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

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News acorns – 4/1/15

acornHoly Week activities at St. Joseph’s/St. Julia’s

A recent listing of Holy Week activities at Lincoln churches inadvertently omitted St. Joseph’s Church services, which are as follows:

  • April 2 (Holy Thursday) – Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 7:30 p.m., St. Julia Church in Weston (whole-parish liturgy)
  • April 3 (Good Friday)
    • Stations of the Cross: 2 p.m. at St. Julia Church, 3 p.m. at St. Joseph Church
    • Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and Death – 7:30 p.m., Saint Julia Church (whole-parish liturgy)
  • April 4 (day before Easter) – Easter Vigil Mass, 7:30 p.m., St. Julia Church (whole-parish liturgy)
  • April 5 (Easter)
    • Sunday Masses: St. Julia Church, 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.; Parish Hall in Weston, 9 and 11:15 a.m.; St. Joseph Church, 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Opt for chocolate Easter bunnies rather than real ones

Lincoln resident Therese Quirk, a volunteer with the House Rabbit Network, urges residents to choose chocolate rabbits rather than real ones as Easter gifts. Most of the rabbits in shelters are dumped a few months after Easter when owners realize the amount of work in caring for the animals, which can live 10 years. Anyone who is serious about adopting a pet rabbit can get more information on the House Rabbit Network adoption page (the HRN is not a shelter but rather a network of foster homes in eastern Massachusetts).

Library trustee sought

The Trustees of the Lincoln Public Library have announced that trustee Al Kraft is resigning because he is moving out of Lincoln, and they encourage interested residents to consider applying for the trustee vacancy. Kraft was one of three self-perpetuating trustees of the six-member board trustees. Those members are not elected or appointed and serve an open-ended term, but are asked to serve at least six years. Under guidelines adopted for the appointment of self-perpetuating trustees, preference will be given to new candidates who are expected and willing to serve for six years.

A summary of the trustee responsibilities is available at the library circulation desk. Candidates interested in putting themselves up for consideration are asked to apply in writing to Peter Sugar, c/o Lincoln Public Library, Bedford Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 before Wednesday, April 15. For further information, interested candidates may call library director Barbara Myles at 781-259-8465.

Founder of “Frontline” to deliver next Bemis Lecture on April 19

David Fanning, creator of the acclaimed PBS series Frontline, will speak in Brooks Auditorium on Sunday, April 19 at 4 p.m. The event was rescheduled from the original February 8 date due to snow.

Fanning’s talk, entitled “The Making of Frontline,” will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the series—how it came to be, battles fought, controversies stirred, high points and low, and prospects for the future in a rapidly changing media landscape. Fanning launched the program at host station WGBH in 1983 and has been its executive producer and guiding hand ever since. Under his care, Frontline has become the most enduring and honored investigative documentary series on American television. At last count, its trophy case includes 65 national Emmys, 16 Peabodys, 25 duPont-Columbia Awards, and even a Pulitzer, and Fanning was himself recently honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

For questions, please email bemislectures@gmail.com.

Free wine-tasting hosted by Domestic Violence Roundtable; donations encouraged

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites area residents to its third annual Libations and Donations event on Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at Sudbury Wine and Liquors (located in the Rugged Bear Plaza on Route 20 in Sudbury). Come and enjoy a free wine-tasting and bring a donation to the Roundtable’s annual Shower for Shelters, which runs from April 25 to May 11. Donations of new unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at Goodnow Library in Sudbury, the Wayland Public Library and the Lincoln Public Library.

Families transitioning from domestic violence shelters to new homes appreciate your gift of new household items to help them establish their new homes. Donations will help the residents of the Shelters and Transitional Housing Programs of REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step and Voices Against Violence. Please bring your new unwrapped house-warming gifts to the April 24 wine tasting and enjoy an evening of good wine and congenial company. Items needed by the families include: twin sheets, twin comforters, twin blankets, towels, dishes, glassware, flatware, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, etc. A complete wish list can be found on the Roundtable’s website.

Leaf blower regulations tabled at Town Meeting

leafblower-compositeAfter months of hearings and public debate about whether to restrict the use of leaf-blowers in Lincoln, a motion to approve new regulations was passed over at Town Meeting at the request of the Leaf Blower Study Committee, which decided in light of feedback that “this was not the time to propose regulations,” LBSC chair Jamie Banks told the audience.

[Read more…] about Leaf blower regulations tabled at Town Meeting

Correction

correction-smIn yesterday’s Lincoln Squirrel article about the results of the Planning Board race, the results for Lincoln’s two voting precincts were incorrect, though the final tally (481 votes for Taylor and 441 votes for Domnitz) was accurate. The original story has been corrected. The correct results are below.

Precinct 1 Precinct 2 Total
Domnitz 240 201 441
Taylor 345 136 481

Town Meeting reminders, and an addition

The eighth-grade warrant article group, left to right: Amalia Munn, Allie Dwyer, Colin Christian, Greer Harnden and Elena Christenfeld.

ADDITION: The Lincoln Squirrel received this photo too late to include with the March 26 story on the Lincoln School eighth-graders’ warrant article. Left to right: Amalia Munn, Allie Dwyer, Colin Christian, Greer Harnden and Elena Christenfeld.

Shuttle service offered

Due to the expected turnout for Town Meeting and the limited parking spaces available at the school complex, the town is asking residents to carpool. Also, the town is offering a shuttle service from the Lincoln commuter lot (non-resident paved lot) to the school complex from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shuttle will run continuously throughout Town Meeting.

