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

Council on Aging activities in June

bemisThe many faces of loss: a new group
June 6 at 10 a.m.
As we age we confront loss in many forms. It may be the death of loved ones. It may also be dealing with physical or cognitive changes in loved ones, friends or in ourselves. It may include regrets about lost opportunities and we may also confront the recognition of our own mortality. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, our social worker with many years of experience helping people navigate the losses of later life, will be facilitating a group which will give people the opportunity to talk about these issues in a supportive environment. The six-week group will run on Mondays from 10-11 a.m. beginning on June 6 at Bemis Hall. No need to sign up.

Lincoln Academy with Ruth Ann Hendrickson and Packy Lawler—Keeping the waters of life flowing: water conservation and infrastructure in Lincoln
June 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, June 6 at 12:30 to hear Ruth Ann Hendrickson and Packy Lawler discuss “Keeping the Waters of Life Flowing: Water Conservation and Infrastructure in Lincoln.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

Being mortal: discuss life and end-of-life planning
June 9 at 10 a.m.
How we die and help family and friends at the end of their lives, how the medical system assists or hinders you in your choices, and the best ways to live more independently are all questions that have no easy answers. Join in a series of free-ranging conversations on these and other related topics, with references to Atul Gawande’s book Being Mortal, facilitated by Alyson Lee, life coach, social worker and certified facilitator for Honoring Choices/Massachusetts. This month’s conversation will be on Thursday, June 9 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall.

Lincoln Academy with Mike O’Brien—Making sense of our crazy politics: how psychology can change what we see
June 13 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, June 13 at 12:30 to hear Mike O’Brien discuss “Making Sense of Our Crazy Politics: How Psychology Can Change What We See.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

Got a question about a legal issue? Come to our free clinic!
June 13 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, June 13 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 COA at 781-259-8811.

Celebrate summer at our strawberry ice cream social!
June 16 at noon
Celebrate this special time of year at the annual strawberry ice cream social which will be held at Bemis Hall on Thursday, June 16 at noon. The Social is sponsored by the COA and the Friends of the COA. Bring a bag lunch at noon or just come for dessert. Make your own ice cream sundae with luscious ice cream topped with strawberries, chocolate and more! Please RSVP to the COA at 781-259-8811. Tell them when you call if you will need a ride.

Stay up to date and save yourself from becoming the victim of a scam
June 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Criminals have scammed Lincoln residents out of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past several years. Becoming the victim of a scam can happen to anyone; criminals are professionals at stealing your money and they count on victims believing that it can’t happen to them. Come find out what the latest scams are in Lincoln and how to protect yourself from them when Lieutenant Sean Kennedy and Detective Ian Spencer of the Lincoln Police Department host a seminar at the Public Safety Building on Friday, June 17 at 9:30 a.m. They will serve coffee, muffins, and donuts! Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up so they know how many to expect. Come to learn and discuss your questions and concerns.

Sharing memories, sharing lives
June 17 at 12:30 p.m.
Memories are an important facet of our lives as elders.  The recollection of past events connects us to our former selves and our feelings, providing a through-line to who we are now and what we believe in, based upon how these values influenced our lives. Memories also connect us to each other as part of a shared experience. On Friday, June 17 from 12:30-2:30, join Leslie Kilgore at Bemis Hall in a workshop entitled Sharing Memories, Sharing Lives as we discuss our memories and bring them to life through role-playing, art, or music. Participants can choose to explore their memories in one or several of the arts and may bring in their own musical instruments if desired. Artistic experience is not required; the emphasis is on self-expression and the process, not the finished product. Please come!

Lincoln Academy with former members of the Lincoln 4-H Club: Growing up on horseback in Lincoln in the 1960s
June 20 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, June 20, at 12:30 to hear former members of the Lincoln 4-H Club discuss “Growing Up on Horseback in Lincoln in the 1960s.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging 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.

