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

News acorns

Session on residential energy efficiency

Join a discussion on “Energy Efficiency 101: Save Energy, Save Money, and Save the Planet” on Friday, June 3 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. HomeWorks Energy, a MassSave partner, will host this presentation encompassing the importance of weatherizing homes and installing high-efficiency heating and cooling systems. The conversation will include information about how to identify health and safety issues in the home, key areas to insulate, various high efficiency heating and cooling options, and the rebates and financing available to make these upgrades. The event will start with a presentation and move to a Q&A session.

Lincoln students to give benefit concert

Lincoln Cantabile members (left to right) Luca Lee, Nooreddeen Kawaf, Finn Larsen, Victor Han, and Henry Hussey.

Enjoy an evening of music ranging from classical to modern to jazz performed by five Lincoln eighth- and tenth-graders in the first public performance of their ensemble Cantabile on Thursday, June 9 from 7–9 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The students (Henry Hussey on violin, Nooreddeen Kawaf on piano, Finn Larsen on violin and piano, Luca Lee on cello, and Victor Han on piano), who have been working hard over the past months supported by professional musicians and music director Rebecca Lee, will be joined by other Lincoln Public Schools students and Thomas Cooper, a Lincoln resident and accomplished professional violinist. Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to lincoln.cantabile@gmail.com to help with event planning. The event is free but with a suggested donation of at least $5 for children and $15 for adults. Buy tickets online here. All proceeds will benefit Doctors without Borders, Make-a-Wish, and No Kid Hungry.

Film screening: “L’Eclisse”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will show the movie “L’Eclisse” on Thursday, June 16 at 6 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. A young woman meets a vital young man, but their love affair is doomed because of the man’s materialistic nature. Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, starring Monica Vitti, Alain Delon, and Francisco Rabal.

“Music in Modern Houses” on June 12

As part of the Friends of Modern Architecture–Lincoln’s “Music in Modern Houses” series, Yulia Musayelyan (flute) and Maxim Lubarsky (piano) will play Latin jazz and classical duets on Sunday, June 12 from 4–5 p.m. at the 1948 Schwann House in Lincoln. There will be a tour and reception for those who attend in person (by invitation only). Click here to register for Zoom attendance. Donations support FoMA’s mission for preservation, documentation, and education. Click here to make a donation.

Codman BBQ and campout scheduled

The annual Codman BBQ and campout will take place Saturday, June 18 from 6–9:30 p.m. (and overnight if you’re camping). Pasture-raised hot dogs, sausages, burgers and chicken drumsticks will be on the grill (plus veggie sandwiches too), the Chillwagon will be serving up sweet treats, and The Splinters, will be playing great tunes. Bring your favorite drinks, gather around the campfire, stuff yourself with ’smores, and sing with friends. Pitch a tent, stay overnight, and wake up to the sounds of the farm! A simple breakfast will be available in the kitchen for campers on Sunday morning. Click here to buy tickets ($20 for the barbecue, $40 for barbecue plus campout).

Get ready for July 4 parade, Firecracker Run

Residents are invited to create a float for the July 4 parade and participate in the Firecracker Run earlier that morning. To register your float, download and complete this form. The Firecracker Run is a 2.5-mile or 4-mile scenic run through Lincoln. Registration is $20 for all participants. The first 150 people to sign up online get a commemorative pair of sunglasses. Bib pickup is at Town Hall. Advance registration is required; click here to sign up.

Community Center Building Committee begins its work

The two community center options chosen in 2018 (click to enlarge).

Now that the school project is nearing completion, the town is turning its attention to another much-needed facility: a community center. A new Community Center Building Committee has been established and is getting right to work with its first meeting on June 1.

