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

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Horse show this weekend

Lincoln’s annual horse show takes place on Saturday, Sept. 23 starting at 8 a.m. in the riding ring in Browning Field at the intersection of Weston and Conant Roads. At this small, family-friendly event, visitors will meet lots of ponies and horses and their riders, along with others who are involved with horses in Lincoln. The show highlights Lincoln’s rural and pastoral roots, and features show classes from lead line and costume through short stirrup and hunter. Proceeds from the horse show are used to keep up the riding ring. The event is free and there is lots of parking.

Climate Justice Film Series showing on Sept. 26

The film Chasing Coral will be shown on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Lincoln, kicking off the church’s new season in its ongoing Climate Justice Film Series. The film by the creators of Chasing Ice explores the impact of rising ocean temperatures and acidification on the health of coral reefs around the world. It explores the science behind what’s causing these changes and the implications for the ocean environment and the people who depend on it for food.

A light vegetarian supper will be served at 6:30, followed by the film at 7:00. All are welcome at this free event.

Four workshops on exploring the woods

Farrington NatureLinc is offering a series of workshops called “Into Our Woods: An Adult Forest School Series of Workshops” starting with “What Wild Edibles are Out There?” on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m.–noon. Others in the series:

  • October 28—”Mushrooms in Our Woods,” 1–4 p.m.
  • November 4—”Primitive Fire Making and Cordage,” 9 a.m.–noon
  • December 3—”Introduction to Animal Tracking and Bird Signs,” 1–4 p.m.

The program is open to those 16 and up; the cost is $35 per workshop or $125 for the full series. Click here for more information on each workshop and to register.

Girls’ field hockey clinics

Field hockey clinics for girls in grades K-8 will be offered by members of the Lincoln-Sudbury  varsity field hockey team starting on Tuesday, Sept. 19 from 5-6 p.m. and running through October (times will depend on the team’s game schedule). Each session is $10. Sticks are available to borrow, but girls should bring a mouth guard, shin guards, and goggles. Email Email vicky_caburian@lsrhs.net to sign up.

Blessing of the Animals at St. Anne’s

On Sunday, Oct. 1, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church will honor St. Francis, patron saint of animals, with a Blessing of the Animals at both morning services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Animals on leashes or in carriers are welcome; photos and stuffed animals are welcome, too. That day’s Still Your Soul service at 5 p.m. in the Side Chapel will be a service of Holy Eucharist for Healing and Wholeness, with laying on of hands and music from the Concordia Consort.

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Explore Lincoln’s pollinator meadow on Sunday

Meet the creatures that populate Lincoln’s People for People for Pollinators and learn how to observe them scientifically at a two-part event on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1–2 p.m. at the meadow next to the Smith School parking lot off Ballfield Road. Begin by walking the meadow with Tom Gumbart, conservation director for the Lincoln Conservation Department, to observe the bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and other pollinating wildlife that visit the meadow in September.

In the second half, learn how to record your observations at iNaturalist on your mobile device for scientific study. Before the walk, download the app onto your smartphone or tablet by going to inaturalist.org and scroll down until you see the section about installation on mobile devices. The project name is “People for Pollinators.”

Wear sturdy shoes, dress for weather conditions, and protect yourself from sun, ticks, and mosquitoes. If you are allergic to bees or other insects, please be aware that while most of the pollinating insects and wildlife are gentle, we cannot guarantee stings or bites won’t occur. Free; all are welcome. The event will be cancelled if it’s raining.

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Conservation Commission are collaborating partners of the People for Pollinators project.

Youth soccer begins next weekend

The Lincoln Youth Soccer In-Town Soccer Program starts on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Smith Field, with pre-K and kindergarteners beginning at 8 a.m. and kids in grades 1–2 at 9 a.m. Practices are approximately 55 minutes. Parent volunteers are responsible for coaching the teams with the help of two instructors from the Revolution Academy soccer program, who will assist with practice plans and coaching guidance. Any parents, even those without soccer experience, who are interested in volunteering should contact coordinator Deepak Dibya at 515-203-5986 or dibyadeepak@gmail.com.

First Parish church school beginning

The First Parish in Lincoln has opened registration for its church school, which begins Sunday, Sept. 17. The school is free, but parents must complete this online registration form. School takes place each Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Road, except during school vacations. Children in grades K–3 enjoy “Spirit Play,” grades 4–5 follow the “SHINE: Living in God’s Light” curriculum, and grades 6–7 study “Neighboring Faiths.”

