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Christmas Eve services at First Parish

The First Parish Church in Lincoln will hold Christmas Eve services on Thursday, Dec. 24 at 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the church sanctuary (10 Bedford Road). The service at 5 p.m. will be a family service led by Kathy Cronin, Acting Director of Religious Education. The services at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. will be led by Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti and will feature a choir and candle lighting. All are welcome.

Scholarship Committee gets web page

The Lincoln Scholarship Committee (Carolyn Dwyer, Nancy Marshall, and Barbara Slayter) now has its own page on the Town of Lincoln website at www.lincolntown.org/index.aspx?nid=645. The web page contains general information for graduating seniors and their parents about the scholarships and awards managed by the LSC.  The application form and information regarding 2016 applications will be available for downloading on February 1, 2016.

Lincolnites involved in hospital fundraisers

Members of the Lincoln-Sudbury sixth-grade Warriors football team, presented a $750 donation to Dr. David Rose, chairman of Emerson hospital’s Radiology Department, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Hermel Breast Health Center. The young athletes raised the money by selling pink-themed t-shirts and socks at their football games over the past two years to support patient care at Emerson. Front row, left to right: Ben Lisa, Riley O’Connell, Will Ginand, and Kyle Mitchell of Sudbury, and Alek Valleau of Lincoln. Back row, left to right: Karter Singh, Kieran O’Connell, and Dhamari Coren of Sudbury, and Dr. David Rose.

Mount Auburn Hospital raised over $500,000, including $100,000 for pediatric critical care equipment, at its 11th annual “Party of the Year!” charity gala. Left to right: Jeanette Clough, president and CEO of Mount Auburn Hospital; Dr. Michael Shortsleeve of Lincoln, chair of the hospital’s Department of Radiology; and his daughter Michelle Shortsleeve. Photo: Joshua Touster.

Gifts should be useful and sustainable as well as decorative, right? Everyone needs reusable lunch bags, tote bags, laundry bags, shopping bags and beach bags. Go green and support the Lincoln Squirrel by shopping at the Lincoln Squirrel store (or click on one of the images to go right to that product).

You can also show your appreciation for the Squirrel by making a donation. Happy holidays!

Nancy Fleming (left) and Karin Levy, co-chairs of First Parish’s upcoming Touch of Christmas fair, bring wreaths to the church to be decorated in preparation.

The First Parish Church in Lincoln will hold its Touch of Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Parish House (14 Bedford Road). Children can have their photo taken with Santa starting at 11 a.m. The fair will also feature decorated wreaths, holiday centerpieces, baked goods, crafts, and a cash raffle. In addition to Santa’s visit, Touch of Christmas offers many children’s activities, including the Children’s Room, where young people can do their own holiday shopping. Kids can decorate cookies or ornaments, and “go fishing” on a Christmas tree for a gift. For further information, contact Nancy Fleming at nlfleming@comcast.net or Karin Levy at karinlevy54@gmail.com.

The First Parish will hold its Christmas Pageant, a presentation of the traditional Christmas story, on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 11:15 a.m. in the Parish House auditorium. There is a part for every child already enrolled in the church’s religions education program who wants to participate. Rehearsals will be held December 6 and 13 during religious education. Admission is free, and refreshments will be available following the production.

As part of its “Live in Lincoln Center” series, the First Parish will present Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. in the Parish House Auditorium. The traditional holiday musical production will feature the Lincoln Baroque Players and Chorus and is conducted by Ian Watson. Suggested donation is $30, but any amount is appreciated. Seating is limited and is first-come, first-seated basis; doors will open at 2:30 p.m.

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold its Winter Solstice Service on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary (10 Bedford Road). This service marks the longest night of the year and celebrates the return of light as days start to lengthen. It will include music, dancing, and the lighting of candles.

The Lincoln Ringers will present a candlelight handbell concert on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. in the parish house auditorium.

There are lots of holiday gift options for all ages at the Lincoln Squirrel store. We have bibs and onesies for the littlest Squirrel fans… water bottles, lunch bags and thermoses for kids… and T-shirts, hoodies, and drinkware for everyone. Have a look!

Lincoln parents are being asked for input about next year’s academic calendar, which the School Committee will discuss at its meeting on December 3.

At issue is the fact that in 2016, Columbus Day and Yom Kippur fall in the same week—Monday and Wednesday, Oct. 10 and 12, respectively. As a result, Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall is recommending that the annual teachers’ professional day (which is usually scheduled for the day after Martin Luther King Day) move to October 11, creating a five-day weekend.

“In addition, it will provide the school district with the opportunity to provide faculty with professional development earlier in the school year that will benefit students throughout the year,” McFall said in en email to parents.

In a two-question survey, parents are asked which day they prefer for the professional day, and whether they would rather see the school year start before Labor Day or not end until June 27 (assuming five snow days). The survey closes on Thursday at noon.

“At this time, I anticipate recommending that the School Committee approve Version 2 of the calendar in which students begin school on August 29, prior to Labor Day. However, your survey responses will help to inform my recommendation and the final approval by the School Committee,” she wrote. The committee meets on Thursday in the Hartwell multipurpose room at 7 p.m.

The School Committee is not expected to make any other changes to the academic year calendar because it did a comprehensive survey and review two years ago regarding vacations and holiday observances.

Disgruntled commuter rail riders—including many from Lincoln—scored a reprieve when the MBTA announced it would not eliminate Lincoln stops beginning December 14 as previously announced.

Five state senators and six state representatives from communities affected by the schedules gave MBTA and state officials a stack of complaints from constituents about planned changes on four commuter rail lines, the Boston Globe reported last week. One of the changes was eliminating the 5:30 p.m. train from North Station that stops in Lincoln, as well as the 7:50 a.m. inbound stop.

Among the complaints were letters from Lincoln residents and a petition circulated by Lincolnite Ruth Rothstein that garnered more than 200 signatures.

In the meetings with state officials, “I explained that these schedule changes will create tremendous hardship for my constituents,” state Sen. Michael Barrett said in a statement last week. “I’m pleased to report that we’ve scored a victory, if not forever, then for now. The T will delay cuts in train stops in Concord and Lincoln until May of 2016. It has committed to reconsidering its prior schedule changes and will be entertaining ‘robust public engagement’ before making any new scheduling decisions.

“A new proposed schedule is expected next month, following which there will be the kind of opportunity to comment that was lacking this time around. As their revised plan moves forward, I’ll be sure to let you know of new developments. Let’s keep pushing on this,” Barrett added.

The Lincoln Squirrel proudly announces some new features:

1. You can now easily email Squirrel stories to a friend or family members. Just click on the link that says “Forward this story to a friend” that now appears at the bottom left of every post. No more cutting and pasting URLs into emails!
2. We  now have an automated Facebook and Twitter feed, so each new Lincoln Squirrel post will show up right away on your Facebook (www.facebook.com/LincolnSquirrel/) and Twitter (twitter.com/Squirrel01773) timelines.

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, we’re in full-on holiday season and its attendant angst about what to get for your loved ones. Do some online shopping at the Lincoln Squirrel store! Perhaps a thermos or mouse pad with the Squirrel logo—or better yet, a flask to help you get through those long Town Meetings? The selection also includes water bottles, tote bags, T-shirts, hoodies, onesies for the littlest Squirrel fans, and evening apparel such as pajamas, boxer shorts and even thongs. It’s a gift they’ll never forget!

It’s also that time of year for squirrels to store up acorns for the winter (and “winter” can also be taken to mean “college for young squirrels”) 🙂 So if you think the Squirrel provides a valuable service, please make a donation via check, credit card or PayPal account.

Happy holidays!