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

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Changes at First Parish, School Committee

The School Committee is seeking an interim member to fill an unexpired term, while the First Parish in Lincoln has announced an interim minister for the next two years.

The School Committee invites residents who are interested in serving as an interim member (replacing Jena Salon, who resigned as of August 31) to submit a statement of interest detailing their qualifications and experience. Statements should be emailed to schoolcomm@lincnet.org by Thursday, Sept. 20. 

There will be interviews of all candidates in a joint open meeting of the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell Multipurpose Room. Each candidate will be asked to make a brief opening statement, respond to a set of questions from the committee and board members, and have an opportunity to ask questions of the members. The members will vote at that meeting to select one of the candidates to serve as an interim member of the School Committee.

The interim member will serve until the next annual election this spring, at which time there will be an election for a one-year term on the School Committee (filling out Salon’s term) as well with an election for a three-year term.

Transition at First Parish

Rev. Jenny Rankin

Rev. Jenny Rankin has been named interim minister at the First Parish in Lincoln effective August 15. She succeeds Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, who left after two and a half years in Lincoln to become senior minister at the First Parish in Ann Arbor, Mich., one of the anchor churches of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Ordained in 1988, Rankin began her career as acting university chaplain at Tufts University before serving congregations in Hopedale, Hingham and Cohasset as an interim minister. Called to First Parish in Concord in 1997, Jenny served as minister there for 15 years, followed by interim ministries  in Gloucester, Lexington, and Franklin. She has taught and lectured on Transcendentalism, Emerson, and Margaret Fuller as well as Celtic spirituality, spiritual autobiography, the contemplative tradition, and creativity as a spiritual practice.

Both religious organizations to which the First Parish belongs (the UUA and the United Church of Christ) require a two-year term for an interim ministers. “The time between settled ministers is a great opportunity for the congregation to take a fresh look at itself, see what areas might need attention, and grow clearer about who they are and how they’re called to serve the world,” Rankin said. A permanent minister is expected to start in August 2020.

Registration is now open for religious education classes at the First Parish for children in grades K-7. 7 as well as the OWL (Our Whole Lives) classes. OWL is a human anatomy and sexuality course that’s open to all eighth-graders, including those whose families do not attend First Parish in Lincoln. Required parent orientation night is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 4 from 7–9 p.m. OWL will meet approximately twice each month on Sundays from 7–8:30 p.m. beginning October 14.

For more information about First Parish religious education programs, click here or contact Education Director Margit at 781-259-8118 x112 or Margit@FPLincoln.org.

New restaurant coming to South Lincoln

The restaurant site in South Lincoln will have a third incarnation after AKA Bistro and Lincoln Kitchen.

A trio of owner-operators have signed a lease for the former Lincoln Kitchen/AKA Bistro restaurant site, with an opening planned for the first quarter of 2019.

Lindsey Parker of Concord, one of the co-owners, declined to reveal what the new team is planning to name the new eatery but said it would serve dinner seven days a week and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

“The food will be contemporary American with a focus on purity, simplicity and freshness, taking advantage of the area’s seasonal produce… the restaurant will be a place to get honest and straightforward food and drink that is comfortable and affordable,” she said in an email late last week.

Parker’s partners are Sudbury residents Tom Fosnot, who will be the primary chef, and Ruth-Anne Adams, who will be in charge of the front-of-house staff and general operations (Parker said she herself will handle the “business and creative side of the launch”). The Sudbury pair has more than 40 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, said Parker, who met them about 18 months ago when their paths crossed while looking at restaurant spaces in the area. 

Fosnot has been executive chef at the Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton for more than eight years. Adams—also a trained chef who has more recently worked on the business side of restaurants—will be returning to hospitality and cooking, said Parker, whose background is in investments.

The trio plans to bring “not just a new restaurant, but a new restaurant experience” to Lincoln, Parker said in an interview on Tuesday. “Given the location and size, this is perfect for owner-operators who will be on site and behind the stove.”

The space “will also allow for interests in cooking classes, catering and take-out,” she added.

Asked what the new eatery can offer to maximize its chances of success in a site where two other restaurants have had to shut their doors (the latest after only 15 months of operation), Parker cited her team’s “kitchen talent” and “a more comfortable environment.”

Though details have not been worked out, the group hopes to do some events leading up to the opening that will “give the community a better sense of the menu as well as its style,” she said.

Town poised to get more state funding for MBTA, roadway projects

Lincoln’s MBTA commuter train stop heading into Boston.

