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

Board OKs trail easement; hears about Air Force Base study, more on trees

The Select Board earlier this month accepted a new trail easement near the transfer station and heard about a plan to study alternative uses for some of the Hanscom Air Force Base property, as well as more information on how and why the list of trees to be removed by Eversource was compiled.

A map showing the new trail easement east of Page Road (click image to enlarge).

Trail easement

The Select Board voted on June 8 to accept the trail easement plan proposed by the Rural Land Foundation and the Conservation Commission for the Farrington Memorial property. This plan grants two conservation restrictions and two trail easements to the town on land currently owned by Farrington Memorial Inc., which will be temporarily conveyed to Rural Land Foundation and then permanently deeded to City of Cambridge for water supply purposes. 

The easements (which are costing the town $850,000) and conservation restrictions will prevent future development on the land, including by a religious or educational organization. The measure was approved at a Special Town Meeting in June 2025 as part of Civico’s Farrington Nature Link project to build housing on land owned by the Panetta family just south of Route 2 and east of Page Road.

The trail will be open to hikers, and dogs may be walked on leash from September through June, as reported in the Select Board’s June SelectConnect e-newsletter.

Hanscom Air Force Base

The Secretary of the Air Force and the Gov. Maura Healey’s office are partnering to evaluate opportunities to save money by repurposing some of Hanscom Air Force Base’s for other uses that would benefit the surrounding community and the state. The Strategic Real Estate Opportunity (SREO) pilot study will “examine the ideal operational footprint for Hanscom AFB and explore opportunities to reduce recurring costs for the Air Force and unlock economic development opportunities for the Commonwealth,” according to an Air Force release.

Base housing, the Hanscom schools, MIT Lincoln Labs, and current military construction projects are not being reviewed as part of the scope of the study. 

“We’re looking at efficiencies… and the art of the possible,” Adam Freudberg, Executive Director of MassDevelopment’s Massachusetts Military Asset & Security Strategy Task Force, told the Select Board. For example, the federal government transferred ownership of Joint Base Cape Cod’s water and wastewater system to a private company in 2024, potentially making some of its capacity available to surrounding towns.

Hanscom is one of six military installations in the state and the only active-duty Air Force Base. There are no plans to close the base right now, according to Town Administrator Tim Higgins. “The stronger the mission is at the base and the better regarded it is within the military community, the better it can sustain a critical review,” he said.

Tree removal

DPW Superintendent Steve Olson and Eversource arborist Matt Mitchell explained the impetus and process by which they and Lincoln Tree Warden Ken Bassett settled on the final list of trees to be removed or pruned by the utility.

“By far this is the largest list we’ve proposed for Lincoln,” Mitchell acknowledged. The extensive list was drawn up because of Department of Public Utilities mandates for residential electricity reliability. Since 2023, one of two Eversource circuits in Lincoln has been “consistently performing poorly” in terms of how long power outages last, and tree damage is responsible for 83% of outages on that circuit, he said. 

The circuit covers almost half of Lincoln geographically around Trapelo Road, Lexington Road, Lincoln Road, South Great Road and nearby smaller roads. The average length of outages due to trees on that circuit is about 6.5 hours, compared to the Eversource state average of 3.5 hours, Mitchell said.

Faced with public protest over plans to remove some of the 271 trees on the original list, Bassett and a second arborist looked at every tree and eventually reduced the number of removals to 152, as well as 18 trees targeted for pruning. The work will take place over the summer.

ZBA approves wellness center, speciality vet clinic

Two new businesses, a veterinary speciality clinic and a wellness center, have been approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Bodhi Healing won permission to occupy the former Stonegate Gardens property on South Great Road. Owner Alison Zook had to go to the ZBA because the property is in a residential zone and the zoning bylaw allows nurseries and a few other specific commercial uses but not yoga/wellness centers. However, the ZBA determined that Stonegate Gardens was a preexisting nonconforming use, and a different nonconforming use would be allowed to operate there as long as it wasn’t “substantially more detrimental to the neighborhood” than the prior use.

