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

My Turn: Civil disobedience and Hanscom Field expansion

By Dilla Tingley

(Editor’s note: see “Activists continue push to derail Hanscom expansion” for context.)

I joined Bill McKibben’s Third Act. Wrote my letter and encouraged others to write letters in response to the DEIR on the Hanscom hangar project. Eagerly joined Alex Chatfield’s protest on Saturday April 20.

We were told that Extinction Rebellion [ER] was going to be disrupting flights on the runway. Our plan was to occupy the parking lot and the lounges of Signature Air and Jet Air. Signature Air was referred to as an enabler. They apparently have the contract to run the facilities at the new hangars. They currently provide luxurious amenities to owners and fliers of private jets.

When we arrived, the police presence was already there and handcuffing people in front of the Signature Air facility. Large presence of state, Concord, Bedford, and eventually Lincoln police. We had read our statements in the parking lot and then we stood across the drive from the Signature Air facility where they were arresting folks, and we sang songs and chants with the ER people providing much moral support. Eventually a state policeman dragged over a person in a traffic vest and said he was from Massport. That person demanded that we leave. The policeman gave us the option of crossing the drive and joining “your friends” and being arrested or leaving. We left. I think we were there about an hour.

I was not part of the group that stayed at the intersection of Hanscom Drive and Old Bedford Road. They were interviewed by many members of the press.

I was really happy to play a small part in this action. Private jet travel is anathema to our climate goals and the whole air lobby has way too much power. Jet fuel is not taxed. There is no sales tax if you buy a private jet. The only leverage we have over what happens at Hanscom is to control the building of infrastructure.

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 Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Police log for April 3–16, 2024

April 3

Patterson Road, Hanscom AFB (2:05 p.m.) — An individual called to speak with an officer regarding an ongoing incident.

Trapelo Road (3:45 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred when a vehicle attempted to cross Trapelo Road from Old County Road. The vehicle failed to yield to Trapelo Road traffic and struck a vehicle traveling east on Trapelo. There were no reported injuries. The operator of the vehicle traveling north on Old County Road was issued a citation for failing to yield.

Masonic Temple, Lincoln Road (8:12 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing smoke coming from the Masonic Temple. The Fire Department responded and discovered smoke emanating from the chimney.

April 4

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (12:30 a.m.) — A caller reported a two-vehicle crash on Route 2. The Fire Department and Massachusetts State Police responded.

South Great Road (9:13 a.m.) — A fatal car crash occurred near Sweet Bay Lane. Click here for details.

Wells Road (11:41 a.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding a past incident.

South Brook Road (2:56 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing an unknown vehicle parked in their driveway. An officer responded but the vehicle was gone prior to arrival.

Care Dimensions, Winter Street (3:53 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a sick or injured raccoon. The area was checked but the raccoon could not be found.

April 5

Route 2 Gas (12:57 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, occupied vehicle in the parking lot of Tracey’s. The operator was hired by the owner and was supposed to be at that location.

Mount Misery parking lot (4:08 a.m.) — An officer checked on a vehicle parked in the Mt. Misery lot. The operator had pulled off to make a phone call.

April 6

The Fire Department responded for mutual-aid station coverage in Concord (2:04 p.m.), Weston (7:47 p.m.), and Sudbury (8:35 p.m.), where a three-alarm fire destroyed a house on Hemlock Road.

Lincoln MBTA station (8:44 p.m.) — An officer assisted a commuter after they got off at the wrong train stop.

Emerson Hospital, Concord (10:45 p.m.) — An officer returned some items to an individual.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (2:03 a.m.) — An officer provided a courtesy transport to two individuals who had been dropped off by their rideshare driver.

April 9

North Great Road (7:39 a.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of North Great Road and Brooks Road when one vehicle rear-ended another. There were no injuries associated with the crash.

Horses Crossing (10:09 a.m.) — A caller reported an injured coyote on their property. Officers responded and asked the Animal Control Officer to some the residence. At 12:25 p.m., the Animal Control Officer determined that coyote was sick or injured and had to be put down.

