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

My Turn: Statement from officials on schools and Covid-19

By 12 Lincoln and Sudbury officials*

For our children, teachers, and community, please take the pledge to prevent Covid-19.

We all are eager for a safe and healthy 2020-2021 school year. To make this happen, we must work together and be vigilant, every day, to ensure there is minimal community spread of Covid-19. For our schools to open and remain open, it is critical that we prioritize the health and safety of our teachers, students, administrators, and families. The best way to educate our children, support families, and reopen our economy is for each one of us to pledge to take all necessary steps to prevent Covid-19 exposure and spread so that we eradicate this dangerous virus.

We ask all residents, local businesses, and visitors to prioritize safe school reopenings and the health and wellbeing of your neighbors in all your decisions. Throughout August, please continue to stop the spread by practicing healthy hygiene and social distancing, avoiding travel to hotspots, wearing face coverings, limiting the size of groups and large group activities, and getting tested if you suspect exposure. Please make sure your family members, your employees, and you know how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and that you follow Centers for Disease Control and Mass. Department of Health guidelines.

We are all painfully aware that new Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are increasing across the U.S., and many school districts are moving to fully remote learning because of high community transmission. While Massachusetts has made great strides and Lincoln and Sudbury have kept case numbers low, our progress is fragile, and we remain at risk.

Our collective decisions in August and throughout the school year will determine whether Covid-19 spreads throughout our communities and whether our schools can stay open. Our combined future is in our collective hands. The health and safety of our teachers and administrators, our town employees, our children, our families, and our patrons and visitors depend on all of us. Thank you for consistently doing your part.

* This statement is by the Lincoln, Lincoln-Sudbury, and Sudbury School Committees and Superintendents, Select Boards, the Lincoln Town Administrator and Sudbury Town Manager, the Lincoln Public Health Nurse, and the Sudbury Board of Health. The original signed document can be seen here.

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents 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.

Fix for town water problem expected by next summer

Testing has again shown that Lincoln water contains excessive levels of a certain contaminant, though the level is just over the maximum and work will soon begin on a system to solve the problem permanently.

In an unrelated development, the Water Commission has restricted nonessential outdoor watering to one day a week, down from the previous two (see related story).

For several years, especially during the summer months, routine testing has shown levels of disinfection by-products called total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) above acceptable levels for drinking water. Tests in the second quarter of 2020 revealed levels of 81.9 parts per billion (ppb) while the standard is 80 ppb. The water is safe to drink, but consumption of excessive TTHMs in drinking water over many years may increase the risk of certain types of cancer and cause other adverse effects in some people. The state Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the town to fix the issue.

TTHMs are created when the chlorine (a required disinfectant) reacts with organic material in the water from Flint’s Pond. The level of organic content of the water is now twice what it was when the water treatment plant was designed. That material comes from dissolved plant matter and algae in the pond, and warmer weather accelerates the process, so global warming may be causing the slow increase in recent years. “We can only speculate,” Water Commission member Ruth Ann Hendrickson said last week.

Another possible contributing factor, she said: the water level in Flint’s Pond was very high for a time after the dam that holds back the water was deliberately heightened when Water Department Superintendent Mary Beth Wiser ordered workers to add more boards to the top of the dam some time in 2019.

“That raised the level of the pond and may have pulled decades of leaf mold into the water,” Hendrickson said last week. In fact, the water rose so much that it crept close to the pump house and also began seeping under the dam, which was upgraded in 2017. It’s unclear why Wiser had the water level raised. “I haven’t been able to get a straight story,” Hendrickson said when interviewed for an October 2019 story on the problems at the Water Department.

The department’s consultants recently completed a pilot study to evaluate options for removing the TTHMs, and they submitted their report on August 5 to the DEP, which is expected to approve the plan within three months. Knowing that the project was coming, the town approved $330,000 in bonding in late 2018 for design and installation and treatment equipment.

The DEP originally wanted the town to install a system to add chloramine to the water, but Wiser and consultants Tata and Howard “thought that wasn’t the right solution,” partly because it was more expensive and requires adding more chemicals than the other two alternatives studied, Hendrickson said.

