David McKnight
John R. Hester passed away at age 67. He was a 1971 graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional high School. Click here for full obituary.
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Police log for Jan. 1–7, 2021
January 1
Carroll School, Baker Bridge Road (10:25 a.m.) — Officer found a door was open and secured it.
Concord-Carlisle High School, Concord (3:19 p.m.) — Concord police requested assistance in looking for a party in the area of the high school who was involved in a burglary.
Beaver Pond Road (3:46 p.m.) — Fire Department responded for a report of a water main break.
Battle Road Farm (8:29 p.m.) — Resident reported their neighbor was causing a disturbance by banging on the common wall between residences. Police contacted the neighbor and asked them to stop banging.
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (10:19 p.m.) — Concord police requested assistance in locating a green pickup truck that was involved in a hit-and-run crash on Route 2 near Emerson Hospital. Officers responded to the area but were unable to locate.
January 2
Conant Road (2:00 p.m.) — A family member requested a well-being check on the resident. Contact was made and everything is fine; they will follow up with the caller.
Hanscom Drive (5:23 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a motorcycle crash. A Lincoln officer located the party who dropped the motorcycle. No injuries, minor damage to the motorcycle.
January 3
Concord Road (9:55 a.m.) — Caller reported a party walking on the railroad tracks. MBTA tower notified; officers checked the area but were unable to locate.
Birchwood Lane (12:11 p.m.) — Resident turned in a box of ammunition they found and would like to have destroyed.
Concord Road (4:36 p.m.) — Complaint of car illegally parked near Walden Pond. Parking ticket issued.
Blackburnian Road (4:38 p.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious package along the side of the road. Officer responded and found it to be a cement casing, which was removed.
North Great Road (8:37 p.m.) — MassDOT reported a person walking on the roadway and were concerned about them being struck. Officer located the party and brought him to the train station.
Beaver Pond Road 10:00 p.m.) — Caller reported a party over age 12 walked out of the house after being upset. Officer located the party walking back to the residence; everything was fine.
January 4
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (12:00 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle pulled to the side of the roadway with someone on their hands and knees outside the car. Officer checked the area but the car was gone on arrival.
January 5
Lincoln Road (1:40 p.m.) — A Town Hall employee requested a well-being check on a man outside. Officers checked on the party, who was found to have been missing from Watertown for several days. State police had issued a Silver Alert on man. Watertown police were contacted and the officer brought the individual back to his residence in Watertown.
Lincoln Road (2:01 p.m.) — Party reported finding a golden retriever with tags with illegible numbers. The Animal Control Officer came to take the dog.
Old Concord Road (3:58 p.m.) — The owner of the golden retriever called to report it missing. Animal Control contacted the owner and returned the dog.
Bedford Road (4:05 p.m.) — Fire Department assisted a party with a vehicle lockout.
January 6
South Great Road (1:58 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked in the parking lot. The party had pulled over to rest and said they will be on their way shortly.
Moccasin Hill (11:23 a.m.) — Caller reported an outside odor of natural gas. Fire Department reported a slight odor; National Grid was contacted to respond.
January 7
Tabor Hill Road (4:36 p.m.) — Caller reported a chimney fire. Fire Department responded along with Concord firefighters. The fire was extinguished shortly after arrival.
Farrar Road (4:44 p.m.) — Caller reported driving by a house on Farrar Road with fire coming from the second floor. Wayland and Concord Fire Department also responded but found no fire; it was the reflection from a lantern.
Anonymous emails were leaked by Burney’s daughter, police say
Jennifer Burney in 2016.
Former Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney filed a complaint in September accusing Town Administrator Tim Higgins and former Assistant Town Administrator Mary Day of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation. Burney alleged that Higgins and Day had thwarted her efforts to secure time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act and then working remotely so she could care for a family member under 18.
Her complaint, which was not public record, was leaked to LincolnTalk and the Lincoln Squirrel in separate emails from two different fictional email addresses. The LincolnTalk email was spoofed to appear as though it came from someone named “Debra French.” Police determined that a real Lincoln resident named Deborah French had nothing to do with it and subsequently opened an investigation into possible identity fraud and harassment.
In November, the town closed its own investigation into Higgins’s conduct after an independent investigator found that there were no facts to support any of the allegations made against him.
Lincoln police, via the district attorney’s office, issued subpoenas to Comcast and Cox Communications, an internet/cable service provider in Rhode Island, to identify the IP address of the computer that sent the anonymous emails. It transpired that the sender’s home address was that of Tara Atwood, 37, of Newport, R.I. who is Burney’s daughter, according to Chief of Police Kevin Kennedy.
