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

Despite recent accident, intersection isn’t among most dangerous in town

April 1, 2021

A recent car accident in front of the Public Safety Building got a lot of attention and speculation about how to make the intersection safer, but it’s not indicative of a growing number of accidents at that location, police say.

The number of accidents at various sites in town in 2016–2021, according to MassDOT data (click to enlarge).

The two-car crash on March 28 sent three people to the hospital after a driver traveling west on Codman Road ran the stop sign without slowing down and hit a car traveling north on Lincoln Road. The intersection has stop signs for drivers entering the intersection from Codman Road in either direction but not for those on Lincoln Road.

After a spate of accidents in 2017, warming flags and then solar-powered flashing lights were added to the stop signs to make them more visible. Police Chief Kevin Kennedy said he thinks that’s helped reduce the number of accidents there, and data from the state Department of Transportation shows that the intersection is actually the fourth-most dangerous in town in terms of the number of accidents in recent years.

“Any time there’s an accident like that [in a prominent location] and people are transported to the hospital, it’s significant,” Kennedy said. However, given the data, he said he would not advocate for more controls at the intersection at this point, such as four-way stop signs (which could back up rush-hour traffic to the railroad tracks) or a sign indicating that crossing traffic doesn’t stop.

Of the five most accident-prone intersections in town, the most dangerous one by far is Route 2 at Bedford Road, most likely because of the speeds and the fact that the highway is at the crest of a hill. Number two on the list is Lincoln Road at Rte. 117. Traffic islands were built there in summer 2018, and the number of accidents subsequently went down slightly from nine that year to seven in 2019.

Accidents everywhere in town dropped significantly in 2020 due to fewer cars on the road during the pandemic.

Lincoln car accident data

Intersection	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	Total for 2016-2020	Total for 2011-2021
Bedford Rd. / Rte. 2	11	4	24	16	6	61	125
Lincoln Rd. / Rte. 117	8	6	9	7	2	32	76
Rte. 117 / Rte. 126	6	5	5	7	3	26	61
Codman Rd. / Lincoln Rd.	5	7	3	5	2	22	50
Five Corners	6	1	2	3	1	13	27

(Source: MassDOT)

My Turn: Many thanks for the Easter baskets

April 1, 2021

(Editor’s note: see related story about the finances of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.)

By Tomasina Lucchese

The members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston (SVdP) are deeply grateful for St. Anne’s in-the-Fields of Lincoln’s brilliant Easter basket project. Led by St. Anne’s parishioner and Weston resident Christy O’Brien, they provided charming homemade Easter baskets for SVdP Food Pantry clients. Adorned with beautifully colored chocolate eggs, marshmallow chicks, stuffed bunny toys, bubbles, games and more, all of our families received quite a hoppy-happy treat!

The idea of donating Easter baskets came to O’Brien while she was buying candy for her own children’s baskets. She acknowledged just how quickly the cost of these items adds up and felt compelled to contact SVdP. She asked, “If I were able to pull together a group of volunteers from church to create and donate baskets, is this something your families would enjoy?” Our answer was, “Certainly!”

Christy O’Brien and daughter Grace Colsman, parishioners from St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church, prepare beautiful Easter baskets and bags of Easter treats for SVdP Food Pantry families.

Wasting no time, O’Brien launched the initiative enlisting dozens of basket-making volunteers from many of our surrounding towns. The parishioners of St. Anne’s in-the-Fields not only created and donated enough Easter baskets for all the SVdP clients’ homes with children, but they made up bags of candy for each of the remaining households “just so everyone could enjoy an Easter treat,” she said. These beautiful baskets were as diverse as the people who created them.

Because it was the first time Easter baskets were distributed to SVdP clients, everyone was very surprised! Thank you to St. Anne’s in-the-Fields for putting your faith into action this Easter season and spreading so much joy, hope, and love, especially during these trying times. To echo what one of our pantry clients said in response to the Easter basket she was given, “It never fails to amaze me just how generous and thoughtful this community is!”

Lucchese is Vice President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.

