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

community center*

Letter from the moderator #1: checking in at the June 9 Town Meeting

To the editor,

I know that many of us have spent many hours planning for and learning about the issues we will be discussing at the Special Town Meeting on June 9. My hope is that in the next several weeks (hopefully on Monday mornings) I can explain some of the procedures we will follow at the meeting. For those not familiar with Town Meeting, I am hopeful that this information will be useful. Please share this information with others and, by all means, discuss the issues and the procedures between and among yourselves.  

Today is the day to review the checking-in process for June 9:

  • Come to the lobby of the Donaldson Auditorium in the Brooks School on Ballfield Road. Parking is always tight so walking, biking or carpooling is encouraged.  
  • Please arrive between 9:00 and 9:15 to check in so you’ll be ready when the gavel falls at 9:30. 
  • Check in with the tellers if you are a registered voter and be sure to get your hand stamped. See below if you are not a registered voter.
  • Collect various documents on the tables inside the auditorium offered by the town boards and committees.  
  • If need be, there will be overflow space in the Reed Gym.
  • Find your seat and get comfortable. We have a full day ahead of us.

You have until Wednesday, May 30 to register to vote at the June 9 meeting. If you are not a registered voter, you may attend the meeting, but you must ask for permission from the meeting to speak and may not vote. You must sit at the side of the auditorium.

If you have any questions, please send them my way and I will do my best to provide answers.

Sincerely,

Sarah Cannon Holden, Lincoln town moderator
Weston Road
sarahcannonholden@gmail.com

Correction

The May 9 article headlined “Community center group narrows focus to two concepts” incorrectly stated that the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee had formally voted not to request funding for a community center at the June 9 Special Town Meeting. The group’s charge was only for preliminary work to further the community center, inform the school process and keep the campus coordinated. The article has been updated to reflect this correction.

Community center group narrows focus to two concepts

The group planning a future community center has narrowed down its choices to two schemes that will be presented at the Special Town Meeting on June 9, probably followed by a non-binding “sense of the town” vote on which one residents prefer.

At its meeting last week, the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee decided to eliminate Scheme 2 (“L on main campus green”), but members were evenly split over which of the other two ideas they preferred. The two remaining concepts both locate the parking on the east side of the Hartwell site and leave some open space on the west side for a playground between the building and Ballfield Road.

Scheme 1 calls for removing two of the existing pods and replacing them with a community center that’s all new construction. The third pod would be renovated and used for LEAP, and a fourth small building would be used for school maintenance. Scheme 3 incorporates two of the existing pods and adds connecting space between them; as with Scheme 1, the remaining pod would be used for LEAP. Both call for at least part of the building to be two floors. In Scheme 3, the second-floor part would cover only a portion of the ground floor, which would havea  larger open area.

 

The CCPPDC’s work will conclude after the June Town Meeting, with a future group expected to supervise detailed design and final cost estimates. The June meeting will not include a community center funding vote because the campus can’t accommodate both construction projects at the same time. Even if it could, the CCPPDC determined that the town wouldn’t see any cost savings, primarily because the projects are of such different scope that contractors would not bid on both as a package, as well as the need for installing expensive temporary classrooms.

Nonetheless, it will cost more to build a community center later rather than sooner. “Just as the cost to build a new school has skyrocketed between the first school project in 2012 until now, building costs will likely increase between now and 2023, when we are likely to break ground on a community center,” CCPPDC Vice Chair Margit Griffith said. “In today’s terms, the designs have a price tag of about $13–15 million, which looks like it will go to $20 million if building costs increase at the same rate. There are a few models that suggest things are slowing a bit—time will out.”

On the other hand, by 2023, the town will have paid off some of its debt and property values will rise in the interim, meaning the town will have “headroom” under its borrowing limit. Debt payments will be smaller in early years of repayment than if the entire sum for a school and community center was borrowed at once. 

Some residents are worried that delaying the community center is politically risky because it could be seen as “pushing it off” and disappointing seniors and others who are more interested in using that facility than a renovated school. Asked why those people should first approve an expensive school project, Griffith said, “Because it’s the right thing to do. From a value-for-dollar perspective, we can pay a hell of a lot to put an Ace bandage and keep limping along on our bad knee (the current school), or foot the bill for the knee replacement that will last for a generation or more. From a ‘Lincoln way’ perspective, we value education and this town. Now is the time to put our money where our mouths are. From a personal interest perspective, property values in towns all around us are eclipsing ours—they have new schools, we don’t.”

The CCPPDC will incorporate feedback at the June 9 Town Meeting into its final report. That feedback may take the form of a standing “sense of the town” vote or with sticky notes as at earlier public forums. The committee has three more meetings scheduled before that.

 

School, community center groups respond to Finance Committee questions

The current Ballfield Road campus.

Committees for the two campus projects have submitted answers to a series of questions from the Finance Committee in advance of two April 30 meetings on project costs.

