This grosbeak recently visited Harold McAleer’s feeder.
Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.
New “Staying in Touch” group
July 5 at 2:30 p.m.
The slower pace of summer is a wonderful time to get in touch and stay in touch with ourselves and others. All are invited to a new discussion group facilitated by Wanda Paik to be held on Tuesdays, July 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 2:30-4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. This is an opportunity to chat with others on an array of topics of the group’s choosing and get to know your Lincoln neighbors. The COA’s hope is that those who come will attend as many sessions as possible. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 by July 1 as the optimal number is 9-11 per group. If the COA has have more than 11, they may offer more groups. All are welcome.
Preventing tick-borne disease
July 6 at 2 p.m.
Join School Nurse and Town Nurse Maureen Richichi in a question-and-answer conversation on ticks, how to prevent tick-borne diseases, and what to do if you have a tick bite at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, July 6 at 2 p.m. Among the topics she may discuss will be how the tick season is shaping up in Lincoln, tick borne diseases and their symptoms, how tick borne diseases are diagnosed and treated, and personal protection including how to do tick checks and safely repel and remove ticks, and personal advocacy with your doctors.
Free legal clinic
July 11 at 2 p.m.
Got a question about a legal issue? The Council on Aging is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, July 11 from 2-4 p.m. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but advance registration is required. Walk-ins will be accommodated if space is available. Register in advance by calling the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.
Architectural voyage around Boston by boat
July 13 at 11:45 a.m.
Join the COA for a unique voyage on the Charles River and around Boston Harbor on Wednesday, July 13. This 90-minute tour, hosted by the Charles Riverboat Company, offers spectacular views of historic and contemporary architecture along Boston Harbor, the Charles River Locks and the Charles River basin and includes historic landmarks and cutting edge contemporary designs by today’s top architects. These are simply the best waterfront views of Boston and Cambridge. The price of this trip, rated moderate for physical difficulty, is $26, non-refundable. The trip will run rain or shine so come prepared! Space is limited. The trip will stop for lunch on your own at the Summer Shack in Cambridge, then go on to the dock. The bus will depart from Donelan’s parking lot at 11:45 a.m. Call Claire Mount at 781- 259-8695 to see if space is available due to a cancellation.
Lincoln Trad Jazz Sextet
July 14 at 12:30 p.m.
Jazz up your summer at Bemis Hall on Thursdays, July 14 at 12:30 p.m. when the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Sextet will share with you their love of traditional jazz music in a delightfully spontaneous jam! They’ll have you stomping your feet and cheering as they belt out good ol’ favorites such as Honeysuckle Rose, Sweet Georgia Brown, Sunny Side of the Street or When The Saints Go Marching In. The group are all retirees, amateur musicians who give expression to their love of the jazz of the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s at Bemis once a month and also join the larger group of jammers who meet on the third Saturdays of each month, alternating between the library and Bemis Hall.
Dealing positively with difficult people
July 20 at 10 a.m.
We all interact with people who are stubborn, always angry, just plain irritable, or who frighten us. Come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, July 20 at 10 a.m. to learn how you can respond in a way that helps lead to less frustrating and more positive results. Claire Gerstein, the COA’s social worker with many years of experience helping others to cope with difficult people, will be leading a workshop that day. She will help you understand what may be causing some of these behaviors and give you strategies which may decrease your frustration and lead to better outcomes. Feel free to send examples of scenarios you would like Claire to discuss to gersteinc@lincolntown.org or give her a call at the COA at 781- 259-8811 between 9 and 11 a.m.
Protect yourself from Medicare fraud
July 27 at 1 p.m.
Come meet Pat McMillen of the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program on Wednesday, July 27, at 1:00 p.m. at Bemis Hall and participate in a discussion about how to prevent, detect, and report healthcare errors, fraud and abuse. If you cannot attend this workshop but have questions about your healthcare bills, Medicare Summary Notices, or other health insurance explanation of benefits statements, please call the MA SMP Program office at (800) 892-0890. The Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program is funded in part by grant number 90-MP0226-01-00 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living.
Lincoln Housing Coaltition brunch
July 28 at 11 a.m
All are invited to a free brunch hosted by the Lincoln Housing Coalition on Thursday, July 28 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Lincoln has always been at the forefront of meeting our affordable housing goals, but we cannot afford to sit on our laurels! Are you at all curious about what an Affordable Accessory Apartment program is and how it would help us meet our goals? Do you have an accessory apartment already and wonder if this is something you’d be interested in participating in? Come enjoy a leisurely brunch and learn about this exciting program the Housing Coalition hopes to propose at the next Town Meeting. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.
