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My Turn

My Turn: Planning for climate-friendly aviation

May 8, 2025

By Christopher Eliot

In a previous Lincoln Squirrel article, I explained why “sustainable” aviation fuel (SAF) is unlikely to make aviation climate-friendly, barring one or more significant technological breakthroughs.

If SAF will not make aviation climate friendly, what should be done? Unfortunately, this is a very hard question to answer. I do not have an ideal solution any more than the aviation industry, but I believe my truthful admission is better than industry propaganda. It requires a lot of energy to fight the law of gravity. Currently, aircraft use the energy reservoir of millions of years of fossil fuel. It is unclear what renewable energy sources can practically be used to support aviation. It is more unclear if we can produce enough renewable energy for basic electrical needs and aviation too.

Expanding aviation is clearly wrong: we don’t want to make a hard problem bigger. We need to constrain the growth of aviation, starting with private jets which are the worst part of the problem as explained by Alex Chatfield on February 23 (“My Turn: Proposed private-jet Hanscom expansion is a climate bomb in sheep’s clothing“).

Existing aircraft can be made somewhat more efficient, thus reducing their environmental impact. Unfortunately, crowded seating, while loathsome for passengers, does reduce the fuel consumption per passenger mile. Scheduling that reduces empty seats is beneficial to the airlines and to the environment. Flying directly to a destination under 3,000 miles away is almost always more environmentally friendly than flights with layovers. Further efficiencies are possible but will only produce some percentage of improvement, easily outweighed by increases in travel.

Spending a trillion dollars to support production of SAF does not seem like a good use of resources or a path to a solution. Spending a trillion dollars on high-speed rail is much more likely to succeed and have a much better impact on climate considerations.

The single most impactful proposal is the development of blended wing aircraft. Fundamentally altering the shape of an airplane to generate much more lift will significantly reduce fuel consumption, and climate impact. JetZero claims the design can reduce emissions by up to 50%. However, more independent estimates predict more conservative benefits of 20-30%. Furthermore, the development of a new aircraft with associated production, servicing, and operational infrastructure is exceedingly challenging from a technical perspective, and maintaining the investment interest for the long development period is excruciatingly hard. The safety issues associated with a new design are immense. One or two fatal crashes could easily end production of an otherwise promising technology.

Jet contrails, while short-lived, turn out to have a massive effect on global warming and may account for 50% of the climate impact of aviation. Modifying flight paths to avoid the conditions where contrails form could substantially reduce this effect, although this has not been proven.

Electric aircraft are being tested and may soon become operational but it is not certain this technology will prove to be economically feasible. Several promising companies including Eviation and Lilium that have attempted to develop electric aircraft have recently failed. The industry wants to focus on electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVtol) instead of the simpler electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCtol) form of electric aircraft. From an environmental perspective, eVtol is probably bad and eCtol is probably good. All forms of electric aviation are technically difficult and have an uncertain future.

EVtol would create a whole new aviation industry providing a fast way to commute from cities to suburbs. Vertical takeoff and landing requires a prodigious expenditure of energy, likely limiting range to 25-50 miles. It is likely that eVtol will be a form of luxury travel unavailable to most people. It will probably be an expensive replacement for bus and automobile service to those who have the means. It will place a further drain on limited green energy sources, create new sources of overhead noise and confusion while reducing the environmental impact of nothing.

ECtol, on the other hand, could replace a certain number of short range flights (200-300 miles), including trips to The Cape and Islands. While this is a limited benefit, it is certainly better for the environment than using private jets to fly those same routes. Approximately half of all air travel is under 593 miles. More than 90% of high-traffic scheduled flights are less than 1,500 nautical miles. Current battery technology cannot produce electric aircraft that address a large percentage of the aviation problem. Increasing battery efficiency by at least a factor of three might allow electric aircraft to replace almost half of the current passenger miles. Electric aircraft do not have to cross oceans to dramatically reduce the climate impact of aviation.

