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

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Lincoln firefighters attack pair of house fires

The rear of the house on Old County Road after the fire. (Photo courtesy Lincoln Fire Department)

Lincoln firefighters helped extinguish two house fires in the area in the past week, including one in Lincoln.

The Lincoln fire started in the early afternoon of Friday, June 21 at 15 Old County Rd. in a home owned by Scott and Angela Kadlec. A passer-by called the Fire Department after seeing smoke in the area, investigating further, and then discovered the house with part of its roof on fire. Because it was caught early, damaged was fairly minimal. The cause is still being investigated but firefighters suspect it was a lightning strike during the thunderstorm storm that ended shortly before the fire. See more photos on the Lincoln Fire Department’s Instagram page.

On Wednesday, June 18, firefighters from Lincoln and 11 other towns responded to a major house fire at 17 Bartkus Farm Rd. in Concord. It quickly became a four-alarm fire. Each alarm brings about four pieces of apparatus with four firefighters on each piece, according to Lincoln Fire Chief Brian Young; normally there would have been fewer firefighters, but more were called in due to the hot weather so they could relieve each other frequently.

According to the Concord Bridge, a neighbor saw the fire, knocked on doors, and then tried to break into the house, fearing the family dog was trapped inside, though it turns out it wasn’t. The owners were not at home because the house was being renovated, the news site said. The fire’s cause and origin is under investigation. See aerial photo on WHDH.com.

News acorns

New senior property tax exemption program starts

Applications are now being accepted for the Lincoln means-tested Senior Circuit Breaker Property Tax Exemption. This new property tax exemption was recently approved by the state and then again at Annual Town Meeting in March (after the initial 2021 approval) for implementation for the FY25 real estate tax billing cycle.

The new exemption reduces property taxes for income-eligible households and is in addition to any other exemption allowable under Mass General Laws, though the maximum benefit received may not exceed 50% of any resident’s property tax bill. This program coincides with the Massachusetts Circuit Breaker program, with additional criteria specific to Lincoln. The funds available for this program are limited. Thus, program eligibility based on household income may be reduced to ensure those most in need receive a benefit. To be eligible for the new exemption, individuals must:

  • Have owned property in Lincoln for at least five years
  • Be 65 years of age at the close of 2023. If married, your spouse must be at least 60 years of age at the close of 2023.
  • Have completed your 2023 Massachusetts state income taxes, including Schedule CB.
  • Have a household gross income of less than 100% of the AMI (area median income) for the household size. For a household of one, this is $104,510; for a household of two, it’s $119,440.

For more information or to apply, call the Council on Aging & Human Services at 781-259-8811. Town staff and board members have been working hard to start the first year of this program off well; please be patient as we navigate this process with you. Applications are due by 4:30 pm on July 1, 2024 and applicants must file annually to retain the exemption.

Eighth-grade car wash on Saturday

The Lincoln School eighth-graders will host their annual fundraising car wash Saturday, June 8 at the Town Offices from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. (rain date June 9). This is their biggest opportunity to raise funds for a well-deserved graduation celebration and class gift. Purchase your ticket early so we have a sense of the funds available for the expenses. Click here to purchase tickets ($20 per car) and/or make a donation. You can also pay the day of the car wash ($25 cash or check).

Summer softball league starting up

Lincoln Co-Ed Softball is a not-too-competitive league with modified rules to enhance player safety while maintaining the integrity of the game for players age 16 and up. We provide players with a rewarding experience with their neighbors where the mandatory thing is stretching before games. We have four veteran teams that would love to have you join — pick one when you register, or we can assign you. No experience necessary, and don’t worry if you can’t make every game. Post-game bragging rights at the Tack Room is optional. Register here. Questions? Email lincolnsoftball01773@gmail.com.

Ongoing trail work with closures at Minuteman

Ongoing trail improvement projects at Minute Man National Historical Park involve temporary trail closures and parking lot closures to the public at various locations along the Battle Road Trail and North Bridge Trail. The first of these projects will include the Fiske Hill West and East Trail, as well as the portion of Battle Road Trail between the Whittemore House and Parker’s Revenge site. Work also continues at the trail re-route between Olive Stowe Boardwalk and Brooks Village. These locations will be completed by early July. 