Instead, the system will cause coagulation in  the water, which will make the particles of organic matter stick together in clumps that are large enough to be caught by the filters. The new equipment will be “squeezed into the antique building” close to the pond that also houses the pumping equipment and should be operational by next summer, she said.

Outdoor watering now limited to once a week

Residents on town water must now limit non-essential outdoor watering to one day a week because of this summer’s drought conditions, though agricultural watering is exempt from these restrictions.

After above-normal temperatures in July and early August and more than three months of below-normal rainfall, state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides declared a Level 2 – Significant Drought in all seven regions of the Commonwealth. Lincoln’s Water Commission subsequently voted to move to Stage 3 drought restrictions as specified in the town’s Drought Management Plan.

Lincoln water customers may water established lawns and landscaping on their assigned day using in-ground irrigation systems or hose-mounted sprinklers between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Those with even-numbered street addresses may water on Saturdays and odd-numbered addresses on Sundays. Hand-watering using a hose is allowed any day of the week between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.

Exceptions for new lawns are allowed only during June and September and will be limited to watering during the first 20 days after installation. In addition, swimming pools may be filled no more than three inches per month, and car washing is prohibited.

People with home gardens must follow the residential restrictions for non-essential watering, since hand-watering should be sufficient. Those who officially qualify as farmers, however, are allowed to water as needed. This includes customers who have been approved for agricultural water rates and those whose property meets the definition of “farm” as outlined in the town’s agricultural zoning bylaws.

The Water Department will issue warnings and potentially fines to customers who violate the watering restrictions.

Police log for August 13–18, 2020

August 13

Walden Street, Concord (10:51 a.m.) — Fire Department sent an engine to Concord to cover their station while Concord firefighters were at a fire in their town.

August 14

Lexington Road (4:35 p.m.) — Caller reported a large tree limb was on the primary wires. Eversource was notified.

August 15

Lincoln School (12:39 a.m.) — Officer conducting a site check of the school complex came across a party in a vehicle whose registration was revoked due to insurance. The vehicle was towed from the school complex and the party was advised to re-register and insure the vehicle (no criminal citation issued).

Hillside Road (11:45 a.m.) — A party came to the station to turn in elderly family member’s firearms to be destroyed.

South Great Road (12:25 p.m.) — A minor two-car crash at Codman Road. Officer assisted the parties with exchanging paperwork; the crash was not investigated.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (2:49 p.m.) — Motor vehicle crash on Rte. 2 westbound before Bedford Road. Crash investigated by state police; no injuries.

Trapelo Road (5:19 p.m.) — Caller reported a fox in their yard. Fox doesn’t appear to be sick or aggressive but caller wanted it removed. Police explained that they can’t remove it and suggested they call the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

August 16

Codman Road (9:02 a.m.) — Caller reported an odor of natural gas. Fire Department checked and asked National Grid to respond.

Hanscom Air Force Base, Vandenberg gate (10:34 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a party coming onto the base who had a non-bailable arrest warrant. Police arrested Bryan Jemmott, 65, of Hull on a charge of assault and battery on a person over age 60.

Concord Road (4:08 p.m.) — A bicyclist was stopped for driving through the red light. Warning given.

South Great Road (4:41 p.m.) — A party came to the station to report an individual sitting near the railroad tracks near the Tower Road crossing. Officers checked the area and located the party; they spoke to the person and they’re all set.

Tower Road (6:37 p.m.) — Caller reported a fire in the oven and they can’t put it out. Fire Department responded to handle.

Goose Pond Road (9:53 p.m.) — Caller reported seeing a car driving down Goose Pond Road the previous night around 1 a.m. They were advised to call back when they see any suspicious activity.

August 17

Chestnut Circle (3:46 p.m.) — Meals on Wheels requested a check on the party who wasn’t answering the door. An officer responded and confirmed that the resident wasn’t home.

Wells Road — Caller reported that her son was harassed at work. Report taken and investigation is being conducted.

August 18

Old Conant Road (12:02 pm.) — Caller reported a tree down across the roadway. Officer responded and contacted the DPW, which opened the road 10 minutes later.

South Great Road (3:05 p.m.) — Caller reported that a bat hissed at them while they were walking on a trail on Mt. Misery.

Fox Run Road, Concord — Concord police who were busy with another incident asked a Lincoln officer to check on a burglar alarm. Officer checked and all is secure.

