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

conservation

Environmental measures, name changes to go before voters on Saturday

Voters at Saturday’s annual Town Meeting (ATM) will be asked to vote on five citizens’ petitions concerning plastics and the proposed community center, as well as two other measures seeking town board name changes.

The items were originally planned for the 2020 Annual Town Meeting, but that meeting was stripped of all but essential financial items due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Members of the L-S Environmental Club and Mothers Out Front–Lincoln made their case for three environment-related measures at the April 26 Board of Selectmen meeting.

Article 37, the Polystyrene Reduction Bylaw, would prohibit food and retail establishments in Lincoln from using or selling disposal food service containers made from polystyrene. It would also not allow sales of other items containing the substance (packing peanuts, Styrofoam coolers and coffee cups, meat and produce trays, etc.) unless the polystyrene is fully encased in a more durable material. The bylaw would not apply to prepared food or other items packaged outside Lincoln with polystyrene.

More recycling is not the answer, because polystyrene is a major contaminant in town recycling, and food-grade polystyrene manufacture requires the use of “virgin” materials, the presenters said. Particles from polystyrene and other plastics are also a health hazard for both people and animals as they degrade into microplastics and release toxins. Almost 40 other Massachusetts communities have already enacted polystyrene bans, they said.

For similar reasons, Article 39 would ban the sale and use of plastic straws, stirrers, splash sticks and other disposable plastics. Plastic straws contain toxic bisphenol-A, and all plastics release minute amounts of health-endangering chemicals into food and water.

Tricia O’Hagen of Mothers Out Front told selectmen that Donelan’s and Twisted Tree had no problem with the measures since they’re already using more environmentally friendly materials in items they sell. Under the proposed ban, food establishments may still provide disposable non-plastic items of this type if the customers request them, and customers can still bring with them and use whatever items they like. If enacted, there will be a six-month waiver to allow businesses to draw down existing inventory.

A third measure before voters, Article 38, would authorize the town to petition the state legislature to allow a local rule that would require Lincoln retailers to charge at least 10 cents for each new checkout bag of any type, including paper.

Lincoln has already enacted a ban on disposable plastic shopping bags and similar materials. However, that policy encourages people to use disposable paper bags rather than reusable bags. While paper bags are more degradable than plastic, they have their own drawbacks: the manufacturing process releases greenhouse gases and other chemicals and uses a significant amount of water.

The money to be collected is not a tax but would remain with the retailer. An easily avoidable bag charge encourages consumers to opt for non-woven polypropylene or cloth bags, which are cheaper in the long run, so the measure makes sense for both businesses and customers, the presenters said.

“We’re trying to get away from single-use items as much as possible,” O’Hagen said. Several Massachusetts cities as well as states and countries have already enacted minimum bag charges, she added.

Climate action, community center

Voters will be asked to adopt a resolution in support of the country’s continuing participation in the Paris Climate Accord, and action by the state legislature to promote climate justice and expand the use of clean energy.

In the year since the measure was originally scheduled for a vote, President Biden reversed former President Trump’s move to have the United States withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord — and Gov. Baker also signed comprehensive climate legislation.

However, the ATM vote on Article 36 is still important to signal that Lincoln will closely follow the issue to make sure deadlines in the legislation are met, while encouraging town leaders to keep working to reduce Lincoln’s carbon footprint, said Paul Shorb, one of the sponsors of the citizens’ petition. The message of a “yes” vote is to “go faster and be bold while trying to be fair to everybody,” he said.

Article 40 would require town officials to give an update on the status of a new community center for Lincoln. When the issue was most recently under discussion in 2018, town officials agreed that the school project took precedence but that Lincoln could afford further borrowing on a community center as soon as the school was finished.

In 2018, the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee submitted its final report outlining two possible design directions for the facility, which was then estimated to cost $15.3 million to $16.2 million depending on which design was chosen.

The 2018 report proposed a timeline with one date that has already passed—establishing a Community Center Building Committee starting in November 2020. The CCPPDC also proposed a March 2021 Town Meeting vote on budget and site, but the pandemic pushed it to the back burner.

