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

nature

Seeing eye to eye (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Harold McAleer encountered this tufted titmouse giving him the eye.

Harold McAleer encountered this tufted titmouse giving him the eye (though despite his shape, this is not an Angry Bird).

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

Kids and staff enjoying Farrington Nature Linc.

Kids and staff enjoying Farrington Nature Linc.

Learn about Farrington Nature Linc

This year in Lincoln, nearly 2,000 city children experienced the peace and freedom of nature with the Nature Linc project at Farrington’s 75 acres just off Route 2 (see the Lincoln Squirrel, April 17, 2015). Nature Linc provides a connection to the natural world for children who otherwise might never have a chance to go sledding, run barefoot through the grass, or walk quietly where they can see nothing man-made. Come learn more about this venture in our own backyard on Monday, March 7 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall for the COA Lincoln Academy program about Farrington Nature Linc. Trustee Susan Taylor, Executive Director Wendy Matusovich, and Program Director Brianne Studer will share stories and slides of the past, present and future plans for Farrington, its vision, mission and strategies.

Revolutionary War reenactors at Muster Day March 19
Revolutionary War reenactors at a previous muster.

Revolutionary War reenactors at a previous muster.

On Muster Day—Saturday, March 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.—dozens of volunteer colonial and British reenactors from New England will fall in for inspection at Minute Man National Historical Park‘s visitor center (250 North Great Rd.). The National Park Service has invited reenactment groups to the park for an inspection of arms and accouterments to facilitate Patriots Weekend events in April. At Muster Day, guests can meet and talk with reenactors as well as take photos and record video. Commemorating the actions of the “embattled farmers” who risked their lives and livelihoods is what the Patriot’s Day celebration is all about.

Companies of colonial minutemen and British regiments, with many volunteers traveling a great distance, will participate. Last year, approximately 7,000 spectators attended the event. For the Battle Road event, dozens of British and colonial reenactors will stage a running battle demonstration along a half-mile of the original Battle Road that has been restored by the National Park Service. For more information, call 978-318-7833 or email phil_lupsiewicz@nps.gov.

Ms. G predicts six more weeks of winter

Ms. G clambered aboard her stump in 2013 as she prepared to make her prediction.

Ms. G clambered aboard her stump in 2013 as she prepared to make her prediction. (Photo: Alice Waugh)

Ms. G, the Massachusetts State Groundhog residing at Drumlin Farm, saw her shadow this morning, meaning there will be six more weeks of winter—though if it’s anything like this week, no one will mind except the skiers.

Ms. G began her Groundhog Day meteorology career at Drumlin in 2008. Organizers began collecting signatures (mostly from underage voters) in 2010 to get the state legislature to designate Ms. G as the official state groundhog. State Rep. Alice Peisch filed a bill in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2013 and after winding its way through the legislative process, the bill was signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in July 2014.

Ironically, Ms. G’s public prognostication was snowed out a year ago, but she did a private forecast for her naturalist handler and predicted an early spring. Despite the record snow last February, she was right.

This year also marks the debut of a children’s book about the groundhog’s political odyssey—Ms. G’s Shadowy Road to Fame by meteorologist Mish Michaels, Ms. G’s campaign manager. The new Ms. G website also features a history of the rodent’s forecasts (with an accuracy rate reportedly double that of the more famous Punxsutawny Phil) and her story in video form.

By the light of the silvery moon (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Harold McAleer took this photo of the waxing moon over Lincoln. The dot near the center is the Copernicus crater, while the dark circles

Harold McAleer took this photo of the waxing moon over Lincoln. The dot near the center is the Copernicus crater, while the large dark circle above it is Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains). Ranging to the right of that are Mare Serenitatus (Sea of Serenity), Mare Tranquillitatus (Sea of Tranquility, where the Apollo 11 astronauts landed, though Harold’a camera is not up to the task of revealing the lunar module), Mare Foecunditatus (Sea of Fertility), and (above right) Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises). Source: Wikimedia Commons

Ms. G is getting ready to emerge (or not)

Drumlin Farm's resident groundhog, Ms. G.

Drumlin Farm’s resident groundhog, Ms. G.

Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is set to host its annual Groundhog Day event on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Watch Ms. G, the official state groundhog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as she wakes from her winter hibernation and decides whether or not spring will come early this year.

Drumlin Farm will be open on February 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This special event is free with paid admission ($8 adults and teens; $6 children 2-12 and seniors), and free for Mass Audubon members. The live groundhog forecast starts at 10 a.m., followed by winter activities such as meeting Drumlin’s resident wildlife, exploring wilderness trails, and learning how to identify animal tracks in the snow. Hot cocoa will be provided.

Featured activities:

  • Learn the forecast for spring’s arrival from our woodchuck weather expert
  • Visit with more of our resident wildlife and farm animals, and explore the trails
  • Attend special nature and farm programs
  • Make some winter crafts to take home

Former WBZ-TV weather personality Mish Michaels will be on hand to share the story of the Wellesley school students who joined Mass Audubon in submitting the bill to the Massachusetts state legislature to declare Ms. G the official state groundhog. The bill was successfully enacted into law and signed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on July 31, 2014.

News acorns

acornTwo sessions on what to do when a family member dies

The first days after a family member dies can be heart-breaking, but knowing what you need to do can help ease the stress. Residents of all ages are invited to come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. or the Town Office Building’s Donaldson Room at 7 p.m. to hear elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden and Town Clerk Susan Brooks give information and advice about what needs to be done and how to do it when someone passes away.  Find out what you need to do about notifying Social Security, pension providers and financial institutions; finding an attorney and taking care of probate, estate administration and taxes; the dos and don’ts of transferring money and assets; letting the town know and arranging for burial, and more. Bring your questions and concerns.

