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

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Artist’s open house with Peter Sugar

There will be an open house at the Lincoln Public Library on Sunday, June 2 from 3–5 p.m. to mark the opening of an exhibit of charcoal drawings of trees by Lincoln resident Peter Sugar. The exhibit will be on view until June 20.

Codman campout and BBQ coming up

On Saturday, June 15, Codman Community Farms will hold its annual barbecue and campout starting at 5:30 p.m. This year’s menu features Codman-grown proteins, including CCF’s 100% grass-fed burgers and hot dogs as well as tasty pasture-raised pork sausages and chicken drumsticks. After dinner, enjoy ‘smores, songs around the campfire, and then stay and sleep under the stars.

Tickets must purchased by all campers and are also available to those just wishing to come for the evening. Since the far is serving its own food this year and need to plan, please buy tickets by Friday, June 7. Campsites are $35 (membership to the farm is required). Dinner is $25 for adults and $15 for kids. Click here for more information and to register.

Champagne with Chicks to benefit Lovelane

Lovelane Special Needs Therapeutic Horseback Riding’s Run for Love  second annual fundraiser takes place Saturday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m., at 18 Cerulean Way. This year’s theme is Champagne with Chicks — a glittery, adults-only cocktail party for Lovelane with a herd of adult (miniature) farm animals on the loose in co-host Joanna Schmergel’s house and backyard.Two ensembles (Hessie Swain’s and Mary Crowe’s) will be performing live jazz and blues. Women are encouraged to wear anything with lace, shimmer, sparkle or shine. Get dressed up and cuddle an adult emu, miniature donkey, goat, horse, sheep, pig, puddleduck or alpaca and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, champagne, wine, and a raffle. Minimum donation to attend is $100 per guest. Please RSVP online by Sunday, June 2. 

Sign up in advance for July 4 Firecracker Run

If you plan to run the Lincoln Firecracker Run on the Fourth of July, please click here to register in advance. Registration for the 2.5 or 4 mile scenic run is $20 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under and includes a T-shirt. Registration is held at the Town Hall, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. The registration link will be open until midnight on July 3.

Register now for 2019-20 youth soccer

Lincoln Youth Soccer registration is now open for all ages for the 2019-2020 season.If you have a child entering grades 3-8, please register them as soon as possible to guarantee your child a spot and determine the number of travel teams by age group to submit to BAYS. To register, click here. Please note that if you have a child entering third grade, you must also order a uniform through the online registration process.

For those entering grades 7-8 only, there will be mandatory tryouts for the 2019-2020 season on Wednesday and Thursday, June 12 and 13 at Wang Field, 100 Bedford Rd. Only registered players will be allowed to try out. If there needs to be more tha one team, players will be placed on either the A team or B team based on skill level. Click here to submit your RSVP for tryouts. Children should come prepared to play soccer with cleats, shin guards and water. Tryouts will be run by Aiden Dobens, director of coaching for Lincoln Youth Soccer (aidendobens@gmail.com) on:

  • Wednesday, June 12: 4:30-6 p.m. for U14 girls, 6-7:30 p.m. for U14 boys
  • Thursday, June 13: 4:30-6 p.m. for U14 boys, 6-7:30 p.m. for U14 girls

Registrants are eligible for refunds of 90% of the registration fee before July 1; there will be no refunds after that date.

Council on Aging activities in June

Free wellness clinics for all ages
June 4 at 10 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, June 4 (note new day this month only) from 10 a.m.–noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, June 18 from 9–11 a.m. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. The Bemis Hall clinic is supported by the Pierce House.

Noticing walk with John Calabria
June 4 at 1 p.m.
Place: TBA
Come for a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on June 4 from 1–2:30 p.m. at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

Improving communication between you and your parents as they get older
June 5 at 7 p.m.
As your parents age it can be hard to navigate the issues that arise. There can be tension between wanting to respect their autonomy in decision-making but also wanting to voice your concerns for their safety and well-being. Additionally, it can be difficult to know how to raise concerns and discuss sensitive planning issues. If you would like to learn some tips and strategies as well as have a chance to discuss your situation and concerns, come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, June 5 at 7 p.m. when Claire Gerstein, LICSW, will present information and then lead a discussion. Claire has many years of experience helping caregivers and elders work together to create the best experience for each. Caregiving is a journey and good communication can only make it better.

Musical jazz lunch
June 7 at 12:30 p.m.
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring old friends and make new ones. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert. Friday June 7,  at noon for an hour or until everyone has had enough.

Piano performance with Abla Shocair and her grandchildren
June 7 at 3 p.m.
All ages are invited to a piano concert with Abla Shocair and her grandchildren, Nooreddeen and Zaineddeen Kawaf, at Bemis Hall on Friday, June 7 at 3 p.m. Abla will play works by Beethoven, Bartok, Chopin and the boys will play pieces by Mozart. All ages are welcome. This year’s concert is dedicated to the memory of Abla’s beloved companion and husband, Fawaz Kawaf, who passed away this year and who had attended all her concerts since they met. He was a very bright civil engineer and outstanding project manager with exceptional math skills and was always kind and honest in his relationships with everybody. Abla started her piano lessons at the age of four and is a civil/structural engineer. Born in Amman, she has given many concerts in different venues.

