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

Cabaret Night tonight at L-S

sax Come hear excellent performances in an intimate setting by Lincoln-Sudbury’s instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles, as well as featured vocal soloists. The concert starts at 7:30 in the L-S Jazz cafe. Tickets are $5, with a $20 cap for families. Snacks and beverages will be sold by the L-S Friends of Music.

There will be vocal performances by the Acafellas, Achoired Taste, and Coro de Chicas. The evening will also feature vocal solo and duet performances of popular and musical theater selections. Performing instrumental groups include the Concert and Symphonic Jazz Ensembles (big bands), Jazz Warriors Combo, and Select Jazz Combo.

For more information, call the L-S Music Department at 978-443-9961 x2220 or x2210.

Obituaries

candle2Following are obituaries of current or former Lincoln residents as reported in the Boston Globe since February, listed in chronological order of their date of death. Click here to see previous obits in the Lincoln Squirrel.

Rose M. McMurtry, 97 (April 7, 2013) – Lincoln resident from 1958-1972, sang in St. Joseph’s Church choir

Ruth R. Walkey, 85 (April 1, 2013) – Old Town Hall Exchange volunteer, 50-year member of Valley Pond

Shirley G. Beaton, 88 (March 28, 2013) – secretary in Lincoln Public Schools

Wayne D. Mount, 85 (March 25, 2013) – atmospheric physicist and pioneer in chaos theory

William R. Cummings, 82 (March 25, 2013) – father of William R. Cummings Jr. of Lunenburg and Thomas R. Cummings of London

Lorraine S. Torode, 92 (March 11, 2013) – longtime physical education teacher in Lincoln Public Schools

Nest-watching opportunities (and the times for those nature walks)

A female cardinal in her nest. (Photo courtesy WIkimedia Commons)

A female cardinal in her nest. (Photo courtesy WIkimedia Commons)

First of all, a clarification on our earlier nature walks article: they take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

And now for nesting… Drumlin Farm is looking for volunteers to train in the fine art of nest-watching. The farm is a chapter of the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch, a citizen science project that collects data on the breeding activities of birds across the country. Scientists use this data to track bird population trends and subsequently decide what conservation measures are  most needed.

Volunteer training, which takes less than two hours, will teach residents how to look for bird nests, how to approach them and when to leave them alone, and how tor cord their findings in the NestWatch database, said Drumlin Farm volunteer coordinator Pam Sowizral. Nest-watchers don’t need to venture into the forest or scale trees; they can monitor nests that species including catbirds, cardinals, titmice, chickadees, and phoebes that build their nests close to houses and sometimes even on porches and other parts of buildings.

The collected information is useful for seeing how bird habitats and populations are altering over time, particularly in this era of climate change, Sowizral said.

“By recruiting volunteers all over the country in large numbers, we can do something that individual scientists can’t,” Sowizral said.

Anyone interested (even empty-nesters!) should contact Sowizral at 781-259-2205 or psowizral@massaudubon.org.

MassHealth: Learn more, even if you think you won’t need it

SHINElogoWhat do you know about MassHealth, and why should you care? Lincoln residents of all ages are invited to a special program at Bemis Hall on Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. to learn more about MassHealth (Massachusetts’ Medicaid program). You might not think you need the information, but  that could change if you have an unforeseen financial crisis or need to be in a nursing home for an extended period.

The Lincoln Council in Aging program will feature Don Milan, Elizabeth Killeen and Arthur Budnik, all of Minuteman Senior Services’ SHINE health benefits counseling program, explaining what MassHealth currently covers, who’s eligible, how it coordinates with Medicare, and more. Carolyn Bottum, director of the COA, interviewed Milan, who is Lincoln’s SHINE counselor.

[Read more…] about MassHealth: Learn more, even if you think you won’t need it

See Lincoln by foot during Wednesday walks

Visit a different area of Lincoln’s open space each week on Wednesday walks led by Conservation Department staff on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Walks are typically about 2.5 miles long. Wear sturdy shoes and always dress for the weather (walks are held rain or shine). Meeting places and descriptions are listed below.

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Book describes Revolutionary War service by hundreds from Lincoln

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Richard Wiggin displays a copy of his book about Lincoln soldiers in the Revolutionary War. (Photo: Alice Waugh)

Most Lincoln residents know that the town played a key role in the start of the Revolutionary War as the site of Paul Revere’s capture, but few know very much about the hundreds of men with Lincoln connections who served in the eight-year conflict that followed. Those stories were researched and collected by Lincoln resident Richard Wiggin in a new book, Embattled Farmers: Campaigns and Profiles of Revolutionary Soldiers from Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1775-1783, which will be available at an author’s reception at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Patriots Day) in the Lincoln Public Library.