At the June 4 ZBA meeting, Zook said her business would be less impactful than the nursery, since there would no longer be truck deliveries of plants and other gardening materials, outdoor storage of merchandise, and odors from mulch and fertilizer, as well as fewer customers per day. It would start the day a bit earlier (6:00am vs. the nursery’s 7:00am) and usually operate until 8:00pm.

The board also denied an appeal of an approval by the building inspector to have a veterinary clinic operate in a building on Minuteman High School’s Mill Street property. Ally Specialty Veterinary Center was initially given the OK because they claimed the business constituted an educational use, which is permitted under the state’s Dover Amendment, because although Ally is a for-profit business, it will also serve as a hands-on clinical training site for Minuteman students studying veterinary sciences.

But residents including  Bob Domnitz appealed Metivier’s decision to the ZBA, saying the educational use wasn’t the “the primary or dominant purpose” of the clinic. However, at the June 4 meeting, Domnitz asked to withdraw the appeal after successful negotiations with Custead’s attorney, but the board was advised by town counsel Robin Stein to deny it while stating the reason for doing so. 

“The sworn statement from Dr Custead is what changed our minds,” Domnitz said.

In that statement, Custead explained that the Ally Vet/Minuteman partnership “creates a uniquely strong educational environment by allowing students to follow clinical cases across multiple stages of care rather than isolated appointments alone. Students engage with clinical workflows, diagnostic reasoning, and interdisciplinary collaboration in a manner that aligns with competency-based veterinary education. Ally’s operational model is intentionally designed to integrate structured clinical education, workforce preparation, supervised mentorship, and competency-based learning into the daily operation of the facility.” The statement also said that the partnership is “foundational” to the “success and integrity” of Minuteman’s Veterinary Science Program.

News acorns

Hannan Open Farm Fest

Hannan Healthy Foods (270 South Great Road) is hosting its annual seasonal kickoff event on Saturday, June 20 from noon–3:00pm. This is a community event with live music, farmland tours, family-friendly games and plenty of food and drinks. Please register so we know to expect you (though drop-ins are welcome, too).

Coming up at the library

Click here for the full library calendar.

Make Your Disasterpiece
Monday to Wednesday, June 15-18 during library open hours, Circulation Desk
If you have a talent for making terrible art, this program is for you! This is a “take and make” program; canvases will be available for pickup at the adult circulation desk from June 15–18 on a first come/first served basis. There will be a celebration for all participants on July 8. More information.

Summer Reading Kickoff Party
Wednesday, June 17 from 3:00-6:00pm, Tarbell Room
Children are invited to the library for crafts and other fun, ice cream, and a magic show by Ed Popielarczyk at 4:00pm. All ages welcome. More information.

Movie: “The Zone of Interest”
Thursday, June 18 from 6:00-8:00pm, Tarbell Room
The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. Hosted by the Lincoln Library Film Society. More information.

Adult Dungeons & Dragons
Thursday, June 18 from 7:00-9:00pm, Zoom
Join librarian and game master Casey for a monthly Dungeons & Dragons campaign. No past familiarity with Dungeons & Dragons necessary; new adventurers and seasoned pros alike are welcome; we just ask that all characters be at level 5 (character sheets can be provided if needed). Register here.

Adult Summer Reading Snack Bar
Saturday, June 20 from 11:00am–3:00pm, Reference Room
Enjoy light refreshments, get your summer reading bingo card, learn about the reading challenge prizes, and sample suggested titles from each summer reading category.

“Boston, 1776: A Rogue Tour of Revolution City” with author J.D. Dickey
Monday, June 22 from 7:00-8:00pm, Zoom
More info and registration.

Pride Yoga with Lincoln Pride
Wednesday, June 24 from 6:30-7:30 PM; Tarbell Room
An inclusive yoga class that’s free and open to all, but donations are welcome. 1100% of proceeds will benefit Glisten (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network).

