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

Legal notice: Conservation Commission public hearing (8 Mill St. Ext)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING — CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 at 7:05PM in accordance with the MA Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This is in response to the duly filed Notice of Intent by Matthew Belge for control of invasive knotweed within the 100-ft Buffer Zone at 8 Mill St. Ext. (Parcel 117-07-0). Information on how to log onto the virtual public meeting will be included in the LCC Agenda posted on the town’s website at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. More information can be reviewed here.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

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L-S Friends of Music meet

The Lincoln-Sudbury Friends of Music (LSFOM) will hold their first meeting of the 2026-2027 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 7:00pm in L-S conference room B. The meeting is open to all parents and caregivers of students involved in the L-S music program — meet the choral and instrumental directors and learn more about upcoming concerts, events, and volunteer opportunities.

“Dancer” by Paul Angiolillo

Artist reception: Paul Angiolillo

The Lincoln Public Library will host a reception for their gallery’s September artist, Paul Angiolillo, on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 2:00-4:00pm.

Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival

The 44th annual Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10:00am-4:00pm (rain or shine) features the work of nearly 100 artisans with paintings, pottery, photography, jewelry, food wares, glass, fiber art, metalworking, woodworking, clothing, and much more. Live music, food vendors, and Codman Estate tours. Free for Historical New England members and children under 12, $5 for others.

Event to remember Kusik

There will be a celebration of life for Charles “Lem” Kusik on Sunday, Sept. 13 at noon in the Pierce House. Friends and loved ones are invited to bring stories, photo and memories to share. Kusik died on Aug. 14 at the age of 92.

“Recovery City” screening and discussion

As a part of Recovery Month, the Great Meadows Public Health Collaborative that includes Lincoln will host a program on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the Fairbank Community Center (40 Fairbank Road, Sudbury) that’s open to all residents in the seven-town collaborative. The program includes a screening of “Recovery City” and a Q&A with the cast, as well as local resource tables. Register here.

Coming up at the library

“How My Grandfather Stole a Shoe (And Survived the Holocaust in Ukraine)”
Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 7:00-8:00pm, Tarbell Room
Journalist Julie Masis, who visited her grandfather in the nursing home until he passed away at the age of 102, wrote down his memories about a little-known chapter of the Holocaust in which Ukrainians helped Jews in the ghetto survive and will also share a family legend about a German medic who fell in love with her Jewish grandmother.

Author talk on Cather book
Monday, Sept. 21 from 7:00-8:00pm, Tarbell Room
“The Bright Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop” explores Willa Cather’s travels to the Southwest that inspired her to write her “best book” (her words), Death Comes for the Archbishop. Register here.

Home Sustainability Series
Wednesdays, Sept. 23 through Oct. 21 from 7:00-8:00pm, Tarbell Room
In partnership with CFREE, the Lincoln Public Library will host a five-part series exploring different changes and upgrades homeowners can make to improve their carbon impact and make their homes more sustainable. Session 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 23, will explore the use of the library’s FLIR thermal camera. Attendees will be provided instruction on how homeowners can use it to detect heating leaks in the home, and a Q&A session will follow. Session 2, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, will look at better home insulation options. Registration is recommended.

Domestic Violence Roundtable program

Kishana Osei

On Monday, Sept. 28 at 7:00pm on Zoom, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable, joined by the Massachusetts Women of Color Network, will explore how race, gender, class, immigration status, disability, sexuality, and community reputation can affect a survivor’s experience of domestic and sexual violence and their ability to seek safety and support. The speaker will be Kishana Osei, executive director of MAWOCN and the overnight residential counselor at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence. Register here.

Lincoln history: Did you know…

It took over 100 years for the women of Lincoln to broadly embrace the right to vote and voting participation by women nationally did not equal that of men until the presidential election of 1980? Read more on the Lincoln Historical Society website.

Bodhi Healing needs millions to become a reality

Ali Zook, owner of the Bodhi Healing wellness center that’s intended to replace Stonegate Gardens, has had a major investor drop out and is hoping for a supporter with deep pockets to step in — to the tune of “several million dollars in project capital,” she said.

Bodhi’s use of the former nursery property was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals in June, but the “time sensitive” project may not go forward unless “a lead philanthropic donor, investor, or mission-aligned funding partner [can be] be identified in the near term,” she said.

