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

Vigil on Wednesday focuses on immigrant issues

First Parish in Lincoln Rev. Nate Klug, Burt Barachowitz, FPL member Jona Donaldson, and artist Jonathan Barachowitz with the “On the Way” installation.

An installation titled “On the Way” at the First Parish in Lincoln (FPL) will be the focus of a vigil on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 4:30pm.

The temporary art installation was commissioned by four area churches, each of which will host it for a week (it will be in Lincoln until Dec. 15).

According to the FPL, the piece “uses the motif of road signs to draw attention to the issue of immigrant justice. Like so many families living in fear in our country today, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were immigrants who sought refuge in a foreign land (Matthew 2).”

Another Nativity installation along similar lines at a Catholic church in Dedham has stirred controversy. That piece shows the Bethlehem manger with its three human occupants replaced by a sign saying “ICE was here.”

My Turn: Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden won’t run again

By Sarah Cannon Holden

Dear Fellow Lincolnites,

It is time to hand over the gavel. In the past 15 years as your Town Moderator, I have learned a lot and weathered storms. Most important to me is the number of people I have met in this time. I have learned from you, from our extraordinary town staff, and from other town and school employees. I am enriched when I hear various perspectives on our town, and I am regularly reminded of the importance of community in our daily lives. I will not seek re-election in March 2026. This has not been an easy decision as I greatly enjoy the position even with the complexities.

Over the past 18 months I have served on the Town Meeting Study Committee (TMSC) where nine of us have explored the practices, challenges and time commitment of Town Meeting. We conducted a survey with the intent of hearing comments from the town on the process of Town Meeting. We have added clickers for most voting.  We have added a visible countdown clock for public comment. We are discussing a procedure for hearing from groups with alternative views from those presented by the town boards. We are urging increased use of the consent calendar in an effort to move consideration of motions along more efficiently. We have shared our diverse opinions and will submit our report to the Select Board in January.

Town Meeting is where we exercise our right to participate in the final stages of the legislative process of the town, but before that, participation in the early stages of town board and committee deliberations helps us understand the issues and also helps expedite Town Meeting. I will step down after our Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, March 28, 2026. It has been my great privilege and honor to have served the Lincoln community. I would be happy to try to answer questions from anyone who is thinking about running — or who just has some questions for me.

Lincoln’s Town Moderator is elected for a three year term and appoints members to the Finance Committee, the Capital Planning Committee, and the Personnel Board.

May there be peace during this holiday season and into the next year.

Sarah Cannon Holden
Weston Road

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

Police log for Nov. 15–Dec. 3, 2025

November 15

Davison Drive (1:15pm) — A caller reported a suspicious person on their property. The individual was on site performing scheduled landscaping work.

Concord Road (7:19pm) — A caller reported an outdoor fire caused by an overheated battery. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire.

November 16

Wells Road (12:29pm) — A caller reported the odor of gas in a residence. The fire department metered the area but were unable to detect any measurable amounts of natural gas.

Tower Road (2:12pm) — A person spoke with an officer about an ongoing matter.

November 17

Lexington Road (2:29pm) — A construction company struck an underground natural gas tank. The fire department responded and waited until the tank company arrived to stop the venting gas.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (3:32pm) — A caller reported an overdue family member. Officers checked the area, and the family member returned home a short time later.

South Great Road (4:54pm) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Route 126. There were no reported injuries. One of the drivers was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic and both vehicles were towed.

November 18

Round Hill Road (2:42pm) — The fire and police departments responded to a residence for a fully involved vehicle fire. The vehicle was a total loss and there was some damage to a garage. Click here for more information.

November 19

Harvest Circle (3:24pm) — An officer spoke to a person about an interaction with another person.

North Great Road (4:17pm) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the Hanscom Drive intersection. One operator was transported to the hospital for minor injuries and one of the vehicles was towed from the scene.

Canaan Drive (5:04pm) — An officer spoke with a person at the request of an outside agency.

Sunnyside Lane (5:04pm) — An officer spoke with a person about a possible scam.

Bemis Hall (6:41pm) — An officer spoke with staff at the Council on Aging & Human Services about a past incident.

Stratford Way (11:04pm) — A caller reported a vehicle had used their driveway to rapidly reverse directions. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the vehicle.

