The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

My Turn: Many thanks from the SVdP food pantry

Leave a Comment

By Ursula Nowak

Happy Thanksgiving from St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston! We wish to send a big thank- you to all who helped make last week so special at the food pantry. We are grateful to those of you who bought gift cards at Donelan’s or donated towards this year’s Thanksgiving drive. Your thoughtful generosity means that your neighbors in need will be able to purchase food for a special holiday meal.

We are grateful to Donelan’s for the many ways they continue to support us, and to Donelan’s shoppers who purchased Best Yet bags filled with stuffing, canned vegetables, canned fruit and cereal for the food pantry. Thank you also to Drumlin Farm and Joanne Dolan of Gold Bell Wholesale for a huge load of vegetable, to FELS and the Goddard School for beautiful pies, to Tost for sparking white tea, to the Weston United Methodist Church for a timely food drive, to Peter Stewart and the Doo-Wop Singers for another fundraising concert — and to our many volunteers for their time and great efforts! We are all neighbors helping neighbors and we are thankful for your support!

Nowak is president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.

“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 Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

State of the Town to offer updates and two discussions

Leave a Comment

Lincoln’s annual State of the Town Meeting has some new features this year: a community breakfast, a town organizations fair, and an open forum.

The breakfast and fair begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 in the Lincoln School’s Dining Commons. From 9:30–11 a.m., there will be an overview of town finances and updates on the community center, Lincoln250, and Dark Skies, followed by the community forum.

Then there will be two repeating breakout sessions at 11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. so residents can attend both if they wish: one on the Town Meeting Study Committee and the other on “Making the Switch Away from Fossil Fuels” with the Lincoln Green Energy Committee.

Background reading:

Community center
Lincoln250
Dark Skies
Town Meeting Study Committee
Green Energy Committee

Updates to outdoor lighting rules mulled

Leave a Comment

Examples of permitted and unacceptable outdoor lighting from 2015. The yellow dots indicates the position of the lightbulb.

At the December 7 State of the Town meeting, the Dark Skies Committee will give an update on its work to update rules on outdoor lighting to reflect changes in technology since they were last amended in 2016.

Artificial light at night keeps away wildlife (thus reducing their habitat), kills insects, and interferes with nocturnal breeding cycles and bird migration, said Louise Bergeron, head of the Planning Board subcommittee, in a presentation at the November 18 Select Board meeting.

Current zoning rules require permanent lighting to be installed or shielded to “prevent direct light or glare from the light source from interfering with the vision of motorists or pedestrians” or illuminating neighboring properties, and exterior lamps to have a color temperature of 3,000K or below. Lights must also be no more than 900& lumens, (a measure of brightness). Color temperature refers to the color of the light— the higher the number, the more orange it appears, whereas cooler temperatures are bluer).

Outdoor lighting was the topic of heated debate at Town Meeting in 2015, when voters rejected some rule changes.

In recent years, LED lights — which tend to have a cooler color temperature than incandescent lights — have become commonplace, and people are often tempted to buy the brightest outdoor lights they can, Bergeron said. Her group is also studying ideas such as allowing only activated lights in certain circumstances, and asking or requiring owners of larger buildings to turn off outdoor lights that currently shine all night, such as those in parking lots, schools, churches, and the Water Department.

Town officials can grant exceptions if warranted, and the public safety will continue to be exempt.

“This is a lot about education,” Select Board member Jennifer Glass said. “You’re going to get the best result when you educate people, because we don’t have the capacity to go around policing everyone.”

Construction at The Commons to begin in early 2025

Leave a Comment

An illustration showing proposed new construction in yellow and new walking paths are shown in bright green. Click image to enlarge.

The owners of The Commons in Lincoln won approval for their planned expansion earlier this month, though the exact construction schedule is still unclear.

The Planning Board gave its thumbs-up on November 12 after the close of public hearings, concluding a process that began in February 2023. Residents of the senior living community objected to the original plan for 47 new independent living units, so The Commons returned with scaled-down plan for 23 units, and voters approved a zoning amendment to allows the project in December 2023. More recently, owners updated the plans for landscaping and the location of new parking spaces.

At the hearing in September, representatives for The Commons said that construction would begin with the additions to the main building. Cottages will be on their own timeframe and isolated with fencing as separate construction sites. sites

“We are excited to get started in Q1 of 2025 and will be happy to share more phasing details after our financing on the project has closed,” Rey LeBlanc, executive director of The Commons, told the Squirrel last week.

News acorns

Leave a Comment

Session on electrifying the home

Zoom in with CFREE on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. to hear building engineer Ross Trethewey for “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House” talk about “Electrifying the Home: Where and When It Makes Sense to Do So.” Click here to register for the Zoom session or go to www.lincolngreenenergy.org.

