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

Poem to the editor: help clear branches from walking trails

You may have noticed the sun’s finally out
And that’s as good a reason as any to shout
Please get out on the trails of our fair city
If you are locked inside, that’s a terrible pity.

And while you are walking the trails with friend or dog
Whether you saunter, speed walk, run or jog,
Please help out your Conservation Department
On the hills and dales and occasional escarpment.

After you’ve managed your own back yard,
Help us with a job that has turned terribly hard—
To clear the trails of limbs and debris,
We need the help of the citizenry.

While walking along, please kick or toss aside
Those small branches we normally can’t abide.
Or perhaps reach down and pick up some wood
(The stretching does most of us good)

And throw it off to the side of the trail
To clear away the residue of last winter’s gale.
We will get the big logs with our hearty crew,
Please have patience—there are more than a few.

Email us please to let us know where they are
And how to get to them by foot or by car.
Do use and enjoy our shared beautiful land
And many thanks for lending a hand.

Send reports of downed trees to Tim Belivieu (beliveaut@lincolntown.org) or Stacy Carter (stacyc@lincolntown.org).

Sincerely,

Peter von Mertens (chair, Conservation Commission)
16 Tower Rd.

 

Watch installation of spring exhibit at deCordova

Ian McMahon works on a previous installation of “Sculpting with Air.”

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum invites residents to observe and engage with artists Ian McMahon and Jong Oh as they create their work in the “Sculpting with Air” exhibition galleries. The behind-the-scenes viewings are Wednesday–Sunday, April 4–8 and April 11–15 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

There will also be artist talks with McMahon on each of those days at 1 p.m. and with Oh and 2 p.m. The museum will be open for public viewing and artist talks while McMahon and Oh are working, and the completed works will be on view starting April 20. (Reminder: the museum and park are closed every Monday and Tuesday until Memorial Day.)

McMahon and Oh emphasize process in their work and often make their installations at specific locations rather than in their studios. At the deCordova, they will create original, temporary sculptures that respond to the museum’s unique gallery spaces. “Visitors will be able to have a front-row seat to the artists’ creative process and will even be able to chat with the artists about their work. Each day will be a unique chance to see the sculptures as they change and transform into completed works of art right in the galleries,” said Martina Tanga, deCordova’s Koch Curatorial Fellow and curator of Sculpting with Air.

Also opening at the deCordova on Wednesday, April 4 is “Lived Space: Humans and Architecture,” an exhibit of photographs, paintings, and drawings that explore our psychological and physical attachments to the spaces we build and inhabit. Some artworks show the human body merging with the built environment, while others present imaginary structures that exist solely in the artist’s mind. The exhibit runs through September 30.

The exhibition explores three main themes: figure and form, interior worlds, and architectural fantasies. The artists featured in Lived Space” examine the link between architectural elements and our inner world. In their work, interior rooms function as receptacles of memory, emotion, and identity. Some artworks show the human body merging with the built environment, while others present imaginary structures that exist solely in the artist’s mind. Drawn from deCordova’s permanent collection, the exhibition addresses our impulse to adapt and relate to our architectural surroundings, as well as the ways in which these spaces shape and inspire us. 

Shown in the Dewey Family Gallery, “Lived Space” also considers deCordova’s architectural history, which has undergone several transformations since its original construction. Inspired by their travels abroad, museum founders Julian and Lizzie de Cordova remodeled their summer home in 1910 to resemble a European castle. When the building became a contemporary art museum in 1950, the gallery transitioned from a private to public space. These architectural shifts, prompted by Julian and Lizzie’s personal history, dreams, and passions, suggest an intimate exchange between humans and their spaces that extends far beyond one of basic needs.

April activities at the Council on Aging

Lincoln Academy with Dana Robbat—Modern houses proposed for Lincoln Historic District highlight a meaningful legacy
April 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 2 at 12:30 to hear Dana Robbat discuss “Modern Houses Proposed for Lincoln Historic District Highlight a Meaningful Legacy.” At the recent Town Meeting, Lincoln residents were asked to support the Lincoln Historic Commission’s proposal to add 29 Modern houses to the Lincoln Historic District, including the Brown’s Wood Historic District. Built between 1937 and 1969, they represent Modernism’s concern for social reform through the subtle, but powerful force thoughtful design can bring to our lives. Much of Lincoln’s quiet, naturalistic aura is due to the scale of these efficient Modern houses carefully integrated into the landscape. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome!