”My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

	October 2015	October 2019	October 2020

Households served at the food pantry	19	63	92
Clients served at the food pantry	37	141	226
Bags of food given out	62	150	300
Total expenses (food pantry plus emergency financial help)	$22,714	$50,925	$84,484
Donations/grants received	$18,498	$61,157	$77,099

Police log for March 19–26, 2021

April 1, 2021

March 19

Concord Road (5:35 p.m.) — Wayland police reported a missing elderly party who is know to walk along Route 126 towards Walden Pond. Lincoln officers were checking the area when Way-land police called back and reported the party was safely located in Wayland.

Indian Camp Lane (11:07 p.m.) — Caller reported someone walking their dog in the woods behind their house who felt out of place. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the party.

March 20

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (9:51 a.m.) — Caller reported a cyclist riding westbound between Tracey’s and the Concord town line. State police notified; an officer checked the area but was una-ble to locate the cyclist.

Deerhaven Road (7:16 p.m.) — Caller reported an overdue elderly party who was supposed to be home hours ago. An officer spoke to the caller and later stopped the individual, who was on his way home. Everything was fine.

Lincoln Cemetery (8:47 p.m.) — An officer checking the cemetery came across a parked vehicle. The officer located two people who were sent on their way.

March 21

Tracey’s Service Station (2:55 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked in the lot. The driver was fine and had pulled over due to being tired.

Concord Road (5:06 p.m.) — Maynard police reported a motorcycle had fled from them, last seen on Route 126 headed towards Concord. The Lincoln officer attempted to stop the motorcycle, which fled at a high rate of speed. The officer did not give chase.

March 22

Round Hill Road (1:00 p.m.) — Caller reported receiving a “grandparent scam” call. Officers spoke to the reporting party; no compromising information was provided to the scammer.

North Great Road (3:33 p.m.) — Two-car crash on Route 2A. Police and fire department responded. No injuries; vehicles were towed from the scene.

March 23

Sandy Pond Road (1:50 p.m.) — A bicyclist ran the stop sign at the five-way intersection. Warning given.

March 24

Food Project field (12:46 a.m.) — Officer checked on a truck near the field. The vehicle was part of a crew working on the railroad tracks.

March 25

Nothing of note.

March 26

Wells Road (10:31 a.m.) — Court paperwork was delivered to a resident.

Lincoln School (10:48 a.m.) — School staff called police to put on record a verbal confrontation between a person who had parked on school property to gain access to the trails to walk their dog, and a staff member who asked her not to do so while outdoor classes were going on. Det. Ian Spencer followed up with the parties involved.

918 Main St., Tewksbury (4:37 p.m.) — Det. Ian Spencer assisted Tewksbury police with a forensic sketch regarding an investigation of theirs.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (8:18 p.m.) — Officer assisting a Concord officer who had a vehicle pulled over on Route 2.

Tracey’s Service Station (9:02 p.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked in the lot. The driver had pulled over to use his cellphone.

Scott Circle, Hanscom Air Force Base (9:46 p.m.) — Officer responded to Hanscom for a disturbance at a residence. Officers assisted Hanscom security forces in quelling the disturbance.

News acorns

March 31, 2021

Paid summer internships available

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) and the Lincoln Conservation Department are seeking two paid summer interns to work as field assistants. Candidates will support the management of conservation land by controlling invasive species, maintaining trails, and performing various other land use projects. A detailed job description and salary are available here. Application deadline is Friday, April 2.

Garden Club hosts session on Roundup

The Lincoln Garden Club is presenting “Roundup and Alternatives” via Zoom on Tuesday, April 6 at 7 p.m. The patent has run out in the U.S. and Roundup is outlawed in Europe, but it works. So what are the alternatives and/or the consequences of using Roundup, now sold under a variety of generic names? This public panel presentation features Ed Stockman, cofounder and education director of Regeneration Massachusetts, and Richard Selden, a member of the Lincoln Conservation Commission. Click here to register for this meeting. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Help clean up the Lincoln School campus

Come join the community PUTT (Pick Up The Trash) event at the Lincoln School campus on Saturday, April 10 from 10 a.m. – noon. We will provide garbage bags so volunteers can spread out around the campus and pick up litter (socially distanced). Please bring your masks, gloves, sunscreen and water. Reusable items are encouraged! Check in at the Smith parking lot (the red playground) starting at 10 a.m. If the weather is too cold and/or wet, our rain date is the following day (Sunday, April 11). RSVPs are preferred but not required — email puttlincoln@gmail.com or call 978-430-9934. If the weather is iffy, feel free to call or text on Saturday morning to check on the status. Community service credit is available for L-S students. Many thanks to Donelan’s Supermarkets and the Lincoln School PTO for sponsoring the event.

