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

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Group aims to keep two building project committees aligned

The Campus Coordinating Group (CCG), which met for the first time on September 7, will begin work on an overarching timeline that lays out joint milestones and public workshops and charrettes for the Community Center Preliminary Planning & Design Committee (PPDC) and the School Building Committee (SBC).

The CCG was formed so the members of the two groups working on planning for a school project and a community center can keep each other up to date on their progress. It includes three members of the SBC (Superintendent Becky McFall; Chris Fasciano, chair; and Craig Nicholson) and three members of the PPDC (Tim Higgins, town administrator; Ellen Meyer Shorb, chair; and Owen Beenhouwer).

The next meeting of the CCG is Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 a.m. in McFall’s office (second floor of the Hartwell building). After that, the group will meet at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings every other week. All meetings are open to the public.

News acorns

“Mrs. Ship” by Catherine McCarthy, one of the works in the Clark Gallery’s “Paperwork” exhibit.

Artists’ reception

The Clark Gallery will host an artists’ reception with 17 artists to mark the opening of its Paperwork exhibit on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 4–6 p.m.

Used book sale

The Friends of the Lincoln Library resume their monthly used book sale on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m.–noon in Bemis Hall. Support the Lincoln Library by picking up gently used books, DVDs and CDs. Leave donated materials in the box in the Bemis Hall foyer.

Quilters exhibit their work

The Lincoln Quilters will display the results of several years of creative shared-quilt construction at the Lincoln Public Library art gallery starting on Friday, Sept. 8 and running through Saturday, Sept. 30. All quilts will be auctioned to benefit the charity of choice of the successful bidder. Bids will be closed out at the closing reception on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 3–5 p.m. at the library. Members of the Lincoln Quilters are Anne Crosby, Nancy Constable, Tricia Deck, Linda MacNeil, Margaret Olson, Lucy Sachs, Kate Sacknoff, Jane Solar, and Dilla Tingley.

Forum on Lincoln as a sanctuary

The Lincoln Sanctuary Town Committee is holding a forum titled “Lincoln Explores Sanctuary” on Sunday, Sept. 24 from 4–6 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The forum will be moderated by Steven Perlmutter and will include panelists Akuot Leek, a former Sudanese refugee and Lincoln resident; Andrea Hewitt and Sharon Carlson of Dignity in Asylum; Vince Amoroso, Boxborough city councilman; and state Senator James Eldridge of the Middlesex and Worcester District.

Sunday School registration, evening meditation at St. Anne’s

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will hold its annual Sunday School open house and registration on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 9 a.m. There will be snacks and activities for kids. At the 10 a.m. service, there will be a special blessing for the new school year—bring your backpack to have it blessed.

St. Anne’s is also hosting an evening mediation series this fall, “Let Go and Know.” The group will meet Mondays from 7–8 p.m. beginning September 18. Cushions and chairs will be available for sitting, or feel free to bring your own favorite. To learn more, contact Nanri Tenney Nanri at nanritenney@gmail.com.

Bemis Lecture clarification

The Bemis Free lecture on “Philanthropy Shaping Lincoln: The Ogden Codman Trust” on September 27 will run from 7–9 p.m., not ending at 8:30 p.m. as previously listed in News Acorns and the calendar.

Magazine ranks Lincoln-Sudbury schools #12 out of 125

The cover of the September issue of Boston Magazine.

Of 125 public school districts within I-495, Lincoln-Sudbury is rated as 12th best in overall quality, according to a table in Boston Magazine.

To calculate the rankings, George Recck, director of the Math Resource Center at Babson College, compared each district’s data points to the overall average for all districts and then applied a percentage weight to the standardized data for each district to create an aggregate score. Characteristics such as smaller class size, lower student-to-teacher ratios, higher graduation rates, and higher rates of spending per pupil were considered more desirable.

For the purposes of the study, all of the K-12 public schools in Lincoln and Sudbury were viewed as a single school district. L-S ranked highly in MCAS/PARCC scores and especially in SAT scores, coming in at #11, #18 and #19 of the 125 districts for the math, reading and writing sections of the SAT respectively. However, the L-S district ranked rather low (#101) in average class size at 19.8.

Finishing ahead of Lincoln-Sudbury starting with #1 were Dover-Sherborn, Concord-Carlisle, Weston, Lexington, Wayland, Westford, Newton, Wellesley, Manchester-Essex, Harvard, and Sharon. The bottom five districts were Everett, Lynn, Brockton, Lawrence, and Chelsea.

“For the parameters selected, I think our aggregate scores look strong across the board and I don’t foresee significant changes for the next year,” said Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong. “I think our aggregate outcomes are very strong and continue to focus on ensuring success for all of our students.”

