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

My Turn: Mattes asks voters to reelect her as Bemis Trustee

Dear Lincolnites,

I am asking for your vote for my re-election as a Trustee for the Bemis Free Lecture Series.

The Bemis Free Lecture Series began in 1892. It was held in Bemis Hall, which was built by Lincoln entrepreneur George Bemis. It was common for wealthy men of his era to leave a legacy of buildings, and George Bemis was no exception. Not only did he build the hall to be a town office and meeting place, but he also built the second floor to be a lecture and performance space, and he endowed a lecture series.

The lecture series was modeled after the Chautauqua movement of his time, which aimed to bring entertainment and culture to the masses. The Bemis Trust charge for the lectures states that the series was “to bring education and edification to the citizens of Lincoln.” The ordinary folk of Lincoln were to enjoy what previously had been reserved only for a wealthy and elite society. The endowment for the lecture series was doubled in 1982 by the bequest of native son John Todd, and the charge was expanded to include “entertainment and recreation.”

The series has hosted Robert Frost, Archibald Cox, John Kenneth Galbraith, Julie Taymor, Imago Theatre, Grace Paley, Dr. Benjamin Spock, the Steel Band of Blue Hill, Maine, a basketball clinic run by Dave Cowens, Mission: Wolf, Margaret Mead, Julia Glass, Michael Fitzgerald, and many others of great note.

These past two years have proved a serious challenge for an organization that has been known for live events. So, like many others, we pivoted to a webinar format.  In celebration of Juneeteenth, the Bemis Lecture Series and the Lincoln Historical Society hosted a virtual event with Professor Elise Lemire, who grew up in Lincoln and is author of Black Walden: Slavery and Its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts. Dr. Lemire’s presentation was titled: “Slavery in Lincoln: Reckoning with Our Past, Planning for a More Honest and Inclusive Future.” The live discussion was recorded and made available through Lincoln’s online video archive as well as YouTube. The YouTube video has already been viewed by over 670 people. Clearly, the Bemis Free Lecture Series has a wide reach!

We hope to return to live events as early as this summer and look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions, comments, and/or suggestions, please contact me at 781-259-04231 or samattes@gmail.com. Again, I ask for you vote on Monday, March. 28.

Sincerely,

Sara Mattes
71 Conant Rd.

“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

L-S Pops Concert on Thursday

The L-S Music Department presents their annual Pops Concert on Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. The String Orchestra’s program will include “Simple Gifts” arranged by Carrie L. Gruselle and a John Williams trilogy arranged by Calvin Custer. Symphonic Band will perform music from the motion picture “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Chicago: Pop and Rock Legends.” Concert Band will perform highlights from the Disney movie “Moana” as well as selections from “The Best of Journey.” The Treble Choir, Concert Choir, Combined L-S Choirs, and Singing Valentines quartets will perform songs by the Backstreet Boys, Queen, and Disney’s “Tangled.” 

Lincoln-Sudbury Friends of Music (LSFOM) will offer a pops concert-themed goodie bag for sale at the concert, which will air in both Sudbury and Lincoln on Comcast channel 9 / Verizon channel 32 and live-stream here.

Workshop on fostering antiracism in kids

Deep racial disparities persist in our society, and research tells us that children begin to notice and assign meaning to skin color by age 2. This makes racial literacy a critical part of preparing our children to lead lives as engaged, equity-minded problem-solvers in the world.

Geared for White or multiracial parents and caregivers, “ABCs of Racism: Fostering Antiracist Conversation and Action with Kids” on Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. will be led by Wee the People, a Boston-based social justice group, and explores fundamental concepts of systemic racism, the barriers that block us from engaging with kids around race and racism, the social science of race awareness in children, and strategies to start and sustain antiracist and action in school and at home. Sponsored by the Lincoln Public Library. Email dleopold@minlib.net for the Zoom link. 

FELS talk on educational innovation and technology

FELS, the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, will present its annual Faye Goldberg-Scheff Memorial Lecture on Thursday, March 24 at 7 p.m. in the lecture hall at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School.

This year’s talk will focus on the impact of educational innovation and technology on teaching and learning in today’s diverse classroom. The evening will feature panelists who will approach the topics from a wide range of professional perspectives. They will share their thoughts about the challenges and opportunities in education via innovation, interventions, neuroscience, technology, and equity and inclusion that have arisen in the first two decades of this new century and their impacts on teaching and learning. Click here for details on the panelists.

Admission is $10. All proceeds will benefit FELS, a nonprofit organization that awards enrichment grants to L-S faculty and staff to pursue their professional and personal interests and passions.

