t have any holes, but can otherwise be well worn). Jalet can pick them up; email her at jaletkl@gmail.com.

“It’s a clean machine…” (Lincoln Through the Lens)

The Lincoln Fire Department’s ladder truck got a good scrubbing from toddlers and preschoolers at the annual Wash a Police Car and Fire Truck event at the Magic Garden Children’s Center last month. Firefighters parked the engine on the walkway to the Hartwell building than on the paved “dot” on the field below (owing to concerns that the septic tank underneath would buckle under the vehicle’s weight) and the children happily watched the suds wash down into the parking lot.

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

(Editor’s note: the “Embrace Change series scheduled” segment was modified on Sept. 11, 2019 to remove the cancelled evening sessions at the Lincoln Public Library.)

First Parish offers “Blessing of the Backpacks” and children’s programs

The First Parish in Lincoln invites families to send children off for a successful school year in spirit at the ”Blessing of the Backpacks” on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the annual Ingathering Service at 10 a.m. There will be a reception after the service and a gift for each student. You do not need to be a member of First Parish to attend any of its services or events. Ages 0–4 are cared for in the church’s professionally staffed nursery that opens at 9:45 a.m. for drop-off prior to each week’s Sunday service and continues through the after-service coffee and fellowship time.

Registration for 2019-2020 Religious Exploration programs for students in pre-K through grade 7 and the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program for eighth-graders is now open. Click here for more information and online registration. This year, there are only 18 seats available in OWL. Free for members of FPL, $15 for nonmembers. Mandatory parent orientation on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 7–9 p.m.  Please contact Margit Griffith at margit@fplincoln.org with questions.

Display your art at the library

The application for displaying art in 2020 in the Lincoln Public Library’s main gallery is now available. For exhibitor policies, agreement and an application, see the library’s Art Gallery and Display Spaces page. The “Stay Put” downstairs gallery requires no application and has openings through the rest of 2019.

Photography scavenger hunt

Come to the People for Pollinators meadow on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 1–2 p.m. and join in a photography scavenger hunt for all ages and abilities sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. What better way to explore this special pollinator habitat than to take a closer look through a different lens? Participants will receive a list of “treasures” to find and capture in a photo. Let your creativity take center stage, as many “treasures” are in the eye of the beholder. Participants under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own camera (phone cameras are great). Free; drop in. Park at the Lincoln School’s Smith School lot by the playground and take the trail by the PFP Meadow sign through the field to the meadow.

After you’ve completed the hunt, send us your photos! Please use JPEG file format. LLCT will create a photo collage display for public viewing at Lincoln Station. The display will be up through October in the windows in the breezeway across from Donelan’s. To participate, email your photos to llct@lincolnconservation.org after the hunt. Include your name if you’d like to be credited in the display.

Mosaic workshop at library

The Lincoln Public Library presents a mosaic workshop with Leslie Doherty on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. During this hands-on introduction to the art of mosaic tiling, create your own piece and choose a small planter or tile to take home. No experience necessary; free and open to patrons 16 and older, but space is limited to 20 people. Registration is required and will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Sponsored by The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Embrace Change series scheduled

The Embrace Change fall program series was created to help ease the transition that parents experience in first year when there are no longer children in the home. We provide opportunities for parents to connect, design and redefine this new state of life. Space is limited; register in advance at FullyEmbraceChange.com. Materials fee of $40 can be waived at time of registration; all sessions are free.

  • “Promoting Productive Communication with Adult Children” with Theresa Simonelli, PsyaD. September 18: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “What’s Next? Finding Purpose” with Heather Zacker, MS, certified personal and professional coach. September 25: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “Navigating Transitions with Self-Care” with Charlotte Sahyoun, yoga therapeutics specialist. October 2: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “Designing Your Journey: Charting Your Own Path” with the Embrace Change team. October 16: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m.
  •  “Expanding Your Horizons: Delving into New Activities and Careers” with the Embrace Change team. October 23: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “It’s All About Relationships” with the Embrace Change team and a special guest. October 30: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m.

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Moon Over Drumlin benefit at Drumlin Farm

Support Drumlin Farm’s leadership in nature-based education and programming for children and adults of all ages and abilities at the annual Moon Over Drumlin farm-to-table gala on Saturday, Sept. 28. The evening kicks off with a casual cocktail hour in the Drumlin Farm wildlife sanctuary courtyard, followed by partner chefs serving up delicious tastings using the farm’s freshest seasonal ingredients. Then meet some of the 2019 Youth Leaders in Climate Justice and get up-close with a few of our wildlife ambassadors and try your luck in the live auction and raffle. The evening concludes with a dessert reception from 9–9:30 p.m.

The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. before the Moon Over Drumlin tent and chef stations open at 6:30 p.m. Partner chefs committed to supporting sustainable agriculture and local sourcing include Real in Lincoln; 80 Thoreau and Saltbox Kitchen Brewery in Concord; Artistry on the Green at the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington, Cambridge Brewing Companyand EVOO in Cambridge; and Field & Vine in Somerville. Tickets start at $100; click here for event details and purchase.

