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

News acorns – 04/27/15

(Editor’s note: This incorporates a correction to the second item made on April 29.)

Talk this Sunday on Flint homestead

The Lincoln Historical Society and the Lincoln Historical Commission present “The Flint House: Past, Present Future” on Sunday, May 3 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Come hear a talk by local historian Jack Maclean and see historic images of the Flint house, which was built on a mid-17th-century grant of 750 acres to the Flint family. The program also describes a planned tour of the house on October 4. This event also includes a brief annual meeting of the Lincoln Historical Society.

The Flint family homestead, across Lexington Road from the large white barn commonly referred to as Flint’s barn, dates back to the early 1700s and is filled with mementos of the town and the Flints. The house is protected by a Preservation Restriction Easement, the first agreement of its kind in Lincoln, which will be explained by the Lincoln Historic Commission.

Wednesday walks, other activities offered

springTrail walks led by Conservation Department staff are taking place until June 3, rain or shine, on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Click here for a list of dates and locations. Sponsored by the Lincoln Conservation Commission and the Lincoln Council on Aging.

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) is organizing three other events. For more information, see this LLCT web page.
  • “Bogs and Baas,” a two-part walk led by Ellen Meadors and Betty Levin on Thursday, May 21 at 10 a.m.
  • The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) annual meeting featuring naturalist and photographer Cherrie Corey apeaking on “Our Sense of Place” on Tuesday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall.
  • “Caterpillars LIVE,” a family-friendly program on caterpillars with naturalist photographer Sam Jaffee on  Sunday, June 14 at 3 p.m. at Hartwell Pod A. Jaffee and his helpers will bring along live specimens for a show-and-tell presentation. Then he’ll lead small groups of participants on a short walk around the area to find specimens in their natural habitat, showing how easy it is to get into nature and make your own discoveries. Requested donation of $5 per person or $15 for families of three or more.
Maple syrup fundraiser brings in over $1,000

Lincoln School third-graders and Matlock Farm raised $1,000.50 for UNICEF during this year’s second annual maple syrup fundraiser. They would like to thank all those who bought their syrup and made this possible.

Garlic mustard pull is gearing up
Garlic mustard weed.

Garlic mustard weed (click to enlarge).

Lincoln’s annual garlic mustard weed pull is about to get underway. Free paper bags for the weeds will be distributed to residents at the transfer station on Wednesday, April 29 and Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to noon, courtesy of the Lincoln Garden Club. The Department of Public Works will have a designated area at its Lewis Street facility for residents to drop off their bags of garlic mustard. Additionally, the Conservation Department will pick up full bags of garlic mustard in neighborhoods through May 31 if you contact them beforehand at 781-259-2612 or mckinnond@lincolntown.org. The DPW and the Conservation Department ask that you not put any wall lettuce in your bags.

Residents are also invited to pull garlic mustard as a group at the deCordova Sculpture Park and adjacent conservation land on Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon (park at the far end of the deCordova parking lot). To volunteer, contact Conservation Department ranger Jane Layton at 781-259-2612 or laytonj@lincolntown.org.

Letter to the editor: concern about church committee’s “adversarial approach”

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To the editor:

I fully understand and appreciate the First Parish may want to upgrade the Stearns Room to enhance after-service socializing and improve handicapped access. However, it is not clear why the Building Committee has adopted an adversarial approach to the process—one which antagonizes Lincoln neighbors near and far, divides the congregation, threatens lawsuit, disrespects certain town boards and alienates long-term benefactors.

[Read more…] about Letter to the editor: concern about church committee’s “adversarial approach”

Letter to the editor: How big is too big for Stearns Room?

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(Editor’s note: This letter concerns the proposed expansion to the First Parish Church’s Stearns Room. The Planning Commission has continued a hearing on details of the plan, including the roofing material, until April 28. The church has already won zoning approval for the proposal.)

To the editor:

Are there no alternative treatments for expansion of this addition than the one proposed? A metal roof seems more appropriate on a contemporary structure than on the current historic church building even though it might have some energy-saving or environmental benefits. [Read more…] about Letter to the editor: How big is too big for Stearns Room?

Letter to the editor: church needs “welcoming” handicapped entrance

letterTo the editor:

The recent flurry of letters opposing the proposed new Stearns Room paints quite a picture—how dare those First Parish people desecrate our sacred space! The low-pitched sections of the roof will be metal, there’s a terrace, and glass windows without shutters! It will be bigger than it is now, and part of the roof will be higher!

Guess what? If we are to make the presently dysfunctional space work, it has to be bigger, and that has been the plan since 2002. We have done our best to design a complementary, respectful addition, revising the plans at least five times in the past six years. Our first visit to the Historic District Commission was in September 2009, with a modern, butterfly-roofed design. Much has changed since then, and architects give the plan high praise.

The letter writers ignore the fact that the new building must have a welcoming handicapped-accessible entrance co-equal to the entrance by Bedford Road. If it does not, the sanctuary itself would require substantial renovation, with a wide ramp to the front door, alterations to the pews, the narthex, the choir loft and more. No one wants that.

