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

Lincoln Dems to host governor candidate forum

democrat_donkey_logoThe Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (DTC) will host a gubernatorial candidate forum on Saturday, January 18 as well as two other meetings on January 11 and February 8

All five Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to appear at a forum on Saturday, January 18 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in the Bemis Hall Auditorium. Candidates for governor include Joe Avellone, Don Berwick, Martha Coakley, Steve Grossman, and Juliette Kayyem.

The event will begin with socializing and registration followed by welcoming remarks by State Senator Mike Barrett at 1:50 p.m. and candidate presentations starting at 2 p.m. Each candidate will speak separately and will briefly entertain questions from moderators and the audience. Moderators will be Mara Dolan, co-chair of the Concord Democratic Town Committee, and Peter Koutoujian, Middlesex County Sheriff.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee and the 3rd Middlesex Area Democrats. For more information or to submit candidate questions in advance, contact DTC chair Gary Davis at garyddavis04@gmail.com or 781-259-0318.

The DTC will also hold meetings on Saturday, January 11 from 2-4 p.m. and February 8 from 2-4 p.m. in the Bemis Hall map room. The Jnauary 11 agenda will include discussion of forums for candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general; caucus and office elections; and the state convention. Lincoln residents, especially those interested in committee membership are welcome to attend.

The February 8  meeting is primarily to elect Lincoln caucus delegates and alternates to the Massachusetts Democratic Convention June 13-14, 2014. Delegates and alternates will vote at the convention on candidates for governor, lieutentant governor, attorney general and treasurer. The meeting is open to all Lincoln residents, but voting is limited to Lincoln Democrats registered as of December 31, 2013.

 

Park and Rec announces winter activities

Winter 2014_Page_01

(click on image to download brochure)

The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department’s Winter 2014 brochure is now available online at www.lincolnrec.com. Classes beginning next week include:

  • Ballroom Dance Drop-in for adults (Friday nights)
  • Latin Dance for adults (Thursday nights)
  • Open Studio for adults (Thursdays)
  • Chess Wizards for school age children (Thursdays)
  • Musical Theater for school age children (Tuesdays)
  • Music Together for preschoolers on (Mondays and Fridays)
  • Gymnastics for preschool and school age children (Wednesdays)

For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Office at 781-259-0784.

Get connected—run for local office

Looking for a rewarding if occasionally vexing way to feel more connected? Willing to undertake new challenges? Unafraid to speak up? Then run for local office!

The annual town election will take place on Monday, March 31. Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office starting Friday, January 3. Papers must be returned no later than Monday, February 10.

The following offices will appear on the March ballot:

  • Board of Selectmen (three years)
  • Board of Assessors (three years)
  • K-8 School Committee (two seats for three years each)
  • Water Commission (three years)
  • Board of Health (one seat for three years, one seat for two years)
  • Cemetery Commission (three years)
  • Planning Board (two seats for three years each)
  • Commissioner of Trust Funds (three years)
  • deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park board (four years)
  • Housing Commission (three years)
  • Parks and Recreation Committee (three years)
  • Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee (two seats for three years each)
  • Trustees of Bemis (one seat for three years and one for two years)
  • Town  Moderator (three years)

For additional information, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 781-259-2607.

 

Conservation group announces events

Here are films and other events sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust in the coming weeks.

Wednesday, January 15

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust will  show The Legend of Pale Male as a part of its winter environmental film series at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust Office (above the post office at the mall). The Legend of Pale Male is the story of a red- tailed hawk that lived overlooking Central Park in New York City and became a celebrity. This heartwarming tale chronicles how this wild creature captured the curiosity of thousands. Come find out if that can save him from harmful intent of others.

Sunday, January 26

Joan Walsh from Mass Audubon will give an illustrated talk about the recently released “State of the Birds 2013” and the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas II. Come learn about which of our bird species are thriving, which are not, and what we can do about it.

Thursday, February 27

Lincoln resident Julie Dobrow and students from her 2013 Tufts University course “Producing Films for Social Change.” will discuss two of their films, Turning the Tide and USDA Incorporated, as part of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust’s winter environmental film series.

Turning the Tide looks at how climate change threatens East Boston with the risk of severe flooding. This imminent crisis is overlooked due to apathetic and otherwise preoccupied residents. Chris Marchi is an East Boston resident who aims to raise awareness of this issue. Through his own dedication and the help of local volunteers, Chris develops a project that he hopes will spark discussion in the fight against climate change.

