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

News from the Pews

(Editor’s note: Starting today, the Lincoln Squirrel will begin running a periodic roundup of happenings at Lincoln churches compiled by Margit Griffith, Director of Religious Education at the First Parish in Lincoln.)

First Parish in Lincoln (UU/UCC)

4 and 14 Bedford Road, Lincoln

  • Sunday morning worship — Every Sunday at 10 a.m. in person (registration requested; Covid safety required) in the sanctuary at 4 Bedford Road, and via Zoom (see the link on the church’s website). To view previous services, look for the Worship Archive on the website.
  • Religious Exploration —  Every Sunday at 10 a.m. in-person in the Parish House at 14 Bedford Road. This spring’s theme is “Sunday School of Magic and Mystery.” Sunday, March 6: Care of Magical Creatures (what is our responsibility to the creatures of the world?)
  • Ongoing programs (Weekly Meditation, Coffee with the Minister, Quiet Walks, Sacred Texts) — details and links available on the church website.
St. Julia Parish (Catholic)

St. Julia Church, 374 Boston Post Rd., Weston; St. Joseph Church, 142 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln

  • Weekend Mass —Saturday at 4 p.m., Sunday at  8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.  All Masses continue at St. Julia Church in Weston for now but are live-streamed and posted on Facebook and the church website.  
  • Weekday Mass — Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m. at St. Julia Church, Weston
  • Eucharist Adoration —  Every Friday from noon–1pm in St. Julia Church, weather permitting.
  • Faith Formation — Class on Monday, March 7 for grades 1, 2, 3 and 5 (grade 4 will gather on Sunday). No classes on March 13 or March 14.  
  • Lenten Confession and Mass— Beginning on Wednesday, March 9 and continuing every Wednesday evening through April 6, there will be confessions at 5 p.m. followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, Lincoln. 
  • Bible Study— Little Rock Scripture studies will return starting Tuesday, March 1 and run from 9:30–11 a.m. in the Parish Center.  The focus will be on the Book of Revelation. Fr. Bob Braunreuther will lead a study of the four Gospels every Thursday morning in Lent beginning on March 3 from 11 a.m.–noon. Email cmcgarry@stjulia.org for details on either Bible study series.  
  • Small Groups — Returning this Lent. One group will focus on the rich Catholic tradition of prayer forms and will meet on Wednesday evenings in Lent from 7–8:30 p.m. See the bulletin or church website for details.
St. Anne’s in the Fields (Episcopal)

147 Concord Rd., Lincoln

  • Regular 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in-person services are currently suspended due to damage to the building; we are currently holding a Zoom service on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. (see the link on the church’s website). Other programming as available; please see the website.

Town officials marshal arguments against housing rules

In a response to the state’s new multifamily housing guidelines now being drafted, town officials will argue that the requirements are draconian and impracticable for Lincoln.

Lincoln was one of 42 Massachusetts towns designated by the ​​Housing Choice Act (HCA) as “MBTA communities” that will be required to allow 750 units of multifamily housing within half a mile of an MBTA stop (15 units per acre over 50 acres). Towns have until March 31 to give feedback to the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Those that don’t eventually comply risk losing millions in state grants.

Planning Board and SLPAC members met with the Select Board on February 28 to outline their objections to some of the law’s provisions. The most clear-cut issue is that Lincoln was designated as a “bus” rather than a “commuter rail” town. This wouldn’t change the number of multifamily units required, but towns that fall into the commuter rail category have one more year to implement zoning changes, with a deadline of December 31, 2024 rather than 2023.

The housing density required by the HCA would also have a huge impact. Adding 750 units would increase the town’s total number of housing units (excluding those on Hanscom Air Force Base) by 30%, which is “extremely burdensome” for Lincoln and other small towns when considering the effect on schools, public safety, water usage, and infrastructure, said Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie, Director of Planning and Land Use.

Officials from Lincoln and other towns would like to see more flexibility in the zoning requirements. They suggested that the state let Lincoln split the multifamily zones between two areas (those in proximity to the commuter rail station and the MBTA bus stop near Hanscom Field, for example), or rezone a larger piece of land at a lower density, such as 93 acres with eight units per acre. Basing the number of required units on a percentage rather than units per acre would make more sense, they said.

