The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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News acorns

Ms. G the groundhog at Climate Action Day on Feb. 2

Climate Action Day, featuring “Ms. G,” the Official Groundhog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, returns as a virtual event at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary with a new focus on climate science and weather on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. on Facebook Live (@massaudubondrumlinfarm). Climate Action Day 2022 will include a livestream view of Ms. G’s weather “forecast,” along with insights into how New England wildlife survive the winter and information about how the changing climate impacts their habitat. 

This year’s virtual gathering will be co-hosted by Mass Audubon President David O’Neill and Renata Pomponi, Senior Regional Director. “Our warming planet is the most pressing environmental threat of our time,” O’Neill said. “A huge focus of our work, from the programs run at our wildlife sanctuaries, to our land conservation and restoration priorities, and our advocacy on Beacon Hill, is on addressing climate change.

Zoom forum on electric vehicles

The Lincoln Green Energy Committee (GEC) and the Green Energy Consumers Alliance are hosting an electric vehicle Zoom presentation as part of the GEC’s EV 2022 campaign. There will be a question and answer period at the end of the Zoom. This event will be on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at noon. Click here to register and get the Zoom link. Learn more about EVs on this GEC page or this GECA page.

Event features loved ones of domestic violence survivors

“If I Had Known Then What I Know Now” will be presented via Zoom by the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. Loved ones of domestic violence survivors will talk about the signs they missed, the knowledge they lacked, and what they’ve leaned that helps the better recognize signs of abuse in relationships today. Click here to register.

Talk by Trayvon Martin’s mother

Sybrina Fulton

The Friends of the Lincoln Library present “An Evening with Sybrina Fulton, Mother of Trayvon Martin: Cultivating Justice Toward Racial Equality” via Zoom on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Since the death of her 17-year-old son Trayvon, Fulton has become a role model to many by turning her grief into advocacy.  Her book co-authored with Tracy Martin, Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin, shares the intimate story of a tragically foreshortened life and the rise of a movement that awoke a nation’s conscience. Her February 24 topics include “We Are All Trayvon” and “From Pain to Purpose: The Time is Now to Own Democracy.” Click here for more information and registration.

News acorns

Young graduates from firefighter management program

Sherborn Fire Chief Zachary Ward, Wayland Assistant Fire Chief Richard Ripley, and Lincoln Fire Chief Brian Young on graduation day.

Lincoln Fire Chief Brian Young was one of 34 fire officers to graduate from the state Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program on January 27.

The 13-week program was delivered jointly by the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston and the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. The most recent graduates hail from 33 communities. Last week’s graduates were the first to deliver their final research papers virtually,

The program helps high-level fire officers improve their ability to lead and manage their departments. Participants learn about personal leadership styles, municipal finance, planning and budgeting, public information, behavioral health, contemporary legal issues, fire mobilization, executive leadership, intergovernmental relations, ethics and logic, human resources management, public speaking, and executive communications.

Two special events from COA&HS

The Council on Aging & Human Services is hosting two events online:

Martha Lufkin’s Humorous Collections
Friday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.
Hear award-winning humor writer, art law journalist, and lawyer Martha Lufkin of Lincoln read from her latest book of newspaper humor columns tackling everything from the Lincoln dump to the local schools to backtalk from teens, travel mishaps in Paris, and more. Martha will talk about her years writing for the Lincoln Journal, and her mother’s work as editor from 1957-1971 of the Fence Viewer, Lincoln’s former newspaper. All are welcome to join the event via Zoom; email gagnea@lincolntown.org to sign up.

From Abolition to Civil Rights: American Music History
Friday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.
John Clark and his Great American Music experience will begin a travelogue along the road to freedom that begins in the days of the Underground Railroad. After the Civil War, the Fisk Jubilee Singers (1870s) and Bert Williams (early 1900s) represent an affirmation of the proud heritage of African-Americans. In the early 20th century, the first freedom anthems emerged. Email gagnea@lincolntown.org to sign up (Zoom link will be sent out on February 24).

