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

My Turn: Many thanks for the awning

By Christine Brandt
St. Vincent de Paul Visitor Co-Chair

The members of the St. Vincent de Paul Lincoln/Weston Food Pantry wish to acknowledge the generous donation of a handsome awning by Lincoln resident Chris Knollmeyer. Chris not only provided the awning, but also took care of its installation.

Chris Knollmeyer and food pantry chair Karen Boyce under the new awning.

Due to the pandemic, all of our food distribution had to be moved outside because we were simply too small to accommodate social distancing within the confines of the pantry. Once the very hot weather arrived, and with the occasional summer rainstorm, we realized the need for some protection for clients and volunteers standing outside during distribution.

As he has done frequently since the pantry expansion, Chris stepped in to provide exactly what was needed. We are grateful to all of our benefactors, and during this heatwave, especially to Chris and his employees.

“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 Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Lincoln teachers worried about in-person instruction

As schools in Lincoln gear up to restart next month, several teachers and staff expressed concerns about infection risks of teaching students in person.

The teachers spoke at the August 13 School Committee meeting where administrators unveiled the results of a survey that asked parents to select either all-remote or fully in-person instruction to start the school year on September 16. The state cut the 180-day school year requirement back to 170 to give schools more time to prepare before classes start.

About 80 percent of teachers in Lincoln would prefer to start the school year fully remote and not in person, said Matt Reed, co-president of the Lincoln Educators Association. In contrast, 77 percent of parents in the new survey said they would like to see fully in-person classes, vs. 21% advocating fully remote.

The same survey revealed a mix of sentiments among faculty, with a plurality (36%) preferring a remote assignment, 22% preferring fully in-person, and 16% expressing no preference. Thirty-three percent of instructional support staff said they had no preference, while 31% preferred fully in-person work and 16% preferred remote.

In an earlier survey, 53% of families said their first choice was fully in-person learning with safety protocols and 20% said fully remote learning, while 25% preferred one of several hybrid options.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has urged school districts to hold classes in person if possible, though they must also offer remote instruction for those with medical vulnerabilities or simply prefer not to attend, even with classroom social distancing, mandatory masks for students, and other Covid-19 precautions. Some towns are also offering a third hybrid option, with some days in person and other days remote.

Every Massachusetts district is wrestling with the decision about what to do. The Wayland School Committee recently voted to begin the school year fully remote. The Concord and Concord-Carlisle districts are still debating which options to offer, though Concord educators have urged their school committee to consider starting the school year remotely. Teachers in Sudbury held a “day of action” at three locations on August 13, hours before the town’s school committee was scheduled to meet, with a flyer saying “Only When It’s Safe — Students First.”

As required by the state, Lincoln submitted a detailed reopening plan earlier this month outlining health and safety precautions, scheduling, and more. The Lincoln teachers’ expression of concern “is in no way a reflection of dissatisfaction with [the school administration’s] work or the plans they submitted to DESE,” Reed said at the August 13 meeting. “It’s the unknowingness that gives many people pause, and teachers want to feel fully prepared.”

“We are worried for our own health, the health of our students, and their families,” both physical and mental, said Lincoln School fifth-grade teacher Joe Colombo, referring to the “stress and anxiety every time a mask slips off someone’s face or someone sneezes.”

“Many teachers have begun to wonder if [the advantages] of the in-person model can actually be fully realized,” said Lincoln School kindergarten teacher Michael Chin. “We’re not choosing between remote and in person; we’re choosing between remote compared to a shell of what in-person learning used to be before Covid-19.”

“How often will I need to remind our first-graders about picking their nose, wiggling a loose tooth, or sucking a thumb?” said Lincoln School teacher Rachel Goldner, lamenting having to fight the “urge to connect and communicate… with a reassuring hand on a child’s shoulder or a hug,” or having morning meeting not in a circle but with “kids in various corners of the room unable to see other children’s smiles and frowns.”

