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

health and science

Lincoln among towns now at “moderate” risk for West Nile

Lincoln is one of eight towns in Middlesex County that have been elevated to a “moderate” risk level for the mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV) by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) after four new human cases of WNV were confirmed in the county.

Three of the four cases are male (one in his 40s, one in his 60s, and one in his 80s). All were exposed to WNV in Middlesex County.  This brings the total number of Massachusetts WNV cases to seven.

In addition to Lincoln, the Middlesex towns now at moderate risk are Concord, Lexington, Sudbury, Waltham, Wayland, Weston, and Winchester. The municipalities of Dighton, Fall River, and Swansea in Bristol County were also elevated to moderate risk after WNV was diagnosed in a female under the age of 19 with exposure in that county.

Cambridge, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown were elevated to high risk for WNV as a result of information obtained during case investigations on where the four Middlesex County individuals were exposed to the virus. Most WNV virus activity this year has been focused in an area around Boston and includes parts of Norfolk, Middlesex, and Essex counties.

While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over age 50 are at higher risk for severe disease. Most people infected with WNV will have no symptoms, but when they occur, symptoms may include fever and flu-like illness. In rare cases, more severe illness can occur. Click here for updated case information.

The MDPH recommends the following precautions to avoid mosquito bites:

  • Apply insect repellent when outdoors — Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-methane 3,8-diol or PMD), or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
  • Be aware of peak mosquito hours — The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitos. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during the evening or early morning.
  • Dress appropriately — Wear long-sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitos away from your skin.
  • Drain standing water — Mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water, so limit the number of places around your home for mosquitos to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently.
  • Install or repair screens — Keep mosquitos outside by having tightly fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Animal owners should reduce potential mosquito breeding sites on their property by eliminating standing water from containers such as buckets, tires, and wading pools, especially after heavy rains. Water troughs should be flushed out at least once a week during the summer months to reduce mosquitos near paddock areas. Horse owners should keep horses in indoor stalls at night to reduce their risk of exposure to mosquitos.

Owners should also speak with their veterinarian about mosquito repellents approved for use in animals, and vaccinations to prevent WNV and EEE (Eastern equine encephalitis). If an animal is diagnosed with WNV or EEE, owners are required to report to the Department of Agricultural Resources, Division of Animal Health, by calling 617-626-1795 and the MDPH by calling 617-983-6800.

More information, including all WNV and EEE positive results, can be found on the Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page or by calling the DPH Epidemiology Program at 617-983-6800.

Council on Aging activities in September

Here are some of the September activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For more information and a full list, including regular meetings of groups for memoir writing, foreign language conversation, etc., see the COA’s calendar page or newsletter.

Special COA Zoom meetings
  • September 11 at 10 am — Mindfulness 101 with Catherine Collins
  • September 11 at  1 p.m. — Meditation with Lynne La Spina (30 minutes)
  • September 16 at 10 a.m. — Chat with Town Nurse Tricia McGean
  • September 18 at  2 p.m. — Chat with Selectman Jennifer Glass
  • September 25 at 10 a.m. — Artist showcase: Watercolors by Jack Foley
  • September 29 at  2 p.m. — Presentation to help our neighbors/Domestic Violence Services Network with J. Apsler

Please register for Zoom activities via email to GagneA@Lincolntown.org or call 781-275-8811 x102.

New COA in-person exercise classes

These classes will be held this month under the tent in front of the Pierce House.

  • Stretch and Flex — Tuesdays/Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
  • Active Aging — Tuesdays/Thursdays, 1–1:45 p.m.
  • Line Dancing — Wednesdays, 11 a.m.
  • Meditation — Wednesday, 10 a.m.
  • Meditation — Wednesdays, 3 p.m. (location: Lincoln Woods patio)

To participate, register by calling 781-259-8811 x102.

Outdoor podiatry clinic

Dr. Glenn Ruhl will hold a podiatry clinic outside Bemis Hall on September 22 (rain date: September 29). Call 781-259-8811 for details.

News acorns

Young promoted to fire chief

Brian Young at the virtual Board of Selectmen meeting where he was named fire chief for the town.

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Young has been promoted to Lincoln Fire Chief, succeeding former fire chief Steve Carter, who resigned for health reasons last year. Young previously served as acting chief and interim deputy chief. In recent months, he has been a key part of the town’s public health team that was created due to the pandemic  and successfully navigated budget and staffing issues as well as “quickly winning the admiration and support of his colleagues in surrounding towns,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said at the August 24 Board of Selectmen meeting where Young was appointed to his new role.