A multi-board meeting on the campus projects begins at 6 p.m. in the Hartwell B pod, followed by a joint meeting of the FinCom and the Capital Planning Committee from 7:30–9 p.m. A Special Town Meeting on the projects will take place on June 9.

In their answers to the FinCom, both the school and community center committees recommended against building a school project and a community center at the same time, citing the different projects scopes and timelines, construction durations, and problems in using the campus while two projects were under construction simultaneously.

The Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee (CCPPDC) noted that contractors who are able to build a 160,000-square-foot square foot project such as the school do not typically compete for 23,000-square-foot buildings, and “it is likely that using the general contractor and subcontractors that typically handle the bigger, more complex projects for the smaller community center will actually add cost to the community center.”

The School Building Committee offered some FAQs about cost estimates on its website on April 29. Earlier, the SBC responded to a list of questions from the FinCom on:

  • Factors driving the cost per square foot of the various concepts
  • Enrollment projections
  • Space and cost numbers for comparable projects in other towns
  • Incremental costs of specific features such as a new or renovated Smith gym, renovated auditorium, and hubs for grades 3-8
  • Construction cost inflation and escalation
  • Comparisons to revant data form the Massachusetts School Building Authority
  • Operation and maintenance costs (also asked by the CapComm)
  • What’s included in “soft costs”

The CCPPDC was asked to supply figures and assumptions used for capacity planning for the community center design, and to explain why Bemis Hall can’t be renovated for the Council on Aging. The group’s answers are here, with more information on their research here (click on the “Finance Committee information for April 30” tab in the middle of the page).

In a discussion of the square footage sought for the community center, the CCPPDC noted that even newer community centers in other towns have proved to be too small. “The one town our size that offers a senior facility larger than the senior component of the community center says that they are already short on space,” the committee wrote. “Almost all towns we spoke with, including those with quite new facilities, said that they built too small and now need more space. We do not want to make the same mistakes as other towns by assuming that their facilities are adequate for their population when they are not, especially when these mistakes cost towns more in the long run when additions need to be built.”

Residents drill down on school, community center options before June vote

This School Building Committee chart compares the six options on features and cost and also shows total estimated campus costs that include the community center. (click to enlarge).

Residents who packed two workshops on April 10 on the campus building projects were asked for feedback on six school concepts and three community center schemes in preparation for votes at a Special Town Meeting on June 9.

At that meeting, voters will be asked to choose from among the three community center ideas and an as-yet-unknown number of school concepts, though it will be at least two. Firm cost estimates for each will be presented, and there will be two votes in the fall to bond the project. To win approval, Town Meeting must approve by a two-thirds majority; a simple majority is required at the polls.

The footprint, features and cost of the school concepts are described in this six-page summary, which also includes an energy performance analysis for all but one of the concepts, and the added cost to bring each concept into compliance with the “stretch” code (a higher level of energy efficiency than the state’s base building code) and net-zero energy use.

The paper version of the six-page concept summary handed out at Tuesday’s meeting also listed the annual tax bill increase for the median Lincoln taxpayers based on a 4 percent of 5 percent bond interest rates:

School conceptEstimated costAnnual tax increase (4% interest)Annual tax increase (4% interest)Added cost for stretch code compliance/net zero energy efficiency, including solar
R
$49 million$1,329$1,494N/A
L1
$73 million$1,980$2,226N/A
L2
$79 million$2,142$2,409$0 / $6 million
L3
$89 million$2,413$2,714$0 / $6 million
C
$95 million$2,576$2,897$0 / $2 million
FPC
$109 millionAnalysis not yet performed for this optionAnalysis not yet performed for this optionAnalysis not yet performed for this option

Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall outlined the educational advantages of each of the six options:

Option R

  • There would be no educational improvement except for a more consistent temperature climate due to the heating system upgrade.

Option L1

  • The new dining commons between the Brooks gym and auditorium lobby could serve as a learning space for large groups.

Option L2

  • Bringing preK into the main school from Hartwell saves time for staff who serve both preK and K-8, as well as preK students who must sometimes cross the campus, and it also eases the integration of preK children into the school as well as faculty collaboration.
  • Two new flexible-use spaces on each side of the school.
  • Having a single, centrally located lower and middle school office and dining commons  also reduces travel time for students and staff.

Option L3

  • Hub spaces for grades 3-8 where classes can open out into larger collaboration or teaching spaces, and which allow more collaboration among teachers. At the new Hanscom Middle School, which includes hubs, “we find teachers are doing much more conscious planning together, and we see the impact of more integrated curricula being developed,” McFall said. For each grade, the hubs also “create a bit of a community within a community,” she added.
  • A larger commons space than previous concepts, and the space looks out onto the woods, which is less distracting for students.