Our Whole Lives (OWL) for eighth-graders is a comprehensive sexuality education program taught by trained facilitators. It’s open to all eighth-graders, including those whose families do not attend First Parish. Parents of OWL students are required to attend an Orientation on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 7–9 p.m. OWL will meet approximately twice a month on Sundays from 7–8:30 p.m. beginning October 15.

Date change for quilters’ auction closing

The closing reception for the quilters’ exhibit and auction has been changed from September 30 to Thursday, Sept. 28 from 5–8 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library.

News acorns

Firefly talk and walk on Sunday

Every summer, the fields of Lincoln come alive with the ethereal silent sparks of fireflies. Sara Lewis, a long-time Lincoln resident and author of Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies, will lead “Lights in the Night: A Firefly Talk and Walk with Sara Lewis” on Sunday, July 23 starting with a talk at 7:45 p.m. in Town Hall and a firefly walk in the Smith-Andover Field across Lincoln Road at 8:15 p.m. Dress for weather and wear sturdy shoes. Apply any insect repellent before entering the field. Please use red LED flashlights, or regular flashlights can be covered with red cellophane. The rain date for the walk is July at 8:15 p.m.

Lewis, a professor of biology at Tufts University, has given a TED talk and written about firefly conservation for CNN and Undark Magazine. Limited numbers of her book are available at the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust office and at the Lincoln Public Library. This event is co-sponsored with Lincoln’s Conservation Commission.

Holy Cow! Garden herb walk

Come on a Holy Cow! Garden herb walk on Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. led by Jai Kaur (Annamaria San Antonio) in the Holy Cow! Garden at the Codman Estate in Lincoln (directions sent upon registration). Cost is $15 adults; free for kids under 12. Contact Jai Kaur at 781-738-1920 or asanajai@verizon.net to reserve your space, and mail a check to made out to Annamaria San Antonio, PO Box 266, Lincoln MA 01773. Holy Cow! Garden, which abuts Codman Community Farms is a private, nonprofit project that highlights sacred source in the mundane. Home-made herbal products will be for sale.

Show your art in the library

Want to display your art in the Lincoln Public Library? The application for displaying art in the library’s main gallery is available on the library website. The downstairs “Stay-Put” Gallery requires no application and has openings throughout 2018.

Drumlin Farm trail to become part of Bay Circuit Trail

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary will mark its new inclusion as part of the Bay Circuit Trail (BCT) with a ribbon-cutting celebration on Saturday, July 15 at 12:30 p.m. and a volunteer work day.

A section of an existing Drumlin Farm trail will become part of the 230-mile BCT greenway, which arcs through 37 communities in eastern Massachusetts along hiking, biking, and paddling routes linking Plum Island to the north and Kingston Bay to the south. Signage and distinctive trail markers will indicate where the trail passes through the wildlife sanctuary. Drumlin Farm now joins Mass Audubon’s Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon and Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport as conserved greenspaces that are part of the BCT.

The Bay Circuit Trail’s origins date to 1929 with a proposal for a protected greenbelt through the expanding metropolitan area  based on concepts reflected in landscape visionary Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace in Boston. After some initial progress, the ambitious conservation initiative ground to a halt for lack of funds and in the face of explosive development.

The long-dormant project regained momentum in the 1980s, spurred by conservationists, trails advocates, and the state’s environmental agencies. By 1990, the Bay Circuit Alliance had been formed. That group now includes hundreds of volunteers and numerous local, statewide, and regional organizations, including Mass Audubon and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), which serves as the BCT’s administrative and stewardship manager.

Local management of the Bay Circuit Trail is typically the responsibility of the communities it passes through. In Lincoln’s case, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust oversees stewardship, although Mass Audubon will continue to care for the section of the trail passing through the sanctuary.

As part of the day’s events, the AMC, in collaboration with local BCT partners, will lead a day-long Bay Circuit volunteer work event starting at 9 a.m. to support the new trail section and local conservation lands. To sign up for the volunteer event, contact AMC/Bay Circuit Trail Volunteer Program Supervisor Beth Gula at bgula@outdoors.org or visit www.baycircuit.org/events for more information.

“With the Bay Circuit Trail now passing through Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, both sanctuary visitors and BCT ‘through-hikers’ will be able to enjoy enhanced outdoors experiences,” Mass Audubon President Gary Clayton said. “As a conservation organization committed to helping people connect with nature, we appreciate how the Bay Circuit supports that same important goal, and we are particularly happy to partner with the Bay Circuit Alliance and the Appalachian Mountain Club in this valuable work.”

