charity/volunteer

Although things have opened back up as the pandemic wanes, the Friends of the Lincoln Library (FOLL) will not resume their monthly used book sales in the basement of Bemis Hall.

The FOLL funds all of the library’s programming for children and adults, museum passes and special equipment (items that are not included in Lincoln’s budget). When the book sales stopped in spring 2020, the group turned to another method of collecting and selling donated books to fund its library programs. The materials are picked up by the Bay State Book Company, which sells them online and returns a portion of the proceeds to FOLL.

Somewhat to the FOLL’s surprise, that method is now yielding almost as much income (about $600 a month) as the old-fashioned book sale did — and with a fraction of the effort. Volunteers (mostly seniors) used to put in a total of about 100 hours a month in organizing the donated books and running the monthly book sale, involving a fair amount of physical labor.

“We’re actually getting more books than we did before,” when people dropped off donations in a wooden bin in the Bemis Hall foyer, FOLL book sale manager Cathy Moritz said. “We’re very happy this has worked out.” 

Still, it’s a loss of a Lincoln tradition.”It was a fun thing for a number of people in town,” said Moritz, adding that at least one child in town came to the book sale every month. “It’s sad.”

Moritz expressed gratitude to Larry O’Connor of the Bay State Book Company, which provided the watertight metal collection bins normally costing $1,400 apiece for free. The bins are located in the Lincoln Station parking lot, Lincoln Gas & Auto on Route 117, and Tracey’s Service Station, which has resulted in donations from a new source: commuters and others on Route 2. 

People can drop books in good condition, as well as CDs and DVDs (secured with rubber bands or in grocery bags), in the bins at any time. Books that can’t be sold for various reasons are donated to prison libraries, police book drives, laundromats and other organizations — nothing goes into the waste stream.

The book sale formerly operated in the Bemis basement, which was renovated in 2016 for the Council on Aging and Human Services. The FOLL’s space is now used for medical equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs that residents can borrow, but the group is hanging onto its rolling book carts in case they need them in the future.

The FOLL also sells a few books donated by members and their associates from a cart in the library breezeway. Used books are $1 or $2 each, and buyers are asked to bring small bills (the cash box only takes cash or checks, and the librarians cannot make change).

No more overdue book fines

In an unrelated development, the library’s Board of Trustees recently voted to stop charging fines on overdue materials, with the following exceptions:

• Items from the Library of Things collection
• Museum passes
• Interlibrary loans from outside the Minuteman Library Network

The trustees made the move in recognition of the American Library Association’s 2019 “Resolution on Monetary Library Fines as a Form of Social Inequity. In order for an item to be eligible for fine-free status, it must be checked out at the Lincoln Public Library. A bill for the full replacement cost will be automatically generated by the Minuteman Network if an item is not returned after 42 days after the due date. Once the item has been returned, all costs will be waived.

Free mental health counseling for Lincoln adolescents

The Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services has been hearing from many people that it’s nearly impossible to find a mental health counselor for children, although the need has been great due to the environment created by COVID. In response, the COA&HS, with help from the Board of Health and the schools, has been able to arrange for Sara Hickey, MSW, LCSW (Eliot Community Human Services) to be on the Hartwell campus during the afternoon on the second and fourth Tuesdays of July and August starting on Tuesday, July 13. This is a totally free service — simply call the COA&HS at 781-259-8811 and ask to speak to either Director Abigail Butt or Assistant Director Amy Gagne, who can field questions, provide more information, and book appointments.

Household hazardous waste collection day on July 17

The next area-wide hazardous waste collection day is Saturday, July 17 at the Minuteman Household Hazardous Product Collection Facility (60 Hartwell Ave., Lexington) from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This is open to all residents of Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Concord, Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham, and Watertown. All residents must pre-register online by clicking here. Pick a date, time slot, and estimated amount of waste you plan to bring, and submit. When you go, you’ll need to show your license or a bill as proof of Lincoln residency. The other collection dates in 2021 are August 21, September 19 (a Sunday), October 16 and November 6.

