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

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Tatlock obituary addendum

The October 11 obituary for Jane French Tatlock was erroneously published without crediting the author: her daughter Dana Tatlock. The original posting has been corrected.

Learn how to get financial help for living in Lincoln

There will be a Bridge the Gap fair offering information on how to get financial help for living in Lincoln sponsored by the Lincoln Foundation and the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services on Wednesday, Nov. 2 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Battle Road Farm Meeting House. Get help with heating costs, new appliances, home improvements, special assessments, property taxes, water bills, senior discounts and veterans’ discounts. Meet neighbors and talk to officials from the town and the Lincoln Foundation. Door prizes donated by Codman Community Farms and the Tack Room.

Submit your work for the Lincoln Arts Show

Enter your artwork by November 9 for the Lincoln Arts Show that takes place on Friday, Nov. 11–Sunday, Nov. 13 from noon–5 p.m. at the Pierce House. The show is open to all ages, all creative arts, and all levels of experience; the only requirement is that entrants be affiliated with Lincoln in some way. Stop by to view or purchase local artwork! All ages and media welcome. Meet the artists submitting art to the show on Friday, Nov. 11 from 5–7 p.m. See lincolnma.myrec.com for details or call 781-259-0784.

Lincoln School gets FoMA’s annual Modernism Award

The Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln is proud to present its annual Modernism award to the Lincoln School project for revitalizing the vision of Lincoln Modern architects Lawrence B. Anderson and Henry B. Hoover, who designed the original school buildings beginning in the 1940s. According to the citation, “Anderson and Hoover saw the power of Modernism to reimagine how architecture could assist the school community to think and learn in new and inclusive ways. With the generous support of the town, the School Building Committee, project architects and project builders have again reimagined the transformative power of architecture. The project team has realized an ambitious net zero project that centers on teachers and students while preserving Anderson’s and Hoover’s original design intent of creating close connections to nature and using natural light to create calm energy throughout the building.” 

Join FoMA and the Lincoln community to celebrate the revitalization of the Lincoln School at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and school tours on Friday, Oct. 28.

Fred Tingley, 1933-2022

Fred Tingley

Fred Tingley of Lincoln died peacefully surrounded by family members on September 13, 2022, age 89.

Fred was born in Providence, R.I., in 1933 to Harleigh Van Slyck Tingley and Margaret Maryon. He earned an A.B. in physics from Brown University and an M.S. in physics from Northeastern University. Fred worked as a physicist, engineer, and manager in applied research and product development.

He was an inveterate tinkerer and inventor and held a patent for his solar roof de-icer. He could fix anything, and did. An avid outdoor adventurer he enjoyed hiking, sailing, skiing and white water kayaking.

Fred lived in Lincoln with his wife Dilla for almost 60 years. He served several terms as a water commissioner. At the suggestion of a friend and neighbor, Ann Janes, who was on the Cemetery Commission, Fred took on the project of photographing and transcribing the inscriptions of the older tombstones in three of Lincoln’s cemeteries. The Tingley Collection is available through the town archivist and eventually will be available on a digital website.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dilla Gooch Tingley, and his two sons, two daughters-in-law and six grandsons: Whit and Debora Tingley, and Benjamin, Connor and Luke of Berkeley, Calif., and Lem and Liz Tingley, and Tucker, Forest, and Vaughn of Golden, Colo.

A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church (147 Concord Rd., Lincoln Mass.). In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services.

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Goats and owls at Farrington

Farrington Nature Linc is hosting two events in October: 

Baby Goat Yoga — Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.
Join us for an outdoor yoga class featuring a herd of friendly baby goats from Chip-In Farm in Bedford. Goat kids are naturally curious and playful and our little goats love to cuddle. $30 class with 50 minutes of yoga instructed by Julia Aronis from Little Elephant Yoga, and 10 minutes of picture time with the goats. Tickets are $30 (advance purchase required).

Eyes on Owls — Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
Join naturalist Marcia Wilson of Eyes on Owls as she demonstrates the hooting and lifestyle of each unique rehabilitated owl. Tickets are $20 each or $60 for a family four-pack (advance purchase required).

Cub Scout kickoff meeting on Oct. 12

Cub Scouts offers outdoor adventures like camping, fishing, and hiking, and exciting excursions: sleepovers at the Museum of Science and on the U.S.S. Massachusetts battleship. Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of the program is that it offers kids a real and fun alternative to screen time and gaming. If your child is interested in participating, plan to attend a meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Mason’s Lodge at 181 Lincoln Rd. We will discuss getting the Cub Scouts up and running again in Lincoln. Please contact Mark Soukup, troop leader, Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127, with questions: nickandnate@comcast.net.

