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

Obituaries

June 1, 2021

Royce Taylor III

Royce (“Roscoe”) Taylor III, 94 (May 26)

There will be visiting hours on Friday, June 4 from 10:30–12 p.m. and a funeral immediately thereafter at the Joyce Funeral Home (245 Main St., Waltham) for Taylor, who was a former senior vice president of contractor sales at Grossman’s Lumber. Click here for full obituary.

Steven Perlmutter

Steven Perlmutter, 72
(May 24)

Perlmutter was an attorney specializing in voting rights and member of the School Building Committee. Click here for full obituary.

Property sales in April 2021

May 31, 2021

195 Lincoln Rd. — Mitchell D. Schultz to Michael Share and Benjamin Mizell for $1,825,000 (April 8)

140 Lincoln Rd. — Colin Nissan to Salvatore S. Privitera Trust and Doris S. Privitera Trust for $432,000 (April 8)

9 Meadowbrook Rd. — Brian Rogers to Jonathan and Victoria Paly for $1,431,000 (April 15)

34 Farrar Rd. — Brenda Lee Molloy Trust to Michael Leip for $705,000 (April 16)

223 Sandy Pond Rd. — Charles Hadlock to Abjijit Sarkar and Debarati Bhattacharya for $1,200,000 (April 12)

19 Wheeler Rd. — John Dickinson to Christopher and Eileen Pattinson for $2,465,000 (April 28)

72 Birchwood Lane — Elinor White to Ann Odessey and Mark Sandman for $615,000 (April 28)

184 Bedford Rd. — Marcella E. Saunders trust to Benjamin Ivanchenko for $650,000 (April 30)

Lincoln fully reopens after more than a year

May 30, 2021

As of Saturday, May 29, the state and the Town of Lincoln has lifted almost all Covid-19 public health restrictions — so Lincolnites can once again gather mask-free in places many haven’t visited in more than a year.

Massachusetts is on track to meet its goal of vaccinating 4.1 million residents by the first week of June, so all state-mandated COVID protocols will be rescinded, including capacity limits, face covering and social distancing requirements at indoor and outdoor gatherings in the workplace and elsewhere, as explained in Gov. Baker’s May 29 statement. Fully vaccinated individuals will no longer need to wear a mask or social distance indoors or outdoors. Face coverings will still be mandatory on public and private transportation systems (including rideshares and MBTA and commuter rail trains and stations), as well as in healthcare facilities and congregate care settings.

For Lincoln residents, this means some but not all local public health rules are changing.

Town employees will no longer be required to wear masks, socially distance or maintain a daily health log.
Visitors to town buildings and offices will not be required to sign in, wear masks or maintain distance. However, non-vaccinated visitors are asked to wear masks and to maintain distance when visiting town buildings, and guests in Bemis Hall will be asked to wear masks in the basement level for the time being.
People are on the Lincoln or Hanscom School campus and outdoors do not need to wear a mask, but they should maintain their distance from students and staff. Everyone must continue to wear masks during student drop-off and pickup.
Starting June 15, all town boards and committees will return to in-person meetings.
As of June 1, visitors to the Lincoln Public Library do not need to make an appointment to visit or wear masks in the building. Patrons who are not vaccinated should continue to wear a mask and follow all social distancing guidelines.
The library will continue with contactless pickup of borrowed materials through June 13. After that, they resume storing reserves in the reference room for patrons to pick up and check out. For patrons who have concerns about entering the building to retrieve their holds (for example, those who are immunocompromised), the library staff is happy to retrieve reserved items, check them out, and bring them to you in the front vestibule. Please call the library at 781-259-8465 ext. 204 for assistance.
For those who prefer to check out their own materials, bring your smartphone with your digital card on it to use at the self-checkout station, or you can use the Minuteman Library Network mobile app to check out your own materials while browsing. The staff at the circulation desk is also happy to check out any materials. Click here for more details on library policies.

“We are grateful for the thoughtful and responsible way our residents have responded to the challenges of the past year, and for the concern that has been shown for one another throughout. Let’s commit to keeping this generosity of spirit alive as we move beyond the pandemic, so that we build an even tighter sense of community than existed before,” the Lincoln Public Health Team said in a statement.