What are your rights as a tenant or landlord?
June 10 at 10 a.m.
Whether you are a tenant in rented housing or a landlord renting housing, knowing your rights and responsibilities can help make sure everything goes well. Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, June 10 at 10 a.m. when Tim Depin, program manager in the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey, will explain tenancy based on a lease versus tenancy at will, obligations of both landlord and tenant, what information must be in the rental agreement, payments at the start of the tenancy, security deposit laws, the sanitary code, the eviction process, housing discrimination, and what to do if you have a problem. Bring your questions and concerns.

Free elder law clinic
June 10 at 3 p.m.
Got a question about issues such as estate planning, MassHealth, protecting assets for a loved one with a serious disability, guardianship, conservatorship or probate? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, June 10, from 3–4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the thirty-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

“Oklahoma!” trip
June 12 at 10:30 a.m.
Place: bus leaves from Mall parking lot 
On Wednesday, June 12, the COA is going to the North Shore Music Theatre for the matinee performance of Rodgers And Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” The legendary score including, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” “The Surry With the Fringe on Top,” “I Cain’t Say No!” and the rousing title tune will put a smile on your face. The air-conditioned air-ride bus will be in the Donelan’s parking lot at 10:15 a.m., departure is 10:30 a.m. The trip will return at approximately 6 p.m. Before the show you will have lunch at the Danvers Yacht Club. You’ll have your choice of three entrees, salad and dessert. There are just 27 Inner Circle tickets, so don’t delay as this show will sell out. The final count must be given by May 12. The trip is rated easy for physical ability and entails only a moderate amount of walking. There are no steps. The price is $59 including lunch, and is non-refundable. To reserve a space, send a check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Virginia O’Brien, 4 Linway Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone number and email address. Your reservation is complete when your check is received. Questions? Contact Virginia at 781-259-1291 or vobrien39@yahoo.com.

Strawberry & ice cream social
June 13 at 12 p.m.
Celebrate this special time of year at the annual strawberry ice cream social which will be held at Bemis Hall on Thursday, June 13 at noon. The Social is sponsored by the COA and the Friends of the COA. Bring a bag lunch at noon or just come for dessert. Make your own ice cream sundae with luscious ice cream topped with strawberries, chocolate, and more. Then share conversation with friends old and new. Please RSVP to the COA by calling 781-259-8811. Tell them when you call if you’ll need a ride.

Public safety cookout
June 14 at 11 a.m.
Place: Pierce House
Join Public Safety on Friday, June 14 at 11 a.m. for a cookout at the Pierce House. You’ll start off by finding out more about current trends in frauds and scams and how to avoid being a victim, home safety from both police and fire perspectives, and services offered by Public Safety. At noon, Public Safety will be cooking up hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers with all the fixin’s. Because the event will be under the tent, the cookout will go on rain or shine. Please sign up by June 8 by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Fireside chat: what are the biggest changes you’ve seen in the past 5, 10 or 50 years?
June 15 at 10 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Woods
The world is much different from the one many of us grew up in, or is it? What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in the past decades, whether social, economic, political, cultural, spiritual, or other? Have they made life better or worse? Or are the basics of life – love of family, the need for community, human nature – still much the same? Come from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 15 in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods, 50 Wells Rd., for a friendly discussion facilitated by Sharon Antia. Remember to park in unmarked spaces.

All in the family: communication with your adult children
June 17 at 1 p.m.
Communicating with your adult children in later life brings unique challenges as it may feel at times like they want to take control of decision making and planning. It can be hard to bring up certain issues that are of concern for you, and also to listen to their worries for you. This will be an opportunity to think about the conflicts that may arise in even the most loving and well-intentioned relationships. Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, June 17 at 1 p.m. when Claire Gerstein, LICSW, gives tips and strategies for keeping the relationship positive and communication open and offers you an opportunity to share stories and ideas.

Taking care of your family treasures
June 19 at 1 p.m.
Join Kathleen Fahey for a presentation on how to care for your family treasures on Wednesday, June 19 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. You will learn how to clean, polish, store, and display your treasured heirlooms including books, furniture, ceramics, paintings, silver, and textiles. Bring your questions and any items you want to learn more about (or a photo of larger items). Kathleen is the Executive Director of the Bedford Historical Society and has over 20 years of experience as a curator at local historical sites.

VA health system benefits overview
June 20 at 10:15 a.m.
Join Lincoln’s Veterans Services Officer Peter Harvell on Thursday, June 20 at 10:15 a.m. for an overview of the VA’s Health Benefits system. Get an overview of the system and how it works and what benefits it offers and find out if you or a family member might be eligible. Whether you are interested for yourself or a family member, come on down.

Improve your urinary health for overall wellness
June 20 at 2 p.m.
Problems with your urinary tract, such as a urinary tract infection or incontinence, can create major problems with your overall wellness and quality of life. You can take steps to prevent problems or manage those that you already have. Come find out more when Trish McGean comes to Bemis Hall on Thursday, June 20 at 2 p.m. She will let you know some of the basics of urinary health as well as updates on how you can make sure your urinary tract is as healthy as it can be.

