In the February 25 article headlined “Water usage rates to go up by 28%, base charges by 43%,” Bryce Wolf’s name was misspelled and her place of residence was in error — she lives at Lincoln Ridge, which has 58 dwelling units, not the 41 that were cited in data supplied to the Lincoln Squirrel. Also, in a table accompanying the article, the Greenridge multi-unit development was incorrectly labeled as mostly rental, when in fact it is owner-occupied. The table and article have been corrected.
The February 12 article headlined “Planning Board has the only contested seat in upcoming town election” misstated the length of term on the Water Commission for which Ruth Ann Hendrickson is running. She is on the ballot for a two-year term. The original article has been corrected.
February 14Bypass Road (8:38 a.m.) — Officer assisted a party who ran out of gas; gave them a ride to All Town Gas to get fuel.
Aspen Circle (1:37 p.m.) — Resident received a call from an unknown party looking for money that was allegedly owed to them. Resident has no further information.
Bedford Road (3:23 p.m.) — Caller reported an odor of gas on Bedford Road near Route 2. National Grid was on the scene working.
Wells Road (9:29 p.m.) — Caller reported another resident banging on the wall. Officer arrived and spoke to the party and advised them to stop their behavior.
Concord Road (10:05 a.m.) — Officer checking the property saw a person out in back of the shop. Officer spoke to him and learned he’s an employee of T&F Auto.
Winter Street (4:55 p.m.) — Caller reported a tree down on wires. Verizon notified.
Brooks Road (6:20 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station requested assistance with a civil matter. Officer spoke to the party about their legal options.
Lincoln Road (8:55 p.m.) — A party contacted the station to report losing a key somewhere in the Donelan’s parking lot.
Wells Road (4:35 a.m.) — Party reported that an unknown person was in her apartment. Officers responded and assured the caller that no one was present, and also spoke to another family member who was there.
Old Concord Road (9:47 a.m.) — Officer delivered legal documents to a resident.
Boyce Farm Road (9:51 a.m.) — Officers assisted a party in regard to a civil matter.
Cambridge Turnpike(1:59 a.m.) — An officer stopped a vehicle Route 2 eastbound at Gerard’s Farm Stand and subsequently arrested Robert Campbell, 43, of 20 Acton St. in Maynard for possession of a Class B substance and Possession of a Class E substance.
Smith Hill Road (11:34 a.m.) — Concord police reported finding a resident’s purse. An officer met with Concord police and returned the purse to its owner.
Aspen Circle (1:26 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station reported his license plate is missing or was stolen from his vehicle. Report taken.
Sandy Pond Road (4:07 p.m.) — Concord police requested a check of a residence looking for a juvenile who left the Walden Pond area and headed back home. Officers located the party and reunited them with a parent.
Hanscom Air Force Base, Vandenberg Gate (2:41 p.m.) — Officers arrested Christopher Towns, 41, of 7 State St. Apt 1 in Peabody on a warrant from Ipswich police for obscene material to a minor (six counts). He was booked and transferred to Ipswich Police Department.
Wells Road (8:16 a.m.) — Resident reports being a victim of identity theft. Investigation ongoing.
Harvest Circle (2:10 p.m.) — Officer reports being in a very minor motor vehicle crash in the lot of 2 Harvest Circle. Accident documented.
Lewis Street (5:34 p.m.) — Caller reported a possible water main break. Officers found water coming from a building in which a pipe burst and they’re pumping out the building.
South Great Road (5:40 p.m.) — Walk-in to the station reporting people ice-skating on Farrar Pond. Officers checked and were unable to locate anyone.
Tabor Hill Road (10:24 p.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious package in their mailbox. Officers found the package contained gardening seeds.
The Lincoln Squirrel is adding a new section — the Lincoln Chipmunk, a periodic compilation of feature articles, first-person essays, poetry, drawings, photos and other creative work by Lincolnites. It’s the digital successor to the Lincoln Review, which was published for more than 40 years by Betty Smith and friends.
The Chipmunk will be published as part of the Squirrel website every two or three months, depending on the volume of submissions. Our editor is former Lincoln Review staff member Jeanne Bracken, assisted by Lincoln resident Rhoda Taschioglou.
