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

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.

Correction

The virtual talk on “Monarchs, Milkweed, and Citizen Science” with Kristin Steinmetz on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. is being sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, not the Lincoln Public Library.

Lincoln institutions attracting more than their share of web traffic

The Facebook page for a library in Lincoln, Mich.

The Lincoln Public Library has been fielding a lot of emails since the building closed in March due to the pandemic. But some of those hopeful patrons might want to brush up on their geography

As noted in the police log published on July 28, some of those who’ve recently stopped by the Lincoln, Mass., police department for directions have been dismayed to learn that they are not close to the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I., or that the officer on the phone can’t help them with the rabbits infesting their yard — in Lincoln, Neb. Turns out the Lincoln Public Library has the same problem.

“At the library this summer, we’ve fielded questions from Lincoln, Michigan and Lincolnshire, England, both insisting that we are their home libraries,” said head librarian Barbara Myles. “The Lincoln, Michigan person was complaining in an e-mail that our website says our book drop is unlocked, but she kept going to the library and finding it locked and could not return her books,” and she was quite peeved. The book drop here in town has been unlocked since the library closed on March 14, “so we couldn’t understand why she was having trouble. Finally, we asked her if she was from Lincoln, Mass., and the mystery was solved,” she said.

Myles speculated that the mixups have become more frequent because people are looking for online library services during the pandemic. They might do a Google search for a phrase like “Lincoln library” without specifying the state, and then shoot an email to the library that tops the list of their search results.

“I can understand a search for our library popping up to the top of the list in Massachusetts, but why would that happen in Michigan?” Myles wondered. Perhaps it says something for the library’s diligent SEO efforts.

As a footnote, the town’s library and police are not the only local entities involved in search engine mixups. In the early days of this very publication, if you Googled “Lincoln Squirrel,” you’d get referred to a clip from an episode in season three of “The Simpsons.” To really boost readership, maybe we should rename this site “The Lincoln Project.”

Graveside service on Saturday for Heather Panetta

Heather Panetta

Heather M. (Ayers) Panetta, 44, lost her battle with cancer peacefully at home on July 28, 2020 with her husband, parents, and sister by her side. She approached her illness with faith and dignity, which inspired all who knew her. Heather was the loving wife for 16 years of Richard J. Panetta, Jr.

Heather was born on May 24, 1976 in Cincinnati as the beloved daughter of Troy and Sue (Peters) Ayers. She graduated from Milford Christian Academy in Milford, Ohio, before attending the University of Cincinnati.

Heather remained steadfastly dedicated to her job up until a couple days before her passing. Always passionate for helping others, she enjoyed her rewarding ten-year career at Bank of America. She previously oversaw numerous branches in Greater Boston as an operations manager, and more recently, was an assistant vice president in the mortgage department. It was truly her dream job.

Heather’s devotion and admiration for her animals will never be forgotten. She embodied an unyielding love for family, and especially treasured the close bond shared with her nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she leaves behind one sister, Susan Ogle along with her children, Anne Gasior, her husband Tom, and their son Sutton, CJ Ogle and his wife Lindsay Taylor, and Kenny Ogle, a sister-in-law, Rachel Panetta and her husband Joe Potthoff along with their children, Giuliana and Jackson Potthoff, as well as many friends. She was also the sister of the late James Ayers.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 1 at 2 p.m. in the Lincoln Cemetery on Lexington Road. In accordance with current COVID guidelines, all attendees are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Heather’s memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or to the ASPCA, P.O. Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090. Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

K-8 parents must choose in-person or fully remote schooling; safety protocols outlined

The Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) will start the school year in mid-September, and parents will have to choose by August 10 whether to keep their children home for fully remote learning or send them to school five days a week.

In a June 25 memo, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) told Massachusetts school districts to make plans for “start[ing] the school year with as many of our students as possible returning to in-person settings—safely” but also told districts to plan for fully remote instruction or a hybrid model where students have some days at school and some online instruction at home. 

Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall announced the district’s decision in a July 23 email to families, and she and other members of the LPS Education 2021 Task Force presented details via family forums on Zoom on July 29 and 30 (faculty/staff forums were also held on those days). The forum PowerPoint presentation, as well as links to previous emails from McFall to families, can be seen on this LPS website. The presentation can also be viewed and downloaded from this link.

Lincoln’s school buildings (including the portables on the ballfield) have enough space to bring most students back to school full-time, even with social distancing and teaching student “cohorts” of 11-15, McFall said during the July 29 family forum. Other school districts without enough room are offering online-only or hybrid instruction. If at all possible, “it’s really important and valuable for students to have the opportunity to be with their peers and taught in person,” she said.

The School Committee is scheduled to review and vote on the final plan on August 6 after a review by DESE. Families will be asked starting the same day to commit to either in-person or remote instruction for the school year. There will be more family and faculty/staff forums on August 7, and family decisions are due no later than August 10. 

Survey results

In a survey whose results McFall reported in her July 26 email, 53% of families said their first choice was fully in-person learning with safety protocols and 20% said fully remote learning. A slightly larger proportion (25%) preferred one of several hybrid options. The remaining 2% said they planned to withdraw their child from school and opt for private school or home schooling.

When faculty and staff were asked about their preferences, a slight majority (40% vs. 38%) said their first choice was fully in-person rather than fully remote learning, with 21% specifying one of the hybrid models as their first choice.

After the school administration gets the final count from families of how many children choose each of the two options, they will release more detailed plans about student groupings, teacher assignments, and day-to-day school operations.

If Covid-19 cases starting rising in the fall, the school will be ready to make a “quick, seamless transition to all-remote [learning] at the cohort, school, or district level,” McFall said. State officials are discussing infection thresholds for closing schools, “and we’re hoping for guidance for all districts,” McFall said. 

The DESE has reduced the number of required school days from 180 to 170 to allow more time for faculty to prepare their teaching plans. As a result, school will not begin in Lincoln until September 16. School will start each day at 8 a.m. but will end at 1:45 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (Wednesday will still end at 12:35 p.m.) to meet contractual requirements for teachers. The new teaching model with smaller cohorts means that teachers will be working at the same time with no breaks and will continue to work after dismissal until 3 p.m. The extra student-free time in the afternoon will also allow for more intensive cleaning.

Among the many safety protocols McFall outlined:

  • All preK-8 students and employees except those with disabilities or medical conditions must wear masks all day in school. They must supply their own masks, though the schools will have extras on hand if needed. Students will get two outdoor “mask breaks” per day while still maintaining six-foot social distancing.
  • must check their child’s temperature each morning before school and may not send any children who have a fever or symptoms of illness to school. Faculty and staff must also take their own temperatures each morning.
  • Hand-washing and physical-distancing protocols will be in place, and high-touch surfaces will be sanitized multiple times a day.
  • must provide written authorization for administering acetaminophen or ibuprofen to their child at school if necessary. Per CDC guidelines, flu shots are highly recommended for everyone once they become available.
  • Fans will not be used in school to prevent the spread of airborne germ droplets. All classrooms except those in the new Hanscom Middle School have operable windows, and screening will be used to reduce sun glare. The later start to the school year should also mean that the worst of the summer heat has passed. 
  • Two 3,800-square-foot tents will be used while weather permits to allow for outdoor learning.
  • There will be assigned seating on school buses with one child per bench seat except for those who live together. Drivers and monitors will wear masks, and buses will load from back to front. Bus windows will be half-open at all times except in extreme weather. The schools expect there will be enough buses for everyone in Lincoln, though some routes may be adjusted, and they will add a third Boston bus.
  • The buildings’ air-intake filters will be upgraded. 

School officials took some questions after the family forum presentations, but they will take more at the August 7 forums and also invite parents to submit questions ahead of time. 