Craft Supply Swap
Saturday, June 27 from 12:30-3:30pm, Reference Room
Do you have gently used craft supplies left over from a project that you aren’t sure what to do with? Swap for new-to-you supplies! More information.

Three win Girl Scouts’ highest award

Lincoln residents Samantha Donaldson, Anna Dutkewych, and Alexandria Taylor recently received the Gold Awards from Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA). The award recognizes girls who identify a community need, develop a sustainable solution, and demonstrate exceptional leadership through a significant service project.

Samantha introduced the File of Life program, an organizational system recognized by first responders to the community through workshops, an informational table at the State of the Town Meeting, email outreach, and direct distribution, successfully providing over 300 File of Life cards to town residents. Anna built three raised garden beds on wheels for the Council on Aging & Human Services, allowing seniors to grow fresh vegetables and herbs to enhance the nutritional value and flavor of their meals. Alexandra provided like-new books through donations, created a library navigation curriculum, and partnered with Nosy Crow Publishing, and collaborated with the South Sudanese Enrichment for Families program to teach children and families how to effectively access library resources and cultivate a love of reading.

For photos and more details, see the award ceremony program (pages 22-24).

News acorns

Phase 2 of water main project to begin

Beginning Monday, June 15, repaving work will begin on Lincoln Road from the five-way intersection to Ballfield Road. One lane of traffic will remain open during construction. The roadway surface will be milled, or grooved, for several days before paving is completed. This work is expected to take approximately one to two weeks and will complete Phase 1 of the multiyear water main project.

Phase 2 water main work will continue during the weeks of June 14 and June 22 when crews will be installing and testing temporary water bypass systems, pre-digging tap holes, connecting properties to the temporary bypass, saw cutting, and delivering pipe materials. Drivers should expect alternating one-way traffic on Lincoln Road during active work hours.

The Phase 2 contractor, N. Granese & Sons, will also temporarily store new water pipes along Lincoln Road and in the resident gravel MBTA parking lot. The town expects there will still be sufficient space for resident parking. However, if needed, residents may use the non-resident paved lot on the opposite side of the tracks during this period. No fee will be required as long as a valid parking or transfer station sticker is visible on the vehicle windshield.

Student advances to history nationals

Marcelo Buendia giving his presentation.

Marcelo Buendia of the Lincoln School is one of three Massachusetts finalists for the 2026 National History Day Competition starting on June 14 at the University of Maryland. He and the other two finalists presented their projects at the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) student showcase on June 9 that highlighted original student research and creative interpretation across documentary and performance categories. Marcelo’s project was titled ‘To Preserve Our Democracy’: Lincoln’s Path from Loyal Reformers to Revolutionaries at Town Meeting, 1763–1776.” He talks about his work and being part of the Lincoln Minute Men in this two-minute MHS video.

Coming up at Drumlin Farm

Summer solstice celebration on the drumlin
Sunday, June 21 from 5:30-7:30pm
Celebrate the longest day of the year with an evening of stories, s’mores, and animal encounters at Drumlin Farm. Registration required;  details here.

Outdoor concert with Sweet Wednesday
Saturday, Aug. 8 from 6:00-8:00pm
Hear Boston-based folk band Sweet Wednesday and enjoy the Drumlin Farm wildlife sanctuary at (admission is included with your ticket). Registration required; details here.

Kids’ triathlon is June 27

The “Splash, Mash, Dash” Lincoln Kids Triathlon returns on Saturday, June 27 for the 22nd year. Kids ages 5-14 (all ability levels) are invited to participate in the race that starts at 8:30am at the Codman Pool. Every participant receives a T-shirt, goody bag, and medal. Click here for course and age group information. Register here before race day to save $10 per person on the entry fee (online registration ends on Friday, June 26 at 11:00am). Packet pickup is Friday, June 26 from 1:00–6:00pm or race morning from 7:00–8:00am in the Hartwell Multipurpose Room. Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help out during the race. If you have a few hours to give, please email ginger.reiner@gmail.com. 

