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

Clarification

The December 17 article headlined “Board tackles vacancies and staff positions, postpones Town Meeting incorrectly noted that it was unclear whether residents will be allowed to vote by absentee ballot in the town election in March 2021. In fact, absentee voting is always allowed for municipal elections in cases where voters will be absent from town during normal polling hours, have a physical disability preventing them from getting to the polls, or religious belief. This year, taking precautions around Covid-19 was included under the “disability” clause of absentee ballot conditions.

“No-excuse” early voting by mail become permissible as a result of the pandemic and was recently extended until March 31, 2021. Early voting in person is not allowed for municipal elections.

Board tackles vacancies and staff positions, postpones Town Meeting

The Board of Selectmen appointed several residents to fill vacancies on boards and in the Planning Department and also voted to postpone the Annual Town Meeting normally held in March.

Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie is the new Director of Planning and Land Use. She has been the acting director since the leave and then departure of Jennifer Burney. The vote came after the Planning Board “voted unanimously and enthusiastically to support Paula in this role,” Planning Board chair Margaret Olson said at the selectmen’s December 14 meeting.

Rachel Drew was confirmed to one of two appointed seats on the Housing Commission. Those seats have five-year terms, while the other three seats are elected on a three-year rotation. Drew succeeds Diana Chirita, who had served on the commission since 2014. The other appointed seat is currently held by Allen Vander Meulen.

Selectmen also spoke with Reanna Wu and Julian Huertas, two of the three candidates to fill a longtime vacancy on the Zoning Board of Appeals. A third candidate, John Carr, was not able to attend the meeting. A second opening is expected soon as a long-time member plans to retire, ZBA Chair David Henken said.

Other appointments made this week were:

  • Community Preservation Committee — John Ottenberg, replacing John Valpey
  • Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee — Robert Domnitz, replacing Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie, who is the new director of Planning and Land Use. Domnitz also served on the Planning Board.
  • Emergency Assistance Fund Committee — Mary Stechschulte, replacing Jane Thomas
  • Pierce House Committee — Peter Braun (replacing Lucia McMahon) and Barbara Peskin (replacing Jean Horne)
Staff positions

Selectmen also heard a proposal to fund two other town employee positions as part of the fiscal 2022 budget. If approved, a part-time position in the Town Clerk’s office will become full-time to help handle the added workload resulting from administering elections (largely due to the advent of early voting) as well as death certificates. That job has required more time since the Care Dimensions Hospice House opened in spring 2018.

The part-time town social worker position was created with grants in 2019, with the understanding that the town would eventually assume the expense once the grants’ funds were exhausted. Social worker Emily Morrison helps residents under age 60, complementing the Council on Aging’s social worker for seniors. The council itself plans to change its name to the Council on Aging and Human Services to reflect its expanding services.

Annual Town Meeting

The 2021 Annual Town Meeting has been postponed to an outdoor May 15 event because of the ongoing pandemic, although the town election will go ahead indoors as planned on March 29.

The change was approved this week by the Board of Selectmen, though there are details that need to be ironed out. Among them: where exactly on the school campus the meeting will take place, given the ongoing school construction project, and what will be on the agenda. in the interest of time efficiency amid the pandemic, last year’s ATM was stripped of some of the usual warrant articles, including votes on several citizens’ petitions.

Also to be determined is whether residents can vote in the town election by absentee ballot, and how to coordinate it with the school’s schedule when classes are in session.

Correction

A December 14 article headlined “Covid-19 cases in Lincoln see rapid increase” incorrectly stated that half of the V-shaped skilled nursing section of The Commons at Lincoln had been converted to a Covid-19 unit. According to Benchmark Senior Living, the skilled nursing neighborhood has isolated Covid-19-positive residents in seven of the area’s 32 rooms rooms with a staff dedicated solely to their care. Also, the staff in the skilled nursing area are tested every three days.