State lawmakers have authorized $500,000 for a study to design improvements to Lincoln’s MBTA station and commuter lot, as well as another $321,500 for roadway improvements in another grant.

The larger chunk of money is part of a capital bond bill signed into law in June. The town is in the process of requesting release of the funds through a letter to the Baker administration explaining the need for and benefits of the MBTA project and how the cost estimate was generated. An environmental bond bill, which would funnel $321,500 to Lincoln, was approved by the state Senate on July 30 and is now before the governor for approval. Lincoln’s allotment in both bills was proposed by State Sen. Michael Barrett.

The South Lincoln Implementation and Planning Committee‘s MBTA team has recommended a list of improvements around the MBTA stops including:

  • Explore the feasibility of locating the eastbound and westbound access on the same side of Lincoln Road, preferably the Lincoln Station side (west)
  • Redesign the walkway and ramp access to the train to make it ADA compliant
  • Provide an elevated platform to accommodate people with disabilities, the elderly, riders with bicycles, families with strollers, riders with luggage, etc.
  • Provide pedestrian shelters with seating
  • Provide additional bike parking
  • Improve signage at boarding and unloading points
  • Move the MBTA maintenance shed on Lincoln Road due to its location at the gateway entrance to Lincoln’s village center, or make landscaping improvements to beautify the gateway.

To further enhance commuter services, the SLPIC MBTA team is also recommending that the town make the following improvements to its own adjacent parking facilities:

  • Improve the parking pay method with a pay kiosk that accepts credit cards and/or a pay by phone system
  • Provide electric vehicle parking and charge stations
  • Improve wayfinding signage for parking
Complete Streets

The $321,500 in the environmental bond bill would provide Complete Streets program funding for:

  • Roadside path repair ($115,000)
  • Study and construction of intersection improvements ($111,000)
  • New sidewalk construction ($13,000)
  • Accessibility, informational, wayfinding, and safety improvements at Lincoln Station ($82,500)

This will be the second Complete Streets grant for Lincoln. In 2017, the town received $400,000 for a set of projects including roadside path repairs, safety improvements at the intersection of Route 117 and Lincoln Road, and sidewalk construction on Lincoln Road just west of the Ryan Estate condominiums. All of those projects are due to be competed by September 30.

Route 117 intersection getting safety improvements

The state of work last week on Route 117 at Lincoln Road looking toward the fire station.

Addressing long-standing safety concerns at the intersection of Route 117 and Lincoln Road, the town is working on new traffic islands and a pedestrian light that should be complete in a few weeks.

Residents have complained for years about the intersection’s dangers to both cars and pedestrians. “Everyone who lives near this intersection has had too many close calls to count, some of them involving children,” Lincoln Road resident Chris Ratiner wrote in a LincolnTalk discussion.

Not everyone was pleased with the project, however. Trapelo Road resident Brad Meyer noted that the new curbing restricts eastbound traffic to a single lane, leaving no room for cars waiting to turn left into Lincoln Road. “This means that the moment anyone wants to turn there during the morning rush hour, the whole line of eastbound traffic will grind to a halt waiting for that driver to complete the turn. If this impression is correct, there will be frequent lines of stopped traffic at that intersection, full of frayed tempers at the needless delay. We may have to wait until the summer slack time is over before this mistake (if that’s what it is) becomes obvious,” he wrote.

“Throughout the process, the local neighborhood supported the improvements and were involved, along with the Roadway and Traffic Committee, in determining a course of action,” said DPW Superintendent Chris Bibbo.

Once work is complete, the intersection will have safety islands in the middle of Route 117 for pedestrians who aren’t able to cross both lanes at once due to traffic volume. There will also be pedestrian-activated flashing yellow crossing lights and signs similar to those outside Bemis Hall on Trapelo Road.

The project (which will not include any road widening beyond what’s already been done) was designed by consulting engineer Hayner and Swanson with input from the Cycling Committee and vetting by the RTC, Bibbo said.

The work was made possible by a grant from a state program that encourages safety measures on roadways for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. The town held public forums to hear how residents thought the money should be spent, and the Route 117 intersection was identified as a safety priority.

The Roadway and Traffic Commission (CK) has looked at various safety-improvement ideas for the intersection over the years, including a roundabout. The Department of Public Works removed some vegetation and relocated a fence to improve sight lines, but this is the first time the roadway itself has been changed.

