The Lincoln Squirrel

News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

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Police log for Sept. 27–Oct. 3, 2021

September 27

Tabor Hill Road (8:30 a.m.) — Caller reported a fisher cat was stuck in a trap on their property. Animal Control contacted the caller to handle.

Mackintosh Lane (4:25 p.m.) — Caller reported a car was parked on the lawn near his driveway. Officer responded; the Conservation Department was working in the area and was parked on conservation land.

Silver Hill Road (6:21 p.m.) — Caller reported cement trucks blocking the road. Officer responded and the trucks left the area.

Wells Road (9:29 p.m.) — Caller reported that she returned home and her door was open. Officers checked the interior and everything was fine. It appears the door was left open accidentally by the homeowner.

September 28

Nothing of note.

September 29

Tower Road (3:10 p.m.) — Caller reported that a relative took their elderly mother’s car. Officers located the vehicle at the home. It was a civil matter; officers followed up with the owner of the vehicle and the caller.

Conant Road (3:35 p.m.) — Caller requested assistance with a landlord/tenant civil matter. An officer spoke to the caller and gave him his legal options.

Stonehedge Road (4:34 p.m.) — Caller reported a male party was at the end of the road taking videos. Officer responded and found the party was picking wild mushrooms.

Lexington Road (7:00 .m.) — Caller reported hearing gunshots in the area of Flint’s field. Officers checked the area but nothing was found

September 30

Nothing of note.

October 1

Tower Road (1:25 p.m.) — Follow-up on September 29 call about a vehicle: officers spoke to the resident and the caller regarding the civil matter.

October 2

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (12:22 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a possible medical emergency in a vehicle. Officers and Fire Department responded. The party checked out OK and was sent on their way.

Tower Road (11:29 p.m.) — Caller reported an unwanted party at the residence. Officers made contact with the party and sent them on their way.

October 3

Tower Road (4:34 p.m.) — A resident came to the station requesting assistance in obtaining a protective order. Officers assisted the resident.

Tower Road (6:49 p.m.) — Caller reported being harassed by a family member who resides in Weston. Officers went to the house and spoke to the resident as well as the family member from Weston, who denied harassing the resident. No police action taken.

News acorns

Apply by Oct. 15 for cultural council grants

The Lincoln Cultural Council has $5,100 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to allocate in grants. Local priorities are:

  1. Providing work for performing artists severely impacted by the pandemic
  2. Serving families and/or seniors (intergenerational programs are of particular interest)
  3. Performances/programs in various art forms
  4. A focus on local history, environmental issues, or the natural world
  5. Collaborations between multiple artists and/or town organizations
  6. Applicants who have secured a local venue and have backup plan in place for in-person events
  7. Applicants who have shown an ability to successfully present a virtual experience, if applicable. 

The application deadline is October 15. To apply, go to massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com. Questions? Contact Meg Ramsey at meg.ramsey@verizon.net.

L-S grads running for office plan online fundraiser

Political candidates and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School alumni Brian Worrell (L-S ’01) and Jared Nicholson (L-S ’04) are teaming up for a joint Lincoln-Sudbury community fundraiser, seeking the support of their classmates, teachers, administrators, and the Lincoln-Sudbury community at large. Worrell, a candidate for Boston City Council District 4, and Nicholson, a candidate for mayor of Lynn, had decisive wins in preliminary elections in September and will advance to runoff elections on November 2.

The virtual fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 15  at 6 p.m. will feature special guest speakers including retired L-S history teacher Bill Schechter and will offer a unique insight into the candidates, their respective campaigns, and their time at Lincoln-Sudbury. All donations will directly benefit the candidacies of Brian and Jared, and all are welcome to attend.

“I am forever grateful for the education that I got at L-S and have been thrilled to be part of the public education team in the Lynn Public Schools as a member of the School Committee. I’m hoping to build on that work as mayor and excited to partner with Brian on this great way to connect with the L-S family,” said Jared Nicholson. 

