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

South Lincoln hydration station stages ribbon-cutting

The Lincoln Garden Club is having a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Station Park on Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. to celebrate the opening of its latest project: the installation of a granite water fountain for the town of Lincoln. The park is located across the Lincoln Mall at 145 Lincoln Road.

The native-plant flower bed at Station Park installed in 2015.

The Garden Club decided to have the water fountain built at the Park it has been maintaining since 1972, inspired by last year’s warrant article, sponsored by the Lincoln School eighth grade, to install a hydration station at the school gym. DPW Superintendent Chris Bibbo and his staff, as well as the Lincoln Water Department, were key in designing and installing the fountain, which can be used by bicyclists and walkers to fill water bottles and get a drink of water.

Station Park was created by the town in May 1970 and has been maintained by the Lincoln Garden Club since 1972. In the fall of 2015, the Garden Club installed a native plant bed, designed by the New England Wildflower Society. Like the water fountain project, the installation of the native bed was funded by the Lincoln Garden Club and encompasses approximately 300 native plants.

Lincolnites join forces with crowd at climate rally

Eighteen Lincolnites armed with posters, good spirits, hats, and sunscreen participated in the Boston People’s Climate Mobilization on Boston Common on Saturday, April 29. A Doherty’s bus, organized by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee, conveyed the group to and from the rally.

Sponsored by a wide array of environmental organizations, the rally offered workshops, teach-ins, music, and speakers focusing on jobs, economic and environmental justice, and ideas for promoting job growth and diminishing the ill effects of climate change.

“The activities were informative and often inspiring and the mood was buoyant, as it was a perfectly beautiful spring day in Boston with participants, along with their children and their dogs, enjoying the warm sunshine and the flowering trees, shrubs and tulips in the Public Garden,” said participant Barbara Slayter, who provided the photos below (click any image to enlarge).

Gwyn Loud, Nancy Soulette, and Elizabaeth Cherniack on the bus to Boston Common.

Barbara Slayter behind her Maura Healy sign.

The Lincolnites get themselves organized before heading onto Boston Common.

 

Jillian Darling displays her poster.

Kate Dahmen and Staci Montori, whose sign calls attention to unrepaired natural gas leaks.

Leslie Hallowell and Sherry Haydock.

Lia Darling.

 

Nancy Soulette’s sign.

News acorns

Parent discussion on life at L-S for incoming freshmen

All Lincoln parents of eighth-graders (regardless of where they’re enrolled) who will be going to Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in the fall are invited to “Life at L-S” on Thursday, May 4 from 7–8:30 p.m. Lincoln School parent alums will offer information and support for the transition to L-S life. Because orientation to L-S so far has focused almost exclusively on academics, this session will touch on other aspects of L-S life such as sports, clubs and activities, social life, time management, and Boston family experiences. The event will be facilitated by Lincoln residents Nancy Marshall (member of the L-S School Committee) and Carole Kasper, parent volunteer and former PTO chair, as well as middle school Principal Sharon Hobbs.

Jewelry trunk show at Old Town Hall Exchange

The Old Town Hall Exchange is hosting a jewelry trunk show on Saturday, May 6 from 1–5 p.m. Enjoy browsing local artisans’ work on the weekend before Mother’s Day. Lincoln artists include Ji Hwang Jewelry, Shing Jewels, and L. Alexandra Designs, with other local jewelers Susan Warren Jewelry and CB Miller Metals. The Exchange will be also open for business with cards, stationery, soaps, candles, pottery, and more.

Historical Society hosts event

The Lincoln Historical Society invites residents to “Our Unhappy Connection: The ‘Lost Letters’ of Abigail Adams and Her Brother, Captain William Smith”—a fictional exchange based on history on Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Special guests the Lincoln Minute Men will salute their captains past and present.

