The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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Lincoln Cultural Council seeks feedback and members

The Lincoln Cultural Council asks residents to take a quick online survey to help it shape the programs it brings to town. The council—whose mission is to solicit and review proposals for grants to sponsor cultural activities in Lincoln—is also seeking members. You don’t need to be an artist, musician or writer to join; all you need is a desire to help. Because the LCC is an official council of the town of Lincoln, members must apply to and be approved by the Board of Selectmen. If appointed, members should be willing to serve at least one three-year term and complete a short online basic training program on the Massachusetts Cultural Council website.

Learn more by attending an introductory meeting on Saturday, April 7 at 10 a.m. at 152 Lincoln Rd., Suite #4 or contacting Meg Ramsey, president, at meg.ramsey@verizon.net.

Recycle styrofoam in Sudbury

Residents can recycle styrofoam on Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m.—noon at the Sudbury Department of Public Works at 275 Old Lancaster Rd. in Sudbury. Recycling is free for members of Sustainable Sudbury, or you can pay a $5 drop-off fee. Bring your hard packing styrofoam (#6) and soft (#4) LDPE foam. To receive a reminder about the next collection, email sustainablesudbury@gmail.com.

“The Role of Men in the Time of #Metoo”

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable White Ribbon Day commemoration originally scheduled in March will be held on Tuesday, April 10 at 3 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room of the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd.) starting with a discussion of “The Role of Men in the Time of #Metoo.” After an opening ceremony featuring the raising of the White Ribbon flag, there will be two short films—one with local men and boys sharing their thoughts on the #MeToo movement and a segment of the CBS program, “A Panel of Men on the #MeToo Movement”—followed by a moderated discussion.

The Massachusetts White Ribbon Day Campaign was conceived as a call to action for men and women to take a pledge to move from the sidelines and be part of the solution to ending violence against women and all gender-based violence. White Ribbon Day messaging focuses on promoting healthy masculinity and assessing the impact that toxic norms have on all of us but especially men and boys.

“Prom, Parties and Parked Cars”

LSRHS Connections will sponsor “Prom, Parties and Parked Cars: How to Survive and Enjoy Prom Season” on Tuesday, April 24 from 7:30–9 p.m. in the L-S cafeteria. This event is open to parents of all grades, as you may have a ninth- or tenth-grader who will attending the Junior or Senior Prom (and parents of seniors are very welcome to share their experiences). We will be going over key logistics for prom night (bus, limo or car to the prom?) as well as tips and strategies for handling last-minute changes in prom plans. This is an opportunity to brainstorm with other parents about how to handle the myriad issues that come up around prom. You’ll leave with a “Plan B” sheet, a list of questions to ask your students and other parents, and the realization that we are all in this together. No cost, but please RSVP here for a head count.

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.

Town Meeting and election notes

Green Energy Forum is Monday night

The Green Energy Forum originally scheduled for March 14 will take place on Monday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Hartwell Pod B. Sponsors of the two plastic bottle Town Meeting warrant articles will be on hand to provide information and answer questions, as will supporters of the “Community Choice Aggregation” measure for electric power purchasing, and the “Protecting Consumers of Gas and Electricity from Paying for Leaked & Unaccounted-for Gas” measure sponsored by Mothers Out Front. Other groups will be on hand to provide information about energy efficiency programs and initiatives in town, including the new HeatSmart Program for discounts on home heating systems.

Meet L-S School Committee candidates

There are still two opportunities to meet and chat with Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District Committee candidates Carole Kasper of Lincoln and Ellen Joachim, a write-in candidate from Sudbury:

  • Tuesday, March 20 from 7–8:30 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room on the Lincoln School
  • Wednesday, March 21 from 9:30–11:00 a.m. at the home of Sabra Alden (6 Brooks Hill Rd.).

Light refreshments will be served. If you’re planning to come to Sabra’s house on March 21, please email mhylton@bu.edu so organizers can obtain an accurate headcount.

LEAP to provide child care during Town Meeting

LEAP has offered to provide childcare to the community on Saturday, March 24 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. so parents can attend Town Meeting. The discussions of the school and community center projects will probably be either just before or just after lunch, so the LEAP coverage should enable attending these updates.