Library hosts “An Evening With Author Margaret Spence”

Author Margaret Spence will speak about her latest novel Joyous Lies via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. Maelle Woolley, a shy botanist, prefers plants to people because they don’t suddenly disappear. Joyous Lies is a tale of family secrets straining the bonds of family love and lost ideals. Spence, a native of Australia, moved to the U.S. and earned a master’s degree in journalism. Her first novel Lipstick on the Strawberry was published in 2017. Click here to join the Zoom event (meeting ID: 870 9303 4809; passcode: 227284).

News acorns

Town offers free Covid-19 rapid tests

For the past three weeks, the town has offered free PCR testing to residents in an effort to manage the spread of Covid-19 during the post-holiday surge. While those will no longer be offered, free iHealth antigen rapid test kits will be available for pickup starting Thursday, Jan. 27 for residents who:

  • have symptoms associated with Covid-19
  • have been identified as a close contact of someone with Covid-19
  • may have been exposed to Covid-19
  • have attended large gatherings or have traveled recently

Test kits can be picked up Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the following locations:

  • the dispatch window inside the Public Safety Building
  • the Select Board Office inside Town Hall
  • the Council on Aging and Human Services office inside Bemis Hall

Residents of Lincoln Woods and The Commons may also pick up kits at their respective main offices. Tests may also be picked up on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the dispatch window inside the Public Safety building.

If you have symptoms of Covid-19, please do not come pick up a test kit — send someone on your behalf. No pre-registration will be required, but you will be asked to register your name, address and email upon receipt of your test kits. You will be limited to one test kit per person in your household each time you come, but you may come repeatedly as long as your need is valid. 

Pickup basketball for adults

Residents are invited to sign up for Lincoln’s weekly adult pickup basketball game (Tuesdays at 7:15 p.m. on the Brooks Gym). Click here to register.

Year-round reading challenges start with Black History Month

Thanks to the Friends of the Lincoln Library, the library is now able to offer reading challenges year-round through Beanstack, a free online service that offers book and activity logging, recommendations, book reviews, and more. Earn virtual badges and enter to win a prize at the end of your challenge. Monthly challenges are open to all readers over 18.

The first challenge will be the Black History Month Challenge, which will run for the entire month of February. Starting on Tuesday, Feb. 1, register on our website or download the mobile app, find your next great read, and get started. Learn more and register here.

Livestream the LSB Players’ Winter One Acts 

The LSB Players’ next performance will be the 8th Annual Winter One Acts with performances available to livestream on Friday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. On tap are plays directed by current L-S students Celeste Caseria ’22 (“That’s Not How I Remembered It” by Don Zolidis), Grace Grandprey ’22 (“As It Was” by Lucy Atkinson), and Gustavo Molina ’22 (“I, Chorus” by Ian McWethy). 

An individual livestream is $15 and a family livestream is $40. Click here for more information and to order an access code. Please note that the Access Code will allow you to view the performance on only one device at a time. Therefore, if you have family or friends who would like to view the performance from a different location, they will need their own access code. Email lsbtickets@gmail.com with any questions.

Care Dimensions gets grant for hospice programs

The Parmenter Foundation, a charitable organization that supports end-of-life care and bereavement services, announced a $19,300 grant for Care Dimensions hospice programs. The grant will fund two programs offered by Care Dimensions Hospice House to families in MetroWest communities:

  • The SmartCare program, brings an elevated level of clinical home care called community paramedicine to their sickest and most frail home hospice patients when symptoms escalate
  • The Bereavement Bag program in which volunteers fill and drop off supportive items to families who have lost a loved on during the pandemic, letting them know they’re not alone even though they may not be able to gather for grief and healing rituals

The grant, delivered as part of $236,000 awarded in Parmenter’s mission-focused areas of children’s grief support, adult bereavement, and hospice care, come as Massachusetts endures the staggering impacts of the Omicron variant and recently passed the grim milestone of 20,000 COVID-related deaths in the Commonwealth. 

Parmenter also recently released a new series of resources on grief associated with pet loss, including a five-part animated video series, “Unconditional Love, Unique Loss,” which explores the grief and guilt associated with the loss of a pet, including perspectives from a local veterinarian, a certified pet chaplain, and a veterinary social worker. 