Overflow seating in Reed Gym

In the event that attendance at Town Meeting exceeds the capacity of the Brooks auditorium, overflow seating will be available in the Reed Gym, with audio feeds and other accommodations to allow full participation.

Town Meeting may continue Tuesday night

If necessary, Town Meeting will be paused on Saturday and resume on Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Brooks auditorium.

Food and beverages for sale

Lincoln’s third-grade Girl Scouts will be selling hot coffee, tea and a limited supply of homemade baked goods at Town Meeting from 9-11 a.m. Everything is $1. The sixth-grade Girl Scouts also will be selling boxed lunches for $10 apiece.

Polls open at 7:30 on Monday

Don’t forget to vote in the town election on Monday, March 30 from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Smith gym (not starting at 7 a.m. as previously reported). Voters will be asked to approve spending for a school renovation feasibility study and a school campus master plan. Many town offices are also on the ballot, including contested races for Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee and Planning Board. See this Lincoln Squirrel article for a sample ballot and summary of letters to the editor about the contested races.

Babysitting available during Town Meeting

Lincoln’s eighth-grade Girl Scouts are offering babysitting in Hartwell Pod B from 12:45-5 p.m. These hours were chosen to coincide with discussion of the school building and community center issues in which many young families have expressed interest. The Girl Scouts are Red Cross trained in babysitting, and adults will also be on duty to help supervise. The children will be located in two rooms, one for the preschoolers and another for elementary school children. Advance registration is preferred; please email Linda Hammett Ory at LHamme@aol.com. Babysitting is offered at no charge, but donations are encouraged to help support the eighth-grade Cadettes’ service projects.

Summary of “warrant pieces”

Here are links to Lincoln Squirrel news stories about some of the warrant articles.

Town boards come together on revised school warrant article

A diagram of the choices facing Lincoln voters in Town Meeting warrant articles 30, 31 and 32 (click to enlarge).

A diagram of the choices facing Lincoln voters in Town Meeting warrant articles 30, 31 and 32 (click to enlarge).

By Alice Waugh

With a last-minute change to the wording of a Town Meeting motion, town officials are doubling down on their support for seeking state funding for a comprehensive school renovation project in the hope that a large majority of voters feel the same way.

[Read more…] about Town boards come together on revised school warrant article

Town election is on Monday

Screen Shot 2015-03-26 at 12.46.23 PMOn Monday, March 30, polls will be open in the Smith gym from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the town election, which includes numerous town office races and two ballot questions (see sample ballot at right; click to enlarge).

Two of the races (Planning Board and Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee) are contested. Below are links to letters to the editor in the Lincoln Squirrel about these races, listed in chronological order.

Planning Board
Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee

(Editor’s note: residents may vote for two of three names on the ballot. The Lincoln Squirrel has not received any letters to the editor from candidate Robert G. Stein of Sudbury, although he is mentioned in Eric Harris’s letter on March 23).

Students’ Town Meeting article seeks funds for field work

The eighth-grade warrant article group, left to right: Amalia Munn, Allie Dwyer, Colin Christian, Greer Harnden and Elena Christenfeld.

The eighth-grade warrant article group, left to right: Amalia Munn, Allie Dwyer, Colin Christian, Greer Harnden and Elena Christenfeld.

Six Lincoln School eighth-graders are hoping voters at Saturday’s Town Meeting approve a citizens’ petition for funding to clear the edges of one of the school playing fields.

Elena Christenfeld, Colin Christian, Allie Dwyer, Greer Harden, Amalia Munn and Irene Terpstra have been meeting every Monday since September withTown Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden and Town Clerk Susan Brooks to experience the process for getting an issue before Lincoln’s Annual Town Meeting.

After conversations with the Parks and Recreation Department, the students first came up with the idea to clear the edges of the playing fields next to Codman Pool, the Smith school building and the Town Office Building where brush is growing into the playing area. They eventually settled for just the Smith field as well as an adjacent student emergency evacuation area.

[Read more…] about Students’ Town Meeting article seeks funds for field work

Community center on Hartwell campus would cost $13 million, panel says

The Community Center Study Committee's "preferred option." Click on the image for more options and interior design ideas.

The Community Center Study Committee’s “preferred option.” Click on the image for more exterior and interior design ideas.

By Alice Waugh

Residents on Saturday will have the chance to hear the final report of the Community Center Study Committee (CCSC), which proposes a community center to be built on the Hartwell campus at a total cost of about $13 million, including roads and other site work.

[Read more…] about Community center on Hartwell campus would cost $13 million, panel says

Letter to the editor: write in Miller for Board of Health

letter

Editor’s note: Patricia Miller attempted to get on the ballot for election to the Board of Health, but she did not have a sufficient number of certifiable signatures (e.g., legible signatures of Lincoln registered voters), according to Town Clerk Susan Brooks. The same is true for Susan Harding, who intends to run for reelection to the Cemetery Commission. The specimen ballot can be found here.

To the editor:

Patricia Miller has been a wonderful addition to the Board of Health since she was appointed a year ago. We have been delighted to work with her. I speak for Dr. Fred Mansfield, my other colleague on the board, as well as myself in asking Lincoln voters to support her for a full term and write in her name at next week’s election.

Steven R. Kanner, M.D. (Board of Health member)
12 Bypass Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.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.