There are 300 solar installations on homes and businesses in Lincoln? If you have questions about installing solar on your home, we would be happy to share our expertise — email Lincolngreencoach@gmail.org. CFREE (Carbon Free Residential – Everything Electric) is a 13-person subcommittee of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee. Email cfreeworking@gmail.com with questions or suggestions, or if you’d like to join us in our work.

Author discusses Cold War in a Hot Kitchen

Author Margaret Ann Spence will discuss her newest book, Cold War in a Hot Kitchen: A Memoir of Mid-Century Melbourne on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 7–8 p.m. on Zoom. Register here. Presented by the Lincoln Public Library.

Fortune’s Favor at next LOMA

Fortune’s Favor will be the headliner at the next Lincoln Open Mic Night on Monday, Dec. 9 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Fortune’s Favor is known for the holiday classic “I Do All My Christmas Shopping at the Dump,” the title cut of their 2017 CD. LOMA is a monthly open mike night event with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Performers should email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mike day or (space permitting) sign up at the event.

Coming up at the COA&HS

Here are some of the December activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For a full list — including clinics, exercise classes, regular meetings of interest groups, and online chats with town officials — see the COAHS’s newsletter archive page. Call 781-259-8811 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org for Zoom links and other information.

Concord Traveling Players holiday variety show
Friday, Dec. 6 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Local actors and musicians showcase their talents with humorous short holiday skits and songs, including a comical version of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.”

Holiday song doo-wop singalong
Friday, Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Immediately following the annual COA&HS Holiday Open House, Peter Stewart and Lincoln’s Doo-Wop Team will lead the singing of traditional holiday classics.

Holiday floral arrangement presentation and workshop
Friday, Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Nancy Henderson will guide participants in creating a free holiday arrangement for your table. Bring scissors or clippers; plant materials and container will be provided. Registration required; call 781-259-8811.

Agriculture Commission newsletters look at large and small animals

Goats, bees, chickens and even farm dogs are spotlighted in the Agriculture Commission‘s most recent newsletter. Last spring, bigger farm residents including horses, cows, sheep, and alpacas got the same treatment in words and pictures. As part of the group’s mission to preserve and promote agriculture in Lincoln, it also coordinates donations of produce and eggs to the Lincoln food pantry from several farms: Codman Community Farms, Drumlin Farm, Hannan Healthy Foods, Kanner Family Orchard, Matlock Farm, and Waltzing Matilda’s Farm — the subject of its fall 2023 newsletter.

Celebrate the winter solstice

Celebrate in the Codman Community Farms sugar shack with stories, hot chocolate, cookies and a beautiful luminary walk with Sarah Bishop and Craig Nicholson on Friday, Dec. 20 from 4:30–6 p.m. Click here to sign up.

Police log for November 6–19, 2024

Leave a Comment

November 6

South Great Road (7:58 a.m.) — A vehicle on Lincoln Road failed to yield to traffic on South Great Road and was subsequently struck as it entered the intersection. The driver of one of the vehicles was transported to the hospital. One of the vehicles was towed form the scene.

South Great Road (10:50 a.m.) — Officers responded to a report of malfunctioning railroad gates. An officer monitored the gates as the MBTA was notified and asked to respond.

Lincoln Road (11:00 a.m.) — Multiple calls were received for malfunctioning railroad gates at the Lincoln Road crossing. Officers responded and alerted the MBTA.

Beaver Pond Road (12:59 p.m.) — An officer assisted an outside agency with an ongoing issue.

November 7

Beaver Pond Road (2:03 p.m. and 8:11 p.m.) — A person asked to speak with an officer about a barking dog. That evening, officers responded for another barking dog complaint. The officers were able to locate the residence in question and spoke to the homeowners.

November 8

Lincoln Road (5:58 p.m.) — A caller reported striking a utility pole on Route 117 and requested assistance. An officer responded to the scene and helped them get to their residence.

Wells Road (6:35 p.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding a civil matter.

Wells Road (7:16 p.m.) — An officer checked the parking lot for an individual standing by the rear of the caller’s vehicle. The area was checked but the individual was not located.

November 9

Autumn Lane (3:15 p.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding a civil matter.

Tower Road (7:21 p.m.) — Police and firefighters responded for a brush fire at the rear of a residence. The fire was knocked down shortly after arrival. Mutual aid companies from surrounding towns responded to assist with overhaul.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (11:28 p.m.) — An officer was involved in a minor motor vehicle crash while responding to a mutual aid response/motor vehicle crash on Route 2 in Lexington.

November 10

North Commons (12:37 a.m.) — Officers responded to a residence for an ongoing issue.

November 11

Route 2 Gas (4:25 a.m.) — A motorist reported striking a deer. The deer ran off into the woods and the vehicle was able to drive away from the scene.

