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

government

Special Town Meeting on Nov. 2; register to vote by Oct. 23

A Special Town Meeting will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. to vote on appropriating, transferring and/or bonding funds to purchase capital items for the Water Department and to supplement its 2020 operating budget.

The amount of money involved and the purpose(s) for which it’s being requested were unavailable as of Monday evening. The department is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 4 p.m, to prepare for the Special Town Meeting.

Voters approved bonding $1.01 million for the department at the 2019 Annual Meeting to pay for deferred maintenance and work required by the state Department of Environmental Protection. A hike in water rates also went into effect earlier this year.

The Water Department is run as an enterprise fund, meaning that revenues are expected to meet or exceed expenditures on a year-to-year basis, and expenses (including bond payments) are paid through user fees and retained revenue.

Wednesday, Oct. 23 is the last day to register in time for the Special Town Meeting. The Secretary of State’s website allows you to check your voter registration status and register online. Residents may also register in person at the Town Clerk’s Office during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and there will be extended registration on Wednesday from 4:30–8 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Safety Building.

The State of the Town Meeting will follow immediately after the Special Town Meeting.

Residential tax exemption idea draws criticism at forum

(Updated on 10/30/19 with link to the forum slide presentation)

By Alice Waugh

The idea of a residential property tax exemption that would shift the burden of taxes to owners of more expensive homes was met with opposition at an October 15 public forum.

The event was the second of two public forums hosted by the Property Tax Study Committee, which was formed in the wake of fears that some Lincoln residents would not be able to afford the tax increase resulting from the $93 million school project. At its first forum in June, the group presented two options it was studying: a means-tested “circuit-breaker” program and a residential tax exemption program.

Sudbury, Concord, and Wayland have enacted local versions of the state circuit breaker program for homeowners over 65. If they have lived in their town at least 10 years and meet certain income and asset thresholds, they pay no more than 10% of their income for property taxes. Renters who are paying more than 25% of their income on rent are also eligible under the state program, though the three neighboring towns don’t have this provision.

If Lincoln were to adopt a similar program, it would most likely follow the pattern of the three other towns by basing it on the existing state circuit-breaker program and funding it through a small hike in the local tax rate, capped at a certain amount such as 1%. Such a move would require Town Meeting approval preceded by special legislation, a multiyear process.

Alternatively, passage of a bill now in the state Senate would require only Town Meeting approval for a local plan, but “this would probably prevent us from customizing the law in any way,” and it would not benefit those under 65, said Selectman Jennifer Glass, the committee member who made the October 15 presentation.

The other option under consideration would make property taxes even more progressive than they already are by making a proportion of each property’s value exempt from taxes, with no consideration of the owner’s income or assets. Fourteen cities and towns in Massachusetts offer a program like this, but most have either a large commercial tax base, or many expensive vacation homes, meaning the benefit accrues to year-round residents.

In making their annual recommendation to the Board of Selectmen when setting the tax rate each year, the assessors “were quite adamant this was not meant for us,” said former Selectman Peter Braun.

The Board of Selectmen already has the power to create a residential exemption when it sets the tax rate every year, but has never done so. Ellen Meadors noted that she and other assessors felt such a move shouldn’t take place without input from the town as a whole.

Another possibility is creating a local circuit-breaker program that would also apply to younger homeowners, since special legislation would be required in any case. “We have thought of a few permutations) that we could try out with the state, but the state is very careful when comes to tax policy about setting precedent and not rocking the boat statewide,” Glass said.

“This brings us back to the big question: who are we trying to help, and what are we trying to achieve?” said Glass, adding that the town could choose to adopt either, both or neither of the two options.

Several forum attendees who packed the Donaldson Room in Town Hall objected to the idea of a residential tax exemption. “Every home above the [exemption] break point will have taxes go up, and the property value will go down,” one resident said “The bar will be reset and we’ll be right back where we are today.” The measure would not have the intended effect of promoting economic diversity and could very well benefit property owners who don’t need such tax relief, he added.