Summer job opportunity at Water Department

The Lincoln Water Department is hiring a summer maintenance assistant to help with an project to upgrade our town’s water system. You’ll work alongside a licensed water operator and get hands-on experience installing new smart water meters that help detect leaks, conserve water, and save residents money. The job is 16 hours a week from July 1 to Aug. 30 and pays $25 an hour. To apply, send your resume to Distribution Foreman William MacInnes at macinnesw@lincolnma.gov. Questions? Call 781-259-2669.

Sandy Creighton (left) presented a check from the Memorial Poppy Drive at the Council on Aging & Human Services. With him are Amy Rettig, assistant director of the COA&HS, and Peter Harvell, Lincoln’s veterans services officer.

Fundraising drive nets $700 for camp scholarships

Sandy Creighton of the Lt. Scott Milley VFW Post 8771 collected more than $700 from residents outside Donelan’s for the Council on Aging & Human Services relief fund as part of the annual Memorial Poppy Drive coordinated by the COA&HS Veteran Services and local VFW groups. The funds will be used for summer camp scholarships

Library board seeks member

There is an opening for a trustee with a particular interest in serving on the Board of Trustees of the Lincoln Public Library’s Building & Grounds Subcommittee. While all interested residents are encouraged to apply, the board is particularly seeking candidates with architectural or engineering experience, especially those with a background in historic building preservation, structural assessment, and/or aesthetic design. Candidates should apply by email to LincolnLibraryTrustees@outlook.com or by mail to Lincoln Public Library, Bedford Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 by Friday, July 3. Contact board chair Jacquelin Apsler at LincolnLibraryTrustees@outlook.com for details on what the application should include.

Service on June 30 for Lewis Lloyd, 1938–2026

Lewis Lloyd

Lewis Lehmann Lloyd died of natural causes on June 8, 2026, at the Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice Residence in Wayland. He was 87.

Born in November 1938, to John and Lillian Lloyd, Lew grew up in and around Atlantic City, N.J., with his brother, John, and two sisters, Joan and Nancy. As a teenager, Lew worked for the Appalachian Mountain Club, sparking a love of the White Mountains and the AMC. After a summer working at Pinkham Notch in 1954, he returned as a hutman at Lakes of the Clouds hut in 1955. Lew followed his brother John to the Lawrenceville School before matriculating at Yale University in the fall of 1956. He found his community in the theater at Yale, and became president of the Yale Dramatic Association (the undergraduate theater organization), kindling a life-long passion for theater and the arts.

Lew moved to New York after graduating, and while working at CBS in live television production, purchased the Pocket Theater, an off-Broadway venue on 13th Street and Third Avenue. He produced and managed shows, including the first documented marathon performance of Erik Satie’s “Vexations,” which ran for over 18 consecutive hours on September 9 and 10, 1963. Among the relay team of pianists were John Cage, David Tudor, Christian Wolff, John Cale, and David Del Tredici. This relationship with Cage grew to include a role for Lew as the manager of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. He coordinated and tour managed the Cunningham Company’s first world tour in 1964, and was a founder, with Jasper Johns and others, of the Foundation for Contemporary Arts in 1963.

Following a period as the manager of the Brooklyn Academy of Music during its renaissance in the late 1960s and time at the New York State Council on the Arts, he moved with his family to Boston in 1974 to pursue a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Lew then took a position as the chief financial officer of the WGBH educational foundation and went on to work for various radio and television interests through the rest of his career before retiring in 1994 to attend to his wife, Linda Coyne Fosburg, as she battled terminal lung cancer.

Throughout his career, he continued to serve the dance organizations he loved. In the 1970s and 80s, he was on the board of directors of the Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation; for 13 years he was on the board of trustees of Boston Ballet; and in 1998, he joined the board of the Cunningham Dance Foundation, becoming co-chair in 2004.

