The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

letters to the editor

Letter to the editor: Support expanded bottle bill

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To the editor:

I am voting YES on Question 2 on the November ballot because more types of bottles (water, iced tea, etc.) will now be included. This will reduce plastic waste and litter enormously.

But there’s also another great reason to vote for Question 2 on the ballot this November. With it, voters have a chance to right a wrong. Years ago, politicians raided the clean environment fund (where unclaimed bottle deposits used to go) and moved that money into the general fund to spend as they please. Question 2 will move those unclaimed deposits back into the clean environment fund, where it will be used exclusively for cleaning up our open spaces and increasing recycling.

Think about it—less bottle litter and more funds for a clean environment. What’s not to like?

Sincerely,

Diana Abrashkin
181 South Great Rd.

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 Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: come to CCSC forum on Oct. 17

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To the editor:

The Community Center Study Committee and the Lincoln Council on Aging invite Lincoln residents of all ages to a public meeting on Friday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall to explore the need for a new community center in town.

The Community Center Study Committee (CCSC) was appointed by the Board of Selectmen to evaluate options for the long- and short-term facilities needs of both Parks and Recreation and the COA, in addition to the numerous other community organizations which currently use such town facilities as Bemis Hall and the Hartwell School buildings for their activities and storage. Questions to be explored by CCSC, discussed at November’s State of the Town Meeting and next spring’s Town Meeting, are whether Lincoln should have a Community Center and, if so, where it should be located and whether it should be new construction or adapted from within an existing structure.

At the October 17 meeting, residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the space and programming needs of the departments and community organizations and the options being considered, then have an open discussion of what programs, activities, and services should be included and where either a combined or separate facilities should be sited. This meeting, along with a charrette held on October 8 (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Oct. 14, 2014), are the first steps in its dialogue with residents to explore and discuss various options. We hope that any residents who were not able to attend the October 8 evening event will come to the October 17 public meeting. The CCSC will then take information learned during the workshop as they go forward. Refreshments will be served.

We hope to see you on October 17!

Sincerely,

Dilla Tingley
5 Laurel Drive
Community Center Study Committee and Council on Aging board member

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.

Letter to the editor: Political signs being stolen

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To the editor:

Political candidate lawn signs that comply with town policy are being stolen.

Judging by experiences in this and the past few elections, and in spite of frequent publication in local media, there seems to be a lack of understanding or appreciation regarding political signs. A policy was issued by the town of Lincoln in August 2012. In the words of the town officials, this policy was developed to recognize the historical practice of town residents in the apparent interest of restraint, fair play and courtesy, and to be consistent with statewide legal precedent protecting free speech. Following are the key points.

One political sign may be placed by right on private land, not to exceed 8 square feet and for no more than 180 days prior to the election. Political signs can be held by right (without a permit) on town-owned land as long as they don’t impact safety or constitute a hazard for either motorists or pedestrians. Unattended political signs can be placed by right on town-owned land at the designated intersections in Section 16.2 (d) of the Zoning Bylaw. These five locations are at the intersections of:

  • Sandy Pond Road and Lincoln Road
  • Ballfield Road and Lincoln Road
  • Lincoln Road and South Great Road
  • Bedford Road and Morningside Lane
  • Codman Road and Concord Road

It was noted at the time that the historical practice or habit of town residents has been to limit the display of these political signs to one week before election, a practice that political campaigns and candidate supporters are expected to respect. It should also be noted that such political signs are the private property of the relevant candidate’s campaign and the resident on whose property the sign has been placed. As such, vandalism and/or unauthorized removal is illegal.

I hope this will clarify misunderstandings and become fully appreciated by town residents and campaign supporters alike.

Sincerely,

Gary Davis
Indian Camp Lane
Chair, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

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.

Letter to the editor: Antia challenges Stanley to debate

Editor’s note: See a profile of Antia in the Lincoln Squirrel, June 10, 2014.

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To the editor:

My name is Sharon Antia, and I am the independent candidate for State Representative in the Ninth Middlesex District in Massachusetts. This district includes Lincoln as well as Waltham wards and precincts 1, 2, 3, 4.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 7.1.

I am writing to let everyone know that my opponent, Tom Stanley, will not participate in a candidate forum. Forums provide voters the opportunity to hear and candidates the opportunity to express, their views. By refusing to engage, he is depriving citizens the chance to observe, compare and contrast their options for representation in Boston.

