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

Third multifamily rezoning option omits North Lincoln

The new HCA Option C includes the mall (in yellow) but not any parts of North Lincoln. The dotted circle indicates the required half-mile radius from the train station in which some multifamily housing must be allowed. Click image to enlarge.

Thanks to a change in state guidelines for complying with the Housing Choice Act, Lincoln now has the option of creating a single multifamily district around the train station without involving parts of North Lincoln — unless residents decide they want to rezone those areas.

Residents will see three rezoning options at the State of the Town (SOTT) meeting on Saturday, Sept. 30 starting at 10 a.m. The first two were formulated by the Housing Choice Act Working Group (HCAWG) and consultant Utile before the state’s change in August. Both include three subdistricts in South Lincoln (excluding the mall) as well as either (A) a Lincoln North mixed-use subdistrict or (B) a Battle Road Farm housing subdistrict.

Before August, towns couldn’t allow commercial development in a multifamily housing district as part of their plan to comply with the HCA. This meant that redeveloping the mall as a mixture of ground-floor commercial and housing on the second and third floors wouldn’t satisfy HCA’s multifamily housing requirements, and the mall would have to be rezoned separately in order to allow housing there.

Now the state says that towns can count multifamily housing units they allow in commercial areas. As a result, the two rezoning efforts (HCA compliance and redeveloping the mall) can be folded into a single Option C that includes four South Lincoln subdistricts and none in North Lincoln.

In Lincoln’s rezoned HCA or “3A” subdistricts (named after the relevant section of state law), multifamily housing at 15 units per acre for a total of at least 635 units must be allowed by right, without the need for a special permit or Town Meeting approval. That housing may not be age-restricted, and commercial uses can’t be required in those districts, though now they are allowed since the August change.

The new option met with general approval among officials and residents at a Planning and meeting on September 26 — to the point where some questioned why Options A and B were even still on the table. Given the recent change in HCA guidelines, the town should simply “take the win and go home” rather than add the complexity of offering two other rezoning options, said resident Vicky Diaduk.

“We felt it was worth having a discussion in town and getting people’s feedback to see if there was an overwhelming feeling about one or the other of the options,” Select Board member Jennifer Glass said. In conversations with Battle Road Farm residents, some were in favor of the idea of allowing a coffee shop or a few retail locations in their neighborhood, she noted. (However, as Diaduk pointed out, residents can propose rezoning those areas or any others in the future if they decide they want to.)

HCAWG will host a neighborhood conversation about the proposed HCA zoning options on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Woods Community Room (50 Wells Rd.). They have also posted an updated set of FAQs that address issues including the consequences of noncompliance with the HCA (go to the HCAWG page and scroll halfway down to “FAQs – updated September 17, 2023”).

At Saturday’s State of the Town meeting, officials will gather feedback about which of the three zoning options that residents prefer. On October 10, the Select Board, Planning Board, and HCAWG will formally select one option to submit to the state for preapproval in December. Residents must then vote on that rezoning proposal at the Annual Town Meeting in March. That vote requires a simple majority. In past years, zoning changes required a two-thirds majority to pass, but the state changed that requirement as part of the HCA. Affected towns have until December 2024 to have a new multifamily zoning plan in place.

The SOTT meeting will also include presentations and discussion on three other topics: the proposed community center, the town’s new Climate Action Plan, and the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism Action Plan.

Mall redevelopment

Any of the three rezoning proposals would allow the Rural Land Foundation, which owns the mall,  to redevelop the main building (Donelan’s and the post office/restaurant building are not being considered as part of this). Civico (which built Oriole Landing) and town officials will work toward a mutually agreeable design; the RLF would then convey the property to the company via a sale or long-term lease. The RLF/Civico partnership is necessary because the town does not have the resources to do the project itself.

The town is also working with The Community Builders, which owns Lincoln Woods, to design an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant that serves that housing and the mall. That upgrade will also allow development on the town-owned MBTA parking lot at the back of the mall. State grants — which will be mostly unavailable to the town if it doesn’t approve the new 3A zoning — are expected to offset some of the upgrade cost. Construction will be phased to accommodate the existing anchor tenants.

It’s too early in the process for Civico and the town to develop a concrete proposal, other than the general plan of putting two stories with about 50 housing units above the ground-floor retail portion of the mall. Planning Board member Ephraim Flint expressed concern that lack; “without it, you put the [rezoning] vote at risk,” he said. However, because there is already an interested developer, the mall project will likely come to pass in the next few years. Properties in the other districts would need to attract developers to actually result in more housing — a longer-term prospect, officials noted.