It’s not always easy to find volunteers for town government, but in this case, the Select Board had many enthusiastic applicants — 11 people for the four at-large slots. The board interviewed candidates at its May 23 meeting and voted to include Sarah Chester, Timothy Christenfeld, Alison Taunton-Rigby, and Krystal Wood. The other applicants for those slots were Owen Beenhouwer, Doug Crosby, Steve Gladstone, Dave Levington, Andrew Sheff, Andrew Singer, and Peter von Mertens.

Also on the committee are five representatives of town boards: Jonathan Dwyer (Select Board), Margit Griffith (Parks & Recreation Committee), Adam Hogue (School Committee), Ellen Meyer-Shorb (Finance Committee) and Dilla Tingley (Council on Aging and Human Services. Rounding out the roster are five nonvoting ex officio members: COA&HS Director Abigail Butt, Parks and Recreation Director Jessica Downing, Town Administrator, Timothy Higgins, Assistant Town Daniel Pereira, and Facilities Director Brandon Kelly.

Residents voted almost unanimously in March to move ahead with the community center, which is now estimated to cost $23 million to $25.4 million in 2025 dollars. Parks and Rec and the COAHS are in dire need of newer and better designed space. That would result in an annual property tax increase of about $600 on a home assessed at $1.13 million (the median in Lincoln) whose owner now pays $16,866 per year. Construction could start in June 2025 and finish 18 months later.

In 2018, the community center planning committee and its architect came up with two possible design directions (slides 5–10 in the 2021 State of the Town presentation). The new CCBC will review those two design concepts with an eye for “potential cost savings that may be achieved through re-evaluating the project scope or by other means,” according to the committee’s charge. The review will also consider how Covid-19 precautions might affect programs, interior space layout, outdoor amenities, and the role that the new and renovated school spaces might play.

The timeline proposed last fall calls for a Special Town Meeting in November 2022 to appropriate funds for architect and construction managers, and another Special Town Meeting a year later to vote on a preferred design option and budget.

Editor’s note: previous Lincoln Squirrel stories on the community center can be found on the home page of the Squirrel website. Scroll down to the red “Categories” heading in the left-hand column and click on the “community center” dropdown.

June 4 gathering in memory of Gerry Lattimore, 1937–2022

Geraldine “Gerry” Lattimore, a lifelong resident of Massachusetts and Maine, died on April 22 at the age of 84.

She was a sculptor, sang for years in the Concord Chorus, and wrote poetry and stories in secret. She took many extension courses at Radcliffe and elsewhere, leading to lifelong friendships. She was also an inveterate storm-chaser. Deeply self-effacing, she never sought renown, but loved art and nature. She nurtured young people who shared her passions or simply needed shelter and affection. She was dear to her friends for her imagination, wit, and kindness. Although shy, she (a confirmed Democrat) never hesitated to speak out vehemently for women’s rights and against racial injustice and war.

Gerry grew up in Belmont, the daughter of Gerald Harrison, a radio pioneer, sports announcer, and sailor, and Janet Hoch Harrison, a radio pianist, organist, and station manager. Gerry went to Abbot Academy Andover and graduated from Beaver Country Day School. While at Colby College, she married Hugh Nazor in 1957. When he was at Wharton, they were house parents  for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children and cared for homeless boys, which they remembered fondly.

From 1962–1972, Gerry lived in a 1738 farm house with 50 acres of fields and woods in Bolton. When Gerry sold the property, she introduced Bolton to the practice of land conservation. From 1973 onward, she lived in Lincoln, spending summers on a Maine island. From 1978 until the early 1980s, Gerry worked as a fundraiser for Physicians for Social Responsibility, assisting Helen Caldecott in her fight against “nuclear madness.” She also shared a sculpting studio in West Concord where they hired live models and introduced her grandchildren to the complexity of the human form.

Gerry’s life in Lincoln and Harpswell, Maine was shared with her two daughters, Karen Nazor and Leslie Nazor Riversmith, and with Andrew, Julia, and John Linnell, and Margaret Macy, the children of her second husband.