She declined to name a precise figure because the construction and engineering estimates are still being refined, but the cost is high because of the need for extensive soundproofing to shut out noise from Route 117 traffic and the nearby railroad to ensure complete silence for meditation, yoga, and other offerings. The plan is to feature a yoga and movement studio, educational and community gathering spaces, private practitioner rooms, wellness technology suites, strength and conditioning spaces, and a small beverage-and-pastry café counter.

“A significant component of the work would involve rehabilitating or replacing portions of the glass-roof system,” she said.

Another sum in the six figures will be needed for equipment and to support operations for the first 18 months, after which the facility is expected to start making a profit. 

Zook said she is investing money of her own and will probably take out a small-business loan as well.

Intuitive Wellness, a Weston-based personal training business, has said it would relocate its operations to the barn as an anchor partner, Zook said, adding that she has also received verbal commitments from three practitioners who plan to offer hyperbaric oxygen services, Ayurvedic care, and acupuncture. Paul Vittozzi, principal and CEO of Bancroft Construction, has also bene retained as Bodhi’s lead contractor.

“Many residents and others in Lincoln and surrounding communities have expressed genuine enthusiasm for repurposing Stonegate as a wellness and community-centered campus,” she said. “My hope is that sharing this update will reach someone within (or connected to) our community who feels drawn to the mission. That could be someone able to participate directly, or someone who can make the introduction that brings the right funding partner to the table.

“If we are unable to secure that capital, Bodhi may not be able to continue pursuing Stonegate under the current opportunity, and the owners would understandably continue evaluating the future of their property,” Zook added. “Bruce has every reason to be looking for other possibilities” for redeveloping the site.

Last April before the ZBA approved Bodhi, Stonegate owner Bruce MacDowell asked for feedback from the Planning Board about the possibility of building (in partnership with his brother Roy, head of Baystone Development in Weston) 144 two-story rental units occupying the nursery parcel plus one of the adjoining house lots Bruce owns for a total of 6.5 acres. The board said they would need to hear opinions from neighbors and the town as a whole before discussing any formal application.

Service on Oct. 17 for Thomas Black, 1943–2026

Thomas Black

Thomas Everett Black, a Harvard graduate, Navy veteran, loving husband of 43 years, father of three and grandfather of eight, died on August 25, 2026 after a battle with cancer.

Born in Boston in 1943, he grew up in Lincoln. He was the middle child of Everett and Anne Black. After attending the Fenn School and Phillips Exeter Academy, he graduated from Harvard University in 1966. He served for many years as class secretary and took great pride in writing the monthly newsletter for his class until the end of his life. He was very active in planning his class reunions and was also a member of the Happy Committee for many years, serving as an usher at Harvard’s Commencement, an annual event that he always looked forward to.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968-1972 as chief engineer of the U.S.S. Sedgwick County, LST 1123, in Vietnam. Upon leaving the Navy, he began his career in business development, a career in which he worked with banks, developers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.

Tom grew up sailing, which became a lifelong passion. He was an avid runner and was a member of the Concord Runners for 40 years. A talented model ship builder, he crafted intricate models from scratch in his workshop, and often donated these models to various organizations and friends. Additionally, Tom was a loyal member of his book club of 30 years, reading each book cover to cover. A man of routine, he read three newspapers in the morning, enjoyed a nap each afternoon, and his evening martini was straight up with olives.

He was an active member of every community in which he lived, serving on the Finance Committees of both Lincoln and Maynard. He was treasurer on the boards of C4RJ, a restorative justice nonprofit, and Epiphany School in the critical early days of the school’s history.

Tom was baptized at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields in Lincoln and remained a dedicated parishioner for the rest of his life. He was an active member of the Wednesday morning men’s group, a one-time treasurer, a member of the Altar Guild, a lay Eucharistic minister, lector, and crucifer.

Above all, Tom loved his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Nancy Ellis Black; his three children, Heather Davenport, Andrew Black and Sophie Dingle; two sons-in-law, Christian Davenport and Ryan Dingle; a daughter-in-law, Jessica Black; and eight grandchildren; as well as his brother, Stanly Black and partner Beth Humstone. He was predeceased by his sister, Pamela Hay. He also leaves behind a large extended family and many friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct.17, 2026, at 11:00am at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church in Lincoln. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Tom’s name may be made to Communities for Restorative Justice, PO Box 961074, Boston, MA 02196 or to St. Anne’s. Arrangements are under the care of Concord Funeral Home, which provided this obituary.

