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

conservation

Four-legged wildlife caught on cameras

Lincolnites have been quick on the draw with their smartphone cameras in recent days, exchanging photos and quips on the LincolnTalk email list about a coyote and a somewhat larger quadruped.

Several residents saw an Eastern coyote (which is a hybrid wolf/coyote with perhaps a bit of domestic dog—sometimes called a coywolf) on August 1 in the area of Tower Road, Millstone Lane and Round Hill Road. While some were concerned about the safety of small children or pets, others hoped the creature would visit their neighborhood to make a dent in the population of rodents, groundhogs, deer and even beavers who are allegedly chewing down some of the newly planted along Route 2.

Meanwhile, Steve Durante photographed another beige quadruped spotted on Brooks Road and posted the photo on LincolnTalk. Among the comments this time:

  • “The coyote looks … different.”
  • “If that wanders into your property, finders keepers? ‘Honey, I will need a bigger meat smoker.'”
  • “It’s an Eastern Cowyote.”

Closer inspection revealed the animal to be an ordinary cow. “He got out onto the street and I had to walk him back,” Durante said.

Click on any image below to enlarge:

Isabella Nebel posted this picture of a coyote on Millstone Lane.

Isabella Nebel posted this picture of a coyote on Millstone Lane.

Another probably Eastern coyote photographed on Tower Road on July 23 by Joshua Jade.

Another probable Eastern coyote photographed on Tower Road on July 23 by Joshua Jade.

An Eastern cowyote? (Photo by Steve Durant)

An Eastern cowyote? (Photo by Steve Durant)

Open Space and Recreation Plan being updated

openspaceThe Conservation Commission is spearheading the effort to update the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) and is planning a pair of public forums and an upcoming online survey.

The commission is working with a residents’ advisory group and a environmental consultant on the OSRP, which was last updated in March 2008. AS explained in the introduction, the document “re-affirms Lincoln’s core natural resource, agricultural and recreational values. It provides a guiding framework that can be used to maintain and enhance the ‘green infrastructure’ of the community, and it identifies pressures and opportunities that may influence the future character of Lincoln.”

The OSRP includes an environmental and open-space inventory and outlines how the Conservation Commission and Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) work together to manage Lincoln’s 2,000+ acres of conservation land, as well as the community’s vision and statement of needs.

The community survey and public forums aim to gather input on residents’ priorities for open space and recreation in town. They are also an opportunity to share maps and information on Lincoln’s history of creative land development and protection. The forums will be on the following dates:

  • September 14 at 7:30 p.m. — Recreation Department
  • November 16 at 7:30 p.m. — Town Office Building

The survey is being developed and will be distributed online and at various locations around town from August 1 to September 30.

Advisory Group meetings take place in the Conservation Department in the Town Office Building on Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. See the Conservation Department web page for dates (under the heading “Open Space Planning”). Also on that page is a link to the Advisory Group’s timeline and tasks. Members (all of whom are Lincoln residents except Pomponi) are:

  • James Craig (Board of Selectmen)
  • Jordan McCarron, Richard Selden (Conservation Commission)
  • Patty Donahue (Parks and Recreation Commission)
  • Lynne Bower (Agricultural Commission)
  • Ellen Meadors (Board of Accessors, LLCT)
  • Buzz Constable, Gwyn Loud (LLCT/Rural Land Foundation)
  • Renata Pomponi (Mass. Audubon Society)
  • Jennifer Hashley (Codman Community Farms)
  • Michele Grzenda (Weston Conservation Agent

Transfer station now accepting some commingled recyclables

recyclingResidents can now recycle paper and cardboard in the same bin with their metal and plastics after the town signed a contract with a new recycling hauler, Waste Management of Billerica, in June. Glass will still be collected at the transfer station, but it can’t be mixed with other recyclables.

Glass is heavier than other recyclables (and thus more costly to haul) while also being more difficult to separate from other materials, so it’s worth very little in today’s recycling market, as explained in this 2015 Wall Street Journal article. Waste Management charges by the ton for picking up materials from the transfer station and then pays a rebate for non-glass recyclables, so the recycling rebate and the fee for removing glass will balance out to a small net gain for the town, according to Assistant Town Administrator Mary Day.