Option C

  • Having two floors in part of the building reduces transition times for middle schoolers by shortening corridors. “The compactness helps with efficiencies and interactions for both faculty and students, as well as greater sustainability,” McFall said. “I feel like it’s a better design for education.”
  • More space for playing fields

Option FPC

  • Allows for the “optimal” educational program, with three more classrooms than the current school (or options L2, L3 and C), as well as hubs for all nine grades and more athletic field space.
  • This option was recently added at the request of residents who wanted to see what an “ideal” building would look like, so the design is still in flux and it may be more compact building with two floors in some places, McFall said.

Almost every elementary school in Massachusetts designs within the past 10 years includes small breakout rooms and/or larger hub spaces between classrooms, McFall said. The U.S Department of Defense’s education arm, which oversees construction of schools on military bases, mandated this type of design for the Hanscom school. “They did a lot of research, and they’re convinced of it—their analysis shows a true benefit,” McFall said.

Having hubs and breakout rooms “is the catalyst to change… an eruptor that makes you think something else is possible,” said resident Jen Holleran. “This is a generational opportunity.”

The Capital Planning Committee is now researching long-term operating costs for the various options, which would include estimating the financial value of making a greater up-front investment in a more sustainable design, Finance Committee chair Andy Payne said. Any savings on current utility costs would not help pay down the bond but would show up in slower growth in the school’s annual operating costs, he said.

Following the presentation, residents were asked to specify their two favorite options to help the School Building Committee gauge how many concepts should be presented for a vote on June 9. In 2012, the SBC offered only one option for an up-or-down vote that failed to garner the required two-thirds majority, “and we will not make the same mistake—we feel like we have to bring that choice to you,” said Selectman and former SBC chair Jennifer Glass.

Community center

Workshop attendees then saw the three latest concepts for a community center located on the Hartwell side of campus and were asked for feedback on paper. (The fourth concept on the Community Center Preliminary Planning and Design Committee website—putting the facility in renovated Smith school space—is no longer being considered.)

All are 23,000 square feet and include renovation of any remaining standalone Hartwell pods. Scheme 3 calls for having the community center linked to all three pods, with a resulting total cost ($13.5 million to $16.5 million) lower than the estimate for the other two options (both $15 million to $18 million).

There will be a multi-board meeting to discuss more details of how to finance the campus projects on Monday, April 30.

News acorns

Wine tasting benefits Domestic Violence Roundtable

Sudbury Wine and Spirits (410 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury) will host a complimentary wine tasting for the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable’s annual Shower for Shelters fundraiser on Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. Please bring a new, unwrapped housewarming gift to the event.

New household items are vital for helping survivors of domestic violence establish new homes. Requested items include twin-size sheets and pillowcases, summer blankets, and comforters as well as bed pillows, crib sheets, bath towels and face cloths, unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent, laundry baskets, kitchen utensils, flatware, dishes, drinking glasses, and small kitchen appliances. Gift cards are also welcome. Donations also help the Shelters and Transitional Housing Programs of Reach Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence.

Learn about India’s golden period at daylong event

The India Discovery Center‘s next day-long on India’s cultural history will look at “The Golden Period of India: 200 BC to 500 AD” on Saturday, April 28 from 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. in Bemis Hall. There will be survey talks on various aspects of Indian life during the period, including art and culture, language and literature, politics, philosophy and religion, and participants will celebrate the era with a church choir, a Sanskrit song, and a grammar recitation. Organizers request a donation of $20 ($15 for Lincoln residents). For more information, contact India Discovery Center president and Lincoln resident Bijoy Misra at misra.bijoy@gmail.com or 781-259-0029.

Talk focuses on “deeper learning” in public schools

Harvard Graduate School of Education professor and Lincoln resident Jal Mehta will discuss findings from his forthcoming book, In Search of Deeper Learning: Inside the Effort to Remake the American High School, in a talk on Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The talk, which is sponsored by the Lincoln School Foundation and the Bemis Trustees, will include audience interaction and Q&A.

Drawing on research in 30 schools across the nation, the talk will explore what it means to understand something deeply, why such learning is rare in American public schools, and how some teachers and schools manage to transcend these realities and create powerful, intellectually enlivening education. Mehta will suggest both reformist and radical ways to make the kind of powerful learning which is currently the exception in American public schools the rule.

Lecture series on FDR in May and June

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Lincoln Public Library and the Lincoln Council on Aging present a six-part lecture series on President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Great Depression and World War II on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room starting Thursday, May 3. The lecture series is presented by Gary Hylander, visiting professor at Framingham State University and the Boston University School of Education. Come to one session or all; no registration required. The schedule is as follows:

  • May 3 — The Great Crash Turns into the Great Depression
  • May 17 — 1932: The Worst Year of The Depression and the New Deal; Could Roosevelt Meet the Challenge?
  • May 24 — The “100 Days” in Review
  • May 31 — A Growing Threat in Europe
  • June 7 — September 1, 1939: Hitler Invades Poland/the Arsenal of Democracy
  • June 28 — War on Two Fronts

Concert to raise awareness about campus projects

The Lincoln-based cover band Dadda (Mike Killick, Doug Carson, Bryce Wells, and Andy Ory) is hosting a musical event to “rock the vote” on Saturday, May 5 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall to raise awareness about the campus project vote that will take place at a Special Town Meeting on June 9. The event is free for Lincoln residents. There will be speakers and information available about the school and community center projects now under consideration.

