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

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Letter to the editor: Vote for Koutoukian

letter

Editor’s note: The Lincoln Squirrel is happy to publish letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and sent to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com by a verifiable Lincoln resident. Letters containing personal attacks, profanity, gross distortions of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. The editor reserves the right to correct spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation, etc.

To the Editor:

On October 15, voters will elect Democratic and Republican candidates in a special primary election to fill Ed Markey’s seat from Massachusetts’ Fifth Congressional District.

We need progressive Democrat Peter Koutoujian to be our next representative to Congress. Whether it may be women’s rights in health care and the workplace, responsible gun violence prevention, public safety, protecting the environment and addressing climate change, education from preschool through adulthood, and building a strong 21st-century middle-class economy, Peter is hands-down the right person for the job.

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View Bemis Hall space availability and rent online

bemisYou can now make reservations for using the second floor of Bemis Hall online. Simply navigate to the “Facilities” section of the town website at www.lincolntown.org or click directly on the Bemis Hall page.

Bemis is available for public use after 5 p.m. on weekdays and after noon on Sundays. Multiple events can be booked for the same day as long as there is a half-hour break between events.

All the information is available online: an online calendar showing times and events already booked, rental fee structure, security deposit, and rules and regulations. Multiple events can be booked for the same day as long as there is a half-hour break between events. Each request is automatically sent to the new Bemis Hall scheduler, Barbara Low. If there are no conflicts, you will receive an email approving your request, though you will still need to mail in your security deposit and rental fee.< Fill out requests for space online by clicking the "Request Reservation" button at the top of the calendar. If you prefer to complete a paper form, both the application and rules and regulations are posted as PDF files on the site. If you have any questions or require further information, contact Barbara Low at 781-259-8341. Her email and phone number are also on the website.

Democratic candidates for Congress share views in Lincoln

democrat_donkey_logoThe five Democratic candidates running for the 5th District seat of former Rep. Ed Markey, who was sworn in to the U.S. Senate today, appeared at Pierce House on July 11.

This was the first time that the candidates—State Senators Will Brownsberger, Katherine Clark and Karen Spilka, State Representative Carl Sciortino, and Sheriff Peter Koutoujian—have appeared together. Lincoln Democratic Town Committee chair Gary Davis said the overflow crowd included attendees from Belmont, Cambridge, Lexington, Sudbury, Waltham, Wayland, and Weston as well as Lincoln.

“There were only slight differences between candidates in overall philosophy,” Davis said in a press release. “Most described themselves as progressives advocating a balanced and fair economy, promotion of 21st-century jobs in Massachusetts, a priority for high-quality education, the need for action on climate change, preservation and enhancement of women’s and family rights and protections, Social Security and services for seniors, and support for the Affordable Care Act. All the candidates illustrated a record of success and public service advocacy in their legislative and professional rolls. Likewise, all indicated their recognition of current Congressional dysfunction and obstruction, and made commitments to take an aggressive roll in resolution and bipartisan outreach while protecting progressive values.”

The primary will be held on October 15 and the special election will take place on December 10.

Meet Democratic Congressional candidates on Thursday

democrat_donkey_logoThe Lincoln Democratic Town Committee is sponsoring an  event for Democratic Congressional candidates to each present and discuss their policy positions on the issues on Thursday, July 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the Pierce House. This is the best chance for voters to meet, see and hear all five declared candidates at the start of the campaign to replace Ed Markey for the 5th Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives following his recent election to the U.S. Senate. Dates for the Special Primary and Special General elections for this campaign have not yet been announced.

All five announced Congressional candidates have now committed to appear for this informal presentation and discussion: State Senators Will Brownsberger, Katherine Clark and Karen Spilka, State Representative Carl Sciortino, and Sheriff Peter Koutoujian. Each candidate will have a designated time to speak and answer questions from the audience.  A brief social period will both precede and follow the event to allow candidates to mingle, meet and greet voters.

RSVP is requested but not required. Refreshments will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Gary Davis, Chair, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee, 781-259-0318 or garyddavis04@gmail.com.

Don’t forget to vote!

There will be a special state election on Tuesday, June 25 to choose a U.S. Senator to replace Secretary of State John Kerry. Polls will be open in the Smith gym from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here’s what the ballot will look like:

ballot-jun2013

Change in town office closings

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The town offices will now be closed to the public from Wednesday, June 26 through noon on Monday, July 1 to accommodate the move from the temporary space in the Hartwell pods back to the renovated Town Office Building at 16 Lincoln Road. Offices will reopen to the public at the Lincoln Road location at noon on Monday, July 1.

The building’s dedication ceremony schedule has not changed — it will be Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m.

Summer hours in July and August for the town offices will be Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Fridays).

Town offices to close for move; dedication Saturday

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The renovated Town Office Building will be dedicated in a ceremony on Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m., and officials are asking residents to carpool, bike or walk to this much-anticipated event, as parking is limited.

Town offices will be closed to the public from Friday, June 21 through Wednesday, June 26 to accommodate the move from the Hartwell pods back to the renovated Town Office Building at 16 Lincoln Road. Offices will reopen to the public at that location on Thursday, June 27 The Town Clerk’s office will remain open to the public at the Ballfield Road location through the end of June.

Meeting for current and would-be solar homeowners

greeningLincoln’s Green Energy Technology Committee is hosting a meeting for solar homeowners, and those who are considering solar, at the Hartwell multipurpose room this Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. Participants in the SolarizeMass program will be on hand discuss their experiences with the various phases of the process, from assessment to design, contracting and installation, along with solar coach Jennie Morris. Lincoln residents have worked with a variety of different solar installers, and all who have “gone solar” are encouraged to attend.

Town office building to have June 22 ribbon-cutting

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The renovated Town Office Building will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m.

Over the past 17 months, the historical 16,000-square-foot building at 16 Lincoln Road has been gutted down to the framing (see the Lincoln Squirrel, December 6, 2012) while town staff have operated out of the Hartwell pods. The renovated building will feature two new stairwells and an elevator as well as energy-efficient wiring, heating and cooling, and lighting design to meet LEED silver certification. The basement level has been designed as office space so there will be three full floors of office and meeting space for staff and residents.

Design work was done by Donham & Sweeney Architects and the builder is Colantonio Construction.