The butterfly place
June 21
Join the COA for a visit to Westford’s Butterfly Place on Tues., June 21. It’s an indoor garden with hundreds of free-flying butterflies! The trip will leave by Doherty’s bus from the Lincoln Mall at 9:30 a.m. Cost is $10. Lunch at Kimball Farm. You will return to Lincoln around 1 p.m. Send a check made out to FLCOA Trips to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln MA 01773. Please enclose your phone number and email address. Questions? Contact Donna at 781-257-5050 or donna@ecacbed.com.

Fireside chat: telling each other our stories
June 22 at 10 a.m.
We all have a story to tell. It may be a story we have told many times or one we have never told anyone. It may be funny or sad, poignant or light. When we tell each other our stories and listen to the stories of other people, we not only learn more about each other but also about ourselves as individuals and as a community. Too often, we are just too busy to truly listen to the stories of our neighbors. Come to the June Fireside Chat facilitated by Sharon Antia on Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall and take some time to learn about your neighbor and share your own life. Be prepared to tell a short story from your life and/or listen to others’ stories.

Summer solstice celebration: walking the labyrinth
June 24 at 10 a.m.
Celebrate summer with Jai Kaur Annamaria in one of Lincoln’s secret wonders—a local labyrinth! You will experience the ancient meditative practice of walking a labyrinth, indulge your senses in flowers, and enjoy summer’s abundant beauty. The event will be on Friday, June 24 at 10 a.m. Please call the COA to sign up. The location will be given on registration. A $5 donation is requested. The rain date will be June 25.

Interested in playing bridge or learning duplicate bridge?
June 24 at 12:30 p.m.
A small group currently plays every Friday afternoon at Bemis Hall and will continue during the summer on Mondays. If there is interest, courses may be offered during the Fall for beginners and refreshers for others. Please call Carolyn at 781-259-8811 for more info and/or come to Bemis Hall Friday, June 24 at 12:30 p.m. to discuss bridge in the fall.

Save the date: An architectural voyage around Boston by boat
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 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. Send your check for $26, payable to FLCOA/Trips, to Claire Mount, 123 Tower Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 prior to July 1. Call Claire at 781-259-8695 to reserve your spot.

Event marks completion of new Hanscom Middle School

Left to right: HMS Principal Erich Ledebuhr, Col. David Dunklee, installation commander; Lt. Col. Daniel Herlihy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District deputy commander; Jonathan Braley, J & J Contractors president; Jennifer Glass, Lincoln School Committee chair; and Dr. Rebecca McFall, Lincoln superintendent of schools, prepare to cut a ribbon to mark the completion of a $34 million Hanscom Middle School on base June 2. The new school replaces a 1950s-era building with 21st Century Learning methods. (U.S. Air Force photo by Linda LaBonte Britt)

Left to right: Erich Ledebuhr, HMS principal; Col. David Dunklee, installation commander; Lt. Col. Daniel Herlihy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District deputy commander; Jonathan Braley, J&J Contractors president; Jennifer Glass, Lincoln School Committee chair; and Becky McFall, superintendent of schools, prepare to cut a ribbon to mark the completion of the new Hanscom Middle School on June 2.(U.S. Air Force photo by Linda LaBonte Britt)

Local and state representatives attended an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of a new $34 million Hanscom Middle School (HMS) on Thursday.

The school replaces a 1950s-era school building and accommodates more than 300 students in grades 4-8.

“The design of the school is visionary and contains many flexible learning spaces that encourage collaboration, creativity, the use of technology and the ability to personalize or differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students,” said Erich Ledebuhr, HMS principal. “The building design increases learning opportunities in the areas of science, technology, art, engineering and math.”

The new 85,000-square-foot school is operated by the Lincoln School Department under contract to the Department of Defense Education Activity, or DODEA.

The ceremony included remarks from U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, who represents Lincoln and other nearby towns.

“As we sit here on Hanscom Air Force Base, which is committed to our national security, the best way we ensure our security as a country, and a peaceful future, is through educating our children,” she said. “So we are really bringing together today all those themes and all those hopes for our future that are embodied in this gorgeous facility.”

“The building is environmentally friendly, featuring integrated systems like photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, solar hot water, high-performance HVAC and lighting systems,” Ledebuhr said. “In addition to being energy efficient, these features can be used as learning tools.”

The Lincoln School District superintendent spoke about the planning involved in the project.