It’s important that visitors respect the temporary closures. Due to the type of material being applied to trail surfaces, unauthorized trail access can impact the curing process and potentially delay completion of the projects. Updates on trail closures and completion are available on the Minute Man NHP website and social media platforms. 

The work to rehabilitate trails and improve the visitor experience is funded by a $27 million grant from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund in the lead-up to April 2025, the 250th anniversary of the opening battle of the American Revolution.

LLCT annual meeting is June 23

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust at our Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 23 at 4 p.m. at the Lincoln School’s learning commons. After LLCT members vote in the business meeting, Mark and Marcia Wilson from Eyes on Owls will lead a program where attendees can meet six live owls up close. This live animal program can be enjoyed by people of all ages (5+ is recommended) and young naturalists will be invited to sit on the floor at the front of the room.

After the owl program, LLCT will host a burrito dinner from the Tack Room in the adjacent dining commons. Burritos will be prepared in advance, so we are asking participants to RSVP so we can plan accordingly. Suggested donation for the burrito dinner is $10/person. Click here to learn more and RSVP.

See high school service day activities in Lincoln

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School SRHS Class of 2024 thanked the communities that have given so much to them over the years by giving back on the annual Senior Day of Service. Click here to watch a slide show of the activities at several Lincoln locations.

Coming up at the library

Book talk: “Suffrage Song”
Monday, June 10 at 7 p.m. (Zoom)
Hear author Caitlin Cass discuss her book, Suffrage Song: The Haunted History of Gender, Race and Voting Rights in the U.S. Part graphic novel, part map of the suffrage movement, this book tells the story of the fight for the right to vote by women from the very beginning. Click here to register.

Summer reading kickoff and sale
Wednesday, June 12 from 3–6 p.m., library lawn
Children are invited to the library for balloon sculpting (balloons for ages 3+), crafts and other fun, ice cream, and a magic show by Ed Popielarczyk at 4 p.m. Learn about the library’s summer reading program and pick up reading challenge forms. The Friends of the Lincoln Library (FOLL) will also be holding a sale of used children’s books for kids ag 5-12 priced from 50 cents to $2.00. 

No registration required. The event will move indoors in the event of inclement weather. Funding provided by FOLL.

June activities hosted by the COA&HS

Here are some of the June activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services. Most events are open to Lincoln residents of all ages. For a full list — including clinics, exercise classes, regular meetings of interest groups, and online chats with town officials — see the COAHS’s calendar page or newsletter archive page. Call 781-259-8811 or email gagnea@lincolntown.org for Zoom links and other information.

Health and wellness fair
Friday, June 7 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Get your questions answered by local healthcare vendors including Lincoln public health nurse, police and fire personnel, Parks & Rec, Emerson Health, AARP, SMOC, elder law attorneys, Vascular Care Group, St. Vincent de Paul, Minuteman Senior Services, independent & assisted living and many more. Free door prizes.

Toni Lynn Washington jazz concert
Thursday, June 13 at 2:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
All ages are invited to a free jazz concert by Boston’s queen of soul and blues. Sponsored by Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother, Ronna Cooper.

“Love, Loss and What I Wore”
Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m., library Tarbell Room
Friday, June 14 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Wordsmove Theater presents this poignant and hilarious play by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, based on the book by Ilene Beckerman (details here) that explores matters of the heart and closet. Cast: Carol Becker, Nancy Bush, Mary Crowe, Susan Gates and Sally Kindleberger. Directed by Mary Crowe.

Strawberry & Ice Cream Social
Thursday, June 20 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Make your own ice cream sundae topped with luscious local strawberries, chocolate, and more, and then share conversation with old friends and new. Please RSVP by June 14 by calling 781-259-8811. Transportation available for those who need a ride. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging.

