This grosbeak recently visited Harold McAleer’s feeder.
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.
“The Blue Chest” (2014) by Linda Pochesci.
During the month of June, see paintings at the Clark Gallery by Linda Pochesci showing interior images of her Truro, Mass., studio and living quarters that open onto dunes that are fabricated from the artist’s imagination, as are the studio interiors containing mirrors reflecting spaces outside the visible space. Until Friday, June 18, the Clark Galley is also exhibiting “Danny Lyon: Conversations with the Dead” and “Richard Ross: Juvenile in Justice,” which were reviewed by the Boston Globe in May. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.n, and by appointment.
Kick off the summer at the Lincoln Kids Triathlon (also known as Splash, Mash and Dash) on Saturday, June 18 at 8:30 a.m. at the Codman Pool in Lincoln. The event is open to all kids ages 5-14. Register before race day and save $10. Event information, including race distances and an online registration link, can be found at www.kidstri.net. To volunteer, email Ginger Reiner at ginger.reiner@gmail.com. There are T-shirts, goody bags, and medals for every participant plus great awards and raffle prizes.
Come to a summer kickoff party at the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, June 22 from 3:30-5 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to the library 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 summer reading challenge forms. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.
Discover the jewelry collection and stylistic trendsetting of Mrs. Ise Gropius during this special evening talk and tour, “Small but Perfect Things: The Style and Jewelry Collection of Ise Gropius,” on Thursday, June 23 from 7-9 p.m. at the Gropius House (68 Baker Bridge Rd.). Historic New England Associate Curator Laura Johnson shows you Mrs. Gropius’s collection of unique designs using intriguing modern materials, with original examples of jewelry on view. $10 for Historic New England members, $15 for nonmembers. Space is limited and registration required; call 781-259-8098 or buy online.
“Picture This: Your Great Outdoors Photo Contest,” the annual competition sponsored by Mass Audubon in Lincoln, is now underway, with hundreds of participants expected to submit images of the Bay State’s natural beauty and wildlife diversity before the competition ends on September 30. Photographers of all abilities, ages and backgrounds are encouraged to fan out across the state to take their best shots of birds and other animals, friends and family members enjoying the outdoors, and more. For the 2016 contest, photographers will be able to submit up to 10 entries—double the number allowed previously. Categories include People in Nature, Birds, Mammals, and Other Animals, as well as a single category for Landscapes, Plants, and Fungi. For complete contest rules and submission guidelines as well as a gallery of the winning photos from 2015, visit the “Picture This” website.
Harold McAleer photographed this yellow finch at his bird feeder.
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.
Harold McAleer created this photo collage of an apostle plant flower, which blooms and dies in a single day.
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.
Jack Doyle, Mira David and Audie Wells sell maple syrup at Town Meeting.
Lincoln School third-graders, with the help of Flint Farm’s Nancy Bergen and Ephraim Flint, successfully raised $1,400 for charity as part of a maple syrup science project.
The children collected and measured sap from maple trees and then correlated daily sap production with temperature, finding that sap flows more quickly on warm days. To collect the sap, they tapped three trees on the school campus, and Flint Farm tapped another 40 trees around town, such as along those Baker Bridge Road.
The Flints donated their time and equipment to boil the sap into delicious maple syrup. Third-graders Mira David, Jack Doyle, Law deNormandie and Audie Wells sold the maple syrup at the recent Annual Town Meeting. They sold a total of 22 quarts and 11 pints, and Flint Farm decided to give half of the proceeds ($700) to Codman Farm to support all of the great work they do in town.
The entire third grade also discussed a number of worthwhile charities to which the rest of proceeds could be donated, and decided that this year they will support Save the Children.
—Submitted by Michelle Doyle
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust announces several events this spring offer educational encounters with local animals and plants.
Peer into a Pool: Vernal Pool Exploration with Matt Burne
Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m. — meet and park at the far end of the parking lot beyond Donelan’s.
Matt Burne, a herpetologist and conservation director for the Walden Woods Project, will lead a walk to explore vernal pools in Lincoln. Participants will visit some local wetlands for signs of spotted salamanders, wood frogs and fairy shrimp. Learn about the importance of vernal pools and how to protect them. Listen for the wood frogs’ duck-like calls and the high-pitched chorus of tiny spring peepers, a species of tree frog. Please wear footwear for a one- to two-mile walk. Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the Walden Woods Project and the Lincoln Conservation Commission. Free and open to all.
A Storm of Angels: Creating Habitat for Migratory Songbirds
Tuesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. — Bemis Hall
Join us for a visually stunning and engaging evening with fine art photographer and ecologist Brooks Mathewson. Due to loss of natural habitat, backyards have become a last refuge for many migratory songbirds. In this talk, Brooks will share his photography of migratory songbirds that visit our backyards and will discuss ways we can provide better habitat for these critical members of our ecosystem. Co-sponsored by the Lincoln Garden Club and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. Free and open to all.