Celebrate LGBT Pride Month
June 21 at 11 a.m.
June is LGBT Pride Month and you are invited to celebrate! Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, June 21 at 11 a.m. for delicious refreshments and great conversation! Come share your thoughts, ideas, life experiences. All are welcome.

Get your MBTA Senior CharlieCard
June 21 at 1 p.m.
If you are 65 or older and need to get a Senior CharlieCard for the first time, come to the COA’s Senior CharlieCard event on June 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Bemis Hall. You will need to bring your driver’s license or ID or your passport. They will take your photo, have you fill out an application, copy your license, ID, or passport, and you’re done. The MBTA will mail your Senior CharlieCard in 4 to 6 weeks. No need to sign up. If you need to replace your card, call the MBTA at 617-222-3200 as the COA cannot provide this service.

Memory Café
June 27 at 9:30 a.m.
The Commons in Lincoln, Right-at-Home In Home Care and Assistance, and the Lincoln Council on Aging invite those with dementia and their family, friends, and caregivers to the free Lincoln Memory Café on Thursday, June 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the main building of The Commons in Lincoln. This month, the Café presents guitarist and singer Rick Maida. Future Cafés will be held on the fourth Thursday of each month from 9:30–11 a.m. at The Commons. Contact a.m.y Gagne of Right at Home In Home Care and Assistance, 781-275-1400 or amy@rightathomecare.com or the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Save the date:

Save the Isles of Shoals
Come sail away with the COA on July 25 aboard the Victorian style M/V Thomas Laighton to experience the fascinating legends of the legendary New Hampshire & Maine Seacoast. The Isles of Shoals, located 9 miles off of the coast, are an intriguing archipelago of nine islands steeped with history. You’ll stop for lunch at Warren’s Lobster House in Kittery, Maine. The bus will depart Donelan’s parking lot at 9:45 a.m. and return about 6:30 p.m. The cost of the trip is $59 and is non-refundable. Questions? Contact Donna at 781-257-5050. To reserve a space please make check payable to FLCOA/Trips and mail to: Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Deadline to reserve is July 5.

Tai chi in the park, and sign up for next fall’s tai chi classes

Sign up now for tai chi in the park, which will meet Tuesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. with tai chi form practice at 10:30 a.m. at Pierce Park from July 9 to August 6 at a cost of $5 per day. Bring a water bottle, lawn chair and a hat. In bad weather, we will meet under the tent. We may use the Pierce House restroom. The class is for continuing students only.

 

New students may also sign up for fall beginning classes, to be held for 13 weeks starting September 16:

  • Mondays, 2:15– 3:15 p.m.
  • Wednesdays, 1– 2 p.m.
  • Thursdays, 9:15–10:15

$60 for one class per week, $80 for two classes per week, and $100 for three classes per week. For info, contact Jane Moss at 781-259-9822 or mindbodyjm@comcast.net.

Lincoln’s new Wang Field is open for play

Courtney Wang cuts the ribbon for Lincoln’s new athletic field next to the house he grew up in (click to enlarge).

Lincoln’s first new athletic field in more than 50 years officially opened last week with a ribbon-cutting by Courtney Wang, the son of the couple whose land the field now occupies.

Computer entrepreneur An Wang and his wife Lorraine raised their children on Bedford Road close to Route 2. After Lorraine passed away in 2016, the Rural Land Foundation and the Birches School together bought the Wang’s 16-acre property. The house was renovated and became the school’s new permanent home, and the other 12 acres is now Wang Field.

Attendees at the April 24 ribbon-cutting ceremony applauded the people and groups that made the project possible: Geoff McGean, executive director of the RLF; Dan Pereira, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, which will oversee use of the field (purchased from the RLF by the town in 2017); the Ogden Codman Trust, which provided a seed grant of $50,000; Patty Donahue, who was instrumental in raising funds for the field construction; and Courtney Wang, who flew in from Texas for the occasion.

Stone benches and bricks carry the names of Lincoln residents who made donations to fund the field construction.

Wang (cofounder of O-File and a trustee of the Wang Foundation) told the story of playing in a smaller area close to his house as a boy. The little field was not exactly ideal, being uneven and rocky, so he asked his parents for help in fixing it up — but the answer was no. “You guys can ride your bikes to the school fields—that’s what they’re there for,” he recalled them saying.

Now, seeing the beautiful new field in what was once his back yard, “the 10-year-old in me says ‘whoah, this is totally awesome—this is a dream come true!’ I hope you find it as special for you as it was for me growing up,” Wang said. He then “broke in” the field by kicking a soccer ball into one of the goals, and the ball was later signed by guests at the ribbon-cutting for him to take home as a souvenir.

News acorns

L-S Spring Instrumental Concert this week

The L-S music department presents the Spring Instrumental Concert on Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lincoln-Sudbury Auditorium. Ensembles performing include the Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. The orchestra is directed by Mr. Kyung-Nam Oh, and the bands are directed by Thomas Grandprey.