The Council on Aging and the Parks and Recreation Department both have well-documented needs for more and better space, and a community center would answer those needs and would also “connect the generations in town,” said Selectman Jonathan Dwyer, the board’s liaison to the CCPPDC.

The year 2023 is “wide open for a project like this,” since the school project will be completed, and the Finance Committee says the town has additional borrowing capacity of $27 million, Dwyer said. Officials hope to discuss next steps at the fall 2021 State of the Town meeting, he added.

Name changes

Also on the ATM agenda are two other items that were discussed last year but postponed: name changes for the Council on Aging (Article 26) and the Board of Selectmen (Article 24). If voters approve, they will be called the Council on Aging and Human Services and the Select Board, respectively.

The Town Meeting starts on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. under the tent in the Hartwell School lot. For information on the articles to be voted on, see Lincoln’s Annual Town Meeting web page.

My Turn: Get rain barrels and pollinator kits at wholesale prices

By Bryn Gingrich and Ruth Ann Hendrickson

This spring, the LLCT (Lincoln Land Conservation Trust) and the Water Department are offering wholesale rain barrels through the Great American Rain Barrel Company. Through this community purchasing program, they can offer the barrels at wholesale prices, saving nearly $50 for each barrel and $15–$20 per diverter. (Other diverter styles can be purchase independently of this program; contact Ruth Ann Hendrickson at raandbob@earthlink.net for recommendations.)

Using rain barrels to water gardens reduces the strain on Lincoln’s drinking water supply and saves you money. During a rainstorm, roofs can collect enormous quantities of water. A quarter-inch of rain on a 25 x 25 ft. peaked-roof garage draining to a gutter downspout or “rain chain” generates 45 gallons. Multiple barrels can be linked together to provide more storage. The barrels on offer are repurposed shipping drums that will last for years when properly drained and stored for winter. 

Lincoln continues to draw more water from the Charles River watershed than allowed by our state permit. Moreover, as we see continued drought in the region, water conservation remains a critical collective responsibility. Most summers and into fall, Lincoln residents have seen restrictions on outdoor water use to protect watershed levels. Private well owners draw from the same aquifer and are advised to curtail use also.

Purchase a rain barrel through this program to be automatically entered into a raffle for a $100 gift card to Something Special in Lincoln, provided by the Lincoln Water Department. The winner will be randomly selected after orders close on April 30.

Click here for more information about rain barrels and water conservation.

Pollinator planting kits are available to 2021 LLCT members only (join now!). These plants were all selected for their high value to native pollinators, including at-risk bumblebees and many species of butterflies. The plants are offered at wholesale prices, with a small fee incorporated to support planting efforts on conservation land.

Shop now for rain barrels and plants. Advance orders are required by Friday, April 30. Pickup is on May 22 from 8–11 a..m. at the DPW on Lewis Street.

Gingrich is outreach director for the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and Hendrickson is a member of the Water Commission.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: The more green electricity, the better

By Sue Klem

Lincoln recently launched a new, greener electricity program, called LincolnGreenEnergyChoice.com. Residents were automatically enrolled in March unless they chose to opt out of the program or were using a third-party electricity supplier.

For about the same price as we were paying before, 45% of the electricity provided to Lincoln residents will be generated from clean renewable sources like wind and solar. This is a big improvement over the 18% renewables supplied by Eversource. Eversource will continue to deliver and bill for our electricity, but First Point Power is our new, greener electricity supplier. 

But we can do even better. You can  have all of your electricity come from renewable sources by choosing to “Opt Up to Lincoln 100% Green” for about $20 more per month for an average household compared to Lincoln Standard Green (the default option that customers were automatically assigned to), To do this, simply call 844-651-8919 or go to www.masspowerchoice.com/lincoln/enroll. 

There are many other electricity supply companies pushing hard to get our business. — but the only program that provides this much green electricity for this low a price is Lincoln Green Energy Choice. The town negotiated this deal for its residents. Do not sign up with another company thinking it is the Lincoln program. Unless the company has LINCOLN in its name, it is not the Lincoln program and does not provide as much green electricity.

Pricing for the three options in Lincoln Green Energy Choice (click to enlarge).