“No one wants to see a 10-story building in Lincoln center. It’s not a project that would fit within the aesthetics and methods of our town, and we are not alone in that belief,” Vaughn-MacKenzie said.

Meanwhile, the train station itself is not ADA-accessible and does not have a platform, shelters or seating, and the schedule and ticket prices do not encourage commuter use. “We have been asking for upgrades for years,” she said. “If you want all of these towns to build more housing near commuter rail stops, then you have to make the MBTA schedule and fares better serve the users.”

Another problem for Lincoln is that much of the land within the half-mile radius of the commuter rail stop is wetlands or land belonging to the Codman Estate and Mass Audubon, while most of the rest is already zoned for some level of commercial and multifamily housing.

The response letter will be signed by the chairs of the Select Board, the Planning Board, SLPAC and the Housing Commission. Many other towns feel the same way as Lincoln does about the new rules and may collaborate in responding to the DCHD. “I think there will be broad statewide support for advocating something different,” Town Manager Tim Higgins said.

News acorns

Workshop offers an education on soil

Join us for “Uncovering Soil: An Intro to the World Beneath Our Feet,” the first class of the Healthy Soils workshop series, on Tuesday, March 8 from 7–8 p.m. This Zoom session will give an academic overview of soil and how it functions as a carbon sink that can help reverse climate change. Soil ecologist and Lincoln resident Rachel Neurath will share her expertise and enthusiasm for this underappreciated ecosystem. The series continues with in-person classes at Codman Farm every few weeks this spring. Click here to register and get the Zoom link. Healthy Soils is a collaboration among the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, Codman Community Farms, and Mothers Out Front.

Three students chosen for music festival

Lincoln School students Shuman Yuan, Henry Hussey, and Luca Lee.

Lincoln School students Henry Hussey (grade 8, violin), Luca Lee (grade 8, cello), and Shuman Yuan (grade 7, violin) were selected through a vigorous audition process to participate in the Massachusetts Music Educators Eastern District Junior Festival at Nobles and Greenough School in Dedham on March 11 and 12. The program is offered as an enrichment opportunity to brings together the top musicians in our schools. Over 900 outstanding music students in grades 7–9 from 30 school districts auditioned with recorded auditions and less than half were accepted. 

“Given these trying times of COVID, in-person music has been difficult if not impossible. Finally this year, our students will at least be able to rehearse in person for a virtual concert performance,” middle school music teacher Karen Sheppard said.

Drumlin Farm’s Pomponi promoted

Renata Pomponi

Mass Audubon has promoted Renata Pomponi to Senior Regional Director – Metro Boston, a new staff leadership position signaling the organization’s commitment to achieving statewide conservation goals including a focus on access to nature for all. Pomponi previously oversaw Mass Audubon’s Metro West properties in Belmont, Concord, Hopkinton, Natick, and Lincoln, where she served as director of Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary for six years. The region she supervises has expanded to include Metro South wildlife sanctuaries Blue Hills Trailside Museum in Milton, Museum of American Bird Art in Canton, Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary in Sharon and Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk. She is also responsible for the development of new Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries and urban greenspaces in Cambridge, Lowell, and Concord.   

Prior to joining Mass Audubon in 2007, Pomponi spent 12 years as a management consultant, specializing in strategic planning. She holds multiple degrees from MIT, including a Ph.D. in Technology Management and Policy. Scott McCue is Mass Audubon’s new Metro West Regional Director.

“On Belonging in Outdoor Spaces” talk

Kareemah Batts

On Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m., Kareemah Batts,  a cancer survivor, paraclimber, a disability advocate, and outdoor enthusiast, will speak about her lived experience and work to co-create a world where diversity is intersectional and accessible. Her talk, “Diversity Is More Than Color,” is part of the “On Belonging in Outdoor Spaces” speaker series on access, inclusion, and connection in nature. Batts will walk us through her journey and demonstrate what happens when the narrative shifts from “you don’t belong here” to “you belong here, you exist, and you matter.” Click here to register.