Public safety log for Aug. 23–31, 2026

August 23

Round Hill Road (12:21 a.m.) — A caller reported hearing an unusual noise inside their residence. Officers arrived and checked the interior and exterior. Nothing out of the ordinary was found.

Bjornson Dentistry (3:12 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a person who appeared in distress. Officers arrived and offered assistance to the individual but all assistance was refused. The party relocated to another area to wait for the train.

August 24

Hanscom Drive (11:02 a.m.) — Hanscom Air Force Base Security Forces called requesting assistance with a person who had an active arrest warrant. Natas Mann, 37, from Boston, was taken into custody. He was transported to the station for booking and then to Concord District Court.

Ent Road (7:18 p.m.) — An officer spoke to a person about an ongoing matter.

August 25

Nothing of note.

August 26

North Commons (10:50 a.m.) — An officer spoke to a person about an ongoing matter with a neighbor.

North Commons (1:46 p.m.) — An officer attempted to make contact with a person who reported an issue with the location of a construction dumpster. No contact was made.

Tack Room (9:17 p.m.) — Officers were called to the parking lot for a dispute between two individuals. Officers spoke to all involved parties before everyone continued on their way.

August 27

Commuter rail parking lot (11:51 a.m.) — An officer spoke to the operator of a vehicle idling in the commuter lot. The driver was apologetic and continued on their way.

Greenridge Lane (1:14 p.m.) — Police and fire units responded to the report of a possible tree fire. Eversource was notified about past scorch marks on a tree adjacent to a utility pole.

Donelan’s Supermarket (7:41 p.m.) — A person found a license plate in the parking lot. The plate was returned to the owner a short time later.

August 28

Peakes Lane, Weston (9:15 a.m.) — The fire department responded to the Town of Weston for a mutual aid response.

Wells Road (10:55 a.m.) — An officer performed a well-being check on a person, who turned out to be OK.

Ridge Road (7:51 p.m.) — An officer spoke with a person about a suspicious letter.

Todd Pond Road (8:21 p.m.) — A caller reported their vehicle was struck by an egg on Route 117. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate anyone.

Massport civil terminal (9:58 p.m.) — An officer responded to the area to assist the Concord Fire Department with a mutual aid response.

August 29

Wells Road (11:15 a.m.) — An officer spoke to a person about a civil matter.

Old Conant Road (3:14 p.m.) — A caller reported a person standing by the side of the road holding a sign. The individual was assisting partygoers with parking for a gathering nearby.

Round Hill Road (5:45 p.m.) — A person called 911 for a taxi. They were provided with a correct number for a ride service.

August 30

Lincoln Cemetery (12:01 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing two people operating motorcycles at the cemetery. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the vehicles.

Patterson Road (12:18 p.m.) — A person spoke to an officer about a possible fraud scam.

August 31

Woodcock Lane (12:39 p.m.) — A caller reported a suspicious male at their door. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate a person matching the description.

Bowles Terrace (5:13 p.m.) — An officer assisted an outside agency in making contact with a person.

North Great Road (9:39 p.m.) — An officer encountered a person on North Great Road. The party was looking for transport to the 128 rest stop and an officer provided transport.

Legal notice: Property Tax Classification Hearing

 

LEGAL NOTICE — SELECT BOARD

Property Tax Classification Hearing

The Select Board of the Town of Lincoln will conduct a public hearing on Thursday evening, September 10, 2026, at 6:30 pm for the purpose of determining for fiscal year 2027 the percentage of the real estate property tax burden that shall be borne by the residential and commercial classifications of property respectively.

General inquiries prior to the hearing may be directed to the Assessors’ Office, Lincoln Town Offices (781 259-2611).

Pursuant to the extension of the remote meeting authorization of the Open Meeting Law through June 30, 2027, under Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, this meeting of the Select Board will be conducted as a hybrid meeting, providing the public the opportunity to participate in-person or remotely.

Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town of Lincoln website at www.lincolntown.org.

Topic: Lincoln Select Board Meeting

Time: September 10, 2026, 6:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

My Turn: In praise of Lincoln Girl Scouts

By Tara Mitchell

As the parent of a recent Lincoln-Sudbury graduate, I recently reflected on how Girl Scouts has helped shape my daughter’s evolution into adulthood. When I started her troop 13 years ago with a few other parents of little kindergarteners, I did not know that the lessons we mapped out would culminate in what is ultimately a very well-rounded, conscientious, service-oriented 18-year-old. I thank Girl Scouts for being a steady constant in my daughter’s life. It showed her how to be present and explore new avenues, and how to make a difference in her community (of course, her father, teachers, coaches, etc., deserve some credit too!).