“I owe my many successes to the foundational education I received from L-S through the METCO program, and I have been deeply impacted by the experience,” Worrell said. “The shared community at L-S and my positive experience at the school has prepared me for leadership and I intend to take with me the many values I learned at the school to city hall.”

Purchase tickets for the virtual fundraiser or donate by clicking here. For more information, email Monique_worrell@yahoo.com or krushfirth@gmail.com.

Lincoln Nursery School open house

Visit the Lincoln Nursery School at their Enrollment Open House on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 9–11 a.m. The school is on the campus of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. To learn more about their cooperative, play-based, Reggio-inspired approach, follow them on Instagram @lincolnnurseryschool or visit www.lincolnnurseryschool.org.

“Fabulous Finland: Architecture, Furnishings & Design”

Join Friends of Modern Architecture and FoMA Advisory Board member Katherine Mierzwa for a recap of her 2019 trip to Finland on Sunday, Nov. 7 from 4–5 p.m. She and her husband spent two weeks roaming the cities and countryside of southern Finland to see 20 of Alvar Aalto’s (1898-1976} iconic buildings, and saw lots of stunning new architecture along the way. Sign up for this virtual tour to see modern architecture and Scandinavian design. Click here to register for the Zoom link.

State of the Town meeting to be held virtually in November

Since large in-person gatherings are still not feasible due to the pandemic, the town will again hold the annual State of the Town meeting via Zoom. A preliminary schedule discussed by the Select Board on September 27 calls for three sessions, each starting at 7 p.m., with updates on topics assigned as follows (though the schedule may be compressed into two nights and topic moved around):

November 1:

  • The public health situation
  • Finance Committee 
  • School building project
  • Special Town Meeting warrant articles

November 2:

  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Antiracism Initiative (IDEA)
  • Climate Action Planning Committee

November 3:

  • South Lincoln planning
  • Community center

The final schedule is subject to feedback from various town committees on how much time they need for presentations and possible breakout discussions or snap polls on certain items. 

Officials will use the State of the Town to gauge interest in a community center, which was promised after the school project was finished in 2022. The discussion will include a review of the needs for a center (primarily for the Council on Aging & Human Services and the Parks and Recreation Department), possible designs, and the expected site on the Hartwell campus. They’ll also look at any other big-ticket needs on the horizon and the town’s projected borrowing capacity.

In 2018, the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee (CCPPDC) submitted its final report outlining two possible design directions for the facility, which was then estimated to cost $15.3 million to $16.2 million. Construction costs have escalated significantly since then, so those estimates will have to be updated.

A 2018 survey showed that residents were about evenly split between the two design options. However, one design element that will most likely be reviewed is having more outdoor seating and program areas — something that wasn’t a priority before the Covid-19 pandemic.

If all goes as planned, a Community Center Building Committee will be formed early next year to update the CCPPDC report, schedule public meetings, hire an architect, and produce a schematic design. A Town Meeting funding vote on the project could take place in March or November 2022.

Special Town Meeting

A Special Town Meeting on November 6 will feature three warrant articles asking approval for the following. All three need to be voted on before the Annual Town Meeting in March 2022 for contractual and construction season reasons.

  1. Using money that wasn’t spent on the recent Hartwell re-roofing project for a new roof on Pod C. The remaining funds are about equal to the cost for that project.
  2. Prepaying a portion of the cost of the refurbished school’s solar power purchase agreement to create more long-term savings and lower energy costs.
  3. Additional funds for parapet repairs on the Lincoln Public Library, as construction bids were all higher than the project’s $355,000 budget approved last spring.

Police log for Sept. 20–26, 2021

September 20

Tower Road (1:48 p.m.) —Caller reported that he is a livery driver and was having a dispute with a resident because he was owed money from a fare. Officer responded and spoke to both parties, who came to an agreement on payment.