Police log for December 7–14, 2020

December 7

Old Concord Road (9:42 a.m.) — Officer responded to a minor two-car crash; no injuries.

December 8

Mackintosh Lane (9:50 a.m.) — Caller reported that a tree crew was blocking his driveway. Officer responded and spoke to the crew. If anyone needs to come in or out of the road, they’ll move.

Donelan’s Supermarket (12:25 p.m.) — Caller requested Fire Department assistance with opening her car with two dogs inside. Cancelled while end route; caller was able to get the door unlocked.

December 9

Davison Drive (3:43 p.m.) — Caller reported a man in a U-Haul van was going through their mail. Vehicle fled when confronted. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate. Investigation is ongoing.

December 10

Lincoln Road (8:56 a.m.) — A tree crew was taking down marked trees and the caller didn’t want a particular tree taken down. The tree was removed due to its condition and a notice of removal hearing had been on the tree.

December 11

Wells Road (3:52 p.m.) — Lincoln Woods management reported a that vehicle is parked next to the dumpster hasn’t moved for two months. Vehicle belongs to a resident.

December 12

Old Bedford Road (1:44 a.m.) — Officer reported an unoccupied vehicle parked by the loading dock of the building. No one was around and the building was secure.

Wells Road (3:59 p.m.) — Caller reported two kids with backpacks were knocking on doors in the area. Officers checked the area and spoke with two juveniles who denied their involvement. No contact with any other parties.

December 13

Virginia Road (1:18 p.m.) — A resident wanted the Fire Department to do a well-being check on their neighbor who is not feeling well. Neighbor was fine; units cleared.

Sandy Pond Road (3:17 p.m.) — Officer checked on two people at the pumping station. They were sent on their way.

Weston Road (7:57 p.m.) — Officer checked on vehicle pulled over to the side of the road. The party was making deliveries.

December 14

Hanscom Air Force Base Vandenberg Gate (7:25 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a party is at the gate had a warrant. Officer found that the individual has a receipt for the fines paid; they were advised to call the court.

Conant Road (11:30 a.m.) — Caller believed a delivery driver opened their garage door and delivered a package to the wrong residence. The package was taken to the correct residence.

Lexington Road (10:24 p.m.) — Report of loud music playing in Flint’s Field. Officers checked the field and the cemetery but were unable to locate any noise.

Library helps connect far-flung families during pandemic

By Lucy Maulsby

Cathy Moritz reads over Zoom to her great-niece and great-nephew in California.

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed all of us to imagine new ways of doing familiar things, including connecting with friends and family when being together in person is not possible. The Lincoln Public Library has been supporting the community in this effort in a number of novel ways that have stretched well beyond the boundaries of Lincoln to Alabama, California, and even Greece.

Since the start of the pandemic, the librarians have been helping Lincoln residents who are reading virtually to younger family members over Zoom. During the summer months before books were circulating, they recommended books and provided support in setting up and using digital delivery services like Hoopla.

Ruth Ann Hendrickson, for example, is reading to her grandchildren, the youngest of which is 9, in Alabama nearly every day. Earlier in the school year, her grandchildren, no longer as busy with after-school activities and then summer, had time for reading sessions, but their enthusiasm for a good story quickly exhausted her supply of books. Their recent favorites have included R.A. Spratt’s Adventures of Nanny Piggins, Robert McCloskey’s Homer Price, and Ann McCaffery’s Dragon Song.

“I’m enjoying it even more than they are, and they’re loving it!” Hendrickson said.

Cathy Moritz likewise started reading to her great-niece Sylvia and great-nephew Homer, ages 7 and 4, in California last spring shortly after schools closed, when she realized that regular visits would not be possible and that their parents, one of whom works very long hours, needed support. Their appetite for picture books has meant very regular trips to collect books in recent months — sometimes as many as three bags at a time from the library. Children’s librarian Denise Shaver has been especially instrumental in selecting books, focusing on the stories and subjects that interest the children and using those as a bridge to new material.