Benefit cornhole tournament on Oct. 16

The Doo family is hosting Brain Games 2002, its fourth annual cornhole tournament to benefit moyamoya research at Boston Children’s Hospital, on Sunday, Oct. 16 from noon–5 p.m. at the Pierce House. Their daughter Kalea Rose was diagnosed at age four in June 2019 with moyamoya, a rare brain disease that causes the narrowing of the cerebral arteries resulting in strokes, and without surgery, death. (She has undergone three life-saving surgeries in the past three years.)

There will be a live band, inflatable fun for kids, a magician at 3 p.m., face painting from 1-4 p.m., a cornhole tournament for both kids and adults, raffles, beer from Mighty Squirrel & Barewolf Brewery, tie-dye fun, and food trucks. There is no charge for admission. If you’d like to register a cornhole team, get more details, or make a donation, visit www.doofamilyfun.com.

Tour the 1948 Schwann house

The Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln will host tours of the 1948 Schwann House and studio on Sunday, Oct. 16 every hour on the hour from 2–5 p.m. The house was designed by noted architect Walter Bogner, a resident of Lincoln and a professor of architecture at Harvard. He designed the house for the young William Schwann, an organist and musicologist who became widely known for publishing the Schwann Music catalogue.

Tours will be led FoMA board members Matt Andersen-Miller, who has recently restored the house, and Woodie Arthur, who will speak about the house restoration, Bogner’s design, and the Schwanns’ love for the house. Proceeds from ticket sakes ($50) benefit FoMA’s mission of preservation, documentation, and education about Modern architecture. Visit the FoMA donation page to purchase tickets; after specifying the dollar amount, indicate in the notes section which hour’s tour you would like to attend; we may have to adjust your time depending on demand.

Estate planning evening at deCordova

Join us for a free evening of art, cocktails, and estate planning at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. There will be a private tour led by Senior Curator Sarah Montross of the New Formations exhibit followed by a discussion about how thoughtful planning may strengthen your present finances, reduce taxes, and fulfill both charitable and personal aspirations: “What is Your Legacy?” with Drew McMorrow, President and CEO Ballentine Partners, and “Elements of a Good Estate Plan and Ways to Include Philanthropy” with Julia Satti Cosentino, partner at Nutter, McClennen, and Fish. The event is free but advance registration to reserve a spot is required.

Take survey on recreational land and water use

The National Park Service requires the state to complete a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) every five years to remain eligible for funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. As a part of the SCORP update, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is asking for opinions on outdoor recreation and open space from municipal employees, land trusts, and all users of Massachusetts’ outdoor recreational facilities. It’s critical for us to hear from as many residents as possible to know how to best distribute LWCF funding over the next five years. The response deadline is October 31. Click here to take the survey.

Sustainable products available at Donelan’s

Zero Waste Lincoln, a subgroup of Mothers Out Front, works with the DPW to run the swap shed and encourage recycling at the transfer station. The group also works on the purchasing side of the trash problem and has worked with Donelan’s Supermarket manager Jason Deveau to stock sustainable alternatives to products that are often packed in plastic, including:

  • Laundry detergent in cardboard (three brands available)
  • Shampoo and conditioner bars (Brixy brand)
  • 100% recycled toilet tissue and paper towels (two brands available)   
  • Compostable single-use plates/utensils/cold cups and straws
  • Compostable trash bags
  • 100% recycled aluminum foil
  • Juices in glass bottles
  • Paper bags for school lunches
  • Single-use water bottles in aluminum
  • Locally grown produce

If there are other items you’d like to see in local stores or have other ideas or energy to contribute, email pmokiwi@comcast.net 

Phinney’s holiday festival on Nov. 6

Phinney’s, a Lincoln-based all-volunteer nonprofit that helps keep people and their pets together, will hold its Holiday Festival at Lincoln’s Pierce House on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. This free event will feature caroling and the lighting of Phinney’s Angels Tree. Purchase refreshments and hand-painted ornaments as well as unique wares such as eco-friendly, washable pet pads. Visit phinneys.org/events to learn more. 