In the early years, I was glad that Girl Scouts brought different girls together — not just the sports kids or the drama kids or the science kids — and included girls living in Lincoln and Boston. Girl Scouts has a step-by-step guide to help leaders plan for meetings, suggestions for activities, badges the girls can earn, and hosts/sponsors events that the girls can go to either as a troop or individually to gain more skills or experiences.

The Lincoln community loves the support that the Girl Scouts provide: coffee and snacks at Town Meeting and Girl Scout cookie sales at Donelan’s and the transfer station, not to mention all the work with COA&HS to support our senior residents. Town leadership is also supportive of the Lincoln Girl Scouts. They have helped the girls brainstorm ideas for various service projects, identifying needs within the community and helping to bring the necessary people and resources together to make it happen.

Many Lincoln Girl Scouts have received their Gold Awards, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. Each girl has identified a need, come up with a solution, and worked over 80 hours implementing the solution. Many high school troops have done service trips to places like Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. These accomplishments/experiences and the commitment that it shows have been the topic of many girls’ college essays.

Several Lincoln Girl Scouts have also held positions or been recognized as leaders in the larger Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEM) community. Lucy Dwyer (2024) and Brooke Mitchell (2026) were selected by GSEM to be one of three Girl Scouts to participate in the GS Leading Women’s Award ceremony honoring girls and women whose leadership, dedication, and impact strengthen the community. Alexandria Taylor (2024/25) served as a youth member of the GSEM Board of Directors, giving her an opportunity to help steer the future of Girl Scouts through Council decision-making while serving as an ambassador for the Council. 

Lincoln is a community where girls can see their impact. They come away knowing that they can have a say and can make a difference in the world. It’s a powerful message for any child and we are fortunate to have the framework to make it a reality.

Girl Scout troops can start at any age. The first level is Daisy which is kindergarten and first grade. This level introduces the foundations of Girl Scouts and girls can earn a patch each meeting as they build their knowledge of what it means to be a Girl Scout. For leaders, this is an easy way to get acquainted with the support provided by GSEM as well as the resources available from past Lincoln troop leaders. Most troops meet one time per month during the school year and can participate in town-wide activities like helping at special commemorative events around town, Town Meeting, camping, Winter Carnival pancake breakfast, and Bridging.

If you are interested in having your daughter join Girl Scouts, please reach out to Laura Taylor (lauranastos@yahoo.com) or Tara Mitchell (taramitchell365@gmail.com).

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. 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.

Stew’s Views: A tribute to Heddie Kent

Introducing “Stew’s Views,” an occasional column by longtime Lincoln resident Stewart Coffin, who writes about science, nature, economics, history, music, poetry, humor — and puzzles.

For the past 56 years, I have been in the business of crafting what some might call geometric recreations or puzzles but I prefer to call simply “AP-ART,” (the art that comes apart.) As I now near retirement age at 96, I have been spending less time at my workbench and more time organizing and documenting. I have even been setting up some display shelves as a sort of little museum in my apartment. In the three books on my work, it recently occurred to me that I have never given proper credit to the Lincoln Library and the one librarian there most responsible for my getting started. So that will be the purpose of this article.

After moving to Lincoln with my family in 1964, I continued for a few more years with my business of making canoes, kayaks, and paddles. But the noxious chemicals I used, such as benzene and acetone, were making me increasingly sick, and I began looking for some other form of work. With a background in art on both sides of my family, in 1968 I started tinkering with polyhedral sculptures, one of which was an interlocking set of twelve notched hexagonal rods.

Lacking the means to make a really accurate model, I consulted our next door neighbor Fred Wilfert, a skilled machinist, who was able to mill one from hexagonal steel rod using the machine tools where he worked at Reese Sewing Machine in Waltham. From that I was able to make a silicone mold and then cast a few in colorful epoxy to give to our three girls, ages 5, 6, and 8 to play with. They all took to their new toy readily.

Back in 1959, the town of Lincoln completed a new addition to our library, which included for the first time a children’s room, and Helen “Heddie” Kent was hired as the town’s first school librarian. When my kids took their new toys to the library to show to their friends, it caught the attention of Heddie, who immediately recognized its potential as a marketable puzzle and contacted me. She put me in touch with her friend and neighbor in Concord, Thomas Atwater, who by remarkable coincidence was one of the few business agents for inventors like myself in the entire country who specialized in puzzles. It was he who edited the Soma newsletter that helped bring attention to Piet Hein’s soon-to-become-famous Soma Cube. 

