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

News acorns

Piano concert by Wanda Paik

Lincoln resident Wanda Paik will give a free piano concert on Friday, Sept. 26 at noon in Bemis Hall featuring works by Chopin, Liszt, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff, with refreshments to follow. Handicap accessible; all are welcome.

American Girl dolls sought for social entrepreneurship program

Lincoln’s METCO Coordinating Committee (MCC) is seeking donations of American Girl dolls for use in a new social entrepreneurship program for both Boston and Lincoln students led by Lincoln METCO Director Marika Hamilton this year. She will be teaching the students finance, accounting, marketing, home economics, and social responsiveness. Students will create attire for American Girl dolls that will become part of American Girl baskets that will be sold at the huge MCC estate sale on November 15-16 here in Lincoln.

Please place your gently loved American Girl dolls in a bag and drop them in one of the labeled donation bins in the Smith and Brooks School main lobby. Please contact Marika if you would like a 501(c)3 receipt for your American Girl Doll donation at mhamilton@lincnet.org.

Drug disposal kits available at Bemis

Expired or unneeded drugs in your medicine cabinet can be deadly temptations to family members or others. You may drop off unused drugs at the Public Safety Building, but you can also pick up one or more Safe Disposal Drug Kits at Bemis Hall. Empty medications into the pouch, fill halfway with warm water and wait 30 seconds, then seal, shake, and throw it out with the regular trash. See Carolyn Bottum or Joan Ingersoll at the Council on Aging at Bemis Hall to get kits.

Volunteers sought at Old Town Hall Exchange

The Old Town Hall Exchange (the nonprofit that maintains the 1848 Greek Revival building across from the town offices) is looking for volunteers. The Exchange sells consigned antiques, artisanal crafts, baby gifts, books, penny candy, etc., and crafters and consignors retain 70% of retail prices. Profits raised contribute to the operations and maintenance of the Old Town Hall. This is an all-volunteer organization working to maintain a part of Lincoln’s history, going strong since 1962. Volunteer commitment is 2.5 hours per week; no special skills needed. For details, email Stacy Osur at stacyosur@gmail.com.

Town seeks bids for road work this fall

Town officials hope to resurface or repair several roads in town this fall and have asked for bids to be submitted by September 30. If all goes well, contractors will be hired and the work completed by the end of October, though DPW Superintendent noted that paving contractors are very busy and the timetable will depend on their availability.

The areas targeted for work are:

  • Bedford Road (segment at the Five Corners intersection)
  • Bedford Lane (segment)
  • Sunnyside Lane (segment)
  • Route 117 (South Great Road) from railroad tracks east to #327, plus Tower Road apron
  • Lincoln Road northbound from Codman Road to first driveway (patch repair only)

“It’s a clean machine…” (Lincoln Through the Lens)

The Lincoln Fire Department’s ladder truck got a good scrubbing from toddlers and preschoolers at the annual Wash a Police Car and Fire Truck event at the Magic Garden Children’s Center last month. Firefighters parked the engine on the walkway to the Hartwell building than on the paved “dot” on the field below (owing to concerns that the septic tank underneath would buckle under the vehicle’s weight) and the children happily watched the suds wash down into the parking lot.

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Obituaries

Charles Oakley III

Charles Oakley III

A service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14 for Charles Oakley III of Lincoln, formerly of Burlington, Conn., who died peacefully at The Commons in Lincoln on August 2 at the age of 92.

Born in New Haven, Conn., on January 12, 1927, Charlie was the son of the late Charles Oakley Jr. and Eva May (Nesbit) Oakley. Upon graduating from Plainville High School in 1944, he promptly enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a submariner and radioman aboard the USS Sea Owl, receiving the World War II Victory, American Theater, and Good Conduct medals upon his discharge in 1949.

A project engineer for Colt Firearms and later Stanley Tools, Charlie’s work took him from the drafting table to the Pentagon and to countries throughout Asia and other parts of the world. In his leisure time, Charlie was a devoted fan of the UConn Huskies women’s basketball team. He loved to spend time on the golf course and treasured those he played with, many of whom have remained lifelong friends.