My Turn: Lincoln residents address racial justice in our community

By Barbara Slayter

As a Lincoln resident, I am deeply appreciative of this community’s responses to the brutal murder of George Floyd in May 2020. Lincolnites both unofficially and officially sprang into action to help the town create and sustain a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse culture.

The First Parish in Lincoln, where I am a member, launched its Racial Justice Advocates program, a vigorous program of book discussions, videos, documentaries, and lectures on topics such as James Baldwin’s works, housing inequities in the suburbs along the Route 128 corridor, and New England’s role in the slave trade. Its Racial Justice Newsletter has become a regular and widely available source of information about activities pertaining to social justice, both within the First Parish community and beyond.

Among the most inspiring undertakings was Lincoln Public Schools’ 21-day AIDE (Antiracism, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity) Challenge, which offered an amazing compilation of penetrating questions about biases and stereotypes, colonialism, systemic racism, white privilege, and all forms of social injustice. These were accompanied by an extraordinary range of resources — all available with the click of the mouse — from lengthy documents such as Brown University’s report on its various entanglements with slavery, to brief video clips on any topic at hand. The town was invited to join in, and indeed we did, with lively discussions of the questions posed and materials offered. Lincoln teachers and administrators put incredible effort into this 21-day challenge and into making it accessible not only to the schools but also to the entire community.

Now, as the culture wars deepen, I am ever more appreciative of Lincoln’s schools and apprehensive about our nation’s trajectory. According to recent data, 18 states across the country restrict education on race, banning books from the library and discussions in the classroom. I winced as I read just recently that a teacher in an AP English class in South Carolina has been forbidden by the local school board to have her students read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me, a compelling letter from a Black father to his son about the risks he faces being a Black youth in America. This work, read by a group at the First Parish, was a vital resource in sharpening our understanding of racial dynamics in this country.

It is with this thought in mind that I recognize how fortunate we are to have Lincoln educator and author Ray Anthony Shepard in our midst. Ray has devoted his professional life to educating America’s young adults and also children about the struggles for racial justice. In his most recent book, A Long Time Coming, just published this August, he does so through story and free verse, written in snappy short poems with sharp imagery that pulls the reader into the thoughts, emotions, hopes, predicaments, setbacks, and dangers faced by the protagonist. He offers biographies of six individuals from 18th-century Ona Judge to 21st-century Barak Obama, revealing the arc of reform as a torch that lights the way to Black liberty as it is metaphorically passed from generation to generation (see my review of the book in the latest issue of the Lincoln Chipmunk).

In addition to the deep respect for these six resilient figures elicited by his poetry, and the new perspectives offered on their lives, Shepard provides insights based on his own experiences having been brought up in Missouri where his maternal grandfather was enslaved. He is very much aware that this book may soon be on a “banned book” list of those that make white students “feel discomfort, guilt, or anguish.”

In my view, it is the persistence and dedication of authors and educators who, like Ray with his long-term vision and his hopes for the future, provide all of us with the best opportunity to bring to fruition a less divided, more inclusive, and fairer America. Make sure that you, your children, and grandchildren get to read it!

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Services on Sept. 30 for for Eleanor Brennan, 1924-2023

Eleanor Brennan

There will be visiting hours on Friday, Sept. 29 and a funeral on Saturday, Sept. 30 for Eleanor Ann Brennan, 99, who passed away on September 20 at her home in Lincoln surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late William Lawrence Brennan, who died in 2015.

Ellie, as she was known, was born in Waltham on July 6, 1924. She was the daughter of the late Antonetta (Gonnelli) and Nunzio Bicchieri. She was one of 14 children born into an Italian-American family. Ellie grew up on a large farm in Waltham where she and her siblings lived an idyllic life.
 
Eleanor met the love of her life, Bill, at the Bancroft – Walker shoe company in Waltham in 1950. Their love for one another culminated in their marriage on August 19, 1956. Their children Billy and LeeAnn were their pride and joy.
 
Ellie loved all people, which is evidenced by her life long volunteerism. She was a member of St. Joseph Church in Lincoln since 1956. She taught CCD in the 1960s and later was a member of St. Joseph’s Guild, the altar guild and was a lector for many years.
 
She also organized social outreach programs in her community and delivered food and clothing to homeless shelters, substance abuse centers, and to the sick and those in need. Ellie was a member of the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary from the 1960s into the 1980s. She was also a member of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee for many years as well as being co-chairperson during the early 1970s.
 