Piano class with Wanda Paik
April 3 and 17 at 10 a.m.
Dust off your piano music books and come to the piano class at the COA led by Wanda Paik. This class is open to all pianophiles, whatever your level, to play, share, and learn more about how to play and practice to help reach your goals. This class will be held on April 3 and 17 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall.

Mindfulness walks in nature
April 3 at 1 p.m.
PLACE: TBD
Spring can be a very special time to connect with nature through walking in a mindful way. Join naturalist John Calabria for a series of walks in some of Lincoln’s most beautiful places on Tuesdays April 3 and May 1 beginning at 1 p.m. Where the walks will take place are to be determined. Unplug, disconnect from the world for a while and let our senses come alive in nature. These are co-sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Lincoln Council on Aging. For more information, including locations of the walks, go to lincolnconservation.org. If there is snow on the ground, you may wish to bring pull on grippers, walking sticks, or walking poles.

Surviving… and thriving through life’s challenges
April 4 at 9:30 a.m.
No matter what your phase of life or what you have encountered in life, you can learn and apply the scientifically-proven tenants of Positive Psychology to become more resilient and happier! Come to Bemis Hall at 9:30 on Wednesdays, April 4 and 18 and then every other Wednesday to learn practical strategies, share practices, build connections and support each other. Facilitated by Alyson Lee, social worker, life coach, certified and licensed facilitator of Positive Psychology. Funded by the Friends of the COA.

You’ve been selected…
April 4 at 2 p.m.
…to drop by and visit with a member of the Board of Selectmen. Bring your ideas, feedback, questions, or favorite Lincoln anecdote. Whether you stop by for a minute or stay for the hour, the selectmen hope to see you between 2 and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 at Bemis Hall.

Remember the name of anyone you meet
April 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Place: Library
What is the cost to you of not remembering names? Embarrassment? Missed opportunities? Fear of meeting new people? Lost business? Come to the Library for a wonderful workshop on Thursday, April 5 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. (Snow date: April 12, 6:30–8:30 p.m.) with Neil Kutzen that will train you to remember anyone’s name you meet. Kutzen has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and has developed the program MemorizeBest. Open to everyone, pre-registration is required (Kutzen will be testing his own memorization abilities prior to class!) To register please contact Lisa Rothenberg at the Library 781–259–8465 or by email at lrothenberg@minlib.net. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library and the Friends of the COA.

Celebrate spring with the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band
April 6 at 12:30 p.m.
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye, All of Me… you name it. Join in and sing along if the spirit moves you. Where can you get to enjoy this kind of music live these days? On Friday, April 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall, the ever-popular Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band will entertain you with such favorites. Don’t miss the free Welcome Spring concert of the old-time jazz you know and love.

Lincoln Academy with Mark Hopkins—Cruising the Balkan peninsula from top to bottom
April 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to the Lincoln Academy on Monday, April 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Mark Hopkins, who will discuss “Cruising the Balkan Peninsula from Top to Bottom.” Mark Hopkins’ camera documents a trip that begins in Athens, Greece and proceeds by small ship through the Gulf of Corinth and up the spectacular east coast of the Adriatic Sea, with many stopovers in Greece, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia. After eight days at sea, the tour continues overland to the Croatian capital of Zagreb. A final visit to the Julian Alps of Slovenia completes the adventure. Mark’s photographs bring the viewer to the famed Acropolis in Athens, the site of the Oracle at Delphi, the majestic mountains of Montenegro, and the historic port cities and islands of Croatia. Along the way, they capture Albania’s struggles to right itself after years of stifling repression. And they end with some delightful discoveries in Zagreb, capped by scenes of the beautiful valleys of Slovenia. The talk includes discussion of the region’s recent history of political upheaval. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome!

