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Bemis Hall is closed after its boiler failed last week, and repairs can’t be completed until Feb. 23, leaving the Council on Aging & Human Services as well as Bemis Hall auditorium renters scrambling.

The 14-year-old boiler system initially failed right before the December holidays, according to Assistant Town Administrator Dan Pereira. “We were able to repair it and had hoped the fix would sustain us long enough to plan for a full replacement. Unfortunately, it failed again last Thursday [Feb. 5] and cannot be repaired, so we are forced to make an emergency replacement immediately. Next week is the earliest we can schedule the work,” he told the Lincoln Squirrel on Feb. 11.

COA&HS Director Abigail Butt and Barbara Low, who manages the building rentals, said they heard that certain parts were not available right away. Butt referred further questions to facilities manager Brandon Kelly, who could not be reached for comment

The COA&HS has made some of its Bemis Hall events for seniors hybrid or virtual while others have been relocated. Exercise classes will be held at the Pierce House, while tax help, tech talks, knitting, and mahjong will take place in Town Hall. The town social worker will be able to meet with clients in their homes or in private spaces in Town Hall or Lincoln Woods. Butt and her staff have contacted regular attendees to let them know of the change. Senior dining and Lincoln Academy will take place in the stone church.

There were no private events scheduled at Bemis Hall for the weekend of Feb. 14-15, but there are three slated for the following weekend that are up in the air. On Saturday, Feb. 21, Bemis was expected to host a Kids 4 Humanity charity talent show, while on Sunday, Feb. 22, it was booked for two events: “Uncovering What is Lost: Telling the Under-told Stories of Black Lives” sponsored by the Lincoln Historical Society, and a Music Street concert that requires a piano but could be held at the Pierce House. Low is hoping that the repairs will be done by Friday, Feb. 20 so they events can go ahead as planned.

The repairs will cost about $50,000 that will be paid from the town’s emergency reserve fund, Pereira said.

Library HVAC system

Coincidentally, Bemis Hall is not the only town-owned building in need of major HVAC work. Voters will be asked to appropriate money to replace the Lincoln Public Library’s 35-year-old gas-fired boiler, which is at risk of failure. Rather than simply replacing it with another gas system, the library agreed to study decarbonization options aligned with the town’s climate goals, as detailed in the January 2026 Select Board newsletter.

In 2025, the Green Energy Committee (GEC) secured a MassSave Energy Manager Grant to conduct a comprehensive 20-year cost lifecycle analysis of conventional, air-sourced heat pump, and geothermal options. A multiboard group (the library trustees, Select Board, and Green Energy Committee) determined that a ground-source heat pump system is the preferred approach due to the availability of grants and federal and state incentives that will make the net cost of comparable to that of a conventional system replacement.

“A full conventional HVAC system would only be marginally less expensive than a ground-source heat pump solution, with a worse environmental impact,” the newsletter says. The analysis was presented in detail at the Jan. 12 Select Board meeting.

The system will cost an estimated $5.5 million, and the town will have to finance $4.5 million after receiving an initial Massachusetts Climate Leaders Program grant of $1 million. Once the project is complete, the town can expect to receive state and federal incentives of roughly $2 million, making the final net cost to the town roughly $2.5 million.

The Community Preservation Committee will recommend bonding the $2.5 million and paying the debt service for that bonding from Community Preservation Act funds. If the project is approved by residents at Town Meeting next month, the project will not cause any tax bill increase to residents, although it will incrementally crowd out other CPA-eligible projects in the future, the newsletter says.

Editor’s note: this story was updated on Feb. 10 with information about library, school, and Parks & Rec email addresses.

Lincoln is in the process of changing all town officials’ email addresses, though the old ones will still be auto-forwarded for the foreseeable future.

Official Lincoln email addresses now end in the “lincolnma.gov” domain rather than the old “lincolntown.org,” though the first part of the address identifying the recipient will stay the same. For example, Town Administrator Tim Higgins will change from higginst@lincolntown.org to higginst@lincolnma.gov.

