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

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Officials mingle at Pierce House dinner

Town officials gathered for the traditional post-Town Meeting dinner at the Pierce House on March 30. Soft lighting, spring flowers, music and good food greeted the group as they debriefed and socialized after the day-long Annual Town Meeting on March 27. This year’s dinner was the first for new Pierce House Event Manager Nancy Beach. (Click any photo below to enlarge.)

Stephanie Smart, Housing Commission Chair Allen Vander Meulen, Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden, Green Energy Committee Chair John Snell, and Town Videographer Jim Cunningham.

Outgoing Selectman Renel Fredriksen, outgoing Board of Assessors member John Robinson, and Library Board of Trustees member Peter Sugar.

Planning Board member Gary Taylor and Pierce House Event Manager Nancy Beach.

Capital Planning, Community Preservation spending approved

Voters approved a total of $441,760 in Capital Planning Committee (CapComm) expenditures and $740,936 for Community Preservation Committee (CPC) projects at the March 25 Town Meeting.

CapComm received 26 requests and recommended 14 of them for voter approval. along with three capital exclusions totaling $300,000 ($75,000 apiece for a bucket truck and dump truck and $150,000 for a community center feasibility study). Those three requests were approved at Town Meeting and Monday’s town election.

Among the requests not recommended by CapComm:

  • A new command vehicle for the fire chief ($47,000)
  • A school safety/security upgrade ($35,000 )
  • A library facility review ($13,750)
  • A speed display trailer for the Police Department ($1,500)
Capital projectCost
Instructional display and audio technology for schools$163,000
New marked police cruiser$45,185
New unmarked police cruiser$34,015
New operating
system for town IT servers		$30,000
New courier food
service van for schools		$29,000
Radio communications system for the DPW and Communications Department$25,055
Repair existing guardrail$25,000
Additional funds for a ramp and stairs at the end of
the Library Lane sidewalk		$20,000
Electronic vote tabulators$18,000
IT backup
system for town computer servers		$15,000
Replace library's public
access computers		$13,000
Design study for use of the library's first
floor		$10,000
Upgrade
Public Safety Building video recording system		$9,685
Two police cruiser radar units$4,820
Community Preservation requests

Four of the CPC projects totaling $40,000 are for work at the Pierce House (chimney repair, a new kitchen floor, renovated bathrooms, and exterior wood clapboard and trim).

The only item that provoked discussion was a $10,800 request by the library for historic preservation of an embroidered tapestry by Sophia Adams depicting her family register. Some residents questioned whether this was the best use of CapComm funds, but Planning Board Chair Margaret Olson said it was “a no-brainer when I saw it. It’s a very beautiful piece of town history.”

“It’s a rare opportunity for people of the town to see how important the history is of one of our families,” said library director Barbara Myles, noting that Adams made the tapestry as a Lincoln teenager in the early 1800s. Her family tree includes John Adams, the second president of the United States, and great-grandson Richard Adams Williams, whose widow, former Lincoln resident Cynthia Williams, donated the tapestry to the town.

“They really came back to us with a much sharper pencil,” said Chris Fasciano, chair of the CPC, in reference to the library’s original set of  historic preservation project requests. The slate of CPC requests was approved with only a couple of nay votes.

CPC funds come from a 3 percent property tax surcharge and a partial match from the state, and the fund replenishes annually by about $950,000. They may be used only for projects relating to historic preservation, conservation, recreation, or affordable housing.