Several other projects funded by the same $400,000 grant, such as repairs to roadside paths, are also in progress or already complete. Everything is slated for completion by September, and the town plans to apply for another Complete Streets grant in 2019 for a second set of road and path improvements.

Work stopped temporarily while the contractor awaited delivery of granite cobblestones but is expected to resume this week, Bibbo said.

Summer concerts and other events at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum presents “Music in the Courtyard” on five Thursdays this summer from 6:30–8:30 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.) in the Café Courtyard. Open for food, beer, and wine beginning at 6 p.m. There is a $5 admission fee for nonmembers. Seating in this intimate outside venue is limited to 50, so get your tickets early. Click here to register.

Yoga in the Park on Sundays
July 15, August 12, and September 9
Sessions for kids (10:30–11 a.m.) and adults (11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.). Afterwards, stay for a picnic, tour, or MAKEmobile. Click here to register.

Art and Ales
Tuesday, July 17 from 5–8 p.m.
Seasonal craft beers from Somerville’s Aeronaut Brewing Co. are accompanied by live music by Big Spender Trio, Compliments Food Truck, and a view of the sunset from the Sculpture Terrace. Click here to register.

Children’s events

All are free with admission or membership (children 12 and under are always free!).

Play in the Park
Wednesday, July 11 from 10:30 a.m.–12:30 pm (drop-in), rain or shine
Inspired by Richard Rosenblum’s Venusvine and Nari Ward’s G.O.A.T. sculptures, we will use a variety of materials to create giant creatures in the park. For families with children of all ages. 

MAKEmobile
Sunday, July 15, 1–3 p.m. (drop-in), rain or shine
Take your imagination for a spin with activities that explore artistic and material processes through amusing prompts and challenges. The MAKEmobile is fueled with surprising supplies and exciting ideas each time it cruises into the park.

New signs aim to improve bicyclist/driver safety

A sign for bicyclists and drivers on Route 117.

As part of a larger effort by several town committees to promote cyclist and driver safety in Lincoln, the Department of Public Works is placing nine signs saying “Cyclists May Use Full Lane” along several major roads in town.

The signs reflect a state law that allows cyclists to enter the center of the lane when necessary. Usually this is a temporary action and occurs when the shoulder narrows or is blocked by tree limbs, dirt/sand, or potholes and cyclists are unable to ride safely there. They are located on 117/South Great Road (two signs), Route 126 (two signs), Bedford Road (three signs), and Lincoln Road and Trapelo Road (one sign each).

Research has shown that “Cyclists May Use Full Lane” signs increase awareness and create safer roadway conditions for all users, noted the Lincoln Cycling Safety Advisory Committee (LCSAC), which recommended the sign placement to the Roadside and Traffic Committee as a public safety measure to remind drivers that vehicles and cyclists must share the road.

“We also hope that the signage will help to ease tensions between drivers and cyclists at pinch points on our busiest thoroughfares,” said committee member Megan Kate Nelson.

In addition to placing signs, the LCSAC has also completed “road audits” to assess the state of road shoulders and intersections, and is working with Lincoln Police to educate and enforce rules for cyclists who ride through town.    

The LCSAC was established in 2017 after two fatal accidents in Lincoln involving bicyclists and cars. The group will present a progress report at the State of the Town meeting on November 12 and expects to issue more recommendations, mostly around the condition and shoulder width of the town’s roads and making the most dangerous intersections safer for drivers and cyclists, Nelson said. The LCSAC has been consulting with Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney about integrating some of these improvements into Lincoln’s Complete Streets proposals, and with the Roadside and Traffic Committee regarding road/intersection conditions.

For more information about the signs or the laws they reflect, email the LCSAC at lincoln-cycling-safety-adv-comm@googlegroups.com.

News acorns

Softball league getting underway

The Lincoln Co-Ed Softball League’s third season starts on June 24 and ends on August 9, and more players are always welcome. Click here for more information and registration, and save the date for a June 23 kickoff party.

Summer fitness for adults

The Parks and Recreation Department’s summer classes include Gentle Yoga in the Park and Pickleball, a popular racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. Players use paddles and a plastic ball with holes similar to a whiffle ball. All equipment will be provided. Classes July 8 to August 12 are held on the Sport Court next to the Brooks parking lot. Click here for registration information.

Lincoln resident Melinda Bruno-Smith, a certified hatha yoga instructor, will lead Saturday yoga sessions in Station Park Garden. Classes ($10 each) are 9–10 a.m. and run through July 21. Register online for as many sessions as you wish, or bring a check made out to the Town of Lincoln (no cash, please). If it’s raining, class will be canceled. Please bring a yoga mat or towel to practice on and wear loose-fitting clothing.