He remarried in 1999 to Rosemary Suozzi Lloyd and lived out his last 18 years in Lincoln, happily spending time with his grandchildren (who called him LewLew), doting on his loving dog Eddie, and sampling ice cream and pastries.

In addition to Rosemary, he is survived by his children Ben Lloyd, Amy McCarthy, Nick Lloyd, and Julia Johannsen; step-children Maurya Datka, Chris Mancini, and Annie Buckmaster; 14 grandchildren; his first wife Barbara Dilley; his second wife Theresa Dickinson; and his sister Nancy Lloyd.

A service will be held in his honor at 3:00pm on Tuesday, June 30 at First Parish in Lincoln. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his honor can be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club and First Parish Church in Lincoln.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.  To share a remembrance or a condolence on Lew’s tribute page, click here.

Police log for May 27 – June 7, 2026

May 27

Weston Road (4:23am) — A caller reported suspicious persons on their property. Officers located delivery drivers in the area a short time later.

Wells Road (7:16am) — An officer spoke with a caller regarding drones.

Trapelo Road (9:03am) — Officers checked the area for a motor vehicle wanted by the Massachusetts State Police. The vehicle was not found.

Hemlock Circle (5:21pm) — A person spoke with an officer regarding possible internet fraud.

Farrar Road (6:53pm) — A caller reported a vehicle parked blocking the viewable path of oncoming traffic. An officer checked the area and reported no issue with sight lines.

May 28

Huntley Lane (9:24am) — Officers helped a person at a residence.

Hanscom Drive (4:23pm) — An officer advised a person who was reportedly walking in the middle of the roadway to use the sidewalk.

Old Lexington Road (4:35pm) — A caller reported that a parked vehicle was obstructing the path of a school bus. The vehicle was promptly moved.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (6:16pm) — Officers assisted the Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash.

Todd Pond Road (8:00pm) — A person spoke with an officer regarding a possible civil matter.

May 29

Harvest Circle (12:39am) — Officers were called to the area for a person looking for a family member. The person was gone on arrival but another area department made contact with them a short time later.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (9:30am) — The fire department observed a motor vehicle crash. Massachusetts State Police were contacted.

Hanscom AFB Vandenberg Gate (1:55pm) — An officer responded to a report of a person with an active arrest warrant. An officer took into custody John Pitts, 70, of Weymouth, who was booked and later released.

Ent Road (3:29pm) — Lincoln police responded to Hanscom Air Force Base for a mutual aid response.

May 30

Old County Road (9:33am) — A tree fell and was suspended on electrical wires. The area was coned off and Eversource was notified.

Bedford Road (2:29pm) — A motorist reported striking a deer in the area. There was minimal damage to the vehicle. The deer was put down and the DPW notified.

May 31

Wells Road (12:16pm) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding drones.

Todd Pond Road (3:30pm) — An officer spoke with a person regarding the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

Donelan’s Supermarket (4:32pm) — A caller reported encountering two men asking to repair minor damage to a vehicle. The caller party refused and the two left the area. An officer checked the area as well and confirmed they had left the parking lot.

June 1

Hanscom Drive (8:59am) — Hanscom Air Force Base Security Forces requested an officer for a person with an active arrest warrant. Jean Matos, 24, of Hooksett, N.H., was taken into custody, booked, and transported to Concord District Court.

Donelan’s Supermarket (1:18pm) — An officer responded to the parking lot for a motor vehicle crash. Both operators were eventually identified and exchanged information.

Old Sudbury Road (4:59pm) — Police and fire units responded to the area for the report of hydraulic fluid on the roadway. The fire department tended to the fluid spill while the police kept the roadway closed for a brief period of time.

June 2

Hanscom Drive (7:44am) — Hanscom Air Force Base Security Forces requested an officer respond for an active arrest warrant. Elijah Seng, 26, of Lowell, was taken into custody, booked, and transported to Concord District Court.