My best plan for aviation requires (hopefully) addressing 10-30% of the problem with electric aircraft, 20-50% through the development of blended wing aircraft, 10-30% by reduction in contrails, 20-30% of the problem with high-speed rail, 10-20% of the problem with SAF, 10% from incremental optimization of engines, and remaining reductions due to remote meetings, more local vacationing, and some reductions in the use of air travel. The technological improvements are all uncertain; reduction in air travel is the only proven way to reduce aviation’s impact on the climate. However, while uncertain, the various engineering proposals (other than SAF) could greatly reduce the climate problem of aviation. Moving slowly toward this goal will be better for the aviation industry than following the false promise of SAF and being forced to drastically scale back operations when the scale of the climate crisis becomes inescapable.

What can you do?

The most direct action is to reduce your air travel slightly, maybe by 10%. Perhaps you can combine two trips into one (longer) trip or convert an in-person meeting to an online meeting. You can support groups opposed to private jet expansion and write to your government representatives.

Eliot, a Lincoln resident, is the former chair of the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: conservation, My Turn

Community center bids expected; Hartwell work begun

April 28, 2025

By Alison Taunton-Rigby
Community Center Building Committee

This has been a busy, high-energy month for the community center building project. Construction document drafts are in the final stages of review prior to publication on May 30, 2025. Bids for subcontractors are due on May 21, 2025, and bids for the general contractor will be opened on May 29, 2025.

We all recognize these are challenging, unpredictable economic times, so the Community Center Building Committee (CCBC) has worked hard to design within our budget with considerable contingency. The CCBC and Select Board have scheduled meetings in late May and early June to review the bids and approve a path forward. Assuming the bids come in on budget, we expect to sign a construction contract in June and begin work in early July.

Temporary relocation plans are complete for the occupants of the pods, who will move out as soon as the school year ends. This will free up the area occupied by the three pods for demolition and the beginning of community center construction:

Wall demolition in the Hartwell building for the maintenance shop is complete and electrical installation is ongoing, with HVAC ductwork to begin shortly.

  • The school maintenance shop will move into its new permanent home in the Hartwell building.
  • The Parks and Recreation Department offices will move into the Hartwell building, and programs will continue in school spaces and the usual locations around town.
  • The Lincoln Summer Day Camp will be entirely housed in the Lincoln School as well.
  • LEAP will move into the Smith Gym area of the school building.

Magic Garden Preschool will remain on site and will use the Strats Play area, a safe distance away from construction.The next CCBC meeting is scheduled for May 21, 2025. We welcome your comments, and questions. Please see the CCBC website for full information.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: community center*, My Turn

My Turn: Please donate during food pantry annual appeal

April 17, 2025

By SVdP Lincoln/Weston

Yes, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston operates a food pantry, right here in our beautiful communities, that serves over 100 households facing food insecurity. And yes, we also provide emergency financial aid to those experiencing difficulties, and vocational scholarships for those seeking better job opportunities. We serve our neighbors in need who live, work, or whose children go to school in Lincoln and Weston. Just this past year, we spent:

  • $80,000 on food
  • $90,000 on assistance for rent, utilities, and other basic needs
  • $11,000 on scholarships for education and training

Weston residents Sarah Hasselbeck (left) and Christine Hayward volunteer at the food pantry behind St. Joseph Church in Lincoln.

The need among our most vulnerable neighbors continues to grow, especially during these uncertain times, your support is crucial! Your donation, regardless of the amount, can have a huge impact on someone’s life. Donate now, and the Ogden Codman Trust in Lincoln will match your contribution with a matching gift challenge.

  • Donate online: go to svdplincolnweston.org
  • Mail a check: SVdP of Lincoln and Weston, PO Box 324, Lincoln MA 01773
  • Spread the word: share our mission with friends and family.