November 20

Stratford Way (6:27pm) — An officer conducted a follow-up related to a past incident.

November 21

Mary’s Way (8:39am) — A person spoke to an officer about an issue with a neighbor’s dog.

Old Concord Road (12:36pm) — A caller reported their carbon monoxide alarm was sounding. The residence was ventilated by the fire department until their measuring devices registered undetectable levels of carbon monoxide.

North Commons (9:33pm) — A caller reported seeing a vehicle traveling slowly and lingering in the area. An officer spoke to the operator and provided directions to the delivery driver.

Novemer 22

Wells Road (12:05am) — Lincoln police helped Cambridge police locate a possible stolen vehicle outside Lincoln.

Tower Road (12:51pm) — A caller reported a downed utility wire in the roadway. The fire department was able to move it.

Page Road (10:39pm) — An officer responded to the area for vehicles parked in the roadway. The officer directed several drivers to move to a better location.

Huntley Lane (3:48pm) — The fire department responded to a residence for an issue with an oil burner. The residence was vented and an electrician and oil burner service technician were called in.

Old County Road (9:39pm) — Officers responded after a vehicle lost control and struck several objects before coming to rest in the roadway. The operator was cited for a marked lanes violation and the vehicle was towed.

Old Sudbury Road (5:03pm) — Officers helped a resident search the area for a lost dog. The dog was discovered resting in a vehicle a short time later.

Lincoln Road ((3:00pm) — An officer helped a motorist who had run out of gas.

November 23

Horseshoe Lane (11:42am) — A caller asked to speak with the Animal Control Officer about a coyote seen in the area.

Codman Road (12:48pm) — An officer moved a deer carcass off to the side of the road. The DPW was notified.

Canaan Drive (1:07pm) — A caller reported a raccoon in their yard that appeared to be acting strange during the daylight hours. The caller was advised to monitor the situation.

Deer Run Road (6:15pm) — A caller spoke to an officer about a possible stolen phone.

Concord Road (6:27pm) — A caller reported the odor of natural gas outside their residence. The fire department metered the area but were unable to detect any gas.

November 24

Lincoln Road (7:13am) — An officer spoke to a caller about possible illegal dumping.

Bedford Road (2:23pm) — A motorist reported the traffic lights at Route 2 and Bedford Road were malfunctioning. An officer checked the area and observed the lights to be functioning properly without issue.

Page Road (6:10pm) — An officer spoke to a caller about an out-of-state issue.

Millstone Lane (10:34pm) — A caller reported receiving a suspicious item with no identifying information. An officer responded and determined there was nothing suspicious about the item.

November 25

Donelan’s Supermarket (5:26pm) — Officers responded to the mall entrance for a two-vehicle crash. There were no injuries. One of the operators was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic and one of the vehicles was towed from the scene.

Twin Pond Lane (2:43pm) — A caller reported a suspicious person on their property. An officer arrived but was unable to locate anyone in the area.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (7:36pm) — Massachusetts State Police were notified of a dead deer in a travel lane.

November 26

Hilliard Road (12:06am) — A caller reported a strong odor of natural gas inside their residence. The fire department metered the area but were unable to detect any measurable amounts of gas.

Sandy Pond Road (8:38pm) — An officer moved a small branch from the roadway.

Old Sudbury Road (2:49pm) — An officer spoke to a person about a possible fraud.

November 27

South Great Road (8:12pm) — Officers responded to crash at the Route 126 in after a vehicle struck a utility pole. The operator was not injured but was cited for speed and a marked lanes violation.

November 28

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (7:25pm) — Massachusetts State Police were notified of a possible two-vehicle crash that occurred earlier on or near Route 2 by the Lincoln/Concord town line.

Old Concord Road (11:25pm) — Officers spoke to a resident and asked they turn their music down, which they did.

November 29

North Great Road (7:25pm) — A motorist reported striking a deer. There was no damage to the vehicle. An officer located the deer and asked the DPW to remove the deceased animal.

South Great Road (7:53pm) — A caller reported a dead deer on Route 117. An officer located the deer, moved it off the roadway, and notified the DPW.

November 30

Nothing of note.

December 1

Old Concord Road (4:15pm) — The fire department helped a person who had locked their keys in their vehicle.

