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

charity/volunteer

LincolnTalk changes its address, offers searchable archives

The LincolnTalk email listserv has changed service providers, meaning anyone who wants to post email messages for other Lincolnites on the list to read should now send it to lincoln@groups.io rather than lincoln@lincolntalk.org.

Everyone who was subscribed to LincolnTalk has been automatically subscribed to the new service and received an automated email about this on Dec. 29, 2025. The LincolnTalk.org website — which has instructions on how to subscribe as well as FAQs and Rules and Policies governing what may and may not be posted — has also been updated.

A few months ago, the LincolnTalk volunteer moderators (Jonathan Feinberg, Margit Griffith, and Jena Salon) learned that Pair Networks, the service provider that LincolnTalk has used since its inception in 2013, would be discontinuing its PairList service, which provided the Mailman software system. In late December, Feinberg migrated members to the new service, though the old email address will also continue working for a while.

Members can log on to the new website at groups.io/g/lincoln to change their settings such as how often they get LincolnTalk emails and to search the new lincoln@groups.io archives (messages posted starting Dec. 29, 2025). Everyone was issued a password when they first joined LincolnTalk, but anyone who’s forgotten theirs can click on the “Forgot your password” link directly under the password box. The old Mailman system allowed only browsing by date and sender. List members can still browse the old LincolnTalk archives by clicking here, and an indexed list of service providers recommended by LincolnTalk members over the years is available here.

Under subscription settings (groups.io/g/lincoln/editsub), users can specify daily batches of emails, an email with the last 12 posts, only special notices sent by the moderators, or no mail at all, in which case they can still use the website to browse and search previously posted messages. There are other optional new features as well. Go to groups.io/settings/prefs to add a profile picture or pre-specified email signature to outgoing LincolnTalk messages.

As before, posts will appear without moderation unless a specific user is put on moderation, meaning the user has violated the rules of use (for example, policies on civility and personal attacks) and will be barred from posting for a period of time determined by the moderators, who can be reached directly at lincoln+owner@groups.io.

While emails sent to the old lincoln@lincolntalk.org email address will still go to list members during the transition period, the old service will soon be shut off (exact date to be determined), so list members should update their email address books to lincoln@groups.io now, Feinberg said.

The Mailman service cost about $100 a year — an expense that was borne by the moderators — but the new service is charging about $2,000 a year. The moderators will be setting up a donation link and noted that if all 2,021 LincolnTalk members contributed just $1, it would cover costs.

FELS says thank-you for record pie donations

By Nancy Marshall and Tara Mitchell

FELS extends profound thanks to the communities of Lincoln and Sudbury for their incredible response to the Thanksgiving pie sale organized by FELS, the Foundation for Educators at LSRHS. By the numbers, Ruth-Anne Adams and Tom Fosnot of The Hyve produced close to 300 pies, of which:

  • 59 went  to food pantries in Lincoln and Sudbury — a wonderful amount, given the continuing crisis of food insecurity, and a donation record!
  • 20 went to our towns’ public safety personnel
  • 53 were gifted to teachers and staff at LSRHS by families and other teachers

Eight additional donated pies will be raffled off to teachers and staff by Superintendent/Principal Andrew Stevens. The remaining 140-ish pies were distributed to Lincoln and Sudbury families for their Thanksgiving tables.

FELS’ annual appeal continues through the end of December.

To a person, the mission of FELS is fully felt and appreciated by our grant recipients, the beneficiaries of donated/gifted pies, and by every member of our Board. The FELS Board’s work is fueled by a profound appreciation of our teachers’ talents and gifts which they bring to the challenges and the blessings of successfully educating the whole child in today’s world.  Your support empowers FELS to be able to provide opportunities for teachers and staff to feel seen and heard and valued for the critical work they do.

FELS is a nonprofit organization that awards enrichment grants to Lincoln-Sudbury High School faculty and staff to pursue their professional and personal interests and passions. Founded in 2000 to offer parents a way to show their appreciation to the L-S professional staff for their unflagging dedication, tireless effort, and genuine care, our guiding principle is “Inspired Teachers Inspire Students.”

Best wishes for a safe and joyful holiday season.

Marshall and Mitchell are co-presidents of FELS.

“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.