In 1992 she married her third husband, Professor David Lattimore of Brown University, adding to the extended clan his six children by a former marriage: Michael Lattimore, Maria Sheppard, Clare Lattimore, Anne Price, Evan Lattimore, and the late and much-loved Rosette Lattimore. Gerry also leaves a  brother, Stanley Harrison, and his children, Michael Harrison and Rebecca Harrison Moser. She leaves Ama Harrison, widow of her deceased brother Theodore Harrison, their two sons, Cobina and Anthony Kwame Harrison, and daughter Joan Nowak. In all, she leaves 15 grandchildren.

In celebration of Gerry’s life, an informal gathering will be held at her Lincoln home on Saturday, June 4 at noon. Click here to send flowers or make a donation in her memory.

Coughlin, Hammett-Ory, and Lincoln Girl Scouts win awards

Lincoln Girl Scout troop leaders Tara Mitchell (left) and Laura Taylor (right) with 2021 honoree Linda Hammett-Ory.

 

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) recognized Lincoln’s Heather Coughlin and the Lincoln service unit at its annual Volunteer Recognition Celebration on May 6.

Coughlin was awarded the Girl Scouts of the USA Appreciation Pin, which recognizes volunteers who have given outstanding service in support of the Girl Scout leadership experience. Since 2016, she has been the Lincoln service unit coordinator, providing direction and connections between the various town troop leaders.  She has encouraged sharing information and resources and offered opportunities to participate in multi-troop events. 

For more than six years, Coughlin shouldered the majority of the town-wide events, including organizing an annual all-troop camping trip, bridging ceremonies, cookie sales, and has coordinated with the town on participating in Memorial Day and Labor Day celebrations, Fourth of July parades and supporting other town events like Town Meeting. 

One Lincoln troop leader commented, “Her attention and dedication to providing role models to young girls is what I think is most impressive about Heather.  She is always thinking of the girls — how they can be the center of the decision or process, take on a leadership role, feel celebrated and have others to look up to, examples of what they could accomplish in the future.”

The Lincoln service unit was given the President’s Award for its exemplary service. Lincoln is a small town, but the connections run deep, and those connections, paired with commitment, have allowed Lincoln Girl Scouts to persevere throughout the pandemic, GSEMA noted. Through connections in the community, Girl Scouts participate in several multi-troop service activities and events that allow girls to see other Girl Scouts from different grades, and allow older girls become role models to the younger girls.   

For over four years, a partnership with the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services has provided girls the opportunity to see what a positive impact a small gesture can have on individuals.  The Lincoln Girl Scouts have run collection drives for seniors gathering household products, personal care items, and postage stamps, as well as a handmade craft/card with winter wishes. A Girl Scout Bronze Award project from years ago has continued on with providing sand buckets in winter so seniors won’t slip on their walkways and driveways. These deliveries are always met with much gratitude, almost as much as when the girls deliver Girl Scout cookies to home-bound seniors as part of a gifting program sponsored by the COA&HS.

As a service unit, Lincoln has supported several Silver Award projects, including one that created connections through the local library to make virtual reading buddies, another to build and install colorful benches in the courtyard of Lincoln Mall, and a third that worked with a local synagogue to develop more gender-inclusive spaces and services.

The May 6 ceremony also recognized those who had received awards during prior years. Linda Hammett-Ory, a Lincoln Girl Scout troop leader for 13 years, received the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’ Helen Storrow Heritage Award in June 2021. This award recognizes a registered Girl Scout who recognizes, understands, and practices the values of the Girl Scout mission and has contributed to the growth and strength of GSEMA through philanthropy and efforts to preserve Girl Scout history.

Coughlin will be stepping down as service unit coordinator this summer. Anyone interested in joining a troop, become a troop leader or help coordinate among troops may email lincolngirlscouts01773@gmail.com.

News acorns

L-S students offer tech help

Confounded by your smartphone? Having trouble updating your laptop? Can’t download an app to your tablet? Tech-savvy students from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will be at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, June 1 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. to help with your digital gadget as they earn community service credit. Signup in advance for a time slot is required — call 781-259-8811. Please bring your device and charging cable with you.