December 2

Oak Knoll Road (6:18pm) — The fire department and wiring inspector responded to a residence after a tree damaged some electrical lines.

Conant Road (5:56pm) — An officer moved a small tree from the roadway.

Fenway Lane, Hanscom AFB (6:23pm) — An officer helped a person concerning a past incident.

December 3

Bypass Road (4:34pm) — Officers responded for a three-vehicle crash. There were no injuries reported and all vehicles were able to be driven form the scene. One of the drivers was cited for failing to yield.

News acorns

One of the works on view at the library by Diana Rice-Sheahan.

Artist reception

There will be an artist reception with Diana Rice-Sheahan, the exhibiting artist for December in the Lincoln Public Library, on Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 6:00–8:00pm at the library.

Immigrant rights vigil

Four area churches have come together to commission and display “On the Way,” a temporary art installation in the tradition of Christmas nativity scenes that uses the motif of road signs to draw attention to the issue of immigrant justice. Each church will host the installation for one week of Advent accompanied by a vigil as attendees pray and work for more just treatment of immigrants in our midst. The First Parish in Lincoln will hold its “On the Way” Immigration Justice Vigil on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 4:30pm on the sanctuary lawn. Signs welcome (there will be extras). Children welcome. Follow the installation on Instagram here.

Webinar on Charles River proposal

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) recently proposed a plan that would allow sewage to continue to be dumped into the Charles River. At w webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., Charles River Watershed Association Executive Director Emily Norton will explain what the proposed plan entails, why the board MWRA should reject it, and what can be done to influence the board’s vote. Cosponsored by CFREE Lincoln and Green Newton.

Anthony Mrugala, 1934–2025

Anthony Mrugala

Anthony J. “Tony” Mrugala passed away peacefully on November 23, 2025 at the Aberjona Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Winchester.

He was born on March 15, 1934, the son of Antoni and Frances (Sagan) Mrugala. Tony grew up in North Cambridge and throughout his life was very proud of his Polish ancestry. He was predeceased by siblings Jeannette, Ted, Peter, Edward, and Frannie and is survived by two nephews, Ted and Rich Mrugala; Rich’s wife, Doris; a niece, Chris Harmon; and several great-nephews and -nieces.

After earning his Master’s Degree from Boston College, Tony was a guidance counselor for many years before retiring from the Waltham School system.

Like a Renaissance man, Tony pursued a number of passions. The arts — listening to classical music, playing the piano, and creating lovely calligraphy — brought him great joy. He traveled extensively, was an avid skier, and became a ski instructor at Mount Sunapee.

Horses were a central part of Tony’s life. Locals in the Concord and Lincoln area frequently saw him with his horse and carriage carrying people to special events such as wedding receptions in grand style. His was also a familiar face at the local hardware store where he worked part time for a number of years following his retirement.

Services for Tony will be private. The family requests no flowers, but if desired, a donation may be made to a favorite charity. Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. For Tony’s tribute page, click here.

News acorns

Bearing witness

On a cold December 30 evening, about 30 people from Lincoln attended a vigil at the ICE facility in Burlington. It was organized by Lincoln Witness, which noted that the purpose of the vigil was to symbolically “shine a light on the injustices being done at this facility.”

Have some holiday laughs with WordsMove Theater

Lincoln’s WordsMove Theater presents “Holiday Stories You Haven’t Heard,” a series of short, mostly humorous staged readings on Christmas and Hanukkah themes, on two dates in Lincoln:

  • Friday, Dec. 5 at 12:30pm, Bemis Hall
  • Thursday, Dec. 11 at 6:30pm, Lincoln Public Library Tarbell Room

See www.wordsmove.org for play and cast details as well as additional performances in surrounding towns.

Touch of Christmas Fair

The First Parish in Lincoln will host its annual Touch of Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 10:00am–1:00pm in the stone church. Browse decorated wreaths, centerpieces, and other Christmas decorations as well as jewelry from every decade, antiques and collectibles, handmade sweater mittens, stocking stuffers et al at the “re-gifting” table, and a children-only shopping room with free gift wrapping. Santa arrives at 1:00am on a fire truck for photos, and homemade “psalm soup” will be served starting at 11:30.