“We are excited to celebrate this significant milestone for the Bay Circuit Trail in partnership with Mass Audubon and the Bay Circuit Alliance,” said John Judge, Appalachian Mountain Club President and CEO. “The sanctuary greatly enhances this section of the trail for the enjoyment of all who pass through by allowing it to be rerouted off-road to a protected conservation area in close proximity to numerous historic landmarks, including Drumlin Farm, the Codman Estate, and the Gropius House.”

Memoryopsis? (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Allen Vander Meulen captured this closeup of a forget-me-not (click to enlarge).

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.

Pollen galaxy (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Nancy Selvage photographed this swirl of pollen in Valley Pond.

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

Affordable housing forum

Come find out more about the town’s new Affordable Accessory Apartments Program in a forum especially for homeowners and tenants. On Wednesday, June 14 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall, members of the Housing Commission will give information and answer questions. What are the benefits for homeowners and tenants? How does the Housing Commission match up tenants with homeowners? What is the lottery? Why do I have to choose a tenant from your list? How long will I wait for an affordable apartment. Come join the Housing Commission and get answers.

Fatherhood Project event reminder

The Fatherhood Project presents “A Celebration of Fatherhood: Strengthening Family Connections” with guest speaker Andre Dubus III, author of Townie, The Garden of Last Days, and House of Sand and Fog on Friday, June 16 from 6:30–9 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Click here for more information.

Multi-town RiverFest this weekend

RiverFest, an annual celebration of the Sudbury, Assabet and Concord Rivers, takes places on Saturday and Sunday, June 17–18 with more than 40 events for all ages—free walks, talks, hikes, paddles, concerts, and art—in nine communities from Lowell to Framingham.

Among the events close to Lincoln: a guided walk at the Walden Woods conservation area with naturalist Peter Alden as he looks for plants and birds along Fairhaven Bay; in Sudbury where participants can join a Mass Audubon naturalist on a visit with native wildlife, birds and reptiles that live along riverbanks; and the closing solstice event at the Old Manse in Concord. For a full listing of events and maps, visit riverfest.sudbury-assabet-concord.org or call 978-223-5049 with questions.

Library hours for exam week and summer

Lincoln Public Library will be open late for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School students studying for final exams on Thursday, June 15 and Monday, June 19 until 10 p.m. Snacks will be provided and staff will be on hand to monitor students to provide a safe place, though no library services will be provided.

The library will be open on Saturdays this summer from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on July 8, 15, 22 and 29.

St. Anne’s summer schedule

From Sunday, June 18 through early September, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will celebrate a single service of Holy Eucharist at 9 a.m.

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School Building Committee workshop

The School Building Committee invites residents to a kickoff workshop on Wednesday, June 14 from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Brooks gym. Attendees will have the chance to met SBC members, learn about the next steps and the draft timeline, and help develop the town’s decision criteria for a school project.

Summer kick-off party for kids at library

Children of all ages are invited to the library on Thursday, June 15 from 3:30–5 p.m. for balloon sculpting, crafts, a raffle, make-your-own sundaes, and a magic show by Ed Popielarczyk at 4 p.m. Kids can pick up their reading Challenge forms. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Talk on identifying birds

Lincoln resident Gwyn Loud will give an informal talk on the basics of identifying birds and bird calls on Tuesday, June 20 from 9:30–10:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Public Library in the terrace off the first-floor link (rain date: Wednesday, June 21).

Summer Fest at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will stage Park Fest on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as a 5K trail run starting at 9:30 a.m. (click here to register). Signature collaborative activities from deCordova’s Learning & Engagement Team will include:

  • A large-scale Play in the Park
  • Roaming performances by larger-than-life puppets Big Nazo
  • Guided tours of the spectacular 30-acre sculpture park in full bloom
  • Art sale with more than 30 local artists and artisans
  • Live music throughout the day including local alternative folk duo The Farewells and singer Jenny Riddle.
  • Curator-led spotlight art talks in the galleries
  • Ceramic Sculpture Studio demonstrations by resident artist Bruce Barry
  • Photo ops near Jim Dine’s Two Big Black Hearts sculpture
  • Food and ice cream trucks
Free for members; click here for tickets for nonmembers ($20 for adults 18-60, $15 for seniors, $10 for children ages 6-17, free for children 5 and under).