April activities at the Council on Aging

Lincoln Academy with Dana Robbat—Modern houses proposed for Lincoln Historic District highlight a meaningful legacy
April 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 2 at 12:30 to hear Dana Robbat discuss “Modern Houses Proposed for Lincoln Historic District Highlight a Meaningful Legacy.” At the recent Town Meeting, Lincoln residents were asked to support the Lincoln Historic Commission’s proposal to add 29 Modern houses to the Lincoln Historic District, including the Brown’s Wood Historic District. Built between 1937 and 1969, they represent Modernism’s concern for social reform through the subtle, but powerful force thoughtful design can bring to our lives. Much of Lincoln’s quiet, naturalistic aura is due to the scale of these efficient Modern houses carefully integrated into the landscape. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome!

Piano class with Wanda Paik
April 3 and 17 at 10 a.m.
Dust off your piano music books and come to the piano class at the COA led by Wanda Paik. This class is open to all pianophiles, whatever your level, to play, share, and learn more about how to play and practice to help reach your goals. This class will be held on April 3 and 17 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall.

Mindfulness walks in nature
April 3 at 1 p.m.
PLACE: TBD
Spring can be a very special time to connect with nature through walking in a mindful way. Join naturalist John Calabria for a series of walks in some of Lincoln’s most beautiful places on Tuesdays April 3 and May 1 beginning at 1 p.m. Where the walks will take place are to be determined. Unplug, disconnect from the world for a while and let our senses come alive in nature. These are co-sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Lincoln Council on Aging. For more information, including locations of the walks, go to lincolnconservation.org. If there is snow on the ground, you may wish to bring pull on grippers, walking sticks, or walking poles.

Surviving… and thriving through life’s challenges
April 4 at 9:30 a.m.
No matter what your phase of life or what you have encountered in life, you can learn and apply the scientifically-proven tenants of Positive Psychology to become more resilient and happier! Come to Bemis Hall at 9:30 on Wednesdays, April 4 and 18 and then every other Wednesday to learn practical strategies, share practices, build connections and support each other. Facilitated by Alyson Lee, social worker, life coach, certified and licensed facilitator of Positive Psychology. Funded by the Friends of the COA.

You’ve been selected…
April 4 at 2 p.m.
…to drop by and visit with a member of the Board of Selectmen. Bring your ideas, feedback, questions, or favorite Lincoln anecdote. Whether you stop by for a minute or stay for the hour, the selectmen hope to see you between 2 and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 at Bemis Hall.

Remember the name of anyone you meet
April 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Place: Library
What is the cost to you of not remembering names? Embarrassment? Missed opportunities? Fear of meeting new people? Lost business? Come to the Library for a wonderful workshop on Thursday, April 5 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. (Snow date: April 12, 6:30–8:30 p.m.) with Neil Kutzen that will train you to remember anyone’s name you meet. Kutzen has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and has developed the program MemorizeBest. Open to everyone, pre-registration is required (Kutzen will be testing his own memorization abilities prior to class!) To register please contact Lisa Rothenberg at the Library 781–259–8465 or by email at lrothenberg@minlib.net. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library and the Friends of the COA.

Celebrate spring with the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band
April 6 at 12:30 p.m.
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye, All of Me… you name it. Join in and sing along if the spirit moves you. Where can you get to enjoy this kind of music live these days? On Friday, April 6 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall, the ever-popular Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band will entertain you with such favorites. Don’t miss the free Welcome Spring concert of the old-time jazz you know and love.

Lincoln Academy with Mark Hopkins—Cruising the Balkan peninsula from top to bottom
April 9 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to the Lincoln Academy on Monday, April 9 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Mark Hopkins, who will discuss “Cruising the Balkan Peninsula from Top to Bottom.” Mark Hopkins’ camera documents a trip that begins in Athens, Greece and proceeds by small ship through the Gulf of Corinth and up the spectacular east coast of the Adriatic Sea, with many stopovers in Greece, Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia. After eight days at sea, the tour continues overland to the Croatian capital of Zagreb. A final visit to the Julian Alps of Slovenia completes the adventure. Mark’s photographs bring the viewer to the famed Acropolis in Athens, the site of the Oracle at Delphi, the majestic mountains of Montenegro, and the historic port cities and islands of Croatia. Along the way, they capture Albania’s struggles to right itself after years of stifling repression. And they end with some delightful discoveries in Zagreb, capped by scenes of the beautiful valleys of Slovenia. The talk includes discussion of the region’s recent history of political upheaval. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome!