She also touched on the “mind-boggling number of logistics that still need to be ironed out” with regard to things including snack and lunch time, policing recess, student arrivals and departures, after-school activities, and a likely shortage of substitute teachers.

Other teachers worried about safety protocols surrounding toileting and general cleanliness for preK children, evaluating and working with special education students, and making the frequent arrival of new Hanscom students feel welcome.

“Just because we can be fully in-person at the beginning of the school year, should we?” mused Hanscom Middle School fifth-grade teacher Erin Dotson.

“We know there’s a lot of detail still to be worked out,” Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall said. Under the Family First Coronavirus Act, teachers are eligible for paid leave if they or a family member gets sick.

Another big issue is staffing. “If we’re fully remote, we won’t be able to do what we did in the spring and keep people on the payroll — we will have to furlough people,” McFall said.

“Without medical data showing we should absolutely not bring kids back to school, it’s difficult for me to say we should go fully remote,” she said. “I have to follow the guidance of the governor and the Commissioner of Education, and what families say they want and need.”

Lincoln schools are not offering a hybrid option because they have the space to allow fully-in person instruction even with social distancing. “We didn’t see that a hybrid model has that much more benefit,” since all students will still be in the building at various times, and teachers would have two cohorts of students at different parts of the week,” McFall said. “It’s a hard, hard place for us all to be right now, but I think we’ve provided the right options for folks.”

Lincoln youths turn to summertime service

It’s summer, and teens and kids have time on their hands — and several of them in Lincoln are using their time for nonprofit and charity projects.

Pushing against the tide of breast cancer

Zoe Borden (left) and Laura Diamond at a previous Against the Tide event.

Zoe Borden, a rising high school freshman, will be participating virtually in her third year of Against the Tide events on August 15 and September 19 by completing one-mile recreational swims to benefit the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC). She was encouraged to participate by her physical therapist, Laura Diamond, who co-founded Against the Tide 28 years ago.

Diamond has been working for years with Borden, who has nemaline myopathy, a rare condition that causes generalized muscle weakness, and the water has helped her immensely. “A couple of years ago, [Laura] mentioned that perhaps one day I could participate in the swim with her,” she said. “It was an amazing challenge for me and one that I felt strongly about when she brought it up. In the beginning of training, a mile felt so daunting, but she always made me feel like I could do it. Now, after a lot of hard work and effort, I’m swimming a mile every week.”

Borden also feels a personal connection to MBCC. “I’m swimming for my aunt who is a survivor of breast cancer and because I believe in MBCC’s mission. Their work is so important because they understand the environmental factors that cause cancer and put a focus on prevention, not just treating the disease after it becomes a problem.”

To donate to the MBCC in Borden’s name, click here.

Helping young voters navigate elections

Chris Harrison

Hamilton College sophomore Chris Harrison was increasingly frustrated by the political polarization in America and wished there was a way to make information about elections and voting easier for young people to access and understand. He wanted to empower those who, like himself, felt strongly about the fate of the nation but were turned off by traditional political coverage — which, he feels, tends to focus on drama and scandals rather than who would be the best person to lead.

With this goal in mind, Harrison taught himself how to code, designed a website, and enlisted two friends (fellow Lincolnite Cole Volpe and Miles Munkacy of Chestnut Hill) to gather material about candidates in the the upcoming presidential and Massachusetts elections and make the website a reality. Impact Change USA (www.impactchangeusa.com) has information in short, easy-to-understand segments on the candidates in the upcoming presidential and Massachusetts elections. For each candidate, the site gives an overall summary and then short summaries of their stances and actions on up to 11 relevant issues.  

“The energy and political involvement I’ve seen from a lot of my friends in the recent weeks and months inspired me to start this project,” Harrison said. “It made me realize the impact that our generation can have on the way our country is run. My hope for Impact Change is that it will help make political involvement — particularly voting — easier for other young people so that we can play a larger role in deciding our future.” The next step is to get other young people involved so they can fill in information on the other 49 states.