You can also “opt down” to save a little with Lincoln Basic, or you can opt out of the program entirely, although that would be more expensive and provide less green energy. For more information on these options, go to www.LincolnGreenEnergyChoice.com.

Lawn signs

Have you noticed the bright green and yellow lawn signs sprouting up around Lincoln? They indicate homeowners who have opted up to Lincoln 100% Green, meaning that 100% of their electricity comes from clean, renewable sources like New England wind and solar projects. The Lincoln Green Energy Committee is running a campaign with the goal of getting 25% of Lincoln residents to choose Lincoln 100% Green for their electricity supply. It only costs about $20 more per month for the average Lincoln household, and you’ll be doing something important to fight climate change.

To “Opt Up to Lincoln 100% Green,” just grab your Eversource electricity bill and go to www.masspowerchoice.com/lincoln/enroll and choose Lincoln 100% Green, or call 844-651-8919. Your “Opt Up to 100% Green Electricity” lawn sign will be delivered to you soon. Please display it to help spread the word!

  *     *     *

Klem is a member of Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

News acorns

It’s garlic mustard season again

Garlic mustard weed (click to enlarge).

This year, the Conservation Department will bring back some of Lincoln’s garlic mustard weed-pulling traditions, but they ask participants to still be mindful of pandemic health and safety guidelines during the ongoing pandemic. Neighborhood pull season is now through May 31.

  • Get free paper leaf bags on Wednesday, April 14 from 9 a.m.–noon at the transfer station and ongoing at Conservation and LLCT offices, courtesy of the Lincoln Garden Club.
  • Drop off filled bags Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m. behind the DPW on Lewis Street near the cell tower. To schedule a pickup at your house through May 31, contact the Conservation Department at 781-259-2612×8129 or coatese@lincolntown.org. Click here to learn about at-home disposal options for garlic mustard weed.
  • New this year: sign up to pull at one of the town’s conservation areas — you choose the date and time when you sign up for one of the locations. Please note that you are responsible for bringing filled bags to the DPW.
  • Learn more about garlic mustard with this Conservation Commission fact sheet, and register your sightings and pullings in the Nature Groupie Garlic Mustard Challenge.

New bin for donating used books

The Friends of the Lincoln Library (FOLL) has installed a third donation bin at Lincoln Gas and Auto Service at 170 South Great Rd., joining the existing bins at the Lincoln Mall and Tracey’s Service Station. Revenue from online sales of used books by the Bay State Book Co. supports the Lincoln Public Library. While the town pays for the library building and grounds, staff, and books, donations to FOLL pay for the programs offered for children and adults, special equipment, museum passes, and other services and activities.  

Session on wind power in New England

Join MetroWest Climate Solutions for a discussion about the future of offshore wind for New England on Wednesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. Amber Hewett, the National Wildlife Federation’s campaign director for offshore wind energy and co-chair of the Mass. Offshore Wind Committee, will talk about:

  • Legislative developments for offshore wind in Massachusetts and surrounding states
  • New hope for Vineyard Wind in Nantucket Sound
  • Offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine
  • Why New Englanders should support offshore wind as one of the main ways to decarbonize our region and economy.

The Zoom-based presentation will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Rev. Jeff Barz-Snell of First Parish Church in Weston. Register here.

MetroWest Climate Solutions is a growing partnership between First Parish in Wayland, First Parish Church in Weston, First Parish in Lincoln, the Congregational Church of Weston, and other communities and individuals. Their mission is to share strategies for moving towards a low- and no-carbon-based society and economy and to suggest activities that enable individuals to help bring about solutions.

My Turn: Next steps on Massachusetts’s new climate law

By State Sen. Mike Barrett

Bill signing for the Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy took place in the library of the State House, otherwise empty due to the pandemic.