As a result of the school bonding, taxes went up this year by an average of 12.3%, Glass said. The tax rate for fiscal 2020 is $15.36 for every $1,000 of assessed home value; $1.95 of that $15.36 is paying for the school project.

“The town just took this vote on new school. Had we known there was another potential [tax hike] provision that gained more momentum… that vote night have turned out differently,” a resident said.

Glass assured the audience that there was “no way we would implement this unless the overwhelming majority of the town wanted it… message heard.”

Regardless of who pays how much, tax revenue has to rise to pay for the school. “It seems like we’re being taxed out of town, and it’s heartbreaking to me because I love this town,” said one resident to a chorus of “hear, hear!”

The property tax proposals will be discussed at the State of the Town meeting on November 2 at 9:30 a.m. Also on the agenda: zoning changes proposed by the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee that would encourage denser housing and mixed-use development in South Lincoln. Such measures could broaden the commercial tax base and benefit middle-income homeowners, “addressing some of the very issues we’ve talked about tonight,” noted SPLIC co-chair Gary Taylor.

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Property tax forum on Tuesday

The Property Tax Study Committee will hold its second public forum on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 7–8:30 p.m. in Town Hall. The group was formed in reaction to concerns about the large tax increase required for the $93 million school project. At its first forum in June, the group presented two possible measures: a means-tested circuit breaker program and a residential exemption for certain properties.

Family fun at Walden Woods Farm

The Lincoln-based Walden Woods Project offers a day of fall-themed family activities at its organic Farm at Walden Woods (1047 Concord Turnpike/Rt. 2 eastbound, Concord) on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. There will be an interactive full-size model of Thoreau’s Walden Pond house, packets of milkweed seeds to plant at home for monarch butterfly habitat, free apple cider and a ”solitude” selfie station. The event is part of the Concord Festival of Authors.

Scarecrow Classic 5K on Oct. 20

The seventh annual Annual Scarecrow Classic on Sunday, Oct. 20 starts at 9:30 a.m. on Codman Road by the fire station and runs along Lincoln’s scenic roads, fields, and trails. Proceeds from this event support the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT). After the race, there will be a raffle with prizes, live music, cider donuts, seasonal soup, and prizes for the top three runners in each age category. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at the LLCT offices, from LLCT trustees, or on October 14 before the race. Register online or at the event starting at 8 a.m. Visit scarecrowclassic5k.com for the route map and online registration.

Tales from the Night at Drumlin Farm

Put on your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and join us for Tales of the Night — the silliest, spookiest, and most family-friendly Halloween tradition on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26 at Drumlin Farm, from 6:30–9p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Visitors will have the chance to:

  • Explore the farm at night lit by our display of over 100 jack-o-lanterns
  • Meet some of the nocturnal wildlife of Massachusetts
  • Enjoy spooky treats, spider cider, and witch’s brew at the ghoulish graveyard
  • Step into a story on our Nursery Rhyme Trail to meet your favorite characters
  • Get a festive face painting at the Crossroads Barn
  • Venture out into the fields for a haunted hayride full of spooky surprises for the brave at heart (7–8:30 p.m.)

Tickets are available via advance purchase only — admission cannot be purchased at the gate. Mass Audubon members: $15. Nonmembers: $17. Free for children under age 2. Register early, as this event often sells out.

News acorns

Codman Harvest Fair is this Sunday

Children of all ages and their families are invited to Codman’s annual Harvest Fair on Sunday, October 6 from noon–4 p.m. There will be games and activities for children, a skillet and hay bale toss for adults, the annual Rooster Run, Codman’s own burgers and hot dogs on the grill, and the Reasons to Be Cheerful Chillwagon! Bracelets for children’s games are $20 for members, $25 for non-members — and every bracelet gets a free ice cream. Entry is free for all, with treats, lunch and more for sale, including tickets for the Pig Roast and Barn Dance Harvest Feast on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 5–9 p.m. — click here for tickets.