Change in procedure for discarding used mattresses, box springs

Residents may now drop off mattresses and box springs for recycling at the transfer station in the tan container next to the attendant’s shed. Mattresses and box springs should no longer be placed in the large dumpster. Please stack mattresses and box springs on their side inside the container. Mattresses that are excessively torn, punctured, soiled or moldy are not acceptable. Wet, frozen or twisted mattresses and box springs are also not acceptable.  

MassDEP estimates that 200,000 mattresses and box springs are thrown out by Massachusetts residents each year, but more than 75% of mattress components can be recycled. They take up a lot of space in landfills, are hard to compact, and get caught in processing equipment. For more information or questions, please contact the DPW office at 781-259-8999 or email Susan Donaldson at donaldsons@lincolntown.org.

Register for Thoreau Society virtual conference

The Thoreau Society invites you to their live virtual conference, “Thoreau and Diversity: People, Principles, and Politics,” from July 7–11, when the organization livestreams its 80th annual gathering to an international audience. The event is co-sponsored by the Walden Woods Project in Lincoln. The conference will include 35 hours of educational sessions that will be recorded and available to registered attendees through December 2021, so if you’re unable to attend one of two concurrent sessions, you can still watch the one you missed. You can view any session at your leisure through the end of the year. The virtual conference will also offer the opportunity to gather with friends and colleagues through its built-in video-networking feature. Register at www.thoreausociety.org.

Conservation Commission has an opening

Would you like to expand your knowledge of conservation land management and wetland issues?  Are you someone who favors open space and appreciates Lincoln’s natural beauty? Do you like being a part of interesting discussions and decision-making? If you have answered yes to these questions, consider applying for a vacancy on the Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC). The seven-member commission reviews activities/work proposed to take place within 100 feet of wetlands and 200 feet of perennial streams to ensure protection of wetlands in accordance with state and local law. The panel also provides policy direction to staff on the ecological stewardship and management of Lincoln’s 1,500 acres of conservation and agricultural Lands.

Meetings are held in the evening every three weeks. Training classes (mostly virtual) can help you become knowledgeable about wetlands resources and the laws protecting them. To apply, please download and fill out Lincoln’s volunteer sign-up form, and either email it to elderp@lincolntown.org or mail it to the Office of the Select Board (16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln MA 01773). Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Conservation Department staff at 781-259-2612.

Library board seeks new member

The Board of Trustees of the Lincoln Public Library is still seeking a Lincoln resident willing to serve for six years and who is committed to supporting the library’s work on and dedication to initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The process for applying for the position and a summary of a trustee’s responsibilities are available online on the library trustees web page. Interested candidates interested should apply in writing to Peter Sugar or Jacquelin Apsler, c/o Lincoln Public Library, 3 Bedford Rd., Lincoln MA 01773 by Friday, July 2. For more information, please call Library Director Barbara Myles at 781-259-8465.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston has been distributing more and more food and other assistance in recent years — especially in 2020 at the height of Covid-19 pandemic and its accompanying economic disruption, according to data and an annual report provided by the organization.

Fortunately, donations have increased as well, though a shortfall of $7,384 in 2020 was covered by funds in the organization’s treasury, said Ursula Nowak, president of the SVdP of Lincoln and Weston. There were also new sources of income in 2020: a fundraiser walk, the photo projects done by Lincoln resident Corey Nimmer, and donations made by customers of the Codman Community Farms store when they check out.

“I want to give a big shout-out to the Lincoln and Weston communities, Codman Farm, and especially Corey,” Nowak said.

The food pantry is the most visible of the local SVdP Society’s charitable services and receives the bulk of targeted donations, but about 70% of its expenses are for emergency financial assistance to help clients pay for rent, utilities, car repairs, etc.

“If people donate to SVdP without earmarking it for the food pantry, we can use it where it’s needed most (the food pantry or emergency assistance). But if it’s earmarked for the food pantry, we can only use it for that purpose,” Nowak noted.

Numbers reflect snapshots for the month of October in each year. October is the start of the fiscal year for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.