Thank you for believing in the power of neighbors helping neighbors. We appreciate your compassion and continued support, especially now, during our annual appeal. With sincere gratitude from all of us at SVdP Lincoln/Weston.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: charity/volunteer, My Turn

My Turn: Dozens of Lincolnites join “Hands Off!” protest in Boston

April 9, 2025

By Barbara Slayter

Among the thousands of demonstrators across the country for the “Hands-Off Protest” Saturday, April 5 were 50 Lincolnites who joined the rally at the Boston Common opposing the current administration’s abrupt and widespread dismantling of programs, services, and institutions that have long been part of Americans’ lives.  

Specifically, what were participants protesting? Numerous conversations and posters irevealed widespread alarm over attacks on Social Security and Medicaid; mass firings of federal workers, immigration raids, the chainsaw tactics of Elon Musk and DOGE, cuts in scientific research, dismantling of educational programs, national park services, and veterans’ benefits, and the arrest of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University graduate student.

The Lincoln contingent gets ready to board the bus to join the protest in Boston (click to enlarge).

Despite the raw, cold, and rainy weather, the mood both at the rally and on the Doherty’s bus (arranged by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee) was buoyant, determined, and hopeful. Participants appreciated the fervor and commitment of the speakers from a variety of Massachusetts organizations and networks, and especially from Sen. Ed Markey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and Rep. Ayanna Presley. Also welcome were the ease of the waiting, warm bus and the skillful driver who deposited us mere steps from the Boston Common and then safely back at Ballfield Road at the end of the rally.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: My Turn

My Turn: Revolution comes to Lincoln Town Meeting

March 30, 2025

By Lynne Smith

The 1775 Lincoln Town Meeting featured a heated but civil debate about the need for a tax increase to equip Lincoln volunteers to fight the British.

This debate came alive last Saturday at the 2025 Town Meeting as seven reenactors, led by Rick Wiggins as Eleazer Brooks, argued the topic. The passion and clarity of the different views rang out in the Donaldson Auditorium as they must have done in the Old Town Hall 250 years ago.  Those in favor of the tax were eloquent about the need for Lincoln volunteers to be armed and ready. Those opposing the tax and the revolution explained the difficulties caused by a tax increase, the loss of their sons to work the farm, and their hope that the problems with the British could be resolved without resorting to war. 

I was deeply moved by the elegant language of the reenactors. It was, in fact, a recreation written recently, but it captured the serious tone and reflected the views of the speakers, pro and con. That our town records preserved the outcome of this 1775 meeting illustrates the value our Lincoln forebears had for free speech and civil debate. Thank you to Kim Bodnar, the Lincoln Minute Men, and the Lincoln250 Committee for reminding us of what we are celebrating this year — and what we hope to continue.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: government, My Turn

My Turn: Residents support Ryan and Morton for L-S School Committee

March 27, 2025

We write in full support of Charles Morton and Jack Ryan, both candidates in a contested race for two vacant at-large seats on the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee (LSSC). Please make an effort to get to know them both and meet Jack and Charles before Lincoln Town Meeting on Saturday, March 29, and to vote for both of them at the polls on Monday, March 31 in the Reed Gym.

How Lincoln turns out to vote on March 31 will critically impact the final outcome for our shared high school. In past elections, Lincoln has been the deciding block of votes in the election for LSSC members.

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School is one of three things for most Lincolnites: it’s a full-on enigma to families with children younger than eighth grade; it’s the most frequently taken seven-to-25-minute daily driving route for families with high school-aged children; or it’s a wistful glimpse in the rear-view mirror for those who have LSRHS graduates who are “grown and flown.” Much of this has to do with LSRHS not being right here in Lincoln, where daily life is focused on much that is more local. It also has to do with most teens being given more freedom to grow, flourish, and learn a great deal from personal success and occasional failure.

When election time rolls around, reminders are needed of (1) the critical and special value LSRHS has in preparing our high schoolers for life after graduation, and (2) the impact of our vote for School Committee members who will serve the LSRHS students and broader communities’ best interests.