Free elder law clinic
April 9 at 3 p.m.
Got a question about issues such as estate planning, MassHealth, protecting assets for a loved one with a serious disability, guardianship, conservatorship, or probate? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, April 9 from 3-4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the 30-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Free wellness clinic for all ages
April 10 at 10 a.m.
PLACE: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Rd. in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

Play reading: “The Real Thing”
April 10 at 11 a.m.
Free your inner thespian! Sally Kindleberger leads a group in reading Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing on Tuesdays, April 10 and 17 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Sally will bring copies.

Staying in touch
April 10 at 2 p.m.
You are invited to join this informal group which focuses their monthly discussion on social, cultural, and technological issues of the day. Please join them the second Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. In April they will meet on April 10. All are welcome and encouraged to bring topics that interest them.

Over 55 and unemployed? Get on-the-job training
April 11 at 10 a.m.
Those 55 and over who are currently unemployed and meet federal low-income guidelines are eligible for a job training program that places you in a nonprofit or government agency where you can get on-the-job training while earning $11 an hour. Update your skills and learn new ones! Add to your résumé! If you are interested, come hear Jill Fainberg of Operation A.B.L.E. on Wednesday, April 11 at 10 a.m. at Bemis to discuss the program and how to apply.

Falls don’t have to trip you up
April 12 at 11:30 a.m.
Falls are the #1 reason why seniors end up in the emergency room, yet they are almost entirely preventable. Join Ben Juhola of the Fire Department on Thursday, April 12 at 11:30 at Bemis Hall to learn how you can make your home safer with easy-to-take actions, stay on your feet while enjoying spring weather outside, and use assistive devices. Find out more about health conditions that may contribute to falls. The Fire Department will be serving a delicious sandwich lunch, so please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Are you getting the best care?
April 13 at 10 a.m.
When physicians and others order tests or treatments you don’t need, bill for services you don’t get, or sell you used equipment as new, you suffer. To learn how you can prevent, detect, report healthcare errors, fraud and abuse, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, April 13 at 10 a.m. to hear a presentation by Patricia McMillen, a representative of the Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (MA SMP) program. If you have questions about your healthcare bills, Medicare Summary Notices, or other health insurance explanation of benefits statements, please call the MA SMP office at 800-892-0890. Please call the COA at -781-259-8811 to sign up so Patricia knows how much material to bring.

Tour the new Wellesley COA to see what a modern center is like
April 13 at noon
PLACE: Mall parking lot
Residents of all ages are invited to a tour of the new COA senior center in Wellesley that just opened a few months ago. The center includes a number of design elements and principles that might be used in the Lincoln community center and offers a chance for residents to see what a modern center looks and feels like. The tour will be on Friday, April 13. You must sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 in advance as only 20 may go. Anyone who would like transportation is welcome to come on a Doherty’s bus that will leave the Mall parking lot at noon, but you must tell us you would like transportation when you sign up for the tour.

One-on-one help with library e-books
April 17 at 10 a.m.
Do you have a smart phone, Kindle, or tablet? Would you like assistance using it to check out library e-books and audiobooks? Consider making an appointment for a 30-minute one-on-one help session with Kate Tranquada, Lincoln Public Library reference librarian. Kate will be at Bemis Hall Tuesdays, April 17 and 24, from 10 a.m.–noon. The library has a growing selection of e-books and digital audiobooks available for loan. Kate can help you set up your account and select the titles you want, so you can take advantage of the library’s digital services. When you come for your appointment, be sure to bring your phone, Kindle, or tablet, as well as your Minuteman Library Network card and password. Kindle owners will need their Amazon usernames and passwords; Apple owners will need their Apple IDs and passwords. Questions? Email Kate at ktranquada@minlib.net or call the library at 781-259-8465. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Senior dining
April 17 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with new friends and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, April 17 at St. Anne’s Church. Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let them know when you call if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club. Enjoy a lunch free during your birthday month—just let them know!

New group for veterans of spouses
April 20 at 10 a.m.
All spouses of veterans (whether living or deceased) are invited to join a group to be led by Priscilla Leach, Lincoln’s veterans service officer. We hope that the spouses will benefit from getting to know each other, discussing common concerns, and having fun together. This month’s meeting will be held on Friday, April 20 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall and subsequent meeting places will be at The Commons and Lincoln Woods. No need to sign up, but if you would like more information, please contact Priscilla, 781-259-4472 or leachp@lincolntown.org.

Boston Symphony Orchestra matinee in April
April 20 at 10:45 a.m.
PLACE: Mall Parking Lot
Spend a delightful afternoon with the COA on a trip to a matinee performance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Friday, April 20. Tugan Sokhiev will conduct works by Britten, Chopin and Mendelssohn featuring pianist Jan Lisiecki. The program includes Britten’s “Simple Symphony,” Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” and Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 4, Italian.” (Symphony Hall is handicapped accessible.) You may have a sumptuous buffet at Symphony Hall or you may opt to arrange for your own lunch. The cost of the trip is $45.50 with lunch on your own, or $75 with the lunch buffet. This trip is funded by the Hurff Fund and is therefore open to Lincoln seniors only. Space is limited. The bus will leave the mall parking lot at 10:45 a.m. sharp. To reserve a space, send your check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Marilyn Buckler, 12 Hiddenwood Path, Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone and email. Your reservation is complete when Marilyn receives your check. Questions? Contact Marilyn Buckler at 781-259-8886 or mbuckler1@comcast.net.