Thanks to all who donated to Thanksgiving gift card drive

By Robin Blesius and Ursula Nowak

Thank you to everyone who supported our Thanksgiving Drive. We were truly moved by the outpouring of generosity that allowed us to give each family a little extra care this year. Many households are facing added challenges due to recent disruptions in essential services, and your kindness brought comfort and hope at a time when it was especially appreciated. It is heartwarming to see how deeply our community cares for our neighbors.

Special thanks to the many generous organizations and donors who made this such a special event. Please visit our social media accounts below to see photos.

Blesius and Nowak are co-chairs of the Thanksgiving gift card drive run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.

www.svdplincolnweston.org • Facebook • Instagram

“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.

My Turn: supporting our neighbors this Thanksgiving

By Ursula Nowak for the SVdP Food Pantry

At our SVdP Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston, we’ve seen how the delayed payments and recent cuts of SNAP benefits and the lingering effects of the government shutdown have affected our neighbors. Many of our pantry clients — families, seniors, and individuals who were already stretching every dollar — are now facing even tougher choices about how to put food on the table.

Reductions to SNAP funding and, in some cases job loss, have left many with smaller benefits and greater food insecurity. For families who already rely on every bit of support, that translates into skipped meals and less nutritious options. Even though our pantry faces higher demand and fewer resources, we are making every effort to meet the growing need.

That’s why our Thanksgiving gift card drive is more important than ever this year. Every November, we invite community members to purchase grocery gift cards that we distribute to local families. These cards give our clients the dignity of choosing their own Thanksgiving meal — fresh produce, a turkey, or a favorite family recipe ingredient — and help restore a sense of normalcy during difficult times.

Please help us make these holiday meals possible by donating a $35 Donelan’s gift card before Friday, Nov. 21. You may buy a gift card at Donelan’s in Lincoln and leave it at the register or donate here. To donate by check, please make it payable to ST. VINCENT DE PAUL and mail it to P.O. Box 324, Lincoln MA 01773. Remember to write “Thanksgiving Gift Cards” on the check.

This year, as SNAP benefits shrink and costs rise, that simple gesture means even more. We’re asking our community to come together once again to help make the season a little brighter for our neighbors. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community has a reason to give thanks this year.

With gratitude,

The Society of St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry 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.

My Turn: Thanksgiving pies and pantries

By Tara Mitchell

Right now, our local food pantries need assistance more than ever before.  With government aid slowing to a trickle, every little bit can help.  Please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry or the Sudbury Food Pantry.

Additionally, FELS (the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury) is in the final week of its annual Thanksgiving pie sale. You can order a pie as a donation for a family to pick up from the food pantries in Lincoln or Sudbury, to gift to teachers and staff at LSRHS, or for your own Thanksgiving table. Orders must be in by Monday, Nov. 17. 

Either means of donation to our food pantries will allow local families to have a better opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving together. Thanks to both our towns for your ongoing support of our food pantries and FELS, and best wishes for a safe and festive Thanksgiving!

Mitchell, a Sandy Pond Road resident, is co-president of FELS.

“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.

My Turn: Thanks from St. Vincent de Paul

By the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston

We are so grateful to you, our dear neighbors, for giving so generously to make our annual appeal a great success and securing a $20,000 matching grant from the Ogden Codman Trust. Your donations help ensure that our neighbors in need have food on the table, basic needs met, and the opportunity for further training and education. Every gift shows you care and makes a significant impact on the lives of those we serve. 

To our wonderful communities of Lincoln and Weston and all who came to our spring concert on the Weston town green: it was a real celebration of the generosity of all our volunteers and donors, and a perfect evening of music and fun.

We are truly blessed to live and serve in such active and compassionate communities. Thank you and have a lovely summer! 

“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.

My Turn: Please donate during food pantry annual appeal

By SVdP Lincoln/Weston

Yes, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston operates a food pantry, right here in our beautiful communities, that serves over 100 households facing food insecurity. And yes, we also provide emergency financial aid to those experiencing difficulties, and vocational scholarships for those seeking better job opportunities. We serve our neighbors in need who live, work, or whose children go to school in Lincoln and Weston. Just this past year, we spent:

  • $80,000 on food
  • $90,000 on assistance for rent, utilities, and other basic needs
  • $11,000 on scholarships for education and training

Weston residents Sarah Hasselbeck (left) and Christine Hayward volunteer at the food pantry behind St. Joseph Church in Lincoln.