Flowers for food pantry

Kyla Roush with the produce she’s selling to benefit the town’s food pantry.

Katryn Roush and her five-year-old daughter Kyla Roush are selling fresh flowers, tomatoes, and herbs at the end of their driveway at 30 Old Sudbury Rd., with all proceeds going to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Lincoln and Weston.

“I wanted to support Kyla’s need to feel helpful and connected to others,” Katryn Roush said. “We’ve bought groceries for the food pantry with her in the past, and she had a lot of questions about people needing food in our community.”

The sales idea was “a combination of wanting her to see how she could help out other families, and to have gratitude. Kyla also wants to see other people, which is rare in these days of Covid-19. She feels proud. We’ve already raised over $100 for the food pantry,” Roush said on August 11.

My Turn: We have 10 years

Dear Lincoln residents,

We have ten years. Ten years to save the people and places we love from the climate crisis. The Green New Deal is the plan to make this happen and 2021 is critical for passing and implementing the necessary legislation at the federal level.

That’s why we’re asking you to vote for Ed Markey in the Massachusetts Senate Democratic primary.

Sen. Ed Markey is the co-author of the Green New Deal and has been a fierce advocate for environmental and climate justice throughout his time in office. We need his experience, his policy expertise, and his unwavering dedication in the Senate to ensure environmental justice and stability for all.

Sen. Markey has proven himself to be a powerful and dedicated advocate for the needs of the people of Massachusetts. He is a strong progressive leader with bold new ideas who will continue to fight for us and for future generations if we re-elect him.

For more information, go to www.edmarkey.com/vote. Vote early by mail or in person on Tuesday, September 1.

With gratitude,

[lgc_column grid=”50″ tablet_grid=”50″ mobile_grid=”100″ last=”false”]
Trish O’Hagan & Alex Chatfield
Emily & Tom Haslett
Candace Pearson
Staci Montori & John Bordiuk
Lucy Chatfield
Elizabeth Cherniak
Barbara Slayter
Audrey Kalmus
Rory Bordiuk
Ilana Wind Newell
Laura Berland
Alvin Schmertzler
Joan Kimball
John RH Kimball
Nancy & Jim Fleming
Jackie Lenth & Andy Falender
Paul Shorb
Sarah Cannon Holden
Lynne Smith & Ed Lang
Gail Alden
Marie Alden
Nolan Watts
Jeff Eaton
[/lgc_column]Cathie Bitter
Nina Carmel
Elizabeth Graver
Christina Thompson
Barbara Leggat
Dave Levington
Marlene Major
Jennie Morris
Lucy Bergeron
Fan Watkinson
David Urion
Deborah Choate
Tim Barclay
Rachel Mason
Heather Ring
Michelle Barnes
Gwyn Loud
Susan & Bill Stason
Lorraine Fiore
Andrew Glass
Margaret L. McLaughlin
Jerry Gechter
Jean Welsh

”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.

Police log for week of July 20, 3030

July 30

Wells Road (9:05 a.m.) — Board of Health requested a check of the residence after receiving a complaint about a nail business being operated out of the house. Officers attempted to make contact but were unsuccessful in raising anyone. The Board of Health is going to follow up with the complainant and reach out if further assistance is needed.

Lexington Road (3:10 p.m.) — Court paperwork served to a resident.

Village Road, Weston (4:26 p.m.) — A Lincoln ambulance was requested at a residence in Weston for a medical emergency.

July 31

Tower Road (6:33 a.m.) — Caller reported a tree down involving wires. Officer requested Verizon to respond as it’s their line.

Hanscom Air Force Base Vandenberg Gate (8:59 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces requested assistance with a party who had drugs in their commercial vehicle. Officers responded and found that the party had a prescription.

Tower Road (10:57 a.m.) — DPW requested an officer to assist with traffic for a tree down.

Bedford Road (1:15 p.m.) — Caller reported two horses trotting I guess through the Five Corners intersection. Officers responded; the horses were located and brought back to their stable on Beaver Pond Road.

