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

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Letter to the editor: The not-so-dulcet tones of autumn

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To the editor:

It’s that time of year again, when the leaf blowers are at play.

I won’t belabor the most obvious effect—the disturbing of the municipal peace. Rather, there is another concern regarding leaf blowers—less audible but equally important—which I, as a gardener and naturalist, feel strongly about. It is how they compromise the landscape. Nature intended for leaves to blanket the ground in the winter to nourish and protect the soil. Over time, scouring the ground with what amounts to a gale force wind comes at a considerable cost to soil, and to the very lawns which this whole process is intended to benefit and showcase.

Like many Lincolnites, I take great pride in my garden, but let me suggest another way to honor this endeavor. If you mow and mulch the leaves directly on to your lawn, you will produce the same happy result—minus the noise and plus this bonus: free fertilizer. Any leftover leaves can be raked under your shrubs and trees, providing further benefits—no store-bought mulch required. Furthermore, you can sit back and watch the grateful birds scratch through those leaves for sustenance.

I urge my clients not to confuse their gardens with their living rooms. Stray leaves and twigs are not an insult to good housekeeping. I’m told I’m a bit evangelical on this issue, but healthy landscapes and tranquil autumn moments are a part of the life that has drawn us all out here, and it is in our interest to protect this precious heritage

Sincerely,

Robin Wilkerson (member of the Lincoln Leaf Blower Study Committee)
31 Old Winter St.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.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 Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.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: Don’t harm historic area with church addition

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Editor’s note: The Historic District Commission is scheduled to discuss the First Parish Church at its meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13.

To the editor:

The First Parish Church in Lincoln, built in 1842, a beautifully made Asher Benjamin design on the Historic Register, is the center of our Historic District. The First Parish has proposed an addition, much larger than the church. The Historic District Commission is evaluating the appropriateness of that proposal. The first consideration of an addition might be to limit expansion to the least distraction from the historic church on a tiny lot.

[Read more…] about Letter to the editor: Don’t harm historic area with church addition

Check out Squirrel classified ads, reader survey, donation button

Dear readers,

I invite everyone to check out several new features in the Squirrel, all of which are free:

  • Classified ads for items and services you’re offering or looking for
  • A reader survey, which will help us make sure the Squirrel gives you what you what in an online community newspaper
  • Lincoln Through the Lens, a collection of reader-submitted photos that are periodically posted in the Squirrel

These features were explained in more detail in “Some notes to readers (and writers)” on October 30.

Everything in the Squirrel is free and available to all. If you would like to support current and future improvements by our paid web professional, Amy Helfman—perhaps in lieu of a paid subscription to this or another local news source —please consider making a voluntary donation of whatever you think is fair. Just click on the orange “Donate” button on the right-hand side of every page to contribute online via credit card or PayPal, or go directly to the donation page from here. If you prefer paper, you can send a check made out to Watusi Words (this is the official name of the business entity that includes the Lincoln Squirrel) and mail it to:

Watusi Words
178 Weston Rd.
Lincoln MA 01773

(The Lincoln Squirrel is not yet registered as a nonprofit organization, so unfortunately donations are not tax-deductible.)

Thank you for reading!

Sincerely,

Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel
781-259-0526 (h)  ~  617-710-5542 (m)
news@lincolnsquirrrel.com

News acorns – 11/11/14

acornDiscuss Hanscom Air Force Base and Massport tomorrow

Join other residents for an overview and further discussion of Hanscom Air Force Base and Massport at a “fireside chat” hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging on Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall. On the second Wednesday of every month, the COA hosts a “fireside chat” for residents of all ages in a respectful discussion of a current news topic using questions and answers. Last month, Lincoln Selectman Peter Braun, who is also chair of the Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS), provided an overview of Hanscom Air Force Base and Massport. On Wednesday, we will be continuing the conversation. Also at the chat with Braun will be Lincoln Town Administrator Tim Higgins and Sara Mattes, former chair of the Board of Selectmen. The three of them have a wealth of knowledge to share, not only on Massport and Hanscom but also on their relationship with Lincoln.

“Fireside chats” are intended to be an opportunity to discuss topics of interest that are sometimes provocative or controversial. A wide variety of opinions are both welcomed and encouraged. However, this is not a venue to resolve any differences but merely to put them on the table for all to consider.

Buy a pie and support L-S teachers

Help support the enrichment programs funded by the Foundation for Educators (FELS) at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School by purchasing home-baked apple, pumpkin, pecan and chocolate pies for Thanksgiving. To doubly support a good cause, you can also donate a pie to the Lincoln or Sudbury Fire and Police Department, the L-S Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner, a food pantry or an L-S teacher. FELS will arrange delivery. Go to FELSgrant.org and indicate your choice on the form if you’re paying by check, or in special instructions to seller area if you’re using a charge card or Paypal. (If you don’t fill in under “instructions to vendor,” we will e-mail you to ask your preference.) Order by Friday, Nov. 14 and pick up your pies on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at one of four locations including Bemis Hall. With your support, FELS provides grants to L-S faculty and staff to pursue their intellectual passions and in turn inspire our children.