Charlie leaves behind six children: Larry D. Oakley and wife Lorraine Hawley of Newington, Conn.; Patricia Oakley Karpicz and husband Paul Karpicz of South Dartmouth, Mass.; Robert Oakley of Dover, N.H.; Mark Oakley and wife Laurie Parkhill Oakley of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Tristram Oakley and husband Robert Stringer III of Lincoln; and Charles Oakley IV of Anchorage, Alaska. He is also survived by grandchildren David Oakley; Steven, Tobey, and Leah Karpicz; Shanon Schinkel and Stephanie Oakley; Spencer, Richard, and Meredith Oakley; and Oakley and Lockyer Stringer, as well as a niece, three nephews and several great-grandchildren. Charlie was predeceased by siblings George Oakley, Edna Gaccetta, and Doris Williams. 

Relatives and friends are invited to gather for his graveside service with U.S. Navy military honors on September 14 at noon in Lincoln Cemetery. A reception will follow nearby. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Charles Oakley III to Community Servings or the Plainville Community Food Pantry. 

(Obituary courtesy of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.)

Audrey Levington

Audrey Levington

Audrey Ruth Levington, a resident of The Commons at Lincoln and formerly of Sudbury, formerly of Sudbury, died on August 21. For 69 years she was the devoted wife of David Lawrence Levington. Beloved mother of Jilla-Levington-Roth, Wendy Levington McLaughlin and her husband Barry, Marcy Levington, Ilma Paixao, and Rebecca MacNeice. Loving grandmother of Matthew and Sarah McLaughlin. Dear sister of the late Stanley Sherman.

Services were held at Congregation Beth El of the Sudbury River Valley on August 23 with interment at the Sudbury Town Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances, if desired, may be made to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 501 Front St., Norfolk, Va. 23510 or the Democratic presidential candidate of your choice.

(Obituary courtesy of Levine Chapels.)

News acorns

(Editor’s note: the “Embrace Change series scheduled” segment was modified on Sept. 11, 2019 to remove the cancelled evening sessions at the Lincoln Public Library.)

First Parish offers “Blessing of the Backpacks” and children’s programs

The First Parish in Lincoln invites families to send children off for a successful school year in spirit at the ”Blessing of the Backpacks” on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the annual Ingathering Service at 10 a.m. There will be a reception after the service and a gift for each student. You do not need to be a member of First Parish to attend any of its services or events. Ages 0–4 are cared for in the church’s professionally staffed nursery that opens at 9:45 a.m. for drop-off prior to each week’s Sunday service and continues through the after-service coffee and fellowship time.

Registration for 2019-2020 Religious Exploration programs for students in pre-K through grade 7 and the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program for eighth-graders is now open. Click here for more information and online registration. This year, there are only 18 seats available in OWL. Free for members of FPL, $15 for nonmembers. Mandatory parent orientation on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 7–9 p.m.  Please contact Margit Griffith at margit@fplincoln.org with questions.

Display your art at the library

The application for displaying art in 2020 in the Lincoln Public Library’s main gallery is now available. For exhibitor policies, agreement and an application, see the library’s Art Gallery and Display Spaces page. The “Stay Put” downstairs gallery requires no application and has openings through the rest of 2019.

Photography scavenger hunt

Come to the People for Pollinators meadow on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 1–2 p.m. and join in a photography scavenger hunt for all ages and abilities sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. What better way to explore this special pollinator habitat than to take a closer look through a different lens? Participants will receive a list of “treasures” to find and capture in a photo. Let your creativity take center stage, as many “treasures” are in the eye of the beholder. Participants under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own camera (phone cameras are great). Free; drop in. Park at the Lincoln School’s Smith School lot by the playground and take the trail by the PFP Meadow sign through the field to the meadow.

After you’ve completed the hunt, send us your photos! Please use JPEG file format. LLCT will create a photo collage display for public viewing at Lincoln Station. The display will be up through October in the windows in the breezeway across from Donelan’s. To participate, email your photos to llct@lincolnconservation.org after the hunt. Include your name if you’d like to be credited in the display.

Mosaic workshop at library

The Lincoln Public Library presents a mosaic workshop with Leslie Doherty on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. During this hands-on introduction to the art of mosaic tiling, create your own piece and choose a small planter or tile to take home. No experience necessary; free and open to patrons 16 and older, but space is limited to 20 people. Registration is required and will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Sponsored by The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Embrace Change series scheduled

The Embrace Change fall program series was created to help ease the transition that parents experience in first year when there are no longer children in the home. We provide opportunities for parents to connect, design and redefine this new state of life. Space is limited; register in advance at FullyEmbraceChange.com. Materials fee of $40 can be waived at time of registration; all sessions are free.