The cost per child is $10 and children must be at least kindergarten age. Those interested must fill out this Google form with your child’s name, age, parent contact and any allergies. Anyone with questions may email Katie Hawkins at leap0615@gmail.com.

Get absentee ballots by Friday

Residents may obtain and cast absentee ballots for the March 26 town election at the Town Clerk’s office through Friday, March 23. Under state law, the office cannot allow anyone to deliver a physical ballot to a voter, although a family member may apply for an absentee ballot to be mailed to another family member. Click here for more information.

Girl Scouts bake sale

The Lincoln Girl Scouts are hosting a bake sale at Town Meeting on Saturday from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. They will be selling a variety of delicious home-made baked goods and coffee, as well as Girl Scout Cookies (both boxes at $5 each as well as a la carte cookies) for those who may have missed out earlier in the year. All proceeds will support the third-grade troop’s service project which includes a donation to Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury.

News acorns

School Building Committee meeting rescheduled for March 12

Last week’s School Building Committee meeting that was cancelled due to weather has been rescheduled for Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room. The main focus of the meeting is to learn about the sustainability analysis performed by Bill Maclay Architects. Maclay will be on hand to talk about how “green” each of the project concepts is, and what it would take to make the Lincoln School a “net zero” building. If you can’t make it Monday, the meeting will be recorded and available on the web. Also, the same information will be presented at the community workshops sponsored by the School Building Committee and the Community Center Committee on Tuesday, March 13 at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the Brooks gym (weather permitting).

Talk on Jerusalem and U.S. embassy

Lincoln resident Steve Low will speak on “Jerusalem, the Embassy, and the Future” at the Council on Aging on Monday, March 12 at 12:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. In his talk, he will discuss why Trump’s American embassy announcement was so controversial and what it might this mean for a two-state solution. A Q&A will follow.

Test-drive an electric car

Electric vehicles will be available for test driving on Wednesday, March 14 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. at Hartwell School lot. There will be a Nissan Leaf and a Chevy Bolt or Volt. Visitors may also sit in a Tesla S and a Prius Prime and speak with the owners. 

Poll worker training offered

The Town Clerk’s office will be offering a poll worker training on Friday, March 16 at 10:30 a.m. and on Monday, March 19 at 7p.m. If you are interested in becoming trained as a poll worker, please RSVP to brookss@lincolntown.org.

Two more L-S School Committee candidate sessions

L-S School Committee candidates Carole Kasper of Lincoln and Ellen Joachim of Sudbury (a write-in candidate), will make an additional appearance to meet Lincoln voters on Tuesday, March 20 from 7–8:30 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room. The candidates had previously announced meet-and-greet appearances on March 9 and 14.

Woolapalooza coming to Drumlin Farm

Celebrate the coming of spring at Drumlin Farm annual Woolapalooza festival featuring fiber, food, and fun! On Saturday, March 24 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., visitors will have the opportunity to meet new baby animals, shop local artisans, explore the sanctuary, and learn the history of wool and sheep. Festival highlights include:

  • Sheep-shearing demonstrations
  • Sheep herding with border collies
  • Sheep-to-Sweater Interpretive Trail: Learn how wool becomes yarn and make a craft to take home.
  • A hearty lunch made from Drumlin Farm’s own meat and potatoes for additional purchase.
  • Local artisans demonstrating and selling handmade products.

Tickets are $15 for Mass Audubon members and $17 for nonmembers (free for children under 2). No advance ticket purchase; walk-ins only. Parking is limited so allow extra time.

Selectmen split on water bottle ban but reject legal-fee petition

The Board of Selectmen voted 2-1 to endorse a plastic water bottle measure that will be up for a Town Meeting vote on March 24. They also voted unanimously to remove a citizens’ petition seeking reimbursement for legal costs incurred by a group of residents fighting the McLean Hospital proposal on Bypass Road.

In November 2016, the Zoning Board of Appeals denied McLean’s request to use a single-family house for an outpatient facility, saying it did not meet the criteria for an educational use, which would have been permitted under the state’s Dover amendment. McLean filed suit in state land court against the town and the ZBA, and a group of residents represented by attorney Michael Fee petitioned to intervene as co-defendants. Some of those residents recently submitted a Town Meeting citizen’s petition asking the town to reimburse them for $112,000 in legal fees incurred in the court battle.