Blessing of the Animals at St. Anne’s

On Sunday, Oct. 6, St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will will honor St. Francis, patron saint of animals, with a Blessing of the Animals at the 10 o’clock service with Holy Eucharist and Choir. Animals on leashes or in carriers are welcome, as are photos and stuffed animals. Other services on that day are Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and a Contemplative Eucharist at 5 p.m.

What Park & Rec / COA activities do you want?

The Lincoln Council on Aging (COA) and the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) invite residents of all ages to fill out a short survey on what programs and services you’d like now and in the future.

The short survey asks you a few simple questions about yourself and how you currently get information about COA and PRD programs and services, and your preferences for learning about what the two departments offer.  You may then choose activities in the areas of arts and humanities, community events, education/science/nature/technology, fitness, health/nutrition, legal/financial/benefits, music/dancing, social/supportive/recreational, social service programs, and trips.  The survey also asks about barriers to using COA and PRD programs and services and any additional comments you may have.

Fill out the survey online or pick up a paper survey at Parks and Recreation, Bemis Hall, Town Offices, or the library, then return them to either the COA or PRD. Please complete the survey by October 31. For more information, please call Carolyn Bottum of the COA at 781-259-8811 or Dan Pereira of the PRD at 781-259-0784.

L-S School Committee meet-and-greets

The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee will hold public input events on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 9–10 a.m.: Listening coffee with LSSC members Carole Kasper and Kevin Matthews at the deCordova Cafe
  • Thursday, Oct. 10 from 8–9 a.m.: Parent coffee with Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong on in L-S Conference Room A
  • Thursday, Oct. 24 from 6:30–7:30 p.m.: Listening coffee with LSSC members Ellen Joachim & Candace Miller in the Goodnow Library conference room (21 Concord Rd., Sudbury)

Upcoming deCordova offerings

Nature, Sculpture, and Movement Meditation with Jamie Hunt
Sunday, Oct. 5  from 10 a.m.–noon
To attune to the summer landscape, Jamie will weave together nature-based meditation practices, movement meditation, and observation of art in the Sculpture Park. We will explore several meditations to open our sense of awareness and deepen our appreciation and experience of deCordova’s sculptures. For ages 12+. $24 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Click here for tickets.

Ceramic Workshop: Ornamental Form, Surface, and Texture in Garden Sculpture
Saturdays, Oct. 5 and 12 from 10:30 a.m.–noon 
Create a unique sculpture for your own garden inspired by deCordova. In this two-part workshop, build and decorate a small garden sculpture that will stand the test of time and weather. All levels welcome. No ceramic experience necessary. For ages 16+. $85 for members, $95 for nonmembers. Click here for tickets.

The Aesthetics of Nature: Cyanotype Workshop with Kyle Browne
Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 
Artist Kyle Browne invites you to take a closer look at the aesthetics of nature through a focused exploration of the “All the Marvelous Surfaces” exhibit, walking through the deCordova grounds, followed by creating a cyanotype from natural materials. Participants will reflect on the practice of aestheticizing nature as well as design and print with natural materials to create a personal artwork. Click here to sign up.

Ceramic Sculpture Workshop: Expressive Vessels, Forms and Environments
Wednesdays or Thursdays starting October 30 or 31 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 
Create unique vessels and sculptures for your home or garden in this six-week course. Sessions will introduce new techniques, projects, and concepts inspired by museum exhibitions and installations in the Sculpture Park. No experience necessary; for ages 16+. Click here to sign up.

Harvard’s Lessig to give Bemis Free Lecture

The Bemis Free Lecture Series presents “They Don’t Represent Us: Reclaiming Our Democracy,” a talk by and conversation with Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard University, on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. In his talk, he will make the case that our government “does not represent us” and that reform is both essential and possible. Lessig ran for president in 2016 and has advocated for campaign finance and electoral reform with a Second Constitutional Convention.