Volunteers need for MCC estate sale

The Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee’s Downsize for Diversity fundraiser is seeking volunteers for its final two-day Estate Sale Extravaganza on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 18 Cerulean Way. We will be selling off all pre-Covid inventory of fine china, pottery, linens, luxe decor, estate jewelry, small antiques, holiday décor, and other curiosities donated by generous supporters from all over eastern Massachusetts. Are you a high school student who needs volunteer hours? We are a 501(c)3 and can sign your volunteer form. Volunteers are needed to move and unpack items on November 16 and 17 from 9 a.m.–noon, as well as for various shifts during the sale days and on November 20. Please call, text, or email Joanna Schmergel to volunteer at owenjoanna@yahoo.com or 617-645-9059.

Read the Downsize for Diversity story and see photos of items they’ve sold to raise money in Downsize for Diversity: How We Raised $122,000 with a Pickup Truck and a Little Help from Our Friends.

View recording of postponed piano concert

Abla Shocair

Abla Shocair recently gave a classical piano performance on Bemis Hall’s Steinway grand. The concert, which can be viewed here on Zoom (passcode: de#W1j&$) was a spontaneous preparation owing to a last-minute cancellation of a piano duo performance. She played the Liszt/Paganini Etude No.3,”La Campanella” and Chopin’s 12 Etudes Opus 10, dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt. Despite being a civil/structural engineer by profession, Abla kept up her piano performances in different cities. She was born in Amman, where she started her piano lessons at age 4.

 

 

Report issued on train near-miss that traumatized Lincoln resident

In a 138-page report, Keolis analyzed the factors involved in the terrifying near-miss between an MBTA commuter train and a car crossing the tracks in Lincoln last spring and recommended fixes so it won’t happen again. But the woman who was driving the car isn’t over it — not by a long shot.

Lincoln resident Betsey Yeats was crossing the tracks eastbound on Route 117 on April 11 after picking up her 17-year-old daughter from a private school in Sudbury. “I’ve been going over that crossing four times a day for 20 years. You get used to trusting that it works,” she told the Lincoln Squirrel. Because of a curve in the tracks and a tree blocking the sight line,”it’s not until you’re really on the track that you can see the train,” which suddenly roared into view. “I felt my body stop and freeze. My foot went off the gas.”

The driver of the train, which was traveling at about 50 miles per hour, saw her car and immediately sounded the horn. “The horn was deafening. My brain didn’t tell my body to move my foot, but somehow I pushed [the accelerator] down to the floor without realizing what I was doing,” Yeats said. Her SUV cleared the train’s path just in time. “I could feel the rush of the train behind us. When I looked in my rear-view mirror, all I could see was the train rushing through. Then I saw the blinking light and the gates coming down… Without a V-8 engine, I don’t know if we would’ve gotten out of there.”

The train screeched to a halt with the last car blocking the road at the crossing, and the conductor notified the dispatcher about three minutes afterwards at 3:18 p.m. Meanwhile, Yeats called Lincoln police, who also reached the dispatcher five minutes later, according to the report by Keolis, which operates the commuter rail for the MBTA. 

The incident report is dated April 26, but town officials did not see it until fairly recently because the MBTA and the Federal Railway Administration had to review it and “make sure they were comfortable with it,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins told the Select Board on September 19. Higgins and Police Chief Kevin Kennedy first met with MBTA officials on April 28 and “we got early confirmation at that meeting that it appeared to be human error,” he said.

On that day in April, a Keolis communications and signals maintainer was calibrating the warning system (the connection between the train detection system and crossing control system) in the bungalow near the two adjacent crossings. No train was scheduled to pass through the area during his work — but he wasn’t aware that a train on one of the tracks was running nine minutes late and was actually approaching the crossing.

The maintainer tried to auto-calibrate the systems for each of two tracks and succeeded with one, but after 30-60 seconds, he got an error message for the other, according to his account in the report. Unbeknownst to him, the failed auto-calibration process on that track left the warning system deactivated. Before the system prompted him to try again, he noticed that the crossing gate at Old Sudbury Road had gone down, but not the one on Route 117. Realizing a train was approaching, he moved to open the manual control box for the crossing gate but then saw that the train was almost at the crossing, so “I started waving my hands to try to stop traffic as quickly as I could.”

The train conductor saw Yeats’s car and applied the brakes about 60 feet before reaching the Old Sudbury Road crossing. The vehicle immediately behind Yeats was able to stop just in time.

Until the issue was corrected, trains approaching both crossings as well as the one at Tower Road were required to slow to 30 miles per hour, blow their horn, and be prepared to stop. The speed restriction was lifted at 6:09 p.m.