Police log for May 15–21, 2021

May 25, 2021

May 15

Forester Road, Waltham (7:32 p.m.) — Waltham Fire Department requested a Lincoln to respond for a possible fire but canceled the engine while responding.

North Great Road (9:11 p.m.) — Officer checking on a bicyclist who was having mechanical problems. The officer brought the cyclist to his vehicle in Weston.

Route 128, Lexington (5:21 p.m.) — State police were looking for a woman who fled after being involved in a crash. Officer responded to the area to assist. State Police had the party in custody

May 16

Pierce House (1:02 a.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle pulled into the property, noting that the vehicle had a flat tire and drove off. Officer checked the area and located the party on Weston Rd. The operator called a tow truck.

Trapelo Road (7:40 a.m. and 3:47 p.m.) — People fishing at the reservoir were moved along.

Deerhaven Road (3:13 p.m.) — Caller reported that valuable sneakers were stolen from the residence within the past few months. Investigation ongoing.

Wells Road (4:26 p.m.) — Fire Department assisted the resident who was locked out of their apartment.

May 17

Public Safety Building (12:15 a.m.) — A person walked into the station to charge his cell phone.

Concord Road (1:07 a.m.) — Concord police requested assistance in locating four teens in the area of Walden Pond. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate them.

North Ave., Weston (4:59 a.m.) — Weston police called for assistance with a party who was threatening to harm himself in the parking lot of the gas station. Officers responded to assist, and the person was brought to a local hospital.

Trapelo Road (4:58 p.m.) — Caller reported that someone filed an unemployment claim in their name.

Sandy Pond Road (11:55 p.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle pulled off to the side of the road with no one around. The owner returned to the car and got on their way.

May 18

Lincoln School (10:15 a.m.) — A contractor at the school wanted to speak to a supervisor regarding a contractor looking to do work on the roadway. The shift supervisor spoke to the contractor.

Tracey’s Service Station (2:07 p.m.) — Officer saw an elderly party walking in the hot weather. He was getting work done at the station and the officer drove him home to Mill Street.

Fox Chase Lane, Weston (10:05 p.m.) — Weston police were looking for a dark-colored SUV which was just involved in a burglary in their town. Officers checked the area.

May 19

Sunnyside Lane (10:02 a.m.) — Caller reported his door mat was taken from his home.

Huckleberry Hill (11:43 a.m.) — Officer delivered RMV paperwork to a resident.

Virginia Road (1:12 p.m.) — Caller reported that a garbage truck was involved in a crash on the property. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate.

Adams Road (1:24 p.m.) — Officer delivered court paperwork to a resident.

Donelan’s lot (4:13 p.m.) — Caller reported that a dog was left in a vehicle in the lot. Officers checked the area but the vehicle was gone.

Mill Street (4:49 p.m.) — Caller reported a car was parked on the side of the road. Officers checked and the vehicle was unoccupied. He was unable to make contact with the owner from Lowell.

May 20

Wells Road (9:18 a.m.) — Caller requested a well-being check on a resident. Officer went to the residence and everything was fine.

Concord Road (4:20 p.m.) — Caller reported that a party was opening mailboxes on the roadway. Officers checked the area and located an elderly woman with memory issues. Officer followed up with the caregiver.

May 21

Deerhaven Road (10:23 a.m.) — Caller reported that a vehicle had been parked on the roadway for the past few days. Police spoke to the operator, who was working in the area.

Boyce Farm Road (12:12 p.m.) — Party fell victim to a grandparent scam. Investigation ongoing.

Goose Pond Road (1:53 p.m.) — Caller reported vehicles parked on Goose Pond Road. Officer checked the area but found no violations.

Cerulean Way (4:54 p.m.) — Caller reported receiving mail at his residence addressed to someone else. Investigation ongoing

Deer Run Road (5:54 p.m.) — Caller complained about a vehicle parked on the street. No violations were found.

Morningside Lane (6:37 p.m.) — Caller reported giving his license plate to an ex-girlfriend who has moved out of state and is refusing to return it. An officer spoke to the party involved, who will going to return the plate to the owner.

