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

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Public hearings coming up

The Lincoln Planning Board will hold public hearings on applications for site plan reviews on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, June 13 at 7 p.m.— applicant John Crawford, 20 Old Concord Road, proposes to renovate and construct an addition to an existing home.
  • Tuesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. —  applicant Joseph Robbat, 151 Old Concord Road, proposes to renovate and construct an addition to an existing accessory structure.

The Board of Selectmen will conduct a public hearing on Monday, June 19 at 7:45 p.m. in response to an application for a curb cut at 19 Granville Road.

The Lincoln Conservation Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. in accordance with the Mass. Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. Applicants Andronica and Joseph Wheelock propose to construction a new home in the Outer Buffer Zone Resource Area at 6 Millstone Lane.

News acorns

School Building Committee workshop

The School Building Committee invites residents to a kickoff workshop on Wednesday, June 14 from 7:30-9 p.m. in the Brooks gym. Attendees will have the chance to met SBC members, learn about the next steps and the draft timeline, and help develop the town’s decision criteria for a school project.

Summer kick-off party for kids at library

Children of all ages are invited to the library on Thursday, June 15 from 3:30–5 p.m. for balloon sculpting, crafts, a raffle, make-your-own sundaes, and a magic show by Ed Popielarczyk at 4 p.m. Kids can pick up their reading Challenge forms. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Talk on identifying birds

Lincoln resident Gwyn Loud will give an informal talk on the basics of identifying birds and bird calls on Tuesday, June 20 from 9:30–10:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Public Library in the terrace off the first-floor link (rain date: Wednesday, June 21).

Summer Fest at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will stage Park Fest on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as a 5K trail run starting at 9:30 a.m. (click here to register). Signature collaborative activities from deCordova’s Learning & Engagement Team will include:

  • A large-scale Play in the Park
  • Roaming performances by larger-than-life puppets Big Nazo
  • Guided tours of the spectacular 30-acre sculpture park in full bloom
  • Art sale with more than 30 local artists and artisans
  • Live music throughout the day including local alternative folk duo The Farewells and singer Jenny Riddle.
  • Curator-led spotlight art talks in the galleries
  • Ceramic Sculpture Studio demonstrations by resident artist Bruce Barry
  • Photo ops near Jim Dine’s Two Big Black Hearts sculpture
  • Food and ice cream trucks
Free for members; click here for tickets for nonmembers ($20 for adults 18-60, $15 for seniors, $10 for children ages 6-17, free for children 5 and under).

Kids’ “Splash, Mash Dash” triathlon coming up

The 14th annual “Splash, Mash and Dash” Lincoln Kids Triathlon—with three age-appropriate sets of distances to run, bike and swim—takes place on Saturday, June 17 starting at 8:30 a.m.

The swim segment ranges from a 25-meter swim for the youngest kids (age 5-6) up to a 150-meter swim six lengths of the Codman pool) for the oldest (ages 13-14); the bike ranges from 1–4 miles and the run leg is ¼ mile for the youngest and 1 mile for the oldest kids. Putting all three together into one race means that the time spent switching between events (known as transitions) also counts toward the overall time; running from the pool to the bike, putting on shoes, buckling the mandatory helmet, mounting the bike, and dismounting the bike are all skills that are important for a fast time and make for an entertaining, bustling transition area.

Children ages 5-14 are invited to participate; register in advance at the Lincoln Recreation Department website or in person at the Lincoln Recreation Department. All race distances and other event details are available at www.kidstri.net. Race packet pickup will be on Friday, June 16 at Hartwell from 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday June 17 from 7:15–8:15 a.m. There is race-day registration, but the entry fee increases from $30 to $40 on race day, so save money by registering before June 17.

The race begins at 8:30 a.m. on June 17 and no cars will be allowed to leave the Lincoln School complex until the bike portion of the race has finished. Residents should also note that the section of Lincoln Road from Ballfield Road to the intersection with Trapelo Road will be closed from 8:30 a.m. until about 10 a.m. for the race.