News acorns

Talk on end of slavery in Mass.

Elizabeth Freeman

In 1781, Elizabeth Freeman, known as “Mum Bett,” successfully sued for her freedom from the bonds of slavery in a pivotal case argued before the Massachusetts courts. That same year, Quock Walker also sued for his freedom and won. The winning argument in both cases was that slavery was unconstitutional under the Massachusetts Constitution. Lincoln resident Ron Chester, a professor at the New England School of Law, will discuss these cases and their importance on Friday, March 4 at 1 p.m. Email gagnea@lincolntown.org to sign up for this Zoom session.

Get ready for Town Meeting and election

The deadline for registering to vote at the March 24 Annual Town Meeting in the newly renovated Donaldson Auditorium and the March 26 town election is Friday, March 4. Click here to check your current registration status. If you need to update your registration to reflect your current Lincoln address, in most cases it can be done quickly online at this link.

The town election has four contested seats: Lincoln School Committee, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Committee, Select Board, and Planning Board. The PTO is planning to hold a candidates’ forum on Wednesday, March 16 (details TBA). Voting will take place in the Reed Gym at the Lincoln School from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents will receive a warrant booklet with a list of all the articles that will be considered and voted on at the Town Meeting as well as the Report of the Finance Committee. If you can’t get to the polls on March 28, you may request an absentee ballot by visiting the Town Clerk’s office clicking here.

T-Ball registration now open

Youth baseball in Lincoln starts with T-ball.  The program is open to boys and girls currently in kindergarten and those starting kindergarten in the fall. Players will meet on various Lincoln fields each Saturday morning from 10–11:30 a.m. The basic mechanics of baseball are taught, and each week features a practice followed by a game. Opening Day is April 30 and the season runs through June 18. Registration and more information can be found at www.sudburybaseball.org, or contact Chris Andrysiak at chris.andrysiak@gmail.com.

Two Lincoln firefighters graduate

Lincoln firefighters James Black and Javier Gonzalez Morales

Lincoln firefighters James Black and Javier Gonzalez Morales are among the 21 newest graduates of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Firefighters Recruit Training Program. After 24 hours of training, they are now qualified as Firefighter I and II and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations Level by the Massachusetts Fire Training Council.

Students receive classroom and hands-on training during controlled fire conditions in life safety, search and rescue, ladder operations, water supply, pump operation, and fire attack operations ranging from mailbox fires to multiple-floor or multiple-room structural fires. Firefighters also train to respond to a variety of non-fire incidents including chemical, environmental, and medical emergencies, rescue situations ranging from a child who’s fallen through the ice to people trapped in stalled elevators or in vehicle crashes. They also test and maintain equipment including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), hydrants, hoses, power tools, etc.

New library reading challenges underway

Through the generosity of the Friends of the Lincoln Library, the Lincoln Public Library is now offering two reading challenges through Beanstack, a free online reading tracking service. Celebrate Women’s History Month in the Women Changemakers Reading Challenge running though March 31 by reading stories of inspirational creators, brave leaders, and bold changemakers. Choose from titles on our Women’s History Month reading list and log your reading to earn badges. Learn more about the town by reading books about the history of Lincoln and fiction and nonfiction by local authors in the Read Local Challenge runs through November 30 (participants can join any time).

Earn badges for each completed title. There will be a prize drawing at the end of each challenge and one lucky participant will be the winner. The more you read, the more likely it will be you. Register online here or download the Beanstack mobile app to get started.

Friends of Lincoln Library seek volunteers

The Friends of the Lincoln Library (FOLL) is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support the library by funding items not included in the town budget — special programs, equipment to make library services and programs more accessible to all, and offerings to encourage lifelong learning. FOLL works to stimulate use of the library and encourage broad-based community involvement in library programs and events. 

Each year at this time, FOLL reaches out to the community to find residents interested in volunteering to support its work and being considered for future openings on the board of directors. Self-nominations are welcome. The FOLL board meets monthly from September to June. Volunteers with various skills are welcome to join us in fundraising projects throughout the year. Anyone interested should email the FOLL Nominating Committee at diana.beaudoin@rcn.com.