Lincoln Road (2:13 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash when a vehicle traveling east on Codman Road failed to stop at the Lincoln Road stop sign and struck a vehicle traveling south on Lincoln Road. The operator of the vehicle traveling on Codman Road was transported to the hospital for injuries suffered in the crash.

Page Road (4:07 p.m.) — A resident found an abandoned puppy on Page Road. Click here for details.

Partridge Lane (4:50 p.m.) — Waltham police located a personal item belonging to a Lincoln resident. Lincoln police returned the item to the owner.

Old Sudbury Road (8:00 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a dog near the roadway barking at cars. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the dog. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Longmeadow Road (8:34 p.m.) — An individual came to the Police Department to speak with an officer regarding an ongoing incident.

April 10

Bedford Lane (3:52 p.m.) — A caller reported spotting a raccoon near their garage. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound at Crosby’s Corner (5:43 p.m.) — Massachusetts State Police, Lincoln Police and the Lincoln and Concord Fire Departments responded to a motor vehicle crash in Concord.

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (9:34 p.m.) — An additional charge of fugitive from justice was filed with Concord District Court on a past arrest (February 16, 2024) of Javon Epps, 32, of Rochester, N.H.

Patterson Road, Hanscom AFB (10:59 p.m.) — A tow company called to report a vehicle repossession.

April 11

Route 2 Gas (1:27 a.m.) — An officer checked on an occupied vehicle parked at the gas station. The operator had pulled off Route 2 to briefly sleep.

Lincoln North office building (2:14 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, occupied vehicle. The operator was an employee of one of the businesses.

Bank of America, Lincoln Road (11:47 p.m.) — A Bank of America employee reported that a customer was the possible victim of a scam. An officer responded.

Waltham Street, Wayland (1:44 p.m.) — Lincoln officers assisted Wayland police and fire with a motor vehicle crash.

Lexington Road (5:44 p.m.) — An officer unsuccessfully attempted to serve court paperwork. A second attempt at 6:51 p.m. was successful.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (9:36 p.m.) — An officer located a disabled motor vehicle and remained with the vehicle until a tow truck arrived.

April 12

Silver Hill Road (6:57 p.m.) — Multiple calls were received for a vehicle striking a tree. The operator was uninjured and was cited for a marked lanes violation and impeded operation.

Old Sudbury Road (2:07 p.m.) — A vehicle struck a utility pole on Old Sudbury Road. The operator refused medical attention at the scene. The road was shut down for several hours while the utility pole was repaired.

Sandy Pond Road (3:17 p.m.) — A caller requested to speak to an officer regarding a possible fraud.

Mount Misery parking lot, South Great Road (9:25 p.m.) — Officers removed a deceased beaver from the roadway.

April 13

Canoe landing parking lot, South Great Road (12:57 p.m.) — An officer spoke with the occupants of two vehicles that were parked after hours. The individuals were sent on their way.

Minuteman Technical High School (7:44 a.m.) — Officers responded to Minuteman Tech on a follow-up call.

Lincoln Road (9:12 p.m.) — An officer spoke to an individual at the station regarding a possible phone scam.

Hanscom AFB Vandenberg Gate (12:21 p.m.) — Officers responded to Hanscom Air Force Base for an individual with an active out-of-state arrest warrant. Officers took into custody Phillip Hardin, 58, of Orlando, Fla., for an outstanding arrest warrant out of Ohio. He was charged as a fugitive from justice. After booking, He was transported to the Billerica House of Correction.

Old Concord Road (3:14 p.m.) — A resident reported a possible unpermitted solicitor. An officer spoke to the individual and advised them of the soliciting requirements.

Conant Road (4:20 p.m.) — Lincoln fire and police responded to a motor vehicle crash on private property. The operator of the vehicle was transported to the hospital.

South Great Road (5:35 p.m.) — Officers checked the area for a reported party slumped over the wheel of their car. The area was checked but nothing found. Area police departments were notified.