Learn more about the community center project
April 20 at 1 p.m.
Please join the Community Center Preliminary Planning and Design Committee on Friday, April 20 at 1 p.m. to get an update and learn more about building concepts for the proposed community center! The committee and their architects are busy at work on a number of potential concepts for both siting and building design and they need your ideas and thoughts. This is a great time to ask questions and voice your concerns.

Lincoln Academy with Lucretia Giese—Rivera and Rockefeller: artist and patron
April 23 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to the Lincoln Academy on Monday, April 23 at 12:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Lucretia Giese who will discuss “Rivera and Rockefeller: Artist and Patron.” A newly “minted” New York skyscraper, a wealthy American patron of the arts and her son, and a volatile and prodigious Mexican painter came together in 1933. These are the ingredients of Diego Rivera’s Rockefeller Center mural “Man at the Crossroads,” which was to celebrate American technology and the American Worker. Join us to learn more about this story that resonates today. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome!

Fireside chat: what to do about firearms
April 25 at 10 a.m.
The COA started these fireside chats five years ago as a result of conversations following the Sandy Hook shooting incident. Seemingly nothing has changed. Come on Wednesday, April 25 as we discuss what exactly the problem is and what can be done. Fireside chats take place in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 10–11:30 a.m. Facilitated by Sharon Antia.

Getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad
April 27 at 9:30 a.m.
The COA’s programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that they have asked him to come back yet again. Andy will be here on Friday, April 27 at 9:30 a.m. to give you more information on the operation and features of iPhones and iPads and answer your questions. You are welcome to attend whether you came to the other sessions or not. If you have tips for using your iPhone or iPad, bring them.

Increase your media savvy
April 27 at 11 a.m.
Are you troubled, or perplexed by the likely presence of “fake news,” “alternative facts,” and phony sources in your email, on Facebook, Twitter or even in your newspaper—all of which seem to have mushroomed in this era of rapidly growing social media opportunities? Do you know the difference between fake news and satire? Do you know how to spot a fake? Do you know about trolls and bots? Are you familiar with FactCheck.org, Snopes.com, or PolitiFact.com? Andy Payne’s workshop on Friday, April 27 at 11 a.m. at Bemis Hall will help participants to become more savvy readers and researchers, discerning more readily what is true and what is not as well as sources that are legitimate and those that are not.

Are you eligible for a property tax exemption, deferral, or abatement?
April 27 at 1 p.m.
Lincoln offers a number of ways seniors, veterans, those with disabilities, and those with low incomes can lower their property taxes through exemptions and deferral. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, April 27 at 1 p.m. to hear Dorothy Blakeley and Ellen Meadors of the Board of Assessors, Jennifer Glass of the Board of Selectmen, and Gina Halsted of the Finance Committee discuss the available exemptions and deferral options and how and when to apply. They will also discuss how your property is assessed and how to file for an abatement if you think your property should be valued differently.

The New Sound Assembly: “The Spirit of America in Song”
April 29 at 2 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m. to hear the New Sound Assembly perform The Spirit of America in Song. The New Sound Assembly, a 23-man chorus of singers, presents musical programs all over the region and in England and Ireland. The free hour-long performance for all ages will be a mix of barbershop songs, patriotic, and modern favorites. All songs are sung a capella in four-part classical barbershop harmony, a unique and traditional American musical form. This program is supported by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Lincoln Academy with Jack Fultz—Winning is an attitude
April 30 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, April 30 at 12:30 to hear Jack Fultz discuss “Winning Is an Attitude.” Fultz, the 1976 Boston Marathon Men’s Champion and currently training advisor to the Dana-Farber Running Program, which has raised more than $85 million for cancer research, will discuss life’s lessons learned on the marathon trail. He will talk about this year’s marathon as well as how he came to Boston in 1976 and how he went about winning the race, along with other stories from his life in competitive athletics. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Save the date:

International Museum of World War II and Indian lunch buffet
Join the COA to commemorate Memorial Day with a visit to the International Museum of WWII in Natick on Wednesday, May 23. The museum hosts over 500,000 artifacts, letters, and documents including the famous enigma machines, diaries, magazines, photos, secret items used by the resistance, and much more. Many items are hands-on. After a group orientation, you will visit the museum at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour. After the museum tour, you will have a delicious buffet lunch at an Indian restaurant close by. For the short ride to Natick, you will travel on a Doherty’s school bus. The tour will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 11:15 a.m., returning at approximately 3:45 p.m. The trip is rated easy/moderate. There are no stairs to negotiate in the museum, but the only seating is at the orientation area, not along the tour route. The cost of the trip is $25 including the buffet lunch. To reserve a space, send a check made out to FLCOA/Trips to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. Be sure to include your phone number and email address. Your reservation is complete when your check is received. Questions? Contact Donna at 781-257-5050 or donna@ecacbed.com.