My Turn: Carty is running for L-S School Committee

(Editor’s note: Carty is one of three Sudbury candidates vying for two seats on the the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.)

To the editor:

My name is Maura Carty and I am pleased to share that I am running for the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.

I have three children; my oldest is a graduate of L-S, my second is currently an L-S senior, and my youngest is an eighth-grader at Curtis heading to L-S next year. My family has lived in Sudbury for over 20 years. During those years, I have been deeply involved in the community by serving as a board member on many nonprofit organizations. I presently serve on many community boards in leadership positions, including Lincoln-Sudbury Parent Organization and L-S’s Senior Safe Night (formerly known as Jamaica Jammin’). This has afforded me the opportunity to cultivate deep connections with many community members and to gain an understanding of what is important to them. 

So why am I running? Lincoln-Sudbury is an incredible school, and I believe together we can elevate it. I am running to bring a current perspective to the Committee. I am plugged into the community and feel I can make an impact on the lives of students and their families by concentrating efforts on student mental health and academic growth. I look to leverage what I have learned and decisions I have made in my many years of public service to benefit the L-S community and all of its students.

Students have been overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Their academic experience and mental health has been impacted. Collaboration to find safe, appropriate solutions to the complicated issues that arose during the pandemic and are certain to continue as we transition to the next phase of this evolving virus will be key. Our decisions must be made based on science with the needs of students at the forefront. I believe it is the role of the School Committee to ensure both happen.    

I am a dedicated and passionate individual and proud member of the L-S community. I build relationships by listening, asking questions, and embracing different viewpoints to accomplish the best outcomes. I look forward to advocating for all students and helping them advance to their full potential. Together we can make a great place better, and I ask for your support on Monday, March 28th.

Sincerely,

Maura Carty
15 Stonebrook Rd., Sudbury, MA

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to  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: Kevin Matthews seeks reelection to L-S School Committee

(Editor’s note: Matthews is one of three Sudbury candidates vying for two seats on the the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.)

To the editor:

I am excited to be running for re-election for L-S School Committee. It has been an honor and a privilege to have served the communities of Lincoln and Sudbury for the last 12 years. I believe, in that time, I have been able to make a difference. I hope you consider voting for me for the L-S School Committee on Monday, March 28.

As in 2010 when I was first elected, we are again facing uncertain times; this time we are entering a post-pandemic era, with a growing war in Europe and with the economic threat of rising inflation. As before, I promise to provide steady, bold, and reasoned leadership.

As a community of teaching and learning, we must prioritize our mission: the development and education of our communities’ students. It is our public charge to provide the best possible education for all of the students who enter our doors. There is perhaps no mission more important.

We must provide a safe, supportive, and sustainable environment for this period of developmental growth for our students. In order to do so, we need the appropriate resources and responsible financial management, and a faculty and administration who bring educational and administrative excellence. We as a high school and a community need to work together to provide a safe environment and to inspire our children with a sense of grit and optimism toward learning here and in their lives beyond these walls.

We as a school need to remember we serve the community in this role. And in service, we work together with the community, the families of our students, and the taxpayers and always remain sensitive to the needs of the community.

While we have the tools to guide and develop our students, our families depend upon us to heed their concerns and the taxpayers require us to manage their resources responsibly and efficiently.

I promise to serve the community openly, honestly, and always with a sense of urgency. You have entrusted this committee with tremendous responsibility. I hope to earn your trust once again. I ask for your vote on March 28. 

Sincerely,

Kevin Matthews
137 Haynes Rd., Sudbury MA

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to  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: Lincoln needs a Climate Action Plan

(Editor’s note: Climate Action Lincoln gave a presentation at the State of the Town meeting on Nov. 2, 2021).

To the editor:

The global climate crisis has us all wondering what we can do now and for the next generation. The great news is that, as a town, we are not powerless. Lincoln is going to develop a Climate Action Plan that will address climate change on many levels.