Give thanks for nature at Drumlin Farm

On the day after Thanksgiving, join Massachusetts artists at Drumlin Farm for “Giving Thanks for Nature and Our Senses,” a family outdoor art experience on Friday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Welcome back your senses on a nature walk with interactive artist demonstrations, and take a moment to share your own expression of thanks­—be it visual, musical, or simply an internal sense of gratitude. Cohosted by Mass Audubon and Musketaquid Arts & Environment. Highlights include:

  • The Grey Whisker Pickers
  • Wildlife sketching with Musketaquid artists
  • Natural sculpture by William Turville
  • Installations and demonstrations by Geoff Nelson, Yvette Monstad, Steve Cohen, and Reno Baci
  • Storytelling with Ron McAdow
  • Sudbury Seniors Center
LEAP to host musical fundraiser

The Lincoln Extended-day Activities Program (LEAP) will host an evening of a capella singing on Friday, Dec. 11 from 7-10 p.m. in Bemis Hall to benefit LEAP and the Recreation Department. Featured performers will include Redline Boston, Harvard University’s Voice Lab and more. There will also be a cash bar and silent auction. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, and can be purchased at the LEAP or Recreation Department offices in the Hartwell pods.

Support families in shelter from domestic violence this holiday season

mangotreeOn Sunday, Dec. 6 from 1-5 p.m., Mango Tree Artisans at 410 Boston Post Road in Sudbury will host a special shopping event to benefit the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable. Enjoy light refreshments while you shop, and mention the Roundtable to have a portion of your purchase donated to the organization.

Each year, the Roundtable sponsors a family from one of three local agencies for the holidays. Those agencies need help to provide happy holidays for families in shelter and to meet the ongoing needs of additional families who have been victims of domestic violence.

You’re also invited to sponsor a family by making a donation to one of these agencies. Sponsored families are anonymous, though the agency will share the number of family members and their ages. Match yourself with a smaller family to sponsor, or invite relatives, friends, and colleagues to join you in sponsoring a larger family. For those who can’t sponsor a family, gift cards for food, clothing and other necessities to stores such as Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, CVS, Target, and Stop & Shop are welcome. Wrapping paper, ribbon and tape are also needed.

To learn more about how you can help, contact:

Learn about coywolves and beavers in LLCT programs

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is serving up programs on local wild animals and a nature walk in early November.

Dr. Jonathan Way and a friend.

Dr. Jonathan Way and a friend.

Learn about coyotes and coywolves

Ever wondered if there was a wolf in your back yard? Come to “Eastern Coywolves: Ecology and Behavior” with Jonathan Way on Sunday, Nov. 1 from 4-5:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Way studies eastern coyote populations and is at the forefront of research determining how much of our coyote population is actually a hybrid of the eastern red wolf and the eastern coyote. His multimedia presentation of still and video images comprehensively covers the subject of eastern coyotes/coywolves, including the process of hybridization. Way is the author of two books: Suburban Howls: Tracking the Eastern Coyote in Urban Massachusetts and My Yellowstone Experience. He founded and runs his organization, Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research, where he is continuing his goal of long-term ecological and behavioral research on coywolves.

“Leave it to Beavers” screening

All are welcome to a screening of “Leave it to Beavers,” a PBS Nature documentary telling the story of beavers in North America, on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, above Aka Bistro. The film recounts beavers’ history, near extinction, and comeback as a growing number of scientists, conservationists and grassroots environmentalists have come to regard beavers as overlooked tools when it comes to reversing the effects of global warming and worldwide water shortages. Once valued for their fur or hunted as pests, these industrious rodents are seen in a new light through the eyes of this novel assembly of beaver enthusiasts and “employers” who reveal how the presence of beavers can transform and revive landscapes. Using their skills as natural builders and brilliant hydro-engineers, beavers are being recruited to accomplish everything from reestablishing water sources in bone-dry deserts to supporting whole communities of wildlife drawn to the revitalizing aquatic ecosystems their ponds provide.

Visit beaver ponds on a nature walk

Explore beaver habitats in Lincoln on a nature walk with Mark Fraser, executive director of the Nature Walks Conservation Society (NWCS), on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. in the parking lot behind St. Anne’s Church (147 Concord Rd.). Participants will look for signs of beaver activity, observe a lodge, and hopefully spot a busy beaver at work. Learn fascinating facts about beavers and how to protect them. Wear shoes or boots suitable for a one-two mile walk and possibly soggy ground conditions.

The NWCS is a nonprofit working to raise awareness about the natural world through direct public education. Fraser is a public environmental educator at the Sherburne Nature Center in Tyngsborough and is also executive producer and host of “Nature Walks with Mark Fraser.” His films have been seen on Discovery News, PBS, and on his YouTube channel.

All three events are free, with donations to the LLCT welcomed.

Heron go bragh! (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Lincoln resident Susan Taylor photographed this great blue heron and its reflection in the pond at the Pierce House on October 8.

Lincoln resident Susan Taylor photographed this great blue heron and its reflection in the pond at the Pierce House on October 8.

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.

October doings from the Council on Aging

bemisHere are the October activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging.

Hot jazz for a cool fall afternoon
October 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Whether you like your jazz hot or cool, you’ll love the Trad Jazz Sextet free concert on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. This roving band of jazz-lovin’ retirees will have you on your feet dancing one minute, then reminiscing to favorites that will bring back sweet memories the next. Nothing is better for lifting your mood than music, so treat yourself to an afternoon of fun, entertainment, and uplifting old-timey tunes.

Wellness clinics for all ages
October 2 at 10 a.m.
All Lincoln residents are invited to meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods’ Community Building at 50 Wells Rd. on Friday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. These clinics are funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. [Read more…] about October doings from the Council on Aging