Winter Street (3:30 p.m.) — Caller reported seeing a vehicle expelling water on Winter Street near the Waltham line over the past three to five years. Caller was not in the area and was advised to call again when he sees it occur.

My Turn: Lincoln educators have questions and concerns

(Editor’s note: This letter comes a week after educators expressed concerns at the August 13 School Committee meeting — click here to read the story.)

By the Lincoln Educators Association’s Community Action Team

As you’ve heard at School Committee meetings and parent forums, Lincoln educators are eager for a safe and healthy return to school. However, a majority of the membership has expressed concerns over the number of unresolved details that would make our schools run smoothly and safely. The purpose of this letter is to share our open questions with the community in order to be transparent about the work that is left to be done and to illustrate the level of care that we are putting into ensuring our schools will operate safely for faculty and students. The Lincoln educators feel these concerns must be addressed in order to be confident about going back in-person.

We’ve compiled this list that reflects issues we’ve raised in various settings — publicly and in our working groups. We want to acknowledge that the administration is already working hard to provide answers to many of these concerns. We are deeply appreciative of their work, but we are also concerned that the list is too long and the time is too short for all these areas to be addressed. We want to ensure that everything is in place in order for staff to provide the best climate in which to welcome students and begin the year.

Therefore, the Lincoln educators want to find solutions and work together as a community on the complicated task of returning to school this fall. Following DESE’s recommendation, we already have a phased-in approach that begins with ten days prior to students’ starting school for staff to have time to prepare a robust, structured, consistent, learning plan. It provides time for teachers, special education service providers, and support staff to collaborate and plan for synchronous learning, differentiation, and interventions.

In addition, we are working to create building-based working groups composed of members and building administrators. These groups will work between now and August 31 to clarify additional important details.

Finally, the Lincoln Educators Association voted to propose a “soft opening” plan, and we are now in conversations with the administration to develop this idea. The purpose is to provide teachers the time to orient families to new school procedures, gradually practice and run iterations of these procedures, test out learning model structures, and troubleshoot any challenges that arise. Doing so without everyone in the building would ensure that by the time all students are in the building, families, students, and teachers are confident we can be successful with all routines.

As Lincoln educators, we look forward to returning to school with a transparent, detailed, agreed-upon plan that addresses the health and safety measures, helps to ensure a solid social emotional environment for faculty and students, and promotes an appropriate instructional atmosphere. We know that reopening our schools presents challenges for everyone — families, students, staff, administration, and School Committee members. Together, we can work through these challenges and support one another to create a positive learning experience for our students. We ask that the community support the Lincoln Educators Association in meeting these goals.

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents 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.

My Turn: On the centennial of the 19th Amendment

By Donald Hafner

In November 1915, the men of Massachusetts trekked to the polls to decide whether the word “male” should be removed from the state’s qualifications for voting. The Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association in mid-October had staged a pro-suffrage parade in downtown Boston, with 15,000 marchers and 30 bands, urging a “Yes” vote. A parade of 15,000. Yet according to the Massachusetts Anti-Suffrage Committee, what men should do was deliver “not merely a defeat for woman suffrage, but a defeat so overwhelming that the question will not rise again at least in this generation.”

The men of the town of Lincoln in 1915 took the advice and voted against suffrage for women, 143 to 66 — an even larger rejection than the overall vote in Massachusetts. The Anti-Suffrage Committee asserted that most women did not, in fact, want the right to vote. Given the opportunity, women seemingly ignored it.

In 1879, when women in Massachusetts had been granted the vote for members of their local school committees, fewer than 5% of eligible Massachusetts women registered to vote, and only 2% ever voted. In Lincoln, three women promptly registered to vote, but only one went to the polls.

Women argued that the right to vote for male school board members (only men could hold public office) was too trivial for the bother. Yet in 1895, when Massachusetts women were allowed to vote in a referendum granting women the vote for all local offices, only 7% of eligible women in the state registered to vote and only 4% went to the polls. The 1895 referendum was overwhelmingly defeated by men. In Lincoln, only five women were registered to vote in the referendum, and only three cast ballots — all “Yes” votes.