Even though her young relatives are often busy drawing, sewing, or playing quietly as she reads, Moritz said she’s always “surprised by the intensity with which they listen.” The time she spends reading to Sylvia and Homer has created informal opportunities for conversation, bringing them closer together in a way that might not have been otherwise possible.

In a different vein, Lincoln resident and former library trustee Jenifer Burckett-Picker connected the daughter of a family friend, who was born in Boston and now lives in Greece, with the Lincoln library after their plans to travel Lincoln this summer were canceled as a result of Covid-19 travel restrictions. Erietta, nearly 7, participated in many of the library’s virtual summer programs, including story time, science programs, and virtual trivia. “She had a lot of fun while at the same time staying connected and enhancing her relations with the U.S.,” her mother Maria Kechri wrote. “The creativity and hard work of the people at the Lincoln Library helped to create an ‘open window’ to the world.”

“It’s been really special for us to help patrons during this isolating time in the small way we can — with books,” said Children’s Librarian Debbie Leopold. Indeed, although overall book circulation slowed dramatically after the closure of the library in March, the circulation of children’s books — driven in part by the new ways in which libraries are being used — is now about twice what it was a year ago, with over 4,500 books circulating per month.

As the holiday season approaches, the children’s librarians are putting together winter and holiday Book Bundles, which can be tailored to the interests of young readers, and encourage families to use books as a way to connect with loved ones near and far.

News acorns

McGean recognized by Boston Globe

Tricia McGean

The Boston Globe recently included Tricia McGean, the public health nurse for several towns including Lincoln, in its lineup of 2020 Everyday Heroes: “Tricia Emery McGean spends every day and night, including weekends, trying to keep local communities healthy… She handles contract tracing for local schools, sometimes working overnight to ensure the safety of the community.”

Annual First Day celebration canceled

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Pierce House Committee and manager Victoria Otis have reluctantly decided to cancel this year’s First Day celebration, an annal tradition where residents come together at the Pierce House on New Year’s Day for food, drink and entertainment.

Update from Drumlin Farm food effort

Renata Pomponi

Renata Pomponi, the Wildlife Sanctuary Director at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, provided this update to her article (“My Turn: Drumlin Farm pitches in with produce during pandemic”) on December 3 about the Drumlin Farm Food Donation Program:

Over the course of the 2020 growing season, Drumlin Farm has distributed over 17,000 pounds of veggies and 600 dozen eggs to people in need around eastern Massachusetts. We are grateful to the Lincoln Agricultural Commission for provided funding this summer to allow Drumlin Farm to begin making twice-a-month contributions of produce and eggs to the Lincoln food pantry. The Ogden Codman Trust then stepped forward with a generous grant to allow us to continue the program through the winter, with eggs from our chickens and greens coming soon from our hoop house.

Our hunger relief work in Lincoln has been a true community partnership, and we are honored to be part of making the connections from farm and farmer to those who truly need our food.

The December 3 article has been updated to include this information.

Covid-19 cases in Lincoln see rapid increase

Lincoln’s Covid-19 caseload has shot up recently, with 14 new cases in December thus far.

Thirteen of those cases are at The Commons in Lincoln, Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean told the Board of Selectmen on December 14. One resident there died of Covid-19 on December 13 — the pandemic’s first death in Lincoln since late May.

As of last night’s meeting, the town had recorded a total of 82 cases. Seven more cases have occurred at The Commons but were not counted toward Lincoln’s total because they were temporary rehabilitation patients transferred from facilities or homes in other towns, McGean said. The skilled nursing neighborhood has isolated Covid-19-positive residents in seven of the area’s 32 rooms rooms with a staff dedicated solely to their care, and staff in that portion of The Commons are tested every three days.

At the Lincoln School, which has been doing both five-day-a-week in-person and fully remote instruction, there are four classrooms now in quarantine (two in first grade and one each in second and fourth grade). Everyone in those classes must stay home for 14 days.