“Many thanks to the faculty, staff and students who have done so much to make this move not only a smooth transition, but a launch into a future of innovation, engagement and authentic learning,” said Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall.

Since breaking ground on the middle school project in June 2014, students have been educated in nearby temporary facilities. Now the primary school will into the temporary facility over the summer so work can begin on a new building for the lower grades, which is slated to open in September 2018. Once they’re both complete, the schools be connected and will share a cafeteria and kitchen.

Crossing the finch line (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Harold McAleer photographed this yellow finch at his bird feeder.

Harold McAleer photographed this yellow finch at his bird 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.

MSBA gives Minuteman an extension to November 30

mm1The state has given Minuteman High School until November 30 to win approval from Belmont for a new school project after that town voted down a bond authorization earlier this month.

The Minuteman School Committee voted to bond for the project on March 15 and gave member towns 60 days in which to disapprove. Nine of the 10 towns in the Minuteman school district voted at Town Meetings this spring to approve spending a total of $149 million on a new school in Lincoln, with the Massachusetts School Building Committee (MSBA) paying $44 million of that cost if member town’s approvals were achieved in time.

The Belmont Town Meeting voted no on May 4, citing concerns about the school’s size and cost as well as enrollment projection. Minuteman Superintendent-Director Edward Bouquillon attributed the rejection to “a lack of understanding and a lack of information” due in part to Belmont’s political process.

In February, Lincoln decided to withdraw from the Minuteman district to avoid having to help pay for the new school as a member town. Non-member towns can still send students to Minuteman but will pay through a new out-of-district capital fee in addition to the annual tuition fee (both set by the state).

The time extension granted by the MSBA will “allow the district and other key stakeholders an opportunity to further engage Belmont officials in a substantive discussion about the benefits of moving forward with the project,” Bouquillon said in a May 27 statement, adding that he “remains hopeful.”

Ironically, Belmont officials played an instrumental role in getting the project to the point where approval is now within reach. The town pushed hard to get out-of-district communities to pay a share of capital costs and also pushed for changes in the regional agreement that were approved late last year by all 16 district communities. Those changes reconfigured the makeup of the district, led to weighted voting on the Minuteman School Committee, and revised how long-term debt is allocated.

No decision has been made by the Minuteman School Committee on how to proceed next. Members have at least two options: voting again to bond for the project and giving the member communities another 60 days in which to object, or calling a one-day district-wide referendum where the project is decided by the combined vote in favor versus the combined vote in opposition.

News acorns

Linda Hammett Ory named as deCordova board president

Linda Hammett Ory

Linda Hammett Ory

Lincoln resident Linda Hammett Ory has been named as the new president of the board of trustees of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum She assumes the position from Gerard Frank, who will remain on the board in an advisory capacity for one more year.

Hammett Ory is an elected member of the board and is chair of the Landscape Committee, as well as serving on the newly reformed Strategic Planning Committee. She was appointed as a trustee in 2011.

“Linda displays an obvious joy and enthusiasm for deCordova. She has already proven her great leadership ability: chairing the Landscape Committee, her and her family’s generous giving to the institution, and acting as a fine ambassador to the museum by promoting all that the institution has to offer to the greater Boston community. Additionally, Linda is a great consensus builder. She’s a great listener and will work well to be inclusive of all the museum’s constituents as the institution moves forward with its strategic plan,” Frank said.

Hammett Ory’s first career was as a choreographer working for stage, screen and music video. Later, she  receiving a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education followed by a career producing children’s educational media and a decade of volunteering as a Girl Scout leader.

Meadow planting on June 4

Maps showing flower species for the two pollinator meadows (ciick to enlarge).

Maps showing flower species for the two pollinator meadows (click to enlarge).

People for Pollinators invites residents to help plant a native, perennial, chemical-free pollinating meadow on Saturday, June 4 (rain date June 5) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be two adjacent circular plots so students from the Birches School can compare plant growth and pollinator activity on mineralized vs. unmineralized soil.

Meet in the parking lot for the Smith school building on Ballfield Road. Members of the collaborative and students from Birches School will help and direct participants in planting plugs and seeding the meadow site.