August 1

Mayflower Road, Hanscom Air Force Base (6:02 p.m.) — Officers assisted a party with a civil matter and stood by while personal belongings were gathered.

Wells Road (1:41 p.m.) — Party called looking to get in contact with the resident. Officers made contact and the resident will reach out to the party.

Lincoln Police Department (3:37 p.m.) — Caller had questions about gathering sizes and social distancing. They were referred to the Board of Health.

August 3

Lincoln Town Hall (9:20 a.m.) — A resident at town hall who fell victim to a scam requested an officer. Report taken.

Codman Community Farms (9:42 a.m.) — A party left the farm without paying for a couple dozen eggs. Contact made with the party and she’s returning to the farm with the money; stated it was a misunderstanding.

Baker Bridge Road (2:21 p.m.) — Caller reported a tree down on Baker Bridge Road. Officer checked the area and was unable to locate.

Concord Road — Party reported having a civil issue with her landlord. Report taken; party advised of her legal options.

August 4

(There were many calls relating to Tropical Storm Isaias that down trees and power lines; click here for details.)

Concord Road (5:36 p.m.) — Caller requested a well-being check on a family member. Officers contacted the resident and advised them to make contact with the caller.

South Commons (9:00 a.m.) — Caller requested a well being check of a family member who abruptly left the residence. Contact was made with the party and everything was OK.

Bedford Road (8:02 p.m.) — Caller reported a tree on fire due to contact with power lines. Police and fire units responded and Eversource was contacted. Fire was extinguished by Fire Department.

Lincoln Police Department (8:17 p.m.) — Caller inquired about consequences of gatherings with 30+ people. They were advised to contact the Board of Health.

Old Conant Road (8:32 a.m.) — Caller reported an odor of electrical burning in the residence. Fire Department responded and turned off power to the building; Eversource was contacted to respond.

Weston Road (9:03 p.m.) — Caller requested information on contacting Eversource.

Conant Road (10:03 p.m.) — Caller requested information on when Eversource would restore power, due to vulnerable resident. No ETA was available from Eversource. Party declined assistance and was advised to call back if the situation changed.

Greenridge Lane (10:08 p.m.) — Caller reported wires tangled up in a car and wasn’t sure if anyone was inside the vehicle. Officer responded and reported that Eversource was working in the area and no one was in the car.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (11:32 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle fire on Rte. 2 near Concord town line. Fire Department reported that the vehicle was fully involved. Lincoln officers and state police assisted with traffic. Fire Department put the fire out and the car was later towed from the scene.

August 5

Horseshoe Lane (1:33 a.m.) — Westborough police received a call but the caller was not speaking. They pinged the phone to Horseshoe Lane and they could hear an alarm in the background. Officers checked the area and spoke to a resident, who heard nothing. Unable to make contact with the caller.

Recent Covid-19 cases in the area skewing younger

The latest numbers for Covid-19 cases in the area. (Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health)

After several weeks of holding steady, Lincoln saw three new cases of Covid-19 in the first week of August, but none of them are at The Commons, where many of the town’s cases appeared earlier in the pandemic.

“Currently, there is a trend of much younger ages testing positive, which I’m seeing in all four towns I cover,” said Tricia McGean, who is the public health nurse responsible for tracking and reporting cases for Lincoln, Concord, Carlisle, and Maynard.

Many of the newer cases are in people in their late teens and early 20s. “Generally, their symptoms are less severe than in older adults, and some are totally asymptomatic but got tested because they were identified as a close contact,” meaning they’d been within 6 feet of a Covid-positive person for for 15 minutes or more, McGean said. “Many of these are traced to graduation parties and social gatherings. My time spent on case management and contract tracing as exponentially increased over the last few weeks.”

Lincoln has not had a death from Covid-19 since late May. All seven deaths in town since the pandemic began were residents of The Commons.