At the turn of the 20th century, more women in Lincoln registered to vote, perhaps from interest in the local school committee, perhaps just to make a point. Still, by 1919, there were 285 Lincoln women eligible to vote, yet only 40 had registered.

Then on August 28, 1920 — ten days after ratification of the 19th Amendment — 71 Lincoln women flocked to the town clerk’s office to register for their first Presidential election. Impressive, but still only 25% of those women eligible. The anti-suffrage message — that the woman’s place was in the home, not in politics — still had a powerful grip.

On the centennial of the 19th Amendment, one hundred years of slow progress — and more to come.

*    *    *

Donald Hafner is a member of the board of the Lincoln Historical Society and drum major for the Lincoln Minute Men. He is a retired professor of political science who loves exploring the rich history of the town of Lincoln.

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents 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.

News acorns

LFA event for new or soon-to-be parents

The Lincoln Family Association invites new and expecting parents to a virtual meetup on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m. Please RSVP to carolinemfiore@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link.

How to vote in the upcoming primary

There are three ways to vote in the September 1 primary:

  1. Vote by mail — Request a ballot by returning the postcard you received. That single postcard allows you to vote in both the primary and the general election. The deadline to submit a vote by mail using the prepaid envelope provided is Wednesday, Aug. 26. Voters may also drop completed ballots in the black mailbox at the front entrance of Town Hall. The town must receive ballot by close of polls on September 1. If you misplaced your postcard, you can request a vote-by-mail ballot by filling out this form, printing it and mailing it back to the address on the form
  1.  Early voting in person — Come to Town Hall to vote at any of these times:
    • Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
    • August 24–28 from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (open until 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27)
  1. Voting at the polls on Election Day — Polls will be open on Tuesday, Sept 1 in the Smith Gym on Ballfield Road from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. 

To register to vote or check your status as a voter, you can go to this Secretary of the Commonwealth web page. Anyone with questions, may call the Town Clerk’s office at 781-259-2607.

Outdoor Mass in Pierce Park

St. Julia Parish will offer outdoor Mass on the lawn (or under the tent in case of rain) on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 a.m. No reservations required. Please bring a blanket or chair and masks for attendees age 5 and up, as social distancing protocols apply. Parking is at the rear of the house or on the property on Weston Road.

Farrington Nature Linc hosts events for kids and adults

Farrington Nature Linc, a Lincoln nonprofit dedicated to connecting under-resourced children to the natural world, will host the following end-of-summer events:

End of Summer Virtual Glow Dance Party — Saturday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Get your glow on with a live set from DJ Alison, glow-in-the-dark activities and games, and a special appearance by our goat friends. Click here to register.

Herbal Cocktails Virtual Happy Hour — Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
This online workshop led by Jenny Hauf from Muddy River Herbals will introduce participants to making and growing their own cocktails. You’ll come away knowing how to make a mojito, simple syrup, and blueberry pine shrub. Jenny will also discuss alcohol-free options so you can treat everyone in your life to a beautifully crafted drink. Click here to purchase tickets.

Garden Club opens online shop

The Lincoln Garden Club has opened an online garden shop to help support its mission. Inventory includes house plants and shrubs, metal plant stands, gardening books, and more, all donated by a former Lincoln neighbor. Click here for details. Because the club was unable to have our usual biennial perennial plant sale in May, they will be having one in 2021 (in person if circumstances allow) to celebrate spring.

Free library delivery for the homebound

The Lincoln Public Library offers weekly home delivery on Tuesdays for Lincoln residents who are unable to visit the library due to special needs, illness, or disability, thanks to a program offered by the Friends of the Lincoln Library. A Friends volunteer can deliver up to six items to a home at one time, including books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, and two-week new releases. To request materials, use the Minuteman online catalog or call the library (781-259-8465 x204) to request either specific items or general selections (for example, “please send me five mysteries by women authors”).

When the library calls or emails to indicate your items are available, let them know you would like to have them delivered. They will arrange a safe way to deliver your items based on your particular situation. The volunteer will also call on delivery day to make sure someone is home. Items to be returned will be picked up when deliveries are made. Questions? Contact the Reference Department at 781-259-8465 x204 or linref@minlib.net.