Atwood has confessed to sending the emails, Kennedy said. Debra French was a “fictitious name she came up with… She was appalled that she caused this woman [Deborah French] any distress over it — that was clearly not her intention.” Atwood was not charged with a crime for using French’s name because she did not obtain anything of value by doing so, he said.
To be charged with criminal harassment, a person must commit three separate episodes of harassment against the victim, and Atwood did not do this, Kennedy said. However, “should her behavior continue towards any of the victims here, criminal charges could be filed because she’s been put on notice.”
The victims in the case are Higgins and Day as well as former Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use Paula Vaughn-McKenzie, because Atwood’s emails claimed that she and Higgins were having an extramarital affair — an allegation that Kennedy called “fabricated” and “completely untrue.”
Burney worked for the town from January 2016 until she went on leave last summer and Vaughn-McKenzie was named acting Director of Planning and Land Use. Vaughn-McKenzie has since been appointed to the role permanently.
Kennedy said that Atwood’s motivation for sending the emails was “to make sure the claims in [Burney’s] letter were in fact going to be investigated.” Burney was not aware that Atwood had sent the emails until about a week later, when Atwood admitted it to her mother, he said. “Obviously Jen was very upset at that… Jen clearly did not approve of any of this behavior.”
Right after the emails were sent, Burney denied sending them, saying she considered her complaint addressed to the Planning Board and Board of Selectmen to be confidential.
Neither Burney nor Atwood returned emails from the Lincoln Squirrel seeking comment on Tuesday.
News acorns
(This post was edited on January 13 to include a link to a movie of the winning marble run.)
Library pickup hours reduced
Due to staffing issues, the Lincoln Public Library, which is now closed to the public, is reducing its contactless pickup hours as of Wednesday, Jan. 13. The new hours are:
- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 1–6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Friday and Saturday: 1–5 p.m.
Visit the library’s FAQ page for the latest information on changes to services and contactless pickup times. If you have any questions regarding your pickup, the best way to reach the library is via email to lincoln@minlib.net.
Please pick your materials up on the requested day. There is not sufficient staffing at library to handle leftover bags. Also, the library’s elevator is out of service, which is also resulting in a delay processing requests, but it should be fixed by the end of the week.
GearTicks name winner of December STEMtastic Challenge
Devon’s marble run starts at top left, runs down through a hose along the backs of two chairs, then around a cardboard track to another hose, where it emerges to glide over the top of a guitar and down a final pipe before hitting a bell suspended on a string and then a foam backstop. Click image to see a short video of the marble run in action.
Congratulations to 14-year-old Devon, the December winner of the GearTicks STEMtastic Challenges. Devon’s marble run featured unique household objects, and his ingenious use of a guitar in his marble run especially impressed the GearTicks. Click here to see a short video of the marble run in action.
January’s STEMtastic Challenge theme is vehicles. More challenge details can be found here. To access the Lincoln Public Library’s STEMtastic resources, click here
and scroll down. If you have any suggestions for future challenge topics or ways to improve the challenge, please use this Google form. For more information about the GearTicks team, visit www.gearticks.com or email hello@gearticks.com.
Second youth talent show to benefit St. Jude’s Hospital
Plans are in place for a youth talent show on Zoom on Friday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. This is the second such event organized by L-S seniors Achla Gandhi and Dasha Trosteanetchi as kids4humanity.org. The first show on December 23 raised more than $2,500 for Save the Children.
St. Jude’s Research Hospital is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children’s catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. The hospital costs about $2.8 million a day to run, but patients are not charged for their care.
“Right now we’re trying to get as many kids involved as possible. We aren’t looking for perfection or child prodigies — just children willing to step up to make our world a little brighter,” Gandhi said. Any kind of talent is welcome as well as any age children (the last show featured performers from 1 to 19). Performances will be pre-recorded and sent to organizers ahead of time to make the process easier for parents with younger children.
To register to perform, email kids4covid.19@gmail.com with names, ages, and talents by Friday, Jan. 29. Donations are always encouraged but none are required to perform or to attend the show — click here to donate. Videos are due by February 5. If you have any questions or would like to see past performances to get a sense of the format — or if your company has a matching program and you’re interested in getting involved — send an email to the same address.
Virtual award presentation for three Lincoln houses
Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln (FoMA) invites everyone to its annual awards ceremony with a presentation on “Updating an Original: Three 20th Century Houses in the 21st Century” on Sunday, Jan. 24 from 4–6 p.m. (click here to watch on Zoom). Meet the award-winning owners and their architects/designers for outstanding renovations that were sensitive to the original house, while maintaining the “character of place” established in their respective neighborhoods. The houses are:
- 1956 Swanson House, Laurel Drive, original design by Dan Compton and Walter Pierce
- 1959 Wales House, Moccasin Hill Road, original design by Henry B. Hoover and Walter Hill
- 1967 Kuhn House, Tower Road, original design by Constantin Pertzoff
For more information, see the FoMA website or email fomalincoln@gmail.com.