  • “Promoting Productive Communication with Adult Children” with Theresa Simonelli, PsyaD. September 18: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “What’s Next? Finding Purpose” with Heather Zacker, MS, certified personal and professional coach. September 25: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “Navigating Transitions with Self-Care” with Charlotte Sahyoun, yoga therapeutics specialist. October 2: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “Designing Your Journey: Charting Your Own Path” with the Embrace Change team. October 16: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m.
  •  “Expanding Your Horizons: Delving into New Activities and Careers” with the Embrace Change team. October 23: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m. 
  • “It’s All About Relationships” with the Embrace Change team and a special guest. October 30: Pierce House, 1:15–3 p.m.

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Moon Over Drumlin benefit at Drumlin Farm

Support Drumlin Farm’s leadership in nature-based education and programming for children and adults of all ages and abilities at the annual Moon Over Drumlin farm-to-table gala on Saturday, Sept. 28. The evening kicks off with a casual cocktail hour in the Drumlin Farm wildlife sanctuary courtyard, followed by partner chefs serving up delicious tastings using the farm’s freshest seasonal ingredients. Then meet some of the 2019 Youth Leaders in Climate Justice and get up-close with a few of our wildlife ambassadors and try your luck in the live auction and raffle. The evening concludes with a dessert reception from 9–9:30 p.m.

The cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m. before the Moon Over Drumlin tent and chef stations open at 6:30 p.m. Partner chefs committed to supporting sustainable agriculture and local sourcing include Real in Lincoln; 80 Thoreau and Saltbox Kitchen Brewery in Concord; Artistry on the Green at the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington, Cambridge Brewing Companyand EVOO in Cambridge; and Field & Vine in Somerville. Tickets start at $100; click here for event details and purchase.

Tour dives into Codman Estate portraits

Take a fresh, focused look at the Codman Estate’s portrait collection, including rarely seen works of art, on the “Portraits and Personalities: Codman Portrait Collection” specialty tour on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10–11 a.m. From high-end works by John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart, to others by once-famous artists to humble family snapshots, the Codman portrait collection extends over 200 years of changing styles. Hear the real stories of the people behind these pictures, both the subjects and the artists. Free for Lincoln residents, $15 for Historic New England members, $20 for nonmembers. Registration is required. Please call 617-994-6690 or click here to register online.

Public hearings coming up

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and to act on the following petitions:

  • Johan Pontin, 19 Bedford Rd., for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.
  • Adam Sodowick and Isabelle Lousada, 233 Old Concord Rd., for a special permit to renovate entryway, add a new screened porch and deck, and install kitchen addition to the existing structure.

Planning Board

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10 to review an application for a sign permit. The applicant, Quinn Chan, proposes to add a sign for his business at 152 Lincoln Rd.

Sept. 17 gathering for Susan Isbell, 1945–2019

Susan Isbell

A memorial gathering will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall for Susan Isbell, a resident of Lincoln and formerly of Bedford, who died on July 31. 

Susan was the daughter of the late Maurice and Barbara (Kingsbury) Isbell. She graduated from Bedford High School and later went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Regis College. For many years, she worked as a social worker at the Arlington Council on Aging and most recently at the Lincoln Council on Aging. She was also actively involved in the Bedford COA. As an avid New England sports fan, Susan loved watching and cheering on the Red Sox and Patriots. 

Susan’s objective in life was to make people happy and to help people in any way that she could. She was passionate about her social work at the Council on Aging and always willing to volunteer and advocate for the needs of others.

Her contributions were innumerable. Before she was even an official volunteer in Bedford, after her career in Arlington, Susan was working tirelessly in behalf of seniors in areas of health, disability, and financial assistance — crusades she continued on the COA staff in Bedford and later when she moved to Lincoln.

In Lincoln, she undertook one of her favorite COA projects, a consumer resource guide that was both brimming with useful information and extremely attractive. In addition, she spearheaded successful COA efforts to make Bemis Hall more accessible. Most important, Susan was hailed by colleagues for her constant positive and inspirational attitude. She will be missed by many and remembered as always having a smile on her face.

Susan is survived by her sister, Judith Johnson, and her husband, Dennis of Woburn; nieces Laura Tarello and her husband Michael of Medford, and Debra Patterson and her husband Michael of Billerica; grandnephews and niece Matthew and Stephen Patterson of Billerica, and Ashley and Ryan Tarello of Medford; and cousins Gail Kelley of Stoneham, Barbara Adzima of California and Donald Berry of Florida

A funeral service was held at the Bedford Funeral Home on August 3 with burial in Shawsheen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St. B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.

