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

My Turn: Payne running to succeed Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden

(Editor’s note: Longtime Tow Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden announced in December that she would not be seeking another term.)

By Andy Payne

Fellow residents,

I’m running for Town Moderator.

Some of my background and principles: I was on the Finance Committee for several years, chairing it for five. I have experience with and appreciation for the Town Meeting process, working with residents and town staff, finding agreement, and respectfully disagreeing.

Our little town depends heavily on volunteers. I’ve lived in Lincoln nearly all of my adult life and raised three children here. I know it’s a cliche, but I feel an obligation to continue to “give back.”

My LincolnTalk posts and Town Meeting podium time demonstrate my approach to ensuring that residents are informed about (sometimes) complex topics, the implications of their votes, and essential trade-offs. If voters support it, I’d be honored to continue that work as Moderator.

On Town Meeting itself:

Town Meeting starts long before the actual meeting. I would strongly encourage groups to host sessions and post materials (FAQs, videos, slides, etc.) in advance so residents can come fully informed. For especially contentious topics, it might be possible for the moderator to serve as a pre-meeting facilitator between opposing groups.

Long meetings are burdensome for some, and the Town Meeting Study Committee has done excellent work identifying accessibility issues.

I believe that clickers, front-loading the schedule with the expected contentious topics, pre-published information, and moving even more items onto the consent calendar will go a long way toward keeping things manageable. Also, chyrons on the video feed clearly indicating the current and next warrant articles, along with (possibly) a simple text alert system for agenda items, will support those who need to “cherry-pick” their attendance.

With that said, I believe it’s worth spending some extra meeting time to ensure the process is as fair as possible and people feel heard, even when the vote goes against them. Also, it’s important for us all to understand the mechanics of Town Meeting and town government.

The election is on Monday, March 30.

Sarah Cannon Holden will leave some very big shoes to fill after our upcoming Town Meeting on March 28, and I’m humbled to have a chance to try. If anyone has questions, comments, feedback, concerns, and/or suggested dad jokes, please email me at andy@payne.org.

Respectfully,

Andrew Payne, Tower Road

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Police log for Dec. 20 – 30, 2025

December 20

Winter Street (9:01am) — A tree was reported to be down across Winter Street. Wires had also come down with the tree. The area was blocked off and utility crews were notified.

Lincoln Road (12:55pm) — A person reported finding a dog on Lincoln Road. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Granville Road (2:20pm) — Verizon was notified of a utility wire across a resident’s driveway.

Winter Street (3:00pm) — Several residents called 911 after seeing utility crews were seen leaving their street during a power outage. Eversource was contacted and they advised that they would be back to restore power.

Hillside Road (3:16pm) — Officers performed a check on residents in a house with no power.

Cerulean Way (5:58pm) — Officers performed a check of a residence. Everything was OK.

Concord Road (7:22pm) — A rollover crash was reported on Route 126 by Walden Pond when a vehicle left the roadway and struck multiple bollards and a tree before coming to rest on its side. The operator was transported to the hospital and cited for a marked lanes violation.

Hillside Road (9:17pm) — Officers performed another check of the house without power.

December 21

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (10:38pm) — Officers assisted Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash.

December 22

Lincoln Road (2:49pm) — A caller reported that their cat was missing. The feline was located moments later hiding in the residence.

Granville Road (6:06pm) — A caller reported that a utility wire was lying across their driveway. Verizon was notified.

South Great Road (4:28pm) — A caller reported seeing three youths ice skating on Farrar Pond. An officer performed a visual check and utilized a drone but saw no traces of anyone on the ice.

December 23

Wells Road (1:36pm) — A caller reported a strong odor of natural gas. The Fire Department responded and assisted in ventilating the residence.

Sandy Pond Road (2:33pm) — An officer corresponded with a person regarding a civil matter.

Harvest Circle (5:40pm) — Fire and police units responded to a vehicle fire that was knocked down prior to arrival, but firefighters provided additional suppressive measures. The vehicle was towed.

Weston Road (7:14pm) — Police and fire units responded for a single-car crash. The operator was not injured and the vehicle was towed.

Concord Road (10:55pm) — A motorist drove off the road and struck a portion of guardrail. The driver was uninjured and the vehicle was towed.

December 24

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (2:38am) — Lincoln Police assisted Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash.

Concord Road (6:52am) — A motorist drove off the roadway and got stuck on a boulder. They were cited for driving at a speed greater than reasonable. The vehicle was towed.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (8:00am) — Lincoln Police assisted Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash.