The Gardner Museum Theft
Friday, June 21 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Bob Ainsworth shares the story of Isabella Stewart Gardner’s life and her creation of the museum. He delves into the heist on March 18, 1990, when 13 priceless objects were stolen. Why was the heist successful? Who are the suspects?

Classical Piano Concert
Friday, June 28 at 12:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
Join us for a concert with Abla Shocair and her grandchildren, Nooreddeen and Zaineddeen Kawaf. Music includes compositions by Beethoven, Liszt, and Chopin.

Addendum

In the May 29 edition of News Acorns, two photos accompanying a piece about FELS grant recipients were missing captions. The original post has been updated.

Art sales pull in funds for Boston Bridges Initiative

The Schrader-Johnson family of Lincoln with their new painting. 

The Schrader-Johnson family of Lincoln are the proud new owners of an original painting titled “Changes” by James Leonard. They purchased the painting at a recent event hosted by Boston Bridges Initiative (BBI), a nonprofit that facilitates cultural exchange and meaningful social interaction between city and suburban families in the greater Boston area.

The art sale was a fundraiser through BBI’s Downsize for Diversity program, which accepts donations of artwork and sells it at greatly reduced prices — and whose earlier iteration resulted in this 2022 book. The sale focused on art donated by the global consulting firm McKinsey & Co.

Framed paintings and photographs from this collection are still available along with hundreds of additional pieces of art at a home gallery in Lincoln. If you’re interested in purchasing art at discount prices for a good cause, contact Joanna Schmergel at owenjoanna@yahoo.com or 617-645-9059.

News acorns

Sessions on climate change and legislative measures

MetroWest Climate Solutions will host two webinars focusing on climate change. To register for either, visit metrowestclimatesolutions.org.

On Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m.,will look at climate-related bills currently under discussion at the State House. Massachusetts has a mandate to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, so the State Legislature must pass legislation on multiple fronts to make this goal a reality. Casey Bowers, Action Fund Executive Director for the Environmental League of Massachusetts, is responsible for creating and executing the strategy to ensure the policy priorities we need pass the legislature. She will discuss some of the most significant bills before the legislature and their potential impact. The legislative session ends on July 31 so this is the perfect time to reach out to elected representatives to encourage their support for critical climate bills.

New England is currently warming faster than the global average and annual precipitation has increased along with severe rainstorms. Join MWCS for their second program on the effects of climate change on Wednesday, June 5 at 7 p.m. when Professor Stephen Young explains the science behind New England’s warming and what impacts this warming is already creating and will create in the future.

Four at L-S receive FELS grants

FELS, the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury, recently awarded four grants at its awards ceremony. LSRHS faculty and staff are all eligible to apply for FELS grants to fund course work or travel during school vacation time and summer recess. The 2024 FELS grant recipients are:

  • Vicky Caburian, Wellness, for “2024 Chronicle Adventures”
  • Kelly Gaudreau, English, for “A Year of Wellness”
  • Tracie Lopez and Kendra Pavlik, Special Education, for “Gaining and Maintaining Equanimity”

Left to right: FELS grant recipients Kelly Gaudreau (English) and Vicky Caburian (Wellness), LSRHS Superintendent/Principal Andrew Stephens, grant recipient Tracie Lopez (Special Education), and FELS President Nancy Marshall. Absent: grant recipient Kendra Pavlik (Special Education).

Left to right: FELS board members Tara Mitchell, Nancy Marshall and Nancy Donaldson, LSRHS Superintendent/Principal Andrew Stephens, board members MaryAnn McCormick, Ginger Reiner and Ruth-Anne Adams. Absent: board members Michelle McMahon-Downer, Thom Kenney, and Desiree Butter.

LOMA features The Secret Sauce

The Secret Sauce is the featured performer at the next Lincoln Open Mic Night on Tuesday, June 11 from 7–10 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. This all-women’s trio of Janet Feld, Esther Friedman, and Jackie Damsky perform tasty originals and choice covers with lots of three-part harmony accompanied by guitar, mando, and violin. LOMA is a monthly open mike night event with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style.