Free elder law clinic
April 9 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, April 9 from 3-4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Free wellness clinic for all ages
April 10 at 10 a.m.
PLACE: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Rd. in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Play reading: “The Real Thing”
April 10 at 11 a.m.
Free your inner thespian! Sally Kindleberger leads a group in reading Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing on Tuesdays, April 10 and 17 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Sally will bring copies.

Staying in touch
April 10 at 2 p.m.
You are invited to join this informal group which focuses their monthly discussion on social, cultural, and technological issues of the day. Please join them the second Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. In April they will meet on April 10. All are welcome and encouraged to bring topics that interest them.

Over 55 and unemployed? Get on-the-job training
April 11 at 10 a.m.
Those 55 and over who are currently unemployed and meet federal low-income guidelines are eligible for a job training program that places you in a nonprofit or government agency where you can get on-the-job training while earning $11 an hour. Update your skills and learn new ones! Add to your résumé! If you are interested, come hear Jill Fainberg of Operation A.B.L.E. on Wednesday, April 11 at 10 a.m. at Bemis to discuss the program and how to apply.

Falls don’t have to trip you up
April 12 at 11:30 a.m.
Falls are the #1 reason why seniors end up in the emergency room, yet they are almost entirely preventable. Join Ben Juhola of the Fire Department on Thursday, April 12 at 11:30 at Bemis Hall to learn how you can make your home safer with easy-to-take actions, stay on your feet while enjoying spring weather outside, and use assistive devices. Find out more about health conditions that may contribute to falls. The Fire Department will be serving a delicious sandwich lunch, so please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Are you getting the best care?
April 13 at 10 a.m.
When physicians and others order tests or treatments you don’t need, bill for services you don’t get, or sell you used equipment as new, you suffer. To learn how you can prevent, detect, report healthcare errors, fraud and abuse, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, April 13 at 10 a.m. to hear a presentation by Patricia McMillen, a representative of the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (MA SMP) program. If you have questions about your healthcare bills, Medicare Summary Notices, or other health insurance explanation of benefits statements, please call the MA SMP office at 800-892-0890. Please call the COA at -781-259-8811 to sign up so Patricia knows how much material to bring.

Tour the new Wellesley COA to see what a modern center is like
April 13 at noon
PLACE: Mall parking lot
Residents of all ages are invited to a tour of the new COA senior center in Wellesley that just opened a few months ago. The center includes a number of design elements and principles that might be used in the Lincoln community center and offers a chance for residents to see what a modern center looks and feels like. The tour will be on Friday, April 13. You must sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 in advance as only 20 may go. Anyone who would like transportation is welcome to come on a Doherty’s bus that will leave the Mall parking lot at noon, but you must tell us you would like transportation when you sign up for the tour.

One-on-one help with library e-books
April 17 at 10 a.m.
Do you have a smart phone, Kindle, or tablet? Would you like assistance using it to check out library e-books and audiobooks? Consider making an appointment for a 30-minute one-on-one help session with Kate Tranquada, Lincoln Public Library reference librarian. Kate will be at Bemis Hall Tuesdays, April 17 and 24, from 10 a.m.–noon. The library has a growing selection of e-books and digital audiobooks available for loan. Kate can help you set up your account and select the titles you want, so you can take advantage of the library’s digital services. When you come for your appointment, be sure to bring your phone, Kindle, or tablet, as well as your Minuteman Library Network card and password. Kindle owners will need their Amazon usernames and passwords; Apple owners will need their Apple IDs and passwords. Questions? Email Kate at ktranquada@minlib.net or call the library at 781-259-8465. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Senior dining
April 17 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with new friends and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, April 17 at St. Anne’s Church. Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let them know when you call if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club. Enjoy a lunch free during your birthday month—just let them know!