Yeats later learned that a friend of her daughter’s was two cars behind hers and reported what he saw to the police. “He said it was deafening, the squealing of the brakes… [and the maintainer] was running with his hands up in the air towards the train freaking out.”

The investigation found that the maintainer had not informed the dispatcher that he was about to do maintenance at the crossing, that he had never seen the “calibration fail” error, and was not up to date on his training. Investigators recommended improving training, ensuring that auto-calibration work automatically triggers the fail-safe system, and requiring maintainers to notify the dispatcher to verify that there are no approaching trains before they begin work (“begging the obvious question, why is it a new protocol?” Higgins commented at the Select Board meeting). The maintainer was terminated the day after the incident.

However, Lincoln officials also gave credit to Keolis officials after meeting with them. “They took immediate action, they involved the right people, they followed the right protocol to ensure safety” in the immediate aftermath of the incident, Higgins said. 

“They took ownership of it — they weren’t trying to skirt the issue, they were very up front with it,” Kennedy said.

Higgins and Kennedy asked in their meetings with Keolis if the cause of the near-miss was the same as that for an accident in January in which a woman in Wilmington was killed when a train hit her car while crossing the tracks when the gates were up. Keolis said that accident happened because a maintainer deactivated the warning system but forgot to reactivate it before leaving for another assignment, Higgins said.

According to a February 24 WBUR story about the aftermath of that accident, new procedures and requirements were stipulated for when work was done involving roadway crossings. Going forward, “dispatchers would have to get affirmation from the signal maintainer that the system was enabled [and] the maintainer must also remain on location to ensure the system functions properly when the next train passes and, if necessary, deploy it manually,” the story says. It’s unclear when these requirements were actually put in place.

Since the incident, Yeats said she’s been “researching up a storm” and meeting with Higgins and Kennedy to learn more about what happened. “I want to say how much I appreciate all of their time and support, and their commitment to understanding why this happened. It’s clear that public safety is their top priority and they’ve been doing everything possible to work with Keolis and the MBTA to get the answers we deserve and to get an action plan put in place so this never happens again,” she said last week.

Still, the effects linger. Her daughter has had dreams about being stuck at a crossing with a train coming, and Yeats herself feels anxious every time she hears a train passing through.

“It used to be a nice background noise… I used to enjoy it,” said Yeats, who lives within earshot of the railroad tracks.

Yeats continues to drive over the crossing almost every day, “but I have a very new way of going over that track,” she said. She knows the commuter rail schedule, “and I look at my clock before I get to the train tracks and I look between the trees… I definitely have a lot of built-in mechanisms now.”

Town debates changing the name of Columbus Day

“Columbus Taking Possession,” an 1893 painting by L. Prang & Co., Boston.

Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day? Several residents at the September 19 Select Board meeting argued in favor of changing the name of the holiday in Lincoln, though the speakers were not unanimous. 

As of October 2021, more than 20 Massachusetts towns including Boston had changed the name of the holiday, and a statewide Indigenous People’s Day bill is being considered by state legislature.

Columbus Day, which commemorates the arrival in the Americas of Columbus (a native of Italy whose voyages were subsidized by the Spanish crown) on October 12, 1492, has been a federal holiday in the U.S. since 1934. The first recognition of the anniversary on a national level was in 1892, when President Benjamin Harrison declared Columbus Day as a one-time national celebration after a mob murdered 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans, according to Wikipedia, which notes that “the proclamation was part of a wider effort after the lynching incident to placate Italian Americans and ease diplomatic tensions with Italy.” Many Italian-Americans now observe Columbus Day more as a celebration of their heritage rather than of Columbus specifically.

Washington Irving’s 1828 book A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus “is the source of much of the glorification and myth-making related to Columbus today and is considered highly fictionalized,” NPR noted in 2013 (“How Columbus Sailed Into U.S. History, Thanks to Italians”). However, public opinion has been turning against Columbus, a change initially fueled by A People’s History of the United States, a leftist view of the country’s past that was published in 1980. It’s now accepted by most that Columbus and his Spanish crewmen enslaved and killed Native Americans, who also died in great numbers from smallpox and other diseases introduced by the Europeans.

“Even at a very basic level, we can understand that we’re memorializing brutality, we’re memorializing abuse, we’re memorializing enslavement,” said Lincoln resident Jason Packineau, who is  an enrolled citizen of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota. “I see this name change as an opportunity for leadership,  an opportunity to understand we can speak the truth, self-evaluate and learn, and pursue justice.”