The Lincoln Public Library uses the Minuteman Library Network domain (@minlib.net) and that won’t change. The Parks and Recreation Department and the Lincoln Public Schools both use the @lincnet.org domain and will continue to use @lincnet.org addresses for the time being, although they will eventually transition to lincolnma.gov once the new community center is up and running. 

“We’re making the change so our [email address] domain accurately reflects that we are a government institution. The new domain will also give us some flexibility in responding to cybersecurity incidents and hopefully some priority in restoring connectivity,” said Michael Dolan, director of information technology.

Lincoln has had two cybersecurity incidents since 2016, affecting individual computers in Facilities and Public Safety, Dolan said. In both cases, he cut off access to the server and restores the files that had been maliciously encrypted. The second ransomware attack was limited to a vendor’s local account on that workstation, “and we have since severed ties with that vendor, he said.

Neither attack involved any information being gleaned from the town information systems such as residents’ personally identifying information, Dolan said.

Since those attacks, “our current security posture is more robust,” he said. New measures include town employee training on cybersecurity awareness and an incident response exercise last year involving key finance, public safety, school, and town administration officials.

The town also has a managed detection and response system that’s monitored 24/7 by a third party that goes beyond checking for malware on individual computers by looking for unusual network behavior. Finally, the town’s backup system is a non-Windows platform that is electronically disconnected from the main network, and backup is only accessible using two factor authentication limited to two accounts, Dolan said.

A $5,200 Municipal Local Cybersecurity Grant in 2024 helped pay for the domain change as well as other services.

Dolan has discussed cybersecurity with Lincoln’s insurance carrier and other cities and towns, “and the biggest issue amongst the communities was the cost of these services,” he said. “While it may cost more in the long run to not have the proper security measures in place, it is difficult to squeeze these infrastructure upgrades into our capital budget requests as our systems need to respond to a threat landscape that changes constantly. I usually seek a grant to absorb some of these costs but the ongoing financial impact after the systems are implemented put a significant strain our operational budgets.

“Finally, as many services and applications are now cloud-based or centrally managed, we rely heavily on the security practices of third-party entities,” Dolan continued. “Over the years, we have seen many successful attacks on larger organizations that spend far more on their security posture than our town. I think all the municipal IT managers are of mindset that it is not a question of if, only when.”

(Editor’s note: the photo gallery below was expanded on October 20 with more photos that were submitted after the original story was posted.)

Lincolnites were among the estimated 7 million people who participated at more than 2,700 “No Kings” events in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. on October 18. The events protested what organizers describe as the Trump administration’s “authoritarian” agenda and perceived overreach of presidential power. The photos below were taken at the event in  Concord.

The Route 117 crosswalk construction site on October 13 looking east from Old Sudbury Road (right) and Hannan Agro Farms (left). Photo by Alice Waugh.

A new crosswalk project now underway on Route 117 at Old Sudbury Road has caused traffic slowdowns due to bumps and potholes in unpaved roadway.

The work consists of a pedestrian island with flashing beacons, a short section of sidewalk at the Old Sudbury Road end that connects to the sidewalk on the opposite side of Route 117, and new pavement between the railroad tracks and the crosswalk.

“We anticipate completing this work by the end of November,” said DPW Superintendent Stephen Olson.

The Transportation Coalition’s five-year plan (click image to enlarge).

The project is high on the list of roadway safety improvement priorities in the Transportation Coalition’s five-year plan presented in a September 30 forum (slides here, recording here). The first on the list, an improved crosswalk in front of the Old Town Hall, has been delayed by the water main project.

As a result of increased awareness of pedestrian and cyclist needs and design best practices, the coalition said, Lincoln’s basic roadway standards have been adjusted:

• Narrowing of roadway travel lanes
• Widening of shoulder between the white edge lines and edge of pavement
• Consistent roadway edge treatments to minimize surprises
• Beefed-up crosswalk designs, including flashing beacons, raised crosswalks
• New paths

A newly formed group called Lincoln Witness is asking the Select Board to quickly publicize a forthcoming set of FAQs about ICE and immigrants’ rights in the face of the federal crackdown, and to host an informational public event as it did shortly after the murder of George Floyd.