New group for veterans of spouses
April 20 at 10 a.m.
All spouses of veterans (whether living or deceased) are invited to join a group to be led by Priscilla Leach, Lincoln’s veterans service officer. We hope that the spouses will benefit from getting to know each other, discussing common concerns, and having fun together. This month’s meeting will be held on Friday, April 20 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall and subsequent meeting places will be at The Commons and Lincoln Woods. No need to sign up, but if you would like more information, please contact Priscilla, 781-259-4472 or leachp@lincolntown.org.

Boston Symphony Orchestra matinee in April
April 20 at 10:45 a.m.
PLACE: Mall Parking Lot
Spend a delightful afternoon with the COA on a trip to a matinee performance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Friday, April 20. Tugan Sokhiev will conduct works by Britten, Chopin and Mendelssohn featuring pianist Jan Lisiecki. The program includes Britten’s “Simple Symphony,” Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” and Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 4, Italian.” (Symphony Hall is handicapped accessible.) You may have a sumptuous buffet at Symphony Hall or you may opt to arrange for your own lunch. The cost of the trip is $45.50 with lunch on your own, or $75 with the lunch buffet. This trip is funded by the Hurff Fund and is therefore open to Lincoln seniors only. Space is limited. The bus will leave the mall parking lot at 10:45 a.m. sharp. To reserve a space, send your check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Marilyn Buckler, 12 Hiddenwood Path, Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone and email. Your reservation is complete when Marilyn receives your check. Questions? Contact Marilyn Buckler at 781-259-8886 or mbuckler1@comcast.net.

Learn more about the community center project
April 20 at 1 p.m.
Please join the Community Center Preliminary Planning and Design Committee on Friday, April 20 at 1 p.m. to get an update and learn more about building concepts for the proposed community center! The committee and their architects are busy at work on a number of potential concepts for both siting and building design and they need your ideas and thoughts. This is a great time to ask questions and voice your concerns.

Lincoln Academy with Lucretia Giese—Rivera and Rockefeller: artist and patron
April 23 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to the Lincoln Academy on Monday, April 23 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Lucretia Giese who will discuss “Rivera and Rockefeller: Artist and Patron.” A newly “minted” New York skyscraper, a wealthy American patron of the arts and her son, and a volatile and prodigious Mexican painter came together in 1933. These are the ingredients of Diego Rivera’s Rockefeller Center mural “Man at the Crossroads,” which was to celebrate American technology and the American Worker. Join us to learn more about this story that resonates today. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome!

Fireside chat: what to do about firearms
April 25 at 10 a.m.
The COA started these fireside chats five years ago as a result of conversations following the Sandy Hook shooting incident. Seemingly nothing has changed. Come on Wednesday, April 25 as we discuss what exactly the problem is and what can be done. Fireside chats take place in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 10–11:30 a.m. Facilitated by Sharon Antia.

Getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad
April 27 at 9:30 a.m.
The COA’s programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that they have asked him to come back yet again. Andy will be here on Friday, April 27 at 9:30 a.m. to give you more information on the operation and features of iPhones and iPads and answer your questions. You are welcome to attend whether you came to the other sessions or not. If you have tips for using your iPhone or iPad, bring them.

Increase your media savvy
April 27 at 11 a.m.
Are you troubled, or perplexed by the likely presence of “fake news,” “alternative facts,” and phony sources in your email, on Facebook, Twitter or even in your newspaper—all of which seem to have mushroomed in this era of rapidly growing social media opportunities? Do you know the difference between fake news and satire? Do you know how to spot a fake? Do you know about trolls and bots? Are you familiar with FactCheck.org, Snopes.com, or PolitiFact.com? Andy Payne’s workshop on Friday, April 27 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall will help participants to become more savvy readers and researchers, discerning more readily what is true and what is not as well as sources that are legitimate and those that are not.

Are you eligible for a property tax exemption, deferral, or abatement?
April 27 at 1 p.m.
Lincoln offers a number of ways seniors, veterans, those with disabilities, and those with low incomes can lower their property taxes through exemptions and deferral. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, April 27 at 1 p.m. to hear Dorothy Blakeley and Ellen Meadors of the Board of Assessors, Jennifer Glass of the Board of Selectmen, and Gina Halsted of the Finance Committee discuss the available exemptions and deferral options and how and when to apply. They will also discuss how your property is assessed and how to file for an abatement if you think your property should be valued differently.

