Sean Collier
By Alice C. Waugh
Several members of the Lincoln Police Department were directly involved in the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombing suspect—and they had extra motivation to find him, because slain MIT Police officer Sean Collier had worked with Lincoln police.
[Read more…] about Slain MIT police officer Collier had worked in Lincoln
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.
What 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
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.
Lincoln residents who are veterans are invited to apply for a new program that offers abatements on their May property tax bills of up to $1,000 apiece in exchange for working for a town department for up to 125 hours in a year.
[Read more…] about Lincoln veterans can work in exchange for property tax abatements
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
Here are some more interesting things coming up in Lincoln…
Reception with author of book about Revolutionary War soldiers from LincolnMonday, 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.
Film on Spanish artist Antonio GaudíThursday, 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.
NPR music critic to speak about John LennonSunday, 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.
Here’s a selection of interesting events coming up in town. Mark your calendars!
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
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.
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?”
Two exhibits at the Lincoln Public Library this month show how children’s portrait-drawing abilities evolve over time and depict Lincoln’s natural history. [Read more…] about Nature and portraits on exhibit at library in April
