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

Coming up in Lincoln

“Taking on Invasives: Invasive Forest Beetles” — October 17

Join Jennifer Forman-Orth, Ph.D., state plant pest survey coordinator, on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Thoreau Institute (44 Baker Farm Rd., Lincoln) for a discussion on the Asian longhorned beetle and the emerald ash borer. Wine and cheese reception supported by The Cheese Shop in Concord. Presented by the Walden Woods Project and the Sudbury-Concord-Assabet River Watershed Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area with support from a SuAsCo Wild and Scenic River Stewardship Council grant. Seating is limited, so please call 781-259-4707 to reserve your seat.

Lincoln Girl Scouts sell pumpkins — October 19

Don’t buy your pumpkins yet—support the Lincoln Girl Scouts and buy your pumpkins at its second annual pumpkin sale on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 2-5 p.m. at Codman Community Farms. The fund-raising event will also include baked goods for sale and face painting.

“Scarecrow Classic” 5K — October 20

The first annual “Scarecrow Classic” 5K road and trail race (run and walk) to benefit the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust will start at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20 at Lincoln Station. For more information, see www.ScarecrowClassic5k.com.

Lincoln Fire and Police Ball — November 8

The Lincoln Fire and Police Ball will take place Friday, Nov. 8 at the Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord. This annual event, which has grown in popularity over the past few years, has an important role in supporting the Lincoln Fire Association and the Lincoln Police Benevolent Association. Both organizations use funds from this event to support local scholarships and community organizations, including the Lincoln Family Association, the Lincoln PTO, the Lincoln Council on Aging and others.

Tickets may be purchased for $60 by mailing a check payable to Lincoln Fire and Police Ball to Lincoln Fire and Police Department, P.O. Box 342, Lincoln MA 01773.

Order pies and help L-S teachers

The Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (FELS) announces the 2013 annual thanksgiving pie sale. Orders for apple, pumpkin, pecan and chocolate pies for $15 each are being accepted through November 15. Order online or print a form from the website or pick up a paper copy at the main office at L-S.

Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday

Polls will be open in the Smith School gym on Tuesday, Oct. 15  from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for voting in the special primary to fill the 5th Congressional District seat formerly held by U.S. Senator Ed Markey. Sample ballots are below. The election will be held on December 10.

ballot-GOP

ballot-dem

Plenty to do this weekend in Lincoln

pumpkinStonegate Gardens pumpkin festival

Saturday and Sunday, October 12 and 13
11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Stonegate Gardens

The weekend of fun and games to celebrate fall includes a pumpkin hunt, where kids search for baby pumpkins around the nursery and gardens. There will be snacks and prizes for everyone. There’s also pumpkin painting—Stonegate will have paints and decorations so visitors can create scary, pretty, wild, or wacky pumpkin people.

Lincoln Fire Department open house

Saturday, October 12
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lincoln Fire Department

In recognition of Fire Prevention Week next week, the Lincoln Fire Department will host an open house on Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, which is open to all area families, includes opportunities for kids to check out the fire station, the fire equipment, and fire trucks as well as snacks, pizza and drinks. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Get Cookin’ with Fire Safety,” emphasizes the dangers in the kitchen and how to avoid them.

Used book sale

Saturday, October 12
9 a.m. to noon, Bemis Hall

Fill a paper grocery bag with adult and children’s books for only $10! (sales tax is now included) at the Friends of the Lincoln Library’s monthly used book sale. They also have a selection of individually priced special books. We always need more books so donations may be left in the wooden boxes in the entrance of Bemis Hall Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (no textbooks, magazines or no books that are musty or written in, please.)

ARTfull Explorations at deCordova

Sunday, October 13
1-3 p.m. drop-in, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Celebrate the opening of the 2013 deCordova Biennial as a family. Close-looking questions will guide you through the galleries to discover several Biennial artists who work with film and then create your own animation using old and new techniques. This monthly program is designed for families with children ages 2-12, but all are welcome.

“Senior Dining” menu announced

Lincoln seniors are invited to a gourmet meal in an elegant setting at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 15 at St. Anne’s Church. On the menu will be Country Captain chicken, Newbury Court rice, roasted butternut squash, fresh garden salad with croutons and balsamic vinaigrette, assorted rolls and butter, and apple crisp.

You must reserve by calling the Lincoln Council on Aging at (781) 259-8811 at least a week ahead. The cost is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let the COA know if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, and St. Anne’s.

L-S interim superintendent’s contract extended

L-S logoThe Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee has extended the contract of interim Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong through the 2014-2015 academic year at the advice of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, which has “encouraged school districts to evaluate internal candidates in order to retain stability in leadership wherever possible” in light of  a statewide staff shortage at the senior level, according to a press release from the committee. Wong has agreed not to seek a position with another district during the 2013-2014 school year. [Read more…] about L-S interim superintendent’s contract extended

Board-game group starting up

Do you love playing board games? Do you want to learn new games? The Lincoln Public Library is hoping to start up a regular gaming day for people age 8 to adult and will be running two initial days to gauge the interest level and what times and days might work best.

The first meetings will be Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. The games on hand will be Carcassonne, Settlers of Catan, and Acquire. If you’re interested but can’t make either of these times, email Belinda Gingrich at belinda.gingrich@verizon.net.

Drumlin Farm ribbon-cutting for accessible trails Oct. 5

icepondOn Saturday, October 5 at 10 a.m., Mass Audubon staff and volunteers will celebrate the opening of two universally accessible trails at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the two-year project.

The Ice Pond Trail and Farmyard Loop Trail are designed to allow persons of all abilities to experience nature and learn about sustainable agriculture. The new trails feature an accessible garden bed, tactile exhibits of animal casts, post-and-rope guide system, an interpretive audio tour, and Braille signage.

There will be refreshments and a guided tour of trails and “sensory” features. This project was made possible in part by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. 

Harvest Weekends at Drumlin Farm start tomorrow

scarecrowOn October 5-6 and 12-14, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary will be bustling with special activities, games, and pick-your-own opportunities. Join us on a hayride and enjoy cider, apples and cider donuts from Shelburne Farms or pizza from Vesta Wood-fired Pizza, and don’t forget to stay for one of our live animal demonstrations.

The farm will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children 2-12  and seniors, and free for Mass Audubon members. Pick-your-own (see below), which involves an additional cost, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or while supplies last. For more details, see the Drumlin Farm website.

Pick your own:

October 5  and 6: Pumpkins and gourds – pick out your favorite from our display in the field!

October 12- 14: We’ll check with our farmer to see what is ready to harvest and post it on the Drumlin Farm website before the weekend!