Ellie’s gorgeous gardens were an extremely important part of her life. Anytime during the day and oftentimes into the early hours of the evening, Ellie could be found in her yard planting, digging, landscaping, moving rocks, building ponds and anything else she could do to beautify her yard.
 
Ellie loved everyone and invited all to her home to enjoy her beautiful gardens and gourmet dinners. She and Bill loved to entertain, hosting many dinner parties as well as holiday gatherings at their home.
 
The true light of Ellie’s life, though, was her grandson, William. They were like two peas in a pod. They would take trips to Codman Farm, go shopping and decorate the house for the holidays together, take walks together, and just sit around the house talking with one another.
 
Eleanor was an amazing wife, the best mother any two children could ask for, an adoring grandmother, and an all-around wonderful human being. She will be missed by all who knew her.
 
She was the devoted mother to William Brennan, Jr. of Lincoln, LeeAnn Brennan Moalli and her husband Robert Moalli Jr. of Bolton, and loving and doting grandmother to William Robert Moalli of Bolton. Eleanor is also survived by her sisters, Ann Schandelmayer of Plantation, Fla., Josephine Carlson of Needham, Elsie Beausoleil and her husband Paul of Marlborough, Louise Ferla of Boonton, N.J., and brother Ralph Bicchieri and his wife Carol of South Yarmouth, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
 
Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Friday, Sept. 29 from 5–7 p.m. at Dee Funeral Home (27 Bedford St., Concord). Her funeral will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. from the Dee Funeral Home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church in Lincoln. Burial will follow at Lincoln Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
 
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. For Ellie’s online guestbook, please click here.

The art of fine produce (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Hannan Healthy Foods owner Mohammed Hannan in front of the recently installed mural on his farm shed on Route 117. Artist Robin Taliesin from Raven Creative donated her time to create the mural, with materials covered by donations. For $25, donors had your name or a dedication to someone painted in small print on one of the plants or veggies in the mural (and there are still some spots left!).

A closeup showing some of the donors’ names inscribed on the veggies.

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“Practicing Self-Compassion as a Parent”

Talk with other parents about “Practicing Self-Compassion as a Parent,” part of the First Parish in Lincoln’s “Conversations on Tap” series, on Monday, Sept. 25 from 7:30–9 p.m. in the Tack Room. Led by Rev. Kit Novotny, FLP co-minister, will explore the practice of self-compassion (based on the work of Dr. Kristin Neff and others) as a strategy for parenting with empathy over perfectionism, gently shifting from shame and stress spirals toward cultivating a kind, supportive inner voice. We’ll also explore how self-compassion can be a tool we pass onto our children. Open to the wider community – all spiritual backgrounds (and none) very welcome.

LLCT annual meeting on Oct. 3

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church. After LLCT’s business meeting, science and conservation educator Gwyn Loud will give a presentation on her observations of 50 years of changing landscapes, flora, and fauna in Lincoln. Weaving together anecdotes gathered from her own experiences and those of her network of wildlife observers, she will impress us with Lincoln’s biodiversity and remind us why conservation matters.

Scarecrow Classic 5K coming up

The 11th annual Scarecrow Classic 5K kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 9:30 a.m. at Lincoln Station. This community road and trail run, which supports LLCT’s conservation mission, wind through scenic fields and forests, ending the morning with a cider donut. This year, LLCT is hosting magician Cedric Purcell to entertain guests before the awards ceremony. LLCT strongly encourages pre-registration by October 1 to guarantee participants get their desired shirt size. Click here for more information and registration. Same-day registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on race day. 

Flu vaccine clinic

The town will hold a flu vaccine clinic for residents and school families (age 9 and up) on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lincoln School’s Reed Gym. Click here to register. All participants must download an Acton Pharmacy Vaccine Administration Record and bring the completed form with them.

deCordova’s “Lincoln” sculpture to depart

Sculptor DeWitt Godfrey’s Lincoln, a large, low-lying horizontal sculpture made of 80 steel cylinders that appear to cascade down the hill, will be de-installed in October and repurposed for future installations at similar sculpture parks and gardens in the United States.

“Lincoln is one of the best examples of site-specific sculpture I can think of, and for me as for so many visitors, its presence such a big part of my experience at deCordova. It’s completely amazing to me that when the curators commissioned that work, it was intended for just a two- or three-year installation,” says Jessica May, deCordova’s artistic director.