“I have heard words used to describe this piece of legislation — words such as sweeping, landmark, far-reaching, ambitious, bold and nation-leading,” said Senate President Karen Spilka. “I believe it is all of these things.”
Well put. We’re the first state to keep attention riveted on climate by setting emissions limits every five years instead of every ten. The first state to mandate emissions sublimits on the most important sources of greenhouse gases — transportation, buildings, and electric power. The first state to overhaul the charter of its electric power and natural gas regulator to include, alongside price and system reliability, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

At the signing, the atmosphere was cordial. Still, peculiar. Why schedule this important ritual — putting the official touch on the most important climate legislation in Massachusetts in over a decade — on a Friday at 2:30? Why issue no invitations to the advocacy organizations, despite the pivotal roles they played? And why did Gov. Baker spend so much time saluting the valuable yet modest energy bills of years past, and so little time celebrating the law he had just signed?

I sense a problem, and I’m uneasy. I hope the governor is not toying with the idea of disregarding legislative intent by means of a pinched reading of the bill. That would not do. Most people could not give a hoot about keeping a scorecard on the legislature and the executive — who’s winning and who’s losing — but they do care about people in power following the law.

The administration needs to get with the program quickly. Next-Gen sets a number of deadlines:

  • On July 1, Gov. Baker will have three new vacancies to fill — green building experts, all — on a reconstituted Board of Building Regulation and Standards, a low-profile entity with enormous sway over energy use in new construction.
  • By July 15, 2021, the administration must set a first-ever greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for Mass Save, the popular home energy efficiency program.
  • No later than July 1, 2022, the administration must adopt emissions limits and sublimits for the year 2025, together with a “comprehensive, clear and specific” plan for operating within them.
  • By 21 months from now, the administration must develop and promulgate a new “municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code” that includes “net zero building performance standards” and a definition of “net zero building.”

This last one promises an ongoing battle. It’s no secret the governor vetoed an earlier version of the climate bill on the prodding of builders and developers. Taking note of the increasing urgency of global warming, we responded to the pushback by doubling down on “net zero” in the version of the bill that became law.

My constituents have been instrumental in seeing to it that Massachusetts passed the most ambitious climate bill in the country, which is cause for celebration. Now we need to make sure it gets implemented well.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: Opt in for 100% renewable electricity in new Lincoln program

By Ed Kern

I’ve been seeing lots of web ads lately for Clearview Energy touting “Save money on energy, we provide cheaper 100% green electricity.” As with much on the web, this is both true and misleading. Clearview’s product has two components: (1) actual electricity purchased from generators in New England and Canada and (2) Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), most likely bought from wind farms in west Texas where wind speeds are higher and open lands are abundant.

There is no way that Clearview can import electric power from Texas wind energy projects to Lincoln. Texas has 86 GW of generation capacity, but under 1 GW of transmission capacity for exporting power to states immediately to its east. The RECs sold by Clearview are not associated with New England generators providing “cheaper 100% green electricity.” This “cheap” green electricity is being generated and consumed in Texas and you are being asked to help pay for it.

The key to assuring your electricity is truly renewable is to buy RECs minted in your regional power pool. Massachusetts is in the New England Power Pool. Texas has its own — recently infamous — pool serving only Texas. Most power generated within a pool is consumed in the same pool, and that’s certainly the case in Texas.

In Massachusetts we are incrementally ratcheting up the percentage of green electricity all suppliers are required to provide (currently 18%). In Texas, a rather low goal was set 20 years ago and was exceeded threefold in about a third of the time allowed. Texas is not increasing its green requirements, so there is no Texas market for their excess RECs, which are now selling for under $0.002 per kWh; and being offered to you for about the price of a New England REC, now about $0.04 per kWh — higher priced because we are driving demand for RECs via the Commonwealth’s renewable requirement of 18% (and growing).

Lincoln’s Green Energy Choice (LGEC) program is buying these higher-priced RECs and is driving construction of renewable energy plants in New England — not buying Texas RECs cheap and selling them high to naive though well-meaning “green” consumers. These concepts can be confusing, and marketers are targeting communities transitioning to cleaner power such as Lincoln to sow confusion and make a fast buck with their “cheaper 100% green” claims.

Please don’t be fooled. Lincoln’s program is a good one and offers an affordable path to a greener future — and the best way to realize this goal is to “opt up” to the Lincoln 100% Green option. This month, Eversource Basic customers in Lincoln who did not opt out, as well as those who were already using a third-party supplier (about two-thirds of households in total) were automatically switched to the Lincoln Standard Green option, which provides an additional 27% renewable electricity from New England over and above the minimum amount required by state law, for a total of 45% clean, renewable electricity from New England. But we can do better by signing up for the Lincoln 100% Green option, which provides 100% clean, renewable electricity from New England.

