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The Route 126 railroad bridge looking south.

The state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will begin work to repair the Route 126 bridge over the railroad tracks near Baker Bridge Road in fall or winter of 2024.

The bridge, which was built in 1950, has needed repair for some time. The project will involve replacing the superstructure (steel beams, concrete deck, and attachments) and upgrading the piers and foundations to handle the new superstructure.

Construction will take place in stages over a period of 24 months so a detour will not be required. Bicycles and pedestrians will be accommodated during construction by the installation of a temporary bike/pedestrian bridge, said MassDOT Project Manager Eamon Kernan. When completed the bridge will have one lane each way, a usable shoulder in the southerly direction, and a multi-use side path on the northbound side.

“Plans have not been advanced to know if any private property will be taken, but the adjacent properties will be disturbed. Disruption will be kept to a minimum but is inevitable,” Kernan said.

The latest issue of the Lincoln Chipmunk, the quarterly arts companion to the Lincoln Squirrel, has just been published. See what your friends and neighbors have created, and start working on your own submissions — the next deadline is April 21, 2023. Questions? Call editor Alice Waugh at 617-710-5542 or email lincolnsquirelnews@gmail.com. 

chipmunk.lincolnsquirrel.com

Gov. Maura Healey tries to determine if Ms. G. has seen her shadow.

Gov. Maura Healey (Ms. H to her friends, perhaps) elicited cheers from an enthusiastic all-ages crowd in Lincoln on February 2 by predicting an early spring after consulting with Drumlin Farm’s famous Ms. G.

Healey headlined a delegation including State Sen. Michael Barrett and Reps. Carmine Gentile and Alice Peisch for the first Groundhog Day celebration in Lincoln since before the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Lincoln’s Ms. G became the official groundhog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2014 thanks to a bill shepherded through the legislature by Peisch.

The theme of the day was education about weather and climate change. A number of children including the Chickadee class from the Drumlin Farm Community Preschool got front-row seats, eager to watch Ms. G emerge from hibernation and explore her special outdoor enclosure where she would make her annual prognostication. Barrett — who co-wrote the state’s major climate bill that was signed into law last summer — lauded “young people getting together and saying we can effect change and raise awareness” around those issue while also praising Healey’s commitment to climate action.

• The origins of Groundhog Day, and prognosticators of other species (alligators, anyone?)

In her remarks, Healey noted she had grown up on a farm and that caring for farm animals helped forge her own early connections with nature. She credited Mass Audubon as among those “doing all they can to help young people know and learn and carry on stewardship of land and the environment.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Mass Audubon, a huge fan of Drumlin Farm, and a huge fan of all those working to preserve our natural habitat and to address the real issues around climate, and those who are looking out for and looking after creatures great and small across this great state,” she said.

Then came the moment of truth — “one of my most important duties as governor,” Healey said. After crouching down to get acquainted with Ms. G, she intoned, “As the governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 2 in the year 2023, we observed the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Official Groundhog, Ms. G. And I declare Ms. G does not appear to have observed her shadow, and therefore, Commonwealth, spring is on its way!”

The cheering attendees were also invited enjoy other related programs, such as making groundhog crafts and meeting live animal ambassadors and learning how they adapt to winter as the climate changes.

Click on images below to see larger versions, and scroll down for a short video of Healey at Drumlin Farm.

• In the January 31 News Acorn headlined “Campaign kickoff event for Sudbury L-S School Committee candidate,” Tania Vitvitsky, Josh Troop, and Andrew Blair were misidentified as being former members of the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. They are Sudbury residents but have not served in the LSSC.
• The January 31 story headlined “Updates on Winter Carnival” incorrectly said that the Winter Shrub & Tree ID Walk on Friday, Feb. 3 was canceled. The Saturday walk is canceled but the Friday walk is still on. That piece and two others listing Winter carnival events (“Field Notes: Meet Will Leona, Lincoln’s land steward and ranger” and “Winter Carnival kicks off this Friday“) have been updated.
• Drumlin Farm has canceled the Lincoln Winter Carnival’s Family Night Hike and Owl Prowl that was to take place on Friday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
   

By Rachel Neurath

Winter is the perfect time to discover animal tracks, whether preserved in snow or (on one of the many unseasonably warm days this winter) in mud. This winter is only the third season of the year for Will Leona, Lincoln’s Land Steward and Ranger, who joined the Conservation Department in June 2022. Yet, like an animal making tracks in the snow, he’s already leaving his mark.