At its facilities in Billerica and elsewhere, Waste Management separates commingled materials using machinery including suction equipment, magnets and optical detectors. One items that poses problems is plastic grocery bags, however. “They kill the machine that does the separating,” said Day, noting that residents should recycle them in bins inside supermarkets and not at the transfer station.

Town officials made the change in recycling companies because the former vendor, Integrated Paper Recyclers, was not doing the job, Day said. That company sometimes did not pick up the full containers on time, meaning that the transfer station had to either close or require residents to combine materials they had previously separated, such as putting plastics and cans in the glass container, she said.

“We had no choice because it was happening so frequently,” Day said, adding that transfer station workers were often the target of complaints from irate residents as a result of the problem. When interviewing other potential vendors, town officials were impressed by Waste Management’s “unbelievable state-of-the-art facility… we were so pleased with what they had to offer us and their responsiveness,” she said.

Sometime in the next few weeks, the transfer station will also install new bins and a larger compactor. One reason for this is the increased volume of paper and cardboard, requiring a transfer station worker to stand by almost full-time to shove down the material and run the compactor frequently to keep up.

“It has gone from way more than just paper to a lot of cardboard with everybody buying from Amazon,” Day said.

This fall, officials hope to update the procedures for recycling CRTs (cathode ray tubes such as old TVs and computer monitors) and white goods such as washing machines. “We don’t really had any hard policy and that’s one of the things that’s costing the town a lot of money,” Day said. One possibility is limiting how often residents can bring such materials. “We’ll have to see what other towns are doing that makes sense.”

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Codman BBQ and campout coming up

campoutCodman Community Farm’s annual BBQ and Campout is Saturday to Sunday, June 18-19. Residents are invited to pitch their tents starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, followed by dinner catered by Blue Ribbon Barbecue and a campfire with singalong and s’mores. For those who stay the night, there will be breakfast on Sunday with coffee, orange juice and bagels. Tickets for dinner only are $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Tent sites for overnight campers (who must also join Codman Community Farm if they aren’t already members) are $35. Click here for details and online reservations.

Volunteers needed for July 4th festivities

The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteers to help make the Fourth of July festivities a success. Jobs throughout the day include general setup and cleanup for the events. The majority of help is needed for the fireworks in the afternoon and evening. Volunteers for the fireworks will be provided with a BBQ dinner. Students can also earn community service hours. Please email salon.abbey@gmail.com for more information if you are interested.

Sign up for a home energy assessment

Homeowners can sign up for a free home energy assessment at LincolnEnergyChallenge.org. The assessment includes recommendations that can save money on home energy costs, an evaluation of your house for rooftop solar panels, and a safety inspection of your heating system. Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee and Co-op Power will also answer your question in person at the following times and locations:

  • Wednesday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — transfer station
  • Saturday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — in front of Donelan’s
  • Wednesday, June 22 from 3-6 p.m. — in front of Donelan’s
  • Saturday, June 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  — transfer station

Anyone with questions may contact Sue Klem at Susan.M.Klem@gmail.com or call Co-op Power at 617-752- 1259.

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Linda Hammett Ory named as deCordova board president

Linda Hammett Ory

Linda Hammett Ory

Lincoln resident Linda Hammett Ory has been named as the new president of the board of trustees of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum She assumes the position from Gerard Frank, who will remain on the board in an advisory capacity for one more year.

Hammett Ory is an elected member of the board and is chair of the Landscape Committee, as well as serving on the newly reformed Strategic Planning Committee. She was appointed as a trustee in 2011.

“Linda displays an obvious joy and enthusiasm for deCordova. She has already proven her great leadership ability: chairing the Landscape Committee, her and her family’s generous giving to the institution, and acting as a fine ambassador to the museum by promoting all that the institution has to offer to the greater Boston community. Additionally, Linda is a great consensus builder. She’s a great listener and will work well to be inclusive of all the museum’s constituents as the institution moves forward with its strategic plan,” Frank said.