Four senior violinists — Katherine Feng, Michael Yue, Evan Lee, and Emma Christman — will be featured on “4 Violins Concerto No. 10 in B minor” (RV 580) by Vivaldi. Members of the Concert Band’s percussion section will be featured on an eclectic work entitled “Arabian Dances” by Brian Balmages. The orchestra and bands will combine for “Grand Finale, Music from the DreamWorks film Gladiator,” and there will be awards for the student musicians. L-S Friends of Music will sell concessions to help support instrument purchases and fund master classes for the music program.

Bird-a-Thon fundraiser coming up

Mass Audubon’s annual Bird-a-thon fundraiser will take place for 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, May 10–11 from 6 p.m.–6.p.m., when hundreds of birders of all abilities will compete to ID the most species statewide over a 24-hour period. Bird-a-thon takes place in the midst of the spring migration, when millions of birds are returning to Massachusetts to breed and raise young, or stopping to rest and feed in the Bay State before continuing farther north. 

Not a birder? Not a problem! Bird-a-thon Boosters participate by fundraising for their favorite teams. Boosters may bird non-competitively, do their own nature-focused activity, or simply rally support for those spending long hours in the field. Last year’s participants raised more than $255,000—the highest amount since the event began in 1983—and identified 275 species, the most ever recorded. Sponsors this year include Presenting Sponsor, Comosse Masonry Supply of Worcester, and WBUR. Click here to participate, donate, and learn more about Bird-a-thon.

Food project selling seedlings, CSA shares

Purchase vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings to start your garden at The Food Project’s Baker Bridge Farm (94 Concord Rd., Lincoln) on Saturday and Sunday, May 11–12 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. (rain or shine). The Food Project also has Lincoln CSA shares still available; visit csa.thefoodproject.org for details.

Community Capture the Flag

Join fellow Lincolnites for an all-ages Community Capture the Flag on Saturday, May 4 from 4–6 p.m. at the Pierce House. Rules will be explained when you arrive. Please wear clothing with your team color: blue for last names beginning with A–K, red for last names beginning L–Z. There will be extra uniforms for those in need. Park on the grass alongside Weston Road.

LLCT seeks summer help

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is looking for a part-time summer land management intern who will work closely with the LLCT Stewardship Coordinator on land management activities, trail maintenance, baseline monitoring, and special projects. The position is for 15 hours a week over two days from the week of June 1 through August 15(11 weeks), and additional weeks may be considered. Click here details about the position and how to apply. Applications are due by May 15.

Lincoln Dems to hold caucus

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will hold its caucus on Saturday, May 18 from 9–11 a.m. in Bemis Hall. All Democrats registered in Lincoln are invited to elect delegates and alternates to the 2019 Massachusetts Democratic State Convention on September 14 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Democrats from across the state will come together to discuss party business and focus on policies for the Democrats to support leading into the 2020 election.

Pre-registered Democrats who will be 16 by May 11 may participate and run as a delegate or alternate. Lincoln can elect five delegates and four alternates to the convention. Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as a delegate or alternate may apply to be add-on delegates to the caucus or at www.massdems.org. Questions? Contact DTC co-chairs Barbara Slayter (bslayter@comcast.net) or Peter Pease (ppease72@gmail..com).

Youth in Philanthropy Program accepting applications

The Foundation for MetroWest is now accepting applications for fall Youth in Philanthropy. All MetroWest high school students interested in making an impact in their communities are encouraged to apply. Programs will take place in Hopkinton, Natick, and Sudbury (dates, times, and meeting locations vary). Click here for more information and to apply. The priority application deadline is Friday, June 7. Students who apply after June 7 will receive an admission decision on a rolling basis as program space allows.

YIP’s experiential learning program teaches participants how to become engaged and informed civic leaders in our community via the importance of philanthropy and the needs that exist in our backyard. Students work together to evaluate grant applications and distribute funds to worthy area nonprofits. YIP also helps local youth develop valuable skills including critical thinking, understanding budgets, public speaking, consensus building, and case-making.

Upcoming events in deCordova galleries

  • Join  Biennial artist Emilie Stark-Menneg with collaborators Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon and Desmond Bratton for “Confirmation: A Live Performance” in the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum galleries on Thursday, May 23 from 6–7 p.m. Free; registration requested.
  • In “Art and Neuroscience: A Gallery Talk with Nancy Etcoff” on Saturday, June 1 from 1–2 p.m., psychologist Etcoff will draw connections between art and the mind, offering a unique perspective on the Biennial. Free with admission or membership; registration requested.

News acorns

Dozens of bikes collected for Bikes Not Bombs

Louis D’Angelo, a volunteer from Bikes Not Bombs, and Ethan Webber, a junior at Lincoln-Sudbury, with the bikes collected in the Hartwell lot.