The residents originally intervened because they felt the town would not adequately represent their interests, which were more specific than those of the town—thwarting McLean Hospital’s plans for a specific property, as opposed to merely upholding the authority of the ZBA and town town’s zoning bylaws in general. They argued at last week’s Board of Selectmen meeting that the residents’ and town’s interests were identical once the trial had begun, but selectmen and special counsel Jason Talerman disagreed.

Talerman also told the board that the state’s anti-aid amendment prohibits public funding for private individuals and organizations that are not working under town control. If a town hires a private contractor for something like snow plowing, “you as community have to be able to control those services,” he said. In the McLean case, the town can’t be responsible for covering the cost of an attorney who reports only to private residents and not the town, he added.

Although the town has received some “incidental benefit” from the work of the residents’ attorney, the funding issue is “fairly clear because of the lack of [town] control,” Selectman James Craig said. “I feel the neighborhood is going to crucify me for this, but it’s more the duty I feel to the town as a whole.”

Selectman Jennifer Glass worried about setting a precedent if the funding request were allowed to go forward. Selectman James Dwyer agreed, saying, “I just think our hands are tied.”

Plastic bags and bottles

Selectmen voted unanimously to endorse a citizen’s petition to ban retail distribution of thin-film plastic grocery bags but were divided over sales of single-serving plastic water bottles.

There are actually two Town Meeting articles relating to the bottles—one submitted by the Lincoln-Sudbury Environmental Club and the second by resident Jim White, co-owner of Lincoln Kitchen and the recently closed Trail’s End Cafe. White’s measure is more far-reaching as it would prohibit use of the disposable bottles anywhere on town property in addition to banning their sale.

Although he was “fully supportive” of restricting bottle sales in general, “I was struck by the overwhelming sense of a fair playing field for our businesses,” especially Donelan’s, “our most critical [Lincoln mall] anchor tenant operating on such thin margins,” Craig said.

Glass and Dwyer supported the measure, however. “I hope this will spread geographically and give retailers cover,” eliminating the advantage of driving to a neighboring town to buy disposal water bottles, Dwyer said. He acknowledged that Donelan’s is “a huge benefactor to this town,” especially with contributions to the July Fourth celebration, “and I’m hoping this is not going to adversely affect them.”

Selectmen voiced doubts about how White’s measure would be enforced if approved. After voting 2-1 to endorse the students’ proposal, White asked the board not to take a formal position on his alternative measure.

News acorns

Mindfulness walk with John Calabria at Adams Woods

Join us for the next outing in the mindfulness walk series sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and Council on Aging on Tuesday, March 6 from 1–2:30 p.m. Park along the roadside next to Lindentree Farm on Old Concord Road off Route 126; meet at the chain-linked posts. Unplug, disconnect from the world and let your senses come alive in nature. Free. The series is organized for 55+, but all are welcome. In case of inclement weather, call the LLCT’s general line at 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk.

Sap-to-syrup time at Drumlin Farm

The annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast weekend takes place at Drumlin Farm Saturday and Sunday, March 10 and 11. From 9 a.m.–1 p.m. each day, visitors of all ages can feast on hearty pancakes with real maple syrup as well as Drumlin Farm sausage and roasted potatoes. Diners are welcome to stay and enjoy special maple-themed activities:

  • See how sap is collected from the wildlife sanctuary’s own sugar maples.
  • Explore the natural history of trees as you learn about the distinctly “Northwoods” product of maple syrup.
  • Learn about Native American sap-to-syrup techniques.
  • Purchase maple syrup made at Drumlin Farm to take home.

Tickets are $15 for Mass Audubon members, $17 for nonmembers. Children under 2 are free. Register online or by calling 781-259-2200.

Take an adult-ed class at L-S

Registration is now open for Lincoln-Sudbury Adult Education spring classes, which include “Learn to Paint: Classical to Contemporary Oil Painting” with artist Joanne Tarlin and “Beaded Herringbone Ropes” with Susan St. Maurice. See the full brochure and register online at www.lsrhs.net/sites/adulted.