We support Charles Morton (CharlesMorton.com) because:

  • He comes with a strong academic background and is an academic by profession, and he has a deep understanding of the wide array of learners and continued need for a wide array of programs at LSRHS to educate and support those learners.
  • He understands that LSRHS is not a cookie-cutter high school; it is incredibly innovative in its curriculum and encourages teachers to be their best selves in crafting and implementing curriculum.
  • Charles is in it for the long haul, with four children who will attend LSRHS between 2026 and 2036. He chose to live in Sudbury because of LSRHS.
  • He grasps the value and perspective of all communities who are part of LSRHS, Lincoln, Sudbury, and Boston.

We support Jack Ryan (RyanforLS.com) because:

  • Jack’s institutional memory of LSRHS from his prior tenure on the L-S School Committee will serve all of us well, particularly since all the remaining members on the LSSC have served for two years or less. He has remained connected and has two grandchildren preparing to attend LSRHS.
  • Jack has a 360-degree lens on so much of Sudbury, our vital partner at LSRHS. A retired lawyer, he has an ongoing list of almost four decades of volunteer service in Sudbury, serving on the Sudbury Finance Committee, on the LSSC for four terms, and as chair of the L-S Building Committee for the now 20-year-old LSRHS, as well as myriad other civic organizations.
  • Jack knows and respects Lincoln’s partnership in our shared high school. He will work collaboratively with both towns to solve problems, craft policy, and report out to constituents.
  • Jack is also committed to serving Lincoln, Sudbury, and Boston in his work on the LSSC.

Both Jack and Charles are committed to putting in the time and hard work of being a School Committee member. Their skill sets and perspectives are distinct from each other but complementary. Particularly in these days of uncertainty around funding for public education, these candidates both want to hold steady what is valued and critical for our high school children, in line with LSRHS’s four core values:

  • Fostering caring and cooperative relationships
  • Respecting human differences
  • Pursuing academic excellence
  • Cultivating community

Please remember to vote for Charles and Jack next Monday and reach out to friends and neighbors and encourage them to do the same. Thank you!

This letter reflects the personal views of those named below. Any below-named person who also holds elected or appointed office in Lincoln is expressing their personal view, not the view of the committee(s)/board(s) on which they participate.

Abigail Adams
Murat Arslan
Alex Benik
Becky Bermont
Hans Bitter
Rebecca Blanchfield
John Bordiuk
Brian Burns
Ted Chan
Nancy Donaldson
Michelle Doyle
Joe Doyle
Carolyn Dwyer
Jonathan Dwyer
Kristen Ferris
John Ferris
Nancy Finke
Jim Fleming
Nancy Fleming
Trintje Gnazzo
Andy Gnazzo
Laura Cuozzo Guarnotta
Brian Jalet
Kim Jalet
Joan Kimball
John Kimball
Jonathan Light
Sara Lupkas
Feyza Marouf
Nancy Marshall
Peyton Marshall
Sally Maulsby
Libby Maynard
Nick Maynard
John Mendelson
DJ Mitchell
Kenny Mitchell
Matt Mitchell
Tara Mitchell
Staci Montori
Brooks Mostue
Tris Oakley
Patty Mostue
Joe O’Connor
Tony O’Connor
Kara Prince
Ginger Reiner
Kurt Reiner
Cathy Rogers
Aldis Russell
Barbara Slayter
Vicky Slingerland
Anne Sobol
Jonathan Soo
Kara Soo
Rob Stringer
Chris Taylor
Gary Taylor
Laura Taylor
Susan Taylor
Peter Van Winkle
Prudy Van Winkle
Krystal Wood
Jen Zeis
Louis Zipes
Tanya Zipes

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: elections, My Turn, schools

My Turn: Kanner touts experience on Board of Health

March 27, 2025

By Dr. Steven Kanner

Although I run unopposed for the Lincoln Board of Health this year, some policy and personal information may still be of interest to voters.