Volunteers, donations needed for diaper drive

The Metro-Boston Diaper Drive organized by Lincoln mothers Kim Jalet and Kerstin Sinkevicius, will run October 5–20 and needs volunteers to manage collection boxes at collection sites in Lincoln and surrounding towns. The diapers will go to recipients of WIC (Women, Infants and Children) aid, which does not cover the cost of diapers.

All diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Lincoln as well as Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, and Lexington. Donors can also visit the Diaper Drive website for links to their Amazon and Target registries for sending donations directly to the WIC office. Volunteers will:

  • Obtain a box big enough for diaper donations, wrap or make it look presentable in some other way, affix a flyer, and bring it to one of the local collection sites by Friday, Oct. 4:
    • Lincoln: Lincoln Public Library, Smith School,  Lincoln Country Day School, Lincoln Preschool
    • Bedford: Bedford Free Public Library
    • Lexington: Lexington Children’s Place, The Waldorf School of Lexington (pending approval for box), Lexington Bright Horizons
  • Leave your name and number with someone at the collection site so they can contact you to empty the box if it fills during the drive (but this is rare).
  • After the drive ends, pick up the diapers and deliver them either to the Lincoln home of one of the organizers, or directly to the WIC office in Somerville. 

Anyone interested in managing a collection box or approaching area stores for in-kind diaper donations should email Jalet at jaletkl@gmail.com.

Lincoln Nursery School schedules open house

Thinking about preschool for next year? Lincoln Nursery School (LNS) is hosting its annual Open House on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9–11 a.m. where families can visit the classroom studios and talk with teachers and current parents. Children are welcome. LNS is a parent cooperative established in 1944 and inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and is located at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

Learn about ranked-choice voting at house party

There will be a house party on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 3–5 p.m. to learn about ranked-choice voting (RCV) and have some fun testing it out. RCV allows voters to rank candidates on a ballot in order of preference. The system is already in place in Maine and in Cambridge (for city elections), and Voter Choice MA is gathering signatures to put it on the statewide ballot. Please RSVP to Selectman Jennifer Glass at jlrglass@mac.com.

Allendorf to perform at next LOMA night

Ric Allendorf

Ric Allendorf is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Oct. 21 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and he’ill perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. A meticulous finger-style guitarist and captivating vocalist, Ric is a frequent performer at Club Passim and other venues, and last year he released his debut album, “Take It All In.”

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.

Domestic violence survivors to share stories

To commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will gather to honor the stories and reflections of survivors who have experienced domestic violence in their intimate relationships on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 3–4:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Sudbury Police Department (75 Hudson Rd., Sudbury). There will be a panel presentation by survivors from area communities and the advocates from The Second Step who support them.

Benefit at deCordova for breast cancer awareness

Join Emerson Hospital at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum for “An Evening of Inspiration” to support breast cancer awareness on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5:30–9 p.m. The event will feature Ann Jillian, a three-time Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress and breast cancer survivor raised in Cambridge. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drink tickets and a complimentary gift. Tickets are $25 with all proceeds supporting patients who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit emersonhospital.org/inspiration or call Julie at 978-287-3221.

SJC rules against town in McLean Hospital case

Overruling an earlier Land Court decision, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a McLean Hospital residential facility for young men on Bypass Road property does in fact constitute an “educational use” of the property and is therefore not subject to town zoning regulations that would normally apply.

The September 23 decision is the latest chapter in the saga of McLean’s attempt to use the residential property as an expansion of its 3East transitional facility on the Belmont campus. The Bypass Road facility would house 12 boys aged 15–21 with “extreme emotional dysregulation” and give them classroom training in dialectical behavior therapy, teaching them social and emotional skills including mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and behavioral flexibility. Nearby homeowners said the residents posed a possible danger to the community.