The signups for Lincoln 100% Green have been going slower than I would’ve expected in Lincoln, — only about 5% of the town. My hope is that some residents may not yet have taken the time to learn and reflect on the proposition and its relatively modest marginal cost.

The Lincoln Green Energy Committee has set a goal of having 25% households “opt up” to the Lincoln 100% Green option in time for Town Meeting on May 15. It’s ambitious but attainable; the cost is modest but not “cheap.” Please consider “opting up” to 100%. You can easily do this by going to www.masspowerchoice.com/lincoln/enroll or calling 844-651-8919. (If you’re a customer of a third-party electricity supplier, you need to contact the supplier to terminate the relationship before signing up for the Lincoln Green Energy Choice program.)

Kern is a member of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee but is not speaking for the LGEC in this piece. He can be reached at edwardkern@gmail.com.

”My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

News acorns

Holy Week at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church

Palm Sunday (March 28)

  • 8 a.m. — In-person Holy Eucharist (click here to register)
  • 10 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
  • 5 p.m. — Outdoor firepit service (click here to register)

Maundy Thursday, April 1

  • 7:30 p.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist

Good Friday, April 2

  • 12 p.m. — Live-streamed Service
  • 5 p.m. — Outdoor service (click here to register)

Holy Saturday, April 3

  • 10 a.m. — Live-streamed morning prayer
  • 10 p.m. — Live-streamed Service of Light

Easter Sunday, April 4

  • 9 a.m. — Live-streamed Holy Eucharist
  • 11 a.m. — Holy Eucharist with choir in the parking lot
 

Farrington offers nature-themed programs

Join Farrington Nature Linc and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on Thursday, April 22 from 2–­3 p.m. via Zoom for “Owls Up Close,” a virtual version of “Eyes on Owls.” Naturalists Marcia and Mark Wilson will introduce everyone to six live owls up close and personal, followed by some owl call practice with a hooting lesson. They’ll highlight the owls’ unique adaptations, habitats, and behaviors in the wild, while sharing tips on how you can look for owls yourself. All are welcome at this family friendly program. Register here to receive the Zoom link. This is a free program, but donations are encouraged and help us bring this program to the community. Viewers may purchase copies of Mark’s book, Owling (signed and personalized by the author) by emailing eyesonowls@earthlink.net.

Join award-winning producer, film composer, and author Ruth Mendelson of Lincoln to discuss her new book, The Water Tree Way, on Thursday, April 22 from 7–8:15 p.m. The main character Jai (pronounced “Jay”), filled with spunk, stealth, and courage, leaves everything she’s known to embark on a hair-raising journey. A 240-page children’s book intended for readers of all ages, the story exalts the triumph of the human spirit as experienced by a girl who can be none other than her unabashed self. Register here.

Upcoming talks in “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces” series

Artist Evelyn Rydz will speak on “Close Attention: Exploring a Creative Practice Inside and Outside the Studio” on Wednesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. Exploring the vulnerability and the resiliency of natural and cultural ecosystems, Rydz invites viewers and participants of her projects to imagine a different future — one shaped by our connections and care for local and global communities. Her talk is part of “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces,” a free virtual speaker series featuring prominent speakers whose are advancing efforts to strengthen belonging and connection between communities of color and the benefits of time in nature.

Also in the series:

  • Monica White, author of Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement, on Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
  • J. Drew Lanham, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Master Teacher at Clemson University, on “Coloring the Conservation Conversation” on Wednesday, June 2 at 7 p.m. Dr. Lanham will highlight what it means to embrace the full breadth of his African-American heritage and his deep kinship to nature and adoration of birds. He will discuss how conservation must be a rigorous science and evocative art, inviting diversity and race to play active roles in celebrating our natural world.

Register here and get more information about the presentations and speakers. The series is organized by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Farrington Nature Linc, The Food Project, Mass Audubon, and The Walden Woods Project. Additional support is provided by the Ogden Codman Trust, the Lincoln Garden Club, and the Bemis Free Lecture Series.