WWP hosts events on Thoreau video game and Cape Cod walks

The Walden Woods Project will host two upcoming events: “Walden, a Game: A Virtual Experience” on Tuesday, March 29 from 7–8 p.m., and “Six Walks: A Conversation with Ben Shattuck” on Thursday, April 28 from 7–8 p.m.

Developer Tracy Fullerton, director emeritus of the USC Games program, will discuss the evolution and intention of the classroom computer game and provide a brief demonstration of the newest module, “Civil Disobedience.” Educators will speak to their experience using the game in the classroom, followed an audience Q&A. Click here to learn more and register.

With little more than a loaf of bread, brick of cheese, and a notebook, Shattuck set out to retrace Thoreau’s six walks through the Cape’s outer beaches from the elbow to Provincetown’s fingertip. Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau is a resounding tribute to the ways walking in nature can inspire us all. Join us for a reading and conversation about the book with Ben Shattuck, moderated by National Book Award Winner Nathaniel Philbrick. Click here to learn more and register.

My Turn: Vote Hutchinson for Select Board

Fellow Lincolnites: I urge you to cast your vote for Jim Hutchinson for Select Board in the upcoming town election on March 28.

I have served on both the Green Energy Committee and the Water Commission with Jim Hutchinson. When Jim volunteered to join the Water Commission, the Water Department was in dire straits. His expertise in the intricacies of municipal finance was critical as we dealt with the need for substantial capital investment, but equally important was his ability to quickly understand the issues and suggest the best way to tackle each one. After a year of his leadership, the department was back on track.

What really stood out to me, however, was that Jim treats every person with respect. Whether it is a new Water Department superintendent, a disgruntled water customer, a member of the department staff, or one of his fellow committee members, he listens deeply to their concerns and strives to reach consensus on all decisions. Moreover, Jim has no agenda but to do what is best for the town.

I believe that Jim offers just the right expertise and temperament to make an excellent member of the Select Board, and I urge you to vote for him on March 28.

Ruth Ann Hendrickson
Water Commissioner
253 Concord Rd., Lincoln

“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: Flags at half-staff for the late Tom Billings

To Lincoln residents:

The flags on town buildings are at half-staff in recognition of the passing of Tom Billings, a longtime resident and active town volunteer. Tom died suddenly in his Lincoln home on March 9 from cardiac arrest. Kind, modest and intelligent, Tom was much loved and respected in Lincoln and everywhere he went. Almost from the time Tom and his wife Penny moved to Lincoln in 1983, they became involved as volunteers on town boards and committees.

An enthusiastic conservationist, Tom was a member of the Conservation Commission for many years. He later became a Library trustee and served in that role until he was appointed to the bench as a Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court in 2001 and had to step down from other positions he held. Tom retired from the court in 2019. He loved and never tired of Lincoln and its beauty, walking around town almost daily. We are grateful for Tom’s contributions to and influence on our community.

We join with Tom’s many friends in expressing our sympathies to his wife Penny, their son Jamie, and their family. He will be greatly missed.

For the town,

Jonathan Dwyer, Select Board Chair
Tim Higgins, Town Administrator

“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 March 4–10, 2022

March 4

Wells Road (11:46 a.m.) — A walk-in to the station reporting a possible theft of their Social Security deposit. An officer spoke to the party and contacted the bank. The bank reported the funds were in fact deposited.

Police station (3:25 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station reported a party down by the Post Office on crutches looked in need of medical attention. An officer spoke to the party who is not in need of medical attention but needed a ride. The officer assisted the party to their residence.

Wells Road (7:11 p.m.) — Party accidentally called 911 looking for assistance with paying a phone bill. Party advised to contact their provider.

March 5

Langley Road, Hanscom AFB (1:41 p.m.) — Concord police requested a well-being check on a child after an incident that occurred in their town. Officer responded, the child was fine. The parents were advised to follow up with Concord police.

First Parish, Stone Church (3:04 p.m.) — Caller reported a large dog running around the playground and that parents were concerned. Animal Control notified and an officer responded to stand by. Animal Control arrived to get the dog, as did the owner. The owner took control of the dog.

Conant Road (3:40 p.m.) — A party called requesting a well-being check on the residence. Officer responded and spoke to the residents. Everything was fine at the house; the officer followed up with services that can assist them.

Liberty Lane, Hanscom AFB, (6:46 p.m.) —  Officer assisted Hanscom Air Force Base with a missing juvenile. Officers conducted an investigation and safely located the juvenile on March 7 in Hudson, N.H.

Police station (7:27 p.m.) — A party turned in a wallet that was found. The owner was contacted and later came into the station to pick it up.

Lexington Road (9:30 p.m.) — A caller who was out of town reported their neighbor informed them that earlier in the day, a group of people were playing in the snow on their property. An officer checked and no one was at the property.