I have been privileged to serve on our Board of Health since 2013. My work, along with that of my colleagues Dr. Fred Mansfield and Trish Miller, is to keep Lincoln residents safe as possible from infectious diseases, environmental dangers, and other health hazards, as well as to provide informed, science-based counsel around any health issues of community relevance.

Originally, I was asked to join the board after engaging in public discussion about the public health importance and safety of using low levels of water fluoridation in the runup to the resounding vote of support at Town Meeting for community water fluoridation that year.

During the early Covid-19 pandemic, just five years ago this month, we faced a rapidly spreading severe disease for which we had no tests, no treatment, and no prevention, while the initial Massachusetts death rates from Covid were an astonishing 5%. This was a scary and very fraught time.

More recently:

  • I worked with other board members to simplify septic approvals, saving time and money for homeowners.
  • I took the lead to arrange for radon meters to be available free for home testing (with the major aid of another Lincoln resident) and wrote educational materials about our significant radon risk in Lincoln.
  • I wrote science-based informational materials on disease and vaccination relative risks for the Board of Health website (“Influenza and Covid-19 Vaccine Risk and Benefit in 2024 – On Health and Health Care” in left-hand column).

Going forward, I plan to work with my other board members to widen our public health information initiatives to include home sanitation topics such as kitchen cleanliness and proper maintenance of septic systems, while maintaining our primary focus on community infectious diseases and environmental risks.

My qualifications for this public health role include education at Harvard College (A.B.) and Harvard Medical School (M.D.), an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, several years work in the U.S. Public Health Service and in Massachusetts state government improving mental health medical systems, and 50 years of primary care medical practice. I have happily lived in Lincoln with my wife, Linda, since 1996, where we developed the Kanner Family Orchard to grow apples and peaches. We provide these to the Lincoln food pantry and Codman farm among other nearby nonprofit food organizations.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: elections, health and science, My Turn

My Turn: Speakers in Lincoln give updates on latest political developments

March 25, 2025

By Barbara Slayter

More than 50 Lincoln residents gathered at Bemis Hall on Saturday, March 22 at a Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) meeting to hear from State Rep. Carmine Gentile and Lincoln resident and environmental activist Paul Shorb on topics including what the Massachusetts legislature is doing to protect its citizens from adverse actions by the federal government.

Shorb, along with Lara Sullivan, project manager for Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom and Anywhere (SPJE), addressed three key points:

  • The climate bill signed by Gov. Healey last November requires Massport to promote environmental protection, resilience, and justice in its undertakings, not just commerce and economic growth. A Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for expanding Hanscom Air Field was rejected last April by the Massachusetts Environmental Protetion Agency (MEPA). A supplemental one was requested and should be available in a few months. The SPJE regards this as an important step forward in the process.
  • Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is the idea that synthetic jet fuel can be made from renewable sources. This has been a key argument in support of expanding private jet use at the airport, but few regard it as a viable solution since renewable resources for this purpose cannot be developed at the scale required.
  • It is critical for the SPJE campaign (now composed of over 100 organizations including the LDTC) to keep a strategic focus on the issues, targeting the governor, legislature and the public with accurate information. Organizations are invited to become part of the coalition and residents are invited to sign the petition.

Gentile recognized Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s strong leadership in joining with Democratic AGs across the country to bring legal challenges to the federal government when it is violating state and individual constitutional rights. He also noted:

  • The large cash reserves (which have increased in recent years) in the Massachusetts treasury along with its high bond rating, as buffers against loss of federal funding.
  • The legislature’s awareness of both the challenges of the current federal government and need to move appropriate legislation through quickly. New rules should result in a speedier process. 
  • Bills co-sponsored by Gentile and currently pending in the Massachusetts legislature for raising the minimum wage, eliminating substandard care in for-profit hospitals and nursing homes, and underwriting various components of the educational system.