The new building will have handicapped-accessible bathrooms and allow wheelchair access to both sides of the sanctuary. It will allow more of us to talk together after the service and to see the field to the west behind us. The new building will be far more functional and attractive and allow us to better serve the community.

Sincerely,

Peter Pease
40 Huckleberry Hill Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: Minutemen a “toppingly transcendent tradition”

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Editor’s note: see a photo taken by Rob on Monday morning in Lincoln Through the Lens.

To the editor:

Lincoln is a town of many treasures. Sunday night and (early!) Monday morning, we were reminded the Lincoln Minute Men are well among them.

On Sunday evening, the Minute Men reenacted the Sounding of the Alarm that the British Regulars were on the march. In addition to rousing tunes, musket volley’s and pealing of the church bells, we were treated to a vivid description of the heroics of Revere, Dawes and Prescott when they were ambushed by a British patrol in North Lincoln.

Monday  morning, as the Minute Men mustered for their march to Concord, we were reminded not only of the Patriots of the American Revolution but all those who have followed in their footsteps since.

Thanks again to all the Lincoln Minute Men and their families and friends  for sharing such a toppingly  transcendent tradition with spirit and style.

Sincerely,

Rob Jevon
9 Trapelo Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Entire library to become an art show

The Lincoln Public Library has long welcomed artists who exhibit their work in its first-floor gallery space designed by renowned architect and modern art collector Graham Gund. But this spring, for the first time, the entire library will be transformed into a fine art gallery as the Friends of the Lincoln Library host a show and gala: “Grown, Shown and Owned in Lincoln.”

[Read more…] about Entire library to become an art show

News acorns – 4/23/15

acornAfrican drum and dance at St. Anne’s on May 3

All are invited to African drum and dance classes at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church on Sunday, May 3 from 6:30-9 p.m. Come drum with Master Moussa Traore from Mali (6:30-7:30 p.m.) and dance with seasoned teacher Alice Heller (7:40-9 p.m.). Drum class will be multilevel; bring a drum (if you need a drum, contact Moussa at 617-970-5587). Dance class will include drummers and a full-body warmup, steps and fun choreography. The cost is $12 each for drum class and dance class, or $20 for both classes. Advance registration is required; register online here or make checks payable to St. Anne’s in-the-Fields.

Lisa Martin featured at next LOMA night

Lisa Martin is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mic Acoustic) event on Monday, May 11 from 7-10 p.m. Perform or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word in the historic Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell room. Admission is free and refreshments are provided.

Martin will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30 p.m. Lisa fuses folk, rock, blues and country influences.  She’s a hard-driving guitarist and an emotionally charged singer/songwriter and has two CDs to her credit, Set me on Fire and Live. Her signature sound is evident on her YouTube video, Superwoman.

LOMA is a monthly event. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mike day for a slot. Names of those who are signed up by 7:15 will be drawn at random. We have a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style.

Volunteers needed for town government committees

The town of Lincoln depends on its citizen volunteers to work together on town-wide issues and to help shape community character. Each year in April and May, the Board of Selectmen reviews and makes appointments to its various committees. The board is always looking for interested volunteers for the following Selectmen-appointed committees: Affordable Housing, Agriculture Commission, Capital Planning Committee, Community Preservation Committee, Conservation Commission, Council on Aging, Commission on Disabilities, Emergency Assistance Committee, Green Energy Technology Committee, Historical Commission, Historic District Commission, Lincoln Cultural Commission, Pierce Property Committee, Recreation Commission, Roadside and Traffic Committee, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. For information or an application, please visit this Town of Lincoln website or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.

Garden Club hosts nature photography contest

The Lincoln Garden Club has launched a photo contest that promises to catch the eye of nature lovers and engage photography enthusiasts. Participants must live in Lincoln and may submit up to three pictures taken anywhere in the world by May 26. Entrants are expected to submit pictures in print (8” x 10”) and digital format. The pictures will be displayed at Pierce House on June 7 during the Lincoln Garden Club Champagne Reception from 5-7 p.m. During the reception, attendees will vote for their favorite pictures and elect one winner for each of the three categories: landscape, fauna and flora. Each winner will receive a $50 gift card and basket from Stonegate Gardens as well as an award certificate and ribbon.

“Our goal is to celebrate our love of Lincoln and nature,” says Daniela Caride, the Lincoln Garden Club member who came up with the idea. “We hope everyone will venture outside and take as many pictures as possible of flowers, forests, birds and farms and have fun seeing them while supporting a good cause.” The event will help the club finance a horticultural intern at the New England Wildflower Society who will design and install a native plant garden at Lincoln’s Station Park. Contest rules and entry forms are available on the Lincoln Garden Club website.

The British are coming! (Lincoln Through the Lens)

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The Lincoln Minute Men march past the First Parish Church on their way to Concord early on Patriots Day morning. Photo by Rob Jevon

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to news@lincolnsquirrrel.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.