There’s still time to apply for energy/fuel assistance
If you spend more than 30% of your income on housing costs (rent, condo fee, mortgage, electricity, heating, property tax, homeowner’s insurance, etc.) and have not yet applied for Lincoln’s Fuel Assistance program, there’s still time. Fuel Assistance is a federally funded program that helps eligible households with energy and/or heating costs during the winter months. Depending on your household income, you may qualify if you own or rent your home, even if heat is included in your rent. The program covers oil, gas, electric, propane, kerosene, and wood. Those approved for Fuel Assistance are also eligible for a discount on utility bills, weatherization for your home, and a program to repair or replace your primary heating system.
To apply for Fuel Assistance, residents of all ages can contact the Council on Aging at 781-259-811 to set up an appointment. They will let you know what documents you’ll need.
Help sought for future Covid vaccination clinic
Town officials are gearing up for a possible Covid-19 vaccination clinic and are seeking volunteers, though much is still unknown.
“We do not even know for sure if Lincoln will get the vaccine from [the state Department of Public Health], so we ask that people seek the vaccine from their primary care providers or when public clinics are advertised,” said Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean. “Large public clinics at Gillette, Topsfield Fairgrounds, the Big E, and UMass-Amherst are supposedly going to open at the end of the month. Do not wait for a town clinic.” In offering vaccinations, the town must adhere to the three-phase approach outlined by DPH, she added.
For the possible vaccination clinic and other functions, the Lincoln Public Health Task Force is seeking volunteers to join the Lincoln Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteers with medical, logistics, communication, and computer skills, but everyone can help in some way. Volunteering with the Medical Reserve Corps is a simple and effective way to support the needs of Lincoln while also helping your family, friends, and neighbors stay safe and healthy, said Fire Chief Brian J. Young
Lincoln Medical Reserve Corps organizers are interested in gathering early information on how many town residents might be interested in volunteering to assist in the vaccination effort. The clinics will occur between March and May and will be held at a location in Lincoln. The roles they need assistance with include the following:
- Parking lot coordinator (non-clinical) — Mostly outdoors. Confirming appointment times and verbally guiding residents to appropriate locations
- Vaccine check-in administrator (non-clinical) — Indoor position. Greet people, validate scheduled appointment and participant ID, arrive to appointment and direct to vaccination area.
- Vaccinators (clinical) — Indoor position. Must be RN, MD or certified to administer vaccinations. Vaccinate personnel and direct to waiting and Check-out area.
- EMS clinical surveillance (clinical) — Emergency medical staff to be present to provide assistance should an individual have an adverse reaction to the vaccine.
- Vaccine check-out administrator (non-clinical) — Indoor position. Guide participant to waiting area, validate appointment for second vaccine is scheduled at date confirmed, provide vaccine card and make sure participants wait approximately 15 minutes before departure.
Fire Chief Brian J. Young will be hosting public Zoom meetings on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. to discuss the Medical Reserve Corps and to answer questions. Anyone interested may email lincolnMRC@lincolntown.org.
Correction
In the January 10 post headlined “My Turn: Urge Gov. Baker to sign climate bill,” the deadline for Gob. Baker to sign the climate bill was incorrectly fiven as January 13. It is actually January 14. We’ve also corrected the spelling of Paul Shorb’s name and added a link to a summary of the climate bill issued by the office of Sen. Mike Barrett.
Town offices and library close again due to pandemic
Due to the recent rise of Covid-19 cases in Lincoln and statewide, town offices and the Lincoln Public Library are closed for in-person visits as of Monday, Jan. 11.
Non-essential departments including land use and permitting, finances, town clerk, town administration, and the Council on Aging will be physically closed, but staff responsible for these services and programs will remain available to support and assist remotely. Zoom conferencing will be made available as needed, and limited in-person support will be made available in extenuating circumstances.
Residents are urged to make full use of on-line support services and to contact town staff via e-mail and phone. Contact information can be found on the town website at www.lincolntown.org.
“We learned through our experience in March that we can depend on the dedication and ingenuity of our staff and volunteers to ensure that the needs of our residents continue to be met, regardless of whether they are responding in-person or remotely,” officials said in a statement. “Our leadership boards have continued to meet uninterrupted throughout the pandemic, making full use of remote meeting technology, and Monday’s restrictions will not impact the remote meeting schedules of our boards.”