Lincoln residents expressed a variety of issues and concerns ranging from national politics to local land use, including:

  • Broadening the base of the Democratic party
  • Potential misuse of personal data of Massachusetts residents by DOGE
  • Protecting our laws, especially those that could be weaponized
  • Ways in which the loss of federal funds will affect Massachusetts
  • Appreciation for MassHealth but alarm over its shortcomings
  • Preventing concerns about antisemitism from becoming an infringement on free speech
  • Increasing progress on the Massachusetts housing shortage and need to improve public transportation
  • Options for land use of the area around the West Concord roundabout now that the prison has been closed

Questions demonstrated that residents who are proud of Massachusetts and pleased to live in this state are increasingly anxious and angry about the direction in which our federal government is moving.

LDTC Chair Travis Roland also announced upcoming events, including the Hands Off! protest on Saturday, April 5 at the Boston Common.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: Hanscom Air Field, My Turn

My Turn: Welcome back, Lincoln Review!

March 24, 2025

By May Ann Hales

Editor’s note: You can see the last two issues of the new Lincoln Review here. Learn how to submit your work for the next issue here (the deadline is April 4).

One morning I read in the Lincoln Squirrel that the creative arts section called the Lincoln Chipmunk would be renamed the Lincoln Review, in honor of the print predecessor by the same name. The Review was part of our little town from 1977 to 2019. For all those years, various people contributed written pieces, art, and illustrations on a myriad of things from and about Lincoln.

I had participated in a small way and was so sad when it ceased publication. Our town had lost something small but wonderful. Now my heart rejoiced to know that it would be rejuvenated. I was also surprised to discover that back issues from 1977–1980 can now be browsed and searched online here thanks to our library staff, and every single print issue (plus an index) can be perused at the Lincoln Public Library. Not only is modern technology grand, but so are the efforts of numerous people who made this possible for us.

The Review was an important outlet for Lincolnites who wanted to express their creative or civic thoughts in print. You could purchase a copy at the grocery store or subscribe and receive your issues in the mail. Town Meeting editions were distributed free to all attendees. It was an important part of our creative lives.

It was surprising how ideas germinated and took root from the pages of the Review. For example, in 1982, Suze Craig wrote a piece titled “The Garden as Day Care” about how children and adults explored her garden. That article became the inspiration for the name of our still-flourishing Magic Garden. Imagine that.

I look forward to new inspiration from the online pages of the creative section of the Squirrel now appearing as the Lincoln Review. The late Betty and Harold Smith, the major publishers of the old Review, will be looking from the Great Beyond with the pleasure of succession. I am excited to see what blooms anew in our cultural life through the pages of the Lincoln Review redux.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: arts, My Turn

My Turn: Why I’m supporting Susan Hall Mygatt and Rob Ahlert for Planning Board

March 23, 2025

By Ephraim Flint

After much reflection, I have decided not to run for another term on the Planning Board and would like to take this opportunity to thank Lincoln residents for allowing me to serve on the Board for the past three years. For a great many generations, going back to the early 18th century, Lincoln’s volunteer government and town meeting have served the town well, guiding Lincoln through many changes and challenges, and making the town the special place that it is today. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this tradition continues.

We will be electing two Planning Board members at the upcoming election on Monday, March 31. I am delighted to support Susan Hall Mygatt and Rob Ahlert for these positions. Susan has been active in town government for many years. She is currently co-chair of the Conservation Commission and she previously served on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Through her many contributions to the town, she has demonstrated thoughtful consideration of issues and respect for Lincoln’s traditions and unique character.

Rob Ahlert has been an active participant at many board and committee meetings over the last 5 years. He’s young (compared to me!), energetic, and eager to help move the town forward in a thoughtful way that preserves our town’s heritage. Much of the Planning Board’s work over the last 5 years has focused on the Lincoln Station area. Rob will be an important contributor to this ongoing effort because, in addition to his technical skills, he lives in the Lincoln Station area. With all the changes that are slated for this area, I believe it’s critical that the neighborhood has a voice on the Planning Board.


“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Category: elections, My Turn

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