Hatha yoga in Pierce Park

Lincoln resident and certified hatha yoga instructor Melinda Bruno-Smith is leading free hatha yoga sessions in Pierce Park on the next four Thursdays (September 3, 10, 17, and 24) from 4–5 p.m. Please bring a yoga mat, towel, or blanket to practice on and wear loose-fitting clothing. The session will be cancelled in case of rain. All levels welcome. 

Author presentation, auction at Farrington Nature Linc

Farrington Nature Linc will host James Edward Mills for a special presentation on “Over the Adventure Gap: the Path of Progress Toward Lasting Social Change” as part of their end-of-summer celebration on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. The event will also include a celebration of their staff and students and an online auction to support their work.

Mills is a freelance journalist who specializes in telling stories about outdoor recreation and environmental conservation. He is the author of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors and the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent.” Tickets are free with suggested donation. A limited number of signed copies of “The Adventure Gap” are available. Click here for tickets.

Used books on sale in library

Now that the library is reopening on a reduced scale, the Friends of the Lincoln Library remind patrons that the used book carts in the building are open and ready for buyers. All books on the cart are $2, and a cash box is attached to the cart. Since the staff cannot make change, please either bring small bills or coins, or plan to purchase several books. Income from the cart sales helps to fund many library programs, equipment purchases, and museum passes. For information on the reopening and how to set up an appointment, click here.

Fix for town water problem expected by next summer

Testing has again shown that Lincoln water contains excessive levels of a certain contaminant, though the level is just over the maximum and work will soon begin on a system to solve the problem permanently.

In an unrelated development, the Water Commission has restricted nonessential outdoor watering to one day a week, down from the previous two (see related story).

For several years, especially during the summer months, routine testing has shown levels of disinfection by-products called total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) above acceptable levels for drinking water. Tests in the second quarter of 2020 revealed levels of 81.9 parts per billion (ppb) while the standard is 80 ppb. The water is safe to drink, but consumption of excessive TTHMs in drinking water over many years may increase the risk of certain types of cancer and cause other adverse effects in some people. The state Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the town to fix the issue.

TTHMs are created when the chlorine (a required disinfectant) reacts with organic material in the water from Flint’s Pond. The level of organic content of the water is now twice what it was when the water treatment plant was designed. That material comes from dissolved plant matter and algae in the pond, and warmer weather accelerates the process, so global warming may be causing the slow increase in recent years. “We can only speculate,” Water Commission member Ruth Ann Hendrickson said last week.

Another possible contributing factor, she said: the water level in Flint’s Pond was very high for a time after the dam that holds back the water was deliberately heightened when Water Department Superintendent Mary Beth Wiser ordered workers to add more boards to the top of the dam some time in 2019.

“That raised the level of the pond and may have pulled decades of leaf mold into the water,” Hendrickson said last week. In fact, the water rose so much that it crept close to the pump house and also began seeping under the dam, which was upgraded in 2017. It’s unclear why Wiser had the water level raised. “I haven’t been able to get a straight story,” Hendrickson said when interviewed for an October 2019 story on the problems at the Water Department.

The department’s consultants recently completed a pilot study to evaluate options for removing the TTHMs, and they submitted their report on August 5 to the DEP, which is expected to approve the plan within three months. Knowing that the project was coming, the town approved $330,000 in bonding in late 2018 for design and installation and treatment equipment.

The DEP originally wanted the town to install a system to add chloramine to the water, but Wiser and consultants Tata and Howard “thought that wasn’t the right solution,” partly because it was more expensive and requires adding more chemicals than the other two alternatives studied, Hendrickson said.

Instead, the system will cause coagulation in  the water, which will make the particles of organic matter stick together in clumps that are large enough to be caught by the filters. The new equipment will be “squeezed into the antique building” close to the pond that also houses the pumping equipment and should be operational by next summer, she said.

News acorns

L-S Environmental Club offers webinars

The L-S Environmental Club has organized a summer environmental webinar series on Thursdays, July 16 to August 13 at 7:30 p.m. Click here for a bios of speakers (including Lincoln resident Alex Chatfield, the climate justice ministry coordinator at St. Anne’s in the Fields Church) and click here to register for any or all sessions.

Lincoln awarded five-year contract to continue operating Hanscom schools

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded the Lincoln Public Schools a contract to continue operating the schools at Hanscom Air Force Base (HAFB) for the next five years — one year with four option years. The contract provides critical financial support for the cost of the district’s central administration and student services shared with the town of Lincoln.