Talk on reviving the woolly mammoth

Justin Quinn of Dr. George Church’s Harvard University lab will speak on the Woolly Mammoth Revive & Restore Project on Thursday, March 22 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library Tarbell Room. This work is the subject of Ben Mezrich’s book Woolly: The True Story of the Quest to Revive One of History’s Most Iconic Extinct Creatures. The program is funded by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

Film series looks at “swinging London”

“Swinging London” is the theme for the March films being screened by the Lincoln Library Film Society. All movies start at 3 p.m. in the Tarbell Room.

  • March 5 — “Darling” (1965) starring Julie Christie and Dirk Bogarde. A beautiful but amoral model sleeps her way to the top of the London fashion scene at the height of the Swinging Sixties.
  • March 12 — “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1971) starring Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson. Divorced working woman Alex and well-to-do Jewish family doctor Daniel Hirsh share not only the same answering service but also the favors of young Bob Elkin, who bed-hops between them as the mood takes him.
  • March 19 — “Fish Tank” (2009) directed by Andrew Arnold. Mia, an aggressive 15-year-old, lives on an Essex estate with her tarty mother Joanne and precocious little sister Tyler. She begins an uneasy friendship with Joanne’s slick boyfriend, Connor, who encourages her one interest: dancing.
  • March 26 — “Wonderland” (1999) starring Ian Hart and Shirley Henderson. A series of vignettes focus on three sisters’ dreams, conflicts and weekend escapades, all beautifully interwoven into a single tapestry of love, pain and joy.

Lincoln joins program to promote greener heating systems

As part of a three-town coalition with Concord and Carlisle, Lincoln has been accepted into the state-sponsored HeatSmart program. From March through July, residents can purchase advanced air-source and ground-source heat pumps and wood pellet heating systems from installers selected for their high-quality work and competitive pricing. These clean heating and cooling technologies can greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce your energy costs, and improve the comfort of homes.

There will be an information session on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall where residents can learn about the program and meet selected installers. There will also be sessions on Sunday, March 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Concord-Carlisle High School and Wednesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. in Carlisle Town Hall. Anyone with questions may email HeatSmartLincoln@gmail.com. For more information about HeatSmart or to sign up for program notices, visit HeatSmartCCL.org.

HeatSmart is similar to Solarize Mass in that it’s designed to educate and promote greener heating and cooling options. Lincoln previously joined Sudbury and Wayland in Solarize LSW to get discounts on installations of solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar hot water systems.

HeatSmart Carlisle/Concord/Lincoln is supported by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources; and volunteers and staff from the towns of Carlisle, Concord and Lincoln.

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PTO hosts candidate forum

The Lincoln School PTO will host a town election and candidate forum on Friday, March 2 in the Hartwell multipurpose room. The PTO will have a general business meeting at 8:15 a.m., and the candidate forum, including a question and answer session, will run from 8:30–9:30 a.m.

“Beauty and the Beast” with ballet

The Lincoln Public Library will host a reading of Beauty and the Beast geared to young children, accompanied by dancers from the Commonwealth Ballet Company acting out some of the parts in colorful costumes on Saturday, March 3 at 11 a.m. Free and open to all ages.

Session looks at “green” features of school options

How “green” are the proposed Lincoln School project concepts? Find out at the School Building Committee (SBC) meeting on Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room. Bill Maclay, founder of Maclay Architects, and Martine Dion, principal architect and director of sustainable design at SMMA, will present the results of Maclay Architects’ energy performance analysis of each of the five project concepts presented at the January 23 community workshops. The analysis includes options for differing levels of building envelope energy performance, mechanical systems optimization, construction cost estimates, energy modeling for both annual consumption and building enclosure-related energy usage, and 20-year capital and operating costs and cash flow estimates.

Eighth-grade parents’ night at L-S

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will host Eighth-grade Parents’ Night on Thursday, March 8 from 7–8:30 p.m. in the L-S auditorium. The agenda includes an overview of the ninth-grade curriculum and an outline of the scheduling process, followed by an opportunity to visit faculty members to ask questions about course selection and curriculum. Eighth-graders will have received the Program of Studies earlier that week. The snow date will be Tuesday, March 13 from  7–8:30 p.m.

News acorns

Climate change film on Maldives shown Tuesday

The film The Island President will have a free showing on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Lincoln, part of its ongoing Climate Justice Film Series. The film chronicles the presidency of Mohamed Nasheed, who served as the first democratically elected president of the Maldives during a tumultuous period from 2008–2012. During his presidency, Nasheed gained world attention for his activism related to climate change. Though it has put a relatively tiny amount of carbon pollution into the atmosphere, the Maldives (the world’s lowest country, with an average elevation of five feet) will be one of the first to disappear due to the rising sea levels caused by the warming effect of man-made greenhouse emissions.

A light vegetarian supper will be served at 6:30, followed by the film at 7 p.m. All are welcome. Donations will be accepted to defray the costs of public screening rights.

Monthly book sale coordinator sought

The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library are looking for a volunteer to help oversee the monthly book sale held at Bemis Hall the second Saturday of each month. The sale is the largest on-going fundraiser that the Friends run and plays a crucial part in helping the Lincoln Library offer wonderful programs for both adults and children. For more information on volunteering for this position, please contact outgoing coordinator Susan Richards Hallstein at reerichards1@gmail.com.

Arbo and Mayhem at next LOMA

Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem

Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem are the featured performers at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, March 12 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7-10 p.m., and Arbo and Mayhem will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. The duo has five albums out; their latest, Violets Are Blue (2015), is an eclectic bouquet of love songs infused with poetry and groove.

LOMA is a monthly event. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Group hosts discussion on role of men in a time of #MeToo

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will commemorate White Ribbon Day by hosting a discussion of “The Role of Men in the Time of #MeToo” on Tuesday, March 13 at 3 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room of the Wayland Public Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland). After an opening ceremony featuring the raising of the White Ribbon flag, two short films will be screened. One features local men and boys sharing their thoughts on the #MeToo Movement. The second screening will feature a segment of the CBS program, “A Panel of Men on the #MeToo Movement.” The films will be followed by a moderated discussion on the issues raised by the films. Participants will be encouraged to identify ways in which they, as individuals, can be allies in creating change.

Forums planned for Town Meeting and election issues

Oriole Landing update on Tuesday

Residents are invited to hear reports from town officials, boards, and committees on the proposed Oriole Landing mixed-income housing development on Tuesday, Feb. 27 from 7–9 p.n. in Town Hall. Hosted by the Housing Options Working Group. There will be ample time for questions, discussion, answers, and suggestions in preparation for the Planning Board public hearing on March 6 and the Town Meeting vote on March 24.

Kasper to appear at three events

Lincoln’s Carole Kasper is running for the seat being vacated by Nancy Marshall on the Lincoln-Sudbury RHS School Committee. There are three public events upcoming in Lincoln at which citizens will have an opportunity to meet Kasper, learn about her involvement with various Lincoln institutions, and get a sense of her views and goals for L-S. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. The election is Monday, March 26; the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Friday, March 9 — Lincoln Woods Community Room, 9:30–11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, March 14—Lincoln Library Tarbell Room, 9:30–11 a.m., and Bemis Hall, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.

Green Energy Committee sessions on Town Meeting articles

At Town Meeting, there will be several articles and citizens’ petitions related to the environment and sustainability. In one article, the Green Energy Committee (GEC) will be asking residents to consider supporting a Lincoln “Community Choice Aggregation” program. Aggregation programs can provide advantages for price, price stability, and renewable energy content that is included in our electricity purchases. A “yea” vote would start the process involving about a year of planning, bid solicitation, and staff review. Pending the Board of Selectmen’s approval, the town would sign a formal contract with an electricity supplier on behalf of the town.

To learn more about this and the other “green” initiatives that will be voted on at Town Meeting, come to the Green Energy Committee Forum on Wednesday, March 14 from 7:30–9 p.m. in Hartwell Pod B. On the agenda:

  • “Community Choice Aggregation,” sponsored by GEC
  • “The Regulation of Sale and Use of Bottled Water,” sponsored by the Lincoln-Sudbury Environmental Club
  • “The Regulation of Sale and Use of Bottled Water — Alternative,” sponsored by Jim White, owner of Trail’s End and Lincoln Kitchen
  • “Protecting Consumers of Gas and Electricity from Paying for Leaked & Unaccounted-for Gas,” sponsored by Mothers Out Front

The forum is a chance to meet and talk with sponsoring groups and others engaged in sustaining the environment. Immediately before the forum from 6:30–7:30 p.m. in the Hartwell parking lot, residents can meet owners of electric vehicles, ask questions and learn more.