Hammett Ory’s first career was as a choreographer working for stage, screen and music video. Later, she  receiving a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education followed by a career producing children’s educational media and a decade of volunteering as a Girl Scout leader.

Meadow planting on June 4

Maps showing flower species for the two pollinator meadows (ciick to enlarge).

Maps showing flower species for the two pollinator meadows (click to enlarge).

People for Pollinators invites residents to help plant a native, perennial, chemical-free pollinating meadow on Saturday, June 4 (rain date June 5) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be two adjacent circular plots so students from the Birches School can compare plant growth and pollinator activity on mineralized vs. unmineralized soil.

Meet in the parking lot for the Smith school building on Ballfield Road. Members of the collaborative and students from Birches School will help and direct participants in planting plugs and seeding the meadow site.

Summer book groups getting underway

The Lincoln Public Library has two book groups this summer that meet in the Tarbell Room on alternate Mondays at 7 p.m., and residents may come to one or all sessions.  The “Who Picked This Book?” Club continues on Monday, June 6 with Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, while Mystery Mondays will discuss The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton by Elizabeth Speller on Monday, June 27. The books are available in various formats at the library’s front desk. Click on the book club names to see lists of future books.

Outdoor watering restrictions now in effect

water tapAs a result of the new water permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the town must implement a mandatory outdoor water conservation measure from May 1 through September 30.

The town experiences excessively high water demands during the summer months, primarily due to lawn watering activities, so the Lincoln Water Department has instituted an odd-even schedule for all nonessential outdoor watering. House addresses that end with an even number may water on Tuesday and/or Thursday. Addresses that end with an odd number may water on Wednesday and/or Friday. There is no nonessential outdoor watering on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Also, watering will not be permitted on any day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.; thus it is allowed only in the late evenings and early mornings.

Restricted outdoor watering activities include irrigation of lawns via sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems, washing of vehicles, and washing of exterior building surfaces, parking lots, driveways or sidewalks. Watering lawns, gardens, flowers or ornamental plants by means of a hand-held hose or bucket is permitted.

According to the Massachusetts Cooperative Extension System, healthy lawns require only one inch of water weekly, either from rain or irrigation or a combination of both.  Watering once a week with a deep soak is preferable. Watering a lawn lightly on a frequent basis encourages shallow rooting and crabgrass growth while making the lawn more susceptible to drought injury. Watering on hot and sunny days results in a majority of the water evaporating before it reaches the root system.

If you have a sprinkler system, please consult the system’s owners manual or contact a sprinkler company to correctly program your automatic sprinkler controller. This mandatory water restriction will be a yearly requirement, so programming the sprinkler controller now will eliminate the need for future adjustments.

Water Department staff will be monitoring sprinkler use in town and will stop to remind residents of the restriction policy. A second notice will result in a $50 fine, and subsequent violations will result in $100 fines. Anyone with questions may call Water Department Superintendent Greg Woods at 781-259-1329.

Pigs taking root near Old Sudbury Road

Lone Piggy

If you’re out taking a walk near the recently acquired Van Leer property on the south side Old Sudbury Road, be sure to stop by the and see how the Codman pigs are helping to improve Lincoln’s agricultural lands.

Pete Lowy, farm manager at Codman Community Farm and founder of Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds, is raising more than 30 piglets on the back area of the land (the southernmost side). The heritage breed Berkshire, Large Black and Old Spot pigs have small huts for shelter, plenty of GMO-free grains for feed, and a ready supply of water.

The pigs’ natural instinct is to root up the grass and soil searching for edibles. When an area is thoroughly dug up, Pete will move the pigs to a new area, plant a cover crop, and rotate the pigs back on the land as the crop matures to consume the forage (known as “hogging off”). This rotation will help build soil organic matter and naturally improve the soil health and biologic activity while also eliminating invasive plants. This combination of turning over the soil, planting new grasses and the deposits of manure by both pigs and cattle enriches the soil in a completely organic fashion. After several seasons of this cycle, the fields will be ready once again for a more permanent pasture.