Page Turners at next LOMA night

The Page Turners (Carolyn Kendrick and Jake Howard) are the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, May 8 at the Lincoln Public Library. The event runs from 7-10 p.m., and the Page Turners will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Their rustic vocal harmonies are complemented instrumentally by Carolyn’s fiddle and Jake’s mandolin and guitar. LOMA is a monthly event. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

L-S invites singers to join Vivaldi performance

The L-S Concert Choir invites residents who enjoy singing to participate in their annual Community Sing on May 11, where they will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria for their May concert. The choir’s tradition for its May concert  is to learn and perform a longer work for choir and orchestra and to invite L-S staff, choir alumni and community members to sing the piece with them. The time commitment is minimal: dress rehearsal is Monday, May 8 from 7–8:30 p.m. and the concert is on Thursday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. There are audio practice files online for each part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), as well as scores available to borrow. Anyone interested may contact L-S Choral Director Mike Bunting (Michael_Bunting@lsrhs.net or 781-259-9527, ext 2210).

Beach hopes to bring more events to Pierce House

Nancy Beach reflects on her new role as Pierce house events manager.

The new live-in event manager of the Pierce House hopes to expand the historic building’s beyond summer weddings to widen its appeal and help pay for more improvements.

Nancy Beach was hired in January after managers Richard and Susan Silver retired after 22 years. She’s taken over the job of booking rentals, managing contracts and overseeing upkeep of the house along with town facilities staff. “We’re here to guide her and support her, but she’s in charge,” said Virginia Rundell, chair of the Pierce House Committee, which proposes the annual budget and general oversight.

Much of that budget comes from fees paid for use of the house by those who rent it for weddings and other events. Summer Saturdays are fully booked for that purpose, but Beach plans to market the house for other uses such as weekday corporate retreats and meetings as well as wintertime events. The Pierce House played host to a wedding reception on a snowy evening in January, and “they had a lovely time—it was so beautiful with all four fireplaces going,” Beach said.

Beach, who grew up in Concord, started her career as a wedding planner in the 1980s and was later in charge of worldwide training and customer entertainment events at Hewlett-Packard. Four days after moving into the refurbished manager’s apartment in January, she organized a separate bridal show in another town and got dozens of leads for future bookings.

More income could help Beach pay for better period decor and other interior upgrades. “If I can bring in enough money to put back into house, then we can improve it,” she said.

Additional events for Lincoln residents are also a goal. “The committee did some soul-searching last year and talked about our mission, and we’d like to do more events that bring Lincolnites into the house,” Rundell said. Past shindigs have included the Downton Abbey viewing party in 2014 and a welcome event for new Lincoln residents; organizations such as the Lincoln Family Association and the Council on Aging periodically make use of the house, and Beach envisions other local social groups and families coming in as well (Lincoln residents and groups get discounts on the rental fees, Rundell noted).

“It’s a little corny, but I think of the Pierce House being a part of Lincolnites’ lives” for everything from baby showers to weddings and post-funeral gatherings, Rundell said. “It’s so iconic.”

Camuti convicted of killing Rakes and dumping body in Lincoln

The approximate location where Stephen Rakes’ body was found in Lincoln on July 17, 2013 (click to enlarge).

William Camuti, 72, of Sudbury was convicted of first-degree murder today by a Middlesex Superior Court jury in connection with the 2013 death of Stephen Rakes, 59, of Quincy, whose body he dumped on Mill Street in Lincoln after poisoning him in 2013. The jury also found the defendant guilty of improper disposal of human remains and two counts of misleading a police officer. Judge Bruce Henry scheduled sentencing for Thursday, April 27.

The following account is from a press release from the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan. Scroll down for links to Lincoln Squirrel articles from 2013.

William Camuti, 72, of Sudbury, was convicted of first-degree murder today by a Middlesex Superior Court jury in connection with the 2013 death of Stephen Rakes, 59, of Quincy. The jury also found the defendant guilty of improper disposal of human remains and two counts of misleading a police officer. Judge Bruce Henry scheduled sentencing for Thursday, April 27 at 10 a.m.

