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

Group aims to keep two building project committees aligned

The Campus Coordinating Group (CCG), which met for the first time on September 7, will begin work on an overarching timeline that lays out joint milestones and public workshops and charrettes for the Community Center Preliminary Planning & Design Committee (PPDC) and the School Building Committee (SBC).

The CCG was formed so the members of the two groups working on planning for a school project and a community center can keep each other up to date on their progress. It includes three members of the SBC (Superintendent Becky McFall; Chris Fasciano, chair; and Craig Nicholson) and three members of the PPDC (Tim Higgins, town administrator; Ellen Meyer Shorb, chair; and Owen Beenhouwer).

The next meeting of the CCG is Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 a.m. in McFall’s office (second floor of the Hartwell building). After that, the group will meet at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings every other week. All meetings are open to the public.

Food project workers grow food justice awareness along with crops

Ben S. of Winchester and Mariell A. of Roslindale pick carrots. (Photo by Alice Waugh)

They say you reap what you sow, but few people take it to heart more than the Food Project‘s Seed Crew.

The group of 26 youths aged 14-17 spent more than six weeks in July and August getting their hands dirty in Lincoln doing the hard work of farming. They were paid a stipend but also earned valuable knowledge about sustainable food systems, personal development, and serving at hunger relief organizations.

The Food Project hires teens from diverse cultural, racial, economic, and geographic backgrounds to work on Seed Crews at their farms in Lincoln, Boston, Beverly, Wenham, and Lynn. The crews work in the fields and take part in workshops on issues including sustainable agriculture, food access, and social justice. The teenagers also spend one day a week at a local hunger relief organization preparing and serving the produce they’re grown.

Seed Crew members can progress after their first summer to the Dirt Crew, which designs and executes a self-directed project to address food access issues in a community during the academic year. Root Crew members have more responsibility running the Food Project’s farms and markets in a yearlong program where they also serve as peer leaders for the Seed Crew and teach others in the community about food justice and food systems. They play important roles in the organization’s mission to promote access to fresh and affordable produce by building raised-bed gardens for residents and organizations, offering garden-based educational programming, and providing opportunities for people to use SNAP/EBT benefits to purchase fresh food.

Ezekiel Mercer-McDowall (left), who is in his 10th year at the Food Project, harvests beets with second-year worker Brendan Murtha of Watertown. (Photo by Alice Waugh)

On a midweek day in August, workers in bright green Seed Crew T-shirts were harvesting bright orange carrots from the brown soil in one section of the Food Project’s 30-acre site near Route 126 and Baker Bridge Road. Nearby, a melon patch was protected by flash tape (twisted Mylar tape that flashes silver and red in the breeze to scare off birds).

Another weedy patch of land nearby was lying fallow. Last summer, it held a potato crop that was devastated by Colorado potato beetles. Because the Food Project uses only organic farming methods, pesticides are not an option, so Seed Crew workers are sometimes assigned to don gloves, pick the beetles off the plants and squash them, explained supervisor Angel Araiza. Crew members undoubtedly find digging up bright orange carrots of all shapes and sizes more satisfying.

“I like the outdoors and gardening and also social justice—both of those things brought me out here,” said Seed Drew member Ben S. of Winchester (the Food Project does not release the last names of teenage volunteers to protect their privacy).

The field work is not easy. Seed Crews weed, harvest and do other outdoor tasks even if it’s raining. Very hot days are tough on the crops as well as the workers because they have move fast to wash, transport and and store the fruits and vegetables in a walk-in cooler.

“On hot days, we have a lot of moving parts—we have to get the field heat out of the crops as fast as possible,” Araiza explained on an unusually cool August morning. “Any time we can get a day like this, it’s a blessing.”

Elizabeth Warren speaks to overflow crowd in Concord

Sen Elizabeth Warren speaks to the media and overflow crowd at the town hall event in Concord (click to enlarge).

By Gary Davis

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized the failed health care bills as well as growing income inequality in the U.S. at a town hall event that drew an overflow crowd of more than 1,500 area residents to Concord-Carlisle High School on August 25.

Preceding Warren were state Rep. Cory Atkins (D–14th Middlesex) and State Sen. Michael Barrett (D–3rd Middlesex), who opened by discussing some of the critical legislative issues facing Massachusetts residents. He mentioned two pending state bills he authored, one to counteract the effects of carbon dioxide and climate change and another to require presidential candidates to submit their tax returns to qualify for the ballots in the primary and general elections.