The Bikes Not Bombs collection in Lincoln on April 7 netted 83 bikes and monetary donations. Volunteers prepped the bikes for shipping during the day as well. The organization collects about 5,000 used bicycles and tons of used parts each year in greater Boston and New England; most are shipped to economic development projects through international partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Green burial information session

On Saturday, April 27 from 3–5 p.m. at the Ryan Estate (140 Lincoln Rd.), Lincoln resident Carol DiGianni will host an informational session on green burial with legal facts, logistical details, and a discussion of the personal benefits of caring for your loved one at home after death and having a natural or green burial with minimal environmental impact.

St. Julia Parish event marks 100 years

St. Julia Parish’s Centenary Gala will be on Saturday, May 4 in the St. Julia Parish Center Hall at 374 Boston Post Rd. in Weston (St. Joseph Church in Lincoln is part of the St. Julia parish). Dinner will be served at 7:15 p.m. with a cash bar. There will also be a raffle/silent auction. Tickets ($50 per person) will be on sale after Masses on March 30-31 and April 6-7 and in the parish offices until April 29. Ticket price is $50 per person. To reserve a table, please call 781-899-4734.

deCordova sponsors 5K trail run, Party for the Park 

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s annual fundraising gala, Party for the Park, will he on Saturday, May 11. The festive event—which includes cocktails, dinner, an auction of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and a dance party in the galleries—will celebrate deCordova’s integration into the Trustees of Reservations. The evening’s special guest is Anita Walker, Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council. Ticket and table proceeds from Party for the Park will help to make partnership with the Trustees possible while providing vital funds to support deCordova’s exhibitions, lectures, and programs. Tickets starting at $500 can be reserved by emailing rsvp@decordova.org or online at decordova.org/party.

The fourth annual Art and Nature 5K Trail Race kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 22. The course begins in deCordova’s Sculpture Park and continues through Lincoln’s conservation trails alongside Flint’s Pond (note that this is a trail run with lots of rocks, roots, dips, turns, and some uphill terrain). Participants are welcome to run or walk the race, and everyone gets a deCordova 5K T-shirt.

There’s also a pre-race yoga session from 8:45–9:15 a.m. New this year: children 9 and under can participate in a free 50-yard dash at 10:15 a.m. (space is limited; registration required). Register online by Tuesday, April 30 for a $5 early-bird discount. Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help with check-in, water stations, trail wayfinding, and general assistance for runners and their families. Please contact Sarah Oh at soh@decordova.org. 

Margaret Ramsey honored for philanthropy

Margaret Ramsay

Foundation for MetroWest, the community foundation serving the 33 cities and towns of MetroWest Boston, has announced that Lincoln resident Margaret “Meg” Ramsey will receive the Community Philanthropist Award.

In addition to being a trustee for the Foundation for MetroWest, Ramsey is a past board member of Belmont Day School and a past chair of the Lincoln Scholarship Committee. She also serves as a board member at the Discovery Museum in Acton, chair of the Lincoln Cultural Council, and a member of the Parents’ Council at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is founder and managing trustee of the Ramsey McCluskey Family Foundation, which funds projects in arts education and general education in eastern Massachusetts.

Ramsey, who has degrees in computer science and electrical engineering, spent 20 years in software research, development, and consulting, including research positions at Bell Laboratories, teaching at Rutgers University, and co-founding a software startup company. 

“Meg has been involved with the work of the Foundation for more than 15 years, originally getting involved through our Youth in Philanthropy program,” said Judy Salerno, executive director of the Foundation for MetroWest. “She has always had an interest in philanthropy education, and she truly represents what it means to be not only a philanthropist and a board member but also a caring member of the community. She has been a wonderful friend to the foundation and an asset to our region.”

Mary Gordon, founder and president of Roots of Empathy, will be the 2019 keynote speaker at the Spring Inspiration Breakfast, where Ramsey will receive her award. The event will be held on Thursday, April 25 from 9–11 a.m. at the Wellesley Country Club, 300 Wellesley Ave.

Lincoln GearTicks team advances to world championship

By Kevin Ji

The Lincoln-based GearTicks robotics team did well at a state championship in Oxford, Penn., earlier this month and advanced to the world championship in Detroit in April.

The GearTicks take part in a competition called the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for middle and high school students, where they design, build, and program robots to compete in a challenge each year while also promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in their community. Teams all over the globe compete in this competition.

This year’s challenge, Rover Ruckus, features whiffle balls and gold cubes. Each team must design a robot that can deliver as many of these “minerals” into the lander — an elevated box with separate containers for the whiffle balls and the cubes. At the end of the game, robots get extra points for attaching to the lander and lifting off the ground. On top of that, each team can program a set of instructions for a 30-second autonomous period at the start of the match, where robots get points for finding a gold mineral in a randomized place and dropping off a “team marker” in the corner of the field, along with other tasks.

The matches were intense. After winning four out of five qualifying matches, the GearTicks were ranked fourth seed and became the division finalist in the tournament. The GearTicks were also runners-up for the Inspire Award, the highest award at the competition. The team impressed the judges with their community outreach and robot design.

The team was very excited to attend the states, meeting other teams and participating in the matches, and the volunteer event organizers were genuinely happy to be there. There were lots of laughs, dancing, and even ice cream.

