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

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The Town Meeting is coming! The Town Meeting is coming!

townmtgBy Alice Waugh

Lincoln residents will gather on March 23 to vote on 41 warrant articles on matters ranging from the town budget for fiscal 2014 to citizens’ petitions on leaf blowers and water fluoridation.

The town’s total budget request for fiscal 2014 is $33.09 million, an increase of 4.6 percent over this year. If all elements of the budget are approved, the median property tax bill would rise from $11,340 in fiscal 2013 to $11,815 in the next fiscal year—an average increase of $475, or 4.2 percent.

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Council on Aging events rescheduled

Because of the recent snowstorm, the Council on Aging has rescheduled several events:

The Groves wants to add skilled nursing, memory care

An aerial view of The Groves showing the current facility (blue outline) and the amended proposal for Phase II (red outline).

An aerial view of The Groves showing the current facility (red outline) and the amended proposal for Phase II (blue outline) — click to enlarge.

By Alice Waugh

The Groves in Lincoln has asked the town for permission to build assisted living, memory care and skilled-nursing units in an effort to attract more residents to its age 62+ independent living facility just south of Route 2.

In 2007, the Planning Board and Town Meeting approved a plan for construction in two phases. The completed Phase 1 includes 100 congregate units, 30 rental units and 38 cottages. Originally, The Groves planned to build 28 more cottages after the first set was fully occupied.

However, nearly three years after opening, only 57 percent of those units are occupied, and “the community is struggling financially,” according to a February 5 letter to the Lincoln Planning Board. That letter was sent by John E. Dragat, senior vice president of development for Benchmark Senior Living, which was commissioned to “assess the project’s shortcomings,” and Toby B. Shea, chief financial officer of Masonic Health System of Massachusetts, co-owner of The Groves along with New England Deaconess Association–Abundant Life Communities, Inc., of Concord. The Wellesley-based Benchmark is the largest operator and developer of senior housing in Massachusetts.

A market study “confirmed [the] belief that the primary impediment to the success of the community is its lack of continuum of care,” the letter says. The 90 new units, if approved, would remedy this shortfall by providing assistance with activities of daily living, meals and social activities, as well as long-term and rehab care.

“The overall campus will operate as one integrated community, with many of the residents in Phase II emanating from the existing independent units, allowing the existing Groves residents the ability to age in place in a single continuing-care retirement community,” the letter says.

Residents will be asked to approve them amended plan by voting on Article 34 (page 73 of the warrant) at Town Meeting on March 23.

Drumlin Farm raising money for new education center, exhibits

This map shows the locations of the first projects on the campaign wish list (click to enlarge).

This map shows the locations of the first projects on the campaign wish list (click to enlarge).

By Alice Waugh

Drumlin Farm recently kicked off a campaign aimed at raising money to fund improvements starting with a new education center, wildlife care center and fox exhibit.

The “Landscapes for Learning” campaign aims to bring in $4.7 million over four to five years, said Christy Foote-Smith, Drumlin Farm’s sanctuary director. The campaign aligns with specific goals outlined in Drumlin Farm’s strategic plan. As of December 2012, Drumlin had raised more than $900,000, including a grant of $384,000 from the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund.

“We’re off to a running start. I don’t expect it to continue at that pace, though I wouldn’t be unhappy if it did,” Foote-Smith said at a Board of Selectmen meeting on December 17, 2012.

That sum will be enough to pay for improvements to the service barn, much of which was destroyed in a 1980 fire and rebuilt. Those changes include more classroom space and an expanded root cellar, which will help Drumlin expand its Winter CSA (community-supported agriculture) program.

“We have the field space, but we just don’t have places to store” the produce, Foote-Smith said.

Construction work on the barn should begin this summer, with completion scheduled for mid-2014, Foote-Smith said. Next on the list is either a new wildlife care center or a new education center to be built near the existing education building, Foote-Smith said. The current wildlife care center south of Route 117 is in an old poultry house, which will be razed and rebuilt on the same stone foundation, Foote-Smith said.

The new fox exhibit will replace the current “Drumlin Underground” exhibit, which can never be made handicapped-accessible, Foote-Smith noted. Also planned for campaign’s proceeds is a new equipment shed near Boyce Field, and new deer and coyote exhibits.

Noting that programs such as the summer camp are at full visitor capacity for the property, Foote-Smith noted Drumlin isn’t aiming to increase attendance except perhaps during the winter and other times of the year when attendance is relatively low.

“That’s not a goal we have moving forward,” she told the selectmen. “We expect our growth to happen mostly around our outreach programs,” such as satellite camps and staff visits to schools.

Anyone who wants more information about the campaign or wishes to donate may email Foote-Smith at cfsmith@massaudubon.org.