Massachusetts is legally committed to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction from 1990 levels by 2030. That means we in Massachusetts must cut our use of fossil fuels by about one-third in eight years — a drastic reduction in the use of natural gas, oil and propane to heat and cool houses, to run our cars, trucks, and buses, and to generate electricity.

For the last year, volunteers from Climate Action Lincoln, a subcommittee of the Green Energy Committee, have been learning about climate plans from our neighboring towns. Lexington, Concord, Carlisle, Weston, Arlington, Cambridge, and Acton have comprehensive plans, and most have Sustainability Managers. We have also met with 12 town boards and committees to hear about their efforts.

While Lincoln has done a lot to protect the environment, become more energy-efficient, and reduce GHG emissions, there is more we can do together as a community.

We are pleased to announce that Jennifer Curtin, Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use, will support our efforts. She is working to secure grant funding for a consultant to lead Lincoln through development of a Climate Action Plan, which will address the interconnected issues of the climate crisis:

  • Electrification with renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions
  • Mitigation and adaptation to climate impacts
  • Ensuring environmental justice and supporting vulnerable populations
  • Safeguarding public health
  • Creating sustainable and resilient infrastructure
  • Protecting and regenerating ecological systems, including back yards, forests, open space, farms, and wetlands

A Climate Action Plan will also coordinate and recommend municipal, commercial, and residential actions. It will address the built environment, transportation, energy production, waste, and land use in Lincoln.

Town-wide participation is critical to developing a Climate Action Plan that will achieve results, not just sit on a shelf or a website. In Lincoln, actions by residents will be crucial to the success of a plan as Lincoln has very small commercial and municipal sectors. The process of developing a plan will include:

  • Visioning — Engagement of all residents and stakeholders in town
  • Data — Energy use, GHG emissions, carbon storage
  • Analysis — Vulnerable populations, housing, infrastructure, transportation
  • Goals — Align with state and federal goals; interpret for residents
  • Implementation — Timelines, accountable parties, measurement
  • Financial implications for the town budget

As the town works to secure funding for the plan, Climate Action Lincoln would like to engage residents. To join our group, receive updates on our progress, or arrange a presentation for your organization, please email ClimateAction@lincolntown.org or reach out to one of our members listed below.

Sincerely,

Climate Action Lincoln
Sue Klem (chair), Roy Harvey, Emily Haslett, Staci Montori, and Lynne Smith

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their 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 February 7–22, 2022

ebruary 7

Carroll School, 3:39 p.m. — Two-car minor vehicle crash, no injuries.

Meadowdam Road, 8:12 p.m. — A family member requested a well-being check. Officers made contact with the party; all was well.

February 8

Hanscom Drive (1:08 p.m.) — Two-car motor vehicle crash, no injuries. Vehicle was towed from the scene.

February 9

Lexington Road (7:40 a.m.) — One-car crash, vehicle struck a sign. Minor damage.

February 10

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (2:47 a.m.) — Officer stopped a vehicle for motor vehicle violations. The operator, Janilson Teles Barbosa, 34, of Brighton was arrested for OUI–liquor, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and marked lane violation. He was later bailed to appear in Concord District Court.

South Great Road (3:49 p.m.) — Elderly resident reported they couldn’t find the keys to their car and believed someone took them. Officer went to the house and spoke to the party; it appears the keys were misplaced.

Lexington Road (10:59 p.m.) — Caller requested assistance with a civil family matter involving a juvenile.

February 11

Trapelo Road (11:11 a.m.) — Alarm company reported a fire alarm at the residence. Fire Department responded and found that the alarm was caused by food on the stove.

Old Concord Road (2:55 p.m.) — Caller reported that two of their dogs ran off.

February 12

South Great Road (1:12 p.m.) — Caller reported being involved in a road rage incident. Officers responded; the incident occurred in Weston. Weston police will follow up.

February 13

Baker Bridge Road (9:05 a.m.) — Caller reported that, while walking their dog on a trail, it ran off to chase a coyote. Officers checked the area for the dog but were unable to locate.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (11:39 a.m.) — Caller reported a strange odor. Fire Department responded to the natural gas site but found no readings of natural gas.