Lincoln Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall and Buckner Creel, administrator for business and finance, led Lincoln’s role in the extensive proposal and award process that required fixed-price budgets for the next five years. The School Committee approved the new Hanscom budget on June 23. The video of the full presentation can be viewed here.

The Lincoln Public Schools have operated the Hanscom schools for more than 50 years.

“Negotiating the Hanscom contract is a complex and arduous process, and the stakes are very high for the school district, the town, and students,” said School Committee member Susan Taylor. “It is never a forgone conclusion that the military will want to continue to contract with local schools, so the five-year commitment is a great honor and affirmation for our district.”

Correction

The June 2 story headlined “The Commons has fewest Covid-19 deaths among area facilities,” contained on incorrect figure for the number of Covid-19 cases reported at the Sunrise in Weston assisted living facility. The correct number is less than 10, not 10–30.

The article has been corrected and also updated with a list of facilities in neighboring towns that did not appear on either of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health lists in its May 27 report (Long-Term Care Facilities With 2+ Known COVID Cases and Facility-Reported Deaths, and Assisted Living Residences With 2+ Known COVID Cases): 

[lgc_column grid=”50″ tablet_grid=”50″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”false”]

Concord Health Care Center
Artis Senior Living
Brookhaven/Gardenview
Lexington Health Care Center
Wingate at Sudbury
Merriam Village
[/lgc_column]

Concord
Lexington
Lexington
Lexington
Sudbury
Weston

The Commons has fewest Covid-19 deaths among area facilities

By Alice Waugh

The Commons in Lincoln has accounted for 16 of the town’s 36 cases of Covid-19, and all of the seven fatalities in Lincoln were residents of the facility who had additional medical issues, Lincoln Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean reported on June 1.

The virus has hit nursing and assisted living facilities especially hard nationwide, since their residents are usually elderly and often have comorbidities (two or more chronic diseases) as well as living in close quarters. Staff members often work at more than one facility, which may have increased cross-facility infection, especially earlier during the pandemic. Thirty-one staff members at The Commons have tested positive for the virus and 28 of them have recovered, McGean told the Board of Selectmen on June 1. 

One hundred fifty-four residents of independent living units at the Commons were recently tested over a two-day period, and all were negative, McGean said. Those residents have been quarantined in their apartments and cottages, getting meals and groceries delivered outside their doors by staff.

“If you don’t go out, you can’t catch this virus,” she observed.

All staff and residents at The Commons are now being routinely tested going forward, said McGean, who praised the facility for its transparency with its residents and officials as well as its efforts in limiting infection control with personal protective equipment, isolation, and quarantining.

In a bit of good news, The Commons has seen fewer deaths than all but one of the long-term care facilities in the area, according to data posted on May 27 by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). The Campion Center, a 70-bed nursing home for Jesuit priests in Weston, has had one patient who contracted Covid-19 and 12 staff members who tested positive, and all 13 have recovered, said Executive Director Nick Gilbert. As of May 27, Weston had 106 cases among its 7,527 residents, state records show.

As a percentage of its patient capacity, the 42-bed Rivercrest Rehab and Nursing (part of Newbury Court in Concord) has had the most deaths at 29% (12 deaths), closely followed by the 40-bed Royal at Wayland Nursing and Rehab Center at 28% (11 deaths).

McGean also reported that seven Lincoln residents have had an antibody test for Covid-19. She noted last month that a positive antibody test could mean isolation for the person until they got a different test to see whether they currently had the virus. The DPH still recommends this, but in a sign of the rapidly evolving public health guidelines, the federal Centers for Disease Control has withdrawn the same recommendation. “Right now we’re getting two different stories,” she said.

There are no facilities in Lincoln that offer testing for active infection with Covid-19, though there are now hundreds of testing sites all over Massachusetts.

As the state slowly reopens, McGean’s work will now include educating staff at summer day camps about infection prevention. Gov. Charlie Baker announced this week that camps and child care centers can open as soon as June 8 with restrictions.