 

 

School and campus ideas come into clearer focus

A feedback sheet handed out at Town Meeting asked residents which of these three campus configurations they preferred (click to enlarge).

Two-thirds of the 120 residents who responded to a short survey distributed at Town Meeting on March 24 said they preferred a campus layout where the school is concentrated on the north side of campus, freeing up the Smith site for another playing field or green space.

One-third of respondents preferred the current L-shaped configuration, while a single respondent chose the third option of putting the community center on the site of the older Smith wing rather than on the Hartwell side of campus.

Residents also saw the latest round of community center concepts, three of which call for replacing one or two of the pods with the new building and rearranging the parking in the Hartwell area. The fourth option, putting the community center on the west side of campus, preserves the historic Smith gym but would be the most expensive choice due to the cost of renovating all three Hartwell pods and a larger-than-needed community center in a renovated Smith wing. It would also require more parking and create more congestion on that side of campus.

The School Building Committee also presented its latest set of design ideas. Prices ranged from $49 million for Option R (repair only), to $109–$115 million for Option FPC (full project concept) with the optimal number of grade-level hubs and classrooms.

The school design that failed to garner a two-thirds majority in 2012 (click to enlarge).

The six school options and four community center options can be considered in various combinations, though if the community center is on the west side, a compact school design would have to be chosen rather than an L-shaped configuration.

Ironically, many who voted against the 2012 school proposal said they were unhappy with trading the L-shaped school for a more compact building on the north side of the ballfield—much like several of the options now under consideration.

Depending on which school and community center options are ultimately chosen, the total up-front cost for the school and community center projects range from $62 million all the way up to $122–$132 million.

“The sheer scale of these investments is, quite frankly, daunting,” said resident Adam Greenberg, adding that the costs have roughly doubled since the 2012 project was defeated, “far and away above rate of inflation.”

This chart offers a feature comparison of six school options plus cost estimates for a community center (click to enlarge).

Though the economy as a whole has seen low inflation in recent years, this is not the vase in construction, SBC Chair Chris Fasciano said, noting that building prices have been going up by 6–10 percent a year. Data presented in the warrant handbook at Town Meeting reveal that school construction costs in surrounding towns have ranged from $361 per square foot for Wayland High School in 2011, to $482 for the Field School in Weston in 2014, to $594 for the Hastings School in Lexington (completion expected in 2020). Also, unlike the 2012 proposals, the latest Lincoln estimates include costs for site work.

The Finance Committee has determined that the town can borrow up to $100 million without affecting its bond rating. State law limits the town to borrowing $97 million in addition to its current debt. Lincoln would need approval from a municipal oversight board to exceed that limit; the town’s bond advisor said “we would have a reasonable case” for exceeding the limit for a school building project but only if there was “strong consensus among the town,” said FinCom chair Jim Hutchinson.

In 2012, “a lot of people didn’t understand that $29 million from the state was not going to be available again,” said resident Maggy Pietropaolo. “The question is not whether we’re going to  spend at least $50 million on a school. The question is, what do you want to get for your money?”

The SBC will hold another pair of community workshops on Tuesday, April 10 at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the Reed Gym, as well as an update for the Council in Aging on Friday, March 30 at 10 a.m. in Bemis Hall. There will also be a multi-board meeting on the campus projects on Monday, April 30. Meanwhile, those who did not attend Town Meeting or turn in the short campus survey may send comments via email to the SBC. A special Town Meeting to choose a school option will take place on June 9.

Get ready for Town Meeting with this Squirrel story roundup

Here’s a guide to stories published in the Lincoln Squirrel about some of the topics to be voted at at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 24. See the town website for a one-page summary of warrant articles and the full warrant.

The town election is Monday, March 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Smith gym. Click here for more town information about voting. Scroll down for more information and to see the ballot.

Articles 8, 9, and 10 — Capital Planning Committee and Community Preservation Act appropriations
Article 26 — Reports from the School Building Committee and the Community Center Preliminary Planning and Design Committee
Articles 28 and 29 — Historic District bylaw amendment: Modernist homes and corresponding creation of a new Brown’s Wood Historic District
Article 30 — Bylaw amendment to create zoning overlay district and a preliminary development and use plan for the Mary’s Way development
Articles 32, 33, and 34 — Proposed bans on retail use of plastic bags and retail sale of individual plastic water bottles (citizens’ petitions)
Article 35 — Resolution in support of tighter regulation of gas leaks (citizens’ petition)

Town election

In the March 26 town election, the contest for two open seats on the Lincoln-Sudbury District School Committee has drawn the most attention. Lincoln resident Nancy Marshall is stepping down from the panel and fellow Lincolnite Carole Kasper is running for her seat. Meanwhile, Sudbury resident Gerald Quirk was up for reelection but unexpectedly withdrew from the race after the candidates’ filing deadline, so three other Sudbury residents—Cara Doran, Siobhan Hullinger, and Ellen Joachim—are running as write-in candidates.