“Deeply in debt to his long-time business partner Stephen Rakes, William Camuti offered to meet the victim to discuss financial matters over coffee,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Unbeknownst to the victim, the defendant had laced the victim’s coffee with potassium cyanide to avoid paying the $100,000 he owed the victim. The defendant then waited for his so-called friend to die before leaving the victim in the woods in Lincoln. When questioned by authorities, the defendant made a concerted and deliberate effort to mislead Massachusetts State Police and Lincoln Police. Thanks to the diligent work of these two law enforcement agencies and the prosecutors assigned to this case, today the jury found the defendant guilty of his crimes.”

Lincoln Chief of Police Kevin Kennedy added, “Thank you to my officers in the Lincoln Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police and the prosecutors who worked tirelessly to investigate and prosecute this case. Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Stephen Rakes and we hope that today’s verdict will bring them closure.”

On Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at approximately 1:30 p.m., a jogger running past a wooded area on Mill Street in Lincoln discovered the body of Stephen Rakes. Lincoln Police and Massachusetts State Police responded and immediately began an investigation.

Surveillance video showed Rakes leaving the Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse, where he had been regularly attending the trial of Whitey Bulger, on the afternoon of July 16, 2013. He was wearing the same clothing when his body was discovered; however, the victim did not have a phone, keys or identification on his person.

Authorities learned that Camuti arranged to meet the victim around 1:45 p.m. at McDonald’s in Waltham on July 16 under the guise of discussing a real estate deal in Wilmington. The defendant purchased two iced coffees, one of which he mixed with two teaspoons of potassium cyanide. He gave the laced drink to the victim, who drank it.

The defendant then drove around Waltham, Woburn, Burlington, and Lincoln for several hours with the victim in the vehicle. He later dumped the body of Rakes in the wooded area in Lincoln where it was found the next day.

In the course of the investigation, authorities discovered Internet searches on the defendant’s computer including ways to purchase cyanide and queries such as, “Will the taste of coffee change if it is mixed with sodium or potassium cyanide?” Authorities also learned that the defendant was deeply in debt to the victim at the time of the murder.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner would later determine the cause of death to be acute potassium cyanide poisoning. Camuti was arrested on August 2, 2013.

This case was investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Lincoln Police Department. 

Lincoln Squirrel stories from 2013:

New group invites residents to ‘tag’ gas leaks

Lincoln Mothers Out Front Gas Circle members (left to right) Staci Montori, Kate Dahmen, Trish O’Hagan, Sue Michener, Carol Michener Card. Missing from photo: Emily Haslett, DJ Mitchell, Jackie Lenth and Stacey Parks. (Photo from Mothers Out Front – Lincoln)

As one of its first actions to take on local and global environmental challenges, the new Lincoln chapter of the group Mothers Out Front invites residents to a rally and artistic event on Sunday, May 7 to raise awareness of natural gas leaks in town.

The event starts at 1 p.m. at the Lincoln Town Office Building with a welcome address and kickoff rally. Teams of “taggers” will then disperse to mark over 45 known gas leaks throughout Lincoln and hang doorknob information sheets to alert neighbors about the harmful and costly effects of leaking natural gas. Anyone interested in joining is welcome; please email LincolnMOF@gmail.com to sign up for a tagging team.

Natural gas is 95 percent methane, a potent greenhouse gas that speeds up climate change, harms trees, and is linked to health issues including asthma. The Cambridge nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team maps gas leaks in more than 200 Massachusetts cities and towns. There are more than 20,000 gas leaks in Massachusetts;Mothers Out front cites a recent Boston University survey of 100 of those leaks that were identified seven as “super-emitters” and 15 as potentially explosive.

Utilities charge consumers for the leaked gas they never use, and the Lincoln campaign is part of a statewide movement to enact gas leaks legislation. A law signed in 2016 requires gas companies to address “environmentally significant” leaks, or the ones leaking the most gas, while other pending legislation would pass the cost of lost gas from consumer bills to the utilities over a period of time. Senate Bill 1845 is currently before the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy co-chaired by Lincoln’s state senator, Michael Barrett.

Annual forum on school priorities on Thursday

The Lincoln School Committee and administration invite parents, faculty, and community members to provide input into developing the school district’s 2017-18 strategic priorities at the third annual Strategic Priorities Community Forum on Thursday, April 27 from 7–9 p.m. in the Hartwell Multipurpose Room.