December 25

Lincoln Public Schools (11:54am) — Police, in coordination with mutual aid partners and the Lincoln Public Schools administration, responded to the Ballfield Road and Hanscom Air Force Base campuses for a reported bomb threat. All campuses were searched and nothing out of the ordinary was discovered. Click here for more information.

December 26

Wells Road (6:25pm) — A caller spoke with an officer regarding a past interaction.

Concord Road (8:13pm) — An officer checked on a vehicle that had been parked on the side of the road.

December 27

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (11:49am) — An officer stood by with several occupants of a vehicle that required a tow. The occupants were able to secure their own transportation.

Minebrook Road (2:26pm) — An officer spoke with a person about two items they wished to turn in to the police station.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (8:24pm) — Lincoln Police assisted Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash.

December 28

Winter Street (8:30am) — Police and fire units responded for a single-vehicle crash that happened when the vehicle suffered a flat tire before to striking a utility pole. The operator was not injured and the vehicle was towed.

Bypass Road (1:39pm) — The fire department responded to the area of Bypass Road and Lexington Road for the report of an odor of natural gas. National Grid was notified.

December 29

North Great Road (10:10pm) — A caller reported that a large tree was blocking the roadway. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the obstruction.

December 30

Bedford Road (4:02am) — Officers responded for a large tree blocking Bedford Road. The DPW and utility companies were notified.

Old Winter Street (10:38am) — A caller reported that a large truck blocking the road. An officer checked the area but there were nothing obstructing the road.

Christmas bomb threat to Lincoln, Hanscom Schools

The Lincoln School (photo from Lincoln Public Schools website)

On Christmas morning, there was a bomb threat to the Lincoln Public Schools, resulting in a thorough search of both the Lincoln and Hanscom campuses.

According to a Dec. 25 letter to staff and parents from Superintendent of Schools Parry Graham, after a faculty member received the bomb threat visa email and reported it to police, Lincoln police immediately began an investigation, conducted exterior sweeps of the buildings, and activated a regional response through the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC), the Massachusetts State Police, and the Hanscom Air Force Base Security Forces.

“The threat was non-specific and from a sender with no known connection to our schools,” Graham wrote.

“Given the non-specific nature of the threat, a lack of connection to our schools, and other indicators, our law enforcement partners have assessed that there is no immediate safety threat,” Graham wrote to staff and parents in a Dec. 28 follow-up email. “Out of an abundance of caution, Hanscom Air Force Base Security Forces and the Massachusetts State Police conducted K-9 inspections of both the Hanscom School and the Lincoln School, as well as the Hartwell Building, including Magic Garden. Nothing of concern was found and the schools and buildings have been cleared for staff and students to return.”

The Lincoln Police Department and school administration are “actively investigating the incident,” according to police.

LincolnTalk changes its address, offers searchable archives

The LincolnTalk email listserv has changed service providers, meaning anyone who wants to post email messages for other Lincolnites on the list to read should now send it to lincoln@groups.io rather than lincoln@lincolntalk.org.

Everyone who was subscribed to LincolnTalk has been automatically subscribed to the new service and received an automated email about this on Dec. 29, 2025. The LincolnTalk.org website — which has instructions on how to subscribe as well as FAQs and Rules and Policies governing what may and may not be posted — has also been updated.

A few months ago, the LincolnTalk volunteer moderators (Jonathan Feinberg, Margit Griffith, and Jena Salon) learned that Pair Networks, the service provider that LincolnTalk has used since its inception in 2013, would be discontinuing its PairList service, which provided the Mailman software system. In late December, Feinberg migrated members to the new service, though the old email address will also continue working for a while.

Members can log on to the new website at groups.io/g/lincoln to change their settings such as how often they get LincolnTalk emails and to search the new lincoln@groups.io archives (messages posted starting Dec. 29, 2025). Everyone was issued a password when they first joined LincolnTalk, but anyone who’s forgotten theirs can click on the “Forgot your password” link directly under the password box. The old Mailman system allowed only browsing by date and sender. List members can still browse the old LincolnTalk archives by clicking here, and an indexed list of service providers recommended by LincolnTalk members over the years is available here.

Under subscription settings (groups.io/g/lincoln/editsub), users can specify daily batches of emails, an email with the last 12 posts, only special notices sent by the moderators, or no mail at all, in which case they can still use the website to browse and search previously posted messages. There are other optional new features as well. Go to groups.io/settings/prefs to add a profile picture or pre-specified email signature to outgoing LincolnTalk messages.