Click here to see a video of the August 25 town hall

When Barrett introduced Warren, the audience greeted her with a standing ovation. She began by thanking grassroots organizations and individuals for saving the Affordable Care Act by speaking up at Town Hall meetings, and visiting legislators’ offices as well as calling and emailing to express their opposition.

The health care bills presented in the House and Senate would have created  tax benefits for the wealthy and health insurance companies that would come from cuts to Medicaid and reduction of essential services for millions of Americans, Warren said. “Those bills did not represent our values,” she said. “They were not who we are as a country. We believe that health care is a basic human right, and we will get out there and fight for it.”

State Rep. Michael Barrett and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Addressing income inequality, Warren said that from 1935 to 1980, the GDP rose 70 percent, with 90 percent of the benefits going to the middle class through basic income growth, new protective financial regulations, a new progressive income tax, investment in education to provide an equal and better future, and investment in infrastructure. However, starting in the 1980s, the economy focused on tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations; between 1979 and 2012, the income of the top 10 percent of earners grew about 76 percent, while income of the bottom 90 percent decreased by about 9 percent even though the GDP rose, according to the World Wealth and Income Database, she said.

Answering questions from the audience for over an hour, Warren spoke of the need to respect and honor our transgender troops, strongly condemned neo-Nazis and white supremacists, and encouraged the audience to make a commitment to work for a Democratic and accountable government based on shared prosperity and equal opportunity.

News acorns

Explore Lincoln’s pollinator meadow on Sunday

Meet the creatures that populate Lincoln’s People for People for Pollinators and learn how to observe them scientifically at a two-part event on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1–2 p.m. at the meadow next to the Smith School parking lot off Ballfield Road. Begin by walking the meadow with Tom Gumbart, conservation director for the Lincoln Conservation Department, to observe the bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and other pollinating wildlife that visit the meadow in September.

In the second half, learn how to record your observations at iNaturalist on your mobile device for scientific study. Before the walk, download the app onto your smartphone or tablet by going to inaturalist.org and scroll down until you see the section about installation on mobile devices. The project name is “People for Pollinators.”

Wear sturdy shoes, dress for weather conditions, and protect yourself from sun, ticks, and mosquitoes. If you are allergic to bees or other insects, please be aware that while most of the pollinating insects and wildlife are gentle, we cannot guarantee stings or bites won’t occur. Free; all are welcome. The event will be cancelled if it’s raining.

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Conservation Commission are collaborating partners of the People for Pollinators project.

Youth soccer begins next weekend

The Lincoln Youth Soccer In-Town Soccer Program starts on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Smith Field, with pre-K and kindergarteners beginning at 8 a.m. and kids in grades 1–2 at 9 a.m. Practices are approximately 55 minutes. Parent volunteers are responsible for coaching the teams with the help of two instructors from the Revolution Academy soccer program, who will assist with practice plans and coaching guidance. Any parents, even those without soccer experience, who are interested in volunteering should contact coordinator Deepak Dibya at 515-203-5986 or dibyadeepak@gmail.com.

First Parish church school beginning

The First Parish in Lincoln has opened registration for its church school, which begins Sunday, Sept. 17. The school is free, but parents must complete this online registration form. School takes place each Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Road, except during school vacations. Children in grades K–3 enjoy “Spirit Play,” grades 4–5 follow the “SHINE: Living in God’s Light” curriculum, and grades 6–7 study “Neighboring Faiths.”

Our Whole Lives (OWL) for eighth-graders is a comprehensive sexuality education program taught by trained facilitators. It’s open to all eighth-graders, including those whose families do not attend First Parish. Parents of OWL students are required to attend an Orientation on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 7–9 p.m. OWL will meet approximately twice a month on Sundays from 7–8:30 p.m. beginning October 15.

Date change for quilters’ auction closing

The closing reception for the quilters’ exhibit and auction has been changed from September 30 to Thursday, Sept. 28 from 5–8 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library.

News acorns

“Mrs. Ship” by Catherine McCarthy, one of the works in the Clark Gallery’s “Paperwork” exhibit.

Artists’ reception

The Clark Gallery will host an artists’ reception with 17 artists to mark the opening of its Paperwork exhibit on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 4–6 p.m.