Leona was animated and approachable as he pointed out different shelf fungi and slime molds on a recent Family Fungi Walk near Pierce Park. Out on the trails, he loves talking with Lincoln’s hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and dog walkers as he shares information on natural history. For example, he finds himself talking regularly about beavers, which are often misunderstood and are actually very beneficial for water quality, biodiversity, and water storage.

Education is at the core of Leona’s work and central to the Conservation Department’s mission. While part of the job of a ranger is enforcement, he emphasizes how important it is to educate people about why the rules are there. Based on public forums and feedback while new trail regulations were debated and enacted last year, the Conservation Department increased the number and size of some of its signs, which may make it seem like there are more restrictions than before, but that’s actually not the case. In fact, Lincoln now has about 30% more trails open to bikes and (other than some changes around Flint’s Pond) the same number of leash and off-leash trails as before.

Will Leona

Leona was working for the Trustees of Reservations in the Charles River Valley region when he saw the opening with Lincoln’s Conservation Department and felt as if the job description was written just for him. During his interview, he was even more impressed by the department’s staff. Conservation Director Michelle Grzenda, Conservation Planner Stacy Carter, and Land Manager Ryan Brown are all passionate, incredibly knowledgeable, and eager to share their enthusiasm for Lincoln’s natural spaces. Leona completes the small but mighty team, spending his time maintaining trails and conservation areas, managing invasive species, and interacting with the public.

Leona has quickly made himself at home in Lincoln’s outdoor spaces and within the community. Inspired by the town’s many birders, he marvels at all the small birds hiding in the woods and celebrates the return of our bald eagle population. He loves photographing mushrooms and watching foxes, coyotes, salamanders, and frogs. He appreciates Lincoln’s decades-long history of innovation in conservation that has left so many unbuilt areas to explore. Despite the coming challenges of climate change, our conservation land provides a buffer of resilience and perhaps even opportunities for nature-based solutions. Leona’s hope is that his work, along with that of the Conservation Department and the town, will enable future generations to keep enjoying Lincoln’s spectacular natural areas.

If you see Will on the trails, say hello and maybe even tell him a joke, like: “Did you hear the one about Allie Algae and Freddie Fungus? They took a lichen to each other.”

Conservation Department’s Winter Carnival events (February 3-4):

• Winter Shrub & Tree ID Walk
  10 a.m.–noon, Codman Estate
  Join Conservation Department staff for a winter walk through the woods as we talk about how to identify woody plants. Wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes. Each walk is limited to 15 people; please click here to sign up or email conservation@lincolntown.org.
• Enviroscape Tabletop Display
  Friday, Feb. 3 from 3–4:15 p.m., Conservation Department office, Town Hall
  Do you know how pollution affects our drinking water, wetlands, and wildlife? Using the Enviroscape model (a hands-on tabletop display), children and families will discover what happens in Lincoln neighborhoods, construction sites, farms, and roads during and after a rainstorm.
• Art on the Trails – Scavenger Hunt
  Search Lincoln’s trails for nature-themed student art creations. The scavenger hunt starts on Friday, Feb. 3 and runs until Monday, Feb. 13, with prizes for completion. Sponsored by Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and the Lincoln School. Click here for more information.

Spring 2023 events

• Saturday Nature Walks
  Explore Lincoln’s open space with Will Leona, Lincoln’s Conservation Ranger. Visit different trails in Lincoln the first Saturday of each month (March 4, April 1 and May 6) from 9:30–11:30 a.m. Walks are generally two miles long and are appropriate for all ages. Wear sturdy shoes and always dress for the weather. Please leave pets at home since our focus is on nature. Covid-19 precautions: we will occasionally stop and discuss a natural history topic – please bring a mask for when we are gathering close together. Click here to sign up.

More information can be found on the Lincoln Conservation Department website.

Field Notes is an occasional feature highlighting climate and environment work in town and spotlighting Lincoln residents and staff. Rachel Neurath is a soil microbial ecologist, co-leader of Lincoln Common Ground, and a member of Lincoln’s Climate Action Plan Working Group.

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

All weekend

Art on the Trails — Scavenger Hunt
Search Lincoln’s trails for nature-themed student art creations. The scavenger hunt starts on Friday and runs until Monday, Feb. 13, with prizes for completion. Sponsored by Lincoln Land Conservation Trust & Lincoln School. Click here for more information.

