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

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News acorns

bikeBike found outside Clark Gallery

Is this bike yours? It was found unlocked outside the Clark Gallery in late October and sat outside for several days. If you think it’s yours, email Joshua Jade at mister_jade@hotmail.com or stop by the gallery in the Mall at Lincoln Station.

State Rep. Linsky to speak at LDTC meeting

State Rep. David Linsky, contributor to the new Massachusetts Gun Safety Law, will be the guest speaker at the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee meeting on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. in Bemis Hall. The meeting focusing on gun laws will discuss the status of Massachusetts legislation as a national model and the Brady Campaign’s Ask Campaign aimed at keeping children safe from guns in the home, as well as a court decision on recent New York and Connecticut gun safety laws. Also on the agenda: the possibility of submitting a citizens’ petition supporting development of national gun safety laws to the 2016 Town Meeting. The public is always welcome to LDTC meetings.

A capella concert at L-S on Nov. 13

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s student-run a capella group Accent and Tufts University’s Beelzebubs will appear on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the L-S Kirschner Auditorium. The Bubs are known for singing backup songs on the popular TV series Glee. In 2012, they won Best Collegiate a Cappella Album and Best All-Male Collegiate a Cappella Song. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Multimedia program on “Turandot”

Erika Reitshamer presents a multimedia program about Turandot, Puccini’s final opera, on Sunday, Nov. 15 from 2-3:30 p.m at the Lincoln Public Library. Reitshamer, born and educated in Germany, was instrumental in the founding of the Boston Lyric Opera and served as vice president of the Wagner Society of Boston for nine years. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Birches School open house on Nov. 15

The Birches School in Lincoln, an independent K-6 school offering vigorous interdisciplinary academics within a mindful, nurturing environment, will host an open house on Sunday, Nov. 15 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at 14 Bedford Rd. (the Stone Church). Birches affords close, daily contact with nature and conducts many of its thematic inquiry-based units outdoors.

Up for discussion: marijuana businesses in Lincoln

cannabisBy Alice Waugh

Is Lincoln going to pot? Not just yet, though residents will have chance to talk about it at the State of the Town meeting on November 14.

The Board of Selectmen decided to open up the topic of cultivating or selling medicinal marijuana in Lincoln after being approached by Dr. Stephanie Lipton of New England Wellspring, a firm that has been talking to several other towns in addition to Lincoln about possible dispensary sites. Before the state Department of Public Health (DPH) will consider issuing a license to dispense or grow marijuana, the applicant must first have in hand a letter of support (or at least non-opposition) from the town government.

No specific sites in Lincoln have been discussed. “The town has not been engaged in any formal negotiations with New England Wellspring, but we have had a number of informal, exploratory conversations,” said Selectman Noah Eckhouse.

“Our board thought long and hard about what we would do if formally approached by an applicant for such a letter. Should it really just be our decision? We concluded that we’d much prefer to have some broader guidance from the town on this issue,” he said.

The issues of siting, hours and security would certainly arise, as would the possibility of the town negotiating its own fiscal arrangement with an operator. “The conversation at State of the Town is intended to inform the selectmen and other land use boards about Lincoln’s view on these topics, so that we can act with the best interests and assessment of the town,” Eckhouse said.

In July, Acton selectmen voted unanimously to approve a letter of non-opposition for a potential cultivating and distribution facility for New England Wellspring, while Needham voted in September to deny a similar request.

Also last month, Weston authorized a letter of non-opposition for the company to open a medical marijuana dispensary in office space at 104 Boston Post Rd. near the intersection with I-95. New England Wellspring told the Weston officials that if everything is approved by the state, the Weston site would sell marijuana grown in Acton and the Weston site would have 24/7 security and be used primarily for distribution via home delivery, accepting a handful of walk-in patients each day by appointment only.

The Weston approval included the caveat that the site may not be used for distribution of recreational marijuana in the event that becomes legal in Massachusetts. This could be an issue if organizers collect enough signatures to put the question on the statewide ballot in 2016.