The hospital argued — and neighbors disagreed — that the proposed use was primarily educational rather than medical or therapeutic in nature, meaning it qualified for zoning relief under the state’s Dover amendment, which allows exceptions for educational and religious uses of residential property. Appeals and other legal maneuvers followed.

Last year, the Land Court ruled in the town’s favor, saying that “the primary and predominant purpose of the (McLean) program is the treatment of a serious medical condition” — a decision that led to the current appeal.

Timeline of the case:

    • May 2016: Based on an opinion by town counsel Joel Bard, Daniel Walsh, Lincoln’s building inspector, says McLean Hospital’s proposal for bypass Road qualifies under the Dover amendment’s “educational use” clause and is permitted.
    • September 2016: A group of residents with homes near the Bypass Road property appeal the building inspector’s decision to the Lincoln Zoning Board of Appeals. The ZBA holds several public hearings on the matter.
    • November 3, 2016: The ZBA rules that the proposed use is not primarily educational and that McLean Hospital’s plans for the property are not allowed.
    • November 15, 2016: McLean Hospital sues the town and Walsh in Land Court.
    • October 22, 2018: the Land Court rules in the town’s favor, saying, “the primary and predominant purpose of the 3East Boys Program is the treatment of a serious mental condition.”
    • December 2018: McLean Hospital appeals the Land Court decision to the Supreme Judicial Court.
    • September 23, 2019: The SJC reverses the Land Court ruling, saying the Bypass Road proposal does in fact qualify for zoning relief under the Dover amendment.

“We conclude that, although not a conventional educational curriculum offered to high school or college students, the proposed facility and its skills-based curriculum fall well within the ‘broad and comprehensive’ meaning of ‘educational purposes’ under the Dover Amendment,” the SJC opinion reads.

The court relied heavily on an earlier case involving the town of Weston and Regis College. Regis claimed its plans for Regis East, a 362-unit on-campus retirement village, qualified as an educational facility by virtue of the fact that residents had to enroll in at least two courses per semester. In its 2012 decision, the SJC ruled that any Dover-qualifying use must have an “educationally significant goal that must be the ‘primary or dominant’ purpose for which the land or structures will be used.”

The Weston ZBA had unsuccessfully argued that  “the educational aspects of the project were mere ‘window dressing’ for what was in truth a luxury housing development,” according to a review of the case. However, despite its victory, Regis later dropped plans for the complex.

In this week’s McLean ruling, the SJC also noted that the Lincoln Residence, an existing transitional McLean transitional residence for adults in Lincoln at 5 Old Cambridge Turnpike in Lincoln, is a “protected educational facility.” Also, the fact that the Bypass Road facility would have medical staff on site is irrelevant, since public schools also have nurses, the court said.

“Despite the outcome, we are grateful to Special Town Counsel Jay Talerman who, along with Attorney Michael Fee on behalf of the Bypass Road neighborhood, worked to receive a favorable judgment at the Land Court and provide a vigorous and skillful defense before the SJC,” the Board of Selectmen said in a statement.

The board also thanked Special Town Counsel Jay Talerman for providing “a vigorous and skillful defense before the SJC,” and town boards for “their efforts to respond to McLean’s original application in a fair and professional manner.”

The town’s legal expenses in connection with the McLean case total $49,900 thus far. Selectmen will meet in executive session on Friday morning to discuss the decision.

Representatives of McLean Hospital and the Bypass Road residents could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

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Panel on Palestinian issues this Saturday

The GRALTA Foundation will host a meeting of the New England Network for Justice in Palestine on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Bemis Hall at 2 p.m. Speakers will include:

  • Anat Biletzki, professor of philosophy at Quinnipiac University and a founder of the Israeli human rights NGO B’Tselem, will discuss, interpret, and forecast the ultimate outcome from Israel’s Sept. 17 election.
  • Nidal Al Azraq, executive director of 1for3.org, will talk on “Hope and Struggle Under Military Occupation,” covering changes he recently encountered among Palestinian civil society in the West Bank.
  • Ayman Nijim, Solidarity Program Officer for the Middle East at Grassroots International, will discuss grassroots organizing and lobbying initiatives in the U.S.
  • Fidaa Ataya, a Palestinian actress, filmmaker, and traditional storyteller, will screen her 10-minute film “The Shepherdess” and tell a traditional Palestinian story.