The deadline for our first issue is March 1, so send us your stuff! Here are some ideas:
If you have something else in mind that doesn’t fall into one of these categories, just let us know. You can address questions and send items via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com or call Squirrel editor Alice Waugh at 617-710-5542.
The fine print:
February 7Indian Camp Lane (5:33 pm.) — Council on Aging requests a check on a resident. Officer checked on the resident and everything was fine.
Hobbs Brook Road (6:19 p.m.) — Party calling 911 reports being scammed. Party resides in Waltham and was advised to contact Waltham police.
Wells Road (12:27 a.m.) — Resident called regarding someone slamming their door. Officers checked the area and all was quiet.
Old Concord Road (1:35 a.m.) — Resident called to complaint about the noise of road work being done overnight at the Rte. 126 railroad bridge. Resident was advised it is scheduled work and they can make a complaint to MassDOT.
Sandy Pond Road (3:38 p.m.) — New Hampshire State Police requested a check of the residence for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run in New Hampshire. Officers checked and were unable to make contact with anyone at the residence.
Lincoln Police Department (4:21 p.m.) — Resident came into the station to complain about where the Fire Department vehicles were parked.
Garland Road (5:22 p.m.) — Resident called reporting their child over age 12 was missing. A short time later, they called to report the child was with the other parent at a neighbor’s house.
Deerhaven Road (5:22 p.m.) — Caller inquired why an ambulance turned around in their driveway and a fire truck drove by their house. Caller was advised the Fire Department had just cleared a medical call in their area.
South Great Road (6:23 p.m.) — Weston Police asked that an officer check Rte. 117 for a disabled vehicle after a car-vs.-deer crash in Weston involving a vehicle that continued west into Lincoln.
Linway Road (6:48 p.m.) — Caller reported smoke inside their house. Fire Department responded and found that the smoke was caused by a pellet stove.
Harvest Circle (5:21 p.m.) — Staff who were dealing with a personnel matter requested that an officer go by in case there was an issue. No problems; the officer cleared shortly thereafter.
Lincoln Road (6:16 p.m.) — Officers responded to a two-car crash near Tower Road. One person suffered a minor injury. A report taken and a citation was issued.
Old Concord Road (10:52 p.m.) — Elderly party reported an unknown party was in the house. Officers responded and found it was a healthcare worker.
Nancy Ritchie
Nancy M. (Pratt) Ritchie died at Emerson Hospital in Concord on February 13 at age 76. She was the beloved wife of James Ritchie, with whom she shared 53 years of loving marriage.
Nancy was born in Somerville on August 8, 1943, the daughter of the late Harry and Beulah (Barry) Pratt. She enjoyed being raised in Burlington and graduated from the town’s high school in 1961. She was then employed at Lincoln Laboratory for 12 years.
Active in the Lincoln community, Nancy was faithful to her church. She served as secretary of St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church for 13 years, and later, as an administrative assistant and assistant town clerk for Lincoln.
She was dedicated to her family and friends, and will be remembered as a fabulous cook.
In addition to her husband, Jim, she will be forever missed by two daughters, Nicole Ann Freutel and her husband Trevor of Renton, Wash., and Melissa Noelle Ritchie of Lincoln; two grandchildren, Alek and Ethan Freutel; a brother, Harry D. Pratt and his wife Carole; and several nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Pat Munoz.
Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Thursday, Feb. 20 from 6–8 p.m. in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford St., Concord. Nancy’s funeral service will be celebrated on Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. in St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Lincoln, with burial at Lincoln Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 147 Concord Road, Lincoln, MA 01773.
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in her online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
By Alice Waugh
Signatures have been gathered and papers filed to decide who will be on the ballot for the town election on March 30 (see full list below). And despite an earlier flurry of interest by would-be candidates for Water Commission, the Planning Board will have the only contested race, where three residents — Lynn DeLisi, Richard Rundell, and Robert Domnitz — are running for two open seats.
Both openings on the Planning Board are for three-year terms, so the top two vote-getters will be seated. DeLisi and Rundell are incumbents running for reelection, while Domnitz is a former board member. He ran for reelection in 2015 but lost to challenge and current board member Gary Taylor, who ran unopposed for reelection in 2018.