Used book sale

The Friends of the Lincoln Library resume their monthly used book sale on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m.–noon in Bemis Hall. Support the Lincoln Library by picking up gently used books, DVDs and CDs. Leave donated materials in the box in the Bemis Hall foyer.

Quilters exhibit their work

The Lincoln Quilters will display the results of several years of creative shared-quilt construction at the Lincoln Public Library art gallery starting on Friday, Sept. 8 and running through Saturday, Sept. 30. All quilts will be auctioned to benefit the charity of choice of the successful bidder. Bids will be closed out at the closing reception on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 3–5 p.m. at the library. Members of the Lincoln Quilters are Anne Crosby, Nancy Constable, Tricia Deck, Linda MacNeil, Margaret Olson, Lucy Sachs, Kate Sacknoff, Jane Solar, and Dilla Tingley.

Forum on Lincoln as a sanctuary

The Lincoln Sanctuary Town Committee is holding a forum titled “Lincoln Explores Sanctuary” on Sunday, Sept. 24 from 4–6 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The forum will be moderated by Steven Perlmutter and will include panelists Akuot Leek, a former Sudanese refugee and Lincoln resident; Andrea Hewitt and Sharon Carlson of Dignity in Asylum; Vince Amoroso, Boxborough city councilman; and state Senator James Eldridge of the Middlesex and Worcester District.

Sunday School registration, evening meditation at St. Anne’s

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will hold its annual Sunday School open house and registration on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. There will be snacks and activities for kids. At the 10 a.m. service, there will be a special blessing for the new school year—bring your backpack to have it blessed.

St. Anne’s is also hosting an evening mediation series this fall, “Let Go and Know.” The group will meet Mondays from 7–8 p.m. beginning September 18. Cushions and chairs will be available for sitting, or feel free to bring your own favorite. To learn more, contact Nanri Tenney Nanri at nanritenney@gmail.com.

Bemis Lecture clarification

The Bemis Free lecture on “Philanthropy Shaping Lincoln: The Ogden Codman Trust” on September 27 will run from 7–9 p.m., not ending at 8:30 p.m. as previously listed in News Acorns and the calendar.

Magazine ranks Lincoln-Sudbury schools #12 out of 125

The cover of the September issue of Boston Magazine.

Of 125 public school districts within I-495, Lincoln-Sudbury is rated as 12th best in overall quality, according to a table in Boston Magazine.

To calculate the rankings, George Recck, director of the Math Resource Center at Babson College, compared each district’s data points to the overall average for all districts and then applied a percentage weight to the standardized data for each district to create an aggregate score. Characteristics such as smaller class size, lower student-to-teacher ratios, higher graduation rates, and higher rates of spending per pupil were considered more desirable.

For the purposes of the study, all of the K-12 public schools in Lincoln and Sudbury were viewed as a single school district. L-S ranked highly in MCAS/PARCC scores and especially in SAT scores, coming in at #11, #18 and #19 of the 125 districts for the math, reading and writing sections of the SAT respectively. However, the L-S district ranked rather low (#101) in average class size at 19.8.

Finishing ahead of Lincoln-Sudbury starting with #1 were Dover-Sherborn, Concord-Carlisle, Weston, Lexington, Wayland, Westford, Newton, Wellesley, Manchester-Essex, Harvard, and Sharon. The bottom five districts were Everett, Lynn, Brockton, Lawrence, and Chelsea.

“For the parameters selected, I think our aggregate scores look strong across the board and I don’t foresee significant changes for the next year,” said Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong. “I think our aggregate outcomes are very strong and continue to focus on ensuring success for all of our students.”

News acorns

Conservation Commission seeks assistant

The town of Lincoln seeks qualified candidates for an administrative assistant to work 30 hours a week under the direction of the conservation director and the Conservation Commission. Duties include processing wetlands permit applications, preparing and posting meeting agendas, taking and finalizing meeting minutes, working with office volunteers and student interns, and updating the Conservation Department webpage.

The administrative assistant is the primary point person for fielding inquiries regarding wetlands permitting and other conservation-related issues from residents, builders, realtors, consultants, etc., and therefore must have strong customer service skills. Attendance is required at Conservation Commission public meetings on Wednesday nights every three weeks. Municipal experience and an interest in and knowledge of wetlands, open space, and natural history preferred. Starting pay is $21.48–$23.48/hour, based on experience. Submit cover letter and resume to Mary Day, Assistant Town Administrator, Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln MA 01773 or jobs@lincolntown.org by September 26.