Summer book groups getting underway

The Lincoln Public Library has two book groups this summer that meet in the Tarbell Room on alternate Mondays at 7 p.m., and residents may come to one or all sessions.  The “Who Picked This Book?” Club continues on Monday, June 6 with Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, while Mystery Mondays will discuss The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton by Elizabeth Speller on Monday, June 27. The books are available in various formats at the library’s front desk. Click on the book club names to see lists of future books.

Property sales and public hearings

House-1Upcoming public hearings

The Lincoln Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:45 p.m., in the Lincoln Town Offices in response to the duly filed Notice of Intent by Christopher Boit for restoration of wetland and buffer zone resource areas at 61 Bedford Road.

The Lincoln Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24 in the Town Offices to review an application from the Town of Lincoln, 58 Codman Road for extension of a fence under Section 18.5 of the Zoning Bylaw. The Historic District Commission will also hold a public hearing on Tuesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Donaldson Room to consider the town’s application to replace the existing fence and extend it to the stone wall at Codman Farm.

The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Offices to hear and to act on the following petitions under the Zoning Bylaws:

  • Renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment, section 14.3 of the bylaws:
    • Mary Alice Williamson, 15 Conant Road
    • Christopher S. Boit, 61 Bedford Road
    • Philip Greenspun, 10 Beaver Pond Road
    • Julia and Sylvia Altman, 5 Boyce Farm Road
    • Johan and Laura Pontin, 19 Bedford Road
    • James E. Nicholson, 14 Meadowdam Road
    • Kathleen Corkins, 18 Baker Bridge Road
  • Joe and Dana Robbat, 151 Old Concord Road, for amendment to the original special permit for an accessary apartment.
  • Seth and Lisa Rosen, 53 Bedford Road, to replace existing porch with a mud room and an enclosed porch.
  • Mayer Tree, 9-13 Lewis Street, to modify and transfer the original special permit.

Property sales

  • 170 Sandy Pond Road — Charles B. Dolan Trust to Eric Mazur for $1,600,000 (April 20)
  • 28 Lincoln R0ad — Addison Parks to Zachary and Elisabeth Herbert for $815,500 (April 21)
  • 135 Weston Road — James Lintott Trust to Rachel and Jonathan Drew for $1,975,000 (April 1)
  • 216 Aspen Circle — Ilya Staroselsky to Michelle and Allison Seliger-Schamberg for $505,000 (April 22)
  • 4 Hawk Hill Road — Gunnar Evermann to Gunnar Evermann for $1,800,000 (April 7)

Residents turn out in force against McLean proposal

mcleanAfter hearing from two attorneys and dozens of angry Bypass Road residents who packed the Donaldson Room, the Planning Board decided on Tuesday night that the McLean Hospital proposal for an educational therapeutic residence on Bypass Road should go to a public hearing because the new use of the property does not constitute a minor change to its previously approved site plan.

A storm of controversy arose after the plan to house up to 12 young men aged 15-21 at 22 Bypass Road became known to residents in the area. About 18 of those residents have hired Boston attorney Michael Fee, who argued on their behalf at Tuesday’s meeting. The issue before the board was whether adding striping for 20 parking spaces on existing pavement near the house constituted a minor or major change to the site plan that was approved when the five-bedroom, 7,000-square-foot house was built in 2014.

Although the shift from private home to educational facility also constitutes a change of use, the town may not prohibit this use under state law that allows exemptions for educational and religious facilities, in the opinion of town attorney Joel Bard.

Patients at the facility will be young men with a history of anxiety and depression but would not be “court-mandated or have histories of significant assault,” said Dr. Philip Levandusky, McLean’s senior vice president for business development and communications. They will not be allowed outside the building without a staff member, and at least two staff members will be on site and awake at all times, he said. The facility will be staffed with a full-time program director, psychiatrist and nurse as well as several counselors.

During stays of two to four months, patients will participate in “a highly structured psychoeducational model” involving dialectic behavioral therapy, learning skills for healthy self-expression and self-esteem, Levandusky said.