Wells Road (11:26am) — A person requested a VIN check for their vehicle.

South Great Road (6:24pm) — A person who walking on the railroad tracks was advised to return to the platform.

June 3

Stratford Way (7:36am) — A caller reported the use of a gas-powered leaf blower in the area. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate any landscapers using such a device.

Sandy Pond Road (10:43am) — A caller requested some follow-up information regarding a past incident.

Trapelo Road (2:37pm) — Officers attempted to locate a vehicle after Waltham Police notified them of a person requiring assistance. The person was not been located in Lincoln.

Andrews Circle (4:02pm) — Officers helped Hanscom Security Forces with a missing 16-year-old boy. He returned home approximately 24 hours later.

Birches School (7:20pm) — Officers helped the State Police in locating a person, but they were not at the address provided.

June 4

Windingwood Lane (10:18am) — An officer helped Concord Police locate a vehicle involved in a past minor motor vehicle crash.

Concord Road (9:32pm) — An officer checked on a person in the area, but there was no issue and the person continued on their way.

June 5

Trapelo Road (11:22am) — A caller reported landscapers using gas-powered leaf blowers. An officer spoke with the landscapers and advised them of the bylaw violation.

Old County Road (2:32pm) — A person spoke to an officer regarding a possible scam.

Old County Road (5:06pm) — A large limb came down and blocked the southbound lane of Old County Road. The DPW removed the limb.

Sandy Pond Road (8:22pm) — A caller reported several people removing fishing gear from their vehicle and walking in the direction of Sandy Pond. An officer located them and advised them fishing was prohibited.

June 6

Donelan’s Supermarket (4:05pm) — A caller reported seeing a person have difficulty parking and then difficulty walking as they entered Donelan’s. An officer checked the area but the person had already left the parking lot.

Bedford Road (8:15pm) — A caller reported seeing a deer in their yard with a bag on its head. Animal Control was advised.

Mount Misery lot (8:25pm) — A person was locked out of their car. An officer provided assistance and contacted AAA.

Old County Road (9:27pm) — A caller reported losing a wallet.

June 7

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (10:09am) — Lincoln police and fire personnel assisted Massachusetts State Police with a roll-over crash.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (11:21am) — Officers conducted a well-being check on a person, who was OK.

Winter Street (2:38pm) — An officer responded to a residence after receiving a report of an occupant was in distress.

Stratford Way (3:08pm) — An officer spoke with a person who reported receiving threats.

Trapelo Road (4:56am) — The DPW responded for a report of a tree across the roadway.

News acorns

Drainage work wrapping up; Lincoln Road repaving planned

During the week of June 8, crews are expected to finish drainage work on Bedford Road. Drivers should continue to expect daytime traffic detours between approximately 8:00am and 4:00pm. The following week, crews are expected to mill and pave Lincoln Road between Ballfield Road and the five-way intersection. Bedford Road can’t be repaved until the trench from the recent drainage work is allowed to settle; that work is slated for spring 2027.

Volunteer needed for bicycle/pedestrian group

The Select Board is seeking a volunteer to serve a two-year term on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) beginning immediately. Lincoln residents who have demonstrated interest or engagement in issues concerning bicycle and pedestrian safety, accessibility, active transportation, or related topics are encouraged to apply. For more information about the committee, contact BPAC Chair Ginger Reiner at ginger.reiner@gmail.com. Letters of interest should be addressed to the Select Board and sent to Peggy Elder (elderp@lincolntown.org) Administrative Assistant in the Select Board’s Office, along with a completed application by Tuesday, June 9.

Coming up at the library

Personalized Color Analysis: Unlock Your Radiance
Thursday, June 11 from 6:30-7:30 PM (Tarbell Room)
Participants will explore the principles of color analysis, and some will have the opportunity to identify their unique seasonal color palette based on hair, skin tone, and eye color. Registration recommended but not required.