Getting to Zero #9: Embodied Carbon

What do you know about embodied, upfront, or operational carbon? Why is this topic fundamental to the issues of climate change? Find out on Wednesday, June 12 at 7 p.m. when CFREE (a working group of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee) will host a Zoom event with Tim Lock, an expert on the issues of emissions and carbon that are fundamental to the discussion of climate change and what we can do to reduce our impact. Tim is the managing partner of OPAL Architects, a Maine firm that focuses on sustainable design and high-performance homes. He has also advised the White House on climate policy and the impacts of carbon on the planet. To receive a link for the Zoom event or recording afterwards, click here.

Summer concerts at deCordova

Spread a blanket on the ground or bring your own chair for Trustees summer concerts at the deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park. Tickets include admission to the sculpture park grounds and free parking. This concert will take place on the front lawn. In the event of rain, performances will be in the museum. Click on a title for details and ticket purchase link.

Early music concerts at St. Anne’s

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church will host a summer concert series by SoHIP (the Society for Historically Informed Performance). All performances are at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $5–$35 (click here to purchase and read more). The lineup:

  • Tuesday, June 11: “So Far From Home” — Music from 16th-century Spain, France, Holland, Italy, England, and Germany on themes of exile, migration, and hope.
  • Tuesday, June 18: “Shir Levi’im: A Song of Levites” — A glimpse into the rich musical life of Portuguese Jews of 17th-century Amsterdam.
  • Tuesday, June 25: “Hildegard Reanimated: Vision in Vision” — This multimedia concert shares the four most famous visions of medieval polymath Hildegard von Bingen as told through music, illuminations, and new animations by visual artist Cate Duckwall.
  • Tuesday, July 9: “Fantasticus!” — 17th-century Italian musicians traversed the Alps to Germany and Austria, bringing with them the stylus fantasticus, an improvisatory style of early Baroque instrumental music.
  • Tuesday, July 16: “The 18th-century Salon: Music by Bach’s Son” — C. P.E. Bach’s distinctive quartets for flute, viola, and fortepiano mark the transition from the late Baroque to early Classical eras.
  • Tuesday, July 23: “Let’s Make Arrangements” — Four recorder players perform 15th-century Franco-Flemish masters, Baroque keyboard works, and more. 
  • Tuesday, July 30: “Cantos y Suspiros” — Songs about the joys and treacheries of love from 17th-century Spain.
  • Tuesday, August 6: “Blistering Passions” — Lute songs of Strozzi, Caccini, Purcell, Lawes and others illustrate stories ranging from pastoral idylls to militaristic conquests. 

Exhibit celebrating the life of Gerald Foster starting June 4

Gerry Foster

An exhibit celebrating the life and work the late Lincoln artist, architect, and author Gerald Lee Foster will be on displayed from June 4 through July 13, 2024 at The Gallery at Villageworks (525 Massachusetts Ave., West Acton).

Foster passed quietly in his sleep on June 25, 2023 in Lincoln at the age of 86. Contributions in his memory may be made to Mass Audubon, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Burial arrangements were handled by the Dee Funeral Home. See his full obituary and online guestbook. 
 
The exhibit is organized by Foster’s children Mark Foster, Ryan Foster, and Shelby O’Neill. Contact Shelby (shelbymfoster@gmail.com) for further information.
 

Black bear causes backyard havoc during Lincoln meanderings

A map showing the bear’s Lincoln whereabouts last week (click to enlarge).

There’s a bear in the woods — and it’s not a Reagan campaign ad, either. It’s in the Lincoln woods (not to be confused with Lincoln Woods, never fear).

Paula Robinson, who lives on Rockwood Lane, was the first to report seeing the young black bear on May 9 at 4:30 a.m. Her doorbell camera caught the bear in the act of vandalizing her bird feeders — apparently bears are fond of birdseed. About a week earlier, another resident spotted what appeared to be bear tracks on the trails between Bedford Road and deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

“The scary thing about the whole situation is that the bear was approximately 10 feet from my bedroom window and the windows are floor to ceiling, so it was a very surreal experience,” Robinson told the Squirrel. “The bear did take the feeder into the woods but not far and we found it intact this afternoon… We’ve all heard of sightings but I never expected to have such a close encounter due to the fact that we are so close to Route 2.”