Musical events at L-S

Cabaret in the Café
Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30pm, L-S Regional High School Café
Enjoy this annual Cabaret Concert in an intimate musical setting featuring a cappella groups, vocal soloists, symphonic and concert jazz ensemble, and jazz combos. Admission is $5. L-S Friends of Music will have snacks and beverages available for sale.

Pops Concert
Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7:30pm, L-S Regional High School Kirshner Auditorium
The L-S Music Department presents their annual Pops Concert featuring the concert and symphonic bands, orchestra, concert choir, and chamber singers. This family-friendly concert is free and open to the public. Concessions will be sold during intermission. The concert will air in both Sudbury and Lincoln on Comcast channel 9/Verizon channel 32 and will livestream here.

Wreath-making at deCordova

Come to a workshop to make a holiday wreath from array of lush evergreen boughs on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2:30-4:00pm inside the deCordova Museum. All materials provided. Click here to purchase tickets.

Read “Common Sense” with Minute Men

Join the Lincoln Minutemen for their next book club event, a discussion of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2:30pm in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. This short pamphlet (c. 50 pages) was first published anonymously in January 1776 and quickly became one of the most widely read and influential texts in the colonies, making the case for independence. It is widely available in libraries, bookstores, and Amazon.com, and you can also listen to it on Hoopla or Audible. 

Coming up from the library

Ompractice: Peace in the Pause with Reggie Hubbard
Sunday, Dec. 7, 7:00-8:30pm (Zoom)
This beginner-friendly class offers space to slow down, breathe deeply, and find balance during one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year. To register, sign up for an Ompractice membership here using your library card. Ompractice provides Lincoln Library patrons access to hundreds of live and on-demand wellness classes.

Craft Supply Swap: Gift Wrapping Edition
Saturday, Dec. 13, 12:30-3:30pm, Reference Room
Do you have gift wrap supplies that you’ve loved for years but are hoping to swap them out for something new? Bring them to the library to swap for new-to-you supplies! Donations are not required to participate. Anything donated should be enough to cover a shoe box, we will not be accepting paper scraps. No registration required.

Chris O’Connor and Mike Bradley of Fortune’s Favor.

Fortune’s Favor at next LOMA

Fortune’s Favor, an acoustic folk duo from New Hampshire (singer/songwriter/guitarists Chris O’Connor and Mike Bradley), will be the headliner at the next Lincoln Open Mic Acoustic (LOMA) on Monday, Dec. 9 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall. LOMA is a monthly open mike night event with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Come and perform (email loma3re@gmail.com to sign up) or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word. Free admission.

Donate gift cards for needy seniors

Each year, the Council on Aging & Human Services visits needy seniors to spread some holiday cheer and offer $10 gift cards to stores such as Market Basket, Walgreens, and CVS. Stop by the “giving tree” in the Bemis Hall lobby to take a specific gift card request to fulfill, or bring a grocery/pharmacy gift card of your choosing. Please have gift card donations in by Friday, Dec. 12.

Boy Scouts selling Christmas trees

Lincoln’s Boy Scouts are selling Christmas trees of various sizes as well as wreaths on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00am–6:00pm across from the police station while supplies last. Be aware that the tree lot may close during heavy rain, and that sales are cash only.

Diane Nockles passes away at 93

Diane Nockles

Diane F. Nockles, 93, beloved mother, friend, teacher, and traveler, passed away peacefully on Nov. 26, 2025.

Born in October 1932 in Boston, Diane grew up with an innate desire to explore, to learn, and to share what she discovered with others. This calling naturally led her to her life’s work as an educator. For over 30 years, she taught and led with uncommon patience and enthusiasm, inspiring countless students not only to master their lessons but to believe in themselves.

A traveler at heart, Diane found joy in discovering new landscapes, cultures, and stories. Whether she was wandering through historic cities, driving through the country’s national parks or simply meeting new people on her journeys, she embraced the world with openness and gratitude. She was also a proud New England Patriots fan, cheering faithfully through every season, celebrating victories, and standing loyal through the tough games.

She is survived by her daughter who will carry forward her spirit of compassion, learning, and adventure. She is preceded in death by her parents.

To know Diane was to witness a life lived with purpose and heart. She will be profoundly missed and forever remembered. 