Police log for July 16—22, 2020

The most interesting call of the week was from a resident calling to complain about rabbits in her yard on the afternoon of July 16. What made it unusual is that the resident lived in Lincoln, Nebraska and somehow called the police in Lincoln, Mass., by mistake.

For cases of mistaken town identity, “the best is when people walk into the station looking for the Twin River Casino” in Lincoln, R.I., said Lt. Sean Kennedy. “They’re not too happy when they have an hour’s ride south.” Apparently this mixup isn’t uncommon, as seen in the entry on the afternoon of July 19.

July 16

Lincoln Road (3:44 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked near Ridge Road. Party was sleeping; everything was fine.

North Great Road (1:23 p.m.) — 911 calls about a large tree on Rte. 2A near Hanscom Drive blocking a travel lane. Minute Man National Park crews were able to move the tree from the roadway. MassDOT responded to remove the debris

Lincoln School (1:25 p.m.) — Construction crews at the school reported a water main break. The Water Department on scene and the Fire Department was notified.

Walden Pond boat ramp (3:05 p.m.) — Concord police asked officers to check the Lincoln side of Walden for a missing party. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the party. However, the party was later located and units cleared.

Pierce House (5:29 p.m.) — Caller reported an odor of gas outside on Weston Road near the Pierce House. Fire Department and National Grid responded to the scene.

Old Winter Street (6:04 p.m.) — Wellesley police were looking for information on a resident who had property lost in Wellesley, looking to return the property.

July 17

Lincoln Police Department (12:54 a.m.) — A caller from Maynard was looking to see if Lincoln police had had contact with her husband who hadn’t returned home from work. Lincoln police had no contact with the party. Maynard police were aware of the report and were handling.

July 18

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (8:40 a.m.) — Officer checked on a party walking on Rte. 2 in the breakdown lane. Resident was walking to a home on Cambridge Turnpike. 

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (1:05 p.m.) — Officer spoke with the operator of piece of construction equipment traveling eastbound in the westbound breakdown lane. Officer assisted the worker to the Wagon Wheel and advised him not to drive on the highway in the future due to the danger.

North Great Road (2:18 p.m.) — Motor vehicle accident initially reported as involving a bicyclist. Officers found that the cyclist fell off the bike and no vehicle was involved. Party transported to the Emerson Hospital with minor injuries.

Sandy Pond Road (8:26 p.m.) — Vehicle parked at Sandy Pond at the water treatment plant. Parties were moved along.

July 19

Conant Road (9:14 a.m.) — Bicyclist called due to concern for an elderly party walking, out of concern due to the high heat. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the party.

Concord Road (11:51 a.m.) — Bicyclist ran a red light on his bike. Officer stopped the party and gave him a warning.

Lincoln Police Dept. (1:15 p.m.) — North Attleboro police called reporting they had someone in custody for shoplifting and found credit cards in a woman’s name. The suspect indicated that they broke into a car in Lincoln near a bike path. Officer checked the area and it was later found to have occurred in Lincoln, R.I.

Wells Road (3:37 p.m.) — Caller complained someone was buzzing their door but no one was there. 

Barnes Road, Concord (7:29 p.m.) — Fire Department responded to a Concord house fire to assist.

Concord Road  (9:34 p.m.) — Caller stated they possibly hit a raccoon on Rte. 126 near Walden Pond. Officer checked the area and was unable to locate anything.

Beaver Pond Road (9:56 p.m.) — Littleton police requested a check of a Lincoln residence to see if a motor vehicle was there, as they wanted to speak with the operator. Officer checked and was unable to locate.

July 20

Lincoln Police Department (12:29 a.m.) — Freetown police called reporting a missing person, as a ping of their phone showed they were in the area of MIT Lincoln Lab. Caller was advised to contact Hanscom Security Forces as the location was within Hanscom Air Force Base.