Planning Board chair Margaret Olson noted before taking comments that McLean does not propose changing the exterior of the building or the location of the driveway, so “this is consistent with what we have called minor in the past,” she said. “However, it is just the very beginning of the process around this property” that will require Board of Health approval for its septic system, a certificate of occupancy and a public safety review.

The board was permitted to consider only traffic and parking issues as they affect the intersections with Bypass Road, Olson said. Nonetheless, DIrector of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney noted that the proposed use for the property is “more intense than [was] anticipated” when the site plan review for the single-family home was done.

“What’s being proposed is a fundamentally different use with a fundamentally different impact on the neighborhood. [Other houses] don’t have 25 people and 20 cars every single day,” Fee said. “Lighting, noise, screening—all of these are in play here. This is your jurisdiction and your function.”

A one-lane private paved driveway serves the two adjacent properties targeted by McLean as well as several other houses, and neighbors worried about the traffic impact on the roadway and at the two intersections with Bypass Road.

Planning Board member Gary Taylor asked Bard if the property would still be considered residential if people were living there for two to four months. “In my opinion, it is. It’s a hybrid use,” Bard replied, provoking “No!”s and derisive laughter from some members of the audience.

Bypass Road resident Ernest Mrakovich asked the board to do a traffic study at the two intersections, saying the volume of cars on the private road has already increased since the plan was announced. Dr. Steve Kanner of 12 Bypass Road agreed, adding concerns (echoed by other residents) about headlights shining into their homes at the 11 p.m. shift change.

“We’re kidding ourselves if we think there won’t be major traffic problems,” Kanner said. “It’s a dangerous situation.”

The fact that the facility will be locked is “a direct admission there is danger there,” said Don McCarthy, who lives on Brooks Road just east of the property. Voicing the frustration of many in attendance, he said to the board, “we can’t ask [McLean] questions but you don’t ask them anything. Nothing!” which prompted a caution from Planning Board member Steve Gladstone to “keep it in a civil manner.”

“You’re trying not to take this problem on, and I think that’s what we’re frustrated with,” said Brooks Road resident Kimo Tam.

Several residents asked the board to conduct a site walk to see the roadway and parking situation first-hand, claiming the turning radius for cars was insufficient. Judging by a sketch of the plans, “it appears as though [parked cars] are like this,” Mrakovich said, holding his hands a few inches apart. Former longtime Planning Board member Bob Domnitz, who was also in the audience, also predicted that McLean would come back with a future request for more pavement.

When site plans are approved, they normally have conditions attached to satisfy neighbors’ concerns, Domnitz said. “The mitigation package was predicated on residential use. I think we would have come up with a totally different mitigation package if we knew this was a proposed use,” he said.

“It feels as a resident that Lincoln has cut us off,” Mrakovich said, alluding to the disruptions from the nearby Route 2 project as well as other similar home-based facilities for disturbed or disabled residents in the area. “Please look at this as a town-wide situation.”

“I understand there is fear but I don’t know what it’s based on,” said Sharon Antia, the only attendee who defended the proposal. “The facts are that people with mental health issues issues are no more dangerous than people without.”

But this did not reassure Linda Kanner (Steven’s wife), who said her daughter would be reluctant to bring her grandchildren to visit. “There are 30 kids connected by that meadow” behind Bypass Road, she said. “It frightens me what we can’t protect.”

After a brief discussion, the Planning Board determined via unanimous vote that McLean’s proposal did not constitute a minor change and that a public hearing would be scheduled. They also schedule a site visit for Sunday, May 29.

When board member Lynn DeLisi asked whether the board could negate the previous site plan and require a new one, Olson noted that Bard would look into this and other issues and have more answers at the public hearing.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” performance, book group planned

Richard Clarke pointing at the Bible as he portrays Clarence Darrow.

Richard Clarke pointing at the Bible as he portrays Clarence Darrow.

Lincolnites of all ages are invited to come to Bemis Hall on Sunday, June 5 at 2 p.m. for a special performance by acclaimed actor Richard Clark of his one-man show “Atticus,” based on the iconic American character created by Harper Lee in her novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman.

Enrich your experience with an intergenerational book group on both books co-sponsored with the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, June 11 at 2 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. Copies of both books in various formats are available at the circulation desk of the library.