I urge you to contact Mr. Stanley and ask him to engage in a candidate forum. November 4th is drawing close, and I would very much like the opportunity to come before you and have our voices heard.

Sincerely,

Sharon Antia
165 South Great Rd.

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.

Letter to the editor: Vote yes on Question 2

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To the editor:

It’s time to stop litter and clean up Massachusetts!

A “yes” vote on Question 2 will update the successful 30-year-old beverage container deposit law, also known as the Bottle Bill, to require bottles of water, iced tea and sports drink to have the same 5-cent deposit currently on soda and beer bottles. These newer bottles litter our ballfields, our beaches and parks, and our city streets.

There is widespread support for updating the bottle bill from the public, including organizations such as Sierra Club and Mass Audubon, and over 200 city and towns that passed resolutions to update the bottle bill and 400 businesses that endorsed the updated bottle bill.

Currently, 80 percent of containers with a deposit are recycled, while only 23 percent of containers without a deposit, such as water and sports drinks bottles, are recycled. The remaining 77 percent become litter or end up in landfills.

When we began returning bottles and cans for a deposit over 30 years ago, soda and beer bottles were all that we had to worry about. It’s time to update the bill so beverages which have come on the market more recently, like water bottles and sports drinks, will also be recycled. Updating the Bottle Bill will save our cities and towns about $6.7 million a year—or an average of $1 per person in our state—in litter pickup and trash disposal costs. It will also mean less waste going to landfills and incinerators. Saving money for our communities is a common-sense action that helps everyone. And any unclaimed deposits will go to a state fund earmarked for recycling and environmental purposes.

I strongly urge Lincoln residents to join in me voting yes on Question 2!

Christy Foote-Smith
Director, Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary

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.

Letter to the editor: Celebrate inclusion with community center

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To the editor:

For the first time in many years, Lincoln has an opportunity to complete a long-held dream of many citizens by the addition of a multigenerational community center on a Lincoln community campus.

Lincoln first expressed the dream in 1932 and began its long tradition of celebrating diversity and inclusion with one small step—it built a ballfield. An anonymous donor, believing the town needed a place for the townsfolk of all ages and from all walks of life to come together and celebrate community, gifted a sum of money to allow the town to purchase the land that now forms the center field of the school campus. The field was deeded to the town, to be overseen by the Board of Selectman. The field became home of Lincoln’s semipro baseball team, the Mohawks.

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Letter to the editor: School officials say thanks

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To the editor:

The School Building Advisory Committee and the School Committee would like to thank all the community members who attended the first SBAC public forum this past Tuesday, Sept. 16 [editor’s note: see the Lincoln Squirrel, Sept. 17, 2014]. Over 90 residents attended and engaged in conversation about educational and facilities priorities for the Lincoln School, cost estimates of several renovation components, and what those in attendance hoped the study would achieve.

This was the first of four iterative forums. The next one will be held on October 16 at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym, when consultants from Dore & Whittier will present some preliminary renovation alternatives.

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.

Letter to the editor: Sander resigns from School Committee

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Dear Lincoln community,

I write reluctantly to announce that I am stepping down from the Lincoln School Committee. I have been asked to take a leadership position with the Cambridge Quaker Meeting in which I grew up and am still active, and I feel called to fully engage my responsibilities there. Were I to try to do both, I would probably risk being excommunicated by my family, who have always been extremely tolerant about the extensive time I’ve already been spending in community meetings.

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Letter to the editor: Exploring the need for a community center in Lincoln

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Editor’s note: for background information about the community center, see the Lincoln Squirrel, July 31, 2014.

To the editor:

In May, the Board of Selectmen appointed the Community Center Study Committee (CCSC) to evaluate the concept of a new community center for Lincoln. Their charge requires that we evaluate options for the long and short-term facilities needs of the Parks & Recreation Department and Council on Aging. That evaluation will include what succeeds and what fails with respect to their current locations. Many towns recognize the value of a facility serving both populations and as a central gathering place for all residents. Our goal is to make this evaluative process comprehensive, open and transparent.

On Wednesday, October 8 from 6-9 p.m., we will hold a town-wide planning charrette at Hartwell School Pod B. Everyone is encouraged to attend and participate. Refreshments will be served. You can attend for the entire evening or come and go as you please. We are seeking residents’ views on what form a community center might take in Lincoln and where it should be located.

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