There will be time for audience Q&A.

Lincoln Dems to discuss strategies for 2020

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will meet to launch plans for the 2020 election on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 4–5:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Residents are invited to contribute their thoughts on the issues and recommendations for action at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Sept. 18, 2019). Facilitating discussion on the following topics will be:

  • Jerry Gechter and Jennie Morris — Green New Deal, climate change, sustainability
  • Ginny Welles and Joan Kimball — Building bridges, not walls; the real facts on immigration
  • Alisar Cohen and Travis Roland — Unpacking race in politics
  • Sasha Golden and Barbara Slayter — Addressing the racial wealth divide
  • Alex Chatfield and Chris Loschen — Spotlighting the work of coalitions and allies

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Join Sept. 20 climate strike via 9:09 Lincoln train

On Friday, Sept. 20, many members of the Lincoln community plan to attend the Boston Youth Climate Strike at Boston City Hall and will board the 9:09 am train at Lincoln Station (see this letter to the editor). Around the country and around the globe, young people and their adult allies will be leaving school and work to raise their voices to protect the Earth’s climate from further damage by fossil fuel emissions. St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church invites anyone who is planning to take the 9:09 train to join us for a brief Liturgy for the Climate at Lincoln Station beginning at 8:45 a.m. as clergy and congregants offer prayers of blessing for the Earth and acknowledge the climate emergency threatening the future of humanity. See Massachusetts Mothers Out Front for more information on the Boston Youth Climate Strike.

Water Commission seeks new member

The Water Commission is seeking interested volunteers. The commission ensures that the town’s drinking water meets all applicable federal, state and local laws and standards, as well as ensuring that the system revenue covers system operations, debt service, and reserves. The deadline for submittals is Friday, Oct. 4. Send letters of interest to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Selectmen’s Office, elderp@lincolntown.org. For information or an application, call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.

Drumlin Farm gets $20,000 grant from foundation

Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary has receive a $20,000 grant from the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation to support its full suite of Leaders in Environmental Access for All (LEAF) programs for children up to age 18. Programs include specialized field trips and guided programs, vocational internships, staff training, and adaptive curriculum and equipment for special-needs students participating in Drumlin Farm programs.

“Funding will allow us to continue our robust vocational internships opportunities, grow our adapted curriculum based environmental education programing, and implement a variety of staff trainings on disability and inclusivity,” said Drumlin Farm Education Manager Jennifer Feller.

Talk on women’s suffrage in Mass.

The Lincoln Historical Society  presents Barbara Berenson, author of Massachusetts in the Woman Suffrage Movement: Revolutionary Reformers, on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Massachusetts was at the center of the national struggle for women’s suffrage; in a 1915 referendum, the men of Massachusetts voted two-to-one against woman suffrage. Nonetheless, in a remarkable reversal, Massachusetts ratified the 19th Amendment within three weeks after it was approved by Congress. Berenson is also author of Boston in the Civil War and is senior attorney at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Walk to benefit SVdP and Lincoln food pantry

Come on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10–11 a.m. to St. Julia Church (374 Boston Post Rd, Weston) for a walk to raise awareness for people in need in Lincoln and Weston, and to benefit the work of our local Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) conference and the food pantry. Suggested donation $10 per person or $25 per family. This will be an easy walk along the new rail trail with an ice cream social at 11a.m. at St. Julia Church. SVdP provides emergency financial help to residents of Lincoln and Weston and operates a food pantry at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln that serves clients from both towns. 