— Peter von Mertens (co-chair, Lincoln Conservation Commission)

The pig enclosures on the Van Leer land off Old Sudbury Road.

The pig enclosures on the Van Leer land off Old Sudbury Road.

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compost-big-fourComposting workshop presented by Gearticks

A survey conducted by the Lincoln Blue Gearticks Lego Robotics Team determined that 40 percent of the town does not compost—so the team designed a class about composting. The Blue Gearticks will present free composting workshop at the Lincoln transfer station on Saturday, May 14 from noon-1 p.m. and 1-2 p.m. (Each Lego robotics team has to do a research project as well as build a robot, and the Blue Gearticks’ Lincoln composting research and recommendations won second prize in their competition.) The free class is sponsored by the Lincoln Recycling Committee. For more information, call 617-763-4633.

Panel discussion looks at 50 years of METCO

Like several other town entities, the METCO program is celebrating its anniversary this year, so the Lincoln Historical Society’s meeting on Sunday, May 15 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall will feature a panel discussion about the program over the past 50 years.  Participants include:

  • Dr. Kahris Dianne White-McLaughlin, affirmative action officer for the Cambridge Public Schools and author of a dissertation on the METCO program in Lincoln. She served on both the Lincoln and L-S School Committees and is former board chairman of METCO, Inc.
  • Jane Kline, a former secretary to the METCO Director, academic adviser, and Social Worker for the Lincoln Public Schools.
  • Rena Wright, a manager at East Cambridge Savings Bank and graduate of the Lincoln and L-S METCO programs.
  • Rob Donaldson, who teaches history at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and grew up in Lincoln. His mother served on the Coordinating Committee and his family hosted several METCO students.
  • Lateefah Franck, the METCO Director in Lincoln since 2011.  She is a former teacher and principal at the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School in Hyde Park.

Vietnam Gold Star Families sought

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall (a half-size replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.) is coming to Waltham in August. They are looking for families of military personnel who were killed in action during the Vietnam War so they can receive special invitations and participate in honoring our local heroes. Call Lincoln Veterans Services Officer Priscilla Leach at 781-259-4472 or lincolnvetservices@gmail.com if you are a member of such a Gold Star Family or know anyone who is.

Kumiko Asada exhibits her paintings at Bemis

In May and June, the Bemis Hall Lincoln Artists Gallery will host an exhibit of paintings by Lincoln resident Kumiko Asada. Kumiko, who was born in Osaka, Japan, came to the United States in the 1980s and attended painting classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, The deCordova, and the Cambridge Art Association. Her favorite artist is Giorgio Morandi.

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masksMiddle schoolers perform Baghdad Zoo on Friday

On Friday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m. in the Brooks auditorium, students will perform a short play, Baghdad Zoo, before performing it at the day-long Massachusetts Middle School Drama Festival in Fall River on Saturday. Drama teacher Kristin Hall has been working with students in grades 6-8 since September on the play, and the cast and crew would love an audience at their dress rehearsal on Friday. Baghdad Zoo by Kevin Dyer is a moving one-act play that tells the story of seven frightened children who protect the animals of the Baghdad Zoo during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Due to its serious themes, this play is appropriate for grades 4 and up. Free admission.

“40 Years of Community” fair is on Saturday

The whole town will celebrate the 40th anniversary of three Lincoln institutions at the “40 Years of Community” fair on Saturday, April 30 in Pierce Park from 1-4 p.m. (rain date: May 1). Among the participants will be the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee, which will welcome two special guests: state Rep. Katherine Clark  and state Sen. Michael Barrett, who will meet and greet residents from 1-2 p.m. Visitors to the Lincoln Housing Commission table can make an origami house and help decorate a dollhouse while learning about the group’s 47-year history of creating affordable housing and the new Affordable Accessory Apartment Program. See the fair’s website for a list of participating organizations, exhibits and more.

Urban farming talk in May

Join a discussion on the urban farming movement and the agricultural connections between Lincoln, Boston, the U.S. and the world at “Urban Farming: Growing Food in Our Communities” on Tuesday, May 10 from 7-9 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Speakers will be J. Harrison, executive director of the Food Project and a member of the Massachusetts Food Council Advisory Board, and Jen Hashley of Codman Community Farms, director of Tufts University’s New Entry Farming Project. Sponsored by the Lincoln Agricultural Commission.