Trapelo Road (6:52 p.m.) — Two individuals were advised that fishing was prohibited at the Cambridge Reservoir.

April 14

Page Farm Road (10:50 a.m.) — A caller reported being the possible victim of a scam.

Old Winter Street (11:52 a.m.) — An item was discovered and turned over to the police for destruction.

South Great Road (8:04 p.m.) —Weston Police called to report a hit-and-run crash that had occurred in their town. The vehicle that fled returned to the scene a short time later.

Wells Road (8:06 p.m. and 8:37 p.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding an ongoing issue.

Russett Court (8:38 p.m.) — Burned food caused a fire alarm activation.

April 15

South Great Road (11:52 a.m.) — Animal Control was notified regarding a large black dog walking near the roadway. At 4:59 p.m., a caller requested information about the dog.

North Great Road (5:17 p.m.) — Lincoln Police assisted Lexington police and Massachusetts State Police with locating an individual who had fled prior custody. The wanted subject was captured a short time later in the town of Lexington.

South Great Road (8:19 p.m.) — Police searched an area for a missing dog. Area departments were also made aware and assisted in the search.

April 16

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (1:00 p.m.) — A motorist reported two mopeds were operating in the breakdown lane of Route 2. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Tower Road (10:33 p.m.) — A motorist reported that the railroad gates were stuck in the up position. Officers responded and asked Keolis to respond as well.

News acorns

Sessions on spiritual differences, atheism, job searches

The First Parish in Lincoln has three events coming up:

Theology on Tap: Navigating Spiritual Difference in Relationships
Monday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. (Tack Room)
How do we navigate our connection with partners, family, and friends with different religious and spiritual traditions? Share your experiences and learn from one another.

Atheists and Other Seekers
Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. (First Parish Stearns Room)
Join us for the third meeting of the Atheists and Other Seekers discussion group. In a judgment-free setting, we’ll focus on a few keywords that came up at our last discussion. All are welcome, from the atheist to the agnostic to the believer.

Job Search Conversation Group
Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. (First Parish Stearns Room)
In a culture where we are often defined by “what we do,” the gaps between work offer both possibility and challenge. Join Rev. Nate Klug for a new conversation group focused on providing community and support for those in transition between jobs.

Office opening event with entertainment

Real estate team Jeannine Taylor and Jessica Packineau invite residents to an opening event for their own office on Friday, April 26 from 4–7 p.m. at 152 Lincoln Rd. Explore the renovated space and get your burning real estate questions answered while enjoying music by Casey Murray (banjo, guitar, cello) and Molly Tucker (fiddle) and artwork by Lincoln’s Pauline Curtiss.

Work day and taco night at Codman Farms

On Sunday, April 28 from 2–4 p.m., support our local farm while doing tasks for all ages —raking, mulching, weeding, organizing, painting, and special box decorating for our littlest of volunteers. Come prepared to get dirty and please bring your own work gloves. Click here to sign up.

That evening from 4–7 p.m., enjoy your dinner fresh from the Codman kitchen with braised beef tacos, vegan chorizo tacos, braised beans, rice and fixings. Eat in the courtyard with a cozy fire and live music from The Honey Steelers (or if you can’t stay, take your dinner home).

Speakers coming to library

Author Emily Falcon on From the Sidelines to the Finish Line
Thursday, May 9 from 7-8 p.m., Tarbell Room
What’s something you always wanted to do but weren’t able? Author Emily Falcon was held back by her heart condition until she was 35, but now she can run races. Her memoir, From the Sidelines to the Finish Line: A Chronic Illness Survivor’s Challenges and Everyday Triumphs is a story of survival and how her physical situation shaped and limited her. She intends this story to be a helpful resource to families, caregivers, and physicians who want to gain insight into a patient’s point of view.