Ryan Estates (10:28 p.m.) — Caller reported that a dog was continuously barking in the area. Officer spoke to the owner of a new puppy and advised them that it’s bothering the neighbors.

Families of fallen servicemen to receive Medal of Liberty on Monday

May 24, 2021

At a special Memorial Day ceremony in Pierce Park, the Massachusetts Medal of Liberty will be presented to the Gold Star families of 16 service members from Lincoln and Sudbury who were killed in action or died of their wounds in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

The Medal of Liberty ceremony will start in Pierce Park on Monday, May 31 at 9 a.m., followed by the traditional Veterans of Lincoln program in the same location at about 10:30 a.m.

Congresswoman Katherine Clark will lead the ceremony, aided by Sen. Michael Barrett and Rep. Thomas Stanley. Also expected to speak is Steve Milley, father of Scott Milley, a Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School graduate who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010. About 70 families members are expected. Also planned:

Ladder trucks from the Lincoln and Sudbury Fire Departments will hoist the American flag
The Lincoln Minute Men will fire their muskets in salute
The Concord Cannons will fire their two 19th-century bronze cannons
A bugler will play taps

Lincoln Veterans Services Officer Peter Harvell and volunteer military genealogists researched military and Gold Star family records. Lincoln officials, the Council on Aging and Human Services, and Parks and Recreation have all supported development of this ceremony. Other Massachusetts towns such as Framingham, Milford, and Westborough have held similar ceremonies in previous years.

The fallen service members to be honored are:

Army Air Force Cpl. Edmund Barrett (Sudbury) — killed in the Mediterranean in 1942 when his transport ship was sunk.
Army Pfc. Frank Bastinelli (Sudbury) — killed on Guadalcanal on Nov. 22, 1942.
Navy Cmdr. Leland Burr (Lincoln) — a staff watch officer on the transport ship USS Callaway when it was hit by a Japanese plane off the coast of Luzon in January 1945. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for saving several shipmates despite his own injuries.
Marine Pfc. Ernest Flynn (Sudbury) — a Marine killed on Saipan in the South Pacific on July 2, 1944.
Army Pfc. John Fradd (Lincoln) — killed on June 27, 1945 in Mindanao in the Philippines while going to the aid of other soldiers. He was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously.
Army Pfc. Whiton Jackson (Lincoln) — killed at age 18 on Christmas Day 1944 wile serving with the 262nd Infantry in Europe.
Marine Sgt. Thomas Mallery (Sudbury) — a platoon leader who served with the 1st Marine division who was killed at age 22 when he stepped on a land mine in March 1953, about six weeks after arriving in Korea.
Army Pvt. Wilder Marston (Lincoln) — died in a base hospital of wounds received in action in the Airne-Marne offensive in August 1918. He was working on the estate of James Storrow in Lincoln (now the Carroll School) before joining the service.
Marine Cpl. Dominic Panetta (Lincoln) — died on Okinawa on June 21, 1945.
Army Pvt. Leo Quinn (Sudbury) — killed during the Normandy invasion (D-Day) on June 6, 1944.
Army 1st Lt. Richard Rogers (Sudbury) — a paratrooper who died at age 22 from sniper fire in December 1968, one month after arriving in Vietnam for his second tour of duty. Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for administering first aid to wounded soldiers and covering their evacuation.
Army Technical Sgt. Edwin Seeger (Lincoln) — killed in January 1945 at age 20.
Army Pfc. Ray Smith (Sudbury) — killed in Belgium on Nov. 21, 1944.
Army Pfc. Albert Spiller (Sudbury) — killed in Germany on April 10, 1945; his family was notified on V-E Day on May 8, 1945.
Army Petty Officer 3rd Class Harry Williams (Sudbury) — a 19-year-old Navy machinist whose plane crashed in the Pacific on Dec. 15, 1943.
Navy Seaman Second Class Milton Williams (Sudbury) — a radar operator on a destroyer killed in an explosion at sea in January 1944.