South Great Road (5:49 p.m.) — One-car crash near Mt. Misery. Party was transported to Emerson Hospital and vehicle was towed.

Huckleberry Hill (6:57 p.m.) — A party was involved in a crash in their driveway. No injuries; vehicle was towed.

February 14

Minebrook Road (11:50 a.m.) — Request for a well-being check. Officer made contact and the party was fine.

South Great Road (6:08 p.m.) — Car-vs.-deer crash. No injuries, vehicle was towed.
February 15

Trapelo Road (11:08 a.m.) — Motor vehicle crash that turned out to be in Waltham, whose police handled.

February 16

Lincoln Road (10:46 a.m.) — Caller requested assistance with access to their house as they’re locked out. Fire Department assisted the party.

Old Sudbury Road (11:21 am.) — A walk-in to the station reported an attempted scam involving an advertisement they’d placed. No financial loss.

Trapelo Road (4:52 a.m.) — Officer checked on a party pulled off to the side of the road. They were lost and the officer assisted with giving directions.

Conant Road (5:11 p.m.) — Party reported finding a cat in the area and asked to speak to Animal Control, which followed up.

February 17

South Great Road (9:41 a.m.) — Report of two dogs running in the roadway causing a hazard. Several attempts were made to contact the owner with no results. Animal Control was contacted to pick up the dogs.

Conant Road (5:29 p.m.) — Weston police requested assistance locating a party who was possibly involved in a hit and run crash in their town. Officers made contact with the party and Weston police handled the matter.

Lincoln Road (8:21 p.m.) — Officer checked on a party pull over to the side of the roadway. The party was fine.

Bedford Lane (8:41 p.m.) — Caller reported that their dog was barking and they heard a noise, so they asked that an officer check the area. The area was checked but nothing was found.

Meadowbrook Road (10:11 p.m.) — Caller reported that a vehicle was parked in front of the house for over an hour. Officers checked and it was an EverSource worker.

February 18

Davison Drive (6:03 a.m.) — Officers stood by while federal authorities arrested Julien Toulotte, 23, of Boston on a warrant.

Conant Road (11:03 a.m.) — Officer delivered paperwork to the party from the RMV.

Birchwood Lane (5:00 p.m.) — A party called to report a possible online scam. There was no financial compromise to any of their accounts.

Bedford Road (7:52 p.m.) — AAA reported they’d received a call about a crash on Bedford Road involving a deer. The caller was requesting a tow. Officers checked the length of Bedford Road but found nothing.

Lincoln Road (8:09 a.m.) — Mass. Probation Department reported that a party at the residence had violated probation curfew and a warrant had been issued. The party was no longer living at the address. Waltham police were told of a possible address where he could be; they subsequently reported that the party was in custody.

Lincoln Road (11:04 p.m.) — AAA called saying they’d received a call from a member who was stranded in a parking lot. Officers checked the residence; the party reported that they were fine; the mechanical issue had been resolved and they drove home.

February 19

Nothing of note.

February 20

Lincoln Police Department (6:22 p.m.) — A party from out of state sought a well-being check at a Lincoln residence. The involved parties are not living at the residence.

February 21

Old Cambridge Turnpike (9:30 a.m.) — Caller reported being involved in a civil matter with their landlord. Officer spoke to the party and advised them of their legal options.

South Great Road (10:59 a.m.) — Two-car crash, no injuries.

February 22

South Great Road (11:35 a.m.) — Officer assisted with a funeral escort into town from Weston.

Patterson Road, Hanscom AFB (1:40 p.m.) — A party came to the station requesting a VIN verification to register their vehicle. An officer assisted the party.

Smith Hill Road (2:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.) — Officer attempted to deliver paperwork from the RMV but no one was home.

News acorns

Two events with energy and utilities legislators

MetroWest Climate Solutions will offer a two-part series featuring the Senate and House chairs of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE) at the State House. The committee’s jurisdiction covers a range of issues including cell phones, alternative energy, public utility reform, and carbon pricing. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to hear from some of the state’s most influential legislators on climate legislation. There will be Q&A periods at the end of each program.