Bemis lecture on Ogden Codman Trust

Bemis Free Lectures presents “Philanthropy Shaping Lincoln: The Ogden Codman Trust,” a special conversation with Bill Tyler, trustee emeritus and founding trustee of the Ogden Codman Trust and Susan Monahan, current trustee, on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

House concert on Sept. 22

Lincoln pianist and music therapist Trevor Berens is organizing a house concert in Lincoln on Friday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. The music will include solo piano music by Lincoln resident Richard Cornell (Lutine Bell), Toru Takemitsu’s crystalline Rain Tree Sketch II, and the “Thoreau” movement from Charles Ives’s iconic Concord Sonata. The second half features soprano Jessica Berens performing her husband Berens’s song cycle Pomes Penyeach (based on the poetry of James Joyce) and Lazarus by French composer Jacques Burtin, and written for the couple.

Tickets are $12 at the door, and light refreshments will be served. Proceeds will help defray concert expenses and benfit future recordings by the Sonic Liberation Players, a nine-member musical group that includes Berens and Tunick that “investigates the area between ‘academic/intellectual’ and ‘pop-influenced’ classical,” according to its website.

Email Berens at trevorberens1@gmail.com to reserve seats (seating is limited) and receive the address for the house concert.

L-S Boosters ski and sports sale

The ninth annual L-S All Sports Boosters Ski and Sports Sale will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m.–noon at the Fieldhouse at 31 Union Ave. in Sudbury. Come grab your sticks, rackets, bats, clubs, balls, helmets, pads, cleats, skates, snowboards, skis, boots, bags, bikes, and backyard games—all sizes and age ranges represented. If you’re cleaning out before then, please drop off donations on September 21 and 22 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Fieldhouse. All proceeds go to L-S Boosters, which supports L-S athletics at all levels.

Public hearings coming up

 

Historic District Commission

The Historic District Commission will hold public hearings on Tuesday, Sept. 5 starting at 7:30 p.m. to consider the followng applications:

  • Michael Barnicle and Anne Finucane for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new structure known as a sleeping cottage at 20 Trapelo Rd.
  • John and Lara MacLachlan to replace 15 windows and a side door at 49 Bedford Rd.

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and to act on the following petitions for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment:

  • Erin Kelly and Lionel McPherson, 2 Forester Rd.
  • Sarah Cannon Holden, 60 Weston Rd.
  • Andrew Pickett, 12 Longmeadow Rd.
  • Kelly and Lincoln Greenhill, 12 Page Farm Rd.
  • William Churchill, 6 Horses Crossing
  • Peter Von Mertens and Dea Angiolillo, 16 Tower Rd.

The ZBA will also hold a public hearing that night to hear and act on two more applications:

  • Charlene McCart Jackson, trustee of McCart Realty Trust, 14-16 and 22-24 Lewis St., for an extension of an existing special permit for the expansion of non-conforming residential use in a B-2 District.
  • James Pingeon and Elizabeth Graver, 47 Old Sudbury Rd., for a special permit to extend the roof to cover the landing outside the front door.

Property tax classification hearing

The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of determining for fiscal year 2018 the percentage of the real estate property tax burden that shall be borne by the residential and commercial classifications of property respectively. General inquiries prior to the hearing may be directed to the Assessors’ Office, 781 259-2611.

COA activities in September

New fitness classes for all levels
September 5 at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Looking for an opportunity to get fit and toned, limber up, and enhance your physical and mental well-being? Try one of the Council on Aging’s new fitness classes at Bemis Hall. At 11:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, come to Stretch and Flex for all fitness levels. You’ll start with a gentle warmup, then progress to resistance training with bands or weights. At 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, come to Active Aging that begins with a stretch followed by muscle toning and strengthening with weights, aerobic dance, and cooldown. Both classes are $3 a session with no signup needed and begin September 5. Attend when you like. The certified instructor, Terri Zaborowski, teaches these two classes in other COAs where they are so popular they have wait lists. For more information, call the COA at 781-259-8811.