The New Sound Assembly: “The Spirit of America in Song”
April 29 at 2 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m. to hear the New Sound Assembly perform The Spirit of America in Song. The New Sound Assembly, a 23-man chorus of singers, presents musical programs all over the region and in England and Ireland. The free hour-long performance for all ages will be a mix of barbershop songs, patriotic, and modern favorites. All songs are sung a capella in four-part classical barbershop harmony, a unique and traditional American musical form. This program is supported by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Lincoln Academy with Jack Fultz—Winning is an attitude
April 30 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 30 at 12:30 to hear Jack Fultz discuss “Winning Is an Attitude.” Fultz, the 1976 Boston Marathon Men’s Champion and currently training advisor to the Dana-Farber Running Program, which has raised more than $85 million for cancer research, will discuss life’s lessons learned on the marathon trail. He will talk about this year’s marathon as well as how he came to Boston in 1976 and how he went about winning the race, along with other stories from his life in competitive athletics. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Save the date:

International Museum of World War II and Indian lunch buffet
Join the COA to commemorate Memorial Day with a visit to the International Museum of WWII in Natick on Wednesday, May 23. The museum hosts over 500,000 artifacts, letters, and documents including the famous enigma machines, diaries, magazines, photos, secret items used by the resistance, and much more. Many items are hands-on. After a group orientation, you will visit the museum at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour. After the museum tour, you will have a delicious buffet lunch at an Indian restaurant close by. For the short ride to Natick, you will travel on a Doherty’s school bus. The tour will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 11:15 a.m., returning at approximately 3:45 p.m. The trip is rated easy/moderate. There are no stairs to negotiate in the museum, but the only seating is at the orientation area, not along the tour route. The cost of the trip is $25 including the buffet lunch. To reserve a space, send a check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian 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 Donna at 781-257-5050 or donna@ecacbed.com.

 

 

News acorns

Lincoln Cultural Council seeks feedback and members

The Lincoln Cultural Council asks residents to take a quick online survey to help it shape the programs it brings to town. The council—whose mission is to solicit and review proposals for grants to sponsor cultural activities in Lincoln—is also seeking members. You don’t need to be an artist, musician or writer to join; all you need is a desire to help. Because the LCC is an official council of the town of Lincoln, members must apply to and be approved by the Board of Selectmen. If appointed, members should be willing to serve at least one three-year term and complete a short online basic training program on the Massachusetts Cultural Council website.

Learn more by attending an introductory meeting on Saturday, April 7 at 10 a.m. at 152 Lincoln Rd., Suite #4 or contacting Meg Ramsey, president, at meg.ramsey@verizon.net.

Recycle styrofoam in Sudbury

Residents can recycle styrofoam on Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m.—noon at the Sudbury Department of Public Works at 275 Old Lancaster Rd. in Sudbury. Recycling is free for members of Sustainable Sudbury, or you can pay a $5 drop-off fee. Bring your hard packing styrofoam (#6) and soft (#4) LDPE foam. To receive a reminder about the next collection, email sustainablesudbury@gmail.com.

“The Role of Men in the Time of #Metoo”

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable White Ribbon Day commemoration originally scheduled in March will be held on Tuesday, April 10 at 3 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room of the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd.) starting with a discussion of “The Role of Men in the Time of #Metoo.” After an opening ceremony featuring the raising of the White Ribbon flag, there will be two short films—one with local men and boys sharing their thoughts on the #MeToo movement and a segment of the CBS program, “A Panel of Men on the #MeToo Movement”—followed by a moderated discussion.

The Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign was conceived as a call to action for men and women to take a pledge to move from the sidelines and be part of the solution to ending violence against women and all gender-based violence. White Ribbon Day messaging focuses on promoting healthy masculinity and assessing the impact that toxic norms have on all of us but especially men and boys.