Tour dives into Codman Estate portraits

Take a fresh, focused look at the Codman Estate’s portrait collection, including rarely seen works of art, on the “Portraits and Personalities: Codman Portrait Collection” specialty tour on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10–11 a.m. From high-end works by John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart, to others by once-famous artists to humble family snapshots, the Codman portrait collection extends over 200 years of changing styles. Hear the real stories of the people behind these pictures, both the subjects and the artists. Free for Lincoln residents, $15 for Historic New England members, $20 for nonmembers. Registration is required. Please call 617-994-6690 or click here to register online.

Drumlin Farms announces Fall Harvest Celebration

Explore the gardens and crop fields with Drumlin Farm staff, meet some of our native wildlife, create fun crafts, and enjoy fresh, delicious produce direct from the farm stand at its annual Fall Harvest Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Drumlin Farm teacher-naturalists will present family-friendly activities throughout the day to share the bounty of the fall harvest and help visitors discover how tasty sustainable agriculture can be. All activities are free with admission ($8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 2-12, free for Mass Audubon members). Drop-in activities will run from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; the wildlife sanctuary will be open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

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

10 a.m.
Make an Herbal Bouquet
Use herbs from our garden to create a beautiful display to take home. 

10:30 a.m.
Farmer’s Foe
Meet a critter that likes to eat the vegetables in our gardens.

10:30 a.m.–noon
Pick Your Own Veggies
Harvest your own vegetables in Boyce Field.

11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
Cooking Demonstration
Join our food and farm educator as she uses Drumlin Farm produce to make easy, fun foods. And she might need some helping hands!

12:30 p.m.
Farmer’s Friend
Find some worms that help enrich the soil and learn why they’re important members of our ecosystem.

2 p.m.
Beyond Butter
Help shake cream to turn it into butter, and gather and add herbs to make it extra tasty.

2:30 p.m.
All About Bees
Learn about the science of bees and how pollinators make our crops possible.

3:45 p.m.
Get Crafty
Make a seed necklace.

All day:

  • Kid-friendly crafts
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Farm stand produce available for purchase

News acorns

Saori weaving workshop at deCordova

Join artist Mihoko Wakabayashi to explore the practice of Saori weaving, a freestyle contemporary weaving technique that emphasizes spontaneity and freedom of expression, on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum(half-day and full-day sessions available). Create for a half-day to produce a nature-inspired wall hanging, or both parts of the day to create a larger wall hanging, scarf, or placemat. No experience necessary. Click here to sign up.

Charlie Koch to perform at LOMA

Charlie Koch is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Sept. 9 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Koch will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. He’s received widespread recognition for providing the bass line and vocal harmonies for partner Cosy Sheridan and was part of the trio Muddy Limo, along with Brad Meyer and Chris Boehmer.

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.

Domestic Violence Roundtable hosts “meet and greet”

Join members of the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable for a special “meet and greet” on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 3–4:30 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room of the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland). This event is specifically designed to welcome new friends to the Roundtable and to provide new and meaningful ways for old friends to deepen their involvement with the group’s. work. Each Roundtable committee will have a brief opportunity to share highlights of their work. These presentations will be followed by an open meet-and-greet time where attendees can learn more about roles that might interest them. For more information, email infodvrt@gmail.com.

Events mark Minute Man National Historical Park’s 60th

Minute Man National Historical Park turns 60 in September, and the park and community partners have planned several public events and programs to commemorate the anniversary.

Friday, September 20

Realizing the Vision
The Depot (31 Depot Square, Lexington), 7 p.m.
Join park staff and program co-sponsors the Friends of Minute Man National Park and Lexington Historical Society. The speaker for the evening is Lou Sideris, former Chief of Interpretation and Park Planner (ret.) at MMNHP, who will reflect the founding and ongoing development of the park. Reception to follow. Admission is free, but space is limited so reservations are required. Please email your name and number of people in your party to mima_info@nps.gov.

Saturday, September 21

Threads of Resistance: Revolutionary Roles of Women
Whittemore House (near MMNHP Visitor Center), 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
In 1769, Colonial women protested British policies by making cloth in the home, reducing reliance on British imports. Experience the process and learn about political impact of home manufacturing. This program is offered as part of Revolution 250, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. 

Historic Trades Day
Hartwell Tavern, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Our 18th-century forebears knew how to get the job done. Learn about various hands-on trades of the period and see skilled artisans at work.

Patriotic Music with the Concord Band
Field overlooking the North Bridge, 4–6 p.m.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic and enjoy music by the Concord Band (also celebrating its 60th anniversary) in the. The rain location at Walden Performing Arts Center (51 Walden St., Concord) has limited seating; first come, first served.