  • On Wednesday, March 2 at 7 p.m., State Sen. Mike Barrett and Professor Chris Knittel from the MIT Sloan School of Management will discuss proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this legislative session. Click here to register.
  • On Tuesday, March 15 at 7 p.m., Rep. Jeffrey Roy, House chair of the TUE, and Rep. Alice Peisch will discuss several bills in process including Rep. Roy’s bill, H.4348: An Act Advancing Offshore Wind and Clean Energy. Click here to register.

Kids invited to write for “Tales from the Twisted Tree”

Teens and children age 8 and up are invited to submit a story for the Lincoln Public Library’s upcoming publication, “Tales from the Twisted Tree.” Interested writers should attend the Zoom information session on Saturday, March 5 at 10:30 a.m. to learn more about the library’s one-of-a-kind Catalpa tree and the publishing project (the meeting will be recorded if you can’t make it). Sign up by emailing dleopold@minlib.net and click here to learn more.

Sessions on racism’s costs and health inequities

See a screening of a TED Talk by Heather McGhee as well as an interview by Laura Flanders with McGhee discussing The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together on Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. on Zoom, sponsored by the First Parish in Lincoln’s Racial Justice Advocates. In her book, interview, and TED Talk, McGhee shows not only the cost of racism for everyone — not just people of color — but also offers us a road map for a better future for all. An expert in economic and social policy, McGhee has been applauded for her remarkable data-driven research and her thoughtful interviews with a variety of people and experts. Click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 034126).

Dr. Thea James

Dr. Thea James, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Boston Medical Center/BU School of Medicine, will discuss “Race & Health Equity in Boston: How We Can Achieve Healthy Communities for All” on Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Questions she’ll address include: How did health inequities in Boston arise, and how have they persisted? What are the links with challenges in housing, economic development, and other social issues? How can communities in Greater Boston create effective partnerships to build healthy communities? Hosted by the FPL Racial Justice Advocates and Outreach Committee; cosponsored by the Lincoln Public Library, Lincoln WIDE, and the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Resources. Click here to register.

Reading for Racial and Social Justice book discussions

The Lincoln Public Library’s Reading for Racial Justice group is now Reading for Racial and Social Justice. All sessions will be conducted via Zoom. To receive a Zoom invitation or learn more, email rrapoport@minlib.net. Newcomers are always welcome. The spring schedule is as follows:

Lincolnites rally to the aid of Sudanese woman

A sign over a doorway in the apartment that Lincolnites helped a Sudanese woman rent and decorate.

By Maureen Belt

Everyone’s familiar with the saying “It takes a village to raise a child,” but a local organization is putting a new spin on it.

“It takes a village to resettle a family in Massachusetts,” said Susan Winship, LICSW, who co-founded the South Sudanese Enrichment for Families in 2004, a nonprofit that provides grants to house, educate, and enrich survivors of the “Lost Boys” diaspora and their families. 

The Lost Boys was a humanitarian crisis caused by the Sudanese civil war. More than 20,000 children, most of them boys around eight years old, were driven from their homes and half of them perished. The survivors traversed barefoot for more than 1,000 miles to the safety of Kenya and have since been resettled throughout the world.

Some took refuge in the United States and organizations such as the SSEF sprouted up to provide for their basic needs. Besides helping the children acclimate to the United States, the organization assists with everything from employment and technical skills, summer camp and emergency funding. The program, Winship said, was chugging along beautifully, assisting scores of refugees to comfortably reside in the U.S. — until the housing hit.

Rents in Massachusetts skyrocketed last year. Prospective tenants for a once-affordable bare-minimum two-bedroom unit in Massachusetts were asked to shell out nearly twice the national average, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors. Lofty salaries offered by local technology and biomedical companies fueled the surge and the ability of landlords to discard applications with even the hint of a blemish. Add a prospective tenant with multiple children and a not-so-great credit score, “and you can just hang it up,” said Winship. 