GearTicks at the FIRST Tech Challenge in Pennsylvania included (left to right) Jack Hutchinson, Ben Morris, Olivia Crisafi, Ken Hawkey, Amelia Pillar, Audrey Gammack, Evan Lee, and Erin Crisafi (crouching with the team’s robot). All are Lincoln residents except Morris, who is from Sudbury. Other team members are Kevin Ji from Sudbury and Linconites Alex Payne, Andreas Muzila, Howie Tsang, Laura and Emily Appleby, Prerna Karmacharya, and Ken Hawkey.

 
 

 

Town seeks about $2 million for capital, community preservation items

A new roof for the Hartwell building and an irrigation system for the playing field next to the Codman Pool make up about half of the dollars requested from the Capital Planning Committee (CapComm) and the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). The items will be put to a vote in three warrant articles at Town Meeting on March 23.

A new roof for the Hartwell building will cost $600,000, comprising the lion’s share of the $875,898 requested by CapComm (see full list below). The CPC is seeking $826,306 for a list of items for recreation, housing, and historic preservation purposes (see below), plus another appropriation of up to $400,000 for the irrigation system. Because that item is large and requires more explanation, it’s been put into a separate warrant article, Parks and Recreation Department Dan Pereira said.

The town eventually plans to install irrigation systems in all of its athletic fields, but it’s starting with Codman field because it’ll be the only one available on campus during the upcoming school renovation project and will thus be very heavily used, Pereira noted. (The central ballfield will be occupied by temporary classrooms, while the field behind Smith will be a construction zone.)

Parks and Rec is asking for up to $400,000, but the actual cost next year may be significantly less than that — it all depends on the water supply that’s found. Engineers have identified several sites on the campus that look promising, but the exact yield of water won’t be known until well-drilling starts.

If a well site close to the Codman field yields enough water for that field and no more, the immediate cost might be only $200,000, Pereira said. If the well doesn’t produce enough water to irrigate on demand, there would be an added cost of about $100,000 for an underground holding tank where water can accumulate.

On the other hand, engineers might locate a single well site that could supply enough water for all the fields. In that case, a larger underground tank would be needed at an additional cost of about $200,000 — but there would be no further costs down the road for digging a second well.

“We would only spend that $400,000 if we got a  great opportunity to save a ton of money later,” Pereira said.

Officials considered using town water but rejected the idea because of cost. The Water Department charges a fee for providing water that’s treated to make it safe for drinking — an unnecessary expense for irrigation water. “If we were paying annual water bills, our budget would be destroyed,” Pereira said. Drilling a well is a one-time expense, and Parks and Rec would pay only for electricity and occasional maintenance in the future.

The department uses town water to moisten the clay tennis courts on the south side of the campus so they don’t dry and dissolve, “but a ballfield needs an inch a week — that’s a mammoth amount of water” in comparison, he said.

After the new Wang field opens this spring and the school project is finished, the town will have enough fields to be able to take one out of service each year to let it rest and let the annual application of grass seed take hold. Having the fields irrigated will also greatly improve the quality of the grass.

To avoid wasting water, moisture sensors in the soil will trigger the irrigation system so the fields get water only when needed, and not in the heat of the day, Pereira said.

Capital Planning Committee requests

Capital itemCost
ANew pickup truck for the Department of Public Works$42,000
BReplacing outdated mobile radios for the Fire Department$14,000
CUpdating the Council on Aging phone system$6,500
DFacilities condition assessment at the library$30,000
ENew Kubota tractor for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School$6,897
FReplacing marked police cruiser #1$37,063
GReplacing marked police cruiser #2$41,938
HPhase 1 of the public safety radio communications project$37,500
IReplacing the roof on the Hartwell building$660,000
TOTAL:$875,898

Community Preservation Committee requests

(click here for a detailed explanation of each item)

CPA projectCategoryCost
ADebt service payment for the town offices renovation projectHistoric preservation$386,275
BReplacing the Codman Farm Barn B, C, and office roofsHistoric preservation$110,000
CRental assistance program for residents at riskCommunity housing$30,000
DPreservation of First Book of Records 1754-1806Historic preservation$20,825
ERepair the headwall over the culvert on the Pierce House propertyHistoric preservation$6,000
FA new water chemistry controller system for the Codman PoolRecreation$42,500
GDebt service payments due on permanent borrowing for previously voted CPA projects—$127,550
HCommunity Preservation Committee administrative expenses—$3,000
SUBTOTAL:$726,150
IHousing reserve$100,158
GRAND TOTAL:$826,308

Lincoln Winter Carnival events planned, snow or shine

“Snowman Mailbox” built by Team Webber (11 Minebrook Rd.) for the 2015 Winter Carnival.

All weekend: Online snow sculpture contest
Build your snow sculpture, then snap a photo with you in it and send it to dsequeira@lincnet.org. Submit as many sculptures as you like! We will accept submissions until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 and then post them online for voting. Winners will be chosen on Sunday, Feb. 3.