“Prom, Parties and Parked Cars”

LSRHS Connections will sponsor “Prom, Parties and Parked Cars: How to Survive and Enjoy Prom Season” on Tuesday, April 24 from 7:30–9 p.m. in the L-S cafeteria. This event is open to parents of all grades, as you may have a ninth- or tenth-grader who will attending the Junior or Senior Prom (and parents of seniors are very welcome to share their experiences). We will be going over key logistics for prom night (bus, limo or car to the prom?) as well as tips and strategies for handling last-minute changes in prom plans. This is an opportunity to brainstorm with other parents about how to handle the myriad issues that come up around prom. You’ll leave with a “Plan B” sheet, a list of questions to ask your students and other parents, and the realization that we are all in this together. No cost, but please RSVP here for a head count.

A sign of spring? (Lincoln Through the Lens)

A worker prepares last week to unload some brand-new brushes for the town’s street sweepers at the DPW. Some of the roads in town get swept of sand and other winter debris when the threat of snow has passed. However, given Monday morning’s forecast, it may be a few more days before the brushes get put to use.

FELS talk on healthy living April 12

“What’s the Buzz About your Health and Wellness: A 360-degree Lens on Healthy Living and a Healthy Earth” is the topic of this year’s annual Faye Goldberg-Scheff Memorial Lecture sponsored by FELS (the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury), on Thursday, April 12 at 7 p.m. in the high school’s Kirshner Auditorium. 

The evening will feature professionals in a variety of fields including organic farming, bee keeping, healthy home and personal care, healthy treatments for mind and body, conservation and the environment, and healthy life choices for teens. The panelists will discuss agricultural, environmental, physical, emotional, and mental approaches to our health. For example, how is the health of bees a barometer of the Earth’s health? How does making a change in personal care and household product use impact the health of those using those products? Why organic? What is the impact of stress on our physical wellbeing?

The moderator will be Christopher Collins, environmental science/earth science faculty, Environmental Club advisor at L-S, and filmmaker with National Geographic, the Discovery Channel, and PBS. Panelists (subject to change) are:

  • Jen Barsamian, consultant, Pure Haven Natural, Organic Personal and Home Care Products in Sudbury
  • Ari Kurtz, owner/head farmer at Lindentree Farm in Lincoln, one of the first CSAs in eastern Massachusetts
  • Rick Reault, owner/operator of New England Beekeeping/Carlisle Honey in Tyngsboro
  • Susan Shields, wellness faculty at L-S and faculty advisor to Students Together Empowering Women and the Youth Peer Tutoring program  
  • Judi Weinstein, acupuncturist and owner of Acupuncture Family Practice in Sudbury

The evening will include about an hour of directed questions from the moderator, followed by opportunities for audience questions. Admission is $10. All proceeds will benefit FELS, a nonprofit organization that awards enrichment grants to L-S faculty and staff to pursue their professional and personal interests and passions. 

L-S welcomes German government delegation

Left to right: Joan Campbell, L-S German faculty; Heidrun Tempel, German Foreign Office; student Caitlin Kenney; Rolf Horlemann, New England German consul general; students Audrey Bauer and Cal Hamandi; and Liz Von Wagner, consular cultural and press affairs officer.

A German government delegation visited Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School on March 20 in connection with the L-S World Language Department’s participation in the PASCH program, which is supported by the German government.

PASCH (“Schools: Partner for the Future Initiative” in German) is a global network of approximately 1,800 schools that place a high value on German language education. L-S was named a PASCH school in 2009 and is one of nine PASCH program schools in the United States.

The German visitors included Heidrun Tempel, director of research and academic relations policy and cultural relations policy for the German Foreign Office in Berlin, PASCH program overseer, and co-chair of the German Fulbright Commission. She was accompanied by Rolf Horlemann, New England consul general at the German Consulate in Boston, and Liz von Wagner, consular cultural and press affairs officer. Coincidentally, von Wagner was a judge in the World Language Declamation at L-S on March 16.

The delegation toured the high school with L-S German language students and heard about their experiences in the German exchange program. The trio also met with teachers Joan Campbell, World Language Department coordinator, and Sarah Farrell; Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong; Virginia Blake, director of curriculum and scheduling, and Nancy Marshall, L-S School Committee member and parent of two former L-S German language students. They concluded their morning by attending a German level 4 class taught by Farrell.