Property sales in February and March 2021

May 23, 2021

41B Indian Camp Lane — Ersan Seric to Alicia Googine for $325,298 (March 25)

3 Page Farm Rd. — Steven Wilcox to Monica Grewal and Jeffrey Ruberti for $1,798,000 (March 10)

22 Lincoln Rd. — Ronald McDougald to Lanping Yiu for $1,100,000 (March 5)

46 Todd Pond Rd. — Patricia Warner to Robert and Jill Hanna for $475,000 (March 4)

10 Hawk Hill Rd. — Jane Denholm to Jonathan Bock and Erin Rist for $1,100,000 (March 4)

80 Winter St. — Richard Tatlock to Kecin Worthington for $1,225,000 (March 2)

Two parcels including 145 Weston Rd. — Kevin Mundt Trust to Ruano Cuetos and Karla Gravis for $6,000,000 (February 8)

News acorns

May 21, 2021

George Floyd commemoration on Tuesday

Lincoln School fifth-grader Olin Teksten is organizing a “Layers of Love” commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd on Tuesday, May 25 from 4:30–5:30 p.m. in Pierce Park. Students, families and the community will form a big heart holding cards that will be handed out. The formation will be captured via aerial photo with the help of the Lincoln Fire and Police Departments. There will also be a brief vigil with speakers including children, and nine minutes and 30 seconds of silence to reflect. Anyone who would like to volunteer or has more ideas may email layersoflovelincoln@gmail.com.

Farmer’s market seeks vendors

The Lincoln farmer’s market operated for 30 years by Lindentree Farm will now take place on Saturdays from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Lincoln Station (the grassy area in front of the restaurant) starting Saturday, June 5. Bill Huss and Tom Flint of the Lincoln Lands Farmer’s Market hope to open up the event to more people to get people outdoors after a challenging year and are recruiting vendors. They will help set up your stand at no charge and welcome vendors selling food but also antiques, arts and crafts, books, clothing, or anything creative. Earnings can be kept or given to a local charity, as many opt to do. For more information, email Huss at billhuss53@gmail.com or Flint at the_flint@hotmail.com.

Session on PFAS and drinking water

On Thursday, June 3 at 7 p.m., MetroWest Climate Solutions will host a discussion on PFAS, a class of toxic chemicals found in everyday products and drinking water. For more information and to register for the webinar, visit metrowestclimatesolutions.org.

Speakers will include Dr. Laurel Schaider, senior scientist at the Silent Spring Institute, and Laura Spark, senior policy advocate for Clean Water Action. The session will be moderated by Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts State Director at Clean Water. They will discuss the health problems that PFAS can cause, the products they are typically used in, how they get into drinking water, and how people in MetroWest can try to reduce their exposure. The session will also explore legislation pending in Massachusetts to eliminate PFAS from consumer products such as food packaging.

MetroWest Climate Solutions is a partnership between First Parish in Wayland, First Parish Church in Weston, First Parish in Lincoln, the Congregational Church of Weston, and other communities and individuals. Its mission is to share strategies for moving towards a low- and no-carbon-based society and economy and to suggest activities that enable individuals to help bring about solutions.

DeCordova hopes to add tent for special events

May 20, 2021

An aerial view of the current employee parking area (red arrow in top image) and a drawing of how the deCordova plans to reconfigure the area (click image to enlarge).

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is proposing to reconfigure part of its parking area and walkway to create a new open space for special events.

What is now a two-way driveway between the lower visitor parking lot and the horseshoe-shaped upper employee parking area will become a one-way vehicle-only roadway to be used mainly for deliveries, said Kord Jablonski, the deCordova’s business director. The existing boardwalk will be replaced by a sidewalk and a handicapped-accessible ramp.

Staff will park in the visitors lot and the current staff lot will be “reimagined and reconceived” as an area with crushed stone or pavers in the idle to accommodate a tent for special events in warm weather, Jablonski told the Select Board at their May 10 meeting. There will also be two new seating areas to take in views of Flint’s Pond. Those views have been enhanced by removal of some of the brush, in cooperation with the Conservation and Water Commissions, he noted.

Depending on the outcome of grant applications and town approvals, the work should begin in late September or early October, Jablonski said.