Thursday, January 31

Bauhaus: The Face of the 20th Century
7–9 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus, FoMA and Historic New England offer this 50-minute film looking at the development of the Bauhaus, its work, its key figures, and footage of its founder and Lincoln resident Walter Gropius. The film examines the political unrest and economic chaos of the Weimar Republic in Germany and offers rare footage of the Bauhaus at Dessau. Enjoy refreshments and conversation after the film.

Friday, February 1

Evening at Gropius
5–7 p.m., Gropius House (68 Baker Bridge Rd.)
During this evening house tour, see how Walter Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Gropius, founder of the German design school the Bauhaus, was one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century. His 1938 home show cases the clean lines of Modernist design. Light refreshments provided. Call 781-259- 8098 for more info. Free to residents.

LPTO family bingo night
5:30–7:30 p.m., Brooks gym
Come celebrate Family Bingo Night with even more chances to win. Prizes awarded for each winning board. Awesome raffle prizes up for grabs. Pizza dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. with snacks and drinks available for purchase all night. Free entry. Bingo cards are $5 (15-game multi-pack); raffle tickets are $1 each, or six for $5 and 15 for $10 (suggested donation).

Saturday, Feb. 2

Community pancake breakfast
8–11 a.m., First Parish Church parish house
Start Off Winter Carnival Saturday with delicious pancakes with real maple syrup, courtesy of the Lincoln Girl Scouts. Plain, blueberry, choc chip, and gluten-free pancakes with pure maple syrup along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit. Meet friends, catch up with neighbors, enjoy crafts and of course, Girl Scout cookies will be on sale. $5 for those under 12, $10 for everyone else ($30 family maximum).

Snowshoe tours
10:30 a.m.–noon and 1–2:30 p.m., deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Enjoy nature and art in winter. Discover a fun and active way to explore the Sculpture Park. Tours are led by a museum guide and an EMS instructor. Visit decordova.org/calendar to purchase tickets. Rent snowshoes or bring your own.

Fun and games at Magic Garden
11 a.m.–1 p.m. Magic Garden Preschool
Enjoy carnival games, arts and crafts activities and indoor “ice skating” in your socks. Magic Garden is located in the Hartwell building on the Lincoln School campus. Follow the walkway up the hill, past the toddler playground to our front door. We look forward to seeing you there. This event is best suited for children ages 2 to 5 years.

Lincoln holistic wellness fair
Noon–3 p.m., Bemis Hall
Wellness practitioners will provide a drop-in “clinic” to help address what ails you while providing information about alternative/complementary medicine. Receive care from practitioners of acupuncture, therapeutic massage, reflexology, holistic nutrition, yoga, ayurveda, integrative imagery, therapeutic touch, dowsing and more. Healthy teas and treats will be available. Contact Jai Kaur Annamaria at asanajai@verizon.net with questions.

Community skating  and bonfire
1–3 p.m., Cemetery Pond, Lexington Road
Enjoy skating, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows by the campfire. Bring your own skates. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will be hosting a Capture the Flag event instead, so stay tuned to www.LincolnRec.com for updates.

LFA Energy Blaster
3:15–5:15 p.m., Brooks gym
Jump in a bounce house, run through an obstacle course, climb, and slide. The gym will be filled with fun ways to let out some energy. Free for 2019 LFA members ($10 per child for non-members). A new 2019 LFA membership or renewal on the spot ($50/year) gives you admission, or renew online at www.lincfam.org.

Owl prowl at Farrington
4:30–6 p.m., Farrington Nature Linc (291 Cambridge Turnpike)
Join us for a free guided “owl prowl” for the whole family with ornithologist Clay Graham on Farrington’s unique 75-acre property. We’ll make an owl-themed craft, learn about types of owls local to our region and their calls, and take a short early-evening hike to look and listen for owls, followed by a story and hot chocolate by our wood stove. All ages welcome, but geared toward families with children ages 4+. Registration is limited to 30 people—click here to register online.

Lincoln acoustic coffeehouse
7–10 p.m., Bemis Hall
Our annual night to showcase local musicians and performers. We have over 14 acts—some returning, some new—ready to play for you, and there’s a good chance you know some of them. Coffee and desserts will be served. Tickets are available online at www.LincolnRec.com. General admission is $10 and a table for eight is $160.

Sunday, February 3

Discover Drumlin in winter
Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Rd.
Visit our animals in their winter homes, look for wildlife tracks or other signs of animals in the snow, or check out our feeders at our wildlife blind. Drop-in programs take place at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. Free for Lincoln residents.

Make your own pinecone owl
10:30–noon, deCordova carriage house
Join Lincoln Nursery School in partnership with deCordova to craft your own pinecone owl. Bring your own pinecone or use one of ours. Appropriate for all ages.

Let the games begin
12:30–2 p.m., First Parish in Lincoln parish house
Join us after lunch for some old-fashioned unplugged, battery-free fun: Boggle, Jenga, marbles, Scrabble and, and cocoa and community. Prizes for all ages. Visit fplincoln.org for more info.