Police log for Jan. 17–23, 2022

January 17

Reports of trees or large branches down starting at 6:56 a.m. on South Great Road, Old Sudbury Road, Winter Street, Baker Bridge Road.

Donelan’s Supermarket (2:33 a.m.) — Donelan’s reported that a pipe had burst and the store manager asked police to notify the Water Department that they’re done pumping out the basement. The information was passed along to the Water Department.

Langley Road, Hanscom AFB (4:23 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces requested assistance at a residence regarding a dispute. An officer responded and assisted.

Short Hill Road (6:30 p.m.) — Caller said they lost their wallet and was looking to see if it was turned in.

January 18

Conant Road (10:20 a.m.) — Caller requested assistance with a civil matter. An officer spoke to the party and provided legal options.

Hanscom AFB (1:48 p.m.) — An officer responded to Hanscom Security Forces regarding firearms that were seized as part of a protection-from-abuse order.

Mary’s Way (3:05 p.m.) — Caller asked to speak to an officer regarding a possible violation of a civil order. An officer spoke to the party; no violation found.

Old Sudbury Road (6:28 p.m.) — Caller reported striking a deer. An officer responded and found no damage to the vehicle. The DPW was contacted to remove the deer from the side of the roadway.

Langley Road, Hanscom AFB (9:47 p.m.) — Caller asked an officer to respond to a residence on base for assistance. An officer responded along with Security Forces.

January 19

Ridge Road (8:43 a.m.) — Caller reported a fire inside a locked oven. Fire Department responded and handled the incident.

Sandy Pond Road (3:22 p.m.) — Two-car motor vehicle crash. No injuries, one vehicle towed from the scene.

January 20

Concord Road (12:32 p.m.) — Caller reported hitting a deer. No injuries, no damage to the vehicle; the deer ran off.

Weston Road (12:32 p.m.) — Delivery driver reported the homeowner had parked behind the delivery vehicle and was refusing to move. An officer responded and spoke with the homeowner and advised them if they have a complaint to contact the delivery company. The delivery driver left the area.

January 21

Langley Road, Hanscom AFB (11:42 a.m.) — Caller requested assistance regarding an ongoing civil matter. An officer spoke to the party and advised them of their legal options.

Indian Camp Lane (4:23 p.m.) — Caller reported a minor crash involving a company vehicle. An officer responded and assisted parties with exchanging information.

January 22

Twin Pond Lane (10:26 a.m.) — Caller requested assistance from the Fire Department regarding an issue with their smoke detector. Fire Department responded to assist the resident.

January 23

Wells Road (12:39 a.m.) — Caller reported that a neighbor was making loud noises. An officer responded and was unable to hear any noise.

Police station (4:47 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station reported that someone rang the doorbell between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. the previous evening.

News acorns

Film examines work of Modern teacher/artist

FoMA/Lincoln (Friends of Modern Architecture) will present “Laszlo Moholy-Nagy: The New Bauhaus” on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 7-8:30 p.m. This film traces the life of one of the most influential artists and teachers of the Modern movement. With a focus on the New Bauhaus, a school he started in Chicago in 1937, the film captures the infectious enthusiasm he brought to his work and to his students, and his broad impact on the proliferation of Modernist creativity and design sensibility.

Click here to view the film (either ahead of time or on Thursday). Photographer Susan Arthur Whitson share her impressions of M-N’s impact with a focus on his contributions to the world of photography and participate in a Q&A as part of a brief discussion after the film starting at 8:30 pm. on Zoom (click here to participate).

Film on Boston-area redlining

“Undesign the Redline” with Braden Crooks will be presented via Zoom on  Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. “Redlining” is a shorthand reference to maps that create racial boundaries that define neighborhoods and are used in discriminatory ways to determine ownership and access to resources and services. How has redlining shaped residential patterns in greater Boston, and how does Boston’s history of redlining continue to impact our lives? An interactive exhibit, “Undesign the Redline” connects the deliberate and systematic racial housing segregation of the 1930s to political and social issues of today. Hosted by the First Parish in Lincoln and co-sponsored by the  Lincoln Public Library. Click here for Zoom information.