Lipton is also co-owner of A House Call Vets, a veterinary practice that offers in-home care. She told the Lincoln Squirrel in an email that she had no comment “until we are further along in the application process pending DPH consideration.”

The state’s first medical marijuana dispensary opened in Salem in June. The DPH has also issued retail permits for sites in Brockton and Northhampton.

News acorns

correction-smCorrections
  • The calendar listing for the October 29 climate change talk described in the October 16 News Acorns gave an incorrect location. It will be held in Bemis Hall.
  • In the photo of the National Merit Scholarship Commended Students on October 15, two names were omitted. Adam Thompson of Lincoln and Tiger Zhang of Sudbury are also Commended Students but did not appear in the photograph.
More Halloween activities for kids

Celebrate Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. with the Friends of Minuteman National Park at the annual Spooky Colonial Tales, lantern walk and singalongs featuring the Lincoln Public Library’s Sally Kindleberger. Meet at Hartwell Tavern (off Route 2A opposite the intersection with Bedford Road). Suggested donation for mini lanterns: $5 per person or $10 per family. This activity is best for children age 8 and under. See the October 11 Lincoln Squirrel for other Halloween events for kids of all ages.

The First Parish Church will host a pizza potluck and pumpkin carving party on Sunday, Oct. 25 in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Rd. from 5:30-8 p.m. Bring your favorite pizza to share or make a donation toward purchased pizzas. Bring your pumpkin, carving tools, and newspaper. All ages and families invited. This event is sponsored by the church’s Youth Program Committee. For more information, email Kathy Cronin.

cap

A hat found near Doherty’s (click for larger view).

Is this your hat?

Found: a colorful, soft hand-knit hat found near Doherty’s Garage parking lot. If this hat belongs to you or your child, please call Alessandra at 508-314-2194.

Discussion at L-S on adolescent behaviors and health

Where do L-S students feel bullying is taking place at school? How many L-S students are smoking e-cigarettes? Who is at greater risk for engaging in self-harming behaviors? How many L-S students feel that they lives are “very stressful”? How many L-S students are driving after smoking marijuana? These questions and more will be addressed at the World Cafe discussion regarding the 2014 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey on Wednesday, Oct. 28 in the L-S cafeteria at 7:30 p.m. There will be an introduction to the survey results and then L-S students will help facilitate topic-based table discussions.

Zoning Board of Appeals needs volunteers

Lincoln’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) is seeking new members for open seats on the board. The ZBA is a land use board that interprets and applies the town’s zoning bylaw. It acts on a case-by-case basis on requests for variances, special permits, and appeals of decisions by the building inspector, considering the impact on the town and neighborhoods and the requirements of the bylaws. The board, which has five regular members and three associate members, generally meets one evening a month. For information or an application, please visit this Town of Lincoln volunteer web page or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601.

State of the Town promises plenty of discussion

stateofthetown-croppedResidents will have an opportunity to lean about and discuss several front-and-center Lincoln issues at the State of the Town meeting on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Brooks auditorium. Agenda items will be:

  • A status report on Ballfield Road campus planning efforts, incorporating information presented at the Campus Mater Planning Committee forum on October 17.
  • A general discussion of medical marijuana distribution and cultivation. There is no specific proposal on the table, but town officials have had informal talks (though not recently) with New England Wellspring, which is looking into locating facilities in one or more towns including Lincoln.
  • A preview of contemplated zoning bylaw amendments.
  • A discussion on the merits of installing solar power collection equipment at the closed Lincoln landfill adjacent to the transfer station.
  • A status report on Minuteman Regional High School’s proposed new building project.
  • A segment devoted to open discussion.

The morning will also include a very brief Special Town Meeting to vote on a proposed bylaw amendment that would ensure that Lincoln’s Annual Town Meeting always occurs in advance of its Annual Town Election.

The Lincoln Squirrel will have more information on some of these topics in the coming weeks.