As with similar public-facing organizations, visitation dropped significantly as a result of the pandemic but has bounced back more recently, he told the board. Using timed ticketing, capacity limits and Covid-19 protocols, the sculpture park grounds reopened last May after a fairly brief shutdown, and the indoor museum galleries reopened in October.

In the 12 months ending March 31, 2021, admissions were up by 86% over the previous year. The rise was even more striking for younger visitors; children’s admissions rose by 237% to 28,163, compared to 76,121 for adults (a 60% increase).

The integration of the deCordova with The Trustees of Reservations was completed in November 2019.

Police log for May 8–14, 2021

May 19, 2021

On May 8 and May 9, police stopped bicyclists who ran a stop sign at Five Corners (Weston Road/Sandy Pond Road) and issued verbal warnings. Police also asked people on Trapelo Road who were fishing illegally in the Cambridge Reservoir to move along on May 8, twice on May 9, and May 14.

May 8

Old Winter Street (1:11 a.m.) — Sudbury police requested a well-being check on a Sudbury resident who may be at the Lincoln residence. Officers located the party and followed up with Sudbury police.

Wells Road (10:52 a.m.) — Elderly caller reporting that someone may have been in her house some time the previous night. Officer spoke to the caller and family; the caller is confused.

The Commons (8:37 p.m.) — Caller reported that two people were expected back at 6 p.m. and were overdue. Area police departments were advised. Bedford police located the people a short time later; everything was fine.

May 9

North Commons (12:06 p.m.) — Caller reported a neighbor was trespassing on their property and being menacing. Officer went to speak to all parties. The neighbor was uncooperative. Incident documented.

Winter Street (5:52 p.m.) — Caller reported a baby carriage was left alone near the Waltham line, possibly with a baby inside. Officers checked the area but found no sign of the carriage. Officers later located a party walking a baby; they had left the stroller on the side of the road to look at the reservoir while holding the baby.

May 10

Harvest Circle (2:07 p.m.) — Paperwork from the RMV was delivered to a resident.

Lincoln Road (4:36 p.m.) — Two-car crash on Lincoln Road at Route 117. No injuries, one vehicle towed.

May 11

Lincoln Road (2:15 p.m.) — Officers assisted a party with a civil matter.

North Great Road (5:20 p.m.) — Lexington police reported a person running on Route 2A and appeared to be in some distress is now hitchhiking. Officer checked the area but was unable to locate.

Juniper Ridge Road (9:49p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle was parked on the grass near Bedford Road. Officers checked on the parties but they had left the area.

May 12

Concord Road (10:53 a.m.) — A DPW crew was working on Route 126 south of Route 117 off the roadway and a vehicle sideswiped the truck. No injuries.

Wells Road (12:35 p.m.) — A delivery driver turned in a wallet they found. Police contacted the owner.

Donelan’s Supermarket (2:22 p.m.) — Minor two-car crash in the parking lot. No injuries, officer assisted parties with exchanging information.

Baker Bridge Road (4:10 p.m.) — Caller reported a man walking on the trail with a hunting rifle. Officers checked the area along with Concord police and spoke to several parties who did not see anyone matching the description received.

Lexington Road (6:19 p.m.) — A walk-in at the station reported he was being harassed by his neighbors. Report taken.

May 13

North Commons (9:11 p.m.) — Caller reported that their neighbor was banging on their wall. Officers report the banging had stopped, and they took a report.

May 14

Trapelo Road (8:21 am.) — Caller reported hitting a gas line while clearing brush. Fire Department and National Grid responded.

Conant Road (12:23 p.m.) — Caller reported finding a bullet in her garden while she was weeding. Officer responded and found it was a tip to a bow and arrow. The tip was discarded.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (12:41 p.m.) — Officer on a detail received a report of a person riding their bicycle on Route 2 at the Concord line. Concord and State Police notified. Officer checked the Lincoln side but couldn’t locate the cyclist.

Codman Road (2:30 p.m.) — Party reported an uncomfortable interaction with a party known to them. Officers spoke to the parties involved; no criminal activity.

Care Dimensions Hospice House (11:15 p.m.) — Officer assisted Concord police with an investigation involving a patient for something that occurred in Concord.