“It’s a really important time to stay in your bubble and stay in your household,” including avoiding extended family members who don’t live with you, McGean said. “It’s spreading like wildfire, especially through families, where one parent gets it, then the other, and then all the kids.” Fortunately, most of the Lincolnites who have gotten ill have experienced mild to moderate symptoms, especially aches and severe headaches, she added.

Although vaccines are starting to be distributed to health-care workers and other top-priority segments of the population, the general public won’t have access here until April or May, McGean said. The primary means of vaccine distribution will be through primary care providers and pharmacies. Officials are starting to plan how to vaccinate residents who are unable to get to either of those places.

“We’d love to be in a position to tell residents that [the town] can vaccinate 6,000 people but clearly that’s beyond our capacity,” she said.

News acorns

Youth talent show to benefit Save the Children

To bring the community together in a time of isolation for a good cause, two L-S students are organizing a youth talent show. Performers will be pre-recorded and the show will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. Adults who watch will be asked to make a $10 donation to Save the Children, a nonprofit focused on helping kids impacted by Covid-19. The goal is to raise $1,000. Organizers hope to have prizes for everyone who participates.

To register for free as a performer, email kids4covid.19@gmail.com with your name, age, and talent by Friday, Dec. 11. A few ideas for performers include singing, dancing, instrumentals, group skits, magic tricks, stop-motion, and bike tricks. Click here to donate. All are invited to watch the show; to get the Zoom link, email the address above.

Food drive for St. Vincent de Paul

Residents are encouraged to donate items by Monday, Dec. 14 for a food drive organized by Lincoln resident Devon Das to benefit clients of the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Bring donations to the collection bin to the left of the main entrance to the Smith school building (drive through the bus loop to avoid any construction and please wear a mask). Any nonperishable food is welcome, but here are some specifics of what the food pantry needs:

  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Peanut butter
  • Jam
  • Mayonnaise
  • Baked beans
  • Canned corn
  • Canned peaches
  • Salad dressing
  • Canned tuna

Questions? Email devondas3d@gmail.com.

Boy Scouts selling Christmas trees

Christmas trees are now for sale by Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127 on the corner of Codman and Lincoln Road, across from the public safety building. Tabletop sizes up to eight-foot trees are available along with wreaths. Scouts will trim the trunk, wrap the tree and fasten it to the customer’s cars. The tree lot is open on weekends from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. and most weeknights from 5–7 p.m. Maximum three families at a time in tree lot.

L-S orchestral concert on Dec. 18

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Music Department will present an Orchestral Winter Concert on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. The concert will air in both Sudbury and Lincoln on Comcast channel 9/Verizon channel 32, with a live stream at this link. It will also be available to view on demand a few days after the concert.

L-S Orchestra Cohort A rehearses for the December 18 concert.


Due to COVID restrictions, student musicians were placed into two groups. Cohort A will perform a scene” from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” and “B Rosette” by Su Jin Kim. Cohort B will perform the viola concerto in G major (first and second movements” by G.P. Telemann featuring student soloists Richard Yao and Will Sotiriou, and then themes from the “American Quartet” by Dvorak. Selected movements from “Le Carnaval De Venise” by C. Dancla will also be performed by the L-S Music Violin Ensemble. There will also be video performances from the combined Concert Choir and Treble Choir, Chamber Singers, Guitar Class Level II students, and the combined Symphonic and Concert Bands.

To learn more about the L-S music program and how the community can support L-S musicians, please visit www.lfom.org.

Fridays at Farrington program

Farrington Nature Linc is offering a new Fridays at Farrington program for children from January 15 to February 12 from 2:15–4:15 p.m. Activities (all outdoors and socially distanced with masks) include hiking, art with natural materials, scavenger hunts, exploring around the pond, and more. Registration is open until Friday, Dec. 18. There will be also later series starting in March, April, and May. Click here for more information and registration materials.