[Read more…] about Book describes Revolutionary War service by hundreds from Lincoln

Embattled farmers, Antonio Gaudí, and John Lennon

Here are some more interesting things coming up in Lincoln…

book-adj-smReception with author of book about Revolutionary War soldiers from Lincoln

Monday, April 15
5-7:30 p.m., Lincoln Public Library

Meet Lincoln resident Rick C. Wiggin, author of the just-released book, Embattled Farmers: Campaigns and Profiles of Revolutionary Soldiers from Lincoln, Massachusetts, 1775-1783, at the Lincoln Public Library on Monday, April 15. He will sign copies of his book, and music and refreshments will be available.

Special note: Stay tuned to the Lincoln Squirrel for an upcoming full-length feature story about Wiggin and his book.

 

gaudi-smFilm on Spanish artist Antonio Gaudí

Thursday, April 25
7-9 p.m., Lincoln Public Library Tarbell Room

Friends of Modern Architecture / Lincoln present Antonio Gaudí, a 1984 film by  Hiroshi Teshigahara, on April 25. The Philadelphia Inquirer called it “an exquisite celebration of the bizarre brilliance of Spain’s greatest architect” while  The New York Times described it as “erotic… shocking… madly brilliant! Astounding beauty and boldness.” This event is free and open to the public.

 

 

Lennon-smNPR music critic to speak about John Lennon

Sunday, April 28
4 p.m., Bemis Hall
The Bemis Free Lecture Series presents a talk by NPR music critic and author Tim Riley on John Lennon on April 28. Riley will speak about Lennon’s towering contribution to rock ‘n’ roll in an engrossing three-dimensional portrait.  Riley has authored five books about popular music, including Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music—The Definitive Life and the influential Tell Me Why, a song-by-song Beatles commentary. He reviews pop and classical music for WBUR-FM’s Here & Now, and has written for The Washington Post, Slate, Salon, and The Huffington Post. Admission to the talk is free.

There will be an author reception afterward with wine and light refreshments. Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple, and proceeds will benefit the Bemis Free Lecture Series. For tickets, stop by the Old Town Hall Exchange or e-mail bemislectures@gmail.com.

Spring events in Lincoln

Here’s a selection of interesting events coming up in town. Mark your calendars!

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Fairy garden workshop at Codman Community Farms

Saturday, April 20
1-3 p.m., Codman Community Farms

Kids of all ages will  make a fairy gardens to take home. If you have a dinner-plate-size basket or bowl  you’d like to use, please bring it with you. We’ll have some on hand if you don’t. Led by Susan Cummings.

Please RSVP to sustev@comcast.net. The cost is $5.

 

 

Dr. Michael Rich

Dr. Michael Rich

How does media affect our kids?

Thursday, April 25
7-8:30 p.m., Brooks Auditorium

Ask the “media-trician” about kids and media! Lincoln PTO Parent Education presents Dr. Michael Rich, MD, MPH, of Children’s Hospital Boston (CHB), who will talk about the positive and negative effects of media exposure on our children. Hear the latest research about children’s use of media and implications for their health from Dr. Rich, director of the Center on Media and Child Health at CHB. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The Lincoln School PTO also provided funding.

 

 

 
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Musical benefit for Farrar Pond

Sunday, May 5
5 p.m., 53 South Great Rd., Lincoln

Enjoy a chamber concert at the home of Laura Bossert and Terry King (53 South Great Road) on Sunday, May 5 at 5 p.m. overlooking Farrar Pond and Pincushion Island to benefit Farrar Pond. Wine and hors d’oeuvres followed by a chamber music concert featuring Arensky’s Two Cello Quartet and Dvořák’s Piano Quintet in A Major. See the Lincoln Squirrel calendar listing for details on the musicians.

Seating is limited and tickets are $75.  To purchase, send a check payable to “Massachusetts Audubon Society” (the fiscal agent for the pond) with “Farrar Pond Music Benefit” in the memo line. Mail to Ron McAdow, 59 South Great Road, Lincoln MA  01773.  We will hold your tickets at the door. Please include an e-mail address for ticket confirmation. The full amount of your tickets/donation is tax deductible. The money held by Mass Audubon is used to fight invasive vegetation and to maintain the dam and the beaver deceivers.

“Farrar Pond is a unique place in Lincoln where creative zoning has resulted in conservation land and trails around a beautiful pond,” said Farrar Pond Associates president Will Winchell. “The Farrar Pond Associates, associated trusts and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust work to maintain it in its natural state. There are a number of invasive plant species that need to be controlled to preserve the pond and we are dependent on donations to accomplish this often costly process. What better way to support Farrar Pond than a glorious evening of music, refreshments, and getting to know each other?”