March 6

Cambridge Turnpike (1:13 a.m.) — Officer reported the gate to the cell tower area was left open. Officer checked and it appears to be neglect.

Lexington Road (4:29 a.m.) — State Police had a driver flee a crash on I-95 in Lexington. Officers checked the area for the party but no contact was made with the individual.

Wells Road (6:50 p.m.) — Party called to report their bicycle was stolen. They later called back and reported the bicycle was found.

March 7

Trapelo Road (2:14 a.m.) — Officer checked on a bicyclist. The party said they’re fine.

Old Sudbury Road (8:29 p.m.) — A party drove onto the railroad tracks at the Old Sudbury Road crossing and got stuck. The MBTA tower was notified. The vehicle was towed and the driver was transported to the Emerson Hospital as a precaution.

March 8

Nothing of note.

March 9

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (7:41 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces called reporting that Jonathan Taveras, 28, of Lawrence was attempting to get on the base and has an active warrant for a restraining order violation out of Salem District Court. Officers responded and arrested Taveras, who was booked and later brought to the Concord District Court.

Concord Road (7:10 p.m.) — Caller reported a car off the road Route 126 near Old Concord. Officer responded and found that a car had slid off the roadway. A plow driver assisted in pulling the car out of the snow embankment. No damage.

March 10

Minuteman Technical High School (9:03 a.m.) — Police were called regarding a juvenile matter.

Lexington Road (11:42 a.m.) — A walk-in to the station reported that their computer was hacked. Report taken; no financial loss at this time. The party was advised of what safeguards to take.

Farrar Road (3:39 p.m.) — Caller reported smoke coming from a house on Farrar Road. Fire Department responded; the smoke is coming from a wood burning stove.

Police Department (4:19 p.m.) — Party walked into the station requesting information on a civil matter. An officer spoke to the party and provided them with their legal options.

Todd Pond Road (5:42 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station asked to speak to an officer about phone calls that were possibly a scam. An officer documented the incident.

My Turn: Vote for Maura Carty for L-S School Committee

To the editor:

It is with great pleasure that I recommend Maura Carty for the position of L-S Regional School Committee member for the Lincoln-Sudbury school system.

I met Maura when our daughters played together for the Lincoln-Sudbury High School girls’ varsity hockey team. This is when I first came to greatly admire her as a person, as well as her unrelenting commitment to volunteering.

Over the time I have known Maura, I have been amazed at her ability to bring people together to work toward a common goal. I continue to witness firsthand her commitment to others through her countless hours volunteering as a team parent. Her hard work and dedication to our girls and their families creates a strong unity and cohesiveness within the group. Our experiences with Maura have shown us that she is an excellent leader who listens and fully considers options before making informed and thoughtful decisions. 

Maura is passionate about our children, our community, and the Lincoln-Sudbury school system. I was thrilled to hear of Maura’s candidacy for this position because she is a person who cares deeply about the quality of education for our children and is someone who will advocate fairly and in the best interest of the students, families, teachers, and administrators in our district.

With her positive energy and enthusiasm, Maura always strives to make a difference and inspires others to make a difference. Her work ethic, along with her organizational, and interpersonal skills, demonstrates that she would make an excellent choice for School Committee member.

I hope this letter will help you get to know my friend Maura Carty better, and that you will give strong consideration to her as I encourage the entire community to join me in support of her candidacy for School Committee. 

Sincerely,

Paula F. Angelini, DPM
14 Old Winter St., Lincoln

“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.

Town Meeting procedures and precautions outlined

For the first time in three years, Lincoln’s Annual Town Meeting will take place indoors. It will start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 26 in the newly renovated Brooks Auditorium. Here are some details about what to expect.

Parking — Parking will be available in the Brooks and Hartwell lots, the modular classroom temporary parking lot, and various roadside spots along Ballfield Road. Spaces closest to the entrance will be reserved for handicap and mobility impaired parking. Public safety staff will be on hand to assist.

Masks — The mask mandate has been lifted, community members are encouraged to wear masks and leave two seats between parties from different households. Officials also encourage residents to test themselves before and after the meeting; the town has free kits available to anyone who would like one.

Seating — Residents are welcome to sit in the gym as well as the auditorium. Those in the gym will be able to view, listen and vote from the gym, but they will not be able to make comments. To comment, they will need to come to a microphone location in the auditorium. 

Making comments and asking questions — There will be standing microphones for people to queue up in the auditorium, as well as handheld microphones that can be passed to those unable to get to a standing microphone. If people would prefer to write their comment down, officials will accommodate that.