A flurry of comments, photos and videos on LincolnTalk in the following days documented sightings all over town south of Route 2, and Lincoln police said they got calls about sightings at various times, primarily north of Trapelo Road near Lexington Road, Page Road, and Old County Road.

On May 10, the bear ransacked the trash can of Jai Kaur San Antonio, who lives near the Codman Estate. “I heard something banging around outside just as I got into bed around 11 p.m. I didn’t even consider it would be the bear. But when I woke up, I saw what a mess it had made — and there were muddy bear prints on some things,” she said.

That same day, Addie Bigelow on Grasshopper Lane shot this video of the bear tackling another bird feeder and successfully spilling the contents onto the ground to eat. 

Peter Speert’s photo of the bear outside his house on Fox Run Road on May 12. 

On May 12, the bear was in the Fox Run Road neighborhood. “I usually let my kids play outside unsupervised, but since a bear roamed into our yard, I have decided to supervise my kiddos more closely. Our neighbor’s dog chased the bear out of our yard and the bear scrambled up a tree,” Fox Run Lane resident Eri Buitrago, who posted this video.

By May 13, the animal had made its way to the home of Caroline Hayes, who lives on South Great Road close to the Wayland town line. She saw him just minutes after he was reportedly seen on Williams Road in Wayland, which is very close to her house.

“My birdhouse has a camera in it, and it did a weird thing at 5:35 a.m., so I believe that’s the same bear they saw in Wayland this morning,” Hayes said. “This morning, we woke up to find both of our bluebird houses on the ground, wood broken open with force, one with metal pole bent (and broken!) down to the ground. One had another species’ eggs in it, smashed, and luckily the other had four live baby bluebirds. We were able to repair their house a bit and parents are nearby. I can’t imagine any other creature but a bear could do this and bend the metal like that. I can see how they look like bird feeders since they are on poles and about the same height.”

Black bears are expanding their range eastward from western and central Massachusetts, according to the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), which has received reports of a bear in Lincoln and Concord.

“Black bears spend more time in residential areas when they find food such as bird seed, trash, unprotected backyard chickens and goats, and outdoor pet food,” Nicole McSweeney, Assistant Director for Outreach and Education at MassWildlife, told the Lincoln Squirrel. Bears that are fed directly or indirectly by people can become habituated and lose their fear of people, potentially resulting in more property damage or even a threat to public safety.

Resident Linda McMillan, quoting another MassWildlife official she spoke to, said the bear was moved from Worcester where he was wandering into a very developed area not because he was aggressive or violent. “He’s about two years old and has moved about 35 miles in the last week. They have no intention of moving him out of Lincoln. He said we should get used to having bears in our town. The likelihood is that we will see more,” she reported.

“If a bear is seen in town, leave the animal alone and keep pets leashed,” McSweeney said. “A gathering of people not only stresses the animal but adds the risk of having a bear chased out into traffic or into a group of bystanders. In most situations, if left alone, bears will return to forested areas on their own.”

Most bear sightings do not need to be reported to MassWildlife or law enforcement, she added. If a bear is seen in a densely populated area, contact the Environmental Police Radio Room at 800-632-8075 or the nearest MassWildlife District Office to report the sighting and get advice.  

And of course there’s always plenty of advice to be found on LincolnTalk as well. Resident Margaret Olson posted this old adage: “If the bear is black, fight back; if the bear is brown, hit the ground; if the bear is white, say good night.” To which another resident added, tongue in cheek, “If the bear is pink, put down that drink.”

If there’s one thing that captures the attention of Lincolnites, it’s wild animals (remember Bruno the serval in 2022?), so news media including the Lincoln Squirrel faithfully report on these incidents — as do local TV news stations (OK, not really; that’s a parody video from The Onion with a few naughty words, so be warned).