Poetry reading with Lincoln’s Linda Lamenza
Saturday, May 11 from 3-4 p.m., Tarbell Room
Join us for a poetry reading with Linda Lamenza, a poet and literacy specialist for Lincoln Public Schools in Massachusetts. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, and her chapbook, Left-Handed Poetry, was a finalist for Hunger Mountain’s May Day Mountain Chapbook Series. Feast of the Seven Fishes, her first full-length book, is forthcoming.

Golf classic, raffle for L-S All Sports Boosters 

The 18th annual L-S Boosters Golf Classic fundraiser kicks off on Friday, May 10 at 7:45 a.m. at the Wayland Country Club, 121 Old Sudbury Rd., Wayland (breakfast and registration starting at 6:45 a.m.). Money raised from this event goes directly to benefit L-S athletic teams at all levels. Over the years, the Boosters have approved grants averaging $50,000 per year totaling over $1.5 million. Click here to register to play, be a sponsor, or come to a post-golf lunch. Raffle tickets are also available online through Wednesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. Click here to purchase raffle tickets. 

Globe looks at home values in towns including Lincoln

An April 17 Boston Globe article headlined “The mystery of falling prices in Belmont, Brookline and more swanky suburbs” (subscription required) examined slow sales and falling home prices. In Lincoln, “the Warren Group found prices fell more than 15 percent in 2023. The median-priced single-family home there sold for $1,411,250 last year, down more than $200,000 from 2022,” according to the article, which also quotes Lincoln real estate agent Terry Perlmutter.

Seniors at The Commons mentor staff with English tutoring and more

(Editor’s note: This article is based partly on material supplied by Gabriella Pais of Montagne Powers.)

Retirement offers almost endless possibilities for how to spend one’s time—travel, golf, a new or renewed hobby — but seniors like Elaine Smith and other residents at The Commons in Lincoln are busy helping those who help them.

Smith is the founding member of RAMP, the Resident Associate Mentoring Program, where residents with skills, experience, and time are paired with Commons associates who need mentorship. Often, the employees work with resident mentors on English as a second language, but they offer other types of help as well.

RAMP is a voluntary program, but associates are paid for the work time they spend in their classes. An associate’s supervisor will direct them to RAMP if they are seeking assistance, at which point they’ll meet one on one with a mentor. Since its inception, about 40 residents have tutored an equal number of associates.

Smith and others started the program via FaceTime in 2021 during the Covid epidemic and later switched to in-person sessions. “When I looked around, I could see there were a lot of [residents] who were quite intelligent and had various expertise in the work world and otherwise. There were people who had a lot to give,” she said of her fellow residents. When they went to the head of Human Resources, “they were very much in favor of what we wanted to do.”

One supervisor who’s recognized the benefits of associate enrollment in RAMP is David Aviles, the campus plant operations director. An associate for whom David has seen positive outcomes for is Marcia Alves Xavier de Souza, the lead housekeeper of assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Marcia has worked at The Commons since May 2021 and was promoted to supervisor after only six months. As a housekeeping leader, she must be able to both run an efficient team and advocate for herself and her colleagues, and speaking English more fluently allows her to meet those goals. Marcia and her ESL resident mentor have worked together in hour-long structured lessons that include homework.

De Souza’s first language is Portuguese; she understands English but is still learning to speak it more conversationally. She and her resident mentor have been working on her English speaking and writing skills for the past several months. “My teacher is very patient with me, and every Tuesday and Thursday I have my class,” she said. She’s also getting extra practice by sharing and strengthening her skills at home and in her church. 

Aviles has seen great improvement in de Souza’s comprehension and use of English, and he understands the value that the program holds for someone in her role. “She is a very important part of the Plant Operations team. She has about nine to 10 employees under her that follow her direction,” he said. In fact, he feels enrollment in the program should be a required part of training for new associates who need assistance. “We have about five new hires and they’re all excited about this program,” he said.

While many associates enroll in RAMP to improve their English, mentors also help in other areas including legal forms, personal finance, and even piano lessons. In one case, RAMP helped a woman navigate the complex legal process required to become the guardian of her niece who was visiting from another country. Another associate recently earned their American citizenship thanks in part to help from RAMP.

