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

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News acorns – 6/18/15

flagJoin Lincoln’s annual Fourth of July parade

Get your float ready for the July 4 parade! This year’s theme (recycling last year’s, as the parade was rained out) is “Lincoln: Something to Crow About!” First settled in the 1650s by farmers, Lincoln today is home to numerous farms and nearly 800 farm animals, including 417 chickens and roosters. Now that’s a lot of crowing! This year the stakes are high as the first-place winner will have their team picture displayed in Town Hall. The top three winners will also receive Golden Rooster trophies.

Download a parade application, fill it out, and scan and email it to eventssubcommittee@gmail.com or mail it to the Parks and Recreation Department at 16 Lincoln Road. On the morning of July Fourth, please meet on Ballfield Road before 9:45 a.m.

[Read more…] about News acorns – 6/18/15

Obituaries – 6/12/15

candle2James G. Birmingham, 84 (April 28) – broker and manager of private investment partnerships

William Brennan, 87 (April 24) – First Parish Church member; owned company that designed and manufactured sterling silver and precious metal products

J. Walter Brain, 79 (April 19) – landscape architect, Thoreau Club member

Charles Stathos, 93 (April 6) – Okinawa veteran, worked at investment firm Estabrook and Co.

M. Elaine Burnham, 95 (March 30) – nurse and former executive director of Human Rights for the Mentally Retarded

 

 

News acorns – 6/10/15

acornSoil health workshop on June 18

Levels of organic matter in most U.S. agricultural soils have declined in recent years, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere and making the soil less able to retain water, which are important for crop quality, the global climate and biodiversity. Two local farmers who are experts in soil fertility will speak at a workshop on soil health sponsored by the Lincoln Agricultural Commission on Thursday, June 18 from 7:30-9 p.m. in bemis Hall. Dan Kittredge, organic farmer and founder of Bionutrient Food Association, and Pete Lowy from Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds will share their innovative approaches for restoring our soils. All are welcome.

Kids’ triathlon coming up

At the 12th annual “Splash Mash Dash” Lincoln Kids Triathlon on Saturday, June 20, kids ages 5-14 are invited to put on a number and swim, bike and run their way around the Lincoln School campus. The event, which benefits the Food Project, starts at Codman Pool at 8:30 a.m. Race distances are as follows:

  • Ages 5-6:  25m swim (1 length); ¼ mile run, no bike
  • Ages 7-8:  25m swim (1 length); 1 mile bike; ½ mile run
  • Ages 9-10: 50m swim (2 lengths); 2 mile bike; ½ mile run
  • Ages 11-12: 75m swim (3 lengths); 2 mile bike; ¾ mile run
  • Ages 13-14: 150m swim (6 lgths); 4 mile bike; 1 mile run

Register on the Lincoln Park and Rec website by clicking “Register Now” and then selecting the Lincoln Kids Triathlon and the appropriate age group. The $30 entry fee  includes a T-shirt, a finisher’s medal and lots of memories. Organizers are also in need of volunteers to help out on the morning of the race. Please email ginger.reiner@gmail.com if you have some time to give. No triathlon expertise required!

Lincoln School accepting donations of old children’s books

Is that pile of books by the door that you meant to donate before the end of the school year still there? The Lincoln School would love to accept your book donations to help enhance the literacy centers and classroom libraries! Please drop off children’s books (all ages and stages) or children’s magazines in the Primary Literacy Center in Room S124 just outside the Smith Gym. Gwen Blumberg, the school’s literacy specialist, will make sure they’re put to good use. Any books that the school can’t use will be donated to the Lincoln Public Library book sale.

Globe gives thumbs-up to deCordova exhibit

The Boston Globe gave a favorable review on May 23 to the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s newest exhibition, Walking Sculpture 1967–2015. Art critic Sebastian Smee called it “a fine show, smartly compiled” and noted that a visitor will “emerge mentally invigorated, and well-prepped for a few laps of the sculpture park outside.” The exhibit explores the history and current practice of walking as art through sculpture, video, photography, performance, and participatory programs.

Library offers one-week Speed Reads for the summer

Let’s say it’s 4:00 on a Friday afternoon in the middle of July and you realize you have nothing to read during your weekend getaway. What to do? Drop in at the Lincoln Public Library! They have a new collection that we call Speed Reads they are all best sellers in demand among patrons. They circulate for one week and can’t be renewed. They are available on a first come, first served basis—no reserves! Samples of  titles that can be found on the shelf: Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen. There are also some nonfiction titles to balance things out.

Milk it for all it’s worth at Dairy Day

dairyDrumlin Farm is celebrating National Dairy Month with Dairy Day on Saturday, June 13 (rain or shine) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The barns will be open on this special day for up-close access to our favorite dairy animals and the tasty treats they help us produce.