Saturday hours at the library

The Lincoln Public Library will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. from July 7–28. It will be closed on Saturdays during August. Regular Saturday hours (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) will resume on September 8. 

LLCT creates family-friendly guide to local species

Cadence Mitchell consults “Wild About Lincoln” on a recent outing.

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is hosting a family-friendly, live animal program in conjunction with the publication of its new pocket naturalist guide, Wild About Lincoln: An Introduction to Familiar Species.

A naturalist from Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday, June 23 from 3–4 p.m. in Hartwell pod B will appear with three common Lincoln animals—a mammal, a reptile, and a raptor—and help kids and parents learn about their adaptations, habitats, and interrelationships with each other, humans, and the environment.

Each participant will get a copy of Wild About Lincoln, a learning tool that identifies species found commonly in Lincoln in a format that’s easy for both children and adults to use. The guide has 15-20 familiar species in each of the following categories: birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, insects and invertebrates, butterflies and moths, trees and shrubs, wildflowers, and lichens and fungi. Each species is represented with a color image and a brief description. There’s a simplified map of protected areas in Lincoln on the back panel for easy reference.

The LLCT will distribute the guide during its 2019 membership drive season and is giving sets to all public and private Lincoln-based schools this spring and into next fall. Several Lincoln-based community organizations including the Conservation Commission and Council on Aging, are receiving sets, and LLCT program participants throughout 2018-19 will receive complimentary copies. Copies are also available for loan from the Lincoln Public Library in the Nature Backpacks designed by LLCT and co-funded by the Friends of the Lincoln Library.

Wild About Lincoln was produced by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust with funds raised during the 2017-18 Bob Davoli and Eileen McDonagh matching campaign and at the 2018 benefit concert, and grants from the Ogden Codman Trust and the Lincoln School Foundation. The June 23 program is also supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Drumlin Farm opens new Environmental Learning Center

Mass Audubon staff and friends at the grand opening of the Environmental Learning Center at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. Left to right: Jennifer Feller, Bob Delano (Chapman Construction/Design), Laura Krich, Brandt Wild (Chapman Construction/Design), Renata Pomponi (Drumlin Farm sanctuary director), Gary Clayton (president, Mass Audubon), Marian Thornton, Nick d’Arbeloff (Mass Audubon board of directors), Christy Foote-Smith (former Drumlin Farm sanctuary director), Tia Pinney, Susan Madaus, Dick Thornton, Bill Maclay (Maclay Architects), and Robin Stuart. Photo by Heidi Thoren.

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary celebrated the grand opening of its new Environmental Learning Center on June 9, almost two years after construction began.

The gathering at the popular Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary and working farm in Lincoln commenced with a ribbon-cutting followed by building tours, opportunities to meet raptors and Drumlin Farm’s resident fox, hands-on science activities, and educational program highlights.

The 3,700-square-foot Environmental Learning Center (ELC), and its neighboring outdoor classroom structure, the Bluebird Pavilion, are situated between the wildlife sanctuary’s nature center and the site of the former education building. The ELC is about three times the size of the building it replaced at Drumlin, which as of 2017 employed about 15 year-round educators and conducts about 40,000 educational programs (some off-site).

The ELC and the pavilion will serve as the hub from which all of Drumlin Farm’s environmental education programming will flow. They will provide the home base for the programs through which Drumlin Farm teacher/naturalists and other educators support Mass Audubon’s mission to connect people and nature. Featuring a 42.8-kilowatt system of rooftop solar panels and many other energy-conserving construction methods and materials, the building will be net-positive, annually generating more energy than it will consume.

The ELC opening represents another phase in a long-term update plan for Drumlin Farm funded by a capital campaign that aimed to raise $4.7 million. Several years ago, the farm replaced its Farm Life Center, where most programs that involve cooking take place. In late 2016, the New England Wildlife Explorations exhibit opened, replacing the old Drumlin Underground exhibit.

Drumlin Farm Director Renata Pomponi described the grand opening of the new facility as a “watershed moment” for the wildlife sanctuary.

“Mass Audubon’s enduring commitment to nature-based education has never been stronger, and Drumlin Farm is excited about the pivotal role the Environmental Learning Center will play as we build on that legacy, developing environmental and climate science programs that further conservation in the 21st century,” she said.