News acorns

Visit local homes with solar installations

Lincoln residents are invited to get an up-close view of some of their neighbors’ solar photovoltaic (traditional solar) and solar hot water arrays on Sunday, Aug. 27 from 1–3 p.m. (rain or shine).

Sponsored by Solarize Mass, a program of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and a joint effort by the towns of Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland, the Solarize Tour of Lincoln includes four host residences featuring different styles of solar arrays. Residents of all three towns are encouraged to visit as many homes as they’d like, enjoy refreshments, gather resources, and chat with homeowners about their experiences with the installation process. The homes on the tour are:

  • Ron MacNeal, 247 Concord Road
  • Bob Schudy and Liz Watson, 131 Trapelo Rd.
  • Jim and Ann Hutchinson, 53 Stonehedge Rd.
  • Belinda and Paul Gingrich, 146 Bedford Rd.

More information on each house’s unique solar array can be found at www.lincolngreenenergy.org. There are also solar open house events in Wayland on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 1–4 p.m. and in Sudbury on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 2–4 p.m. More details about these events will be available on www.solarizeLSW.org. All Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland residents are welcome.

Sign up or verify your data in the L-S directory

The deadline to be included in the printed version of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School directory is Monday, Aug. 21. Many Lincoln families of incoming freshman are still missing. To register, log in the the directory, select “Schools”, then select “Sign up now” at the bottom of the page, and follow the instructions to set up your family, households, and students.

If your email address has changed since last year, please log in to your account and verify that it is correct. If the directory does not have your correct email address, you will not receive communications including password reset requests and are at risk of being left out of the directory. Anyone with questions may click here or email LSRHSdirectory@gmail.com.

September movies announced

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen movies at the Lincoln Public Library at 3 p.m. on three Mondays in September:

  • September 11—La Notte (1961) starring Jeanne Moreau and Marcello Mastroianni, directed by Michelango Antonioni.
  • September 18—The Lovers (1958) starring Jeanne Moreau, Jose Luis de Villalonga, and Alain Cuny, directed by Louis Malle.
  • September 25—Cet amour-la (2001) starring Jeanne Moreau and Aynmeric Demarigny, directed by Josee Dayan

Refreshments will be served.

Free course on 20th-century art

“Christina’s World” by Andrew Wyeth (1948)

A free five-week course on “Great Artworks of the 20th Century” will be offered in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room from 3–4:30 p.m. stating on Saturday, Sept. 23 and continuing on Oct. 7, 21, and 28, and Nov. 4. The genius behind various 20th-century artworks and artists from Picasso to Pollack and beyond will be revealed, and the group will discuss their own thoughts and reactions to each piece. This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library and the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging. It is open to adults of all ages. Preference will be given to Lincoln residents. Class size is limited to 35. Sign up for one session or all five. For more information or to register, contact Lisa Rothenberg at 781-259-8465 or lrothenberg@minlib.net.

Pelland to perform at LOMA

Steven Pelland

Steven Pelland is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Sept. 11. The event runs from 7-10 p.m., and Pelland will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. He’s been aired on live radio and performed at premiere East Coast folk venues including Passim and Bull Run. Pelland released his first major CD, These Days, last year. A video of the first cut, California, highlights his finger-picking style and strong lyric sensibility.

LOMA is a monthly event. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Fall series on “Embracing Change”

Embrace Change is offering a free fall series for parents embracing the transition period they encounter as children leave the nest. Parents will connect with others experiencing the same transition, explore what’s next, and have opportunities to design their personal path for this new stage of life. See the Embrace Change website for program details.

All six events run from 1:30–3 p.m. The first three will be held at the Lincoln Public Library:

  • September 13 — “Promoting Productive Communication with Adult Children” with Teresa Simonelli, PsyaD
  • September 20 — “What’s Next? Finding Purpose” with Deb Elbaum, MD, career and life coach
  • September 27 — “Navigating Transitions with Self-Care” with Charlotte Sahyoun, yoga therapeutics specialist

The second set of programs will take place at the Pierce House:

  • October 4 — “Expanding Your Horizons: Delving into New Activities and Careers”
  • October 11 — “Balancing College Students Needs with Your Own Personal Opportunities for Growth” with Michelle Silbert, career and life coach
  • October 18 — “Ready, Set, Go!” with the Embrace Change team

Police want to hear from credit card fraud victims

In the past three months, have you been notified by a credit card company or bank that a credit card had been fraudulently opened in your name? If so, the Lincoln Police Department would like to know about it. Police department in Lincoln and other towns are investigating a substantial credit card fraud ring where credit cards have been opened up in residents’ names and used locally. There are likely additional victims who did not report this to police because the credit card company or bank assumed the loss. If you’ve been notified of this type of fraud, please call the Lincoln Police Department at 781-259-8113.