Lincoln phone books on sale at library

Lincoln phone directories were recently mailed to all households in Lincoln (for those with small post office boxes, there is a box on one of the counters in the lobby). Additional copies are available for $10 at the Lincoln Public Library circulation desk.

June is Pride Month in Lincoln

At its May 23 meeting, the Select Board voted to issue a statement proclaiming June as Pride Month in Lincoln. The proclamation states that “during Pride and at all other times, we dedicate ourselves to using our voices and our resources to support all residents, students, employees, and visitors to participate fully in the life of our community” and that “we stand with the LGBTQIA+ community to protect their civil rights.” Click here for the full text of the proclamation.

My Turn: More affordable housing will not burden schools

The Lincoln School Committee wishes to make clear to the community that development of affordable family housing in Lincoln will not burden our schools. In fact, just the opposite is true. We welcome more students.

  • We have spaces open in our classrooms. Enrollment has been decreasing for more than a decade and is expected to continue to decrease in communities like ours, not due to increased attrition to private schools, but because of aging populations, declining birth rates, and the high cost of suburban housing.
  • Optimizing enrollment and increasing the diversity of students supports our best educational models. Grade-level middle school teams of subject-specialized teachers need an adequate cohort of students. Greater diversity in every classroom broadens all children’s educational experience.
  • Providing a greater variety of housing options will give the schools — and all town agencies — greater advantage in attracting faculty and staff who may want the opportunity to live in the community where they work.

Approved unanimously by the Lincoln School Committee, May 19, 2022.

John A. MacLachlan, chair
Tara Mitchell, vice chair
Adam Hogue
Kim Mack
Kim Rajdev
Susan Taylor
Laurel Wironen

“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.

My Turn: Residents with late tax bills are being contacted

To the Lincoln community:

We have recently become aware of an issue with several residents failing to receive their second-half 2022 real estate tax bill. We know Lincoln residents are diligent and timely taxpayers, and so when an unprecedented number of residents notified us via phone calls and emails, we began researching the matter. We were able to determine that 191 residents did not receive an original fiscal year 2022 second-half real estate tax bill.

We are taking steps to notify the affected residents and intend to waive all demand fees and interest charges accrued to date for these specific accounts.

Please be assured that this issue was not a result of a failure in our software; however, we have put additional checks and balances in place to reduce the risk of this occurring in the future.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and truly appreciate your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

Krystal Elder, Treasurer/Collector
Colleen Wilkins, Finance Director/Town Accountant

Police log for May 11–18, 2022

May 11

Mount Misery parking lot (11:17 a.m.) — Caller reported a dog loose at Mt. Misery and they put a leash on it. Animal Control was contacted to handle.

Baker Bridge Road (4:06 p.m.) — The Water Department given a message regarding marking a pipe at the property.

Baker Bridge Road (4:46 p.m.) — Caller reported a party asleep in the front seat of a car. Officers checked the area but the vehicle was gone on arrival.

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (5:13 p.m.) — Hanscom Air Force Base called reported a party attempting to get onto base with a warrant. An officer responded but the warrant had been taken care of.

Wheeler Road (6:50 p.m.) — Caller reported their water meter was leaking. Water Department was notified to handle.

Todd Pond Road (8:51 p.m.) — New Hampshire police requested a well-being on a resident. They called back as they had made contact with the resident.

May 12

Lincoln Cemetery (9:40 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station wanted to speak to an officer regarding an incident involving a dog in the cemetery. An officer took a report and spoke to both involved parties, and the Animal Control officer was notified.

Concord Turnpike (4:47 p.m.) — An officer was flagged down regarding an animal control issue in Concord. Concord police were notified.

Thoreau Street, Concord (5:43 p.m.) — Concord Fire Department requested an ambulance for a medical. The Lincoln Fire Department transported a party to Emerson Hospital.