September 21

South Great Road (12:33 p.m.) — Caller reported a party stumbling in the roadway on Route 117 near Tower Road and was concerned for their well-being. Officers responded and spoke to the party, who was brought to the Emerson Hospital.

Tower Road (2:07 p.m.) — Caller reported his water meter was leaking and he couldn’t get in touch with the Water Department. The Water Department was contacted and will get in touch with the caller.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:15 p.m.) — Report of a minor crash near Bedford Road (no injuries). State Police handled the crash and a Lincoln officer responded to assist.

Old Lexington Road (7:14 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle parked in the road. Officer checked the area but the vehicle was gone.

September 22

North Great Road (4:14 p.m.) — National Park Service reported a party walking on Route 2A having a mental health emergency. Officers responded to the area. The park service spoke to the party and assisted them.

September 23

South Great Road (1:45 p.m.) — Caller reported being a victim of fraud involving their payroll check. Report taken.

Old Concord Road (4:05 p.m.) — Caller reported that two bicycles were stolen from the side of the road at the bus stop.

September 24

Old Concord Road (12:03 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station dropped off old ammunition to be destroyed.

Drumlin Farm (7:09 p.m.) — An employee reported individuals having a fire pit on the property. Officers made contact with four individuals and asked them to leave.

Trapelo Road (8:55 p.m.) — People fishing were asked to move along.

September 25

Macintosh Lane (11:25 a.m.) — Caller complained about a vehicle parked on the roadway, concerned tat an emergency vehicle can’t get by. Officer spoke to the caller regarding the process of getting No Parking signs posted.

Offutt Road, Hanscom AFB (8:41 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces requested assistance with a possible intoxicated driver on base. Officers responded and it appeared that the party was having a medical event. They were transported to a local hospital by Hanscom’s contract ambulance

Tower Road (9:38 p.m.) — Caller wanted to speak to an officer about a civil matter. Officer assisted the party.

September 26

North Great Road (12:52 p.m.) — Caller reported hitting a deer with their car. A National Park ranger moved the deceased deer off to the side of the roadway.

Wells Road (4:14 p.m.) — Caller reported hearing yelling in the area. Officer spoke to the resident and everything appeared to be fine; he spoke to neighbors who did not hear the yelling.

Wells Road (5:53 p.m.) — Caller reported a child yelling in the area. Officer responded and spoke to a group, who reported there was no argument; the group was talking about the earlier call about hearing yelling.

Lincoln Democrats reflect on state convention

By the Lincoln delegates and alternates to the Massachusetts Democratic Convention

It’s tough arranging an event with 1,000 people, bills to consider, amendments to write, votes to tally, and numerous speakers to be heard, but it happened. Last Saturday, Massachusetts Democrats held their annual convention — all on Zoom.

While it lacked the customary fervor and excitement generated by many kindred spirits gathered under one roof, it proceeded with near perfect technical implementation, and provided delegates an opportunity to see and hear crisp, often lively, compelling presentations.

Featured keynote speaker highlights:

  • Elizabeth Warren, praising the “resisters and persisters” gearing up for the “fierce fight ahead in Washington,” asserted that the door is open just a crack to make a more just nation that works for everyone. We must all join in the fight.
  • Ed Markey said the Green New Deal is an intergenerational contract to save the planet and we must be “big and bold,” pursuing not just what is politically possible, but that which is scientifically necessary. We have the choice now: it’s either filibuster or Democracy.
  • Attorney General Maura Healey asserted, “This is our moment to bring fundamental change” and noted that the Attorney General’s office is taking on the NRA, the state of Texas on abortion rights, and a variety of issues within Massachusetts around voting rights, systemic racism, and misogyny.
  • Secretary of State William Galvin emphasized that the voting rights temporarily expanded in the 2020 election must be made permanent.

Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Thompkins, a member of the Platform Committee, revealed a deft style and wit chairing the presentation of the Massachusetts Democratic Platform for 2021. Young Democrats, many representing communities of color, immigrants, and other disenfranchised groups, presented each of the 15 platform planks.

Unable to enjoy the usual convention chatter and exchange of ideas and viewpoints, Lincoln delegates to the convention have pooled our “takeaway” observations. Here are some of them:

  • The next generation of office holders and candidates — their origins, self-direction, and passion — are cause for optimism.
  • Climate change is widely regarded as the top issue, but there is lots of energy around voter rights, income inequality, women’s rights, racial disparities, and immigrants’ issues. And they are all interlinked in the Green New Deal.
  • Companies such as Uber, Lyft, and Doordash want to work in Massachusetts without obeying the fair labor laws and are putting lots of money ($100 million so far) money into lobbying for changes.
  • The filibuster must go now.
  • We loved the inclusiveness of the Democratic Party, hearing voices of all of us. 
  • Three engaging, thoughtful candidates for the Democratic nomination for governor — Professor Danielle Allen, former State Senator Ben Downing, and State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz — will nevertheless have a tough fight against potential candidate Maura Healey, should she decide to run.
  • The broad progressive platform reflects the diverse constituencies currently folding into the party but might benefit from a more focused, less “boil the ocean” approach.
  • Hurray for Elizabeth Warren’s energy, optimism, and tough willingness to meet any challenge head on. May we all reflect that in the upcoming months.

Submitted by Lincoln delegates and alternates to the Massachusetts Democratic Convention: Tom Casey, Andrew Glass, Joan Kimball, Travis Roland, Jackey Sasso, Barbara Slayter, Alex Chatfield, Lorraine Fiore, Steve Kropper, and Trish O’Hagan.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their 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.

News acorns

Covid-19 vaccination clinic for everyone 12+

To protect younger children and keep schools open, the Lincoln Public Schools is offering a second Covid-19 vaccine clinic (Pfizer first send second doses) for anyone age 12 and up on Tuesday, Sept. 21 from 2–5 p.m. in the Reed gym. Drop-ins are welcome, or click here to schedule an appointment. Children under 18 do not need to have a parent/guardian with them at the time of vaccination but they will need to bring a signed consent form (click here to download).

Free social worker sessions for kids offered  

After a successful summer pilot program, the Council on Aging and Human Services (with help from the Board of Health and the Lincoln Public Schools) has arranged for a social worker to be on the school campus in the Hartwell building every Wednesday afternoon/early evening during the school year. This is a totally free service. Parents can call the COA&HS at 781-259-8811 to ask questions and book appointments. All appointments with Sara Hickey, MSW, LCSW, of Eliot Community Human Services are completely confidential. While appointments are held on school grounds, clinic participation information is not shared with the schools or any other town department.

Registration open for L-S adult ed classes

Lincoln-Sudbury Adult & Community Education offers courses for all interests and ages. Check out the offerings at LSRHS.net/community/adult_ed. Questions? Email adult.ed@lsrhs.net or call 978-443-9961 x3326.

deCordova offers Julia Child operetta, clay workshops

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is hosting “An Evening of Jazz and Julia” on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. Mezzo-soprano Vanessa Schukis portrays 20th-century culinary icon Julia Child in composer Lee Hoiby’s “Bon Appétit!” in a humorous 25-minute one-act operetta, accompanied by pianist Scott Nicholas, based on two episodes from Julia Child’s popular cooking show in which she concocts a chocolate cake. The event will take place in deCordova Cafe. Click here to purchase tickets, which include Julia Child-inspired snacks and beverages.

The deCordova is also offering an outdoor family-style workshop where participants can make clay soap dishes on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 1–2:30 p.m. All levels welcome. Click here to register, or click here to see details on other events at the deCordova.