Click the arrow within a column header to sort by that column:

Long-term care facilities with 2+ known Covid cases and facility-reported deaths

TownTotal
cases		DatePopulation
(2010)		Cases as %
of 2010 pop.
Lexington1514/15/2033,4800.45%
Weston654/13/2012,0670.54%
Bedford*644/15/2014,1260.45%
Sudbury494/13/2018,9400.26%
Wayland264/10/2013,7200.19%
Concord224/13/2019,3230.11%
Lincoln164/12/206,7260.24%

* Staff and residents
** Cumulative COVID-19 deaths – includes residents only

Assisted living residences with 2+ known Covid cases

TownPopulation (2010 census)
Lexington33,480
Concord19,323
Sudbury18,940
Bedford14,126
Wayland13,720
Weston12,067
Lincoln6,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Area facilities that do not appear on either list:

  • Concord Health Care Center (Concord)
  • Artis Senior Living (Lexington)
  • Brookhaven/Gardenview (Lexington)
  • Lexington Health Care Center (Lexington)
  • Wingate at Sudbury (Sudbury)
  • Merriam Village (Weston)

Council on Aging activities in June

Support group for those who’ve lost loved ones during the pandemic
June 2 at 1 p.m.
The loss of a loved one is hard at any time. But for people who have suffered losses during the COVID pandemic, social distancing and stay at home advisories have made mourning even more difficult. Most religions build in practices to offer support to the mourner. And outside of formal religions, friends will gather round to support the person as well. Funerals, wakes, visitation hours allows friends and families to come together to help mourners in the aftermath of the death but with the COVID crisis these may be delayed or may not happen at all. So dealing with deaths now is especially difficult. The COA invites you to join a new support group for those who have lost a loved one during the pandemic. The group will be held via Zoom on Tuesday afternoons at 1 p.m. for four weeks beginning June 5. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, a social worker with many years experience helping people cope with loss, will lead the group. To sign up for the group, please contact bottumc@lincolntown.org.

Chat with Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s public health nurse
June 10 at 10 a.m.
Do you have questions about Covid-19, whether about its prevention, transmission, symptoms, or treatment? Are there other concerns you have about seasonal health issues such as ticks and Lyme disease or EEE? Do you have general health questions? Join Tricia on June 10 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. Tricia will answer your questions and provide you with accurate and science-based information To attend, email bottumc@lincolntown.org. Advance registration required.

Have a conversation with a Select(man)
June 12 at 2 p.m.
Residents of all ages are invited to a conversation with a Select(man) on June 12 at 2 p.m. via Zoom. Join Board of Selectmen Chairperson Jennifer Glass to get the latest updates, ask your questions, and give your ideas. For information on how to join in, please contact Jennifer at selectmen@lincolntown.org prior to the meeting.

Play Feel-Good Bingo online and learn more about depression
June 17 at 1 p.m.
Feel-Good Bingo is a game where you learn more about the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for depression — whether you’re feeling blue yourself, you have a friend or family member who might need some help, or you just enjoy bingo! Depression is similar to other disorders, such as diabetes or heart disease. They all can be influenced by lifestyle and the ups and downs of life. There is also a genetic factor to these illnesses, meaning you may be more susceptible to them if your parents, grandparents, brothers, or sisters have them. To play, just email Abby Butt at butta@lincolntown.org, and she will send you a special bingo card. Then, tune in with Zoom on June 17 at 1 p.m. and Abby will show you a picture that illustrates some aspect of depression and talk about it a bit. If you have the picture on your card, just cover it up and when you have a straight line, “raise your hand” and let Abby know you have bingo! The COA will award prizes. If you notice that you or someone you care about has experienced the symptoms described in the game for a significant period of time, tell your doctor, a social worker, a trusted friend, or a health care provider or call the COA at 781-259-8811 or email Abby at the email address above.

Free beginning meditation
June 19 at 2 p.m.
Come one and all to a free beginners’ meditation session held via Zoom on June 19 at 2 p.m. for a half-hour. Please attend if you’re wondering what others find in meditating. Meditation opens the channels of our natural states of peace, joy, health, and aids in decreasing the negative effects of aging. Experienced meditation teacher Lynne LaSpina will begin each session with a few minutes of stretching muscles to relax, and breathing exercises to help focus before meditating for about 10 minutes. You must sign up in advance by emailing bottumc@lincolntown.org.

Ongoing activities:

French conversation

Brush up on your French speaking skills the second and fourth Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom! For more information or to sign up, email bottumc@lincolntown.org.

Russian conversation group

Come brush up on your Russian by speaking it with others on the first and third Wednesdays from 11­–12:30 p.m. via Zoom. To join the group, please contact bottumc@lincolntown.org.

Lincoln men’s coffee
Via Zoom every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 8:30–10 a.m. Bagels, cream cheese, lox, doughnuts, coffee and camaraderie — a great chance to catch up with buddies and make new friends. To sign up, please email bottumc@lincolntown.org.