Fraud alert from Lincoln police

scamOn Monday, Feb. 25, a Lincoln resident received a phone call from someone claiming to work for Rain Soft. The caller claimed that Rain Soft is working with the Lincoln Water Department to test homeowner’s water for quality and contaminants. One of the Water Commissioners has advised that the Water Commission has not hired this company or authorized it to do the testing. Any resident receiving a call from Rain Soft should note as much information about the caller that they can, and report the call to the Lincoln Police. Residents should not provide them with any personal information. This matter is under investigation by the Lincoln Police Department.

Legislators’ forum at L-S on March 5

statehouse

The Massachusetts State House

On Tuesday, March 5, Massachusetts State Senators Michael Barrett and Jamie Eldridge and State Representatives Tom Conroy and Thomas Stanley will provide Lincoln and Sudbury residents with an update on the FY14 state budget and its impact on education, green initiatives and legislative initiatives of interest to our towns.

The session, which is hosted by the L-S School Committee, will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. in the library of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.The public is encouraged to attend, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Library closed; extra police on duty

SnowThis is from the Lincoln Police Department’s Facebook page:

“Residents are advised to remain in their homes and off the roads for the duration of the blizzard. Your home is the safest location to ride out the storm. In the event your home becomes unsafe or uninhabitable, contact the police station (781-259-8111) and we will assist you. Both the Police and Fire Departments have additional staff at the ready to ensure the safety and security of Lincoln’s residents. In the event of a power outage, contact NStar at 800-592-2000. Please check on elderly/disabled family and neighbors.”

Police also noted that the Lincoln Public Library will be closed on Friday and Saturday, February 8-9. “There will be a dispensation on overdue books for 48 hours but not one minute more,” the post says. No word yet on possible arrest warrants for massively overdue books 🙂

Events rescheduled as blizzard bears down

Not Lincoln, but China in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. People were trying to buy salt in the belief that it would ward off the effects of radiation from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. (Source: tinyurl.com/b35vhw8)

OK, so the crowds weren’t quite this bad at Donelan’s on Thursday, but the store was certainly doing a brisk business for a weekday afternoon. Store manager Jason Deveau said Friday morning that he had gotten a warehouse delivery a day early and that there was plenty of bread, milk, water and other staples on the shelves.

“Everyone seems like they’re getting what they need,” he said.

Donelan’s will close by 6 p.m. on Friday and possibly earlier, depending on conditions, Deveau said. They hope to reopen at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The Lincoln schools robo-called parents early Thursday evening to tell them that school would be cancelled on Friday. Other weather-related postponements:

  • Drumlin Farm’s “Stew and Brew” event scheduled for Friday night will take place on Sunday, Feb. 10, according to Christy Foote-Smith, sanctuary director. Because of the schedule change, the previously sold-out event now has some seats available, so attendees can register online until 3 p.m. on Sunday.
  • An open house at the Birches School has been rescheduled for March 2 from 2-4 p.m.
  •  The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee platform hearing and collection of senatorial nomination paper signatures that was scheduled for February 10 has been postponed until February 17 and/or February 24 depending on availability of speakers and venues. Call Gary Davis, chair of the Lincoln DTC, at 781-259-0318 for more information.

Stay tuned to the Lincoln Squirrel for more storm coverage — and please tell us how it’s going where you are and send photos!

Financial help is available for fuel bills and more

billsDo you need help paying your winter fuel bill? Call the Lincoln Council on Aging, which can help you apply for funds from the Massachusetts Fuel Assistance Program.

The program provides a cash benefit, payable to an authorized fuel provider, for both home owners and renters with eligible incomes. How much you receive depends on your household income, how many people you have in your household, and your heating costs.

Regardless of age, residents must apply for Fuel Assistance Program aid through the Council on Aging (COA), whose staff will help with filling out forms. To apply, call Pam Alberts at 781-259-8811 to set up an appointment. The Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council will review the application to determine whether you are eligible.

Even if you’re not sure whether you qualify for the Fuel Assistance Program, “give us a call anyway, because even if you’re not eligible, there are other programs that we may be able to hook you up with,” said Carolyn Bottum, director of the COA. These other state programs offer heating system repairs, discount utility rates, and Citizens Energy heat assistance, and weatherization services.

Lincoln assistance also available

For other types of unforeseen financial emergencies, the Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund and the Small Necessities Project can help.  The Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund, which is funded entirely by donations, provides assistance of up to $500 per lifetime for Lincoln residents in situations when that amount will allow someone to stay in our community.

The Small Necessities Project can provide immediate help if a resident has no food in the house, needs emergency medication, needs a night or two of lodging due to a fire or flood, or has a similar problem. This Project is funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and donations.

For more information or to ask for assistance from any of these programs,call Pam Alberts at the COA at 781-259-8811.