A whopping seven residents took out papers in preparation for running for three openings on the Water Commission, which has been troubled by budget and personnel issues. However, only incumbent Ruth Ann Hendrickson, Michelle Barnes and James Hutchinson submitted papers and signatures to get on the ballot before the February 10 deadline. The others who initially took out papers were Ephraim Flint, Steven Kanner, Allen Vander Meulen, and Tobin Hack.
Those running for the Water Commission have to declare their candidacy for a specific term. Hendrickson (who has said this will be her last term) is running unopposed for reelection for a two-yer term. Barnes joined the board in the fall as one of two emergency appointments after two of the three commissioners resigned, and she is now running for a full three-year term. Hutchinson is currently serving a seven-year term on the Finance Committee that expires in March 2021 and is resigning to run unopposed for a one-year term on the Water Commission.
No one is running for openings on the Housing Commission and Trustees of the Bemis Fund, although two residents (Deb Wallace and Victoria Benaflew) took our nomination papers but never submitted them. Anyone can write in a candidate for those seats or any other. However, if no one is elected, the group in question and the Board of Selectmen may jointly make an appointment to fill the opening at a later date.
There are two candidates for two openings on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, and Lincoln resident Harold Engstrom is running for the seat being vacated by Patty Mostue, who is retiring after many years of service with that group. Candace Miller of Sudbury is running for reelection.
* Asterisks indicate incumbents
| Board or Committee | Openings/terms | Candidate(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Assessors | One for three years | Ellen Meadors* |
| Board of Health | One for three years | Frederick L. Mansfield* |
| Board of Selectmen | One for three years | Jonathan Dwyer* |
| Cemetery Commission | One for three years | Manley Boyce* |
| Commissioners of Trust Funds | One for three years | D. Paul Fitzgerald* |
| Housing Commission | One for three years | — |
| Moderator | One for three years | Sarah Cannon Holden* |
| Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee | Two for three years | Candace Miller,* Harold Engstrom |
| Parks and Recreation Committee | One for three years | Robert Stringer |
| Planning Board | Two for three years | Richard Rundell,* Lynn DeLisi,* Robert Domnitz |
| School Committee | Two for three years | Tara Lynn Mitchell,* Adam Hogue* |
| Trustees of Bemis | One for three years | — |
| Water Commission | One for three years, one for two years, one for one year | Ruth Ann Hendrickson,* Michelle Barnes, James Hutchinson |
January 31Baker Bridge Road (10:28 a.m.) — Property owner reports they recently put up “No Trespassing” signs up on their property and they were removed, possibly by a neighbor.
Bypass Road — Caller reports receiving a suspicious package for which she doesn’t recognize the packaging. Officer spoke to the party and found that what she ordered was in fact inside the box.
Wells Road (3:07 p.m.) — Resident reported being a victim of a scam. Report taken; the matter is under investigation.
Giles Road (4:39 p.m.) — Caller reports a dead deer on conservation land behind their residence. Dispatch contacted the Conservation Department to handle.
Cambridge Turnpike (2:30 a.m.) — Diana Casillo, 36, of 3 Jeanette St. in Worcester was stopped and subsequently arrested for OUI/liquor.
Browning Lane (5:05 a.m.) — Resident called asking questions about her alarm system. Resident was advised to contact her alarm company.
145 Lincoln Rd. (3:11 p.m.) — Party called saying he lost an item in the Donelan’s parking lot and left contact information in case the item is found.
Old Concord Road (7:44 a.m.) — Walk-in to the station requested a well-being check on a family member. Officer responded and assisted the resident and family with resources.
Trapelo Road (8:10 a.m.) — Caller was concerned about a child crying while walking with an older male. Officer spoke to the parties; the child was upset about missing the school bus and having to walk to school.
145 Lincoln Rd. (9:25 a.m.) — Officer spoke to party about jumping over the fence onto the railroad tracks to catch the train.
Bypass Road (12:43 p.m.) — Walk-in spoke to an officer in regard to a civil matter. Officer assisted the party with information.
Old Concord Road (1:48 p.m.) — Fire Department was asked to check the residence for carbon monoxide; none found.
Concord Road (4:20 p.m.) — Report of a dog running in the roadway on Rte. 126 near the railroad bridge. Nothing found.
Lincoln Road (4:42 p.m.) — Party found an item in the parking lot and brought it to the police station. Owner was contacted and item returned.