Lincoln’s summer concert series sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department starts on Wednesday, June 29 with the Nathan Ward Band, followed by The Nays (born and bred in Lincoln) on July 6 and the Damn Tall Buildings on July 13. Concerts begin at 6 p.m. at the Codman Pool.
The Fourth of July in Lincoln starts at 8:30 a.m. with registration for the Firecracker Run at 8:30 starting at the Town Office Building. Participants have the choice of a 2.5- or 4-mile scenic run. Registration is $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.
Because of the road race and parade later that morning, Lincoln Road will be closed to traffic (except floats) from 8:20 a.m. to noon.
Other events on July 4:
For more information, see the July 4 and summer concert flyer.
The Lincoln Public Library’s summer programs for kids begin with a Red, White and Blue Dance Party on Tuesday, July 5 at 11 a.m. Other events next week:
The library has downloadable calendars with kids’ events for July and August. Programs sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.
Donald D. Douty
Donald Dwight Douty, 64, of Lancaster, formerly of Lincoln, died on June 23 at his Lancaster home. He was the beloved father of Donald Dwight Douty, Jr. of Lincoln. Born in Ayer on November 2, 1951, he was the son of the late Lloyd A. and Svea V. (Lind) Douty. He grew up in Lincoln, attended the Lincoln public schools and graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.
For many years, Mr. Douty was employed as a heavy equipment operator for Eagle Site Developers in Hudson as well as other construction firms in the local area. A longtime resident of Lancaster, he was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers. He had an appreciation for the outdoors where he enjoyed nature and wildlife, and also loved animals.
In addition to his son, Donald, he is survived by two brothers, Bradford Douty of Worcester, and Kurt Douty and his wife Karen of Framingham; his sister, Gail Gray and her husband Frank of Concord; nieces Alyssa, Samantha, Anna, Martha, Shaina and Leah; and nephew Chad.
Visiting hours in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center will be held on Thursday, June 30 from 3-4:45 pm followed by a memorial service at 5 p.m. in the Farrar Chapel of the Dee Funeral Home. Contributions in his memory may be made to AdCare Hospital, 107 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605.
To share a remembrance in Mr. Douty’s online guest book, visit his obituary page and clic on Tribute Wall.
The Lincoln Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28 to review an application for Site Plan Review. The applicant, McLean Hospital, proposes to designate parking to accommodate a total of 21 spaces at 16 Bypass and 22 Bypass Rd. (see the Lincoln Squirrel, June 15, 2016).
The Lincoln Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 29 at 8:45 p.m., in the Lincoln Town Offices in response to the Notice of Intent by Daniel Pereira for installation of a sport court in the buffer zone resource area at 1-8 Ballfield Rd. in Lincoln.
The Historic District Commission will hold four public hearings on Tuesday, July 5:
The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and to act on the following petitions under the zoning bylaws:
Melinda Bruno-Smith, certified hatha yoga instructor and Lincoln Garden Club member, will lead three Saturday yoga sessions in the lovely and restful Station Park Garden, at 160 Lincoln Rd. (across from the train station) on July 2, 9 and 16 from 9-10 a.m. A $5 donation is suggested. Please bring a yoga mat, towel or blanket to practice on and wear loose-fitting clothing. Lincoln Garden Club volunteers created and maintain the Station Park Garden with an emphasis on sustainable practices. A native plant bed was designed by the New England Wildflower Society and installed with the help of horticulture students from Minuteman High School. For further information about the yoga classes, please contact Melinda Bruno-Smith at melindabruno@hotmail.com.
1992… it was the year when Johnny Carson retired from the Tonight Show, John “The Telfon Don” Gotti was sentenced to life in prison, curbside recycling began in Portland Oregon—and the Lincoln Public Library began to close on Thursday nights. But this year starting on July 7, the library will be open on Thursday evenings until 8:30 p.m. To celebrate, there will be a Throwback Thursday screening of 1992’s A League of Their Own on Thursday, July 7 at 7 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Check out the displays of what was “hot” during the summer of ’92 in books, movies and music. Refreshments will be served.
The library will be closed on Saturdays for the summer after June 25 and will be also closed on July 4. Full summer hours are as follows:
Just for fun, Sarah Canon Holden and her five-year-old grandson cut her field at the corner of Weston and Silver Hill Roads in concentric circles, leaving uncut rows in between. Sometime in the next few days, she’ll finish the cutting, but in the meanwhile residents are welcome to walk on the path at the side of the field.
Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.
Lincolnites are invted to a memorial service at Bemis Hall in honor and remembrance of Haskel Straus on Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow. Haskel passed away on February 3, 2016 after a long illness. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on May 9, 1950 to the late Velma Lukko and Haskel Strausberg. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Barbara Owens Straus, as well as many beloved relations and friends.
Haskel graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the City College of New York in 1971 with a B.A. in mathematics. After graduation, he entered U.S. Navy Officer Training School in Newport, R.I., where he studied aircraft maintenance and student training. During his service in the Navy, he served on aircraft carriers in both Europe and Asia, eventually achieving the rank of commander.
From active duty in the U.S. Navy, Haskel moved to Silicon Valley and worked as a private pilot, software developer and instructor, real estate broker and eventually worked for the author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins. He moved back to Massachusetts in 1990 to start a Robbins Sales Training Center. Haskel’s next successful career was a software developer.
Haskel truly loved the town of Lincoln and devoted his time to many local activities, including the Alliance for Democracy, the Labyrinth Society, and the Alan Watts Fellowship. Haskel was a contributing member on the board of the Friends of the Lincoln Library and taught personal growth classes at the Council on Aging.
Haskel believed in the intrinsic goodness of all people and devoted his time and energy to helping others expand their human potential. The fact that Haskel was a natural teacher—coupled with his amazing sense of delight, worldliness, intellect, humor and kindness—brought out the very best in him as well as others. Haskel enjoyed life to the fullest and never lost his childlike sense of natural joy and happiness. Of course, he devoted himself to his students as he taught personal classes covering spirituality and enlightenment. Haskel was also an avid line dancer and loved the company of fellow dancers. He enjoyed being the lone male dancer in his group; accordingly, the group named itself “Haskel and his Twinklelettes.”
In addition to his many generous gifts, Haskel had a charismatic personality and was incredibly kind. He was in love with life and enjoyed the beauty and diversity of all living things. Haskel was also known for his great sense of humor. The very first time he met his wife Barbara’s parents, he brought sparklers and firecrackers, he announced, “because it is a cold night in February” as he urged everyone to go outside and set them off. Haskel did this just to make everyone smile.
A favorite quote: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” (Simone Weil)
Haskel loved people and being with others. What an honor he would have felt that his friends and loved ones acknowledge how much they miss his bright smile and bright spirit. We all miss you, Haskel!
— Submitted by Sally Kindleberger
A conversation about the Declaration of Independence with special attention to one problematic phrase will take place on Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall.
Most Americans are familiar with phrases of the Declaration of Independence such as “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” But here is also this phrase: “He [the English king] has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.”
Does this stand in stark contrast to the principle expressed in the line previously mentioned? What was the mindset at the time? How does this differ from present time, when we hear it suggested that others are less than or unwelcome. Attendees at a recent Discovering Diversity meeting in Lincoln began discussing this phrase and asking if this a line we are comfortable reading every year on the 4th of July. Come to a conversation about the Declaration of Independence facilitated by Mandy Beal from the First Parish Church, learn some history about the Declaration and find out what the decision will be. Mel Bernstein, chairman of the American Revolution Round Table of the Minute Man National Historical Park, will add historical background and context. Refreshments provided by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee.
The school district has hired a consultant to evaluate the Lincoln School’s security and is asking parents and staff for their views on current and potential future security measures.
The Lincoln Public Schools’ Safety and Security Committee, which meets monthly, recommended the security audit, the first in Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall’s four-year tenure in Lincoln, although the graffiti incident outside the Brooks entrance in March was a contributing factor. “This is a good time for us to have an independent audit to give us some feedback beyond our own inspections,” she said.
David Cullen of Intelligence Security International was on campus last week looking at the buildings, interviewing staff members, and reviewing security procedures, including Internet access.
School doors are now locked during school hours between morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, and all visitors must push a buzzer to be allowed inside. Security cameras outside the Smith and Brooks entrances allow secretaries to see visitors on a monitor and speak with them through an intercom to determine whether to allow entry, though the cameras do not make recordings.
An online poll, which is open until June 30, asks parents and staff for their opinions on locking school doors, surveillance cameras, and visitor check-in and monitoring.
The consultant’s report will be presented to the administration and School Committee in the fall, although McFall said the committee would probably go to executive session for its discussion. The inspection, which cost about $7,500, was funded as part of an earlier Town Meeting appropriation that paid for the current cameras and security buzzers.