Correction

A subhead in the March 2 News acorns mistakenly implied that Jessica Downing is Lincoln’s new Conservation Director, when in fact she is the new Parks and Recreation Department director. The item about the “On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces” speaker series was also missing a subhead. The post has been updated to reflect these corrections.

News acorns

New Parks & Rec Director among recent town additions

Jessica Downing

Lincoln has a new Director of Parks and Recreation — Jessica Downing, who held the same position in Andover. She succeeds Dan Pereira, who became Assistant Town Administrator in last summer.

Downing was in her Andover role for two years after being promoted from recreation coordinator from 2014–2018 and program assistant before that. She holds a master’s degree in recreation and sports management from Lasell University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire.

Downing was officially appointed last month by the Board of Selectmen, which also named Jennifer Curtin as the new Assistant Director of Land Use and Planning. She succeeds Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie, who held that position until she was named director in December.

Another new face in town is Conservation Director Michele Grzenda, who started on February 1 (see story).

LSB Players presents “What Happens at the End”

LSB Players, the theater production company of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, presents its virtual winter production, “What Happens at the End.” This original song cycle, devised by cast members through improvisation and writing activities, features music and lyrics by L-S alumni Kenter Davies ’15 and Caleb Martin-Rosenthal ’17, who also directed the cast of 26 students with LSB Players Director Carly Evans.  It is recommended for ages 12+ and will run for about 75 minutes.

Performances will be available to live-stream on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for individuals and $40 for families (plus service fee)/ Please use this link to purchase and obtain your unique access code for one of the performances. Also on March 6 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sudbury Pizza Place will donate a portion of its sales to the LSB Players.  Order by phone (978-443-8957) or online at www.sudburypizza.net.

Register for youth baseball this spring

Teams are being formed and uniforms are being ordered for youth baseball in Lincoln and Sudbury with appropriate Covid-19 safety protocols. Register your child now at LSBaseball.org (registration closes for some grades on Friday, March 5).  Click on the appropriate grade range, and then look for “Register Online.”  Additional information is on the Parents tab of the website. Youth baseball in Lincoln starts with T-ball for boys and girls currently in kindergarten, or those entering kindergarten in the fall. Please contact Chris Andrysiak (chris.andrysiak@gmail.com) with questions.  

Speaker series on connecting nature and communities of color

“On Belonging in Outdoors Spaces” is a free virtual speaker series running until June featuring prominent speakers whose are advancing efforts to strengthen belonging and connection between communities of color and the benefits of time in nature. The series is organized by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Farrington Nature Linc, The Food Project, Mass Audubon, and The Walden Woods Project.

First up in the series is “Meaningful Nature Engagement in Stressed Populations” with Akiima Price on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Her innovative programming strategies feature nature as a powerful medium to connect stressed youth, adults, and families in meaningful and positive experiences. She is a former National Park Service Interpretation Ranger and has worked for national work with environmental and social service organizations. Other speakers in the series will be Evelyn Rydz, Dr. Monica White, and Dr. J. Drew Lanham.

To register for any or all of the presentations, visit www.onbelongingoutdoors.org. Additional support is provided by the Ogden Codman Trust, the Lincoln Garden Club, and the Bemis Free Lecture Series.

The route and stop for the Lincoln MBTA shuttle bus. The routing is in lavender and the bus stop location is in blue. Keolis will have a member of staff directing customers to the bus stop from the other car park to the south for the duration of the closure. (Click to enlarge)

Shuttle bus schedule for commuter rail

The Fitchburg commuter rail line that includes Lincoln is closed for installation of Positive Train Control technology until May 2 and will be replaced by shuttle buses. The MBTA bas released this shuttle schedule.

New Lincoln Conservation Director takes the reins

By Maureen Belt

Lincoln’s new Conservation Director, Michele Grzenda, is an outdoor enthusiast who, by her own account, “pretty much eats, sleeps, and breathes nature.”

If she’s not kayaking, identifying bird calls for tourists, or hiking trails, Grzenda is backpacking through the great outdoors on snowshoes. Last March, she chose Lincoln’s vast green spaces as the ambiance for an important life event: her wedding day.  

