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

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a.m.) — Officer conducting a site check of the school complex came across a party in a vehicle whose registration was revoked due to insurance.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.

Florence Freed, 1933–2020

Florence Freed

Florence Freed, a longtime resident of Lincoln and then Brookhaven at Lexington, died on August 10. She was born in May 1933 in New York, N.Y., daughter of Irving Wallach, CPA, and Frances Wallach, a teacher. She and her brother Jonathan lived in Riverdale, N.Y., where Florence graduated from PS 81.

She next graduated from Barnard Preparatory School as valedictorian, and then from Barnard College, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Florence earned a master’s degree and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Harvard and worked as a school psychologist in Newton. Later she became professor of psychology at Middlesex Community College in Bedford. 

Florence married Charles Freed, a Holocaust survivor who did pioneering laser research at MIT’s Lincoln Lab. They lived in Lincoln and had two daughters, Lisa and Josie. Florence also wrote and published two books, The Beautiful Blue Bicycle and Transcendence. In later years she enjoyed living at Brookhaven at Lexington with many friends. She spent many hours playing classical music on the piano.

Florence leaves her daughters, Lisa and Josie, her son-in-law Ted, her granddaughters Sara and Rachel, her sister-in-law Janet, her niece Joanne, her grand-niece Lauren, and her grand-nephew Andy. Donations in her memory may be made to Brookhaven at Lexington for the Brookhaven Friends of Music. Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Police log for week of August 5, 2020

August 5

Indian Camp Lane (7:38 a.m.) — Homeowner reported their home carbon monoxide detector is going off. Fire Department checked and found no CO readings.

Virginia Road (8:04 a.m.) — Caller reported their fire alarm was sounding. Fire Department responded and found that the panel was in alarm due to a power outage.

Lincoln Public Library (8:10 a.m.) — Library staff requested a walk-through of the building because the door were propped open when the arrived. Officers checked the library and everything was fine.

Concord Road (10:31 a.m.) — Walden Pond staff reported that a runner on the trails was overdue. Staff and state police later located the party.

South Great Road (5:43 p.m.) — A party reported to a police detail officer that someone hit a traffic sign Rte. 117 near Lincoln Road and continued driving. Officers checked and the sign was not damaged.

August 6

Sandy Pond Road (8:18 a.m.) — Water Department reported someone was trespassing in the water on the Rte. 2 side of the pond. Officer responded and spoke with Water Department staff.

Hanscom Air Force base Vandenburg Gate (10:43 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a party at the commercial vehicle pit with drugs. Officer responded and found that the party was in possession of marijuana and a prescription drug. Security Forces handled the matter.

Bemis Hall (12:02 p.m.) — Council on Aging reported an issue with the elevator. They were advised to contact Michael Haines, who deals with town facilities.

Jonathan Court (4:14 p.m.) — Fire Department responded to a fire alarm sounding. They found the alarm was caused by a heater.

Mt. Misery parking lot (4:15 p.m.) — Caller reported hearing someone yelling in the area of Mt. Misery. Officers responded but could not hear anything, and no one approached them. Officers checked the area as well; no contact made.

DeCordova Museum (5:09 p.m.) — Caller reported her car was damaged while parked in the de Cordova parking lot. Caller is now back home on Cape Cod. They were advised to fill out an RMV report and contact their insurance company.

August 7

South Great Road (2:49 a.m.) — Officer located a traffic sign that was missing. DPW notified.

Ridge Road (3:00 p.m.) — Council on Aging reported tat an elder’s refrigerator was broken and they needed a cooler. Officer obtained ice and a cooler and brought it to the residence.

South Great Road (4:57 p.m.) — Caller reported that a bulb was out at the traffic lights at Rtes. 117 and 126. Notification made to fix the light.

Lincoln Police Department (9:36 p.m.) — Weston police called looking for a missing person. Officers checked the Rte. 117 area of town; no contact with the party.

Wells Road (10:00 p.m.) — Resident called to report a security light was taken from their property.

August 8

Lincoln School (3:00 a.m.) — Officer checked on a party parked at the school near the pods. Officer spoke to the party and sent him on his way.

Ballfield Road (12:16 p.m.) — Caller reported that a racoon was stuck in the dumpster by the pool. Officer responded to assist.

Drumlin Farm (4:02 p.m.) — Caller reported that earlier in the day, an employee thought they witnessed a verbal argument on the property but they weren’t sure. Officer responded to speak to the reporting party.

The Commons in Lincoln — Caller reported that a resident may have lost $280.00. Officer responded to take a report.

August 9

Lincoln Road (8:10 p.m.) — Court paperwork was emailed to a party who is no longer living in town. Officer spoke to the party who is now in Florida.

August 10

Natick (5:00 p.m.) — A confused party called requesting information on discharge from a nursing home in Natick. The caller was referred to their staff.

North Great Road (6:28 p.m.) — Caller reported a turtle in the roadway Rte. 2A near the National Park. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the turtle.

August 11

North Great Road (3:59 a.m.) — 911 call about a possibly intoxicated party walking in the road on Rte. 2A toward Concord. Officers located the party over the town line in Concord; they had been involved in a minor motorcycle crash in Concord. Concord police will handle.

Concord Road (12:55 p.m.) — Caller reported that her car’s windshield was egged. Officer spoke to the party; no damage to the vehicle.

Natick — Confused elderly party in a nursing home reported that someone was in her room.

Tracey’s Service Station (9:26 p.m.) — Officer responded after an individual got out of a tow truck after having a civil dispute with the driver and was upset. Party had a family member come and pick him up.

August 12

Hanscom Air Force Base (12:09 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a past hit-and-run on Hanscom Drive. The victim in now on base. Officer and base personnel spoke to the party and took a report.

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.