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Climate justice film series kicks off Tuesday

St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church will show Just Eat It, the first in a series of films on climate justice, on Tuesday, April 26. A soup supper will be served at 6:30 p.m. and screening begins at 6:50 p.m. The evening is free and open to the public, though a donation to help cover the screening cost is appreciated. Just Eat It notes that as a society, we devour countless cooking shows, classes and blogs—so how could we possibly be throwing nearly 50 percent of our food in the trash?

The next film in the series, Divest: The Climate Movement on Tour, is on May 24. On June 28 is Oil and Water, the true story of two boys coming of age as they confront one of the world’s worst environmental disasters.

Second ‘fireside chat’ on refugees and asylum April 27

As a follow-up to the Council on Aging’s January “fireside chat” about challenges facing asylum seekers and refugees in the U.S., the group decided to continue the discussion and also consider how interested people in our community can lend a hand. On Wednesday, April 27 at 10 a.m., participants will discuss what they learned in January, the situations of refugees and those seeking asylum in our country and globally, and what opportunities to provide assistance locally, nationally and internationally those in the group might like to pursue. All are welcome whether you attended the January session or not. Sharon Carlson, one of the founders of Dignity in Asylum who spoke at the  January meeting, will attend.

On Wednesday, May 25 at 10 a.m., group members will discuss their own stories of times when they felt they were treated as being “other,” whether because of demographic characteristics or other aspects of who we are. What happened? How did we feel? What did we learn about how and why people are made to feel as if they are “other” than the majority of people in our society? The Fireside Chat is a monthly discussion group where we respectfully discuss issues and experiences using questions and answers facilitated by Sharon Antia. All are welcome!

HATS meeting on Thursday

The next meeting of the Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) will be on Thursday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Office Building. Paul Regan, executive director of the MBTA Advisory Board, will be speaking. Other agenda items include Fitchburg monopole installations in MBTA right-of-way, and possible updates on the Route 2 and Route 128 highway projects.

Read a story to a child at the town fair

At the “40 Years of Community” fair on Saturday, April 30, the Council on Aging is sponsoring a story time to celebrate the powerful relationship between grandparents or “grandfriends” and the important children in their lives. They’ve selected books from around the world from diverse cultures which embrace the connection between generations. Come and grab a good story, a blanket and snack, and take time from a busy day to have a quiet time to share a good book with a beloved child in your life. You don’t have to be a “real grandparent” to participate. In addition to stories, there will be music provided by Packy Lawler, Rob Todd and friends, who will sing old favorites and invite the audience to sing along when appropriate. The musical portion of the COA’s program will be from 2:30-3:00 p.m. Books and blankets may be borrowed any time from 1-4 p.m.

Garden Club plant sale on May 7

Paul Gingrich digging up Spirea for the Lincoln Garden Club plant sale.

Paul Gingrich digging up Spirea for the Lincoln Garden Club plant sale.

Buy perennials, plant plugs and more at the Lincoln Garden Club‘s biennial plant sale on Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Codman barn. Some of the plants on hand will include trillium, bloodroot and phlox, plus innovative container gardens designed by garden club members just in time for Mother’s Day.

This year the club will be selling four species of native plant plugs: Sedum ternatum “Larinem Park,” Stokesia lavevis “Peachie’s Pick,” Cheolone lyoni “Hot Lips” and Pycnanthemum muticum. These are all popular with the pollinators and not with deer! There will also be the popular table of garden bric-a-brac. The sale will be held at Codman Barn, 58 Codman Rd, Lincoln, from 9am to 1 pm.

The sale supports Lincoln Garden Club activities such as arrangements for home-bound, plantings for the watering trough at Five Corners and the Codman/Lincoln Road intersection, and presentations for the whole town such as the April lecture in conjunction with the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on landscaping for song birds. It’s also a great time to meet neighbors and friends, ask gardening advice, and get inspiration for your garden.