Columbus Day serves to “celebrate and honor the value of conquest and war. We know now that Columbus was not only part of that tradition, but he was a particularly brutal participant,” Jena Salon, a member of WIDE Lincoln, said in a statement at the board meeting. “There is no excuse to continue to celebrate and uplift this individual or the tradition from which he comes. We are here to ask the Select Board to stop listing a holiday on our town calendar which explicitly glorifies genocide and human rights violations. This seems like an easy change, one that requires little effort. If we aren’t willing to stand on the right side of issues when they require no sacrifice, what does that say about our true commitment to inclusion, equity, justice, and diversity?”

But John Toto, a Wayland resident and board member of the Italian American Alliance (IAA), argued against changing the name of the holiday. Although he said he agreed that Indigenous people should have their own holiday, he slammed Zinn’s book as being “not true academic knowledge.” He added that Native Americans “also practiced human trafficking, rape as a war tactic, cannibalism — you name it. We don’t talk about that and I wonder why.”

The move to rename Columbus Day is “denigrating him and in fact denigrating Italians,” Toto added. There’s a great deal of divisiveness in the country today, “and this is perpetrating more of that.” He also noted that the day after Thanksgiving was designated as Native American Heritage Day by President Obama in 2009, though it is not a holiday. In an email to the Lincoln Squirrel, he cited several other pro-Columbus sources including an article (“Columbus, Historical Hero: Today’s Cancel Culture’s Convenient Scapegoat”) by Tom Damigella, vice president of the IAA.

The Select Board will continue its discussion of the issue at its October 3 meeting.

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Order daffodil bulbs to benefit SSEP

Order daffodil bulbs to support South Sudanese Enrichment for Families (SSEF) Women’s Program by Friday, Sept. 30. All funds raised will go toward continuing education such as ESL and financial literacy. Pickup at the Lincoln mall on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23, where SSEF will also sell vibrant cloth napkins made from African patterned fabric. Click here to order bulbs.

Scarecrow Classic 5K coming up

Register for the 10th annual Scarecrow Classic 5K, a road and trail race through Lincoln’s conservation land that raises funds for the LLCT, on Sunday, Oct. 16 starting at 9:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to register by October 3 to guarantee their Scarecrow Classic T-shirt and (new this year) a Scarecrow Classic mesh running cap. A virtual participation option is also available through the registration form. Visit scarecrowclassic5k.com to learn more and register. 

Pumpkin picking in October

Matlock Farm, continually run by the Lincoln’s Flint family since the 17th century, will be hosting its annual pumpkin-picking event  in October. There will be hay rides, farm-themed photo ops, and more. The event is a great way to enjoy an autumn afternoon with your family in a safe, socially distanced setting. The events will take place on Saturdays and Sundays on all five weekends in October (weather permitting) from noon–4 p.m. in the field by 28 Lexington Rd.

Library offers virtual programs

The Lincoln Public Library will present the following virtual events hosted by the Tewksbury Public Library in collaboration with several Massachusetts libraries. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Library. Advance registration required.

Lincoln’s Feinberg profiled in news story

Gabriel Feinberg, a 2021 L-S graduate, was recently profiled in the sports section of the Metro West Daily News for his fencing, notably his role in the NCAA championship win for The Ohio State University Fencing Team and his spot on the Junior’s Men’s Epee USA Team. He hopes for to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Read more on this Olympia Fencing Center web page.

Solar array at landfill could be built starting next summer

The town has cleared a major hurdle in its years-long effort to create a solar photovoltaic array atop the capped landfill next to the transfer station.

The National Park Service owns the land along Route 2A and up the beginning of Mill Street, over which the town must create utility access to the site. The federal government was “vigorously protecting their rights” but recently came to an agreement with the town for an access permit, Town Administrator Tm Higgins reported at the September 12 Select Board meeting.

There will be an informational meeting via Zoom (passcode: 335408) on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. to explain the project background and impacts to abutters and others. According to an FAQ document that’s been distributed to abutters, the only noise from the installation once it’s operable will be a low hum from the inverter when the sun is shining and HVAC equipment inside the energy storage system as a volume that will be “negligible” at the nearby transfer station.