As before, posts will appear without moderation unless a specific user is put on moderation, meaning the user has violated the rules of use (for example, policies on civility and personal attacks) and will be barred from posting for a period of time determined by the moderators, who can be reached directly at lincoln+owner@groups.io.

While emails sent to the old lincoln@lincolntalk.org email address will still go to list members during the transition period, the old service will soon be shut off (exact date to be determined), so list members should update their email address books to lincoln@groups.io now, Feinberg said.

The Mailman service cost about $100 a year — an expense that was borne by the moderators — but the new service is charging about $2,000 a year. The moderators will be setting up a donation link and noted that if all 2,021 LincolnTalk members contributed just $1, it would cover costs.

My Turn: Bodnar is running for reelection to Select Board

By Kim Bodnar

I’m excited to announce that I am seeking re-election to the Select Board. This role has been both humbling and energizing — every conversation, every late-night meeting, and every decision directly touches the lives of people who care deeply about Lincoln. I respectfully ask for your support as we continue this important work together.

Looking back on my three years on the Select Board, I’m reminded daily what a privilege it is to help shape the future of our town. Public service is demanding, but I couldn’t have anticipated how deeply rewarding this role would be. From the Council on Aging & Human Services’ (COA&HS) lunches and clinics, Coffee & Conversation gatherings to board meetings and informal chats around town, I deeply value the relationships that we have formed and am grateful residents feel comfortable sharing both their positive experiences and concerns about Lincoln.

Serving on the Select Board has deepened my appreciation for the complexity of our town’s challenges, from managing budgets and maintaining infrastructure to planning growth that preserves Lincoln’s character. I’ve also seen firsthand the dedication of our volunteers, committees, and staff —  their commitment is inspiring and a reminder that local government works best when we all pull together.

At its core, public service is about stewardship: listening closely, understanding the issues, balancing competing needs, and striving to make decisions in the community’s long-term interests. It requires hard work, integrity, commitment, and collaboration. I have approached this role with those values at the forefront, and I am proud of the progress we’ve made together.

Above all, my experience has shown me that public service is a partnership. Lincoln’s values emphasize collaboration and consensus, and because responsibility is shared across multiple boards, we accomplish the most when we work together. In that spirit, I am proud to have contributed to a number of important initiatives during my first term, including a year serving as chair of the Select Board, such as:

Town Meeting Study Committee — Helping the board define a charge and process that we are confident will lead to improvements that will ensure voter trust and confidence and enhance the effectiveness and engagement of Town Meeting.

Community Center Building Committee — Serving as the board’s liaison, helped the Committee clearly define and communicate program and budget choices for voters.

Lincoln 250th and Fair & Feast — Serving as chair of Lincoln250, leading the town’s planning for local events and celebrations commemorating the anniversary of the American Revolution; representing Lincoln in regional and statewide planning efforts in coordination with our public safety teams; collaborating with other Lincoln boards and community organizations on historical education initiatives; and chairing a committee-led effort to host the culminating community event, the Lincoln250 Fair and Feast.

Transportation Coalition —Acting as part of the Transportation Coalition’s leadership team, grateful to have been involved in many milestones over the past few years including; creating a five year plan for improving pedestrian and cyclist safety and connectivity, securing grants to install new sidewalks/paths and crosswalks, administering a resident survey, and hosting public forums.

Committee Liaisons — Serving as the Select Board liaison supporting 14 town boards and committees.

Select Board Priorities — As a team, the board and the town administrator are pleased to report progress on a number of important initiatives including completion of the landfill solar project; earning Commonwealth designation as a Climate Leader Community; securing multiple planning, infrastructure, climate, and other grants; and creating new ways to keep residents informed, including the recently launched semi-monthly electronic newsletter, SelectConnect.

Looking ahead, there is important work still to do — continuing strong fiscal discipline, improving our roads and infrastructure, advancing new climate initiatives and expanding transparency, and communication so residents feel engaged and heard. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I would be honored to continue this work with you in a second term.

In closing, I’d welcome the chance to connect with residents who want to learn more about my work on the Select Board or share ideas for Lincoln. I’ll be following up with dates and times when I’ll be at the transfer station, Donelan’s, etc., but I hope you’ll also stop by Bemis Hall or join the Zoom meeting on February 24 beginning at 10:30am for “coffee and conversation” hosted by the COA&HS. Also, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the email addresses below — I’d be glad to meet or chat. As a reminder, our town election will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026.

