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

Upcoming events from conservation group

A monarch butterly. Photo: Thomas Bresson/Wikimedia COmmons

A film on monarch butterflies will be shown on March 18. Photo: Thomas Bresson/Wikimedia Commons

An illustrated naturalists’ program and a film about butterflies will be presented in March by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

On Sunday, March 2 from 2-3 p.m. in Bemis Hall, Mary Holland, naturalist and author, will give an illustrated program, “Naturally Curious—Wood Frog to Black Bear: Exciting Worlds of the Northeast” that will take viewers through the most memorable natural history events occurring in each month of the year. Her books will also be for sale. On display will be collected items from her forays into New England habitats such as skulls, scat, feathers, and antlers. Free admission; donations welcome. 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.

The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies, the last movie in the LLCT’s environmental film series, will be shown on Tuesday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the LLCT office (above the post office at the mall) . Orange and black wings fill the sky as PBS’s NOVA charts one of nature’s most remarkable phenomena: the epic migration of monarch butterflies across North America. To capture a butterfly’s point of view, NOVA’s filmmakers used a helicopter, ultralight and hot-air balloon for aerial views along the transcontinental route. This wondrous annual migration, which scientists are just beginning to fathom, is an endangered phenomenon that could dwindle to insignificance if the giant firs that the butterflies cling to during the winter disappear.

Magic Garden kids pitch in during bird count

Magic Garden teachers and children look for birds during the Great Backyard Bird Count. Photo courtesy Magic Garden

Magic Garden children and their teacher look for birds during the Great Backyard Bird Count. Photo courtesy Magic Garden

Magic Garden preschoolers recently participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count, a nationwide project to count and categorize bird species where “citizen birders” spend a little time in the field (i.e., their own backyards) watching birds during a specific time of year.

Data from the project, which is sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society and Bird Studies Canada, will help scientists  learn more about the health of the ecosystems and environment by analyzing various bird populations.

Magic Garden children in two classes (ages 3-5) counted birds around the school campus in small groups using tools including field guides, pictures of birds and binoculars. The children spotted five American robins, a bluejay, a northern cardinal, a white-breasted nuthatch, an American crow, and three black-capped chickadees.

“It was a wonderful way to actively use counting and observation skills and a tangible way to show love for our friends the birds,” said Magic Garden director Jill Canelli.

“This experience was a great foray into the science of bird-watching for the children and for all of us as adults,” added Gail Wild, a Magic Garden preschool teacher and science lover.

“As both a nature lover and an early childhood environmental educator, I’ve always been fascinated by birds and have loved finding new and exciting ways to connect children with nature through observing animals. I’m excited to share my love for birds and collaborate with our teachers and pilot this citizen science project,” Canelli said.

Letter to the editor: First Parish vote “a matter of principle and integrity”

letter

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, February 10, the Lincoln Planning Board voted to uphold principles that were designed to protect our neighborhoods and community character.  This important vote—perhaps a legacy vote—also upheld the integrity of open town meeting governance.

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Obituaries

candle2Following are obituaries of current or former Lincoln residents as reported in the Boston Globe since July, listed by their date of death. Click on each name for more information.

Stephen Crandall, 92 (October 29) — MIT professor of mechanical engineering.

Irene Smith Wasco, 86 (November 12) — member of St. Joseph’s Church.

Guilbert Winchell, 95 (November 25) — engineer who survived attack on Pearl Harbor.

Sarah Drago (December 2) —mother of four, including Diane Drago-Stack of Lincoln.

Dietician talks about healthy meals for kids tonight

Tired of the same old meal plan, or maybe no plan at all? Struggling with picky eaters? Looking for easy ways to add variety and more nutrition to your meals that your kids will happily eat? Join First Connections and Drumlin Farm Preschool on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Drumlin Farm to hear author and registered dietician Liz Weiss  discuss:

  • Ideas for stocking a healthy “last-minute” pantry
  • Unique ways to add kid appeal to fruits, vegetables and whole grains
  • Clever strategies for marketing good nutrition to kids

Liz will cook up a “No-Whine” recipe from her book for parents to taste. Do you have specific questions for Liz? Email them to lmatthews@jri.org and we’ll forward them to her to be sure your topic is addressed during the presentation. Liz will have discounted copies of her cookbooks available to anyone interested in bringing home more recipes.

Please call 978-287-0221 or email  lmatthews@jri.org to preregister—this is a free program.

Thursday event to recruit help for South Sudanese women

The Circle of Giving for South Sudanese Women includes (top row) Janet Ready, Cathy Rogers, Nancy Fleming, Ann Helmus and (bottom row) Ellen Matathia, Susan Winship, Anne Doyle and Bean Nardi. Photo courtesy Sandy Storer.

The Circle of Giving for South Sudanese Women includes (top row) Janet Ready, Cathy Rogers, Nancy Fleming, Ann Helmus and (bottom row) Ellen Matathia, Susan Winship, Anne Doyle and Bean Nardi. Photo courtesy Sandy Storer.

By Alice Waugh

Lincoln women are invited to an open house on Thursday hosted by the Circle of Giving for South Sudanese Women, a grassroots organization that grew out of efforts several years ago by Lincoln resident Susan Winship and others to help the “lost boys of Sudan.”

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New location for Jet Aviation hearing

runwayThe Lincoln Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 8:15 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room to hear comments on Jet Aviation’s proposal to expand into Lincoln wetlands buffer zones at Massport’s Hanscom Civil Airport. The meeting was originally slated to be held in the Town Office Building. The proposal was the subject of two recent letters to the editor in the Lincoln Squirrel.