At her request, no formal services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a children’s charity of your choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. To share a memory or to offer a condolence, click here.

My Turn: Allen offers ideas on strengthening democracy, diminishing partisanship

By Barbara Slayter

On Saturday, Nov. 15, Danielle Allen, a renowned political scientist, professor, author, and activist for democracy, spoke to about 70 Lincoln residents at Bemis Hall on the topic of “Righting the Democratic Ship: Forging a Path for Positive Change.” Allen was the guest of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) at a town hall open to all.

I had anticipated a presentation focusing on current dilemmas of the Democratic Party with strategies and tactics for winning a majority of seats in the U.S. Congress and even possibly capturing the presidency in 2028. No doubt Allen could have provided a host of recommendations and insights, but she chose instead to focus our attention on the big picture — our democracy with a small “d” — in which the electoral system captured by destructive party processes divides us, creates a legislature that doesn’t work, and undermines our capacities to govern ourselves effectively.

The analogy she used to describe America’s malfunctioning political institution is stark. America is like a bear with its paw caught in a trap, being attacked by hungry wolves while a wildfire is raging in the surrounding woods. The trap is our electoral system captured by party processes gone wrong. The wolves represent politicians trying to capture the bear for their own or their party’s gain. The wildfire is the turbulence fueled by globalization, technological transformation, climate change, unprecedented migration, and more.

Why can’t the bear get out of this trap? Allen asserted that the primary system for selecting candidates is at the heart of the problem. According to a recent Gallup poll, 28% of Americans consider themselves Republican, 28% Democrat, and 42% independent. In the context of gerrymandering and low voter turnout for primaries, the candidates of both our major parties are chosen by a small sliver of the population and have an incentive to appeal to their extreme positions rather than to work toward policies addressing the needs of a broad swath of citizens. In other words, 5-10% of the electorate determines the candidates during the primaries. The result is that Congress is totally polarized and can’t get anything done.

Allen offered some ideas for addressing these problems:

  • Abolish party primaries and have one all-party primary in the state, and
  • Lower the barriers to entry to new parties.

She noted that some states including Louisiana, California, Washington, and Alaska are already working on reforming electoral processes, such as having ranked choice voting in the first round of general primary voting. Massachusetts and Oklahoma have coalitions working on ballot initiatives to bring an all-party primary to their state with the two top vote-getters going on to the final round, she said. (Massachusetts is ranked last in democratic practices because we have the lowest primary participation and because 50% of the time there is only one person on the ballot.)

Allen urged us to get involved in this effort. In fact, she recommended that we rebalance our “democracy portfolio,” focusing not only on the candidates and issues of the upcoming elections, but also on the long-term structural problems defined as the trap — the electoral system — and how to escape it.

With that, Allen invited us all to join break-out groups with specific topics to discuss, including questions that will be on the 2026 ballot and policy initiatives that might have bipartisan support. I felt challenged by Professor Allen’s analysis of problems afflicting our beleaguered democracy and glad to be invited to think through some steps toward addressing them through reflection, debate, and analysis.

There were two other speakers as well. Kim Jalet, co-founder of Lincoln Witness, introduced this new Lincoln organization which provides information on immigration policies, as well as advocacy and support on behalf of immigrant communities facing harassment from ICE agents. Lara Sullivan, project manager for Stop Private Jet Expansion (SPJE) at Hanscom and Anywhere, spoke about efforts to protest the proposed expansion of Massport’s Hanscom Field.

For further information about Allen’s work on behalf of strengthening our democracy, both at the state and the national level, see The Renovator, a Substack for all who want to renovate America’s democracy. Allen is a founder of The Renovator.

The LDTC is planning to host two more town halls in the late winter and spring — the first focusing on immigration and due process and the second on health care policies.

Slayter, a Trapelo Road resident, is a member of the LDTC Executive Committee.

“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.

Legal notice: Conservation Commission (116 South Great Rd)

LEGAL NOTICE — CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 7:05PM in accordance with the MA Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This is in response to the duly filed Request for Determination of Applicability by Debra Dellanina for garden and fence installation within the 100-ft Buffer Zone at 116 South Great Road (Parcel 160-20-0).

Information on how to log onto the virtual public meeting will be included in the LCC Agenda posted on the town’s website at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. More information can be reviewed here.

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