Several Lincolnites met in May after ICE detained people in Acton and “realized that it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ ICE raids would affect those who live and work in Lincoln, but ‘when’,” the group’s website says. Kim Jalet, who co-founded Lincoln Witness with Kathy Madison, told the Select Board on September 8 that “things are going to ramp up pretty quickly [with the start of the Patriot 2.0 arrest surge in Massachusetts] and we think time is of the essence at this point” to educate Lincolnites about what to do if they see ICE activity in town and how they can support immigrants. Lincoln Witness members, who now number more than 30, believe President Trump “is testing the waters for denying rights to others groups. Protecting the rights of one group protects all of us,” she added. 

Lincoln Witness members have participated in weekly vigils outside the ICE office in Burlington as well as other area protests and standouts. They’re establishing a network of people in Lincoln ready to mobilize as witnesses and reporters should ICE activity be detected in town, and printing and distributing “know your rights” cards in Spanish and Portuguese.

Jalet said that official town support for the aims of Lincoln Witness is especially appropriate in light of the town’s vote to designate Lincoln as a “safe and welcoming community” in 2018 — though not without some disagreement and controversy on the floor of Town Meeting.

“My staff is trained to follow the values expressed in Town Meeting. Those resolutions matter,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said. “We do not assist ICE in its activities. We cannot interfere but we do not assist.”

Local law enforcement can’t be compelled by the federal government to carry out civil immigration enforcement but may also not interfere or obstruct ICE operations. However, “we’re also guided by law” when it comes to protecting bystanders and property, acting Chief of Police Jon Wentworth said.

Due to evolving water main replacement construction conditions, the nighttime road closures and detours from the five-way intersection to Canaan Drive originally scheduled for the nights of July 16 and 17 have been postponed to Sunday and Monday, July 20 and 21 from 9:00pm to 5:00am. Detour directions remain the same:

• Motorists traveling north on Lincoln Road towards the five-way intersection intending to get on Route 2 eastbound will be detoured onto Trapelo Road and Lexington Road.
• Motorists wishing to access North Lincoln or Route 2 westbound will be detoured onto Sandy Pond Road to Baker Bridge and Concord Road (Route 126) to Route 2.
• Motorists who wish to exit Route 2 onto Bedford Road heading south will be detoured onto Lexington Road and Trapelo Road to allow access through the five-way intersection.

Police detail officers and detour signs will be in place to assist motorists. 

Lincoln’s annual State of the Town Meeting has some new features this year: a community breakfast, a town organizations fair, and an open forum.

The breakfast and fair begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 in the Lincoln School’s Dining Commons. From 9:30–11 a.m., there will be an overview of town finances and updates on the community center, Lincoln250, and Dark Skies, followed by the community forum.

Then there will be two repeating breakout sessions at 11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. so residents can attend both if they wish: one on the Town Meeting Study Committee and the other on “Making the Switch Away from Fossil Fuels” with the Lincoln Green Energy Committee.

Background reading:

Community center

• “My Turn: Community center and related projects are progressing” (October 27, 2024)
• Community Center Building Committee web page

Lincoln250

• “Lincoln starts gearing up for the nation’s 250th birthday” (Lincoln Squirrel, October 9, 2023)
• Lincoln250 Planning Committee web page

Dark Skies

• “Updates to outdoor lighting rules mulled” (Lincoln Squirrel, November 26, 2024)

Town Meeting Study Committee

• “Town Meeting Study Committee members named” (Lincoln Squirrel, October 23, 2024)
• Town Meeting Study Committee web page

Green Energy Committee

• “Town hopes to become a Climate Leader Community” Lincoln Squirrel, November 14, 2024)
• Green Energy Committee web page

Session on electrifying the home

Zoom in with CFREE on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. to hear building engineer Ross Trethewey for “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House” talk about “Electrifying the Home: Where and When It Makes Sense to Do So.” Click here to register for the Zoom session or go to www.lincolngreenenergy.org.