Wells Road (12:39 a.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious person. Officer spoke to the caller and all is fine.
Harvest Circle (12:56 a.m.) — Party reported an unknown person coming into their room. Officers responded and found that the unknown person was a staff member.
Warbler Springs Road (9:14 .m.) — Report of a dog barking in the area. Officer checked and all is quiet.
The recently cleared Kinder Morgan right of way across Bedford Road near Oak Knolll Road (click image to enlarge).
The gas company Kinder Morgan recently cleared brush over a gas pipeline crossing Bedford Road and other locations in Lincoln. The company’s right of way is 30 to 50 feet wide in Lincoln, a company spokesman said.
“Periodically clearing the rights of way is part of our safety protocol to ensure the right of way can be visually inspected both by air and on the ground. The frequency of clearing depends on tree and brush growth in the area. In cases where a right of way crosses private property, the property owner is notified in advance.” The railroad ties in the photo were used to support heavy equipment on the soft ground and will be removed, the spokesman said.
January 24Virginia Road (3:45 p.m.) — Police responded to an argument between two neighbors.
Cordaville Rd., Southborough (4:30 p.m.) — Det. Ian Spencer assisted Southborough police with a forensic sketch related to an ongoing investigation.
Lexington Road (7:52 p.m.) — Officer delivered court paperwork to a resident.
Lincoln Police Department (1:41 a.m.) — Party came to the station looking for directions to a residence in Wayland. Wayland police had requested a well-being check on the party earlier. Wayland police were contacted and took the party home.
Lincoln Road (4:40 p.m.) — Power outage reported. EverSource contacted.
Trapelo Road (5:12 p.m.) — Caller requested a check on the residence as son never arrived to meet the reporting party. Officers checked and everything was fine.
Concord Road (11:48 p.m.) — A large tree limb fell onto the roadway. An officer responded and was able to move it to the side of the road.
Lincoln School (1:48 a.m.) — Fire alarm in the link building. Fire Department located the detector and everything is fine. School maintenance staff was notified.
South Great Road (4:15 a.m.) — Caller reported loud music in the area. Officers checked and found a party sleeping inside a vehicle in their driveway with the music on. Party was advised to turn the vehicle off and head into the house.
Lincoln Road (11:31 a.m.) — Caller reported being stuck in an elevator. Fire Department responded and found the caller had exited the elevator and it seemed to be working fine.
Pierce House (2:22 p.m.) — Caretaker requested assistance as she was having an issue with the oven. Fire Department responded and assisted the caller.
Water treatment plant, Sandy Pond Road ( 4:02 p.m.) — A car was parked near the treatment plant. An officer spoke to the operator and they were sent on their way.
Lincoln Police Department (5:10 p.m.) — Party came to the station with low pressure in one of their tires. Fire Department assisted the party.
Old Winter Street (1:08 a.m.) — Emerson Hospital notified Lincoln police of a past report of a dog bite. The information was given to the Animal Control Officer for follow-up.
Tower Road (3:54 p.m.) — Party reported receiving an odd phone call asking for an unknown person. Officers found that the unknown person was the former subscriber of the phone number.
Main Street, Medford (4:15 p.m.) — Det. Ian Spencer assisted Medford police with a forensic sketch in regard to a Medford investigation.
Chestnut Circle (4:45 p.m.) — Caller asked police to remove a home health care worker. The caller appeared to be confused, and officers contacted a friend to come and stay with them.
Virginia Road (8:51 p.m.) — Caller reported an odor of natural gas. Caller said they’d already contacted National Grid; while on the phone with the caller, National Grid arrived at the home.
Vandenberg Gate, Hanscom Air Force Base (12:39 p.m.) — William Norman, 65, of 970 Main St., Tewksbury, was arrested for an outstanding traffic warrant while attempting to enter the base and was later brought to Concord District Court.
North Great Road (3:10 p.m.) — Concord police requested a check of the area around Minute Man National Historic Parks for a missing person from their town. They later called back to report the party had been located.
Baker Bridge Road (3:18 p.m.) — Resident requested assistance for information on legal options for a civil matter.
Lincoln Road (4:04 p.m.) — Caller reported damage to her car that she believes happened while it was parked in her driveway. Report taken.