Silver Birch Lane (7:52 p.m.) — Caller complaining of a barking dog. Officer responded but all was quiet.

May 13

Concord Road (7:20 a.m.) — Walden Pond staff reported a party sleeping in a car at the side of the roadway. Officers checked on the party, who did not have an active license. The vehicle was towed and the party was brought to the station to make arrangements for a ride.

Lewis Street (8:02 a.m.) — A party came to the station reporting that counterfeit checks were written in their business’ name. Report taken, investigation ongoing.

Fox Run Road (5:35 p.m.) — A party came into the station reported that their computer had been hacked. An officer took a report and advised them of ways to protect their identity.

Codman Community Farms (8:30 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station dropped off a found item. The owner was contacted and will pick up in the morning.

May 14

Lincoln Road (1:11 p.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious vehicle parked in the lot with a party inside. Officers checked and the party was on their way.

Harvest Circle (10:16 p.m.) — Party called the station reporting that a resident of the facility keeps calling their number looking for the front desk. An officer spoke to the staff and they’re speaking with the resident.

May 15

North Great Road (2:15 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked along the side of the roadway. The party was waiting to meet up with a family member who was getting dropped off.

Pine Ridge Road (5:07 p.m.) — Caller reported taking custody of a dog wandering in the area. Animal Control was notified. Meanwhile, the owner called the station looking for the dog and the two were reunited.

Oak Meadow Road (6:20 p.m.) — Caller reported hearing what sounds like gunshots in the area of the cemetery. Officers checked the area but found nothing.

May 16

Wells Road (5:30 p.m.) — Complex management spoke to an officer regarding juveniles causing a disturbance around the property.

Pine Ridge Road (8:14 p.m.) — The caller from the previous day reported that the same dog was back. The owner was contacted to pick up the dog.

May 17

Bedford Road (4:08 p.m.) — Caller reported someone going door to door soliciting. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the party.

Mill Street (7:10 p.m.) — Caller reported a piece of furniture was moved from their property. Report taken.

Beaver Pond Road (9:43 p.m.) — Caller reported an outside odor of gas. The Fire Department checked the area but found no gas readings.

May 18

Main Street, Concord (12:13 a.m.) — Fire Department responded to Concord to cover one of their stations as they have a fire in town.

Old County Road (9:08 a.m.) — Caller reported a dog wandering in the area. Officers were unable to locate it.

Huckleberry Hill (10:41 a.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious vehicle on the property. Response subsequently canceled; caller said it’s a family member.

Old County Road (1:43 a.m.) — Caller reported finding a dog along the road. An officer responded and contacted Animal Control, who took custody of the dog.

Lincoln Road (2:13 p.m.) — Railroad gates were stuck down. MBTA notified; safety protocols were in place.

Drumlin Farm (7:24 p.m.) — Officer checked on a car in the lot with two people inside. They were all set and on their way.

News acorns

Outdoor watering restrictions now in effect

As of May 1, the Water Department has imposed mandatory Stage 2 restrictions on residential and commercial outdoor watering as required by the Mass Department of Environmental Protection. Agricultural water use is considered “essential” — customers who meet the definition of “farmer” according to Lincoln’s Right to Farm bylaw and Mass. General Laws c.40A § 3 are exempt from water use restrictions.)

Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4
Hand-held wateringAllowed 6pm–9amAllowed 6pm–9amAllowed 6pm–9amAllowed 6pm–9am
Above-ground/
in-ground sprinklers		Allowed 7pm–7amAllowed 2 days a week, 6pm–9am by street address:

• Even house #s:
Tues & Sat

• Odd house #s
Wed & Sun		Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am by street address:

• Even house #s:
Sat only

• Odd house #s:
Sun only		Not allowed
Soaker hosesAllowed any timeAllowed twice a week, 6pm–9am on specified days (see row #2)Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am on specified day (see row #2)Not allowed
Drip irrigationAllowed any timeAllowed twice a week, 6pm–9am on specified days (see row #2)Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am on specified day (see row #2)Allowed once a week, 6pm–9am on specified day (see row #2)
New lawnsAllowed any timeJune & Sept. only: 20 days of daily watering, then 2 days a week, 7pm–7am on specified daysJune & Sept. only: once a week, 7pm–7am on specified dayNot allowed
Washing vehiclesAllowed any timeCommercial services onlyCommercial services onlyCommercial services only
Washing buildings, pavementAllowed any timeNot allowedNot allowedNot allowed
Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, JacuzzisAllowed any timeOne fill per season for new or repaired equipmentTopping off only (3" per month)Topping off or refill not allowed
Car wash fundraisersAllowed any timeAllowed any timeNot allowedNot allowed
Games or toys with continuous waterAllowed any timeAllowed 30 mins/day twice a week on specified days (see row #12)Allowed 30 mins/day once a week on specified day (see row #12)Not allowed

Summer reading challenge gets under way

The library will host a Summer Reading Program kickoff party on Wednesday, June 15 from 3:30–5:30 p.m. There will be ice cream, crafts, tattoos, balloon sculpting, Ed the magician, and more. Summer Reading Challenges and book lists will be available. The event will take place on the library lawn (we will move indoors if the weather is uncooperative). All ages welcome! Call the library at 781-259-8465 ext. 4 for more information.

Juneteenth celebrations

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war was over and the enslaved were finally free. The news was delivered almost three years after the Emancipation Proclamation and the passing of the 13th Amendment.

  • On Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m. via Zoom, Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Associate Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, will offer an overview of the history of the holiday and an exploration of the various ways Black communities have created traditions and cultivated the joy of emancipation and freedom. The program is free and open to all but advance registration is required. Sponsored by Belmont Public Library, Belmont Against Racism, Belmont Council on Aging, and the public libraries of Chelmsford, Lexington, Lincoln, Maynard, Newton, Sherborn, and Wayland. The Lincoln Public Library’s portion of the program is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.
  • The Lincoln METCO Parent Board will host Lincoln’s first annual Juneteenth celebration on Sunday, June 12 from 1-3 p.m. at Codman Field behind the Lincoln School grade 5-8 building. The event, whose theme is “Freedom, Resistance, Power, Strength,” will feature a live DJ and dancing, a bouncy house, face painting, poetry reading, lawn games, face painting, food trucks, vendor tables, and a performance by the Lincoln Public Schools step team. For more information, email lincolnmetcoparentboard@gmail.com.

5K run to benefit Lovelane

Sign up for the annual Susan McDaniel 5K Run for Love sponsored by the Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding program in Lincoln on Sunday, June 12 at 11 a.m. at Weston Town Hall. There will be a “diaper dash” and a kids’ run as well. There will be horses, balloons, games and items for sale.

LGBTQ+ Pride Month events

The Lincoln Public Library will host a virtual LGBTQ+ author panel on Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. via Zoom with Emery Lee, Timothy Janovsky, Katee Robert, and Olivia Waite. Join us for an inside look into the writing process and how the authors connect with the LGBTQ+ community with their  words and stories. Free and open to all but advance registration is required. There will be a second Zoom conversation on “The Impact of Local Authors Writing for the LGBTQ+ Community” with Bren Bataclan, Anna Burke, Federico Erebia, and Jane C. Esther on Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Free and open to all but advance registration is required.

See also the community-wide Pride celebration on Wednesday, June 8 from 1:30–4 p.m. in Pierce Park.

Property sales in April 2022

31 Old Concord Rd. — James Dwyer to 31 Old Concord Rd. LLC for $675,000 (April 15).

16 Todd Pond Rd. — Gabriela Traynor to the Jeannie T. Lee Trust and the 16 Todd Pond Road Realty Trust for $2,875,000 (April 22).