news

Because of a recent  notification that coliform bacteria had been in part of the town’s water system, some residents have expressed concern that their water may be contaminated, but Lincoln Water Department Superintendent Greg Woods assures residents that the water is safe to drink.

Standard monthly testing showed the presence of coliform bacteria within the plumbing fixtures at the Tower Road well pump-house. Species of coliform bacteria include E. coli, which often indicates contamination with fecal matter. Most strains of E. coli are harmless but some can cause illness in humans.

The plumbing fixtures  have  been treated and have tested bacteria-free, Woods said. “As stated in the state-required notice that was mailed to customers, the water distribution piping tested completely free of coliform bacteria.” As an extra precaution, the water at the first house on the line that would receive water from the well was also tested and was found to be free of bacteria, he said.

“The Lincoln water remains completely safe to drink; in-home treatment or filtering is unnecessary,” Woods said. Anyone with questions may call him at 781-259-8997.

Come to Smith School from 7-10 p.m. and dance off some of that turkey! Live music with Larry Unger and Julie Metcalf, with caller Chris Ricciotti. Sponsored by the First Parish Church.

Admission: $6 for adults, $4 for children 10 and under. For more information, call 781-259-0692.

The Vox Lumens Renaissance choir concert at the First Parish Church is on Sunday, December 15, not December 13 as reported earlier. The Lincoln Squirrel article has been updated to reflect this correction.

By Alice Waugh

Two landmarks in the town center—the Lincoln Public Library and Bemis Hall—have been getting upgrades.

The sidewalk to the library shortly before completion.

A worker blasts away decayed material from the front of Bemis Hall.

[Read more…] about Downtown construction boom

Looking for a newer house in Lincoln with an extra-long bathtub? You might want to check with Paul Pierce, the 15-year veteran of the Boston Celtics before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in July—he’s put his Winter Street home on the market for $2.65 million.

Even as Lincoln homes go, it’s nicer than most. Photos on the real estate listing for the five-bedroom, 7,631-square-foot house built in 2003 reveal lots of custom woodwork, huge rooms, a home theater—and what appears to be a custom tub for the 6’7″ Pierce.

Pierce’s home is not the most expensive on the market in Lincoln at the moment, according to ZipRealty.com. That honor belongs to the six-bedroom, 6,424-square-foot house on seven acres at 144 Sandy Pond Road owned by Philip and Lisette Cooper (asking price: $4.3 million). A five-bedroom, 7,521-square-foot home on 4.5 acres at 169-171 Lexington Rd. owned by Daniel and Yolette Cellucci is listed at $2.7 million.

Here are obituaries of Lincoln residents who have passed away since June.

October 21

Robert Duncan, 71 — former teacher in Lincoln Public Schools, Fenn School assistant headmaster

October 2

Melissa Meyer, 70 — chaired the board of the DeCordova Museum for 12 years

Caroline Tracey, 71 — mother of Miffi, Beth and Robert Tracey

September 30

Jean-Marie Vogel — entrepreneur in the medical device industry

Duncan

Meyer

Tracey

What are your thoughts on a Lincoln community center, further development of Lincoln Station, and Lincoln creating its own electric company? Learn more and offer your opinions at the annual State of the Town meeting this Saturday, Nov. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Brooks Auditorium.

The meeting will include brief presentations and then open discussion—but not votes—on these three topics that have been the subject of preliminary discussion by town leaders. For more information about each, see the October 2 Lincoln Squirrel article or read the town-wide mailing that offers background and some options for dscussion.

Keep watching the Lincoln Squirrel and join the LincolnTalk email list (if you haven’t already done so) for further information about possible live-blogging or tweeting from the meeting.

By Alice Waugh

High winds on Friday morning contributed to several power outages in Lincoln, including several brief interruptions at the Lincoln School.

Lincoln Road was closed between Ballfield Road and Peirce Hill Road for a time when a tree snapped and fell across the road, bringing down power lines on the other side. The police station also lost power and had to switch to its backup generator, according to Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Mooney.

There were a total of three tree-limb breaks in Lincoln that led to power outages in town, Mooney said, but by 3:30 p.m., “we seem to be getting back to normal here; the wind seems to have died down,” he said.

Several other towns west of Boston and on the south shore also had outages. At 3:30 p.m., 5 percent of Wayland customers were without power. Lincoln’s outage rate at that time was 0.5 percent, according to the NStar website.