The need among our most vulnerable neighbors continues to grow, especially during these uncertain times, your support is crucial! Your donation, regardless of the amount, can have a huge impact on someone’s life. Donate now, and the Ogden Codman Trust in Lincoln will match your contribution with a matching gift challenge.

  • Donate online: go to svdplincolnweston.org
  • Mail a check: SVdP of Lincoln and Weston, PO Box 324, Lincoln MA 01773
  • Spread the word: share our mission with friends and family.

Thank you for believing in the power of neighbors helping neighbors. We appreciate your compassion and continued support, especially now, during our annual appeal. With sincere gratitude from all of us at SVdP Lincoln/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.

Family to fund awards honoring Lincoln woman

The giving spirit is certainly in evidence at this time of year. A new town committee backed by a Lincoln family who wants to remain anonymous will award grants to charities every month to recognize women — and in an unrelated development, another family has donated a piece of property to the town for conservation purposes.

In its first year, the Women Positively Impacting Lincoln Lives program, known as WILL, will honor “women who have lived or worked in Lincoln and whose contributions have benefited the town of Lincoln, the local area, or society at large,” said Select Board Chair Kim Bodnar. The group will seek nominations of “women of today” and will award 12 monthly grants of $2,500 to the organization of the winning nominee’s choice. Once a year, it will also select women from history who have had an impact on Lincoln and award $2,500 in her name. 

The family initially offered to appoint and run the committee to spare the town the administrative work that accompanies an official committee. But the Select Board ultimately decided that such a group should be operated by the town under its usual procedures, even though it’s administering private funds, much as the Lincoln Scholarship Committee does.

The identity of the philanthropic family is still a mystery, but that may change at some point. “The donor family would like to remain anonymous but recognize that it might be challenging should they participate in the committee’s meetings, which are subject to the requirements of Open Meeting Law,” Bodnar said. 

The parcel abutting Trapelo Road and the Cambridge Water Dept. land that will be known as “Le Champ du Maroni.”

New town-owned parcel

The parcel of vacant land being donated to the town is on the south side of Trapelo Road abutting the Cambridge Water Department’s land abutting the reservoir (see map at right). It’s one of two adjoining parcels that were once owned by the parents of Kevin Maroni (the second lot abutting Huckleberry Hill includes a home and has been sold). The lot will be left in a natural state as a memorial to his parents and will eventually bear a sign marking it as “Le Champ du Maroni,” said Conservation Director Michele Grzenda. 

My Turn: FELS seeks donations (and pie purchases) on its 25th anniversary

By Nancy Marshall and Tara Mitchell

It’s a year of numbers for our towns and for FELS.

2024-25 marks a wide array of reasons to celebrate. Lincoln and Sudbury are celebrating 250th anniversaries. Our beloved Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School is in its 70th year, and its 20th in the “new”” building. FELS, the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury, www.FELSGrant.org, is celebrating 25 years of providing grants to teachers and staff at LSRHS to pursue their individual and professional interests and passions. 

In our 25 years, FELS has given out well over 100 grants, totaling in excess of $150,000. Funding for the grants has been thanks to the support of many people responding to our Annual Appeal and purchasing pies through our annual Thanksgiving pie sale, which kicks off once again on October 15. 

Please, in this special season of celebration, consider a donation to FELS by matching an anniversary number, ($25, $70, or $250), or by buying a pie for your Thanksgiving table or to share with a local food pantry, police and fire department, or a particularly special teacher or staff member at L-S. Your contribution will be impactful. 

Our motto is “Inspired Teachers Inspire Students.” We encourage applicants to dream big and act on that dream by submitting a thoughtful application. Grant recipients speak of the level of refreshment and renewal they find in dreaming big and checking that dream off their bucket list. In returning to their important work with our kids in the classroom, they carry with them satisfaction in their personally fulfilling accomplishment, coupled with the understanding that we, Lincoln and Sudbury, have supported them in achieving that accomplishment.  

FELS was founded by Lincoln L-S parent, Peter von Mertens 25 years ago. Our mission is deeply personal to us as a board, to the grant recipients, to families and, inevitably and intangibly, to our kids in the classroom and well after they leave LSRHS. Thank you for considering a donation to FELS or purchasing a pie. 

Marshall and Mitchell are co-presidents of the Foundation for Educators at LSRHS.

“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.