There are 300 solar installations on homes and businesses in Lincoln? If you have questions about installing solar on your home, we would be happy to share our expertise — email Lincolngreencoach@gmail.org. CFREE (Carbon Free Residential – Everything Electric) is a 13-person subcommittee of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee. Email cfreeworking@gmail.com with questions or suggestions, or if you’d like to join us in our work.

Author discusses Cold War in a Hot Kitchen

Author Margaret Ann Spence will discuss her newest book, Cold War in a Hot Kitchen: A Memoir of Mid-Century Melbourne on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 7–8 p.m. on Zoom. Register here. Presented by the Lincoln Public Library.

Fortune’s Favor at next LOMA

Fortune’s Favor will be the headliner at the next Lincoln Open Mic Night on Monday, Dec. 9 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Fortune’s Favor is known for the holiday classic “I Do All My Christmas Shopping at the Dump,” the title cut of their 2017 CD. LOMA is a monthly open mike night event with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Performers should email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mike day or (space permitting) sign up at the event.

Coming up at the COA&HS

Here are some of the December activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For a full list — including clinics, exercise classes, regular meetings of interest groups, and online chats with town officials — see the COAHS’s newsletter archive page. Call 781-259-8811 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org for Zoom links and other information.

Concord Traveling Players holiday variety show
Friday, Dec. 6 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Local actors and musicians showcase their talents with humorous short holiday skits and songs, including a comical version of Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol.”

Holiday song doo-wop singalong
Friday, Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Immediately following the annual COA&HS Holiday Open House, Peter Stewart and Lincoln’s Doo-Wop Team will lead the singing of traditional holiday classics.

Holiday floral arrangement presentation and workshop
Friday, Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Nancy Henderson will guide participants in creating a free holiday arrangement for your table. Bring scissors or clippers; plant materials and container will be provided. Registration required; call 781-259-8811.

Agriculture Commission newsletters look at large and small animals

Goats, bees, chickens and even farm dogs are spotlighted in the Agriculture Commission‘s most recent newsletter. Last spring, bigger farm residents including horses, cows, sheep, and alpacas got the same treatment in words and pictures. As part of the group’s mission to preserve and promote agriculture in Lincoln, it also coordinates donations of produce and eggs to the Lincoln food pantry from several farms: Codman Community Farms, Drumlin Farm, Hannan Healthy Foods, Kanner Family Orchard, Matlock Farm, and Waltzing Matilda’s Farm — the subject of its fall 2023 newsletter.

Celebrate the winter solstice

Celebrate in the Codman Community Farms sugar shack with stories, hot chocolate, cookies and a beautiful luminary walk with Sarah Bishop and Craig Nicholson on Friday, Dec. 20 from 4:30–6 p.m. Click here to sign up.

(Editor’s note: ads are sometimes mysteriously appearing in the middle of this post. If you have this problem, just scroll down to see the rest of the page.)

Issue #2 of the Lincoln Review, Lincoln’s arts e-zine (online magazine) is ready for your enjoyment. Just go to:

lincolnsquirrel.com/the-lincoln-review

The page will be available to all until Friday, November 15. After that, only Lincoln Squirrel subscribers will have access. Subscribers may also request a free PDF version by emailing lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. 

If you’d like a printed copy of this issue of the Lincoln Review, please email lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. We will order copies if there is enough demand (10 minimum) and they will be $10.00 each.

…but in the rest of the country, not so much.

The unofficial results for Lincoln: Harris defeats Trump 80% to 16%. In Massachusetts, her margin was 62% to 36%. But nationwide, Trump won both the popular vote (51% to 47.5%) and the Electoral College (277 to 241, with 270 needed to win).  

Check back later this morning for more details on the election in Lincoln.