Highlights include exclusive milking access to Drumlin Farm’s dairy cows (while milk supply and cows’ patience last!); crafts and games for kids in our Get Moovin’ zone; cheese, butter, and ice cream making demonstrations; up-close viewing of our heritage breed cattle; and free hayrides to celebrate the crowning of the Drumlin Farm Dairy Princess. The Posto Mobile wood-fired pizza truck will be on hand to provide tasty picnic lunch options for purchase made with fresh Drumlin Farm produce, and Reasons to Be Cheerful will have plenty of local ice cream to enjoy.

Schedule of activities:

  • All day – Ice cream and pizza truck; farm stand and country store; Get Moovin’ crafts and games; livestock display
  • 10-11 a.m. – Cow milking (while supply lasts)
  • 10 a.m. to noon – Ice cream making demonstration
  • 11:30 a.m. to noon – Dairy Court hayride
  • Noon to 2 p.m. – Cheese-making demonstration
  • 12:30-1 p.m. – Goat milking demonstration
  • 1:30-2 p.m. – Dairy Court hayride
  • 2-3 p.m. – Cow milking (while supply lasts)
  • 2-4 p.m. – Butter-making demonstration
  • 3:30-4 p.m. – Goat-milking demonstration

Tickets for this special fundraising event are $8 for Mass Audubon members, $10 for nonmembers, children under 2 free, and can be purchased by calling 781-259-2206 or online at www.massaudubon.org/drumlinprograms.

Brush fire blackens several acres in Lincoln

Views of the burned area in photos taken by Noah Eckhouse (top) and Peter von Mertens (bottom).

Views of the burned area in photos taken by Noah Eckhouse (top) and Peter von Mertens (bottom).

A brush fire just south of Route 2 burned several acres of wooded area but did not damage any structures or result in any injuries.

The May 24 fire damaged about 12 acres of conservation land between Flint’s Pond and Orchard Lane, according to Peter von Mertens, co-chair of the Conservation Commission. Firefighters form Lincoln, Wayland, Weston, Concord and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation responded. Crews used chain saws, shovels and a leaf blower to build a fire break and contain the fire, and they also attacked it with water pumped from Flint’s Pond, said Selectman Noah Eckhouse. Workers patrolled the area during the following week to put out spots that were still smoldering.

Officials concluded that the blaze was probably caused by a careless smoker walking through the area. A gusty wind and extremely dry conditions on the forest floor allowed the fire to spread quickly and scorch a number of trees. Those trees will be evaluated over the next year and some that are critically damaged will need to be taken down, von Mertens said.

Virtually all of the underbrush and ground cover was burned out, and commission members will be taking photos in the area periodically to evaluate the regrowth in the area. Lincoln Fire Chief Stephen Carter and the Conservation Commission strongly advise people to stay out of the area until the threat of falling trees can be determined and dealt with.

News acorns – 6/7/15

Selecting art supplies at last year's MAKEmobile at the deCordova.

Selecting art supplies at last year’s MAKEmobile at the deCordova.

Activities for all ages at deCordova
  • The Yoga in the Park series at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will take place on four Sundays: June 7, July 12, August 9 and September 13. There are two sessions, one for kids at 10 a.m. and one for adults at 11 a.m. Instructors from Stil Studio lead Vinyasa yoga outdoors in the Park on Sunday mornings this summer! Attend any or all sessions, and stay after to enjoy deCordova. Preregistration is encouraged. Free for members, $5 per session for kids, $15 per session or $40 for all sessions for adults.
  • Play in the Park begins on Wednesday, June 10 and takes place every other Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until August 19. Kids can engineer, experiment, and play together in the Sculpture Park, and collaborate to construct large-scale temporary structures in response to deCordova’s art and landscape. For families with children of all ages. Free with admission or membership.
  • Raise your glass for “Art and Ales,” a festive art-inspired tasting on Friday, June 12 from 5-8 p.m. Somerville’s Aeronaut Brewing pairs their seasonal craft beers with sculptures in the deCordova Sculpture Park. The evening also features live music by Alfred Marra and local food truck Munch Mobile Kitchen. Registration is required. $20 for deCordova members, $30 for non-members. All guests must be 21 or over, and proper ID is required.
  • MAKEmobile begins Sunday, June 14 and runs every other Sunday through August. The cruising MAKEmobile is fueled with surprising supplies and materials. We’ll provide you with an artistic challenge, then you can use the MAKEmobile’s materials to create something in response (see pictures and videos of last year’s series). Free; drop in anytime from 1-3 p.m. For families with children of all ages. Free with admission or membership.
  • Curious kids can discover art, nature, and new ideas at the hive, deCordova’s summer camp abuzz with creative energy. Weeklong sessions for kids ages 5-12 run July 6-31 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This summer we’ll explore other worlds through the looking glass, map the artistic adventures of walking, tinker with machines, and artfully construct tunnels and bridges. Weekly cost: $470 for members, $545 for nonmembers. Click here to register.
Half-price book sale on June 16

The Friends of the Lincoln Library will hold a special half-price used book sale on a special day—Tuesday, June 16 from 1-3 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Due to construction at Bemis Hall, the group will not be holding its monthly book sale from July to September, so to move as much inventory as possible, they’re having a half-price sale. It’s a great time to load up on reading material before the hot summer months come.