The event couldn’t take place without support from all aspects of the Lincoln community: the Lincoln Recreation Department, which helps organize the event; the Codman Pool lifeguards, who keep all the swimmers safe, Lincoln Police, who close the road to keep the cyclists safe; and the many course volunteers from the community who help keep the kids on course and hydrated.

In addition, many local businesses sponsor the event. Emerson Hospital, Team Psycho (a local triathlon club), CGI, Allen Sports and Barrett Sotheby International Realty have given key financial support that helps pay for the elaborate timing system, finishers’ medals, T-shirts, and goody bag giveaways. Prizes for the top three in each age group, raffle items and post-race food are donated by local businesses Donelan’s, Something Special, Saucony, Marathon Sports, and Ashworth Awards as well as national companies like TYR and Clif Bar.

Anyone interested in volunteering at this event may email Ginger Reiner at ginger.reiner@gmail.com. (Click here for a story about the 2012 event.)

Selectmen discuss building committees, ConsComm candidates

(Editor’s note: Following are highlights of the May 22 meeting of the Board of Selectmen. This is the first in a series of summaries of these meetings by former Selectman Peter Braun based on his review of the meeting videos, which are available at lincolntv.viebit.com or via the Town of Lincoln website under “Meeting Videos.”) 

The board met with Conservation Commission Chair Peter von Mertens and Larry Buell, a candidate for an open seat on the Conservation Commission. Two other candidates were interviewed at a prior board meeting. Buell described his experience as a professor, academic administrator, and researcher in history and environmental matters. Selectmen thanked him for his willingness to volunteer for the town, acknowledged the dilemma of having to choose one of three well-qualified candidates, and expressed the hope that the two candidates not chosen will be willing to serve in another capacity. The board deferred its decision until its next meeting.

Town Administrator Tim Higgins updated the board on several ongoing matters:

  • Wang property—review of purchase of town portion, bond financing, and management of development, including developing an irrigation plan and coordinating construction schedules.
  • Solar installation—the project’s planning committee focused on potential business arrangements with developers and is working with state Rep. Stanley on “home rule” legislation to provide relief from conservation restriction and thus permit solar array use on the former landfill.
  • Affordable accessory apartments—bylaw revisions have been approved by attorney general; the town is working with Rep. Stanley on legislation to authorize the tax exemption.
  • Financial management policies—Higgins is working with the Finance Committee to review and update.

The board also:

  • Updated its procedures for drafting and approving minutes.
  • Discussed the status of seeking at-large members of the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee, as well as continuing dialogue with the School Building Committee regarding who might serve as these committees’ respective liaisons to each other.
  • Continued development of its policy regarding whether, where, and to what extent the board and/or town staff would respond to matters raised in LincolnTalk or social media, as well as the status of redesign of the town web site.
  • Discussed its ongoing liaison with the Green Energy Committee regarding updating the town’s energy-usage targets.
  • Heard brief liaison reports regarding HATS, the School Building Committee, the L-S Environmental Club, the Housing Trust, the Bicycle Safety Advisory Committee, and the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee.
  • Noted correspondence received from a resident of Old Winter Street requesting reconsideration of traffic restrictions.
  • Discussed its process for continuing to publish the Selectmen’s Newsletter.

News acorns

Dairy Day in its final year

Dairy Day at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary will take place for the last time on Saturday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This annual festival celebrates National Dairy Month, highlighting sustainable farming practices and the many products made using milk, from ice cream and butter to soap and lotion. Bring a picnic lunch and watch milking demonstrations with Drumlin Farm’s beloved dairy cow Jane (while milk supply and Jane’s patience lasts!) and try milking on your own at our practice stations. There will also be crafts and games for kids in our Get Moovin’ zone; cheese, butter, and ice cream-making demonstrations; up-close viewing of our heritage breed cattle; and hayrides to celebrate the crowning of the Drumlin Farm Dairy Princess. Click here for a detailed schedule.

“We’re just trying to think of new ways to keep things fresh at the farm,” said Drumlin Farm spokesperson Mimi Palmore, explaining the discontinuation of Dairy Day. Other programs will include element of the event, such as ice cream at an upcoming concert series.