Thank you for your consideration and for the honor of serving this community.

Respectfully,

Kim Bodnar, 11 Fox Run Road
Kimbodnar1007@gmail.com (personal) or bodnark@lincolntown.org (town)

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

News acorns

Twisted Tree gathering on Friday

The Twisted Tree Cafe at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will host a new year’s gathering on Friday, Jan. 2 from 5–9pm. Live music, cookie decorating, and seasonal specials including beer, wine, and mocktails.

File citizens’ petitions starting Jan. 12

The Town Clerk’s office will begin accepting citizens’ petitions for the March 28 Annual Town Meeting on Monday, Jan. 12 when the Select Board votes to open the warrant. The deadline for submitting petitions is Monday, Jan. 26 at 9:00am.  considering sponsoring a Town Meeting petition are strongly urged to contact the Town Clerk’s Office (781-259-2607 or foxv@lincolntown.org) for guidance about the process. The Select Board office (781-259-2601 or elderp@lincolntown.org) is also available to assist. 

Wayside Sound at next LOMA

Wayside Sound (Jack Dudek and Taylor Gonsalves) are the headliner at the next Lincoln Open Mic Acoustic (LOMA) on Monday, Jan. 12 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Here’s a snippet of them covering Chris Smithers’s tune “Love Me Like a Man,” made famous by Bonnie Raitt. LOMA is a monthly open mike night event with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Come and perform (email  loma3re@gmail.com to sign up) or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word. Free admission.

Conservation Department events coming up

Guided Plant ID and Natural History Walk with Jeffrey Adams
Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 9:45am, Flint’s Pond
Learn how to identify plants even as the leaves are disappearing, and some interesting local natural history as well. RSVP here. Email llct@lincolnconservation.org for details.

Winter Tree & Shrub ID Walks
Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23 and 24 at 9:30am, Codman North
Join Stacy Carter for a winter walk through the woods as we talk about how to identify woody plants. RSVP here. Email conservation@lincolntown.org for details.

Stew & Brew at Drumlin Farm

Adults 21+ are invited to Stew & Brew on Friday, Jan. 23 from 6:30-9:00pm at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary. Chase away the midwinter cold with an evening of hearty, house-made stews accompanied by craft beers from local breweries. Enjoy meat and vegetarian stews made from Drumlin Farm-raised meats and veggies, along with seasonal ingredients from other neighboring farms. Fresh bread courtesy of Nashoba Brook Bakery will round out the festive winter meal by the fire.

Learn about Drumlin’s sustainable farming practices and hear from the breweries that are donating time and products, including Jack’s Abby, Rapscallion, and Saltbox Kitchen (gluten-free cider also available). Musicians Thomas Perry and Nikki Shattuck of Lower Quarters, a local fiddle and guitar duo, will play. Registration required ($75 for members and $90 for nonmembers until Jan. 13; after that, $80 for adults and $96 for non-members).

Legal notice: Conservation Commission (18 Old Cambridge Tpk)

LEGAL NOTICE — CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 7:05PM in accordance with the MA Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This is in response to the duly filed Request for Determination of Applicability by Ondrea Lienqueo for a deck expansion within the 100-ft Buffer Zone at 18 Old Cambridge Turnpike (Parcel 112-5-0). Information on how to log onto the virtual public meeting will be included in the LCC Agenda posted on the town’s website at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. More information can be reviewed here.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Legal notice: ZBA (127 Bedford Rd)

PUBLIC HEARING — ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

The Zoning Board of the Appeals of the Town of Lincoln will hold a virtual online public hearing on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 7:00pm to hear and to act on the following petition under the Zoning Bylaws:

New:

Srininas Anantha, 127 Bedford Rd., M/P 119-47-0 for a special permit to construct a new residence.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

A big 2025 thank-you from the Lincoln Squirrel!

Just about year ago, the Lincoln Squirrel website, which had then been operating continuously for 12 years, broke down. Like an old car, it had too many outdated parts and had reached the end of the line, so it needed to be rebuilt from scratch at non-inconsiderable expense. In hopes of defraying at least some of this cost, the Squirrel launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign at the end of 2024 whose results far exceeded expectations — enough money came in to fully fund the project.