“It felt like one of my kids had gotten into college — I was so happy,” said Smith, a retired Wellesley College chemistry professor.

Tutors, associates, and The Commons all benefit from RAMP. “It’s an example of how they feel about what’s being done for them,” she said as she displayed a heartfelt thank-you note from one associate. “You get a tremendous feeling of satisfaction in knowing that you’re helping someone who needs the help.”

The Commons in Lincoln held a celebratory luncheon for RAMP resident tutors and associates on March 19 prepared by RAMP associates. Click on image below for larger versions with captions.

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Correction

In the April 17 article headlined “Planning Board discusses policies in wake of Town Meeting tumult,” the first paragraph on public comments had two proposed policies reversed. The corrected paragraph now reads:

For nonjudiciary issues — those having to do with general policy or zoning — members proposed following the Select Board’s policy of allowing a 15-minute public comment period at each meeting, with each speaker limited to two minutes. For issues regarding individual projects (site plan review, driveway curb cuts, etc.), the board will continue our current policy of allowing unlimited speaking time and prioritizing abutters.

Planning Board discusses policies in wake of Town Meeting tumult

(Editor’s note: This article was updated on April 18 to correct the first paragraph about public comment at meetings.)

In the aftermath of the last-minute Housing Choice Act amendment and pre-Town Meeting debate over who was allowed to say what and when, the Planning Board this week started formulating policies to spell out public participation at its meetings as well as its own operations.

The discussion covered several topics including virtual meetings, public comment, agendas, how to treat split decisions by the board, and its procedures for presenting at Town Meeting. The board didn’t allow public comment at its in-person April 16 meeting where the draft policies were discussed, but it will take comment before it votes on them at a future meeting.

Public comment at meetings

For nonjudiciary issues — those having to do with general policy or zoning — members proposed following the Select Board’s policy of allowing a 15-minute public comment period at each meeting, with each speaker limited to two minutes. For issues regarding individual projects (site plan review, driveway curb cuts, etc.), the board will continue our current policy of allowing unlimited speaking time and prioritizing abutters.

Board chair Margaret Olson encouraged residents to send emails about issues of interest prior to the Thursday before each meeting so the issue can be put on the agenda if appropriate, and board members would then get copies of the emails as part of their pre-meeting packets. “You can write as much as you want in an email,” she said. “It’ll save you some aggravation from sitting and listening to us nattering on.”

Meeting agendas

In the flurry of discussions before the Annual Town Meeting on March 23, the board became aware that an amendment to the HCA bylaw (which eventually passed by a 52% to 48% margin) was probably going to be proposed. Director of Planning and Land Use Paul Vaughn-Mackenzie told the Housing Choice Act Working Group about this on the morning of March 14, and HCAWG members initially thought the Planning Board would discuss it at the meeting scheduled for March 19, but they did not.

“I wanted to talk about that amendment and was told we could not” because the public hearing had already taken place, Olson said this week. Board members wondered whether the previously posted agenda for the March 19 meeting could have been amended, and if so, how and when.

“If something like that comes up, we’ll need to call [Town Counsel] Joel [Bard],” Olson said. She added that he had also told her that having a standard agenda item such as “Other business” was not allowed under the state’s Open Meeting Law.

Split decisions

Another bone of contention was the Planning Board’s split decision in February on endorsing the HCA bylaw. At Town Meeting, Olson read aloud the dissenting letter written by board members Ephraim Flint and Lynn DeLisi, but neither of them was allowed to speak from the podium.

“I felt pretty much silenced in terms of my ability to express my thoughts on the floor of Town Meeting. I felt that I should have had the opportunity to explain what I did and why I did it,” Flint said this week. “I don’t believe having you read the letter was sufficient.”

When the Planning Board gives its report on an issue like the HCA at Town Meeting, “it’s a statement about our reasoning at the time we took the vote, which is why I read the letter,” Olson said.

Boards and committees are almost always unanimous in recommending approval of warrant articles they’re presenting, but it was unclear before and during Town Meeting how the board should represent both sides of the issue, “and I don’t pretend to know the answer to that,” Olson said. “It was very, very difficult… some people were telling me I should do this and others telling me it’s not your jurisdiction.” She and board member Gary Taylor noted that the School Committee, for example, has a policy that the majority decision becomes the stated position of the committee as a whole.

Town Moderator Sarah Canon Holden and Select Board member Jim Hutchinson will head at least one public forum to gather input on how Town Meeting procedures can be improved. Consequently, the Planning Board deferred further discussion of its own Town Meeting policies until after that happens. 

A related issue: when to allow speakers to present slides and speak from the podium as well as from the floor. “What about the RLF?” DeLisi asked, referring to the fact that the Rural Land Foundation was given these privileges when proposing its HCA amendment.

“I don’t even know what category that’s in, which is why we need to go through the town process,” Olson replied. “The town needs to figure out how it’s handling Town Meeting and then we can figure out how we fit into that.”

LincolnTalk

LincolnTalk, the email listserv for residents, exploded with comments, protests and questions about the HCA in the weeks before Town Meeting, and Olson tried to answer some of those questions in the same venue. But Vaughn-MacKenzie said this week that this is prohibited by the Open Meeting Law and that she and other town officials are no longer allowed to be subscribed members of LincolnTalk. She encouraged board members to use their official town email addresses when discussing town business or else copy all town-related correspondence from their personal to their town email accounts. Craig Nicholson and Olson are the only Planning Board members who have activated their town email accounts, she added.

News acorns

Hazardous waste collection day this Saturday

Lincoln residents may sign up to drop off hazardous household waste at a regional event on Saturday, April 20 from at the Lexington Composting Facility (60 Hartwell Ave., Lexington). Click here for signup, guidelines on what may be brought for disposal, and more. Other collection dates this year are May 18, June 15, and July 20.

Library seeks focus group participants

Join an in-person or virtual focus group to share your thoughts about the Lincoln Public Library and help it create a new strategic plan that will reflect the wants and needs of the Lincoln community. The focus groups will be on the following dates:

Can’t attend? Take this survey instead.

Road work on Route 126 coming

Starting the week of April 29, a section of Route 126 in Lincoln and Concord between the Lincoln/Wayland town line and Rte. 2 in Concord will undergo repaving work that’s expected to take approximately four weeks, weather permitting. The work will take place Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Traffic may be detoured at times in at least in one direction. It’s very important to pay attention to the police details, signage, and flow of traffic, especially when exiting and entering driveways or side streets. At times it may be flowing in the wrong direction and/or on the wrong side of the road. Please try make sure there are no parked vehicles on the roadway during our work hours. Emergency vehicles will always have access. Electronic message boards will give updated info and advance notice of the paving schedule in your section of Rte. 126. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Lincoln Department of Public Worksa or D&R Paving at 781-321-7772.

Tom Smith to play at next LOMA

Tom Smith will be the featured performer at the next LOMA open mike night on Tuesday, May 14 from 7–10 pm (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Click here to see a video of him performing “The Money Flows Up.” LOMA is a monthly open mike night event with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. 

News acorns

Funeral on Tuesday for Mark Conway

There will be a service in St Joseph’s Church on Tuesday, April 16 at 10 a.m. for Mark Conway of Lincoln, who died unexpectedly at age 70 on April 5. Click here to read his obituary.

Meet state auditor in Lincoln

Residents are invited to meet Massachusetts Auditor Diana DiZoglio on Sunday, April 21 at 3 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. DiZoglio, a former member of the Mass. House and Senate, is sponsoring a ballot question allowing the auditor to audit the state legislature and will explain the need for transparency on Beacon Hill. Come join us for an informative short presentation and time for questions. Hosted by the Democratic Town Committee.

Mobile blood drive on April 23

The third annual blood drive in memory of Zack Wall, who died of cancer at age 16, will take place on Tuesday, April 23 from 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program (40 Baker Bridge Rd., Lincoln). Click here to sign up to donate.