South Great Road (1:06 a.m.) — Weston police called reporting a crash on Rte. 117 near Church St. where two teens fled from the vehicle. A Lincoln officer responded to the area to assist. Weston police then called to cancel after they located the parties.

July 22

Bedford Road (1:13 a.m.) — Officer checked on two parties walking on the trails on Bedford Road near Rte. 2A. Parties are OK. 

Lincoln School (9:47 a.m.) — School principal called to report someone spray-painted the door of the Smith School. Officer responded to document the damage and take a report. The paint had been removed prior to the officer’s arrival.

Concord Road (2:19 p.m.) — Arlington police asked that an officer check the area around Rte. 117 and 126 for a missing party who left a facility and who might be in that area, according to a cell phone ping. Officers responded. Arlington police called back to report that they had updated phone location information and Lincoln police could clear.

Offutt Road, Hanscom Air Force Base (3:52 p.m.) — Officer went to serve court paperwork but found that the party is now in Texas. Officer faxed the paperwork to Arlington, Texas to be served.

Lincoln Road (6:25 p.m.) — Caller reported that railroad gates were stuck down, but then called to advise that there was in fact a train at the station. Officers cancelled.

Windingwood Lane (6:39 p.m.) — Caller requested assistance with an internet issue. They were advised to contact their service provider.

News acorns

L-S Mutual Aid Network webinar on Tuesday

The Lincoln-Sudbury Mutual Aid Network, which helps facilitate community connections between neighbors to provide and receive support, will host a webinar on Tuesday, July 28 from 6–7 p.m. On the call, participants will talk about some of the work that’s been done, get to know each other, and think towards the future. All those with suggestions or interest in getting involved are welcome. Click here to register to get the Zoom link.

Food truck picnic on Friday

The food truck picnic at the Pierce House has been rescheduled for Friday, July 31 from 4–8 p.m. On the menu will be food from Moyzilla (Asian food), the Bacon Truck, and the Shuck Truck (fresh local seafood). Please bring your own blanket. There will be sanitizing stations throughout the grounds, and all staff and guests are required to maintain social distancing and wear masks when not eating. A restroom inside the Pierce House will be available. Entry is free; click here to register. Upon arrival, a Pierce House staff member will check you in — just show your EventBrite invitation and you will be told where to park.

Drive-in movie: “Twister”

“Twister” will be shown in the Lincoln mall parking lot as a drive-in movie with car-side meal delivery from Real on Sunday, Aug. 2. Parking for dinner opens at 7:45 p.m. and the movie starts at 8:45 p.m. The cost is $25 per vehicle plus food. Pre-registration is required (click here), and dinner must be pre-ordered from Real by Thursday, July 30 (click here to order). Registration closes on August 2 at noon, or when capacity (35 cars) is reached. Sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Rural Land Foundation.

Voting information for upcoming primary

In response to recent legislation passed, the state has mailed a vote-by-mail application form to all registered voters. If you did not receive a vote-by-mail postcard application and would like one, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 781 259-2607. You can also call if you have already submitted a vote-by-mail application and would like to confirm they have it on file.

A completed vote-by-mail postcard can either be mailed or dropped in the front entrance mailbox at Town Hall. If you are an independent/unenrolled voter, please select the party ballot you would like to receive for the September 1 primary.

Early voting in person for the September 1 primary will be offered from Saturday, Aug. 22 to Friday, August 28 at Town Hall. Details will be posted on the town website when confirmed. The deadline to register to vote in the primary is August 22. Applications to vote by mail must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

COA now loaning medical equipment

The Lincoln Council on Aging has restarted its medical equipment loan program. The COA is are accepting returned equipment and loaning sanitized equipment by appointment only, Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811.

Items currently available to for loan include but are not limited to automated pill dispensers, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, shower benches, seats, and stools, bed rails, grabbers, grab bars, leg braces, shoe horns, rollators, CAPTCHA telephones, commodes, commode liners, hearing aid cleaners, and portable voice amplifiers.