Think you might want to join the memoir group?
September 6 at 10 a.m.
If you’re interested in writing your memoirs or just curious about what goes on in the group, please come to the first meeting of the Memoir Group on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at Bemis Hall and find out what they do. If you like what you hear and want to continue, the cost of the eight-session term is $75. The dates for the term are September 6 and 20; October 4 and 18; November 1, 15, and 29; and December 13. If you want more information, call Connie Lewis 781-259-9415 or email her at conlewis1000@gmail.com.

Line dancing
September 6 at 11 a.m.
Enjoy the fun and fitness of line dancing Wednesdays at 11 a.m. beginning September 6 at Bemis Hall with Katrina Rotondi. Those who come to the line dancing class love it. $3 payable the day of the class. No signup needed. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Katherine Clark
September 6 at 1 p.m.
Jimmy Santos, constituent services and military liaison for Congresswoman Katherine Clark, will hold office hours at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. on federal benefits and other concerns. No need to sign up.

Join a new group to declutter and get organized
September 6 and 20 at 2 p.m.
Decluttering and getting organized can seem overwhelming, but you can do it with some help, and you will enjoy your living space more and feel better about yourself and your life. Come to a new decluttering group facilitated by Pam Mizrahi at Bemis Hall on September 6 and 20 at 2 p.m. and every other week thereafter to talk about why we clutter and learn strategies.

Coffee with artist Susan Wu
September 7 at 2:15 p.m.
Come join Lincoln artist Susan Wu for Coffee with the Artist on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 2:15 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Wu will be showing her Chinese brush paintings at Bemis Hall in September and October. Originally from Taoyuan, Taiwan, Wu has studied Chinese brush painting at the deCordova Museum and with Qinxiong Ma. She is a member of the Chinese Painting Guild of Boston and is a featured artist on their website, chinesepaintingguild.org, and is also a member of the Sumi-e Society of America (Sarasota, Fla., chapter). She has shown her work in the annual Art in the Park exhibits at University Park in Sarasota since 2001 and has won many awards. Wu has also exhibited her work at the deCordova Museum and the Lincoln Library, among other places.

Lincoln Academy with Donald L. Hafner, Captain, Lincoln Minute Men—The “Inexplicable” Captain: William Smith and Lincoln’s Minute Men of 1775
September 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 11 at 12:30 to hear Donald L. Hafner, Captain of the Lincoln Minute Men, discuss “The “Inexplicable” Captain: William Smith and Lincoln’s Minute Men of 1775.” What explains the election of William Smith as Captain of Lincoln’s Minute Men in 1775? A report in 2007 for Minute Man National Historical Park asserted that Smith’s election was “inexplicable,” and it does seem puzzling. Among the Minute Men were long-time Lincoln residents, military veterans, and men older than William Smith. Yet to command them in battle, they elected Smith, who had moved to Lincoln barely a year earlier, was only 28 years old, and had no military experience. Various explanations have been offered for William’s election, but are they persuasive? Come join the conversation, review the evidence, and judge for yourself whether William Smith was the “inexplicable” captain. Donald L. Hafner is a retired professor of political science and a long-time member of the Lincoln Minute Men. His most recent book, published by the Lincoln Historical Society, is William Smith, Captain: Life and Death of a Soldier of the American Revolution. 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.

Tai chi for health, rehabilitation, and wellness
September 11 at 1 p.m.
Tai chi has been shown to develop a better sense of overall well being, reduce stress, help with posture and balance, increase strength and flexibility, and more. It is beneficial for anyone who wants to increase wellness in general or who is recovering from an illness and wants a gentle movement routine. The COA’s fall tai chi classes begin September 11 and continue until the week of December 11 at Bemis Hall. Level I (Beginners) is taught on Mondays from 2:15– 3:15 p.m., Wednesdays from 1–2 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:15–10:15 a.m. Level 2 is taught Mondays from 3:15-4:15 and Thursdays from 10:15–11:15. Level 3 is taught on Wednesdays from 2:15–3:15. The cost is $60 for 1 hour a week, $80 for 2 hours a week, and $100 for 4 hours a week. Instructors are Jane Moss, Ellie Horwitz, and Cynthia Rosenberger. For information, contact Jane Moss, at 781-259-9822 or mindbodyjm@comcast.net. Beginners may sign up now by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. Continuing students do not need to sign up.

Free elder law clinic
September 11 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, Sept. 11 from 3–4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the thirty-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Free wellness clinic for all ages                                     
September 12 at 10 a.m.
PLACE: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Sept. 12 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.