Kasper and her supporters are urging residents to write in Joachim, but both Joachim and Hullinger have been the subject of numerous letters to the editor to the Lincoln Squirrel. All seats on the committee are at large, meaning neither town is apportioned a certain number.

There are also contested races for the Cemetery Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Cemetery Commission candidates are Susan Harding and Carol DiGianni, who is featured in a short video on the town website. Also in the video is a statement from Kasper starting at the 2:25 mark, and a video by Parks and Recreation Commission candidate Rey Romero and his daughter at the 5:25 mark. Romero is running against Sarah Chester and Adam Hogue for the single seat.

There is also a question on the ballot:

Question 1. Shall the Town of Lincoln be allowed to assess an additional $600,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of purchasing a new Fire Department engine, including all costs incidental and related thereto, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018?

Board or CommitteeOpenings/termsCandidates
Board of AssessorsOne for three yearsEdward Morgan*
Board of Health
One for three yearsPatricia Miller*
Board of SelectmenOne for three yearsJennifer Glass*
Cemetery CommissionOne for three yearsSusan S. Harding,* Carol DiGianni
Commissioners of Trust FundsOne for three years—
DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park TrusteesOne for four yearsJonathan Rapaport
Housing CommissionOne for three years, one for two years, one for one year Evan Gorman,* Bijoy Misra,* Keith Gilber
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School CommitteeTwo for three years**Carol Marie Kasper
Parks and Recreation CommitteeOne for three yearsAdam Hogue, Rey Romero, Sarah Chester
Planning BoardOne for three yearsGerald Taylor*
School CommitteeTwo for three yearsPeter Borden,* Alvin L. Schmertzler*
Trustees of BemisOne for three yearsMimi Borden
Water CommissionOne for three yearsRobert B. Antia*

* incumbent

** Carole Kasper of Lincoln is running for one of two seats. Three Sudbury residents—Cara Doran, Siobhan Hullinger, and Ellen Joachim—are running as write-in candidates for a second open seat.

News acorns

School/community workshops, Planning Board meeting postponed

Due to the impending snowstorm, the School Building Committee (SBC) and the Community Center Committee (CCPPDC) joint workshops scheduled for 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13 are cancelled and will be rescheduled. The continuation of the Planning Board’s Oriole Landing public hearing  has also been rescheduled from March 13 to Tuesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall.

The School Building Committee scheduled for Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell multi-purpose room is still on. Bill Maclay, founder of Maclay architects, will present his sustainability analysis on the school building concepts. The meeting is open to the public and public attendance is strongly encouraged.

“Shrek The Musical Jr.” this week at Lincoln School

The Lincoln School’s middle school students present “Shrek The Musical Jr.” based on the Oscar-winning movie and the hit Broadway musical in three shows this week. The comic story follows the green ogre Shrek and his loyal companion Donkey as they set off to rescue the Princess Fiona from a fire-breathing lovesick dragon in an adventure that’s all about embracing the differences in others and being proud to be your true self.

Performances are Wednesday, March 14 at 3 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, March 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. in the Donaldson Auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door ($10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors). The cast and crew of 85 students is led by drama teacher Kristin Hall (director and producer), music teacher Blake Siskavich (musical director), and fifth-grade teacher Maurisa Davis (dance director). Another 50 parents, faculty and staff have worked behind the scenes to create the elaborate sets, props and costumes that make up “Shrek the Musical Jr.’s” fairy tale world.

Wi-Fi will be available at Town Meeting

At this year’s Annual Town Meeting on March 24, there will be public guest Wi-Fi for the first time. This is being offered on a best-effort basis. Due to the large number of anticipated users, bandwidth will be limited and will not be suitable for activities such as video streaming or large file downloads. Technical support for connecting to or using the guest Wi-Fi during the meeting will not be available.

The Lincoln Public Schools and the town of Lincoln are not responsible for the security of any information communicated through the Town Meeting guest Wi-Fi network, or the content accessed through this public guest Wi-Fi network. All users of the Town Meeting guest Wi-Fi network agree to refrain from any use that is illegal or in violation of Lincoln Public Schools policies, including but not limited to any communications that are harassing, bullying, discriminatory or threatening; violations of copyright laws; any use involving materials that are obscene, pornographic, sexually explicit or sexually suggestive; any use for disseminating or propagating malicious software; sending mass-marketing or spam messages; any malicious use, damage or disruption of the district’s network and technology resources; misuse of computer passwords or accounts; or any attempt to access content blocked by the district’s content filter.