Police log for week of July 23, 2020

July 23

Hanscom Air Force Base (8:26 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces called reporting a party at Gate 1 with a warrant for failing to appear for jury duty. Officer responded and advised the party to contact Lowell District Court.

Concord Road (12:52 p.m.) — Concord police reported receiving a 911 call about a party stealing a license plate from a vehicle at Walden Pond. Suspect left in a gray Chevy Equinox. Lincoln officer stopped a car matching that description a short time later on Rte. 2 eastbound. Massachusetts State Police responded to handle the situation.

Goose Pond Road (12:56 p.m.) — Caller reported lightning struck a tree on Sandy Pond Road at Goose Pond Road. Fire Department responded; reported no damage or safety issue with the tree.

Lincoln Town Hall (3:46 p.m.) — Caller requested information on Covid-19 testing. They were directed to the Board of Health.

Lincoln Police Department (9:39 p.m.) — Walk-in reported he was unable to locate his wife who went out for a walk. Officers checked the area located her on Lincoln Road near Ballfield Road.

July 24

Stonehedge Road (5:44 p.m.) — Caller reported she found a white male on her property and when she spoke to him, he began to ask questions about work that she ordered. She informed the party that she didn’t order any work and he took some photos and left the area in a vehicle. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate.

Lincoln Road (1:37 a.m.) — Railroad gates stuck down. MBTA was contacted.

July 25

Todd Pond Road (2:02 p.m.) — Caller requested a well-being check on a family member who was recently released from the hospital. Officers checked the residence and no one was home; caller updated.

Lincoln Police Department (9:45 p.m.) — Sudbury police called requesting identification on a party in regard to an investigation. Detective Spencer handled.

July 26

Wheeler Road (2:19 a.m.) — Caller reported their son was overdue returning home. While officer was en route, caller reported their son had just returned home and was fine.

Walden Street, Concord (12:17 p.m.) — Concord Fire Department requested for a water rescue at Walden Pond. Units were cleared a short time after arriving on scene.
North Commons (8:20 p.m.) — Caller reported her husband who has Alzheimer’s disease was missing. Caller was advised that there was a party at the Concord police station fitting his description and officers confirmed it was her husband.

Concord Road (9:16 p.m.) — Car crashed into a tree; driver suffered minor injuries and wires down on the ground. The road was closed while crews cleared the scene.

July 27

Concord Road (9:05 a.m.) — DPW asked for an officer assist them while cleaning up debris in the road.

Winter Street (12:14 p.m.) — Caller reported a group of people arguing outside a residence. Officers responded and found that people from a group home were out for a walk and there was not a problem.

Codman Road (2:10 p.m.) — Party left a credit card at Codman Farm. Owner contacted.

Lincoln Road (2:14 p.m.) — Caller reported her car broke down and is off to the side of the road. She was making arrangements to remove the car.

Codman Community Farms (4:46 p.m.) — Caller from Waltham reported a friend is missing who likes to go to Codman Farm and requested a check of the property. Caller then reported he had made contact with his friend and everything was OK.

Hawk Hill Road (5:25 p.m.) — Caller reported ordering groceries to be delivered but never received them. They were advised to contact the delivery company.

July 28

Lexington Road, Concord — Concord Fire Department requested an ambulance for a crash in their town.

Pierce Hill Road (4:21 p.m.) — Caller reported hitting a mailbox as they were trying to avoid hitting a deer. Minor damage.

July 29

Tower Road (9:22 a.m.) — Caller reported a large tree down near the Weston town line. Road closed due to wires down; Eversource responded.

Beaver Pond Road (1:33 p.m.) — Caller complained about a solicitor going door to door for a pest company. Officer located the party and advised him that he needed a solicitor’s permit.

Bedford Road (6:33 p.m.) — Lexington police reported that a Lincoln resident’s wallet was turned into their station. Officer made contact and advised the party to go pick it up.

Mackintosh Lane (11:13 p.m.) — Well-being check requested. Officer made contact and everything was fine.