SSEF event to feature Tom Brokaw, Ellen Barry

The Lincoln-based South Sudanese Enrichment for Families invites everyone to “Resilience 2021: A Celebration of the South Sudanese 21 Years in America” on Thursday, April 22 from 7–8 p.m. The celebration will include stories from members of the community, a keynote address by Ellen Barry (New England bureau chief of the New York Times who was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her series of articles on the “Lost Boys”), a tribute from Tom Brokaw (special correspondent for NBC News, who won a National Press Club Award for his reporting on the “Lost Boys”), and the honoring of Melissa MacDonnell, president of Liberty Mutual Foundation. Register for this free Zoom event, and view and bid on items in the silent auction.

Sign up online for hazardous waste drop-off

Residents wishing to participate in one of the hazardous waste collection dates this year must pre-register online here. You can choose any of the eight dates listed, along with a time slot. There is also a place to indicate roughly how much waste you will be bringing. Anyone with questions may call 781-259-2614.

Lincoln’s utopian neighborhood

March 31, 2021

By Don Hafner

(Editor’s note: Brown’s Wood was designated as Lincoln’s newest Historic District in 2018 to recognize its many examples of Modern architecture.)

Did you know… that Lincoln has a neighborhood originally built as a utopian vision?

That neighborhood is Brown’s Wood, built on a woodlot once owned by Deacon Benjamin Brown (1681-1753). Brown’s Wood began in 1953 as a utopian, cooperative community envisioned by Ranny and Ann Gras, along with a few MIT colleagues and others attracted by MIT bulletin‑board notices and FM radio ads. They invested $3,000 each for the common expenses of buying the raw, rocky woodland and for initial development and infrastructure of the subdivision along the new roads named Laurel Drive and Moccasin Hill Road.

A map showing the owners of the Brown’s Wood development from 1953 to 2003 (click to enlarge).

Two lots were initially designated as common land, intended for community recreation. The first 23 houses were designed, built, and financed by each family under the general supervision of the group, which also collectively oversaw the road construction and town approvals. The group agreed that all the houses would be contemporary style. Traditional colonials, capes, or ranches were not permitted. A few residents tackled interior work themselves, and many of the houses’ interiors were not completely finished for years.

Decisions in the Brown’s Wood community were made by consensus, such as naming the roads after local wildflowers, rejecting a proposal for bulk‑buying of staples like toilet paper or milk, and rejecting a swimming pool and tennis court for the community land. At one point, to avoid the mounting expenses for snowplowing and road maintenance, the residents agreed to sell one of the common lots to finance enough improvements in the roads so the town would accept them as town streets. The general sense of sharing and cooperation continued, including regular meetings to discuss neighborhood concerns, common ownership of chainsaws and other equipment, and a baby-sitting cooperative.

The Gras family (Brown’s Wood founders Ranny and Ann Gras and their sons Seaton and Adrian) in a newspaper photo upon their return in 1975 from their six-year round-the-world sailing trip.

There were lots of kids in the neighborhood. One year, an entire school bus was filled with the Brown’s Wood elementary school children who waited at the intersection of the two roads.

In 1964, the other common lot was sold to purchase shares in the Valley Pond, which were then legally tied to each of the house lots. The pond was a separate project created by the efforts of several Brown’s Wood families (a story for another time). Although the formal Brown’s Wood organization was then dissolved, many residents had strong community spirit and went on to participate actively in the town government and League of Women Voters.

Current and former residents celebrated Brown’s Wood’s 35th anniversary in 1988, and commemorated it with a group memoir and a pear tree planted at the intersection of the two roads to honor Ann and Ranny Gras. Today, many of the houses look much as they did when built, although some have been enlarged. Meandering paths still lead to the shores of Valley Pond, and Brown’s Wood is still a great place to raise children.

One of the Brown’s Wood houses when it was completed in the 1950s, highlighting the neighborhood’s then-revolutionary Modern architecture.