Winship was referring to Mary, a single mother of three school-aged children who became SSEF’s latest success story after clearing the housing hurdle. Mary, whose last name is being withheld because she left a situation where she felt unsafe, is a Sudanese refugee who dreamed of becoming a doctor. She arrived poor in Illinois in the mid-aughts and married another refugee. The marriage was tumultuous and ended. Last year, Mary and the children took further refuge with relatives in Boston. That shelter was short-lived, as one of the relatives expected Mary and the children to live in an unheated attic.

Once on SSEF’s radar, Winship immediately sought safe housing for Mary. Having done this work multiple times, she knew there would be correspondence with landlords, appointments for apartment showings, and detailed applications to fill out, but she presumed Mary and her family would be nicely settled in a month or so. But the housing crisis nearly upended Winship’s plans. Eventually, the situation prompted the SSEF to develop a program focused solely on navigating the housing issue. The plan had three parts:

  • A housing consultant (hired in late 2021)
  • A program encouraging volunteers to co-sign leases for prospective low-income tenants, especially those with weak credit scores
  • A fundraising project where housing recipients embroider dinner napkins at home that are sold through SSEF — an effort that will being an estimated $5,000 a year in additional funds for each family. 

“We are responding to a need, and this is a very big need,” said Winship.

The consultant’s research revealed what Winship had suspected: “Lots and lots of people were housing insecure.” And lots and lots of people would be needed to get through it, hence the “village” reference.

True to Lincoln’s reputation for helping others, more than a dozen residents came to Mary’s aid. Within a few months, the volunteers helped her secure a home and ensured her children would not have to change schools again. They also found suitable furnishings and embellishments such as curtains, posters, shelves and even a refrigerator stocked with fresh food, converting the housing unit into a home. 

But it wasn’t easy.

“It’s not just a bad credit score,” said “Sydney,” a Lincoln resident who volunteered to cosign Mary’s lease and also requested anonymity. “No one really wants to rent to a family that large. Landlords are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of children, but they do, and there’s no way to hold them accountable. The number of kids Mary has seems to be unappealing to most landlords, not to mention she’s a single mom and a Black mom.”

There were other obstructions, she said. Most housing applications are done online, and Mary has few technical skills and very limited reading skills. This is not uncommon among Sudanese refugees, as traditionally the culture relies on oral rather than written communication. Sydney assisted with much of the online work and the women soon found themselves consumed with applications waiting to be filled out. Each unit sought for Mary required a separate application and references. “We applied to so many, and there is no common app,” Sydney said. 

Mary’s income created another obstacle. Employed by an online retailer, she earns $37,000 a year and receives another $10,000 in government assistance. Support from her former spouse disappeared when he quit his job. 

“No one would rent to her,” said Winship. “Landlords want your gross income to be three times your rent.”

Mary could not clear that requirement on her own. Instead, she began falling through bureaucratic cracks. She made too much money to qualify for affordable housing, but she wasn’t poor enough for emergency housing. Then there was her unfortunate credit score, her need for child care while she worked, and other fluctuating expenses such as food and utilities. The uphill task became ever more daunting.

Still, much like the Lost Boys themselves, the Lincoln volunteers soldiered on, and perseverance paid off. A real estate agent in Arlington with a personal connection to the Lost Boys took kindly to Mary. “She said, ‘I’ll help you find a place.’ And, she did,” Sydney recalled. 

Through her networking, the agent connected with the sympathetic landlord of a three-bedroom apartment in Salem. But even after agreeing to lower the rent below market value, however, Mary still did not qualify on her own. Her options narrowed down to the family living out of her car or becoming homeless.

“I said, ‘Forget it, that’s not going to happen,’” Sydney said, and cosigned on the dotted line. 

Mary and her children moved into their new home on February 1. Her Lincoln helpers ensured every room was not only furnished but nicely decorated. The kitchen was stocked with cookware and dishes.

“She was so happy. This family had been in transition for nearly two years,” said an exuberant Winship. “Now they have beds and bedrooms. Before that, it wasn’t like that at all.”

Sydney admits to being nervous about cosigning, especially as they had only known Mary a short time. But they have no regrets. “I feel very happy that I did it,’ they said. “It’s especially important for the kids, for them to have a home. It’s very gratifying in that way.” 

Other organizations that helped SSEF fund Mary’s journey to safety include: