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

conservation

Letter to the editor: in search of storm drains

Stormwater Specialist Amanda Smith.

To the editor:

I’m sure many of you in Lincoln have seen me around town this summer, with my head in a storm drain or out in the woods near your home. That’s because I’m helping locate and map all of the stormwater infrastructure in town.

This is a federal requirement for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), but it will also help our Department of Public Works maintain these systems more efficiently. The NPDES permit requires towns to implement a more comprehensive water management plan, and that starts with town-owned roads and stormwater drainage systems.

If you see me searching for a discharge pipe on or near your property and you’re uncomfortable, please let me know. I would be happy to work with you to schedule a more appropriate time. If you know where the discharge pipe (also know as an outfall) is located, feel free to point me in the right direction so I can collect the data I need and continue to the next point. And feel free to come over and ask me questions if you’re interested in the work I am doing.

If you’re worried about me finding a violation, please know that my only responsibility is stormwater infrastructure. If you have a town-owned outfall on your property, you likely also have a drainage easement that allows the town limited access for the purpose of maintaining these stormwater structures. If the stormwater structure on your property is poorly maintained or impaired, you are not at fault. These are town-owned structures and you are not responsible for their maintenance.

This is an exploratory process by nature, and I have no way of knowing where a pipe will lead until I’m in the field. It’s also difficult because there are no clear boundaries on the ground, so I have no way of knowing where one property ends and another begins.

I begin my field survey by locating a storm drain. Then I record the GPS coordinates using an iPad which is linked to a GPS unit on my yellow backpack, assign the structure a unique ID, and lift the grate and check for pipe connections. Next I follow the direction of each pipe until I find the next stormwater structure. Sounds easy enough, right?

While it’s not a complex process, it is rather time consuming and it has its own set of challenges. For example, most outfalls are located in  heavily overgrown and unmaintained areas. Because of this, there is often an abundance of poison ivy, multiflora rose (pricker bushes), mosquitoes, and numerous other hazards which greatly impede my search. That being said, I try my best to collect the information I need as quickly and efficiently as I can.

Once all of the stormwater systems are accurately located and mapped, the town will notify residents prior to maintenance and inspection activities on private properties. At this time, however, that’s not a viable option because we’re still in the process of actually locating the structures and investigating the pipe connections.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Conservation Department at 781-259-2612 or email Conservation Assistant Jennifer Curtin at curtinj@lincolntown.org. You can also email me personally at smitha@lincolntown.org, but I don’t usually check my email while I’m in the field.

Sincerely,

Amanda Smith
Town of Lincoln Stormwater Specialist

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

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Frisbee show and other events at library

  • On Tuesday, July 17 at 4 p.m., two-time freestyle Frisbee champion Todd Brodeur will put on an amazing Frisbee show with an interactive play shop to follow. All ages; drop in.
  • Kids entering grades 3–6 will enjoy activities and games based on Roald Dahl books on Thursday, July 19 from 4–5:30 p.m. Snacks provided. To register,  call the library at 781-259-8465 ext. 4.
  • A summertime singalong with Ed Morgan takes place on Friday, July 20 at 10:30 a.m. for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
  • Singer Heather Ferrari and pianist Alex Olsen present songs from the Great American Songbook as well as contemporary Broadway repertoire on Monday, August 13 at 7 p.m. Selections range from beautiful ballads to your favorite toe-tapping tunes.

Middlesex Democratic candidates debate next week

There will be a Middlesex District Attorney and Governor’s Council debate on Tuesday, July 24 from 7–9 p.m. at the First Parish Arlington (630 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington). District attorneys are the most powerful people in the criminal justice system—and they’re accountable only to voters. Learn more and hear from incumbent DA Marian Ryan and challenger Donna Patalano, as well as candidates for the Governor’s Council, which has the power to appoint judges and Parole Board members.

HeatSmart extended until Aug. 31

HeatSmart CCL (Carlisle, Concord, and Lincoln) has been extended until August 31. Until then, homes and businesses in the three towns can purchase advanced air-source and ground-source heat pumps and modern wood heating systems at a special, limited-time discount from competitively selected installers to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Visit HeatSmartCCL.org to schedule a free home visit with a HeatSmart selected installer or contact Lincoln HeatSmart coaches John Snell and Belinda Gingrich at HeatSmartLincoln@gmail.com.

Library crawl and challenge

The Lincoln Public Library is on the self-guided Minuteman Library Crawl for the first time this year on Wednesday, Aug. 1 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. A “crawl”, or tour, is a fun way to visit multiple libraries in your area. You can travel from library to library, meet staff and learn more about what libraries in the area have to offer.

The challenge is to visit as many libraries as you can and take a picture of yourself with a designated item in each library. At Lincoln. we have chosen Athena and a very large stuffed bear. If you go to at least five libraries, you’ll get a prize (one per group). All ages are welcome and the route is up to you. Click here for locations and “scavenger” items to find at each library.

Lincoln gets $8,700 green energy grant

Lincoln recently received a grant of $8,700 from the National Grid 2017 Community Initiative program after nearly reaching its goal of 269 home energy assessments in 2017.

As a result of the free assessments, more than 15 energy-efficient furnaces and countless energy-saving LED light bulbs were installed, and many homes installed more insulation and sealed air leaks.

The grant will be used to make Lincoln a greener, more energy-efficient community. The Green Energy Committee (GEC) has discussed how to spend the money but will postpone a decision until the fall, pending the result of net-zero discussions surround the school building project.

No-cost energy assessments are still available—contact HomeWorks Energy at 781-305-3319 or click here. Massachusetts has excellent programs that help residents decrease energy use in their homes, saving money and directly addressing climate change. For more information, please contact GEC member Sue Klem at Susan.M.Klem@gmail.com.

Drumlin Farm opens new Environmental Learning Center

Mass Audubon staff and friends at the grand opening of the Environmental Learning Center at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. Left to right: Jennifer Feller, Bob Delano (Chapman Construction/Design), Laura Krich, Brandt Wild (Chapman Construction/Design), Renata Pomponi (Drumlin Farm sanctuary director), Gary Clayton (president, Mass Audubon), Marian Thornton, Nick d’Arbeloff (Mass Audubon board of directors), Christy Foote-Smith (former Drumlin Farm sanctuary director), Tia Pinney, Susan Madaus, Dick Thornton, Bill Maclay (Maclay Architects), and Robin Stuart. Photo by Heidi Thoren.

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary celebrated the grand opening of its new Environmental Learning Center on June 9, almost two years after construction began.

The gathering at the popular Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary and working farm in Lincoln commenced with a ribbon-cutting followed by building tours, opportunities to meet raptors and Drumlin Farm’s resident fox, hands-on science activities, and educational program highlights.

The 3,700-square-foot Environmental Learning Center (ELC), and its neighboring outdoor classroom structure, the Bluebird Pavilion, are situated between the wildlife sanctuary’s nature center and the site of the former education building. The ELC is about three times the size of the building it replaced at Drumlin, which as of 2017 employed about 15 year-round educators and conducts about 40,000 educational programs (some off-site).

The ELC and the pavilion will serve as the hub from which all of Drumlin Farm’s environmental education programming will flow. They will provide the home base for the programs through which Drumlin Farm teacher/naturalists and other educators support Mass Audubon’s mission to connect people and nature. Featuring a 42.8-kilowatt system of rooftop solar panels and many other energy-conserving construction methods and materials, the building will be net-positive, annually generating more energy than it will consume.

The ELC opening represents another phase in a long-term update plan for Drumlin Farm funded by a capital campaign that aimed to raise $4.7 million. Several years ago, the farm replaced its Farm Life Center, where most programs that involve cooking take place. In late 2016, the New England Wildlife Explorations exhibit opened, replacing the old Drumlin Underground exhibit.

Drumlin Farm Director Renata Pomponi described the grand opening of the new facility as a “watershed moment” for the wildlife sanctuary.

“Mass Audubon’s enduring commitment to nature-based education has never been stronger, and Drumlin Farm is excited about the pivotal role the Environmental Learning Center will play as we build on that legacy, developing environmental and climate science programs that further conservation in the 21st century,” she said.

Letter to the editor: what is a net zero building?

Editor’s note: This piece by Sue Klem of Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee is a companion to “What Makes a Sustainable School Project?” which she wrote for the School Building Committee website.

To the editor:

Traditional buildings use about 40 percent of the total fossil fuel energy in the U.S. Lincoln has an opportunity to build a low-energy school building. Let’s do it as an important step in decreasing Lincoln’s energy footprint and addressing climate change. The School Building Committee is leading the way!

By definition, a net zero (or zero energy) building produces at least as much renewable energy as it uses in a year. This is accomplished by constructing a highly efficient building enclosure, using high-performance energy-efficient systems and offsetting energy used by the building with solar and other renewable energy sources.

There are already net zero buildings in Lincoln, at least two homes and the new Environmental Learning Center at Drumlin Farm. The recently built Walden Pond Visitor Center on the Lincoln-Concord line is also a net zero building.

“Mass Audubon’s commitment to net zero construction has driven design decisions throughout the project, resulting in a building that works with instead of in opposition to its surrounding environment,” says Renata Pomponi, director of Drumlin Farm. “Beginning with solar shading analysis to determine exactly which existing trees could remain on the site without impacting the PV production, through details like the interior daylighting and materials selection and the attention paid to insulation and weather-stripping installation, sustainability has been a guiding factor. Drumlin Farm staff are thrilled that the end result is a building that not only is cost-effective to operate on our nonprofit budget, but also reflects the very work that we do in educating people about climate science and how their choices help to protect the nature of Massachusetts.”

Green characteristics that the Environmental Learning Center features are:

  • Net positive energy
  • A southern exposure maximizing solar access
  • No fossil fuel use
  • Highly efficient electric heating and cooling
  • LED lighting throughout the building
  • Occupancy sensors and daylight sensors
  • Energy recovery ventilators
  • Visible stormwater management
  • Native plantings
  • Triple-glazed dual low-e windows
  • Daylighting windows
  • A super-insulated and super-airtight building envelope
  • Materials selected with sustainability in mind
  • Low/no VOC [volatile organic compound] products
  • No products with added formaldehyde
  • Low maintenance and durable finishes
  • Workstations located for access to views and operable windows

Drumlin Farm anticipates receiving a Living Building Challenge Net Zero Energy certification. The grand opening is Saturday, June 9 from 1–3 p.m. You are welcome to go over and take a look (after Town Meeting, of course). As always, Drumlin Farm is free to Lincoln residents.

The Walden Pond Visitor Center is another example of a sustainable building. The Green Engineer provides this description: “The building structure is an all-electric, net zero energy consumption building and implements “passive house” principles. The building has no reliance on fossil fuels. In winter, high-performing triple-pane windows and super insulation keep the heat inside. In warmer weather, ample operable windows, ceiling fans and clerestories create natural ventilation and light, reducing the need for air conditioning and artificial lighting.

“A 105-kW photovoltaic solar canopy provides shade over the parking lot and services all the energy needs of the building and state reservation. An electric charging station allows visitors to charge vehicles. The walls and floors of the building are from locally-sourced heat-treated maple, ash and red oak to withstand the New England weather. Framing and sheathing materials are FSC certified. Water-efficient plumbing fixtures and low/no-VOC paints and finishes were used throughout.”

These local buildings can help us realize that buildings now being built (or renovated) could (and should) aim to be super-energy-efficient, eliminate fossil fuel use, and employ renewable energy. In other words, a net zero building! Let’s work with the School Building Committee to create a sustainable school.

Sincerely,

Sue Klem
168 Trapelo Rd.

Letter to the editor: school option C is best for sustainability

To the editor,

Mothers Out Front is a nonprofit organization with chapters around the United States committed to preserving a livable planet for future generations. Our Lincoln chapter has closely followed the School Building Committee process over the past year. We applaud the committee on their diligence in considering the educational goals for the project as well as critical planning for sustainability in design and operation of the school. These two values were cited as the two most important values in a survey of the Lincoln community at the beginning of the planning process.

The process is reaching an important milestone with the June 9 meeting, where the committee will ask the town to endorse a general building design for further development by the architects. Mothers Out Front sees this as a watershed moment which will influence the success of our school, our educators, and our students for the next 50 years. It is also an exciting opportunity for Lincoln to express its commitment to a stable and safe climate future, a commitment which has never been more critical.

We believe the design known as “Compact C” best meets Lincoln’s dual goals of a flexible, high-quality, and innovative school campus which can also operate on a net zero basis for energy consumption. “Net zero” refers to a building (home, school, or commercial) where the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is roughly equivalent to the amount of renewable energy created on the building and its site. A net zero building eliminates the need to burn fossil fuels and thus eliminates carbon emissions (or purchase of energy generated in another state at unknown expense, freeing the town from future concerns of fluctuating energy prices).

The net zero goal is achieved through design features including compact design, improved insulation, a tight building envelope, natural light, and heating and cooling with highly efficient ventilation systems. Like Mass. Audubon’s new net zero education center, net zero at the Lincoln school would be achieved through the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the building and adjacent to the building, to produce the energy for the school. The Lincoln campus has the space needed on roofs, parking lots, and adjacent lands (if needed) to accommodate the school’s energy needs. This plan would also be compliant with Article 40, the town’s Facilities Energy Performance Standard passed in 2011.   

The Compact C design has many advantages for the students, teachers, and campus as a whole, and is the preferred design by the majority of educators. The Compact C design eliminates wasted space in hallways and allows for more time in the classroom or time spent on educational activities versus navigating long hallways. The Compact C building footprint also allows for an additional playing field, which benefits the whole community. Compact C includes the most desirable educational spaces, including hub spaces for grades 3–8. And a compact building improves energy efficiency by reducing the ratio of building envelope to internal volume, an important feature to consider over the next 30 years of operations.

A very strong and compelling second choice is the L3 option. It includes the hub spaces and other important educational amenities, and can also include the net zero/solar panels design. The disadvantages of L3 are the loss of the additional playing field, longer transition times for students navigating the building, and a less energy-efficient design. 

While we believe the advantages of the net zero design are compelling from the point of view of reducing future catastrophic impacts from climate change, there are sound economic arguments as well. The energy markets of the future defy easy predictions in terms of cost escalation and volatility. A robust solar installation on the campus locks in stable, predictable energy costs for the next 30 years. Consider that the school spends approximately $220,000 currently on annual utility bills that cannot be spent for the core educational mission. Over the next 30 years, this expense will total at least $6.6 million. If a net zero design is built, the town will begin recovering the cost of the net zero elements on the first day the school is operational.

With the vote on June 9, we believe the town of Lincoln has an exciting opportunity to achieve 21st-century educational and sustainability goals with the design of the new school building. We feel that Compact C (our first choice) and L3 (our second choice) with net zero both advance the town’s educational goals and our town’s vision for a fossil-fuel free future. Please join us on June 9 to vote for a state-of-the-art teaching and learning environment for the next generation of Lincoln students. 

Sincerely,

Mothers Out Front Lincoln — Lincoln (Trish O’Hagan, Emily Haslett, Staci Montori, Robyn Bostrom, and Sheila Dennis

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Talk on school anxiety Thursday

School refusal, including school phobia and school anxiety, is an increasingly prevalent yet often misunderstood condition among pre-teens and teens. Join Dr. Ryan Conway for “Understanding School Anxiety and School Refusal” on Thursday, May 17 from 7–9 p.m. in Conference Room A at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional high School to learn about the warning signs of school refusal and what you can do to help teenagers who demonstrate these behaviors. 

Conway is a licensed clinical psychologist who utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral interventions for youth who struggle with anxiety and mood disorders. She recently founded NESCA’s Back to School program, an intensive treatment for school-refusing students. RSVP is suggested for materials preparation to lssepac.chair@gmail.com.

Donate old wheels in Bikes Not Bombs drive

Donate bikes, parts, accessories and tools to benefit Bikes Not Bombs in Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.in the Hartwell parking lot. Bikes not Bombs will ship your old bike to international partners in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean or use them to teach local youth. They request a $10 per bike donation to defray storage, processing and shipping costs. 

Book talk and signing with Lincoln writer Burckett-Picker

Join Lincoln resident Jenifer Burckett-Picker as she speaks on her new book, Dad and Dunk in the Great War, on Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The book tells the very personal story of two young World War I soldier-engineers who met in training camp in Maryland, shipped over to France together, and worked behind the front lines in the Verdun area. It tells the story of a friendship forged in the horrors of war and continuing today through the fourth generation of the men’s families. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Brinkley to speak on Thoreau

The Walden Woods Project and RESTORE: The North Woods will host Douglas Brinkley speaking on “Henry David Thoreau and the History of America’s Public Lands” on Tuesday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Walden Woods Project (44 Baker Farm Rd., Lincoln). Tickets are $30 for the VIP wine and cheese reception starting at 6:30 p.m. or $15 for general admission starting at 7 p.m. Click here to buy tickets.

Brinkley is CNN’s Presidential historian, a professor of history at Rice University, and author of numerous award-winning books on Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. His 2016 publication, Rightful Heritage, chronicles Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency and analyzes the tension between business and nature with respect to our natural resources. He won the National Outdoor Book Award for The Quiet World: Saving Alaska’s Wilderness Kingdom. Questions? E-mail wwproject@walden.org or call 781-259-4700.

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Reed Wentworth to speak at LLCT

The annual meeting of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust with a keynote address by Rand Wentworth, author of Finding Hope: The Future of Land Conservation in America, takes place on Monday, May 14 from 7–9 p.m. at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields church. LLCT members and friends are invited. Come learn how communities around the country are accelerating environmental protection in spite of federal rollbacks. Wentworth is the Louis Bacon Senior Fellow in Environmental Leadership at Harvard University and president emeritus of the Land Trust Alliance in Washington, D.C.

Hydrant flushing may affect tap water

The Lincoln Water Department will be flushing fire hydrants as part of its program to improve water quality starting Monday, May 14. Flushing will take place during the day from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. on weekdays. If tap water is used during flushing, it could be discolored and contain sediment. This discoloration only affects the appearance of the water; it does not affect the taste or water quality.

If you encounter discolored water, shut the water off and wait several minutes. After waiting, check the clarity by running cold water only for a few minutes, allowing new water to work its way into your pipes. In some cases, there may be slight discoloration for a few hours. The water may also have a milky appearance due to tiny air bubbles; they will dissipate over time and are not harmful.

Avoid washing laundry during scheduled flushing times. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap, then wash a load of dark clothes first. Flush your hot water tank by running the hot water tap for a few minutes after the cold water clears; hot water tanks can hold discolored water for some time after the cold water runs clear. Customers may also notice a more pronounced chlorine taste or odor in the water during springtime flushing. This will dissipate when water is left in an open container in the refrigerator. For additional information, call 781-259-8997.

Club Codman this weekend

Club Codman, the spring fundraising night for Codman Community Farms, kicks off on Saturday, May 19 at 8:30 p.m. in the Codman Barn with live music from DADDA. Sport the great fashions of the past and dance to music from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond. No costumes necessary, but there will be much respect for the biggest hair and most polyester. Tickets are $45 for CCF members and $60 for non-members and are available online. This event sells out every year, so buy your tickets now. 

Film about borderlands trip at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will show a short documentary film about a trip its members took to the Arizona borderlands on Tuesday, May 22 at 7 p.m. in the Stearns Room.  This film was produced by Lincoln resident Janet Boynton after the November 2016 trip. The film will be followed by a welcoming town and diversity discussion, co-facilitated by First Parish Ministerial Intern Terry Cumming and Peter Pease of the Lincoln Welcoming, Safe Town Committee of Lincoln.

HeatSmart plans info sessions; Solarize numbers are in

For those considering new home heating or cooling systems, HeatSmart Carlisle/Concord/Lincoln is running a “Meet the Installer” event on Monday, May 7 at 7 p.m. at Concord’s First Parish Church in Concord (10 Lexington Rd., Concord). HeatSmart will also have three open houses to showcase each heating technology:

Lincoln’s HeatSmart coaches are John Snell and Belinda Gingrich (HeatSmartLincoln@gmail.com). To register for an open house and get locations, go to HeatSmartCCL.org.

HeatSmart CCL is a community-based clean heating and cooling initiative to help residents and businesses lower their energy bills, improve comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Similar to the Solarize campaign, HeatSmart is a grassroots program driven by volunteers in the three towns.

Lincoln added 15 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for a total of 107.1 kW and 10 solar hot water systems for a total of 29 kW in the recently concluded Solarize Mass in Lincoln, Sudbury and Wayland (LSW) campaign. The towns selected SolarFlair and New England Solar Hot Water as installers through a competitive bid process and ran a promotion that ran from August 2017 through February 2018, including a month-long extension due to popular demand.

The three Solarize LSW towns added 53 solar PV systems for a total capacity of 407 kW, including 11 systems for 75.9 kW in Sudbury and 27 systems for 224 kW inWayland. For solar hot water, the towns contracted 27 systems for 2,150 square feet of solar collectors for an equivalent of 84 kW. This includes two systems in Sudbury for 8 kW and 15 in Wayland 15 for 7 kW. Lincoln more than doubled its solar hot water infrastructure, adding 10 new systems for a total of 16.

This was the second round of Solarize Mass for the three towns. In 2012, the towns added 137 solar PV systems.