The solar array is expected to generate about 1 megawatt of electricity, which will feed into Eversource’s distribution system via the utility poles and power lines along Mill Street and be used to power town-owned buildings. The town will receive financial credits from Eversource for the energy produced, as well as annual property tax payments.

In 2017, residents approved a “land swap” arrangement whereby some of the landfill property was taken out of conservation status in exchange for putting the same amount of land elsewhere into conservation. That land is part of the Wang property on Bedford Road that the town purchased, now the site of an athletic field as well as nine acres of conservation land.

The town hopes to issue a request for proposals in October 2022 and receive competitive bids from solar companies by mid-November. Construction lasting 4-6 months could begin in summer 2023.

It may also be possible to create a trail link during the process of creating access to the site, Higgins said.

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Register for this weekend’s Hazardous Waste Collection Day

Lincolnites who want to bring materials to discard at the regional Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Sunday, Sept. 18 must preregister by the end of the day on Thursday, Sept. 15. Visit this Lexington town web page for more information and to register.

Select Board to discuss renaming Columbus Day

Last spring, Lincoln students wrote to the Select Board to request that the town change the name of the Columbus Day holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The Select Board will discuss the proposal during its meeting on Monday, Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and will likely take the matter under advisement until its October 3 meeting to provide residents the opportunity to share their views before a vote is taken. The board’s meetings are held in a hybrid format, creating the opportunity for residents to attend in person or via Zoom (passcode: 378902). Those who are unable to attend but would like to provide input are welcome to e-mail the board care of Administrative Assistant Peggy Elder (elderp@lincolntown.org).

Share ideas for Complete Streets grants

Lincoln is in the process of preparing a new five-year Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. Complete Streets is a state-funded grant program to help municipalities improve their streets to accommodate users of all ages and abilities, whether driving, cycling, or walking. Each municipality is allowed up to $400,000 through a four-year rolling period.

Previous Complete Streets grants funded the pocket park with its bike repair station and informational kiosk, repairs to various bike path segments that had been damaged by tree roots, a new sidewalk segment on Lincoln Road near the Ryan Estate, and a crosswalk with flashing lights and a pedestrian island on Route 117 close to the Lincoln Road intersection.

Town officials will be using an online platform called Wikimapping to get public feedback on where in town you would like to see improvements for walking, cycling, driving, and public transit. Click here through the end of October to share your thoughts about transportation issues and opportunities. There will also be a public forum on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. via Zoom at this link (passcode: 783032).

Correction

The September 13 story headlined “First Parish in Lincoln gets a dynamic duo” incorrectly said that Rev. Kit Novotny’s parents founded a UCC church in Wellesley Hills (they joined one but did not found it). The article also misstated Rev. Nate Klug’s college major. He studied English, while Novotny majored in theater and anthropology. The story has been corrected.

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Apply for Cultural Council grants

The Lincoln Cultural Council is accepting proposals for programs that serve Lincoln residents. Register here for a Massachusetts Cultural Council webinar for new applicants on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. The application deadline is October 17.  Click here to learn more about local grant priorities and how to apply. Questions? Email Meg Ramsey with any questions at meg.ramsey@verizon.net.

Library hosts banned-book discussions

To recognize Banned Books Week, there will discussions about banned books at the Lincoln Public Library:

  • Readers in grades 4-6 and their families: Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. Email dleopold@minlib.net to register.
  • Readers in grades 7+ and their families: Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. Email sfeather@minlib.net to register.

Kids’ dance classes for LincFam members

LincFam (the Lincoln Family Association) invites new members to join the group and participate in a series of free classes for children ages 1-5 led by Lincoln resident Margie Topf, founder and artistic director of the Topf Center for Dance Education. Classes take place on four Saturday mornings: September 17 and 24, and October 8 and 15. To learn more, see this LincFam web page or email info@lincfam.org.

Cronin lecture at deCordova

The Paul J. Cronin Memorial Lecture at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will take place at the museum on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 6:30–8 p.m. The event is a conversation among leading museum figures Candice Hopkins, executive director of the Forge Project; Julie Decker, director/CEO of the Anchorage Museum; and Jane Winchell, director of the Art & Nature Center and leader of the Museum Climate & Environment Initiative at the Peabody Essex Museum. The panel will share ideas with one another about the relationship of art and arts organization to climate change discourse. Panelists will reveal ways in which their organizations are forging connections between cultural, artistic, and natural resources. Moderated by Jessica May, artistic director at the deCordova and managing director of art and  exhibitions for The Trustees. Click here for more information and to register.