Microadventures in Massachusetts
Saturday, June 13 from 1:30-2:30pm (Tarbell Room)
Massachusetts is full of history, spectacular scenery, hiking trails, and other wonderful opportunities for adventure, and many of these places are hidden in plain sight: in our museums, state parks, and shared spaces. Get inspiration for all of your summer day trips and adventures in one program.

Conservation-related events

Pollinator garden tours with the Bumblebee Project

Join managers of pollination system gardens across the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord rivers watershed (SuAsCo) to learn about the importance of native plants, gardening to improve habitat, and ecosystem interactions. Drop-in tours will be held during a two-hour window starting at the following times and taking place at the following locations:

    • June 18 at 2:30pm — Sunny Meadow Farm, Chelmsford with Chelmsford Pop-up Library (parking/garden location)
    • June 18 at 5:00pm — Thanksgiving Forest, Chelmsford (garden location)
    • June 20 at 3:00pm — Bumblebee Park, Littleton
    • June 24 from 6:00–7:30 pm — Ghiloni Park, Marlborough (garden location)
    • June 30 at 10:00am — Chapman Pasture, Lincoln*
    • July 7 at 10:00am — Pollinator Meadow, Lincoln (parking; garden to west)

Questions? Contact Mike Perrin at mperrin@svtweb.org.

* Parking for Chapman Pasture in Lincoln: from Weston Road, drive north on Silver Hill Road. The trailhead is across from #50. Just north of the trailhead, there is an area of road that has a wider/flatter shoulder and can accommodate several cars. From the trailhead, walk quarter-mile mile over bog bridges to reach the field. More information on Bumble Bee Project.

From Canopy to Ground Layer: Building Soft Landings with Keystone Plants for Pollinators
Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00pm, Zoom
This Zoom presentation by pollinator conservationist Heather Holm explores the connection between keystone plants and the insects that depend on them, with a focus on “soft landings” —lush, drought-tolerant plantings beneath native trees that support pollinators throughout their life cycles. Participants will learn about pollen specialists, bee-plant relationships, and practical strategies for site preparation, plant selection, and creating resilient habitat with sedges, grasses, and flowering keystone species. Sponsored by MetroWest Climate Solutions. Register here.

Monday morning service for Sharon L. King, 1952–2026

Sharon L. King

A celebration of life will be held for Sharon Louise Kling on Monday, June 8 at 11:00am at the Concord Funeral Home (74 Belknap St., Concord).

Sharon  lived a vibrant 73 years and was beloved by her family and friends. Her life was spent in service to others, particularly supporting her passion for teaching children and caring for the elderly. She passed away on May 31, 2026, due to complications from a short battle with lymphoma.

Sharon was born in Malden on July 12, 1952, and was adopted shortly after by John and Louise Kling. Sharon spent her childhood between Lincoln and Long Beach in Rockport, where she enjoyed skiing, surfing, and anything water-related.

Sharon worked as an eye technician at Lexington Eye Associates before retiring, but her true passion was early childhood education. She received her associate degree in early childhood education at Lasell College and became a preschool teacher at Green Acres before her love of children transitioned into starting a family of her own by adopting two children from South Korea, Christopher and Joslyn Tarr. Sharon was overjoyed when her grandson was born, and her inner teacher came out as she played with him.

She is survived by her son Christopher and daughter-in-law Melissa, daughter Joslyn, grandson Kai, companion Rosemary Sammarco, and a handful of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Sharon for a celebration of her life on Monday, June 8 at 11:00am . In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Sharon’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105, 800-805-5856.

Arrangements are under the care of Concord Funeral Home, which povided this obituary.  www.concordfuneral.com

Town to spare dozens of trees from removal by Eversource

Tree Warden Ken Bassett will present the finalized list of roadside trees slated for removal and explain the basis for his final determinations at the Select Board meeting on Monday, June 8 at 6:45 p.m.