Community Ice Rink
Pierce Park — open from dawn to dusk

Friday, February 3

Winter Shrub & Tree ID Walk
10 a.m.–noon, Codman Estate
Join Conservation Department staff for a winter walk through the woods as we talk about how to identify woody plants. Wear warm clothes and sturdy shoes. Each walk is limited to 15 people; please click here to sign up or email conservation@lincolntown.org.

Enviroscape Tabletop Display
3–4:15 p.m., Conservation Department office, Town Hall
Do you know how pollution affects our drinking water, wetlands, and wildlife? Using the Enviroscape model (a hands-on tabletop display), children and families will discover what happens in Lincoln neighborhoods, construction sites, farms, and roads during and after a rainstorm. 

Unveiling of Historic Adams Sampler
4–5:30 p.m., Town Hall
Get an up-close view of the exquisite handiwork done by 13-year-old Lincolnite Sophia Adams in 1826. The sampler was conserved using Community Preservation Act funds a few years ago, and more recently, the town got more funding to reconfigure a Town Hall display case to archival quality standards. At the unveiling will be the woman who donated the sampler to the town (her husband was related to Sophia), and retired Town Clerk Susan Brooks. Refreshments provided by the Lincoln Historical Society.

LPTO Bingo Night
5:30–7:30 p.m., Lincoln School Dining Commons
Bingo Night is back! Prizes awarded for each winning bingo board and in a raffle. Pizza sales start at 5:30 pm with additional snacks and drinks available for purchase. Free admission; bingo cards are $5 for a 15-game multipack. Suggested donation for raffle tickets: $1 for one, $5 for six, or $10 for 15.

CANCELED DUE TO COLD:
Family Night Hike & Owl Prowl
6:30–8 p.m., Drumlin Farm
Join us for a winter night hike through field and forest. Learn about owl calls, behavior, and habitat as we search and listen for our resident screech, barred, and great horned owls. Online pre-registration required ($17 for members or $21 for non-members).

Saturday, February 4

Pancake Breakfast
8–11 a.m., First Parish Church (14 Bedford Rd.)

Enjoy plain, blueberry, chocolate chip, and gluten-free pancakes with pure maple syrup along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit provided by the Lincoln Girl Scouts. There’s also face painting and crafts for kids, and Girl Scout cookies will be on sale. Admission is $5 for children under 12 and $10 for everyone else ($30 family maximum).

MCC Winter Carnival Games
10 a.m.–noon, Smith gym
Come enjoy soft axe throw, Angry Birds Archery, and Frozen Frog Bog hosted by the Lincoln METCO Coordinating Committee. Hot cocoa and cookies provided by the Friends of the Lincoln Library.

CANCELED DUE TO COLD:
Winter Shrub & Tree ID Walk
10 a.m.–noon, Codman Estate
See same event on February 3 for details.

CANCELED DUE TO COLD:
Winter Family Nature Walk
2–2:30 p.m., trails behind Lincoln School
What does winter sound like? How does winter feel? Join Will Leona, Lincoln’s Conservation Ranger, to look for signs of winter like tracks in the snow (or mud), animal homes in trees, and plants that keep their needles all year. The walk is limited to 15 people (children must be accompanied by an adult). Click here to sign up or contact the Conservation Department at conservation@lincolntown.org.

Energy Blaster
3–5 p.m., Brooks Gym
Jump in a bounce house, run through an obstacle course, climb, and slide. A mini bounce house will be available for our youngest bouncers. Enjoy a craft project and some snacks on the sidelines. Free for LincFam members, $10/family for non-members.

Valentines for Teachers
3–5 p.m., Brooks Gym entryway
Create cards to celebrate and thank the teachers and staff at Lincoln Public Schools. Take your card with you to deliver it yourself or leave it with us and we’ll make sure it gets to the right person. Card-making supplies, hot apple cider, and coffee for the grown-ups will be provided. Sponsored by Lincoln School Foundation.

Winter Farmer’s Helpers
3:30–5:00 p.m., Drumlin Farm
* SOLD OUT, but click here for more info and to join the waiting list *

Gropius Glows Open House
4–5:30 p.m., Gropius House (68 Baker Bridge Rd.)
See how Walter Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Gropius, founder of the German design school the Bauhaus, was one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century. Uniting art, nature, and technology, his 1938 family home showcases the clean lines of Modernist design and glows with inspiration in the evening.

Acoustic Coffee House
7–10:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
* SOLD OUT * (sponsored by the Lincoln Recreation Department)

Sunday, Feb. 5

Story Time & Outdoor Play
10–11:30 a.m., Lincoln Nursery School/deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Join us for stories followed by outdoor play and hot chocolate.