The meeting will feature an overview of of the school district vision and strategic plan; faculty presentations of current classroom practices that represent the district’s priorities; and community conversation about hopes, expectations, and priorities for the district to consider for the coming year.

Developing the annual District Strategic Plan involves gathering of input from stakeholder groups, a review of the district’s progress toward achieving current goals, and discussion of appropriate next steps in order to move forward toward achieving the district’s vision for education in the Lincoln Public Schools. The district’s current strategic priorities are focused on the delivery of curriculum and instruction that engages students at high levels and supports the academic, creative, social, and emotional development of all students.

Service on May 4 for Nancy Zuelke, 81

The late Larry and Nancy Zuelke with their antique VW Beetle (click here for story). Photo: Alice Waugh

A public celebration of the life of Nancy J. Zuelke will be held on Thursday, May 4 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Pierce House to remember the long-time Lincoln resident and former Town Clerk who passed away April 15. Many people met her at the town offices where she worked from 1972-2017.

Nancy Augustus was born September 13, 1936 in Evanston, Ill. She grew up in Winnetka and Evanston with her sister Dottie (Martin). She attended Beloit College and then transferred to the University of Illinois at Champagne/Urbana where she completed a BA in sociology. Nancy met Larry Zuelke at a meeting of the Christian Science Student Organization. They married in 1957 and moved to Cambridge, Mass., and on to Lincoln in 1961, where they raised their three children. Larry, a former Lincoln Minute Man, passed away in 2015.

Nancy was always supportive and a strong force behind her family’s activities. She was a Cub Scout den mother, and she taught and participated in various arts and crafts with her children. For a short time, she was a tour guide at Drumlin Farm before beginning a long career at the Lincoln Town Hall. Starting out as an assistant to the Town Manager inn 1972, she eventually served as Town Clerk and assisted on numerous town boards from Appeals to Zoning.

After retiring, she continued to help at elections and was active in the Council on Aging. In 2016, she received Lincoln’s annual Bright Light Award. “I always thought [the award] was for someone with a bright idea and I’ve had no bright ideas. I’m just letting my light shine, that’s all,” Nancy said when she received the award at Town Meeting.

She enjoyed tennis, swimming, skiing, sewing, knitting, and gardening.  Nancy and Larry had many adventures throughout the U.S and around the world. She was always a good sport even when confronted with the steep Chilkoot Trail and rapids of the Forty Mile River in Alaska or hiking the fjords in Norway. During much of her tenure at the town offices, she rode her bike to work.

Nancy was an active member of the Christian Science church in Concord, regularly serving in the Reading Room as well as on other church committees. She had a long history of helping others. Donations in Nancy’s name can be made to the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging or a service organization of your choice.

Nancy has three children; Karl of Natick; Karen and Lynn of Fairbanks, Alaska; and eight grandchildren: Katrina, Elizabeth, Victoria, Leah, Gail, Jesse, Amy and Laura.

Members of the LincolnTalk email list can view reminiscences about Nancy here.

Other obituaries:

John Esserian

Nancy Braasch

Nancy Braasch, 96 (March 15) — survived by husband of 71 years and others. Service on Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m. at the First Parish Church.

John A. Esserian, 89 (March 20) — inventor of the handheld bar code scanner.

News acorns

Two concerts at Bemis this weekend

Lyrica Boston Chamber Music will give a free concert on Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. On the program will be Schubert’s Trout Quintet and other works in a surprising array of styles. A reception with light refreshments will follow the concert. Musicians will include Laura Bossert (violin), Annie Bartlett (viola), Mariel Bossert (piano), Mina Kim (cello) and Donald Palma (bass). The Lyrica Boston Chamber Music series was founded by Lincoln resident Laura Bossert to provide a launching ground for young emerging artists to perform alongside seasoned professionals. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging.