This article is based on an earlier history of Brown’s Wood written by one of the original “settlers,” Ruth Johnstone Wales (1927-2018). It has been edited and updated by Esther and Peter Braun, also early “settlers.” Esther Braun taught in the Lincoln public schools, and her son Peter was one of the kids in the Brown’s Wood neighborhood and babysat for the Wales family.

“Lincoln’s History” is a biweekly column about aspects of Lincoln’s past by members of the Lincoln Historical Society.

Town election results: Doo wins seat on Parks and Rec Committee

March 30, 2021

In the only contested race in the local election on Mach 29, 2021, Brianna Doo beat Evan Gorman for an open seat on the Parks and Recreation Committee by a total of 303–87. However, Gorman also successfully ran for reelection to the Housing Commission.

Offices & Candidates	Precinct 1	Precinct 2	Total
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JENNIFER LANE REASER GLASS	268	162	430
WRITE-IN	1	1	2
BLANK	18	7	25

BOARD OF ASSESSORS
EDWARD H. MORGAN	263	153	416
WRITE-IN	1	0	1
BLANK	23	17	40

BOARD OF HEALTH
PATRICIA E. MILLER	259	158	417
WRITE-IN	1	0	1
BLANK	27	12	39

CEMETERY COMMISSIONER
DOUGLAS B. HARDING	259	156	415
WRITE-IN	1	1	2
BLANK	27	13	40

COMMISSIONER OF TRUST FUNDS
WRITE-IN	19	9	28
DONALD COLLINS	5	6	11
BLANK	263	155	418

HOUSING COMMISSION
EVAN KARMEL GORMAN	251	149	400
WRITE-IN	3	0	3
BLANK	33	21	54

L-S REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE
HEATHER-JEANNE COWAP SALEMME	259	155	414
MARY D. WARZYNSKI	192	114	306
WRITE-IN	1	0	1
BLANK	122	71	193

PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE
BRIANNA MARISA DOO	183	120	303
EVAN KARMEL GORMAN	51	36	87
WRITE-IN	1	0	1
BLANK	52	14	66

PLANNING BOARD
GERALD A. TAYLOR	253	153	406
WRITE-IN	1	2	3
BLANK	33	15	48

SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SUSAN HANDS TAYLOR	245	150	395
JOHN A. MACLACHLAN	227	135	362
WRITE-IN	1	0	1
BLANK	101	55	156

TRUSTEES OF BEMIS
MIRIAM L. BORDEN	255	155	410
WRITE-IN	1	0	1
BLANK	31	15	46

WATER COMISSIONER
JAMES M. HUTCHINSON	262	157	419
WRITE-IN	0	0	0
BLANK	25	13	38

My Turn: Opt in for 100% renewable electricity in new Lincoln program

March 29, 2021

By Ed Kern

I’ve been seeing lots of web ads lately for Clearview Energy touting “Save money on energy, we provide cheaper 100% green electricity.” As with much on the web, this is both true and misleading. Clearview’s product has two components: (1) actual electricity purchased from generators in New England and Canada and (2) Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), most likely bought from wind farms in west Texas where wind speeds are higher and open lands are abundant.

There is no way that Clearview can import electric power from Texas wind energy projects to Lincoln. Texas has 86 GW of generation capacity, but under 1 GW of transmission capacity for exporting power to states immediately to its east. The RECs sold by Clearview are not associated with New England generators providing “cheaper 100% green electricity.” This “cheap” green electricity is being generated and consumed in Texas and you are being asked to help pay for it.

The key to assuring your electricity is truly renewable is to buy RECs minted in your regional power pool. Massachusetts is in the New England Power Pool. Texas has its own — recently infamous — pool serving only Texas. Most power generated within a pool is consumed in the same pool, and that’s certainly the case in Texas.

In Massachusetts we are incrementally ratcheting up the percentage of green electricity all suppliers are required to provide (currently 18%). In Texas, a rather low goal was set 20 years ago and was exceeded threefold in about a third of the time allowed. Texas is not increasing its green requirements, so there is no Texas market for their excess RECs, which are now selling for under $0.002 per kWh; and being offered to you for about the price of a New England REC, now about $0.04 per kWh — higher priced because we are driving demand for RECs via the Commonwealth’s renewable requirement of 18% (and growing).