Community preservation projectCost
Debt
service payment for town office building renovation project		$398,875
Debt service
payment on
Wang property acquisition		$135,500
Debt service payments on permanent
borrowing for previously voted CPA projects		$93,150
Housing reserve$55,257
Transfer to
Conservation Fund for open space		$40,000
Renovation of
two Pierce House interior bathrooms		$15,000
Preservation of
the Sophia Adams family register		$10,800
Replacement of Pierce House kitchen floor.$10,000
Replacement of Pierce House exterior wood clapboards and wood trim$10,000
Preservation of
the poll and estate tax assessments for 1861, 1863,
1864, and 1866 		$7,412
Preservation of
Lincoln School Records Box 7		$6,259
Preservation of Lincoln School Records Box 10$5,940
Restoration of Pierce House chimney$5,000
CPC administrative expenses$3,000

Recap of background stories for Town Meeting

In preparation for the March 25 Town Meeting, the Lincoln Squirrel is publishing an updated and expanded expanded recap of news stories and letters to the editor on some of the issues to be voted on. The full warrant list can be found here.

Wang property acquisition (article 11)

News stories:

Letters to the editor:

Accessory apartments (articles 12-14)

News stories:

Letters to the editor:

School project (articles 33 and 34)

News stories:

Letter to the editor:

Community center feasibility study (article 35)

News stories:

Letter to the editor:

Landfill solar initiative (article 36)

News stories:

Letter to the editor:

Agricultural bylaw amendment (article 38)

News story:

Water bottle/plastic bag ban (articles 41 and 42)

News stories:

Letters to the editor:

Letter to the editor: Vander Meulen ‘won my vote’

letter

To the editor:

I am writing today as the election for town selectman draws near. Myself and a few of my neighbors had the pleasure to meet Allen Vander Meulen regarding his candidacy. One thing I was struck by was his ability to truly listen to our questions and concerns. As Allen described his inclusive agenda for his position, if elected, it really honored all citizens in Lincoln. Allen offered a genuine kindness; he is approachable and has the ability to balance the boundary between the big picture and all of us whom are part of that picture. He won my vote along with many of my neighbors.

Sincerely,

Tara Rachel Jones
83 Wells Rd.

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.

News acorns

Historical Society hosts talk

The Lincoln Historical Society will host a talk, book-signing and reception, with Donald L. Hafner, captain of the Lincoln Minute Men and author of William Smith, Captain: Life and Death of a Soldier of the American Revolution on Sunday, April 2 at 3 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library.

Holy Week and Easter schedule at St. Anne’s
  • Sunday, April 9 — Palm Sunday services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, April 13 — commemoration of the Last Supper with a Maundy Thursday service at 7 p.m. The service includes foot-washing and Holy Eucharist.
  • Friday, April 14 — two Good Friday services: one at noon with the Passion gospel and venerating the cross, and a family service at 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 15 — celebration of Holy Saturday with the Great Vigil of Easter beginning at 7 p.m. We kindle the new fire and light a new Paschal candle, and then read bible stories by candlelight. The service ends with the first Eucharist of Easter.
  • Sunday, April 16 —Holy Eucharist with special music and flowers at both 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. (On April 16, there is not a Still Your Soul service.)

All are welcome at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, located at 147 Concord Road.

Jennifer Glass, candidate for selectman in Monday’s election, braved the cold on Wednesday to meet residents including Rick Mandelkorn at the transfer station (right) and hand out flyers.

Letter to the editor: 8th-graders ask for Town Meeting support

letter

To the editor:

Make way! Here comes the renowned eighth-grade Warrant Article Group! What, you ask? The Warrant Article Group is a group of eighth-graders who had a dream—a dream to learn more about local government. Led by the town clerk and the town moderator, we have been able to fulfill this dream. Now we have to get to Town Meeting.

This year we are aiming to add a set of benches to the school athletic fields. The need had come to our attention when our dear friend Maya informed us that in the Codman field, due to lack of space, people are often forced to put important belongings on the often muddy ground. In addition, currently we only have one set of benches and they are on the Brooks field.  Just recently we added more playing area at the Codman field, which means a higher demand for benches. The 15-foot weatherproof and portable benches we propose have shelves on top to provide extra space for belongings.

The Warrant Article Group has gained support from the School Committee, the Board of Selectmen, the Recreation Committee, and the Finance Committee. And we are hoping for support from you. See you at Town Meeting on March 25.

Sincerely,

Achla Gandhi (8th-grader, Lincoln School)
21 Juniper Ridge Rd.