Dave Whitney and his Big Band will play in Bemis Hall on Sunday, April 30 from 2–5 p.m. Presented by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Film about relationship violence

Local residents—particularly parents of high school students—are invited to a powerful 90-minute film-based workshop about relationship violence on Thursday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in the L-S auditorium. Escalation tells the story of two college students who fall in love, but whose relationship ultimately turns violent. After the screening, participants are encouraged to talk about relationship violence in a group conversation led by trained facilitators.

The workshop is produced by the OneLove Foundation and presented locally in conjunction with the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund by the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable with Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Mentors in Violence Prevention team. L-S seniors will have the opportunity to take part in the Escalation Workshop as part of the L-S “Courage to Care Conference.”

‘Wake Up the Nature Linc Garden’ on May 6

As part of Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area “Hidden Treasures 2017,” a regional celebration, Farrington Nature Linc will host a pair of events. At Wake Up the Nature Linc Garden on Saturday, May 6 starting at 10 a.m., visitors can weed, turn over the soil, plant annuals, and then hike to vernal pools to look for tadpoles and frogs. At 2 p.m., there will be a talk about Farrington Memorial’s history. Farrington’s clerk, Susan Taylor, will share what we know about life on one of Lincoln’s oldest farmsteads starting with the first structure in 1650 through the 18th-century chestnut barn and the 1911 Donaldson-built dormitory, up through today’s work bringing youth from low-income, urban communities out into nature. Please RSVP for both events to Wendy@NatureLinc.org.

Also as part of the celebration, there will be free admission to the Gropius House and Codman Estate on May 6.

Flower and plant sale

On Saturday, May 6  from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Town Hall, a selection of plants from Stonegate Gardens and gifts from the Lincoln PTO will be available for purchase at the PTO’s biennial plant sale and fundraiser. You’ll find flats and potted arrangements, fun and affordable Mother’s Day gifts, and a free kid’s potting activity (be sure bring your child’s old boots for the project!) Plant sale is rain or shine, and lemonade and treats will be available for sale by the Brooks School class of 2018. Volunteers will be available to assist in loading.

Borrow nature-themed backpacks for kids

Four new nature-themed backpacks, designed by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, are available for two-week check out in the Children’s Department at the Lincoln Public Library.

The “Birding, Trackers, Insects, and Trees Etc.” backpacks contain laminated field guides and books for identifying animals and plants; tools to assist with exploration such as magnifying lenses, binoculars, and insect nets; activities to record observations and engage in hands-on learning (story books, nature logs, and plaster casts of animal tracks); and reference materials including a Lincoln trail map, environmental ethics awareness cards, and information on ticks and mosquitos. Many items were sourced and purchased at discount with help from staff at the Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm.

“As a parent, grandparent, former science teacher, and former director of environmental education in the Lincoln Public Schools, I’ve had lots of experience seeing the value of getting children outdoors exploring nature on local trails and in their backyards. Children are curious and love making discoveries on their own, with a few friends or even a grandparent, and the backpacks will facilitate these opportunities,” said Gywn Loud, a trustee for Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

The nature backpacks are funded by Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and Friends of the Lincoln Library.

LSF bee celebrates 10 years of spelling acumen

Third-grade winners: The Word Wizards: Henry Hussey, Rahul Rani, and Alex Zipes. Adults, left to right: Principal Kristen St. James; and teachers Scot Dexter, Jen Mastrullo, and Debbie Carpenito. (More photos below; click to enlarge)

The Lincoln School Foundation (LSF) celebrated a decade of student spelling prowess and a new contest format at the annual town-wide spelling bee on April 2.

In keeping with the LSF’s mission to bring innovative ideas into our schools, last year’s fifth-graders piloted a new style of spelling bee competition. Every team was given the same word to spell out on a whiteboard, and double elimination ensured that one extraordinarily hard word didn’t wipe out the whole group unfairly. Thanks to the overwhelmingly positive response, the pilot format was improved and fully implemented for all grades this year.

Similar to last year, the double elimination rule remained and all teams in a heat received the same words, but whiteboards were traded in for laptops, and teams’ final answers were projected on screens, making it easier for the audience to see. A judge then asked one team member to spell the word out loud for the audience to hear.