Lincoln’s Green Energy Choice (LGEC) program is buying these higher-priced RECs and is driving construction of renewable energy plants in New England — not buying Texas RECs cheap and selling them high to naive though well-meaning “green” consumers. These concepts can be confusing, and marketers are targeting communities transitioning to cleaner power such as Lincoln to sow confusion and make a fast buck with their “cheaper 100% green” claims.

Please don’t be fooled. Lincoln’s program is a good one and offers an affordable path to a greener future — and the best way to realize this goal is to “opt up” to the Lincoln 100% Green option. This month, Eversource Basic customers in Lincoln who did not opt out, as well as those who were already using a third-party supplier (about two-thirds of households in total) were automatically switched to the Lincoln Standard Green option, which provides an additional 27% renewable electricity from New England over and above the minimum amount required by state law, for a total of 45% clean, renewable electricity from New England. But we can do better by signing up for the Lincoln 100% Green option, which provides 100% clean, renewable electricity from New England.

The signups for Lincoln 100% Green have been going slower than I would’ve expected in Lincoln, — only about 5% of the town. My hope is that some residents may not yet have taken the time to learn and reflect on the proposition and its relatively modest marginal cost.

The Lincoln Green Energy Committee has set a goal of having 25% households “opt up” to the Lincoln 100% Green option in time for Town Meeting on May 15. It’s ambitious but attainable; the cost is modest but not “cheap.” Please consider “opting up” to 100%. You can easily do this by going to www.masspowerchoice.com/lincoln/enroll or calling 844-651-8919. (If you’re a customer of a third-party electricity supplier, you need to contact the supplier to terminate the relationship before signing up for the Lincoln Green Energy Choice program.)

Kern is a member of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee but is not speaking for the LGEC in this piece. He can be reached at edwardkern@gmail.com.

My Turn: Brianna Doo seeks votes for Parks & Rec

March 28, 2021

(Editor’s note: Evan Gorman also filed papers in February to run for the single open seat on the Parks and Recreation Commission in the town election on Monday, March 29.)

By Brianna Doo

I am writing to introduce myself and to ask for your vote in the upcoming town election. My name is Brianna Doo, and I am running for a spot on the Parks & Recreation Committee.

Since we moved to Lincoln seven years ago, my family has been very involved with the Parks & Recreation department. My six children participate in many of the programs offered for preschool and school-aged children. I have previously served and will continue to serve as the role of parent coordinator for the summer swim team and have helped the coaches organize meets. I have also enjoyed volunteering at various other Parks & Recreation events.

In addition, I currently serve as the room/cohort coordinator within the Lincoln Public School PTO, and designed and organized the “spirit wear” sales this year. I have actively volunteered in many other town/school and community organizations over the past few years, including as a Lincoln Youth Soccer board member. I believe there are opportunities for collaboration between LYS and the parks and recreation department, and look forward to furthering that collaboration as a member of the committee.

I hope to continue to serve the community as an active member of the Parks & Recreation Committee. Since my children will be involved with the Parks & Recreation activities for years to come, I am uniquely interested in the programming, and would love to play a role in finding new opportunities for activities. I believe that, with my perspective, knowledge, and experience, I will be a valuable asset to the committee, and I hope that you will vote for me on Monday, March 29.

My Turn: Reminder that Lincoln is a “right to farm” town

March 25, 2021

By Corey Nimmer

There are almost 500 acres of farmland in Lincoln, about 5% of its total area. About half this space has been preserved by the town and is leased to 13 farmers who provide high-quality local foods, fibers, flowers, and educational opportunities.

There is a rich agricultural history tied to this land that predates European settlement, and a legacy of land stewardship that constitutes an essential piece of Lincoln’s identity. Lincoln is fortunate in that its residents have decided, through laws and conservation acts, to continue the town’s centuries-long commitment to agriculture indefinitely so that future generations may continue to enjoy its benefits. While visitors and residents have likely noticed and appreciated the unique rural character of Lincoln, some may not know that Lincoln is a “right to farm” town, or if they’ve heard this, they might not know what this means.