Conant Road (5:13 a.m.) — An officer located several items that appeared to have been discarded. The items were subsequently returned to their owners.

Lincoln Road (9:30 a.m.) — The MBTA was notified about a malfunctioning audible alert coming from the railroad crossing gates.

Bedford Lane (10:10 a.m.) — An individual asked to speak with an officer regarding personal protective equipment.

Tower Road (3:41 p.m.) — A caller reported that a child was missing. Police and fire units arrived on scene and were quickly able to locate the child, who had walked to another residence.

Tower Road (4:08 p.m.) — A person turned in several items marked for destruction.

November 12

Cerulean Way (7:42 a.m.) — A vehicle’s automated crash response system was accidentally activated. An officer spoke with the operator.

Old Winter Street (11:32 a.m.) — An individual reported a possible larceny. Investigation ongoing.

South Great Road (12:58 p.m.) — An officer served paperwork to an individual.

November 13

Old Conant Road, Waltham (9:46 a.m.) — Several calls were received for multiple pigs roaming the streets. Waltham Police had received calls as well. The owner was notified and the pigs were returned to their home.

Silver Birch Lane (5:15 p.m.) — Officers responded to a residence for a barking dog complaint.

November 14

Nothing of note.

November 15

Donelan’s Supermarket (12:04 p.m.) — An officer assisted management with a trespass incident.

Lexington Road (10:18 p.m.) — Officers responded to a residence to perform a well-being check on several individuals.

November 16

Robbins Road (11:21 a.m.) — An officer responded to Hanscom Air Force Base for a person with an active New Hampshire arrest warrant attempting to access the base. David Letellier, 39, of Newton was arrested and booked as a fugitive from justice. He was later transported to the Billerica House of Correction.

Old Sudbury Road (12:57 p.m.) — An individual turned in several items marked for destruction.

November 17

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (12:35 a.m.) — The Mass. Highway Department removed a deceased deer from the roadway.

Rockwood Lane (11:52 a.m.) — An officer spoke to a person regarding loss of property.

Harvest Circle (12:10 p.m.) — An officer responded to assist with a civil matter.

Bedford Road (12:25 p.m.) — A caller reported a vehicle had parked in their driveway, left the car, and appeared to access the adjacent trails. An officer attempted to contact the owner.

Mount Misery parking lot (1:55 p.m.) — An officer responded to help reunite a wandering dog with its owner.

Silver Hill Road (2:31 p.m.) — Police and fire units responded to a lawnmower fire. The fire was knocked down shortly after the Fire Department’s arrival.

Winter Street (4:23 p.m.) — A caller reported that a vehicle had been parked on the street for an extended period of time. An officer checked the area but the vehicle was gone on arrival.

Concord Road (8:29 p.m.) — A caller reported a vehicle parked outside of residence playing loud music. An officer checked the area but the vehicle was gone on arrival.

November 18

Mount Misery parking lot (6:06 p.m.) — An officer checked on a parked/unoccupied vehicle.

Wells Road (7:16 p.m.) — An officer performed a well-being check on an individual.

November 19

Warbler Springs Road (9:06 a.m.) — A caller reported a vehicle in front of their residence those driver appeared to be taking photographs. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the vehicle.

South Great Road and also Old Sudbury Road (2:00 p.m.) — An officer responded to the railroad crossing for a report of malfunctioning crossing gates. An officer responded and a short time later, Keolis arrived on scene.

Bedford Road (4:40 p.m.) — An officer responded to a parking complaint.

South Great Road (5:40 p.m.) — An officer assisted with a civil matter.

My Turn: Climate bill gives hope to opponents of Hanscom expansion

By Alex Chatfield, Trish O’Hagan, Lara Sullivan, and Kati Winchell

The climate bill just signed by Gov. Healey contains a provision that was not noted in the official summary but is profoundly important — an update to the Massport charter. From now on, Massport will be required to promote “environmental protection and resilience, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental justice principles” in its decisions regarding its responsibilities and the entities with which it does business. Massport’s responsibilities, currently limited to the narrow roles of promoting commerce and economic growth, will therefore expand to include climate priorities. 

This update is encouraging to advocates across Massachusetts who oppose the proposed expansion of private jet infrastructure at Massport-owned Hanscom Field (separate from Hanscom Air Force Base). Massport is currently working with private developers to build a 522,380-square-foot expansion in hangar space for private jets — the largest such expansion in Hanscom’s history. An October 2023 study documented that at least half the private jet flights out of Hanscom go to vacation destinations like Martha’s Vineyard or the Super Bowl. They are airborne yachts for the ultra-wealthy.