Family Life in Lincoln at the Time of the Revolution
Noon–2 p.m., Bemis Hall
What was life like for parents and children in 18th-century Lincoln? Hear the Lincoln Minute Men to talk about life in Lincoln of 1775 and try your hand at the tasks, skills, and amusements of life in that time with hands-on activities for the entire family.

Mr. Vinny’s Shadow Puppet Show
2–3 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
In Mr. Vinny’s interactive shadow puppet show, kids help tell the story of “The Three L’il Pigs and the Big Bad Pineapple” and play “What’s That Shadow?” Best for ages 3-9 but all ages welcome.

Joyful Voices Gospel Choir Concert
3–4:15 p.m., Donaldson Auditorium
Featuring a repertoire of stirring gospel music interspersed with stories about its origins and history as a uniquely American art form, this all-ages concert is a wonderful way to begin our celebration of Black History Month. Come and lend your own voices to the harmony! Sponsored by the Bemis Free Lecture Series.

Valentine Love Songs & Dessert
3–5 p.m., Pierce House
The Lincoln Garden Club invites Lincoln neighbors to come in out of the cold and cozy up with a warm drink, sweet treat, and some romantic music. Music by Peter Stewart on piano.

(Editor’s note: This piece was originally submitted to the Lincoln Squirrel as a comment under the January 19 story headlined “L-S superintendent search process stirs controversy” and is being reprinted here for greater visibility. Lincoln resident Harold Engstrom is a member of the L-S  School Committee.)

By Harold Engstrom

Thank you for sharing this view of the L-S screening committee selection process. 

Firstly, the most important thing we are working toward is finding the best possible person to lead Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School as superintendent. That should be obvious, but it can’t hurt to put this out front.

Secondly, the characterization of the makeup of and selection process for the screening committee as “unusual” is not accurate: in open and televised meeting, we asked the head of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, who is also the consultant unanimously chosen by the LSRHS school committee to advise and execute our process, if there was a standard make up and selection process for a screening committee. The answer was no — each committee chooses to do it differently.

LSRHS is under pressure to move quickly to find candidates and screen them. Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) began their process months prior to LSRHS — the decision to definitively begin our process started on Oct. 11, 2022. We decided, in open meeting to have our screening committee be 11 people: one delegate from SPS, one from LPS, two faculty members chosen by the faculty, the L-S special education and METCO administrators, the three subcommittee members, and two committed members with experience from the community. This was transparently discussed. [L-S School Committee members] Ms. Miller and Ms. Endyke-Doren wanted to select alternates in executive session, away from public view, as is their right to suggest. This was voted down by the overall committee.

Secondly, it should be noted that the screening committee is comprised of examples of the best in Lincoln and Sudbury: people who have served their school systems and are fully invested in improving them for the sake of their neighbors, families, and all the students and staff who make up the L-S community. 

I am proud of the transparency and professionalism that MASC, our subcommittee chairperson Kevin Matthews, and the LSRHS school committee in general have exhibited in this process to date. We should all support LSRHS and its elected school committee as we work to land the school’s next leader.

“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.

By Krystal Wood

At the Special Town Meeting (STM) on November 30, 2022, the residents of Lincoln approved the following motion:

“That the town vote to transfer the sum of $325,000 from the town’s Stabilization Fund for the purpose of hiring relevant consultant support services, to potentially include project management, design, engineering and other technical reviews to assist the Community Center Building Committee in developing a range of community center design choices and budgets, including options not to exceed 75%, and 50% of the current project estimated cost of $25 million for the Hartwell complex, supplemented or not with existing available town space, with the intention of presenting said choices at a fall 2023 Special Town Meeting for a vote on a preferred option; and provided further, that it is anticipated that the preferred option selected by the Town will be presented for a funding vote in March 2025.”

In the January 23 article headlined “Rep. Gentile meets and greets Lincoln residents,” Carmine Gentile’s legislative aide Ravi Simon was incorrectly identified as a Lincoln resident. He is n fact a Sudbury resident and a candidate for the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. The original article has been corrected.

• The January 26 talk on radon risks and testing will be broadcast via Zoom in addition to taking place live at the Lincoln Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Those who want to attend via Zoom must click here to register (registration is not required for in-person attendance).
• State Rep. Alice Peisch will not be able to attend the January 21 meet-and-greet session in Lincoln for the town’s two new state representatives. Rep. Carmine Gentile (Precinct 1, west Lincoln) will still attend. Peisch will reschedule a session in Lincoln for another tim