Who’s Watching You? Owls of the World
Sunday, April 10 from 4-5:30 p.m. — Bemis Hall
Perhaps you’ve glimpsed the shadowy form of a great horned owl in the headlights as you’ve traveled a back road at night. Ever scanned a frozen salt marsh or farmer’s meadow in winter, hoping to find that Arctic hunter, the Snowy Owl? How about a mob of noisy crows circling a white pine tree—have they found an owl? Join naturalist Marcia Wilson and photographer Mark Wilson in sharing their passion for owls. They will introduce you to the owls of New England and beyond. Each owl presented has a permanent disability which prevents them from surviving on their own in the wild. These non-releasable owls are captivating ambassadors from the world of wildlife. Mark and Marcia will share the field marks, signs, and naturalist’s skills that you can use to find wild owls without disturbing them, while introducing you to six live owls up close. Everyone is treated to a hooting lesson, as well as tips on how to attract and protect owls near you. All who attend are in for some fun with close-up views of these secretive birds of prey. Suggested donation: $5.
Spring Birding in Lincoln: A Spring Walk Series
Spring mornings are glorious! Find out why birders love early mornings in spring as you learn to identify birds by sight and song, and explore some birding “hot spots” in Lincoln. Dress for the weather (e.g., wet grass and cool early morning temperatures) and please bring binoculars. At least two of the following local birding experts will lead each walk: Vinny Durso, Nancy Hammond, Norman Levey, Gwyn Loud and Nancy Soulette. The walks will not take place if it is raining. All walks take place from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Free; all are welcome.
Annual Meeting of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust
Thursday, May 12 from 7-9 p.m. — Walden Woods Project (44 Baker Farm Road, Lincoln)
We invite you to join members and friends of the Land Trust at its annual meeting at the handsome estate of the Walden Woods Project. Guest speaker Sara Lewis, a professor of biology at Tufts University and longtime Lincoln resident, will discuss her fascinating new book, Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies. For centuries, the ethereal beauty of fireflies as evoked wonder and delight, yet for most of us, these insects remain shrouded in mystery: How do these creatures make light? What are they saying with all their flashing? Are fireflies disappearing? In this talk, noted biologist and firefly expert Sara Lewis dives into the mysterious world of fireflies and reveals the most up-to-date discoveries about these charismatic insects. Copies of Lewis’s book will be available for sale and signing. Refreshments served beginning at 7 p.m.; meeting convenes at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome, though only members may vote.
Invasive Plant Species Walk
Sunday, June 12 at 1 p.m. — deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Join Anna Wilkins, stewardship coordinator of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, on a walk on deCordova grounds. We will explore the common misconceptions and long-term impacts of invasive control, as well as how we negotiate the aesthetic beauty invasive plants lend our landscape in relation to the damage that they pose to our local ecosystem. Sturdy shoes recommended.
Middle schoolers perform “Music Man Jr.”Come see “Music Man Jr.,” based on the classic Broadway show and 1962 movie, in the Donaldson auditorium on Wednesday, March 16 at 3 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. The story follows the escapades of of a fast-talking salesman who masquerades as a traveling band leader and his plans to swindle the naive parents of a small Iowa town. Instead, he falls for the town’s librarian and risks everything to be with her. This production features a cast and crew of close to 70 students and has been supported by dozens of parent volunteers. Drama teacher Kristen Hall is the show’s director and producer. Musical direction is by music teacher Blake Siskavich and choreography by fifth-grade teacher Maurisa Davis. Tickets will be sold at the door: adults $10, students and seniors $5. Suitable for all ages.
The Lincoln Public Library and AKA Bistro are offering a 10 percent food discount (drinks not included) for Lincoln residents with Lincoln Public Library cards. For more information, see the AKA Bistro website.
OARS (a nonprofit group that works to protect, preserve, and enhance the natural and recreational features of the Assabet, Sudbury, and Concord Rivers and their watersheds) is hosting an evening of films from the largest environmental film festival in the nation on Wednesday, March 30 from 7-10 p.m. at Maynard’s Fine Arts Theatre Place (19 Summer St.) With the theme “A Change of Course,” these engaging films bring theater-goers close to magnificent wilderness, as well as to the people who work to protect their communities’ environment. Sixteen films ranging from 2 to 18 minutes will be shown. including “Denali,” “The Fable of the Wolf” and “The Accidental Environmentalist.” Tickets are $13 and may be purchased online, or contact OARS at 978-369-3956 or office@oars3rivers.org.
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.
Kids and staff enjoying 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 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 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.