Massport’s and Runway Realty Venture Inc.’s proposal for expansion has generated a storm of controversy. Opposition has been led by Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere (SPJE). SPJE observes, based on an April independent analysis, that the proposed private jet hangar development at Hanscom alone could result in as many as 6,000 additional private jet flights annually, producing about 150,000 tons of carbon equivalent emissions every single year. If the expansion goes forward, private jet emissions from Hanscom alone could cancel nearly 70% of the environmental benefits of all the solar PV ever installed in Massachusetts and would offset the investment and hard work of many towns and cities to help the state meet the goals of its ambitious climate plans.

The legislation updating Massport’s charter follows EEA Secretary Tepper’s rejection of the developers’ draft environmental impact report (DEIR) in June. More than 1,500 public comments and over 13,500 petition signatures critical of the developers’ plans were submitted to MEPA (Mass. Office of Environmental Policy Act). Based in part on the volume of public response, as well as on independent analyses that were submitted, Tepper criticized the developers’ argument that the massive hangar expansion would decrease operations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, calling it unsupported. She found that the report did not meet the requirements of Massachusetts law and directed the developers to produce a Supplemental DEIR that would address the many questions that the initial draft failed to consider adequately.

This was the context in which state Sen. Mike Barrett and Reps. Simon Cataldo, Michelle Ciccolo, Carmine Gentile, Ken Gordon, and Alice Peisch introduced language into the Mass. Climate Bill that would update Massport’s charter to prioritize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Senate passed the bill on October 24 with a vote of 38-2, followed by a House vote of 128-17 on November 14. And on November 20, Gov. Healey signed it.

Sen. Barrett left no doubt that he expected the new language to prompt Massport to reconsider the project. “We live in an age where rampant economic growth is no longer sufficient as a raison d’etre for public agencies,” he said. “The governor has said that an all-government approach to climate change is needed, so now we ask of every single organization — Massport included — ‘What’s your role in fighting the existential crisis of our time?’” 

This is a pivotal moment. The legislature’s overwhelming support for a change in Massport’s charter sends a powerful message that the agency needs to align its own approach to climate change with the approach taken by the rest of the state. Massport’s first chance to show that it understands this new environment will be its stance toward the proposed Hanscom expansion. It’s already clear that that expansion is completely inconsistent with state climate change policy. It’s time for Massport to just say no.

“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.

Town to relax some rules for accessory apartments

The state recently relaxed some of its rules on building accessory dwelling units (ADUs, or accessory apartments), and Lincoln residents will be asked at Town Meeting in March to amend the town’s zoning bylaw to match.

The state law, which was enacted in August and goes into effect on Feb. 2, 2025, allows ADUs smaller than 900 square feet to be built as of right in single family residential districts. Updating Lincoln’s rules “is technically not necessary as state law trumps our bylaw, but it removes potential confusion,” Planning Board Chair Margaret Olson said.

Lincoln allows ADUs of up to 1,200 square feet. For ADUs to which the new state law doesn’t apply (those measuring 900–1,200 square feet), the town will still require owner occupancy and also a special permit if the unit is in a separate building.

Previous changes to the town’s ADU rules in town were made in 2023, when ADUs were permitted in a home’s main dwelling by right (as long as applicants followed the rest of the bylaw’s rules), and in 2021, when Town Meeting approved language on ADU leases and the total number of ADUs allowed.

Olson didn’t immediately know how many ADUs currently exist in town but said most of them are family-related — usually occupied by older residents whose adult children move into the main house.

My Turn: Interim School Committee member sought

By Susan Taylor

The School Committee would like to thank Yonca Heyse for serving on the Lincoln School Committee since her election in March 2024. During that time, she helped participate in our district’s long-term strategic planning, the creation of a School Committee Finance Subcommittee, and establishing our School Committee goals for the 2024-2025 school year. The committee appreciates the contributions that Ms. Heyse made as part of the School Committee for the past seven months and understands her decision to step down at this time. As such, there is an opening on the School Committee.

The Lincoln School Committee invites residents interested in supporting the strategic priorities of Lincoln Public Schools to fill a vacancy on the committee. Any registered Lincoln voter is encouraged to apply by submitting a statement of interest. This statement should express their commitment to the School Committee’s goal and their interest in contributing to the success of the schools. Applications must be submitted by Nov. 27, 2024 via email to schoolcomm@lincnet.org. This appointment will last until the next Town Election in March 2025.

All interested candidates will be interviewed in an open meeting of the School Committee and Select Board. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. The members will vote at that meeting to select one of the candidates to serve on the School Committee as an interim member. The person so selected will fill the seat on the School Committee until the next annual town election, at which time the interim member can choose to run for re-election.

Matina Madrick, the chair of the School Committee, would be happy to answer any questions. She can be reached at mmadrick-schoolcomm@lincnet.org.

Susan Taylor is a member of the Lincoln School Committee.

“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.