Learn about the adolescent brain

We’ve all asked at one point in our interactions with children, “What were you thinking?” On Monday, Dec. 1 from 7:8:30 p.m. in the Brooks auditorium, the Lincoln PTO is excited to welcome Dr. Abigail Baird, Associate Professor of Psychology at Vassar College, to speak about the adolescent brain and shed light on our children’s social and emotional development. Integrating science with real-life situations, Baird will help us better understand our children’s behavior and give advice on how we can best support, parent and teach them as they grow. This program is presented by the PTO’s Parent Education Committee and is supported by a generous grant from the Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation.

News acorns – 11/8/14

Family potluck supper at First Parish on Nov. 9

You are invited to a family potluck supper this Sunday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in the Parish House of the First Parish Church. All are welcome. We will have pizza and cartoons for the kids. Bring a dish to share (no need to cook—purchased food is fine) and wine or beer if you would like. We provide the soft drinks. Come and spend some relaxing time with great First Parish folk. [Read more…] about News acorns – 11/8/14

Letter to the editor: McFall presents preliminary school budget

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To the editor:

The fiscal year 2016 (FY16) preliminary budget for the Lincoln Public Schools has been developed and will be presented to the School Committee on November 6, 2014. The process of developing the school budget began in August when the administrative team and I began an examination of each budget line item within the context of the District Strategic Plan. The process will continue through January 22, when the School Committee will vote on the budget that will be presented for a vote at the March 28, 2015 Town Meeting. I encourage parents and faculty to attend the School Committee meetings throughout the budget process and to provide input during the public comment portion of the meeting.

There are several key considerations in developing the budget:

  • The budget must be aligned with the School Committee guidelines that were finalized in September.
  • The Lincoln School budget is based on guidance from the Lincoln Finance Committee. For FY16, FinCom established a 2.5 percent budget guideline. This provides a 2.5 percent increase over the FY15 appropriated budget.
  • The Hanscom budget is developed based on projected enrollment bands agreed upon in the Federal contract. For the past several years, the budget has been built assuming enrollment at the “Band 3” level of 550-599 students.
  • Both budgets are developed with the intent of providing a level services budget (this year’s services at next year’s cost) and presenting possible improvement initiatives for consideration.
  • A major component of the budget is predicting the number of sections needed according to class size policy. On the Hanscom campus, class sizes are determined by Federal guidelines. On the Lincoln campus, class sizes are governed by the Class Size Policy.

The FY16 level service budget we will present on November 6 exceeds the 2.5 percent budget guideline established by the Lincoln Finance Committee. I will present the preliminary budget and explain the resulting “gap” between the budget guideline and the costs of providing a level service budget. At the School Committee meetings on November 20 and December 4, we will present options for reducing the budget in order to meet the FinCom guideline. This will require creating a list of gap-closing measures and providing information about those reductions and the impact they will have on the educational program.

At this time, I want to make you aware that our enrollment projections for the Lincoln School indicate that our current four sections of Grade 3 can be accommodated in three sections of Grade 4 in 2015-2016 and still meet the requirements of the class size policy. The total number of class sections in the Lincoln School would remain the same as the current year.

As the process unfolds and budget decisions are made with the School Committee, I will do my best to provide information to the community.

Sincerely,

Rebecca McFall, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Lincoln Public Schools

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

Jet Aviation approval confirmed by DEP, but residents fight on

Jet_Plane(Editors note: This version incorporates corrections made on November 7 to the DEP conference date and Angela Kearney’s title.)

By Alice Waugh

The Jet Aviation expansion proposed for Hanscom Field was OK’d by the state earlier this month, but a group of residents immediately asked for a hearing in a further attempt to block the project.

[Read more…] about Jet Aviation approval confirmed by DEP, but residents fight on

Obituaries – 11/4/14

candle2Here are links to obituaries of some Lincoln residents who have died in recent months.

Clifford “Red” Bradley, 96 (May 21) — carpenter and member of St. Joseph’s Church

Richard B. Campobasso, 67 (October 13) — worked for Lincoln’s Department of Public Works for 42 years

Margaret Domenichella, 76 (July 31) — licensed practical nurse in Lincoln and Concord

Alan Donaldson, 68 (August 4) — Lincoln Fire Department firefighter for 30 years

Marjorie Holland, 79 (September 25) — member of St. Anne’s, Cemetery Commission

Karl “Uno” Ingard, 93 (August 21) — MIT faculty members in physics and aeronautics/astronautics for 41 years

William A. King, 82 (August 28) — vice president and general counsel to Thomas Cook Travel USA

Charles Newcombe Jr., 74 (October 22) — owned Lincoln Roofing and Carpentry Co.