Monthly positive psychology group
September 13 at 9:30 a.m.
All are welcome to come to a new group to support each other in Positive Psychology practices like gratitude, mindfulness, resilience, coping, and more. The group will focus on incorporating Positive Psychology into our daily lives through community-building, support, shared practices, facilitated discussions, and social media like Facebook. You don’t need to have attended previous Positive Psychology groups. The group will be facilitated by Alyson Lee, who is certified to teach Positive Psychology. The group will meet at 9:30 on Wednesdays, Sept. 13 and 27, and then monthly every second Wednesday. Funded by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad
September 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Our programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that the COA has asked him to come back yet again. Andy will be at Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 15 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 those, too.

Using social media like Facebook and Twitter: it’s easier than you think
September 15 at 11 a.m.
These days, if you’re going to get the latest information about events and other things, you need to know how to use the Internet’s social media like Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. If you’d like to know which site has what kind of information, how to sign up, how to keep your private information private online, and more, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m., when Andy Payne will give an introduction to what social media is and how to use it.

Lincoln Academy with Heather Korostoff Murray—African-American improvisational quilts
September 18 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 18 at 12:30 to hear Heather Korostoff Murray discuss African-American improvisational quilts. She will introduce you to African-American improvisational quilts: the unique qualities of these extraordinary textiles, their possible African connections, and the stories behind their creators, including their inspirations and astonishing talents. Heather’s talk will focus on the lives and work of eight significant African-American improvisational quilt makers, with slides from the extensive quilt collection and research of her mentor, quilt scholar and curator Eli Leon. On exhibit will be several antique and vintage quilts from her collection, illustrating the key characteristics of the genre. 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.

Hand drumming for fun and wellness
September 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Hand drumming is a fun and unique way to spend enjoyable time with others, improve musical skills for playing any instrument, and de-stress, relax, and feel more positive. Learn this special art with acclaimed drummer Mike Connors from the Concord Conservatory of Music on six Tuesday mornings at 9:30 beginning September 19 at a cost of $78. Sign up now.

Gourmet luncheon with friends old and new
September 19 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, Sept. 19 at St. Anne’s Church. They welcome new diners often—give them a try. Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead even if you have previously attended. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let us know 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.

Techno teach-in with LEAP students
September 20 at 2:30
Middle school students from the LEAP afterschool program invite you to join them at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 20 from 2:30–3:30 p.m. to get help with a variety of devices, such as computers, cell phones, ipads and tablets, and more. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up today.

Science and technology club: the science and economics of developing new drugs
September 21 at 10:15 a.m.
Every new medication undergoes years of development and testing between the initial spark of scientific innovation and the time patients’ lives are saved or improved. What is the scientific process of bringing a drug from idea to market, and what are the costs involved that can raise the price of a medication to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars a dose? Find out when Mary Elisabeth Field comes to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10:15 a.m. Field, a Lincoln resident, has provided quality assurance and compliance services to Genzyme and other pharmaceutical corporations as they develop new medications for over 30 years.

Coffee with a cop—share concerns and ideas with the Lincoln Police
September 21 at 1 to 3 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 1–3 p.m. to meet privately with an officer from the Lincoln Police Department. Do you have a security concern regarding yourself, a family member, or neighbor? An idea the police should try? Would you like guidance about a situation? Come on down—no need to make an appointment. An officer will be at Bemis on the third Thursday of every other month from 1–3 p.m.

Fall and winter safety with the Fire Department
September 22 at 11:30 a.m.
Place: Public Safety Building
Fall and winter will soon be here, so brush up on how you can prevent a fire, accident, or related tragedy. Join Ben Juhola of the Fire Department on Friday, Sept. 22 at 11:30 at the Public Safety Building to learn about such topics as burning leaves, using space heaters safely, shoveling snow the right way, and more. The Fire Department will be serving a sandwich lunch, so please sign up.

Piano recital of music by Schumann, Gershwin, and Liszt by Abla Shocair
September 22 at 2:15 p.m.
You are invited to enjoy an afternoon of piano music with Abla Shocair on Friday, Sept. 22 at 2:15 p.m. at Bemis Hall. She will play Schumann’s Carnaval, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C# minor. Abla, originally from Jordan, started playing piano at age 4. She is a civil engineer and has given many piano concerts in a variety of venues.