A Hectix puzzle made in four different colorful woods. 

There is much more to this story, such as the licensing of my Hectix puzzle to 3M, the molding of 100,000 of them by Nylon Products in Clinton, and assembly of 20,000 by our three girls on summer vacation on a picnic table in our backyard. But I won’t go into details here, as all of that together with much more is contained somewhere within my website, stewartcoffin.com. 

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Food Project Shindig fundraiser

Join the Food Project for Shindig, their intergenerational harvest festival fundraiser, on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at Baker Bridge Farm (corner of Baker Bridge Road and Route 126). Music, dancing, food, games and crafts, a beer and cider garden, a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, and more. Enjoy a fall afternoon at the farm while empowering young people to make changes in their community through building a sustainable food system. General admission (sliding scale): $20 | $40 | $100. Youth tickets (age 6-21): $10. Learn more and reserve tickets.

Invasive spotted lanternfly found in Lincoln

A spotted lanternfly

The state Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) recently confirmed an infestation of the invasive insect known as spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula or “SLF”) in Lincoln. Spotted lanternfly is a pest that attacks tree-of-heaven, grapevines, maple trees, hop vines, and many other types of plants. It’s known to impact grape/wine producers and other agricultural commodities, and can also interfere with outdoor recreation if infestations reach high levels, due to the swarming behavior of adult SLF in late summer and fall. However, the insects themselves do not bite or sting; they are a nuisance because they gather in large numbers in areas where people are, and cover anything they are on with a sticky, sugary waste product known as honeydew. While the state is working to slow the spread of spotted lanternfly, its status in other states indicates that it cannot be eradicated.

Book talk with author of “Dropkick Murphy: A Legendary Life”

Join Boston Globe journalist Emily Sweeney on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7:00pm in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room for a presentation about her latest book, Dropkick Murphy: A Legendary Life, which chronicles the life of Dr. John “Dropkick” Murphy, a professional wrestler and doctor who ran an infamous detox center in Acton.

Note: The library will reopen for regular Saturday hours (10:00am–1:00pm) beginning Saturday, Sept. 12, though it will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7 in recognition of Labor Day and Tuesday, Sept. 8 for an electrical assessment.

Openings on ConCom, Lincoln Cultural Council

(click to enlarge image)

The Conservation Commission is seeking a resident to fill a vacancy in the group, which holds public meetings approximately every third Wednesday night to review permit applications under the Wetland Protection Act, issue permits, and conduct other business related to the management of Lincoln’s conservation land. Learn more here. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend a Conservation Commission meeting and contact the Conservation Department staff at 781-259-2612 or conservation@lincolnma.gov. To apply, fill out Lincoln’s volunteer signup form and email it to elderp@lincolnma.gov or mail it to the Office of the Select Board, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 by Friday, Sept. 25.

The Lincoln Cultural Council is looking for new volunteers to help support arts, culture, and creativity in the community. No background in the arts is needed. Council members meet quarterly, review grant applications, and help support local arts programs and events. Interested? Contact LCC Chair Philana Gnatowski at LincolnCulturalCouncil@gmail.com.

Volunteer training for Domestic Violence Services Network

The Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) is offering a free volunteer advocate training program. DVSN advocates provide emotional support, risk assessment, and safety planning for victims of domestic violence in its 13 partner communities. The 40-hour, three-week training is designed to familiarize volunteers with the many aspects of domestic violence and give them the skills necessary to provide confidential and appropriate services to DVSN’s clients. Once trained, volunteer advocates provide direct service over the phone, at Concord District Court, and at Emerson Hospital to people affected by domestic violence. The training will be held at the Lexington Police Department on these days:

  • Week 1: Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-7:15pm and Fridays from 9:15am-3:30pm.
  • Week 2: Monday and Wednesday from 4:00-7:15pm and Fridays from 9:15am-3:30pm.
  • Week 3: Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:00-7:15pm and Fridays from 9:15am-3:30pm.

For those who decide to activate as volunteer advocates, there is an additional 10–12 hours of supervised field training. For more information or to request an application, call 978-318-3421 or send an e-mail to training@dvsn.org. Applications are due by Wednesday, Sept. 16.