Conservation land manager sought

The town of Lincoln seeks a full-time land manager to work under the direction of the Conservation Director and the Conservation Commission. This is primarily a field position with some office responsibilities. Duties include managing and monitoring conservation land and trails, public outreach and education, enforcing regulations, and oversight of town-licensed agricultural properties. For details on duties and qualifications and how to apply, click here or email or jobs@lincolntown.org by Friday, Sept. 8.

Residents wary of planned study on location of DPW

Several residents at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting protested the notion of moving the Department of Public Works to the transfer station area, but planning officials stressed that they intend to study a range of options for the DPW site.

The South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee (SLPIC) plans to ask the Board of Selectmen for about $9,000 to pay a consultant to study the DPW site on Lewis Street. SLPIC and others are interested in the possibility of using part or all of that property as part of a larger effort to revitalize the South Lincoln area centering on the train station and surrounding commercial area. Moving the DPW elsewhere would free up valuable land that could be put to commercial, residential, and/or municipal use.

The issue arose at a selectmen’s meeting in June and again on July 31, although SLPIC postponed a planned appearance at that meeting. Nevertheless, several residents spoke in opposition to the idea of moving the DPW to the transfer station.

“That’s probably one of the most environmentally sensitive sites you could find in this town,” said Oakdale Lane resident Keith Hylton, noting that the DPW’s work involved diesel fuel and other chemicals and the transfer station lies within the Cambridge reservoir watershed. Some houses in the area also use well water, he added. In addition, there could be contamination in the soil at the Lewis Street site that could cost “millions” to remediate if the town planned to convert it to some otherl use, Hylton said.

If the Lewis Street study does show environmental issues that need to be addressed, “you can’t ignore it,” said former Planning Board member Robert Domnitz, a Mill Street resident. “If you start walking down this path, you may find yourself locked into a cleanup that not only costs a lot of money but impairs the forward-looking value of that parcel.”

“We understand that this is a sensitive issue,” Lynn DeLisi of SLPIC, who is also a member of the Planning Board, said on Sunday. Some years ago, a different study apparently recommended moving the DPW to the transfer station site, “but we don’t know details; that’s partly why were having another meeting” before going before selectmen with a budget request, she said.

There is no language in the draft charge for the yet-to-be hired consultant about the transfer station, and SLPIC will look at a variety of options for the DPW site, including moving some functions to a neighboring town or simply preserving the status quo, DeLisi said. Also, if the consultant makes a recommendation that SPLIC or a majority of residents are opposed to, “we don’t have to pay attention to it.”

However, if the new study does show potential hazards from environmental contamination on Lewis Street that must be rectified, “we have a right to know about it—it’s right in the center of town,” DeLisi said.

Also at the July 31 Board of Selectmen meeting (as summarized by former Selectman Peter Braun), the board:

  • Accepted a plaque presented by members of the Donaldson family to rededicate the Donaldson Room and to honor Robert Donaldson (1870-1964), who was a selectman for 28 years and builder of some 80 Lincoln houses and the original town office building.
  • Met with Mothers Out Front, an organization that includes Lincoln residents, that is focused on natural gas leaks and other environmental issues.
  • Approved a curb cut requested for 19 Granville Rd., following a recommendation by the Planning Board.
  • Discussed concerns raised by abutters with respect to a new Wayland soccer field to be located in a meadow close to the Lincoln town line in the Oxbow Road area.
  • Heard reports from Town Administrator Tim Higgins regarding:
    • Questions raised by several residents about compliance of the June 19 Board meeting with the Open Meeting Law.
    • Requests by wireless carriers for installation of repeaters on utility poles.
    • Initial activities of the Community Center committee.
  • Scheduled further discussion of Old Winter Street traffic questions for September 25.
  • Scheduled the State of the Town Meeting for November 4 and had an initial discussion about the agenda.
  • Discussed its continuing efforts to coordinate with the Housing Commission and other boards regarding the town’s affordable housing strategy.
  • Discussed proposed content for its next newsletter.
  • Heard liaison reports from:
    • Selectman Jennifer Glass on the School Building Committee’s activities, including its engagement of an Owner’s Project Manager and its process for considering an architectural firm.
    • Selectman James Craig on highlights of a report from a consultant by the Cycling Safety Committee on ideas for accommodating cycling on roadways.

Trapelo Rd. cobblestones removed for safety reasons

Dark areas of pavement are all that’s left of the cobblestone arrays that once graced the intersection of Trapelo and Old County Roads.