Greatest artworks of the 20th century
September 23 at 3 p.m.
Place: Library
Adults of all ages are invited to take a five-week free course that will reveal the genius behind various 20th century artworks and artists from Picasso to Pollock and beyond and discuss their own thoughts and reactions to each piece. The course will be from 3–4:30 p.m. at the Library on Saturdays Sept. 23, October 7, 21, and 28, and November 4. The course is taught by Steven Kendall, tour leader and teacher. The course is co-sponsored by the Library and COA and made possible by the Friends of the Lincoln Library and the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging. Please sign up by calling the library at 781-259-8465.

Lincoln Academy with Susan MacMillan Kains (Siusaidh Nic a’Mhaoilean Cahans)—Gaelic woman on a braided path
September 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 25, at 12:30 to hear Susan MacMillan Kains discuss “Gaelic Woman on a Braided Path.” This presentation will trace the interweaving of Susan’s life as a Scots-Gael, moving among and living with her Gaelic-speaking relatives of Canada and the North American Indian tribes, especially the Oglala Lakota Sioux of western South Dakota, with whom she has been an adopted family member for 35 years. 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.

Fireside chat: what’s on your bucket list?
September 27 at 10 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Woods
What’s on your bucket list? What should/could be in it but isn’t? What is your favorite list item, either something you’ve done or have yet to do? Get together with others and have some fun talking about things you want to do or have done and things that make us happy on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. at the new location in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods, 50 Wells Rd. The Fireside Chat meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m. and is facilitated by Sharon Antia.

Get what you need from your financial advisor
September 29 at 10 a.m.
Financial advisors vary significantly in not only their expertise, but also in how dedicated they are to meeting your needs instead of theirs. To make sure that you are getting the right advice from the right advisor, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. when attorney Christine R. Fitzgerald will talk about the suitability of investments, questions to ask when offered a financial product, and what to look for in financial advisors. Fitzgerald, a founder of the Belcher Fitzgerald law firm, has extensive experience with legal issues related to the financial services industry. Bring your questions and concerns.

Good habits to reduce inflammation for health
September 29 at 1 p.m.
Chronic inflammation is associated with major diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and depression. You can help reduce chronic inflammation through eating the right foods, exercising, reducing stress, sleeping better and more. Find out about what foods to eat and avoid, how to exercise, and more when Jane Polley, MS, RD, LDN, and Laila Vehvilainen, MS, MPH, NASM, come to Bemis Hall Friday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m..

Save the date:

Tour of the State House and lunch
Come to the Massachusetts State House and the John Adams Courthouse on Wednesday, October 11. These historic and beautiful buildings house the story of Massachusetts. Think you know our history? John Adams’s passion for justice, community and learning are evident in the stunning 19th-century courthouse where the Supreme Judicial Court or Appeals Court meets right across the street from the Massachusetts State House, where the group will begin a docent-led tour. Do you know our state motto? Why do we have a state insect? Who owned this land? Who designed this beautiful building? Why is our Constitution so important? There’s a lot to learn. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9:15 a.m. sharp and plan to be back in Lincoln by 4 p.m. Lunch will be on your own at the Union Oyster House, the oldest continually operating restaurant in the country. The cost of the trip is $15 and is supported by the Hurff Fund so the trip is limited to Lincoln seniors. Both buildings have elevators but expect to be standing on both tours. Send your check payable to FLCOA, along with your phone numer and email, to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 or call 781-257-5050 or email donna@ecacbed.com.

Let’s bowl!
Let’s go bowling on Thursday, Nov. 9. Most of us haven’t bowled in years and certainly not with large balls. Don’t worry, the group will be using small balls (candlepin bowling). They will have four bowlers to a lane and maybe get a little competition going. Afterwards they’ll head for an early dinner at a nearby restaurant to discuss their bowling skills or lack thereof.

Express your love of nature with watercolors with Jane Cooper
Rediscover the joyful soul within you through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Jane will offer fun dabbling in watercolor painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. Four classes will be offered on October 13, 16, 20, and 23 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $30, all materials included. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up now.

Medicare 101
Are you turning 65 in the next year? Save November 1 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall for a program about what Medicare offers, how to choose a plan, when to sign up, and more, provided by the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE program. The federally funded SHINE program only has funding through March 2018 due to federal budget cuts, so this may be your last opportunity to attend a program about Medicare benefits.