Tick talk: Learn about how to prevent tick-borne diseases

Due to our wild winter, Lincoln may be in for a particularly tough tick season. Get the latest information on ticks, how to prevent tick borne diseases, and what to do if you have a tick bite when Lincoln School nurse and Town Nurse Maureen Richichi, R.N., comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, June 19 at 1 p.m. She will discuss the appearance and life cycle of ticks, habitats and activity seasons of ticks, risky times to be bitten and risky activities, tick-borne diseases and their symptoms, how tick borne diseases are diagnosed and treated, personal protection—how to do tick checks, safely remove ticks, safely repel ticks, and personal advocacy with your doctors. This program is sponsored by the Council on Aging program but is open to all ages. Bring your questions and concerns.

News acorns – 5/23/15

acornFarewell gala for Magic Garden teacher Peggy McSweeney next week

The Magic Garden Children’s Center will honor retiring teacher Peggy McSweeney with a “hoedown” featuring square dancing with barbecue and a live band and caller on Saturday, May 30 from 6-10 p.m. in the Codman barn. Proceeds will benefit the newly established Peggy McSweeney Enrichment Fund for programs at the preschool including fitness, Spanish, swimming and more. McSweeney has worked at Magic Garden for its entire 33-year history. All are invited (adults only, please). Tickets are $50 and may be purchased by visiting Magic Garden in the Hartwell building on the school campus or calling 781-259-8161.

Two events at the deCordova

Join Certified Advanced Rolfer Kevin Frank for a free walk through the Sculpture Park on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. that integrates rolfing, a movement system that improves bodily alignment by organizing the body in relation to gravity. Rethink what you know about balance, space, and gravity during this guided walk focused on waking up your movement intelligence and connecting to the natural world.

Somerville artist Emily Garfield will lead a workshop on Saturday, May 30 at 10 a.m. that will explore unconventional approaches to mapping in this watercolor workshop with Somerville artist Emily Garfield. Translate your walk in the Sculpture Park into imaginative landscapes. For ages 16 and up. $12 for members. $20 for not-yet-members. Register online.

LLCT sponsors wildlife photography for kids

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is sponsoring “WildlifePhotography for Kids” with Eric Smith, a two-session workshop geared towards kids in grades 5-8, on Sunday, May 31 and June 7 from 3-5 p.m. Both sessions will be held in the LLCT offices in the Lincoln Mall and will have classroom and field components. The first session will cover point-and-shoot camera settings, camera functions andphoto composition. The second session will cover in-the-field tricks andphoto editing. Equipment needed: a digital camera. Please dress for the weather with sturdy shoes and socks, and long pants. Preregistration is required by May 29 on the LLCT website. Eric is a nationally published wildlife photography along with being on the steering committee of the Menotomy Bird Club, a board member of Eastern Mass. Hawk Watch, runs a camera club, and teaches digital photography for Mass Audubon.

Gropius House event; free tours at Gropius, Codman Estate

The Gropius House is the focus of “Modest In Scale, Revolutionary In Impact,” a special house tour and discussion on the influence of Walter Gropius and the Bauhaus movement on today’s design presented by Design New England Magazine and Historic New England on Friday, June 12 at 5 p.m. Speakers will be Mark Hutker of Hutker Architects, Matthew Cunningham of Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design, and Bradley M. Cashin of New England Design & Construction, plus remarks by Wendy Hubbard of Gropius House. Parking is available at Carroll School (25 Baker Bridge Rd., Lincoln). Shuttles will run regularly between the Carroll School and Gropius House. Please RSVP to 617-994-5934 or events@historicnewengland.org.

Thirty-six of the region’s finest historic properties are open free to the public during Historic New England’s Open House on Saturday, June 6. In Lincoln, Gropius House and Codman Estate offer hourly guided tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. From Maine to Rhode Island, from 1664 to 1938, learn about the people who lived in stone-enders, urban mansions, rural estates, and working farms and explore unique and personal family collections of decorative arts and household furnishings during free guided tours at Historic New England’s house museums. For more information, visit www.historicnewengland.org.