One offering of the PASCH program is a fully funded language and cultural immersion for two L-S students for three weeks every summer. In addition, through PASCH, L-S receives professional development support for teachers, teaching materials and technical equipment, opportunities for faculty visits to Germany, and exposure to German educational practices, student language and study abroad support, including secondary and college-level educational opportunities as well as cultural student exchange programs. The links between the PASCH schools around the world allow for networking and curriculum sharing.

Since 1983, L-S has had an annual three-week cultural exchange through the German American Partnership Program. L-S families host 20 students in the fall; the following summer, 20 L-S students go to Germany for home stays and to attend the Gymnasium Vilshofen in Bavaria. Additionally, one L-S student plans to attend a German secondary school through the AFS program in 2018-19.

“Foreign language is a critical tool for student growth in its exposure to—and empathy for—other cultures and differing world perspectives,” Blake said.

Many universities are pairing of German and engineering majors, resulting in a broad array of job opportunities for students after graduation.  “Speaking German sets you apart… there are lots of business and scientific opportunities,” Campbell told the Sudbury Town Crier in 2009. L-S has 190 students enrolled in German in 2017-18.

In 2009, Campbell was recognized by the American Association of Teachers of German and the Massachusetts Association of Teachers of German as Massachusetts German Teacher of the Year.

Letter to the editor: inclusion means listening for the sake of learning

To the editor:

Many in our community have shared with me their feelings and reactions coming out of Lincoln’s recent annual Town Meeting—reactions which have included sadness, anger, frustration, and confusion, to name a few. We in Lincoln hold as a community value the inclusion of all, and yet many neighbors in town experienced that value tested against publicly expressed perspectives that felt elitist, classist, and/or racist. In turn, that experience sits side by side with a desire to not “other-ize” those we may disagree with, those who might otherize us, even those who we might experience as offensive.

In the midst of so much division that already exists in our country, how do we navigate divisiveness in a loving and even healing way? How do we actually live into the values that our community holds, creating the inclusive environment we all seek?  There are no “perfect” answers to these questions, but I’d like to offer a few guiding principles.

First, we meet reality where it is. Lincoln is a great town, a “desirable” community. It has a rich history, beautiful natural environment, and guiding values that are worth taking the time to both understand and live into. And Lincoln exists within the United States of America—a nation that has been having very serious and socially divisive conversations on issues such as the increasing class divide in American society and structural barriers that help perpetuate endemic poverty and racial oppression.

We in Lincoln are a part of those national conversations; like every city, town, and village in America, we are a microcosm of the whole, with good people along the whole ideological spectrum, with good people who are struggling to figure out how to talk to one another, listen to one another, and leave that experience with a mutual sense of being valued and “seen.”  The struggles and needs that exist in our nation right now exist here in Lincoln.

As we navigate those conversations, we must be clear that “winning” is not the point. As an American people, we have learned to be satisfied if we feel that we have “won” on an issue, and dissatisfied—even angry and indignant—if we feel that we are on a “losing”’ side. Winning has become more important than relationship, more important than learning from one another, or collaboratively seeking a greater good. Bipartisanship is practically dead in Washington, D.C., and has been for some time now.

That national reality is mirrored at the local level throughout our country. We cheer on our favorite political orthodoxy, applauding ideological purity and entrenchment, while efforts at building cross-ideological bridges are deemed a waste of time. We are left in bubbles talking most regularly with others who think like us, stepping outside of those bubbles to be surprised that close by are neighbors who might hold a diametrically opposed view or life experience.

Our community and our nation need more from us than this, and I believe there is good cause to feel hopeful because we already hold as a town value, and in my congregation as a community value, one of the most important ingredients to a better future: the value we place on genuine inclusion and the understanding that Lincoln is a town where all are welcome and included. This is mirrored in the value that my congregation, the First Parish, is a religious community in which all are spiritually welcome and included. Living into that reality is quite hard, but also a beautiful and worthy aspiration.