Letter to the editor: keep supporting “We the People Act”

letter

To the editor:

The legislative bill H3127 (“An Act for a U.S. Constitutional Amendment and Amendments Convention”), which was endorsed by overwhelming vote at Lincoln’s Town Meeting earlier this year, will have its legislative committee hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 28 before the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. The hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m. in State House hearing room A2.

The “We the People Act” calls on the Massachusetts Legislature to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution saying that the rights it protects are those of natural persons only—not corporations or other artificial entities—and that political contributions and expenditures are not protected free speech and can be limited by Congress and the states. Furthermore, if the US Congress fails to propose an amendment, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is on record for requesting an Article V constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing such an amendment.

Its passage will make Massachusetts the fifth state to request an Article V convention with the goal of limiting corporate political power and big money politics. Lincoln residents may wish to contact State Sen. Michael Barrett and State Rep. Tom Stanley to reiterate their support for this bill.

It’s not often that voters actually see progress in bills they have supported, but this is one of those rare times that progress is actually being made in front of our very eyes.

Sincerely,

Gary Davis (chair, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee)
20R Indian Camp Lane

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

No major obstacles to putting community center on campus, consultant says

A map showing which parts of the campus were built at different times (click to enlarge).

By Alice Waugh

If a community center is built on the Hartwell campus, more parking will be needed, but creating a new entrance from Lincoln Road on the south side of the site probably won’t be necessary, according to an interim report by the Campus Master Planning Committee consultants.

Because both a school project and a community center are being contemplated on the Ballfield Road campus, the CMPC was formed to study the basic infrastructure and physical layout of the campus and assess the capacity of the existing infrastructure (buildings, roadways, septic systems, etc.) to support future uses. [Read more…] about No major obstacles to putting community center on campus, consultant says

Letter to the editor: attend campus master plan forum

letter

To the editor:

This letter is urge all to come to the first forum hosted by the Campus Master Planning Committee on Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7-9 p.m. in the Brooks Gym.

Lincoln is about to engage as a whole in crafting a new, big idea. There is an opportunity to create a legacy project that will serve now and for generations to come. This is the type of project that Lincoln has been famous for—big-picture, holistic thinking, and making large, long-term investments.

[Read more…] about Letter to the editor: attend campus master plan forum

News acorns

acornObserve and record nature on Oct. 14 at deCordova

Join Tom Gumbart, director of the Lincoln Conservation Department, in “Drawing on Nature,” a day-long observation of local flora and fauna from the deCordova Museum’s Rappaport Roof Terrace on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.,. Observe nature and record sightings through drawing, painting, poetry, photography, or data charts. Gumbart’s expertise on nature and local history provides opportunity for close observation and learning. Paper, drawing utensils, and binoculars are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring tools and materials of their choice for viewing and recording.

Corrections and an addition

In an Oct. 8 News Acorn about the upcoming Open Studio artists’ reception, the incorrect name and phone number were given. The person to contact for more information is Ruth Ann Hendrickson at 781-259-1551.

In the October 11 News Acorns item about the Lincoln Family Association’s Halloween activities, three names were given to contact for further information, when in fact the only person who should have been listed was Laura Taylor.

Next HATS meeting is Oct. 22

Hanscom Air Force Base Installation Commander Col. Michael Vogel will speak at the next HATS meeting (Hanscom Area Towns Committee) on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Office Building. Also on the agenda: updates on the Route 2 projects involving Crosby’s Corner and the bridge over I-95.

Piano recital by Rhapsody in Bemis Hall

On Sunday, Oct. 25, members of a group of amateur pianists known as Rhapsody will present a piano recital at 3 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The performance is free and open to the public, and all are welcome to attend. Featured on the program will be selections from Bartok, Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin, Handel, Liszt, Schubert and Schumann played on one of the finest Steinways in the Boston area. Rhapsody was formed in 2003 by visionary amateur pianists including Lincoln resident Ken Hurd who sought a venue in which to perform for each other, both to grow musically and to share their musical journey with others.  It has since grown to 18 people from the Boston metropolitan area, and members have met continuously every month for 12 years. This will be their sixth public performance on the beautifully restored Steinway at Bemis Hall.