Walk/bike/roll to school week, and an e-bike demo

Lincoln’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, along with the Lincoln School, and MassDOT’s Safe Routes to School program, will hold their Walk, Bike, Roll to School Week from April 29 to May 3. We will share more information after school vacation week. As always, they’re looking for looking for volunteer crossing guards, walking/biking leaders, etc. Also back by popular demand: the e-bike demo in partnership with Wheelworks on Wednesday, May 15 at 6 p.m. in the Brooks Gym.

Lovelane benefit at Twisted Tree

Amelia and Sylvie with Christine Doherty, owner of Twisted Tree (right).

Stop by the Twisted Tree Cafe on Sunday, May 5 for an exclusive pop-up event from 3–4:30 p.m. to benefit Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program. The café will welcome Amelia and Sylvie, two remarkable individuals with deep ties to Lovelane, as guest workers for the afternoon. Every purchase made during the event will directly support Lovelane’s mission of providing therapeutic riding programs for individuals with disabilities. It’s a chance to indulge in something sweet while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others and supporting Amelia and Sylvie.

Minute Man NHP gets funds to restore habitats

Minute Man National Historical Park has received approximately $410,000 of Inflation Reduction Act funds to restore and protect the park’s critical habitats through the Managing Resilient Forests Initiative and fund projects to restore and conserve grassland habitats. Forests are crucial to the health of ecosystems and surrounding local communities. However, forest health monitoring in eastern national parks has shown that park forests are rapidly changing. They do not have enough tree regeneration in the form of seedlings and saplings to replace canopy trees as they fall or die. Minute Man is part of a regional, landscape-scale initiative to restore and protect both forest and grassland habitats in parks across the eastern United States.

Library activities during April vacation

Rubber Biscuit Band sing-along fun
Tuesday, April 16 from 10:30–11:30 a.m., Tarbell Room
Come dance and sing-along with the Rubber Biscuit Band! Music for kids, but adults love it too. Luscious three-part harmonies played on miniature instruments with songs ranging from gospel to doo-wop and much more. All ages welcome. No registration necessary.

Pokémon trading day
Wednesday, April 17 from 4–5:30 p.m., Tarbell Room
Bring your Pokémon cards and meet up with other fans! We will provide snacks and a place to trade or just show off your cards – you get to have fun with other Pokemon fans! While we will not be running card games at this event, if you would like to play with other participants, please provide your own decks and play mats. For ages 7-13. Registration required; click here.

Help the animals with Dr. Rosie
Thursday, April 18 from 4–5 p.m., Tarbell Room
Do animals get earaches or sore throats? Who helps them if they can’t talk? Meet the author and illustrator of Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals, an award-winning picture book informed by real-world veterinarians. The author and illustrator will tell the story behind the story of Dr. Rosie and engage kids in an interactive reading. After that, there’ll be a hands-on activity where kids (and their grownups) learn how to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a stuffed animal. Each participant will receive their own mini vet kit and diagnostic/treatment sheet to take home. This program is best for children ages 4-8. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Children should bring their own stuffed animals. Registration required; click here.

Professor Bugman’s Arthropod Petting Zoo
Friday, April 19 from 11 a.m.–noon, Tarbell Room
Get up close and personal with some of the biggest, creepiest, and friendliest insects you’ve ever seen! They might look scary, but these gentle giants are friendly, fun, and can teach us a lot about creatures very different from ourselves. This program is designed for children ages 4+ and accompanying adults. Please plan to attend and be engaged with your child for this program. Click here for more information. Registration required; click here.

Friends and Family Card Game Afternoon
Saturday, April 20 from 1–4 .pm., Tarbell Room
Get together with friends and families of all ages for a card gaming afternoon at the library! All kinds of card games will be provided, from the standard 52-card deck to Uno and Phase 10. Ages 6+, no registration necessary.