Godfrey has said that the concept of the sculpture, which was installed in 2012,  was to mimic the gentle curves of deCordova’s landscape. The sculpture also allows visitors to pass through it to see what is on the other side. The sculpture was created on site and, at more than 150 feet long, is one of the largest ever shown at the Sculpture Park and is Godfrey’s most expansive work to date.

At 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Chief Curator Sarah Montross will present a Spotlight Tour on Lincoln. Spotlight Tours offer a deep dive discussion on a specific sculpture for which the presenter has a strong connection.

FinCom outlines tax implications for community center

If the town borrows $10 million (for example) to build a community center, Lincoln homeowners can expect a property tax increase of $290–$309 per year, or a hike of 1.7–1.8%, according to the Finance Committee.

In a September 18 presentation (14-minute video with slides here; just slides here), FinCom chair Andy Payne outlined what the town can afford to borrow and how various borrowing levels would affect taxes. Current cost estimates for a community center range from $13.73 million to $24.0 million depending on which design option voters approve.

In fiscal 2023, the median tax bill was $17,488 on a median home value of $1,259,900. 

The FinCom figures assume a 30-year fixed bond purchased in early 2025 at an interest rate of 4.0–4.5% (the current municipal rate is 3.94%). Payne noted that some of the debt stabilization fund (currently $5.5 million) could be used to reduce the amount needed to borrow. 

Under the statutory debt limit, the town can borrow up to $40.7 million in addition to its existing debt. By another measure — maximum annual debt service — the borrowing ceiling is about $30 million, he said. Because the annual debt payments (as with fixed-rate home mortgage payments) remain the same for the entire 30-year term of the bond, debt service declines over time as a percentage of the entire town budget, which grows each year due to inflation.

“No one is arguing that we should run up to our debt limit or even close to it — this is just showing the lay of the land,” Payne said.

Other large capital projects on the horizon — though with great uncertainty as to cost and timing — include a road repair project (about $10 million in five to seven years), purchase of more land for the town cemetery (seven figures in about 10 years), a ladder truck for the Fire Department (about $1.5 million in about 10 years), and a new DPW facility in 10-15 years for $15–$20 million.

“This is absolutely the most debated and controversial slide in the entire presentation. There are items on this list that will never happen and other items not on this list that will come into play,” Payne said. “The point is that FinCom and the Capital Planning Committee and town staff are very mindful of the town’s other possible capital needs.”

The Community Center Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. to finalize its presentation at the September 30 State of the Town meeting (Zoom link here).

Police log for Sept. 8–17, 2023

September 8

As a result of the severe thunderstorm with high winds in the area in mid-afternoon on September 8, police received calls about power failures in several locations, as well as branches or trees down on Lincoln Road, Bedford Road, Beaver Pond Road, South Great Road, North Great Road, and Baker Bridge Road.

Hanscom Drive (9:24 a.m.) — A caller reported their dog was missing near Route 2A. A National Park ranger located the dog a short time later.

Baker Bridge Road (3:07 p.m.) — A motorist came to the police station to report a tree limb had fallen on their vehicle.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:39 p.m.) — Multiple callers reported a two-vehicle crash on Route 2. No injuries were reported. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Bedford Road (7:12 p.m.) — An officer was dispatched to the intersection of Bedford Road and Route 2 because the “Road Closed” sign had fallen. An officer replaced the sign.

September 9

Shawmut Terrace, Framingham (1:11 p.m.) — A Lincoln Fire Department member of the District 14 Dive Team was called to respond to the city of Framingham.

Winter Street (8:01 p.m.) — Officers checked the area for reported fireworks. Nothing was found.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (2:29 a.m.) — The Lincoln ambulance responded to the town of Concord for a motor vehicle crash.

September 10

Sunnyside Lane (6:51 p.m.) — A resident came to the police station to speak with an officer regarding social media posts.

Huckleberry Hill (9:00 p.m.) — A resident reported two unknown men had approached their home. The men were later identified as employees of a food delivery service.

September 11

Harvest Circle (7:58 a.m.) — A caller reported a missing item that was later discovered and returned to the original owner.

Tower Road (10:48 a.m.) — An officer made contact with a resident on behalf of the Concord Police Department.

Lincoln Road train crossing (3:47 p.m.) — A caller reported malfunctioning railroad crossing gates at the Lincoln Road crossing. Keolis workers were on scene performing maintenance. The MBTA was also notified.

Route 2 Gas, Cambridge Turnpike (10:02 p.m.) — Officers checked on an unoccupied vehicle on the parking lot adjacent to Tracey’s Gas Station.

Concord Road (10:12 p.m.) — A caller reported a person was at Marconi’s Auto after business hours. The party was dropping off their vehicle for repair.

September 12

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (3:17 p.m.) — A caller reported a two-vehicle crash with no injuries. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Weston Road (4:05 p.m.) — A cyclist was stopped for a stop sign violation. They were advised and sent on their way.

Beaver Pond Road (4:05 p.m.) — Police received a report of multiple individuals fishing in the area. Police made contact with the individuals and advised them that fishing was not allowed.

Masonic Temple, Lincoln Road (6:38 p.m.) — Police received a report of a tree leaning precariously over power lines. The Department of Public Works was notified.

Aspen Circle (7:13 p.m.) — A well-being check was performed on a resident.

Baker Farm Road (7:50 p.m.) — A fire alarm was activated due to cooking smoke inside the residence.

September 13

Weston Road (11:58 a.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding an unauthorized credit card being opened in their name.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:09 p.m.) — Lincoln police and fire responded along with the Massachusetts State Police to a one-vehicle crash. The operator of the vehicle was transported to Emerson Hospital via the Lincoln ambulance.

September 14

Forester Road (8:16 a.m.) — A person came to the station to speak with an officer regarding a possible fraud incident.

Weston Road (2:15 p.m.) — The Fire Department responded to the Pierce House for a report of an odor of natural gas by the roadside. National Grid was notified.

Trapelo Road (5:59 p.m.) — A young cyclist was advised to safely operate their bike on the right side of the roadway.

September 15

North Great Road (1:45 a.m.) — An officer checked on an unoccupied vehicle parked at the Paul Revere lot.

Tower Road (4:30 a.m.) — A caller reported a possible disturbance in their water pressure. They were advised to follow up with the Water Department during business hours.

Laurel Drive (10:44 a.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding a possible larceny.

Old Cambridge Turnpike (2:00 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a person on their property who abruptly left when confronted. A follow-up was conducted and the individual was identified.

Tower Road (3:00 p.m.) — An officer spoke to residents regarding a possible dispute with a neighbor.

September 16

Tower Road (4:17 p.m.) — A resident had an item returned to them.

Huckleberry Hill (9:02 p.m.) — Officers responded to a Huckleberry Hill residence for a report that someone had knocked on their rear sliding door. The homeowner also saw an individual on their security camera who appeared to be hiding their face with a hooded sweatshirt. When the homeowner came to the slider, no one was there. The region has seen an uptick in home break-ins. Police remind residents to use their security systems and cameras, and please report any suspicious activity immediately. The incident is currently being investigated.

September 17

Hartwell lot, North Great Road (12:51 a.m.) — An officer spoke to occupants of a vehicle and advised them that the lot closes at sundown.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:28 a.m.) — An officer performed a check on a possible disabled motor vehicle. The vehicle was involved in a single-car crash. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Blackburnian Road (11:47 a.m.) — A resident reported a possible water main rupture. The Water Department was notified.

Trapelo Road (5:53 p.m.) — An individual was advised that fishing was not allowed at the Cambridge Reservoir.

My Turn: Lincoln has a Climate Action Plan – now what?

By Lynne Smith

For the past year, Lincoln staff and residents have worked to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan. A Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant, provided through the state’s Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, funded the project.

Over 100 residents participated in workshops, focus groups, and committee meetings to make sure the plan included input from as many members of the community as possible. At most of these sessions, people were eager to meet the challenge of our changing climate, but many said they are not always sure how to do so. The plan prioritizes goals and strategies that will help the town and individuals take action.

A Climate Action Plan is a big deal. In fact, Lincoln’s plan is about 77 pages filled with informative charts, graphs, goals, and strategies. But the plan is only a first step in the process toward its stated overarching goal of “reducing greenhouse gas emission while also advancing community resilience in equitable and sustainable ways.”

Specifically, the plan organizes strategies into the following six planning areas: energy, mobility, built environment, working lands and natural resources, social resilience and education, and water and solid waste management. For each of these areas, three to four “priority strategies” were identified through an evaluation and prioritization exercise. For each strategy, the plan describes the implementation lead, next steps, how it improves equity, potential co-benefits, implementation partners, funding sources, and measures of success.