Walden Woods Project fall events

“Determined to Know Beans: A Historical and Biological Exploration of Thoreau’s Beanfield,” an interpretive walk to Thoreau’s beanfield with historian Richard Smith and biologist Dr. Amity Wilczek, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 11–12:30 p.m. at the Walden Pond State Reservation. The presentation will focus on how the beanfield looked during Thoreau’s time and how it has changed.  Discussion will include the plants that Thoreau would and would not be familiar with, including invasives. Click here to register.

Also this fall: “A Virtual Lyceum: The Art of Perception” on Thursday, Oct. 21 from 7–8:30 p.m. and “Now Comes Good Sailing: A Virtual Conversation” on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 7–8 p.m.

Chamber music concert at the Pierce House

The Concord Chamber Music Society presents a special outdoor concert at the Pierce House on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. with the Parker Quartet. The performance (the first hosted by CCMS since March 2019) will feature the Adagio from String Quartet No. 1 by Adolphus Hailstork, the String Quartet No. 1 in A Major by Robert Schumann, and the String Quartet No. 1 “From My Life,” by Bedrich Smetana. Proof of vaccination will be required for admission, and masking is mandatory for tent seating and inside the Pierce House.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.concordchambermusic.org or by calling 978-405-0130. Seating beneath the tent is $50 and $40 for adults and seniors 65+ respectively. Lawn tickets will be offered at the door (weather permitting) on the day of the concert for $20, and patrons will need to bring their own chairs and/or blankets. Patrons may present their ticket stubs at the Trail’s End Cafe in Concord ollowing the concert for a 15% discount off of dinner; advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Group marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month with purple lights, walk, vigil

At any given time in Sudbury, Wayland, Lincoln, and other similar towns, there are 20–40 restraining orders in effect, indicating a judge has found significant evidence of violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this year the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will again partner with the First Parish in Wayland and the Lauren Dunne Astley Foundation to shine a light on the issues related to domestic and breakup violence. On Tuesday, Oct. 5, walks will commence from several points in Wayland arriving at First Parish in Wayland (225 Boston Post Rd.) for the Shine a Light Vigil at 7 p.m. Visit www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org for walk locations. Purple signifies courage and compassion, and purple lights will illuminate religious and civic buildings in Sudbury, Wayland, and Framingham throughout the month. In addition, community members are invited to place purple light bulbs in their window fixtures, lamp posts, or porch lights. If you or someone in your life might be experiencing relationship abuse, local support can be found here.

What does it take to raise 500 pigs and 100 chickens?

By Gus Browne

It’s no surprise that Lincoln’s history as a European settlement began with farming on Thomas Flint’s land in the mid-1600s — land that the Flint family still owns and farms. Agriculture was the lifeblood of the community for 300 years.

How did farming families do it? Not easily. A sample day for Joseph Cotoni Sr., whose farm was on Mill Street where Oakdale Lane is now, began at 3 a.m. in the 1940s when he and son Joe Jr. (known best as the proprietor of Joey’s Auto Repair on Lincoln Road and then Concord Road) drove their truck around town collecting food scraps from the in-ground receptacles beside residents’ back doors as food for their 500 pigs and countless chickens.

The Cotoni Farm Homestead

This trip was followed by farmyard chores, feeding pigs and chickens, and cleaning out the mess that well-fed pigs and chickens make. Then it was time to shower and change clothes for Joe Sr. to drive a school bus route, and for Joe Jr. to walk up Mill Street to North Great Road (a/k/a Route 2A) to get on the school bus — a long walk because for years the school bus did not go down Mill Street.

After the school bus run, Joe Sr. would return to the farm for a day’s work until it was time to get back on the school bus to deliver students from the school to their homes. For Joe Jr., it was a school day like any other, ending with a bus trip back to the top of Mill Street and then a walk home. At this point, Joe Sr. and Jr. would change clothes again, and at 4 p.m., load the truck with crates of produce and baskets of tomatoes for a drive into Boston’s Haymarket, where they would sell it all to wholesalers – and pick up outdated produce to take back to Lincoln for the pigs and chickens.  The trip was even longer when they had to stop in Everett to pick up more crates and baskets to bring back to the farm.