Tickets are $10 for Mass Audubon members, $12 for nonmembers, and free for children under age 2 (walk-ins only; no advance ticket sales). Dairy Day will take place rain or shine.

Register for fall soccer by May 31

If you have a child entering grades 3-8 who’s interested in Lincoln Youth Soccer, please register for the Fall 2017/Spring 2018 as soon as possible, but no later than Wednesday, May 31. Timely registration is needed so we can determine the number of travel teams by age group. Click on this link and then click on “Registration” next to “Fall 2017–Spring 2018.”

Lessons on painting Codman Estate’s Italian garden

Join artist Dustin Neece, a classically trained Impressionist painter, for four sessions of en plein air painting in the setting of the Codman Estate Italian Garden at the height of its June blooming season. Learn how to capture shifting light and shadow, how to mix colors for quality and energy, and how to compose a landscape. This class is suitable for adult students from beginners to advanced.

The sessions are on June 12, 15, 19 and 22 at the Codman Estate Italian Garden at 34 Codman Rd. (rain dates TBD). A suggested material list will be sent with registration confirmation. Cost is $140 for Historic New England members, $180 for non-members. Registration is required. Call 617-994-6690 for more information or register online.

Community center, school group both seeking more residents

The School Building Committee (SBC) is seeking volunteers for an Outreach sub-committee. The Outreach Team’s focus is to communicate SBC updates and key community forum details, but also to warmly welcome community input in all our outreach messages and encourage engagement from our residents. The time commitment of our committee members will vary and depend on the role the volunteer chooses, for there are many. Please volunteer if you…

  • Are interested in acting as a neighborhood “captain” to ensure SBC communications reach your neighborhood
  • Would like to be involved in hosting coffees or small group community sessions
  • Have an expertise in updating and managing website content
  • Have an expertise in photography or videography
  • Would like to be involved in communicating community forum details and listening sessions to encourage greater community engagement.

If you’d like to volunteer or just learn more about this subcommittee, please email SBC@lincnet.org.

Community center panel

Selectmen are still seeking candidates to serve on the CCPPDC who have experience in fields that are relevant to the committee’s work, such as architecture, planning or design, project management, or community engagement. There will be four at-large community members on the committee. More information on the committee’s duties can be found here.

Those interested should send letters of interest (mentioning relevant experience) to the Board of Selectmen via email to at ElderP@lincolntown.org by Friday, June 2. The board will appoint members of the CCPPDC at its meeting on June 12. The committee will hold its first meeting the following week and will present public updates (including at the fall 2018 State of the Town meting). If possible, there will be a final report and/or town vote at the spring 2018 Town Meeting.

Property transfers

  • 21 Blackburnian Rd. — Thomas C. Driscoll Jr. to Mary Alice Williamson for $1,619,500 (March 22).
  • 0 Conant Rd. — Maybelle Dean to Town of Lincoln for $25,800 (March 20).
  • 36 Bypass Rd. — Adam Knochowski to Li Baiqing and Han Mei for $1,112,500 (March 15).
  • 364 Hemlock Circle — Barbara Chin to Benjamin J. Parillo and Julia P. Craig for $432,500 (March 10).
  • 94 Mill St. — Haskel Straus to LSF9 Master Participation Trust for $898,829 (March 6).
  • 10 Brooks Hill — Fran Lipson to Li Lin and Judy Su for $980,000 (March 1).
  • 324 Hemlock Circle — Lynn Avery Gargill to Patricia Lewis for $459,000 (March 1).

News acorns

Beth Taylor

Screening of documentary “13th”

There will be a screening of 13th, a documentary exploring the intersection of race, justice and mass incarceration by acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, on Sunday, June 11 at 3 p.m. in Bemis Hall. State Sen. Mike Barrett will be on hand to discuss current criminal justice reform legislation in Massachusetts. Clarence Blevins, a reformed ex-felon and advocate for justice reform, will speak about his personal experience of incarceration and adjustment to life after prison. This is a free event, but donations to support criminal justice reform are appreciated. Sponsored and supported by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee. For more information, email lauraberland@comcast.net or call 617-320-9749.