Widespread power outages in Lincoln after tropical storm

Conant Road was still closed at Old Conant Road on Wednesday afternoon with Eversource trucks the only vehicles in sight. (Photo by Alice Waugh)

Lincoln was barely brushed by Tropical Storm Isiasis on Tuesday, but it was enough to bring down dozens of trees and power lines and cut off electricity for hundreds.

During and after the period of high winds and intermittent rain starting around 3:30 p.m. on August 4, Lincoln police were deluged with calls about power failures and utility lines down from Weston Road, Tower Road, Trapelo Road, Old Farm Road, Bedford Road, Blueberry Lane, Greenridge Lane, North Great Road, Conant Road, Lincoln Road, Sandy Pond Road, Mackintosh Lane, Giles Road, Storey Drive, Old Concord Road, Chestnut Circle, Baker Bridge Road, and Silver Hill Road, as well as malfunctions with the town’s two traffic light

Dispatchers was extra busy, police said, because Eversource had an issue that made it difficult for the public to contact them, causing many residents to call police about power outages instead. One Greenridge Lane resident also called to report a car tangled up in power lines. Fortunately no one was in the car and Eversource was already in the area working on the problem, police said.

The problems continued well into Wednesday. Early in the morning, a tree on Bedford Road caught fire as a result of a downed power line, and police had to close the road at the intersection of Rte. 2 up to Morningside Lane.

As of 4 p.m., 604 of Lincoln’s 2,645 Eversource customers were still without power, according to the company’s online power outage map (click on “Eastern Massachusetts” for a town-by-town breakdown).

Things were much worse in Connecticut. Statewide, almost half of Eversource customers were without power late yesterday afternoon, with many towns approaching 100% of customers without power on a day when many areas saw temperatures in the 90s.

News acorns

Events from the Lincoln Public Library

  • Harper Kincaid will speak on her newest mystery, To Kill A Mocking Girl, via Zoom on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. The library invited her after one of its book groups enjoyed the book last month. The book is available online either as an e-book or a digital audio book through an Overdrive Advantage subscription. To access the title without a waiting list, you will need to log in with a Lincoln Library card. For an invite to the Zoom meeting, please
  • Mandy Roberge will host a virtual mini-dreamcatcher craft activity for children 10 and up. Sign up to receive a craft material package via curbside pick up at the library, then join artist and teacher Mandy Roberge for the craft class via Zoom. Limited to 12 screens. Email sfeather@minlib.net to register and receive program information, including when to pick up materials and the Zoom link and password.
  • The library will host Virtual Trivia Night with the Trivia Brothers. This is an invitation-only program for children going into grades 4-7 who have completed their Summer Reading Challenges. Return your completed Summer Reading Challenge to dleopold@minlib.net to receive your invite. The deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Talk on monarchs and milkweed

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is sponsoring a virtual talk on “Monarchs, Milkweed, and Citizen Science“ with Kristin Steinmetz on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. Steinmetz, the education coordinator at Mass Audubon’s Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, will cover information about milkweed plant species and how to collect seed, as well as citizen science opportunities and resources. She’ll also provide an update on the status of monarchs in our area this year. Free, but registration is required; click here.

Dash ’n Dine for seniors

The Council on Aging is sponsoring a Dash ’n Dine drive-through box lunch pickup for Lincoln seniors on Thursday, Aug. 13 from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Real Restaurant. Seniors must register by calling 781-259-8811 or emailing GagneA@Lincolntown.org by August 11. Contactless pickup offered by COA staff. Co-sponsored by Deaconess Abundant Life Services and The Commons.

Worship en plein air (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Father Mark Mahoney of St. Julia Parish in Weston and Lincoln celebrates outdoor Mass in Pierce Park on Sunday, Aug. 3. About 50 families attended the church’s first service in Lincoln since the pandemic lockdown. Indoor Mass with congregants resumed (with advance reservations and safety protocols) at St. Julia church in Weston on May 30.

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.