Sunday, September 22

“Earth Press Project: Witness” — Meet the Artist
MMNHP Visitor Center, 10:30 am–1:30 pm.
Meet artist Nancy Winship Milliken and collaborators, make your own “witness” brick, and engage in conversation around the themes of witness and change and learn more about this publicly generated sculpture.

For general park information, please call 978-396-6993 or visit www.nps.gov/MIMA.

Veteran teacher Gail Wild says goodbye to Magic Garden classroom

By Alice Waugh

Gail Wild and students outside Magic Garden.

Gail Wild came for the music but stayed for the Moonbeams.

Today is the last day as the Moonbeam Room teacher at the Magic Garden Children’s Center for Wild, 65, who’s retiring after a Lincoln career that began as a music specialist. She’s been teaching preschool in various locations since 1975, with the last decade or so in the room populated mostly by three- and four-year-olds. Wherever she was, music has always been a centerpiece of her approach.

“Whether you’re a [classroom] teacher or a music teacher for young children, the most important ingredient is to make it fun,” Wild said. “The younger they are, the more like sponges they are. If something’s fun, they gravitate to it. And music is such a huge umbrella.” She’s introduced her young charges to everything from jazz, blues and opera as well as lullabies and rhyming songs.

Music is an important way to unify children and get them on the same page, at least for a little while. “If you spend time around young children, it can get very loud, with 10 to 20 realities going on simultaneously — everyone wants attention and wants to be heard,” she said. “When we sit for music, we become one voice,” using music to express feelings, or focus on the natural world or being kind.

As a high school student about to go to Tufts University in the early 1970s, “I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do, but knew I didn’t want to wear nylons or sit in an office behind a desk,” Wild said. Her older sister had studied early childhood education at Connecticut College and that sounded interesting, so she enrolled in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts. Since most of the students there were women who many assumed were looking for husbands, the running joke was that “pre-med was on the hill and pre-wed was in child development,” she laughed.

In Wild’s first preschool job in Arlington, about half her students did not speak English at home, so songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and the alphabet song were easily shared experiences for the whole group. “It’s the idea of having a common voice,” she said.

Gail Wild in the Moonbeam Room.

Wild is not disappearing altogether from Magic Garden — she’ll go back to being a part-time music specialist while also spending more time doing massage therapy (she earned her degree in that field in 1984).

“I love doing healing work with people — it’s a wonderful way to connect that’s the exact opposite of working with children. You deal with grownups, stay in one place and don’t talk, for the most part, but you’re still retaining that connection, just doing it with your hands rather than your voice,” she said.

It hardly needs saying that what Wild will miss most at Magic Garden is the people, and not just the children. In the summer, the school hires interns, and some of them are college students who are also Magic Garden “alumni,” she said. “That’s pretty sweet to have someone come back and say ‘I remember when I was in Moonbeam!’”

“I’ll miss the amazing co-teachers I get to spend my days with, and I’ll miss a lot of laughing” —  and of course, her students, she added. “Pretty much on a daily basis, you walk in the door and you have some bright eyes ready to give you a hug and happy to see you. That’s a great benefit you don’t get in some other jobs.”

Just recently, Wild was reading aloud the classic book Corduroy and got to the part where the titular stuffed teddy bear goes upstairs in a department store to sleep on one of the beds in the furniture showroom. “And a kid says ‘But Gail, how can he go to bed there? There’s no toothbrush!’ I just love those moments that make you smile from ear to ear when you get into the world of a three-year-old,” she said.

Wild also looks askance at the increasing emphasis nationwide on education for younger and younger children. “Parents shouldn’t worry about academics at all at this age. It’s more about can your child play, do they have an imagination, can they socially interact with others?”

The most obvious change Wild has seen during her career has to do, not surprisingly, with technology, which has consumed not just children but the adults around them. “Kids have a lot more knowledge at their fingertips, and they’re probably more computer-savvy at three than I am now. It’s their second language. But I worry when I go to a restaurant and see parents checking out their phones rather than engaging eye to eye with their kids. A lot of them will grow up with that—not making eye contact when they’re talking to someone,” she said.

“What children want is [adults’] full attention, and I get that they don’t always have that attention to give when they’re running around trying to make dinner or something. But if your child is acting out or feels sad, you are the sun in their world, and they just want you shining on them—knowing that even if it’s just for 10 straight minutes, it’s about them.”

Open house at Codman Community Farms

Codman Community Farms will host an open house on Saturday, July 27 from 10 a.m.–noon, with tours of the farm, cold drinks in the barn, and a chance for Q&A with CCF staff and board members. It’s a great chance to learn more about the farm and how it produces meat and eggs using sustainable, ethical practices. The farm store will be selling pasture-raised chicken, eggs, beef, pork, raspberries, and vegetables.

Walking tours leave from the main barn next to the farm store starting at 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Longer and shorter routes will be available. RSVP on the farm’s Facebook page or by emailing jon@codmanfarm.org.