It is more than just patiently listening to someone we disagree with or find disagreeable; it involves listening for the sake of learning. What does this other human being, my neighbor, this person who is inherently valuable, value? Why do they care about the things that they care about? How can I personally ensure that they know that I have “seen” and heard who they are and what they value? Ideally, building the world we yearn for needs all of us listening, doing, and acting in these life-affirming ways. But in the absence of that, we can trust that even one of us behaving in these ways can have ripples of impact that we cannot predict.  When we honor the light of others, our own light shines brighter, radiating out into the world in ways that will have a positive effect.

William Ellery Channing is credited with having said, “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” May we each find ways to allow legitimate difference to help us grow more deeply in our relationships with one another. It is in this way that we hold the possibility of bringing alive peace, love, and hope for ourselves and our wider world.

Sincerely,

Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti
Senior Minister, First Parish in Lincoln

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Two Lincoln drives for Cradles to Crayons

Lincoln Girl Scout Troop 72886 and project 351 are collecting gently used and new children’s clothing for Cradles to Crayons from March 28 through April 11. Collection bins will be located in the Lincoln Library and the Stone Church at First Parish. Please note that pajamas, socks and underwear must be new. They accept any children’s clothing from birth to size adult medium, but the most-needed items include:

  • Boys’ and girls’ size 18-24 months shirts or onesies
  • Boys’ sweaters size 14/16
  • Boys’ pants size 4/5T to 18/20
  • Girls’ shirts size 2T to 7/8
  • Boys’ and girls’ spring jackets, all sizes up to 18/20 (adult medium)

Lincoln School eighth-grader Kiran Rajagopal is coordinating collections for Project 351, a youth-driven service organization that unites eighth-grade ambassadors from each of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts for a year of servic, leadership development, and enrichment.

Collection boxes for new or like-new children’s clothing, coats, and footwear will be in the Smith and Brooks entryway and the Lincoln preschool until the morning of April 6. Anyone with questions may email Kiran at kiranthant@gmail.com.

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive free of charge. Donated items are processed and packaged by volunteers and distributed to disadvantaged children across Massachusetts through a network of social service agencies and school partners.

L-S Jazz Night on April 5

The Lincoln-Sudbury Music Department presents Jazz Night 2018 on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. in the L-S auditorium. The concert is open to the public and admission is free. April is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), a global celebration to advance recognition of jazz as a historical and contemporary art form.

Jazz Night showcases talented student musicians performing jazz literature from the swing, funk, and Latin genres. L-S performing groups include the Symphonic and Concert Jazz Ensembles, the Sax Quartet, and the Select Jazz Combo. The groups are led by Thomas Grandprey, director of instrumental music and graduate of The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music Collaborative Jazz Masters program.

Special guest groups include the Lincoln Middle School Jazz Band directed by Clayton DeWalt and the Curtis Middle School Select Jazz Band under the direction of Kevin Donegan. The middle school students will combine with the L-S groups for a joint performance of Paul Clark’s fiery Latin composition, “Dance Like No One’s Watching.” Sales of snacks and refreshments will benefit the L-S Friends of Music.

Film Society movies in April

The Lincoln Library Film Society continues its “Swinging London” series of movies in April. All screening are at 3 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room.

  • April 2 — “Alfie” (1966) starring Michael Caine and Shelley Winters. An unrepentant ladies’ man gradually begins to understand the consequences of his lifestyle.
  • April 9 — “Georgy Girl” (1966) starring Lynne Redgrave and Alan Bates. A homely but vivacious young woman dodges the amorous attentions of her father’s middle-aged employer while striving to capture some of the glamorous life of her swinging London roommate.
  • April 23 — “Morgan” (1966) starring Vanessa Redgrave and David Warner. After his wife leaves him for his former best friend, a failed London artist begins his descent into madness in trying to win her back.
  • April 30 — “Blow-up” (1966) starring Vanessa Redgrave and David Hemmings. A mod London photographer finds something very suspicious in the shots he has taken of a mysterious beauty in a desolate park.