Priority strategies are not necessarily ones that will be completed first or are the most important, as this exercise only provided a high-level assessment of how beneficial the strategy could be to the community and environment. Any strategies can be tackled when possible (Lincoln is already making progress toward many of them) and this exercise can be performed periodically to update considerations based on new data, changes in conditions, opportunities, and constraints.

Now that Lincoln has a Climate Action Plan, the town is better prepared to apply for more federal and state funding to implement goals and strategies. To access these funds, professional town staff will need to apply for grants and manage their implementation. With limited staff ability and town funding, many of the strategies laid out in the plan will need the community’s help.

At the State of the Town meeting on September 30, Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Curtin will explain more about the plan and the next steps toward implementation. Residents will be able to provide essential input on how we can move forward to achieve our climate goals. Green Energy Committee members will be on hand to talk with residents about how to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their fossil fuel emissions.

To review the Climate Action Plan before the September 30 State of the Town meeting, click here. We look forward to seeing you there!

Lynne Smith is a member of the Green Energy Committee’s Climate Action Lincoln Subcommittee.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

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Jazz concert this week

All are invited to a jazz concert with local musicians organized by Nick Ribush of Lincoln’s Traditional Jazz Band on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 1–3 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

Film: “The Day He Arrives”

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “The Day He Arrives” on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. Longing and regret, artistic frustration and new hope, self-revelation and self-loathing arise from loopy coincidences, tough reunions, and urban street poetry in this delicate romantic comedy, from 2011, by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo (in Korean with English subtitles).

Join parent and little ones on a walk

LincFam welcomes new and expecting parents to a meetup for families with children under 2 or expecting a child (both parents and children are welcome) on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m. Meet at the commuter parking lot next to Donelan’s to walk the Codman trails. No RSVP required. If you’d like to join the list for information on future events and meetups, click here.

Codman Feast and Fair

Codman Community Farms’ annual Harvest Feast returns with a classic pig roast, bluegrass music from The New Grownups, and fun on the farm on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 5–9 p.m. There will be pulled pork family meals and apple crisp hot out of the Codman kitchen, plates and cutlery, plus a tent over the front pasture, table seating and Solo stoves to keep warm. Bring a picnic blanket, other side dishes your family might like to eat (not potluck), and drinks. Family meals include Codman pasture-raised pork, cornbread and coleslaw, plus apple crisp and vanilla ice cream. Family meals start at $60; click here to order.

Join in the fun with old-fashioned family and children’s games at Codman’s Harvest Fair on Sunday, Oct. 1 from noon–4 p.m. Activities include bingo in the sugar shack, a pie-eating contest, rooster run, lots of games, (mostly) Codman-grown food, music, and more. Children’s admission bracelets are $20, which includes ice cream. Kids under 3 are free. Click here to skip the line and order in advance.

Apply to exhibit art at the library

The Lincoln Public Library is now accepting applications to display work in the art gallery during 2024. Applications are due by Saturday, Sept. 30. To apply, please fill out this online form While online submissions are strongly preferred, you may also download and print a hard copy linked on that web page.

Library offers Brazilian music and haunted history

The Lincoln Public Library presents a music performance for children and families by Sulinha’s Trio on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 10:30–11:15 a.m. in the Tarbell Room. Originally from Brazil, Sulinha Boucher’s trio plays bossa nova, baiao, and other styles on Brazilian instruments like berimbau and bandolin as well as acoustic guitar and percussion. No registration necessary. For all ages.

In 1991, Spooky World opened in Berlin, Mass., as the first Halloween scream park. The attraction became so popular that it expanded well beyond its original haunted hayride and shaped a generation of New England Halloween lovers. Join David Bertolino, the man who started it all, and Jeff DePaoli, host of “That Halloween Podcast,” to hear how an idea became a Halloween institution in Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 1-2 p.m. via Zoom (click here to register).

Brain Games on Oct. 15

The fifth annual Brain Games cornhole tournament and family fun day on Sunday, Oct. 15 from noon–5 p.m. in Pierce Park. Live music, local beer, magician Ed Popielarczyk, raffle prizes, and the Clover food truck! There is no cost to attend the event. Food and beverages are available for purchase — everything else is simply whatever you would like to donate. Please spread the word, and invite your friends and family.

Brain Games is the Doo family’s annual fundraiser benefiting moyamoya research at Boston Children’s Hospital in honor of the care received by their daughter, who was diagnosed with the rare brain disease moyamoya in June 2019 and has had three surgeries since. Their goal this year is to raise $100,000 to continue funding her surgeon’s research, where 100% of the event’s proceeds go.