News acorns

Memorial for Connie Lewis on Saturday

Connie Lewis

Friends and family of the late Constance Lewis are invited to a memorial gathering for her on Saturday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the Battle Road Farm meeting house. There will be music, sandwiches, and desserts. Click here for directions, including drop-off for those with mobility issues.

Movie: “Anatolian Leopard”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “Anatolian Leopard” directed by Emre Kayisl on Thursday, April 18 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. At Turkey’s oldest zoo, a lonely zoo keeper and a neglected female staff member form an unlikely bond as they hide the death of the zoo’s oldest inhabitant, an Anatolian leopard, in order to stop the privatization process. In Turkish with English subtitles.

Pop-up Pull Days for garlic mustard

Join the Conservation Department and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust for Pop-Up Pull Days. Garlic mustard season runs from April 15 through June 14. You can also pull the weeds on your own property; click here for details on how to pick up free paper bags and drop them off. Sign up to pull garlic mustard weed with others on April 24, May 8, May 22 or June 5, all from 10 a.m. to noon, by emailing Ryan Brown at brownr@lincolntown.org.

Learn about battery backup for your home

Have you considered battery backup solutions for your home? On Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m., learn about Eversource’s Demand Response for Home Battery Storage program to hook your house battery up to the grid and their future plans to use EV batteries to help manage the grid during peak energy needs. Register for this Zoom event here. The event will be recorded and sent to all registrants. This program is hosted by CFREE, a working group of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee.

Thoreau-themed poetry event

The Walden Woods Project is hosting “Thoreau and the Miracle of Poetry: An Earth Day, Birthday, and National Poetry Month Celebration” on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:15 p.m. Join us and three contemporary poets who will read from their work in the spirit of Thoreau. A wine and cheese reception with the poets will precede the reading. Click here to register. Sponsored by The Commons in Lincoln.

Spring piano salon by FoMA

Come to a Music in Modern Houses Spring Piano Salon on Sunday, April 28 from 2-5 p.m. at the historic Monks House in Lincoln, presented and hosted by FoMA advisory board members Katherine Mierzwa and Michael Gerstein. Four Lincoln pianists — Ken Hurd, Finn Larsen, David Knoerr, and J.B Stevens — will perform pieces by Mozart and Beethoven, and Mierzwa will give a presentation on the Monks House and Lincoln’s musical history. There will be a reception with seasonal refreshments and tours of the expansive house and Modern landscape. Colorful spring attire is encouraged and prizes will be given for the best men’s and women’s spring outfits. 

Limited in-person tickets are $70 and livestream tickets are $20; reserve your seats here. Proceeds are tax-deductible and support FoMA’s ongoing work to build awareness and appreciation for Lincoln’s exceptional collection of Modern houses and buildings. Please note: the hosts request that attendees wear masks and refrain from wearing strong scents.

Help survivors of domestic violence

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites the public to a free wine and beer tasting to support its annual Shower for Shelters at Spirits of Maynard (4 Digital Way, Suite 3, Maynard) on Friday, April 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The wines are imported from Italy and France by Kermit Lynch. Light refreshments will be provided by the Roundtable. There will also be a brief presentation by a survivor.

Please bring a new, unwrapped housewarming gift to the event, or leave them at Spirits of Maynard or Sudbury Wine and Spirits (410 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury). Families transitioning from shelters need new household items to help them establish their new homes. Requested items include twin-size sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters, and bed pillows as well as bath towels and face cloths, unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent, laundry baskets, kitchen utensils, flatware, dishes, drinking glasses, and small kitchen appliances. Gift cards for Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreen’s, Market Basket, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop are also welcome.

Session for parents of departing seniors

The Roundtable will also host an event for parents of students heading off to college on Tuesday, May 7 from 7–8 p.m. on Zoom. The conversation will touch on healthy relationships, situations students may encounter at school, experiences some students have had, and supports that are often lacking when students get to college. The presenter will be Becca Van Spall-Hood, a violence prevention specialist and survivor advocate at Brandeis University. Click here to register.