One thing remained undone, however. While everyone who contributed was acknowledged individually, I never thanked donors collectively for supporting the important work of small-town local journalism, and I want to rectify that. Everyone who donated deserves a big round of applause for helping the Squirrel get back on its feet (paws?). Thank you again, and here’s hoping for a happy and healthy 2026!

Alice Waugh
Editor, Lincoln Squirrel

Three cheers to all those who donated!

Anonymous (several)
Debra Alpert
Jacquelin Apsler
Peter Blackler
Daphne Blunt
Myra Bracken
Andrew Clark
Mary Crowe
Peter Cunningham
Rosamond DeLori
Katie Dimanescu
Andrew Falender
Kathryn Glickman
Terry Green
Lincoln Greenhill
John Griffith
Donald Hafner
Mary Ann Hales
Anna Hardman
Eric Harndon
Ellen Hazen
Caroline Hazen
George Hibben
Ruth Hodges
Michael Humphrys
Jim Hutchinson
Stephen & Paula Johnson
Priscilla Kern
Virginia Lemire
Rosemary Lloyd
Gwyn Loud
Tomasina Lucchese
Tim Mangini
Nancy Marshall
Susan Mills
Tara Mitchell
Susan Hall Mygatt
Katherine Page
Katharine Preston
Rick Rundell
Luch Sachs
Cynthia Schliemann
Paul Shorb
Diana Smith
Lynne Smith
Rhonda Swain
Alison Taunton-Rigby
Gary & Susan Taylor
Dilla Tingley
Sophie Vandebroek
Irene Weigel
Jen Zeis
Alida Zweidler-McKay
 

Police log for December 11–19, 2025

December 11

Nothing of note.

December 12

Nothing of note.

December 13

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (10:41am) — An officer responded to a residence to help two people who had had a minor motor vehicle accident.

Commuter rail parking lot (11:27am) ‚ A caller reported seeing a person walking on the railroad tracks as a train was approaching. An officer spoke to the person after the train had passed.

December 14

Nothing of note.

December 15

Lincoln Police Department (12:45pm) — A lost item was turned in to the police department. The owner was notified.

Bemis Hall (6:09pm) — An officer assisted in securing the building for the night.

Lincoln Public Library (8:20pm) — An officer checked the area for a suspicious person but could not locate the individual.

December 16

Lincoln Road (5:31pm) — A lost item was turned in to the police department. The owner was notified.

Tower Road (1:43pm) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding possible vandalism damage to their residence.

Concord Road (3:04pm) — A person spoke to an officer about a property listed for sale.

Route 2 Gas (5:22pm) — An officer followed a person walking a motorcycle that had run out of gas on Route 2 East. The person was able to push the motorcycle to Tracey’s.

December 17

Wells Road (7:47am) — An officer spoke with a person about an ongoing matter.

December 18

South Great Road (7:05am) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Lincoln Road and South Great Road. There were no injuries reported. One operator was cited for failing to yield and both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Hillside Road (9:52am) — An officer spoke with a person regarding an unusual encounter with another person.

Harvest Circle (10:30am) — An officer spoke with a person about a possible fraud incident.

North Commons (11:51am) — Officers performed a well-being check at the request of an outside agency.

Lexington Road (4:48pm) — Officers checked the area near Lexington Road for the report of an automated crash detection alert conveyed by the state police but no crash found.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (4:57pm) —Lincoln police assisted state police with a reported hit-and-run crash.

Trapelo Road (9:24pm) — A motorist flagged down an officer for an apparent injured raccoon. The animal made its way back into the woods under its own power.

A downed wire and pole on Sandy Pond road during the Dec. 19 storm. (Photo by Allen Vander Meulen)

December 19

Due to high winds, there were trees and/or utility wires reported down starting at 12:17pm on Codman Road, Tower Road, South Great Road, Sandy Pond Road, Oxbow Road, Baker Bridge Road, Brooks Road, Granville Road, Farrar Road, Orchard Lane, Old Concord Road, Old Bedford Road, Lincoln Road, and Hillside Road.

North Commons (4:03am) — Officers responded to a residence for a noise complaint.

Tower Road (3:54pm) — A caller reported seeing several goats roaming free on Tower Road. The Animal Control Officer was notified and was able to corral the goats back into their pen.

Page Road (8:39pm) — An officer helped a utility crew who had requested an officer for an agitated individual.

Hemlock Circle (9:58am) — An officer spoke to a person about a possible fraud incident.

Hillside Road (4:00pm and 7:08pm) — Due to a power outage and limited access, officers performed well-being checks on home’s occupants.