The gray granite cobblestones that were installed at the intersection of Trapelo and Old County Roads several years ago have been removed after they were deemed a safety risk.

The cobblestones were set into the pavement at the intersection as a traffic calming measure as part of a $5.5 million package of roadway improvements approved at Town Meeting in 2008. “As part of that project, the committee that helped us develop roadway design standards expressed a desire to create gateway treatments that would help drivers recognize that they are entering Lincoln and to help signal that our roads have their own character,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said this week.

However, over time, the stones began popping out of place and perhaps slowed down cars a bit more than intended. “We had a few people get flat tires because of them—it was becoming a safety hazard,” said Chris Bibbo, superintendent of the Department of Public Works. After consultation with the Roadway and Traffic Committee and other officials, the DPW finally removed them last week and paved over the holes, returning the intersection to its original state.

Watering now allowed two days a week

The Lincoln Board of Water Commissioners voted on Wednesday to relax water restrictions to allow outdoor watering two days a week.

The water level in Flint’s Pond has been holding steady at one foot below normal, “but that is very close to the level that we consider acceptable in mid-August,” Water Commission member Ruth Ann Hendrickson wrote in a LincolnTalk post.

Watering may now be done on one weekend day in addition to a weekday, so the allowed days now are Wednesday/Thursday and Saturday/Sunday.

“If we have a very dry August, as is possible, we may have to revisit this decision in September,” Hendrickson wrote. “Given that the pond is still 1 foot below normal, we encourage our customers to water sparingly.”

News from the School Building Committee

Below are the latest updates from the the School Building Committee (SBC), which continues to meet throughout the summer:

  • There will be a tour of the new Hanscom Middle School with SBC members on Wednesday, Aug. 9 from 7–9 p.m. For Hanscom Air Force Base security purposes, those interested in attending must provide their full legal name and birthdate to Janice Gross (jgross@lincnet.org) by noon on Thursday, Aug. 3.
  • Daedalus Projects, Inc. has been hired as the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM). The OPM serves as the town’s advocate and helps communicate the planning process to the community and keep the Lincoln School project on schedule and on budget.
  • The Outreach Subcommittee is reviewing feedback from the 364 “Shaping Our Town’s Evaluation Criteria” survey responses that were submitted and will provide a summary in the next few weeks.
  • SBC member Craig Nicholson was appointed as a liaison to the Campus Coordinating Group, joining SBC Chair Chris Fasciano and Superintendent Becky McFall. The group was authorized by the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee to facilitate collaboration between the SBC and the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee.
  • Five design firms have been selected as finalists for the Lincoln School project. The finalists will be interviewed on the evenings of August 15 and 16 starting at 6 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room. The interviews are open to the public.
  • The Outreach Subcommittee will meet on Thursday, Aug. 3 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Hartwell Multipurpose Room and will begin discussions about creating the Lincoln School Project website. All are welcome to attend.

For more information, see the SBC web page. Questions or comments may be emailed to SBC@lincnet.org.

News acorns

Firefly talk and walk on Sunday

Every summer, the fields of Lincoln come alive with the ethereal silent sparks of fireflies. Sara Lewis, a long-time Lincoln resident and author of Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies, will lead “Lights in the Night: A Firefly Talk and Walk with Sara Lewis” on Sunday, July 23 starting with a talk at 7:45 p.m. in Town Hall and a firefly walk in the Smith-Andover Field across Lincoln Road at 8:15 p.m. Dress for weather and wear sturdy shoes. Apply any insect repellent before entering the field. Please use red LED flashlights, or regular flashlights can be covered with red cellophane. The rain date for the walk is July at 8:15 p.m.

Lewis, a professor of biology at Tufts University, has given a TED talk and written about firefly conservation for CNN and Undark Magazine. Limited numbers of her book are available at the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust office and at the Lincoln Public Library. This event is co-sponsored with Lincoln’s Conservation Commission.

Holy Cow! Garden herb walk

Come on a Holy Cow! Garden herb walk on Saturday, July 29 from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. led by Jai Kaur (Annamaria San Antonio) in the Holy Cow! Garden at the Codman Estate in Lincoln (directions sent upon registration). Cost is $15 adults; free for kids under 12. Contact Jai Kaur at 781-738-1920 or asanajai@verizon.net to reserve your space, and mail a check to made out to Annamaria San Antonio, PO Box 266, Lincoln MA 01773. Holy Cow! Garden, which abuts Codman Community Farms is a private, nonprofit project that highlights sacred source in the mundane. Home-made herbal products will be for sale.

Show your art in the library

Want to display your art in the Lincoln Public Library? The application for displaying art in the library’s main gallery is available on the library website. The downstairs “Stay-Put” Gallery requires no application and has openings throughout 2018.