“The LSF folks who have run the bee over the years have been really responsive to the feedback they’ve received from the judges and pronouncers. It’s become a great community event,” said Brooks School Principal Sharon Hobbs.

“The students were well prepared and it was a terrific addition to have each team spell and display every word. We are so fortunate to have LSF as a partner, not only for this amazingly well-organized event, but in their ability to contribute so positively to the school community by funding grants to further teaching and learning,” said Smith School Principal Sarah Collmer.

Third-grade teams kicked off the day with four heats of competition, the winners of which went on to the championship round. The Word Wizards with teammates Henry Hussey, Rahul Rani, Alex Zipes won the championship round with the word diligently.

Three heats of fourth-grade teams competed to make it to the championship round. Under the team name Gold Troph-Bees, Polly Zimmerman, Bella Chen, Brooklynn Masso won the final round with the word avocado.

Bee Dazzled, the winning sixth-grade team. Left to right: Principal Erich Ledebuhr; Lincoln Public Library children’s librarian Debbie Leopold; teacher Becca Fasciano, and spellers Allie Schwartz, Lily Huang, and Francesca Liu.

Fifth-grade winners The Cocoa Crew. Left to right: Principal Erich Ledebuhr; Lincoln Public Library children’s librarian Debbie Leopold, Principal Sharon Hobbs, and spellers Mina Tanner, Mackenzie White and Rori Page.

The Gold Troph-Bees, who won the fourth-grade competition. Front row, left to right: Polly Zimmerman, Bella Chen, and Brooklynn Masso. Back row, left to right: Principal Sarah Collmer, Officer Ian Spencer, and Lincoln Parks and Recreation Director Dan Pereira.

Two heats of fifth grade teams competed with The Cocoa Crew, Mina Tanner, Mackenzie White and Rori Page Cramer winning by spelling the final word linguist.

For the sixth grade, it was Allie Schwartz, Lily Huang, and Francesca Liu as team Bee Dazzled, who ended the bee by correctly spelling the word doldrums. This was the team’s fourth consecutive bee.

The event saw the usual great support from school faculty and the community. Many thanks to the pronouncers: Superintendent Becky McFall, Assistant Superintendent Patricia Kinsella, Principals Kristen St. James, Collmer, Hobbs, and Erich Ledebuhr; and the judges: teachers Jennifer Mastrullo, Debbie Carpenito, Scot Dexter, and Becca Fasciano, Officer Ian Spencer from Lincoln Police Department, Lincoln Parks and Recreation Director Dan Pereira, Lincoln Public Library Children’s Librarian Debbie Leopold, and Director of the Lincoln Extended-day Acivities Program (LEAP) Katie Hawkins.

The LSF also thanks Lincoln School Director of Technology Rob Ford, James Suttie, and the LPS audio/visual staff for helping to implement the new format seamlessly.

L ocal businesses that sponsored the bee included Coppe and Sears Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics in Lexington, ARTSmart New England, MD+A, Budget Printing in Concord, Boston Sports Clubs, Doherty’s Garage, Donelan’s Supermarkets, Sky Salon, Exoprise, Hanscom Air Force Base Commissary, The Toy Shop of Concord, Party City, Beehive Art, and Something Special.

The LSF spelling bee is also an opportunity for Lincoln School and Hanscom Middle School (HMS) students to come together. “The thing I like the most about the spelling bee is that is brings students from both our campuses together at an event that is academically oriented and that helps to support our district,” said HMS Principal Erich Ledebuhr.

“The LSF Spelling Bee is a wonderful event that brings students and families from Lincoln, Boston, and Hanscom together for fun with a purpose, supporting the great work of the Lincoln School Foundation. LSF grants lead to innovative and engaging learning experiences for our students,” McFall said.

LSF is a nonprofit organization, and donations from the Lincoln community provide seed money that allow teachers to bring new and innovative tools and techniques to the classroom. Funded projects in 2016-17 included a station-based model for social studies instruction at HMS; support for the creation of curriculum and resources to help encourage the use of yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation by both the students and faculty in the Smith School; funding to host Urban Improv for both HMS and Brooks middle school students and teachers; and maker spaces at two schools.