Police log for November 30–December 6, 2020

November 30

Deerhaven Road (8:51 a.m.) — Caller reported someone was blowing leaves onto their property. Officer responded and spoke to the reporting party. The issue was unfounded; caller satisfied.

Trees, branches and/or wires down on Page Road (two calls), Trapelo Road, Codman Road, South Great Road, Old County Road, South Great Road, Bedford Road, Woods End Road, Beaver Pond Road, North great Road, Ridge Road- Several reported of trees down as a result of the storm. Eversource, DPW were in town dealing with the trees and wires.

December 1

Baker Bridge Road (1:24 p.m.) — Resident turned in old ammunition to be destroyed.

MassPort Civil Terminal, Hanscom Field (4:33 p.m.) — Fire Department units responding up to Hanscom for an Alert 2 for a plane with control issues coming in and burning off fuel. Fire units staged but then cleared after plane safely landed.

December 2

Brooks Hill Road (3:51 p.m.) — Report of fraud involving unauthorized charges on a party’s credit card.

December 3

Wells Road (12:59 a.m.) — Caller reported a loud vehicle running in the apartment complex. Officer checked the area; vehicle was gone on arrival.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (1:42 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle pulled off to the side of the highway. Everything was OK; a party was being dropped off at a nearby residence.

December 4

Old County Road (7:37 a.m.) — Caller reported that a disabled person walked away from a group home in Waltham and the caller believed they’ve located the party on Old County Road. At the same time, Waltham police reported finding the party in their city. The caller was advised that the missing party was located in Waltham.

Lincoln Police Station (5:44 p.m.) — A party came to the station requesting to speak with an officer regarding clarification on a civil matter.

December 5

Cambridge Turnpike )1:51 a.m.) — Caller reported their electric stove was making an odd sound. Fire Department responded to check. Firefighters unplugged the stove but were unable to determine the cause of the noise.

Old Conant Road (2:03 p.m.) — Caller reported fraudulent charges on their credit card.

North Great Road (4:15 p.m.) — Report of a one-car crash near Sunnyside Lane. No injuries; vehicle towed.

Trees, branches and/or wires down starting at 4:49 p.m. on South Great Road, Tower Road, Sunnyside Lane, Stonehedge Road, Concord Road, Huckleberry Hill. DPW and Eversource responded.

Mill Street (6:30 p.m.) — Lexington police asked Lincoln police to close Mill Street at Lexington Road for traffic entering Lexington due to a large tree across the road in Lexington.

December 6

Wells Road (11:17 a.m.) — Caller asked to speak to an officer for assistance with a family member. Officers responded and assisted the party.

Read the latest Lincoln Chipmunk – and help if you can

The  latest issue of the Lincoln Chipmunk has hit the stands (in the cloud, anyway), so be sure to check out the writing and visual artwork of your fellow Lincolnites:

chipmunk.lincolnsquirrel.com

(Remember, the link to the Chipmunk is always on the top righthand area of every page on the Lincoln Squirrel website.)

If you’d like to have your own work appear in the next issue, the deadline is January 22, 2021 — click here for details.

And now, here’s how you can help. Creating the Lincoln Chipmunk turned out to be a more time-consuming and expensive task than expected, so we’re launching a 30-day fundraising campaign to try to recoup some of the $8,000 cost. As an incentive, you can get some Lincoln Squirrel or Lincoln Chipmunk merchandise as a thank-you for donating at various levels. Click on the image below for details about the campaign and swag.

Even if you don’t donate, have a look at our new store for all your Squirrel/Chipmunk merchandise needs, including clothing, drinkware, stickers, coasters, and of course face masks. Just what you need for that hard-to-shop-for person in your life!

A huge thank-you to everyone who’s supported the Squirrel in various ways over the last eight years, and to those who waited patiently for the successor to the Lincoln Review finally make its debut. And thanks in advance to anyone who’s able to donate to the Lincoln Chipmunk. Happy holidays!

Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel and The Lincoln Chipmunk
lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com
617-710-5542 (mobile)