Earlier this spring, Eversource submitted a list of 264 trees it proposed to remove because they were dead or in decline and posed a potential hazard to power lines and the roadway. But residents at an April 22 hearing asked the town to spare 181 of those trees, so the town extended the comment period into May to allow for more feedback and consideration. 

After compiling the list of trees whose removal residents objected to, Bassett said he and a third-party arborist, Jonathan Bransfield, “looked at each and every tree, to assess whether its condition was dangerous… In many cases we made a decision that [a tree] did not pose an imminent danger. Some were hard decisions but sooner or later those decisions had to be made.” Regarding the genreal criteria used by Eversource, “I think [Bransfield] felt they were reasonable,” he added.

The resulting final list calls for removal of only 146 trees, with another 19 pruned and 97 left as is. Many of the trees to be spared, at least for now, are on the other side of the road from the utility wires, are leaning but not in imminent danger of falling, or have cavities or seams (cracks) in the trunk.

The tree warden has an annual budget of about $8,000 and works with DPW to decide how to allocate those funds between planting new trees and taking care of existing ones, but usually it’s about half and half, Bassett said. Eversource will pay for replacing some of the removed trees, though what new trees will be planted and where are still to be determined.

“The purpose of the June 8 presentation is to provide transparency regarding the review process,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said in a statement. “The Tree Warden welcomes feedback and discussion regarding the review process and the town’s ongoing efforts to balance public safety, electric service reliability, and stewardship of Lincoln’s trees.”

News acorns

Short humorous plays on tap

WordsMove Theater, which features numerous Lincoln residents, returns with “Fixing the Unfixable,” another series of staged readings of short humorous plays:

  • Friday, June 12 at 12:30 p.m. — Bemis Hall 
  • Wednesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m. — Lincoln Public Library 
  • Saturday, June 20 at 7:30pm — Congregation Beth El (105 Hudson Road, Sudbury)

Enjoy some laughs with plays by Nora Ephron, Paul Rudnick, Peter M. Floyd, and Robert Luxford, directed by Lincoln’s Mary Crowe and Ben Dubrovsky. Free and open to all.

Codman Campout coming up

Gather your tent, sleeping bags, friends, and family for a night on the farm featuring homemade chili, campfires, s’mores, and the traditional singalong at the annual Codman Community Farms Campout & Chili Night on Saturday, June 13 starting at 4:30pm. Dinner includes homemade beef chili and vegan chili with a toppings bar and tortilla chips. Camping is available for $40 per tent and includes s’mores around the campfire plus hot coffee, bagels, and orange juice the following morning. Or come just for dinner and enjoy a summer evening with friends and neighbors. Reserve your campsite and pre-order your chili here by Thursday, June 11.

Green Energy Committee seeks new member

The Select Board is seeking a volunteer to be appointed to the Green Energy Committee to fill a recently vacated spot (read this two-pager on the GEC and what its members do). Appointed members serve a one-year term, renewable annually. If interested, please submit a completed volunteer application and cover letter by Thursday, June 18 for a decision at the June 28 Select Board meeting.

Join the July 4 parade and events

Organizers of Lincoln’s annual Fourth of July parade invite community groups, families, businesses, organizations, clubs, and individuals to participating in the parade. Whether you have a decorated vehicle, a walking group, a themed float, or a creative community display, we encourage you to join us and showcase your Lincoln spirit. Please complete this float registration form by Monday, June 22. Those with questions or who need assistance should call the Parks and Recreation Department at 781-259-0784. Click here to view all Fourth of July events.

CFREE is also hosting their annual EV car show at Pierce Park on July 4. They’re seeking volunteers to show off their EVs and tell their story, especially those with a new model who can discuss the latest features, used EV owners who can explain about claiming the Massachusetts Used EV rebate, or anyone who can talk about their farthest trip and how to charge the car. To participate, contact Belinda Gingrich at belinda.gingrich@gmail.com.