“The new phone book’s here!”

library-directories

The Lincoln Public Library hosted a “stuffing party” where volunteers put the phone books in envelopes and delivered them to the post office. Stuffing Party: Lindsay Clemens, Susan Pease, Elizabeth Cherniack, Susan Ludden, Agnes Wiggin, Nancy Styles, Connie Olsen, Bryn Gingrich, Katherine Mierzwa, Belinda Gingrich, Graham Walker, Susan Hallstein and Ian Gingrich.

Lincoln residents are sure to be as excited as Steve Martin about the new phone directory now hitting mailboxes published by the Friends of the Lincoln Library.

The group that worked to edit and produce the directory, which is issued every two years, included Judith Lawler, Barbara Low, Cathy Moritz, Susan Isbell, Patty Mostue, Julie Brogan, Patience Sandrof, Paul Gingrich, Mark Sandrof, Isabel Webster, and Tucker Smith. The updated cover was the work of Margie Chin and Katherine Mierzwa, with artwork by Peter Sugar.

The directory is supported by the advertisers in its yellow pages, so please let them know how much you appreciate them. Additional copies can be purchased at the Old Town Hall Exchange and at the library.

Belinda Gingrich and volunteers from the Friends of the Lincoln Library unload the 2015 Lincoln telephone directory at the post office on May 20 in preparation for delivery to every household in Lincoln.

Belinda Gingrich (left) and volunteers from the Friends of the Lincoln Library unload the 2015 Lincoln telephone directory at the post office on May 20 in preparation for delivery to every household in Lincoln.

Letter to the editor: Georgiou runs for Governor’s Council

letter

To the editor:

I am announcing my candidacy for Governor’s Council (a.k.a. Executive Council) for the Third District of Massachusetts, which includes much of Middlesex County and parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Worcester counties. Lincoln is at the center of the Third District.

Many Massachusetts citizens are unaware of the important—indeed, vital—work the Governor’s Council is charged with by the Massachusetts Constitution. The Council plays a seminal role in our state’s justice system and consequently in the functioning of our society. The council is the last chance the people of Massachusetts have to make sure that the best candidate for the job is picked. The council provides the “checks and balances” for the governor’s appointments to our court system. If the elected councilor does his or her job correctly, political appointments (people that simply donate to the governor) are not shooed in as a political favor.

The most critical part of the Governor’s Council is to approve, by its constitutional power of “advise and consent,” the governor’s judicial appointments to all courts (Supreme Judicial Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Court, District Court, Probate Court) and all adjudicatory agencies, such as the Appellate Tax Board, the Department of Industrial Accidents, and other similar agencies of the Commonwealth. In addition to judicial appointments, the council approves clerk-magistrates, public administrators, members of the Parole Board, justices of the peace, notary publics and many other gubernatorial appointments. All critical to the function of our justice system.

As is evident, this position requires a Governor’s Councilor to have expert and specific experience as well as knowledge of our justice system. More importantly, it requires the background and depth of experience of an attorney—one who has been in the trenches of the justice system for a respectable number of years. I believe that this experience is mandatory because it is the only way one is exposed to the traits and skills that constitute a good attorney who would make a good judge and will serve the people of Massachusetts competently, fairly and honestly.

What kind of a person should sit in judgment of others? That is the critical question a Governor’s Councilor must ask. After more than 25 years as a trial attorney, having practiced before almost every court and adjudicatory agency in Massachusetts and having taught law, I have the experience and background to make such judgment and advice the governor of good, fair or bad choices of proposed judicial and other appointments.

My experience stems from having dealt with dozens of judges and other various court functionaries and hundreds of attorneys and various other players in our justice system. I have represented plaintiffs and defendants and have a perspective from both sides of litigation. I know what constitutes a good attorney and a good judge. In my practice I have been before judges almost on a daily basis and I can without reservation say that no one can be a good judge with first being a good attorney.

I have the background and frontline experience acquired over the course of over 25 years of trial work to make decisions as to which candidate qualifies to by a judge and which candidate does not. I would be proud and humbled to serve the people of the Commonwealth.

It’s surprising the person who is currently representing Lincoln on the Governor’s Council is not an attorney and has held the position since 1998 primarily because people of the Third District are essentially unaware of the Council’s importance and the lack of the current councilor’s qualifications. I am hoping to change this and earn the people’s trust and vote in 2016.

Sincerely,

Peter Georgiou
126 Lexington Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

“Walking” in deCordova (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Linda Hammett Ory and Andy Ory were among the area art-lovers at the May 9 opening of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s new exhibits, Walking Sculpture and Integrated Vision. Photo by Melissa Ostrow.

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to news@lincolnsquirrrel.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.