Library
Library staff will continue contactless pickup on a reduced schedule:
- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1–7 p.m.
- Tuesday from 1–6 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday 1–5 p.m.
Most libraries that have closed recently have had to stop curbside pickup due to the amount of staff time involved. Right now a card member can place up to 50 titles on hold for delivery, but with only one or two staff members in the building at any one time, the library will not be able to continue with contactless at that level. Therefore, the staffs ask the community to please think twice about requesting materials that you really aren’t sure you need to help to keep the amount of items to a manageable level.
Staff will monitor the library’s voicemail system so patrons can ask questions by calling 781-259-8465 or emailing lincoln@minlib.net.
My Turn: Water Dept. always available in emergencies
By Ruth Ann Hendrickson
The Water Department has a system in place to serve you if you have need for immediate help. We do not have enough staff to personally answer the phone 24 hours a day, but we do have personnel who are assigned to be “on call.” If you have a leaking water meter or some other water leak that needs immediate attention, do not hesitate to call the Water Department at 781-259-2669 and select option #1 – “Emergency.” This will allow you to contact the on-call person who can arrange for quick resolution of your problem.
Ruth Ann Hendrickson is a member of the Lincoln Water Commission.
”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.
My Turn: Lincoln Garden Club honors front-line workers
By Jane Herlacher
The Lincoln Garden Club recently honored the town’s front-line essential workers with holiday flowers. For the club’s December Zoom program a floral designer created arrangements which were later picked up at her Chelmsford home and delivered to four town departments and the post office. All the staff members have been on duty on site full time since the beginning of the pandemic. We are grateful for their continued service during unknown and changing times since last winter. Many, many thanks to every one of them.
Jane Herlacher is a member of the Lincoln Garden Club.
”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.
Police log for December 15–23, 2020
December 15
Granville Road (6:38 a.m.) — Officer on patrol found a package that had fallen off a delivery truck. Package was delivered to the residence.
December 16
Pierce House (3:36 a.m.) — A vehicle was seen with its lights left on belongs. It belongs to the caretaker, who was contacted.
Tower Road (9:00 a.m.) — Officer on a work detail reported a strong odor of natural gas. Fire Department and National Grid contacted; National Grid to handle.
Ashland, Mass. (9:28 a.m.) — A Fire Department member responded to Ashland for a dive team activation.
Lincoln Road (12:41 p.m.) — Minor two-car accident in the parking lot of the red commercial building; no injuries.
Town Hall (11:46 p.m.) — Officer saw two individuals walking near the front door of Town Hall. Officer checked the building and all was secure. The individuals went to a nearby home.
December 17
Oriole Landing, Mary’s Way (12:57 p.m.) — Caller reported a dog charged at him while at the residence. Animal Control Officer was notified to handle.
Sunnyside Lane (5:34 p.m.) — Council on Aging requested a well-being check on the residence. Officer responded and confirmed that the resident is OK.
December 18
Old Cambridge Turnpike (10:04 a.m.) — Caller reported an outside odor of natural gas. Fire Department responded and reported residual gas at the meter.
December 19
Old Concord Road (3:26 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle blocking the emergency gate on Old Concord Road. Cars were gone when officer arrived.
North Great Road (9:44 p.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle pulled over to the side of the roadway. The driver was fine; he had pulled over to gather something in his car.
December 20
South Great Road (9:32 a.m.) — Caller was looking for information from the Fire Department.
December 21
Woodcock Lane (12:37 p.m.) — Car hit a utility pole. The road closed due to pole damage and one person was transported to local hospital; vehicle towed from the scene.
Lincoln School (1:40 p.m.) — Caller reported that buses at the school had snow on their roofs which they considered dangerous. Officer responded and evaluated and found no danger.
December 22
North Great Road (3:08 a.m.) — An unoccupied vehicle was parked in the visitor’s center lot. No one was nearby.
Lexington Road (2:20 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle was parked at a neighbor’s residence when no one should be home. No vehicle was located when the officer arrived.
Hallett Hill Road, Weston (5:09 p.m.) — Weston Fire Department requested an engine to respond to a residence for a reported house fire. Lincoln firefighters were cleared by Weston 20 minutes after arrival.
South Great Road (7:16 p.m.) — A vehicle was parked in front of Stonegate Gardens with no one around.
December 23
Lexington Road (7:20 p.m.) — Paperwork was delivered to the residence.
Lexington Road [different address from above] (7:22 p.m.) — Paperwork was delivered to the residence.
Lincoln Police Department (7:49 p.m.) — Officer assisted Weston police in using Lincoln’s breath test machine for an arrest.