Globe features Beth Taylor obit

The Boston Globe ran an obituary on May 19 for Beth Taylor, who died on April 10 at age 87. Taylor was co-founder of the Mission Hill School in Roxbury and board president of the Codman Community Farms. An earlier obituary ran in the Lincoln Squirrel on April 17.

Outdoor watering now allowed one day per week

Flint’s Pond water levels since 2010. In previous droughts, the lowest levels seen at the pond were 5.5 feet below full in 1951, and a bit more than 7 feet below full in 1967 (click image to enlarge).

The complete ban on outdoor lawn watering imposed during last summer’s drought has been modified, though it isn’t back to the old two-day-a-week permitted schedule.

The Water Department Commissioners voted to allow outdoor watering on a one-day-a-week schedule. Outdoor watering via irrigation systems and/or hose sprinklers on Saturdays for street addresses ending in an even number and on Sundays for addresses ending in an odd number.  The irrigation systems can operate between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Hand-watering of plants is allowed any day of the week from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.

The water level in Flints Pond has rebounded more than 2.5 feet since the near-record low water levels of this past fall and winter. However, even with this strong recovery, the pond is still more than two feet below full capacity and has not yet reached the level it was at this time last year, according to Water Department Superintendent Greg Woods.

“With normal summer water use (i.e., watering twice a week), the pond level typically decreases by 2–3 feet, so if it’s another dry summer, it’s likely we will be right back in a similar situation as last year,” Woods said.

The Water Commission anticipates that the current watering restrictions, coupled with the increased use of the Tower Road well, will minimize the drawdown of the pond level. The panel will continue to monitor the pond level and the town’s water demand on a monthly basis to determine if the water restriction requires further adjustment. Anyone with questions may call Woods at 781-259-1329.

Letter to the editor: Lincoln Food Pantry needs your donations

Left to right: Jason Deveau (store manager at Donelan’s); Cheryl Rodgers; Gretchen, Nick and Peter Covino; and Nancy Cronin setting up the donation bin at Donelan’s. Food donations will benefit the Lincoln Food Pantry.

To the editor:

It’s challenging to believe that there are families in the Lincoln and Weston communities who rely on contributions to a food panty, but there are. Since 2003, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) at St. Joseph Church has helped Lincoln clients in emergency situations.

The food pantry, located at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln, was opened in 2005 and is now serving about 25 families (46 people) each month. This service is supported by the members of St. Julia Parish (Weston/Lincoln) as well as those from St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields and the First Parish Church. The pantry receives food from the Greater Boston Food Pantry and is also supported by the MetroWest Hunger Relief Fund for the Foundation for MetroWest. Most client families are our neighbors or those who work within our Lincoln and Weston communities and who are experiencing an emergency or a period of financial challenge.

The food panty relies upon donations of staple foods (e.g., cans of soup, pasta, rice, juice) that can be stored as dry goods. We are fortunate to have the assistance of Donelan’s supermarket in Lincoln who has created space at the front of the store for a collection bin. We are asking residents of our town to make a small donation of a canned or boxed item when they do their shopping. A sign above the bin indicates the items that are needed most at a given time, but any nonperishable food is welcome. The bin will be emptied each week and the goods transported to the food pantry at St. Joseph Church.

Please note: the collection bin at Donelan’s is for food bought at the store only. If you would like to donate other nonperishable items, please drop them off at St. Joseph’s. Enter the church through the side entrance on the left side of the church, where the ramp is. There is a collection bin right there in the little entrance hall. We are not allowed to give out food that is past the “best by” date, or is in damaged or opened packages.

Please make time and space for this important work. It is more necessary than you think, and your investment in our community will be impactful and most appreciated.

If you are in need of food or would like more information, please call St. Julia Parish of Weston and Lincoln at 781 899 2611.

Sincerely,

Ursula Nowak (president of SVdP, St. Joseph Conference)
33 Conant Road

Nick, Gretchen and Peter Covino
15 Mackintosh Lane

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.