New transfer station/commuter lot stickers required

The Town of Lincoln is combining transfer station and commuter lot resident stickers into a single sticker affixed to car windshields. They will become effective on September 1 and are good for one year. To obtain a sticker, complete the application online by clicking here or go to the Department of Public Works on Lewis Street. The free stickers will be mailed upon receipt of the completed application. Any resident who does not have a new sticker by November 1, 2020 may be refused access to the transfer station or commuter lot.

Moderate-income condo for sale

A three-bedroom, 1,420-square-foot moderate-income condo unit in Battle Road Farm is now being offered to “ineligible” households, meaning those that do not meet the income and asset requirements for affordable housing. The purchase price is $321,200 and is being offered in a first-come, first-served basis, meaning that the first qualified applicant with a completed application will be eligible to purchase the unit. Click here for details, and contact Lara Plaskon at the Regional Housing Services Office with any questions or to submit an application:

Lara Plaskon, Regional Housing Services Office
37 Knox Trail
Acton, MA 01720
978-287-1092 or 978-639-3387
info@rhsohousing.org

 

 

Seniors enjoy Dash ‘n Dine lunches

Pitching in for Dash ‘n Dine were (left to right) Carolyn Bottum, former COA director; Tim Higgins, town administrator; Abigail Butt, COA director; and Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s public health nurse.

The Council on Aging held their first Dash ’n Dine event on August 13 at Lincoln Station. Seniors signed up in advance to pick up a box lunch created by Real restaurant and sponsored by Deaconess Abundant Life Services and The Commons in Lincoln.

COA Director Abigail Butt greeted seniors and checked off participants in a specially marked drive-through lane. Over 100 box lunches were given out directly from Real’s restaurant refrigerator because of the extreme heat (over 90 degrees).

Seniors were happy to receive their meals and enjoyed seeing COA staff along with recently retired director Carolyn Bottum Carolyn Bottum, Public Health Nurse Patricia McGean (Town Nurse), and Town Administrator Tim Higgins. Organizers thank everyone who participated and a special thank you to Lincoln Police Officer Peter Roach, who kept everyone safe during traffic detail.

Santa Cotoni, 1921–2020

Santa Cotoni

Santa G. (Messina) Cotoni, 99, a longtime Lincoln resident, died at home while surrounded by her loving family on August 14. She was the beloved wife for 61 years of the late Joseph D. Cotoni, Sr., who died in 2003.  

Cotoni was born on February 23, 1921, the daughter of the late Vincent and Josephine (DiDomenico) Messina. She grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School, then settled in Lincoln after marrying Joe. She devoted her life to raising her family and assisting in the operation of the family farm in Lincoln. She was a parishioner at St. Joseph Church, and in her later years, resided at the Ryan Estate in Lincoln.  

She leaves behind her children, Joseph Cotoni, Jr. and his late wife Sandi of Wayland, Arthur Cotoni and his wife Penny of Lincoln, and Dianne Mola and her husband Emilio of Shirley, as well as eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Several siblings also predeceased her. 

Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Dee Funeral Home (27 Bedford St. Concord). Her graveside service will be held at 12:45 p.m. in Lincoln Cemetery on Lexington Road, Lincoln. All attendees are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Lincoln Firefighters Association, P.O. Box 19, Lincoln, MA 01773. Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

My Turn: Watch the Democratic National Convention this week

By Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter

It’s the week of the Democratic National Convention, and we Dems are very excited. On Monday night, we heard from Democratic leaders such as Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders, and Amy Klobuchar, as well as Republican leaders including John Kasich.

On Tuesday night, voters, delegates, activists and leaders in the Democratic Party will officially cast votes to nominate Joe Biden. Wednesday night will feature the historic nomination of Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States. Speakers will include Nancy Pilosi, Elizabeth Warren, and Gabrielle Giffords.

On Thursday, Joe Biden will accept the Democratic nomination and will speak about his vision for uniting America. Other speakers will include Senators Corey Booker, Tammy Baldwin, and Tammy Duckworth. The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) will perform. 

For the complete schedule and news about the Lincoln Democratic Party, see our website at www.Lincolnmadems.org. The convention will be broadcast TV on several channels on computers, streaming video and on the website at demconvention/watch. 

Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter
Co-chairs, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents 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.