Just as Covid-19 restrictions were beginning, Grzenda married her “forever soulmate,” Josh, a like-minded nature lover she met through her work with the Appalachian Mountain Club. Weston Town Clerk Deborah Davenport, her then-colleague, officiated the March 20, 2020 nuptials. The rocking horses of Lincoln’s Ponyhenge, some donning wedding finery, bore witness. 

“It was a spontaneous wedding,” Grzenda said via a Zoom call with the Lincoln Squirrel last week. “It was absolutely perfect.”

Michele Grzenda and her husband Josh on their wedding day at Lincoln’s Ponyhenge in March 2020. (Photo by Emily Schadler)

Grzenda was speaking from inside (a rare setting indeed) in her new Lincoln office. Plaques touting her many academic and professional achievements leaned against the wall behind her, waiting to be hung. Anyway, office beautification is not Grzenda’s top priority — instead, it’s protecting Lincoln’s wetlands, open spaces, and native species.

Grzenda (pronounced Gris-END-a), started on February 1 and succeeded Tom Gumbart, who held the position for nearly 21 years. Her background includes lots of experience in wetlands protection, both as the state and local levels, outreach and education programs, bird surveys, plant and wildlife protection, and even the evolution of New England landscapes since colonization. 

Lincoln’s conservation concerns (much like those in Weston, where Grzenda served as the Conservation Administrator for 12 years, and Framingham, where she served for five), have their own unique features and challenges, so she wants to know the lay of the land before taking action. “I still need to do a lot of learning,”  she said.

Lincoln is not foreign to Grzenda. Before moving to Newton last year, she lived here for 13 years and could cross-country ski to work in Weston. She also served nine years on Lincoln’s Open Space & Recreation Plan Committee. 

Grzenda is excited to meet and work alongside the members of the many partnerships and the residents who voluntarily share their passions and expertise with the department. She wants to set up educational programs to teach residents about the trails, woodlands, open spaces, farmlands, and the importance of land stewardship — not just for public land, but for their own properties.

Ideally, she said, more residents would become “pollinators,” meaning they would learn how to replace the invasive plants species on their own properties with indigenous flora that attract native insects, birds and animals. “Pollinating benefits the nature of Lincoln as a whole,” she said.

Educational programs also include teaching about the benefits of the natural world and Grzenda looks forward to continuing Gumbart’s spring and fall nature walks for all ages and accessibilities.

Her position in Weston allowed her to work with the public schools, something she hopes to do in Lincoln as well. And just like iconic naturalist Henry David Thoreau, Grzenda wants learning to take place beyond the brick and mortar (and Zoom and Google Classroom.)

“I want to utilize the open spaces as nature’s classroom,” she said. 

She especially wants to reach adults who have never experienced the joy of hiking trials, identifying birds, or just sitting by a river. “If they didn’t have an awareness of nature as kids, they may have received conflicting messages as adults,” she said. For example, instead of seeing a pond as a picturesque habitat, some may only see the threat of drowning. They may not understand how certain animals and insects — particularly the less cuddly ones — are invaluable to the ecosystem. Grzenda wants to ensure everyone has a healthy perspective. 

Being out and about in the natural world has always been Grzenda’s passion, but it was an elective course in environmental science during her junior year in high school in Wrentham that steered her toward her professional path. 

“It really opened my eyes to pursuing a career in environmental sciences,” she said. “I always loved nature as a kid. The woods were my sanctuary. That was the place I always wanted to be, and I just wanted to learn more.”

Grzenda earned degrees in environmental science and wildlife management at the University of New Hampshire. She then interned with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and held positions with the society and the Sudbury Valley Trustees before working for municipalities. She has published papers and teaches community education courses, and she’s led more than 200 hikes for the Appalachian Mountain Club. 

“Lincoln is a community with strong wetland protection bylaws and organizations that promote green spaces, and that understands how important it is to have the resources to maintain these things,” Grzenda said. “It’s a wonderful example of a community that clearly values open space and provides an opportunity for residents to get outside and find a patchwork of nature within walking distance, so they can feel connected to the plants and animals among us.”