The town’s Agricultural Commission wanted to share this official language from Lincoln’s bylaw, which was adopted during Town Meeting in 2011 to align with the Massachusetts’ Right to Farm laws passed in 2003:

“It is the policy of the Town of Lincoln to conserve, protect and encourage the maintenance and improvement of agricultural land for the production of food and agricultural products, and also for its natural and ecological value. This disclosure notification is to inform buyers and occupants that the property they are about to acquire or occupy lies within a town where farming activities occur. Such farming activities may include, but are not limited to, activities that cause noise, dust, and odors. Buyers or occupants are also informed that the location of property within the Town may be impacted by commercial agricultural operations including the ability to access water services for agricultural use under certain circumstances.”

Basically, anyone visiting, living in, or considering moving to Lincoln should be aware that farming is and always will be a way of life here. While that might mean getting stuck behind a slow-moving tractor or experiencing the smell of livestock from time to time, it is the town’s policy to maintain and improve upon this critical piece of our heritage. The Agricultural Commission hopes that all residents and visitors of Lincoln will find ways to enjoy the benefits that our town’s farmers provide, whether through eating fresh produce, learning something new, or taking in the beauty of an open field at sunrise.

For more information on how to support your local farmers, click here.

Nimmer is a member of the Lincoln Agricultural Commission.

News acorns

March 24, 2021

Holy Week at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church

Palm Sunday (March 28)

8 a.m. — In-person Holy Eucharist (click here to register)
10 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
5 p.m. — Outdoor firepit service (click here to register)

Maundy Thursday, April 1

7:30 p.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist

Good Friday, April 2

12 p.m. — Live-streamed Service
5 p.m. — Outdoor service (click here to register)

Holy Saturday, April 3

10 a.m. — Live-streamed morning prayer
10 p.m. — Live-streamed Service of Light

Easter Sunday, April 4

9 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
11 a.m. — Holy Eucharist with choir in the parking lot

Farrington offers nature-themed programs

Join Farrington Nature Linc and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on Thursday, April 22 from 2–3 p.m. via Zoom for “Owls Up Close,” a virtual version of “Eyes on Owls.” Naturalists Marcia and Mark Wilson will introduce everyone to six live owls up close and personal, followed by some owl call practice with a hooting lesson. They’ll highlight the owls’ unique adaptations, habitats, and behaviors in the wild, while sharing tips on how you can look for owls yourself. All are welcome at this family friendly program. Register here to receive the Zoom link. This is a free program, but donations are encouraged and help us bring this program to the community. Viewers may purchase copies of Mark’s book, Owling (signed and personalized by the author) by emailing eyesonowls@earthlink.net.

Join award-winning producer, film composer, and author Ruth Mendelson of Lincoln to discuss her new book, The Water Tree Way, on Thursday, April 22 from 7–8:15 p.m. The main character Jai (pronounced “Jay”), filled with spunk, stealth, and courage, leaves everything she’s known to embark on a hair-raising journey. A 240-page children’s book intended for readers of all ages, the story exalts the triumph of the human spirit as experienced by a girl who can be none other than her unabashed self. Register here.

Upcoming talks in “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces” series

Artist Evelyn Rydz will speak on “Close Attention: Exploring a Creative Practice Inside and Outside the Studio” on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. Exploring the vulnerability and the resiliency of natural and cultural ecosystems, Rydz invites viewers and participants of her projects to imagine a different future — one shaped by our connections and care for local and global communities. Her talk is part of “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces,” a free virtual speaker series featuring prominent speakers whose are advancing efforts to strengthen belonging and connection between communities of color and the benefits of time in nature.

Also in the series:

Monica White, author of Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement, on Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
J. Drew Lanham, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Master Teacher at Clemson University, on “Coloring the Conservation Conversation” on Wednesday, June 2 at 7 p.m. Dr. Lanham will highlight what it means to embrace the full breadth of his African-American heritage and his deep kinship to nature and adoration of birds. He will discuss how conservation must be a rigorous science and evocative art, inviting diversity and race to play active roles in celebrating our natural world.

Register here and get more information about the presentations and speakers. The series is organized by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Farrington Nature Linc, The Food Project, Mass Audubon, and The Walden Woods Project. Additional support is provided by the Ogden Codman Trust, the Lincoln Garden Club, and the Bemis Free Lecture Series.