The September 17 memorial will be an informal gathering for all those wishing to share their thoughts, stories, and reflections about Susan, and an occasion to honor her life and the many ways she cared for and helped others. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Drumlin Farms announces Fall Harvest Celebration

Explore the gardens and crop fields with Drumlin Farm staff, meet some of our native wildlife, create fun crafts, and enjoy fresh, delicious produce direct from the farm stand at its annual Fall Harvest Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Drumlin Farm teacher-naturalists will present family-friendly activities throughout the day to share the bounty of the fall harvest and help visitors discover how tasty sustainable agriculture can be. All activities are free with admission ($8 for adults, $6 for seniors and children 2-12, free for Mass Audubon members). Drop-in activities will run from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; the wildlife sanctuary will be open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Schedule of free drop-in activities (weather permitting):

10 a.m.
Make an Herbal Bouquet
Use herbs from our garden to create a beautiful display to take home. 

10:30 a.m.
Farmer’s Foe
Meet a critter that likes to eat the vegetables in our gardens.

10:30 a.m.–noon
Pick Your Own Veggies
Harvest your own vegetables in Boyce Field.

11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
Cooking Demonstration
Join our food and farm educator as she uses Drumlin Farm produce to make easy, fun foods. And she might need some helping hands!

12:30 p.m.
Farmer’s Friend
Find some worms that help enrich the soil and learn why they’re important members of our ecosystem.

2 p.m.
Beyond Butter
Help shake cream to turn it into butter, and gather and add herbs to make it extra tasty.

2:30 p.m.
All About Bees
Learn about the science of bees and how pollinators make our crops possible.

3:45 p.m.
Get Crafty
Make a seed necklace.

All day:

  • Kid-friendly crafts
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Farm stand produce available for purchase

Library to offer telescope for loan, astronomy programs

The Orion telescope that will be available for library loan.

The Lincoln Public Library has loaned out items other than books for quite a while — CDs and videos, Kindles, and gadgets from its Library of Things — but now it has a telescope residents can borrow.

Orion Telescopes and Binoculars has partnered with the Cornerstones of Science STAR (Sharing Telescopes and Astronomical Resources) program to provide Orion StarBlast 4.5-inch reflector tabletop telescopes affordably to libraries throughout the United States. Funding was also provided by Mathworks, Inc.

The Aldrich Astronomical Society obtained the instrument and provided instruction on its use to library staff. The group made the telescope easier to use by clearly marking parts of the telescope that can be adjusted are clearly marked and also created step-by-step instructions on how to use it.

The library is hosting a series of astronomy-related programs this fall to complement the new offering. If there’s sufficient interest, the library may expand the astronomy programming and perhaps form a club. Programs are suitable for anyone 10 and up. All programs are on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.

An Introduction to the Telescope and Observing the Night Sky
September 18
John Root of the Aldrich Astronomical Society will give a presentation about astronomy and observing the night sky with a telescope, as well as background on his organization. Following his talk, a member of the library staff will explain what you need in order to check out our telescope.

Let’s Tour the Universe with World Wide Telescope
October 30
Library Trustee Dennis Picker will give a presentation covering a free online resource called World Wide Telescope (WWT). Thousands of images of regions of the universe are accessible for viewing via a simple web browser interface. WWT allows you to explore any corner of the universe you want, zooming thousands of light years away from Earth at the speed of a mouse click. You can pilot your own tour or sit back and watch one of the many tours contributed by both professional and amateur astronomers. Once you learn how to use it, you have a planetarium sky show available on your desktop.

Let’s Do Galaxy Zoo
November 21
Galaxy Zoo is an online amateur science project that has been running for over 10 years that aims to help professional astronomers understand how galaxies form and evolve. In this project, amateurs view images from a database containing hundreds of thousands of galaxies and use simple criteria to classify those galaxies in various ways. In addition to contributing to fundamental research and gaining insights into how science is done, you can see a stunning collection of images of exotic galaxies.

To borrow the telescope, residents must be 18 or older and a Lincoln Public Library cardholder in good standing no fines over $10.00. Borrowers must sign a borrowing agreement which sets out the cost of the telescope parts and general borrowing rules. The telescope must be returned in person to the reference desk within two weeks.