Peskin to discuss nature photography

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is sponsoring “Photographing Moments in Nature” with Barbara Peskin on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 7-8 p.m. via Zoom. Whatever the season, there are many special moments to capture. Composing a photo involves both observation and understanding of the subject’s behavior as well as being prepared for an unexpected opportunity. In this program, Barbara will share what was behind the scenes of some of her favorite images from Lincoln and nearby. She will also demonstrate some of the Photoshop work that goes into editing her images. Attendance is limited; click here to register.

Town offices, library are reopening

Town buildings will reopen to the public on Monday, Jan. 24, and the library reopens on Saturday, Jan. 22 after a two-week pause in service in response to the post-holiday surge in Covid-19 infections. Public health data, as well as the town’s internal testing program, indicate that cases have slowed down sufficiently to resume normal (“COVID-normal”) operations. Those using town facilities must still wear a mask in all indoor spaces. Public programming may also resume, so long as it complies with current public health protocols. 

Property sales in November 2021

26 Morningside Lane — Alexander J. Nichols to Lauren Miller and Michael Brundage for $1,005,000 (November 30)

148 South Great Rd. — Stephen A. Fairfax to Jun Wang and He Qiong for $730,000 (November 23)

225 Aspen Circle — James J. Faran Jr. to Kathleen and John R. Edmondston for $850,000 (November 17)

324 Hemlock Circle — Patricia Lewis Trust to Arthur J. Gleiner Trust for $346,000 (family sale) (November 15)

9 Wheeler Rd. — Peter J. Watkinson to Alexander J. Nichols and Ann Feng Cheung for $1,950,000 (November 12)

354 Hemlock Circle — Susan M. Burt Trust to Sandra N. Bradlee Trust and Henry G. Bradlee III Trust for $705,000 (November 10)

51 Todd Pond Rd. — Howard M. Wiles to Janet and Steve Niemi for $560,000 (November 5)

64 Baker Bridge Rd. — Jonathan B. Ammen to Meghan K. Lytton for $2,050,000 (November 5)

115 Trapelo Rd. plus adjoining lot — Brian A. Byrne to Jesse A. Lefkowitz and Rachel A. Neurath for $1,760,000 (November 3)

34 Round Hill Rd. — Melissa M. Brooks to Clara A. and William R. Broughton for $2,000,000 (November 3)

Not complying with multifamily housing requirement could risk millions in potential state grants

(Editor’s note: This article includes a correction to the map supplied to the Lincoln Squirrel that appeared with the January 9 story headlined “New rules ask town to permit 750 housing units in South Lincoln.” The original map misidentified the amount of land that would be subject to multifamily zoning under the new state rules; it has been corrected in that story and also appears below.)

The red circle shows land within a half-mile radius of the Lincoln commuter rail station. Wetlands and buffers are indicated in shades of blue, conservation land is in green, and the beige area in the southwest quadrant is the Mass Audubon Society. The town would have to allow 750 units of multifamily housing within that area to comply with the Housing Choice Act. (Map courtesy of Margaret Olson; click to enlarge.)

Lincoln has not received grants from any of the three state funds for which it may lose eligibility under new state zoning rules, but it stands to lose out on significant amounts of money that one of the funds has already bestowed on other area towns.

The Housing Choice Act requires towns that are designated as MBTA communities to change their zoning to allow multifamily housing with a half-mile of MBTA stops or lose eligibility for grants from the Housing Choice Initiative, the Local Capital Projects Fund, or the MassWorks Infrastructure Program. The act asks Lincoln to zone 50 acres within that radius of the MBTA commuter rail station at 15 units per acre. While the town technically has enough land to comply, “the problem is that the South Lincoln overlay district doesn’t have enough buildable land for 750 units,” Planning Board Chair Margaret Olson said.