Letter to the editor: Lincolnites attend a compelling Democratic convention

To the editor:

Lincoln’s delegates were (front row, left to right) Jerry Gechter, Joan Kimball, Sasha Golden, Barbara Slayter, and Jennie Morris; and (back row, left to right) Alex Chatfield, Travis Roland, Chris Loschen, Alisar Cohen, and Virginia Welles (click to enlarge).

Spirits were high last Saturday as some 4,000 Democrats gathered at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in Springfield. Representing Lincoln were six delegates, four alternates, and one youth delegate, an activist senior from Lincoln-Sudbury High School.

Shannon Liss-Riordan and Steve Pemberton (candidates for U.S. Rep. Ed Markey’s seat in the primary) emphasized women’s rights, early childhood education, and getting corporate money out of politics. Others including current Reps. Lori Trahan, Seth Mouton, and Ayanna Pressley (via video) focused on fairness and addressing the dilemmas of our increasingly inequitable society.

There were many others with compelling personal stories and political objectives, but three speakers in particular stirred the crowd to cheers and chants as they vigorously waved signs with the speaker’s names: Maura Healey, Ed Markey, and Elizabeth Warren. All three electrified the MassMutual Center with calls for making “a democracy that works for all Americans” (Healey), implementing “big structural change” (Warren), an economy that does not “deny, deprive, and devalue” (Markey), and sharing a common recognition that “Mass Democrats don’t agonize, they organize.”

The final speaker was a compelling presentation by Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, who praised Massachusetts for its strong gun laws and touted the organization’s six million members determined to make a difference on gun violence. The plenary session concluded with affirmation by the delegates of 11 resolutions across a broad variety of political, social, and economic topics.

The afternoon breakout sessions featured panelists including State Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Joe Kennedy, and Framingham’s Mayor Yvonne Spicer as well as experts on the issues under discussion:

  • climate change, sustainability, energy, and the Green New Deal
  • realities of the immigration process
  • racism in American politics
  • narrowing the racial wealth divide in the Commonwealth
  • building coalitions and partnerships in the fight for Democratic values.

Lincoln delegates dispersed themselves among these sessions to glean new ideas and action agendas on each of these topics.

There will be a discussion of the convention and actions proposed for the 2020 elections on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 4–5:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall, facilitated by Lincoln delegates Alisar Cohen, Ginny Welles, Travis Roland, Alex Chatfield, Sasha Golden, Jerry Gechter, Jennie Morris, Chris Loschen, Joan Kimball, and Barbara Slayter.

Sincerely,

Barbara Slayer and Joan Kimball
Co-Chairs, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

Public hearings coming up

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and to act on the following petitions:

  • Johan Pontin, 19 Bedford Rd., for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.
  • Adam Sodowick and Isabelle Lousada, 233 Old Concord Rd., for a special permit to renovate entryway, add a new screened porch and deck, and install kitchen addition to the existing structure.

Planning Board

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10 to review an application for a sign permit. The applicant, Quinn Chan, proposes to add a sign for his business at 152 Lincoln Rd.

Public hearings coming up

Historic District Commission

The Historic District Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 to review the application of Geoffrey Hargreaves-Heald of 24 Sandy Pond Rd. of to repair or replace four columns on the front porch, replace decking and repair any structural issues as necessary.

Historical Commission

The Historical Commission will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 to consider the application of Roy S. MacDowell to demolish the house at 19 South Great Rd.

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and to act on the following petitions:

  • Johan Pontin, 19 Bedford Rd., for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.
  • Adam Sodowick and Isabelle Lousada, 233 Old Concord Rd., for a special permit to renovate entryway, add a new screened porch and deck, and install kitchen addition to the existing structure.

Planning Board

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10 to review an application for a sign permit pursuant to Section 16.5 of the Zoning Bylaw. The applicant, Quinn Chan, proposes to add a sign for his business at 152 Lincoln Rd.