USDA Incorporated shows how the miraculous possibilities of genetic engineering are being methodically ignored, as the argument spurred by the organic food movement, under the banner of health concerns, seeks to undermine some of the world’s largest corporations. The corporations remain unperturbed as they continue their greedy practices. The small farmer, who tries to maintain sustainable practices amidst these conflicting opinions, has to keep one foot in each world in order to survive.

Sunday, March 2
Naturalist and author Mary Holland will give an illustrated program, “Naturally Curious,” taking viewers through the most memorable natural history events occurring in each month of the year. Her books will also be for sale and on display will be collected items from her forays into New England habitats such as skulls, scat, feathers, and antlers. Sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust.

Correction on church events

correction-smIn a recent roundup of holiday religious events, the Lincoln Squirrel inexplicably forgot to include St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church.  The original post has been corrected to include this information. The Squirrel apologizes for the omission.

St.-Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Tuesday, December 24

  • Christmas pageant and family service — 3-4 p.m.
  • Holy Eucharist with choir and string quartet — 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Everyone is welcome.

Churches observe Christmas with services and pageants

nativity(This is a corrected version of the post that appeared on December 19.)

Churches in Lincoln  have the following Christmas observances lined up.

First Parish Church

Saturday, December 21 — Solstice service, 5 p.m.

Celebrate the longest night of the year and the return of the light as the days begin to lengthen. The service includes the Abbots Bromley horn dance, which has been preformed for more than 900 years. Traditional music, dancing, and candle-lighting in the dark make this a special part of the church’s religious winter celebration.

Visitors are also invited to walk a labyrinth, an ancient symbol of wholeness, which will be open in the Parish House for one hour before and one hour after this service. Walking the labyrinth is a special form of meditation that helps us focus on the connection of the inner self to the rhythmic patterns of the natural world. There will be refreshments after the service as well.

Sunday, December 22 — Christmas pageant, 11:30 a.m. 
Children will gather  at 10 a.m. in the Parish House for a quick run-through and then get into costumes and proceed to the auditorium, transformed into the inn in long-ago Bethlehem. The audience will watch the timeless story unfold and sing Christmas carols, accompanied by music director Ian Watson on First Parish’s newly refurbished organ.

Tuesday, December 24  — Christmas Eve service, 5 p.m.

Designed especially for parents with young children, this service features traditional carols, readings, and a story for all ages. Our Director of Religious Education, Ruth Owen, will lead the service, and Rev. Roger Paine will lead a guided meditation to close the service.

Tuesday, December 24 — Candlelight carol services, 8 and 10 p.m. 

A service of carols, readings, choral anthems, a Christmas prayer by Rebecca Hinds, and a homily and guided meditation by Rev. Paine. The two services are identical except that five high school students will be the readers at the 8 p.m. service, and five college students will be our readers at 10 p.m.

In a recent roundup of holiday religious events, the Lincoln Squirrel inexplicably forgot to include St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church.  The original post has been corrected to include this information. The Squirrel apologizes for the omission.

St.-Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church

Tuesday, December 24

  • Christmas pageant and family service — 3-4 p.m.
  • Holy Eucharist with choir and string quartet — 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Everyone is welcome.

St. Joseph Church

Tuesday, December 24 — Christmas gospel pageant, 4 p.m. Mass

There is also a service at 6 p.m. with the choir (music begins at 5:30 p.m.)

Wednesday, December 25 — Christmas Day Mass, 10:30 a.m.

There will also be a Mass at 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. at St. Julia Church in Weston.

Aka Bistro closed due to water damage

aka

The Aka Bistro restaurant will be closed until further notice due to extensive water damage from a broken pipe.

The restaurant’s website announced the closure due to a damaged  floor, ceiling and kitchen equipment. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning (December 18).

“I pulled up to work at 5:30 in the moring and in front of me was a fire truck, and then three [police] cruisers pulled up,” said John Johanson, a personal trainer at Fitness Together, which is located on the second floor of the same building. “They had to break into the room where the piping was. I guess it was pretty bad.” Fitness Together was not damaged and is open, he added.

The building is owned by the Rural Land Foundation. Neither RLF executive director Geoff McGean nor Aka Bistro general manager Christian Touche could not immediately be reached for comment.