Hiking, wine tasting, and board games
1–3:30 p.m., Pierce House/Turtle Creek Winery
3:30–5:30 p.m., Pierce House
Gather at the Pierce House for a short hike through the woods to Turtle Creek Winery to partake in a wine tasting before returning to the Pierce House for hot cider, snacks, and board games (bring your favorite if you like). Come for one or both events. Wine tasting is limited to 15 persons, age 21+. $15 per person. Registration required at www.LincolnRec.com. Questions? Contact Nancy at nancy@piercehouse.com.

Hula La!
2–3 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
Chase away those winter blues at our tropical island dance party. In their fun, interactive musical show, the band Hula La will entertain the whole family with a blend of Hawaiian, calypso and reggae music that will take you to the islands.

New bike/pedestrian group seeks members

A new Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is being formed to advise the Board of Selectmen and other committees and boards on issues of cycling and pedestrian safety, and interested residents are invite to apply.

The BPAC will pick up where the Cycling Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) left off, working with town departments to study options for making Lincoln’s roadways safer for cyclists and pedestrians. “The selectmen hope that the knowledge gained will become a natural part of our thinking and planning within DPW, Planning, Roadway & Traffic, Public Safety, and Parks & Recreation,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said.

The CSAC was formed in 2017 to develop recommendations for improving cycling safety after two bicyclers (Eugene Thornberg and Mark Himelfarb) died in road accidents in Lincoln in 2016. The group issued its report in October 2018 outlining the state of the roads for bike riders, what steps had already been taken, and what more could be done to improve safety. Members performed an “audit” of major biking roads, cycling on each one and documenting hazards with GPS positioning and photographs.

Even as the study was being completed, the town was already fixing some road safety issues with the help of a Complete Streets grant. Among the work done so far: adding a pedestrian island and lights at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Route 117, repairing several roadside paths, and changing the stop lines and other markings on the south side of Route 117 at the intersection with Tower Road.

Among the CSAC’s accomplishments:

  • Revived the Bike to School program
  • Developed and distributed a “Rules of the Road” bookmark for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians
  • Worked with Lincoln police to increase “educational” traffic stops for both drivers and cyclists who violate Massachusetts traffic laws related to cycling.
  • Worked with other town officials to install “Bikes May Use Full Lane” signs (with additional help in research and lobbying from L-S student Ashley duToit, who worked on the initiative as part of her Gold Star project)

Other recommendations for future work include:

  • Making improvements to the intersection of Routes 117 and 126 as well as Route 2A. Both projects will require working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
  • Working with Hanscom Field, Minuteman National Park and the Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) to lobby MassDOT for safety improvements along Route 2A.
  • Asking MassDOT to build a bicycle/pedestrian tunnel to reconnect parts of the town isolated by Route 2, such as reconnecting Lexington Road or Page Road south of Route 2 with Lexington Road north of the highway.
  • Reinstituting the Bike Safety Program as part of the school curriculum.

Anyone interested in serving on the BPAC should send a letter of interest to Peggy Elder, administrative assistant in the Selectmen’s Office (elderp@lincolntown.org) by Tuesday, Jan. 15. For more information, call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.

Council on Aging activities in December

Noticing walk with John Calabria
December 4 at 1 p.m.
Come for a gently paced walk through nature guided by John Calabria on December 4 from 1–2:30 at a location posted at lincolnconservation.org. Bring walking sticks or walking poles if you like. If the weather is bad, call 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. on the morning of the walk for an update. Co-sponsored by the COA and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

Coffee with artist Ellen Milan
December 4 at 2:15 p.m.
Join Ellen Milan for “coffee with the artist” on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 2:15 p.m. at Bemis Hall to celebrate her exhibit in the Bemis Gallery through December. Ellen Milan is a Lincoln artist whose exploration in multiple media reflects her experience exhibiting and teaching internationally. Ellen has taught in Wisconsin, Israel, and in the Boston area. During a 10-year stay in Israel, she established regional art programs and a group studio/gallery in the Old City of Jerusalem.  Her work has appeared in juried competitions through the United States, Europe and Israel. This show at Bemis Hall includes pastels, paintings on silk, and watercolors. Many of the pieces were inspired by the gardens and landscape in Lincoln at Farrar Pond Village.

Stay safer from scams and ID theft
December 7 at 10 a.m.
The only way to protect yourself against becoming the victim of scams and ID theft is to find out what scammers are up to and how you can outsmart them. All are welcome to join Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy and Bongani Jeranyama, Program Manager in the Community Engagement Division of the Office of Attorney General Maura Healey, on Friday, Dec. 7 at 10a.m. at Bemis Hall to learn about some of the everyday scams you may run into. You will get an outline of and tips regarding rights when shopping and valuable information on how to avoid various mail, phone, and online scams.  You will also get resources to take home.

Tap your toes to trad jazz tunes
December 7 at 12:30 p.m.
Come join your fellow COA neighbors to tap your toes and bob your heads and sing to those tunes of yesteryear which we all know and love. Yes, the grandchildren can shake their heads and think we’re nuts, but we know where it’s at. Led by the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band we’re gonna have a good time—you might even say a ball—around the old Steinway upstairs at Bemis Hall on Friday, Dec. 7 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in December