After the trip home, there was dinner to eat (thanks to the wonderful cooking of Mrs. Santa Cotoni, whose first name appropriately meant “Saint”) and afterward for Joe Jr., homework for the next school day. And then to bed, to get up at 3 a.m.  and repeat the day all over.

Makes your day look a little better, doesn’t it… unless you’re a farmer, in which case I’ve  just described your day here.

Photos of Joe Cotoni Sr. and his parents who started farming here in 1901 can be found in Images of America: Lincoln, pp. 62-63, available from the Lincoln Historical Society.

“Lincoln’s History” is an occasional column by members of the Lincoln Historical Society.

My Turn: Walk for the SVdP food pantry

By Ursula Nowak and Karen Salvucci

The Society of St Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston is devoted to assisting individuals and families in our communities who live in dire need due to unemployment, health issues, hunger, and the inability to meet even basic expenses. Over the past two years, more neighbors than ever before have reached out for our help, and the number of food pantry clients has almost doubled. Past support for our mission has enabled us to respond to these requests, but we now need your help to continue this vital work.

On Saturday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m., SVdP is hosting an Every Mile Counts Walk to kick off our fundraising effort. This is an opportunity to walk together to show our commitment to our community and help us reach our goal of $40,000. Please join us by walking and/or donating to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston. We are neighbors helping neighbors.

To register for the Every Mile Counts Walk (followed by an ice cream social), click here. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 per family. To donate directly to SVdP of Lincoln and Weston, click here or mail your check (payable to St. Vincent de Paul) to SVdP, PO Box 324, Lincoln, MA 01773. Thank you!

Nowak is president and Salvucci is president-elect of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their 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.

News acorns

Library offers posters and materials about 9/11

Twenty years after the tragedy, the Lincoln Public Library is featuring “Remembering September 11, 2001,” a special online display assembled by Reference Librarian Robin Rapoport about that day, including photos, references, and lists of books and other resources for readers of all ages, including Reactions to September 11, 2001 by students at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. The library is also hosting a special poster display that was created by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Garden Club hosts open house

The Lincoln Garden Club to host a wine and cheese party for all Lincolnites interested in learning about the group’s many activities on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 5–7 p.m. please join us to learn about the Lincoln Garden Club’s many activities. These include community service, horticulture, invitations to guest speakers, trips to notable gardens, conservation and the environment, and more. This is an in-person, outdoor event (postponed in case of rain). RSVP to annparke@verizon.net or lucypage@aol.com for directions.

Online exhibit features Lincoln artists

“Cups of Good,” a new online exhibition from Boston’s Society of Arts + Crafts that runs through October 31, includes two artists from Lincoln — Laura and Will Wear, owners of Cold Hill Studio, who design and handcraft functional home goods using local environmentally sustainable materials. Their design and culinary backgrounds merged to form Cold Hill Studio, and they focus on home goods inspired by mid-century craftsmanship. The exhibition features over 50 artists from 18 states bringing their original ideas to vessels and elevating the art form to celebrate the basic cup in all its many possibilities. Visitors can expect a variety of cups, mugs, bowls, planters, boxes, and even urns in a wide range of price points, from high-end showstoppers to more affordable gift items.

Care Dimensions offers training for hospice volunteers

Care Dimension, which owns the hospice house on Winter Street in Lincoln, is looking for volunteers in the hospice house, with patients in the field, and other roles not requiring patient contact (bereavement and check-in phone calls, etc.) The four-week training via Zoom takes place either Tuesday and Thursdays (October 12 to November 4) from 6–8:30 p.m., or Mondays and Wednesdays (October 18 to November 10) from 9–11:30 p.m. See this Care Dimensions volunteer web page for more information or click here to complete an application.