In Clark’s performance, Atticus Finch steps from the pages of To Kill a Mockingbird and brings to life the tragedy and triumph of Harper Lee’s classic novel. As a loving father, compassionate friend and uncompromising attorney, Atticus represents the divine spark in the human spirit as he leads a cast of unlikely heroes in this story. The courtroom drama, the poignant interactions between a father and child, and the harsh realities of bigotry and hatred all blend to make this a compelling theatrical event for all ages.

Richard Clark is an actor with over 30 years of experience in New England regional theater, New York theater and television. His “Keeping History Alive” series brings historical figures such as Mark Twain, Andrew Carnegie, Clarence Darrow, John Barrymore, Ernest Hemingway and William Shakespeare back to life. His shows are based on biographies, autobiographies personal letters, books and the works of various playwrights.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 (Atticus performance) or the library at 781-259-8465 (book group).

News acorns

Tour historic homes for free on June 4

Historic New England is having an open house with hourly guided tours on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gropius House and the Codman Estate in Lincoln as well as the Browne House in Watertown. Most Historic New England properties are open for free on the first Saturday in June, when visitors can learn about the people who lived in stone-enders, urban mansions, rural estates and working farms. All tours are first-come, first-served.

Magic Garden hoedown on June 4

Join the Magic Garden community at its annual hoedown event on Saturday, June 4 from 6-10 p.m. in Codman Barn. Enjoy mechanical bull riding, dancing, barbecue by Firefly’s Restaurant, beer and wine, and a silent auction. All proceeds support educational programming and the Tuition Assistance Program at Magic Garden. Tickets are $50 each, or $40 if you purchase four or more. Please contact the Magic Garden Office at 781-259-8161or office@magic-garden.org to purchase.

Used book sale returns to Bemis

The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library book sale is back! Come to Bemis Hall on Saturday, June 11 from 9 a.m. to noon. Browse the large selection of good-quality used fiction, nonfiction and children’s books and support the library and its many programs while finding great reading material. Hardcovers are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents, or fill a grocery bag full of books for only $8. CDs are also available for $1.

DeCordova’s Montross wins award for exhibit publication

Montross

Sarah Montross

The Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) has granted deCordova Scultpure Park and Museum Associate Curator Sarah Montross a first-place Award for a catalogue/publication for Past Futures: Science Fiction, Space Travel, and Postwar Art of the Americas. Published by MIT Press, this catalogue supported the eponymous exhibition she curated in 2015 while in her role as Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. Montross has been at deCordova since April 2015 and is co-curator with Chief Curator Jennifer Gross of the 2016 deCordova Biennial that will open on October 7, 2016. “We’re excited to have this caliber of curatorial excellence on deCordova’s team and look forward to sharing Sarah’s work as co-curator of the upcoming Biennial exhibition,” said deCordova Executive Director John Ravenal.

Amy Herrera headlines next open-mike night

Amy Herrera will perform starting around 8:30 p.m. at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) Night on Monday, June 13. The event takes place in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room from 7-10 p.m. Herrera has played venues including last year’s Providence Folk Festival and has three CDs to her credit, most recently Goodnight, Nobody featuring the song Stumble Into You. Perform (sign up at the event or emailRich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com) or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.

Lincoln’s Page wins Malice Domestic’s Lifetime Achievement Award

A poster showing all over Page's books.

A poster showing all of Page’s books (click to enlarge).

Page's award.

Page’s award.

Mystery writer and Lincoln resident Katherine Hall Page received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Malice Domestic mystery writers’ conference. She is one of the only authors to have won an Agatha Award in all three categories: Best Novel, Best Short Story and Best First Novel. Page’s latest book, The Body in the Wardrobe, is the 23rd installment in the series starring part-time sleuth, minister’s wife and caterer Faith Fairchild along with Sophie Maxwell, last seen in The Body in the Birches and now a newlywed living in historic Savannah, Ga., where she crosses paths with murder. Established in 1989, Malice Domestic is an annual convention that celebrates the traditional mystery genre, best typified by the works of Agatha Christie.