Watching remotely — Officials are hoping to have a live feed of the meeting through cable TV and the town website (www.lincolntown.org). They are awaiting new hardware, so if it doesn’t arrive in time, they will stream the meeting on Zoom. In either case, the necessary information will be posted on the Annual Town Meeting webpage.

Those watching from home may not vote or speak. They’re encouraged to submit any questions to the relevant board in advance of the meeting, either at a public meeting or over email.

Food and beverages — The Girl Scouts will provide coffee and breakfast treats that can be consumed in the hallways, gym, or new movement room. Given the new carpeting and fabric seating, only water will be allowed in the auditorium. Lunch will not be provided.

“We want the meeting to run as efficiently as possible in the interest of public health and the time residents are being asked to commit,” said Assistant Town Manager Dan Pereira. “The pandemic forced us to rethink our practices and we’ve developed some strategies (presentations in advance, greater use of the consent calendar, remote viewing) that have led to a better meeting overall. Our goal is to be done by midday, but that will be at the discretion of the moderator.”

Several presentations can be viewed ahead of time on the Annual Town Meeting webpage.

Masks no longer required indoors in Lincoln as of March 14

Masks will no longer be required indoors in Lincoln as of Monday, March 14, and the Lincoln Public Schools will move to a “less masking” policy on the same day.

Wearing masks in the schools and on buses will be optional with the following exceptions. Mask wearing is required/necessary:

  • In nurses’ offices and healthcare settings, per the state Department of Public Health
  • For all individuals in days 6-10 following a positive Covid-19 test result, indoors
  • When directed by a school nurse for health and safety reasons

Mask wearing is strongly recommended for unvaccinated individuals and those with health risks. Everyone is welcome to wear masks at any time, “and a culture of support and acceptance for those continuing to wear masks is the expectation,” according to a March 11 statement form the School Committee.

The schools will continue to monitor Covid-19 cases on a daily basis. “As necessary, we will make decisions about reinstating mask requirements on a classroom, grade, school, or district level in order to minimize or stop potential spread of the virus. Decisions may include a short-term, temporary mask requirement or a longer-term requirement depending upon the circumstances of the positive case rates and distribution of the cases,” the statement said.

After a spike due to the omicron variant in February, the case rate everywhere has dropped substantially. Last week, for the first time since pool testing began at the schools, there were no positive cases.

The Board of Health rescinded the town-wide indoor mask mandate, though they and the DPH recommended that residents with weakened immune systems or at increased risk of severe Covid-19 because of age or medical conditions (or who have a household member at increased risk) continue to wear a mask when indoors other than in their home, even if they’re vaccinated. Private establishments may continue to require masks upon entry.

The board also noted that there are free Covid-19 treatments available that can prevent hospitalizations and reduce the risk of becoming very ill for those who test positive for the virus and have symptoms, or for those at increased risk of severe disease. Treatments now include Paxlovid, an oral antiviral agent that physicians can prescribe. Prevention now includes Evusheld preventive antibody injections for immunocompromised persons.

Public forum on town budget set for March 15

As the March 26 Annual Town Meeting draws near, the Finance Committee will host a virtual Town Budget Q&A on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. (see below for Zoom link). The proposed budget for fiscal 2023 is 3.0% higher than last year’s. A summary can be found on page 8 of the Financial Section and Warrant, with a detailed breakdown beginning on page 57.

All residents have the right to speak at Town Meetings, and FinCom members will respond to comments and questions at that time. However, to keep the Town Meeting as short and focused as possible, the committee hopes to address comments and questions in this virtual Q&A session before the in-person meeting.

The FinCom presented the budget at a public hearing on February 15; click here to watch a recording of that meeting. The budget presentation starts around 30:00. Viewers have the option of using YouTube’s accelerated playback feature to review material quickly. 

Since the warrant was printed, the Finance Committee has deliberated and is recommending an amended budget that adds $200,000 to the cash capital items, and lowers the stabilization fund contribution by the same amount (formerly $1,323,438, now $1,123,438). The $200,000 was requested by the School Building Committee for lighting control systems at the renovated school and is recommended by the Capital Committee. The amount is expected to be fully offset by future proceeds from the sale of the modular classrooms. 

The March 15 Zoom Q&A session will not include the full budget presentation. See the video presentation above and/or review the financial report before the Q&A session. However, the Q&A session will be recorded and posted.

Click here to join the March 15 Q&A on Zoom (meeting ID: 849 2072 7318; password: fincom). Town Meeting will take place on Saturday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. in the newly renovated Brooks Auditorium. All materials, including recorded presentations and slides relating to other warrant articles, are available on the 2022 Annual Town Meeting web page.

Further information on Town Meeting procedures and warrant articles will be published next week in the Lincoln Squirrel.