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.

News acorns

Woolapalooza at Drumlin Farm

Celebrate the coming of spring at Drumlin Farm’s Woolapalooza annual festival featuring fiber, food, and fun on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Highlights will include:

  • Sheep-shearing demonstrations
  • Live sheep herding with border collies
  • Sheep-to-sweater interpretive trail: Learn how wool becomes yarn, and make a craft to take home.
  • A hearty lunch made from Drumlin Farm’s own meat and potatoes (additional purchase necessary)
  • Local artisans demonstrating and selling handmade products

The event will run rain, shine, or light snow. No advance ticket purchase; walk-ins only. Mass Audubon members: $14. Nonmembers: $16. Children Under age 2: Free. Due to recent snowfall, parking at Drumlin Farm will be limited. We recommend arriving closer to 10 a.m. to secure a spot, but cannot guarantee that parking will be available throughout the day.

Chinese folk art performance

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will host a Chinese Folk Art Workshop performance on Saturday, April 1 at 4 p.m. at the Kirshner Auditorium. The non-profit organization, which aims to promote interaction with and understanding of Chinese culture in the community, performs a variety of traditional Chinese folk arts such as dragon dance, lion dance, Taiwanese drums, Chinese yoyo and folk dance (click here for a video preview of the show). There will also be Chinese and other Asian crafts for kids outside the theater starting at 2 p.m., as well as food and drink available for sale. Tickets are $10. for adults and $8. for students. Questions? Email vivsicle@gmail.com or danielle_weisse@lsrhs.net. Proceeds will benefit the L-S Memorial School in Cambodia.

First Parish hosts open-house service

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold an “open house” worship service on Sunday, April 2 at 10 a.m. in the Parish House Auditorium (14 Bedford Rd.). If you’ve wanted to visit First Parish in Lincoln, this is the perfect day to do it. There will be members at the door to greet visitors and help them find seats. During the service, guests’ children are also invited to join our religious education programs (or the nursery, if toddler or preschool-aged). Following worship, children can plant a bulb out on the playground (or in the small downstairs classroom if it rains).

‘Europa, Europa’ to be screened

The Lincoln Library Film Society will show Europa, Europa on Thursday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. The movie (rated R, in German with English subtitles) directed by Agnieszka Holland is based on the true story of a Jewish teenager who survived World War II by passing as a Nazi Youth member. Movie style refreshments served.

Candidate for Selectman Allen Vander Meulen (second from left) gave out free coffee and talked to commuters at the Lincoln train station on Tuesday morning. See his campaign blog for more information.

Obituaries

Yvonne Fenijn

Yvonne Fenijn, 94 — Dutch-American whose family survived World War II Japanese internment in Indonesia prison camps.

Richard Ponn (March 14) — husband of Nancy (Long) Ponn. Services at the Beth El Temple Center, 2 Concord Ave., Belmont on Wednesday, March 22 at 10 a.m.

Charles Hersch

Charles Hersch, 89 (February 26) — clinical psychologist, former director of the Concord Area Comprehensive Mental Health Center, president of the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children.

Wetlands boardwalk opening set for April 2

The new wetlands boardwalk (click to enlarge).

Town officials will open a new wetlands boardwalk on Sunday, April 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the result of six years of planning and fundraising.

Several years ago, Lincoln School science teacher Terry Green and others envisioned a new boardwalk behind the school as a great learning experience for students. (An old boardwalk had fallen into disrepair and was pulled out.) The boardwalk is reached from a trail from behind the Smith playground running north to the town muster field at the intersection of Sandy Pond and Baker Bridge Roads. It includes an outdoor “classroom space” where groups can gather to learn about the wetlands.

The project was funded by the Lincoln Public Schools, the Lincoln Community Preservation Committee, the Lincoln School Foundation and the Lincoln Cultural Council.

Attendees at the opening  may park in the Smith parking lot; the boardwalk path begins behind the green playground.