German conversation
Come enjoy speaking German virtually (Zoom or teleconference) on the first, third, and fifth Fridays at 10 a.m. If interested, contact bottumc@lincolntown.org.

Flush water pipes if your building has been vacant

The Lincoln Water Department is advising occupants of small businesses and homes that have been closed or vacant for several weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic to flush their pipes when they return.

Non-essential businesses such as hair salons, dental offices, and consulting businesses have been closed by state order, and some people in the region have decamped to second homes. When buildings are unused for more than three weeks, water quality may become degraded due to stagnation, which can lead to elevated lead, copper, and Legionella bacteria levels as well as discolored water. The department’s May 6 advisory details steps that property owners should take to flush lines when returning after an extended absence, including regular vacations lasting three weeks or more.

The Water Department office is closed, but office are working remotely and can be contacted at kacprzykm@lincolntown.org or 781-259-2669 (press option #3). Operators are maintaining the water treatment plant and other facilities and can respond to emergencies, though non-essential customer appointments will be scheduled for a later date. A second May 6 memo describes precautions for staff and residents if a home visit is necessary during the state of emergency.

Two Covid-19 deaths at The Commons

Two residents at The Commons at Lincoln have died of Covid-19 and the town’s total number of cases has risen to 16, Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean reported on Tuesday.

Lincoln has the lowest number of cases compare to surrounding towns. Lexington has the most with 151 (see table below).

“The other towns I cover are really amping up, and I’m guessing that Lincoln will continue to have more and more cases,” said McGean, who is also the public health nurse for Concord and Carlisle and performs some public health functions for Maynard as well. 

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of social distancing,” she added. Anyone who needs help with food or medication delivery can contact the Lincoln Board of Health (781-259-2614 or carrolle@lincolntown.org) or Council on Aging director Carolyn Bottum (781-259-8811 or bottumc@lincolntown.org).

The Commons, like other senior housing and care facilities, is vulnerable to clusters of illness because of the age and physical proximity of its residents. “The situation has been escalating over the last week,” McGean noted. The facility is “exploring, among other options,” the idea of creating a Covid-19 isolation unit, said a spokesperson for Benchmark Senior Living, which owns The Commons along with 34 facilities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Many staff members at The Commons also work at other Benchmark facilities. Thirteen employees who work at The Commons have tested positive so far, the spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

“We are working closely with agencies to limit their staff interactions in other buildings. All associates, whether they are a full-time Benchmark Senior Living associate or a temporary agency worker, are screened and protected in exactly the same way in accordance with CDC guidelines,” the spokesperson said. The company outlined its precautionary measures on its coronavirus web page.

The Board of Health has strongly recommended that the facility test all residents and staff (a total of about 500 people) for Covid-19. “The best way to control this is to know who’s infected as early as possible and isolate them,” Lincoln Board of Health member Patricia Miller said.

The problem is the limited availability of tests. The board recommended that The Commons reach out to the National Guard, which is providing free on-site testing for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities (though not independent living units), but they’re backed up by at least one to two weeks, Miller said. 

The facility is also looking into the possibility of having testing done through Mt. Auburn Hospital. Benchmark Senior Living, which owns The Commons, can do testing, but there’s a long turnaround time to get results back from labs in another state, Miller said.

The Board of Health hasn’t officially ordered testing at The Commons only because it wouldn’t make any difference. “They want to get everyone tested as well — they want to do the right thing in this situation,” Miller said, referring to management at The Commons. “All these facilities are vying for the same resources. There’s just not enough to go around because we’re in the peak of this.”

The Benchmark spokesperson would not confirm testing plans except to say that they are “proactively looking at all options to test our staff and residents.”

Staff members are leaving dinner and breakfast for the following day at residents’ doors each evening, based on what they ordered from a menu, according to two residents. They also shop for groceries requested by residents and call them every day to check on their health and answer questions. No one (even those in independent living cottages and apartments) may have outside visitors, and residents are discouraged from visiting each other. 

“The Commons has done a marvelous job. They’re working as hard as they can to keep us safe,” said resident David Levington.

Covid-19 cases in Lincoln and surrounding towns

(Note that towns post data on different days)

TownTotal
cases		DatePopulation
(2010)		Cases as %
of 2010 pop.
Lexington1514/15/2033,4800.45%
Weston654/13/2012,0670.54%
Bedford*644/15/2014,1260.45%
Sudbury494/13/2018,9400.26%
Wayland264/10/2013,7200.19%
Concord224/13/2019,3230.11%
Lincoln164/12/206,7260.24%

* Includes Hanscom Air Force Base