Lincoln has never applied for a grant from any of the three specified funds, though it has received funding in the past from other state programs including Green Communities, Complete Streets, a variety of regional planning grants, and most recently $400,000 under the Rural and Small Towns Grant Program for engineering and design of expanded capacity and longevity of the Lincoln Woods wastewater treatment plant, according to Town Administrator Tim Higgins. 

The MassWorks program is the largest grant program for infrastructure improvements, and unlike most other programs, it does not have minimum or maximum award amounts. The following nearby towns have recently received MassWorks funds:

  • Acton  — $2.75 million in 2020 for affordable housing infrastructure improvements 
  • Harvard — $1 million in 2020 for road safety and drainage improvements
  • Marlborough — $2 million in 2019 for improvements to Lincoln Street in support of a $25 million mixed-use development 
  • Wayland — $2.2 million in 2020 to upgrade its wastewater treatment facility and connect it to the 218-unit Alta River’s Edge housing development at 490 Boston Post Rd. 

If eligible, Higgins said Lincoln could conceivably apply for future MassWorks funds to support projects including stormwater improvements that will be required to meet new federal and state requirements, septic system improvements to support whatever South Lincoln redevelopment vision the voters decide to support; Ballfield Road septic improvements (if needed) in support of a community center; water main replacements; MBTA station upgrades; and potentially roadway and roadside path improvements.

Under current state regulations, if Lincoln maintained its current zoning, it would not appear to make the town ineligible for money from Chapter 90, Complete Streets, and a number of other grant programs, Higgins said. (The Chapter 90 program provides funding each year to municipalities for capital improvements to local public roads (usually resurfacing); Lincoln is slated to receive $266,000 in fiscal 2022 from this source.)

The bigger question, Higgins noted,  “is whether the town believes its vision is in reasonable alignment with the goals and criteria of the state’s [Housing Choice] program. If the town determines that the density and other requirements of the Housing Choice Act are out of alignment with town values and makes the decision to forego participation in MassWorks, we will need to find alternative funding sources to create/upgrade necessary infrastructure.”

Police log for January 9–16, 2022

January 9

Old County Road (1:09 a.m.) — Waltham police reported they had a vehicle stopped on Trapelo Road that was involved in a domestic incident. A Lincoln officer responded; Waltham police handled the matter.

Bypass Road (8:57 .m.) — One-car crash at Route 2A and Brooks Road. The vehicle was towed from the scene; no injuries.

Police Department (3:30 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station found money in town and turned it in.

Lincoln Road (6:02 p.m.) — Caller reported that the railroad gates were stuck down. Officers responded and stood by. Keolis notified to handle.

January 10

Page Road (7:11 p.m.) — Report of credit card fraud. Report taken; investigation ongoing.

Police Department (9:45 p.m.) — A walk-in reported their vehicle was broken down in the parking lot of the station. AAA was contacted to handle.

January 11

Boyce Farm Road (11:22 a.m. and 4:35 p.m.) — Office delivered court paperwork to a resident who was not at home on the first attempt.

January 12

Hanscom Drive (7:48 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a party with an active warrant attempting to get on the base. David Hulbert, 31, of Plymouth was arrested on a warrant from Lawrence District Court for traffic offenses. He was brought to Concord District Court.

Boyce Farm Road (9:50 a.m.) — A party came to the station to speak with an officer regarding a civil matter. An officer explained their legal options.

January 13

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (1:05 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces requested an officer to assist them with a possible intoxicated driver. Security Forces had the party in custody and wanted to use Lincoln PD’s breath test instrument.

Lexington Road (12:59 p.m.) — Caller reported a dog being aggressive in the area of Flint’s Field. Officer responded but the dog was no longer in the area. Message left for the dog officer.

January 14

Twisted Tree Café (2:36 p.m.) — Caller reported employees were dumping trash into the Wells Road dumpster. Officer responded and spoke to the manager and advised them of the complaint. It was a training issue with the staff.

January 15

Nothing of note.

January 16

Nothing of note.

Correction

In the January 18 News Acorns, the Zoom registration link for the LincFam dance party was incorrect. The correct link is here. The original post has been updated.