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

Register for State of the Town online meetings

Lincolnites can now register to attend the Zoom-based Sate of the Town meeting on November 1-2 from 7–9 p.m. on both nights.

SOTT #1 (Monday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.)

  • Public Health Update
  • School Building Project Update
  • Finance Committee Update
  • Community Center Discussion
  • Open Forum

Zoom advance registration link (night 1)

SOTT #2 (Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.)

  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism (IDEA) Initiative Update
  • South Lincoln Planning Update
  • Climate Action Planning Committee
  • Open Forum

Zoom advance registration link (night 2)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information on the issues, see the Selectmen’s Fall 2021 Newsletter.

Police log for Sept. 27–Oct. 3, 2021

September 27

Tabor Hill Road (8:30 a.m.) — Caller reported a fisher cat was stuck in a trap on their property. Animal Control contacted the caller to handle.

Mackintosh Lane (4:25 p.m.) — Caller reported a car was parked on the lawn near his driveway. Officer responded; the Conservation Department was working in the area and was parked on conservation land.

Silver Hill Road (6:21 p.m.) — Caller reported cement trucks blocking the road. Officer responded and the trucks left the area.

Wells Road (9:29 p.m.) — Caller reported that she returned home and her door was open. Officers checked the interior and everything was fine. It appears the door was left open accidentally by the homeowner.

September 28

Nothing of note.

September 29

Tower Road (3:10 p.m.) — Caller reported that a relative took their elderly mother’s car. Officers located the vehicle at the home. It was a civil matter; officers followed up with the owner of the vehicle and the caller.

Conant Road (3:35 p.m.) — Caller requested assistance with a landlord/tenant civil matter. An officer spoke to the caller and gave him his legal options.

Stonehedge Road (4:34 p.m.) — Caller reported a male party was at the end of the road taking videos. Officer responded and found the party was picking wild mushrooms.

Lexington Road (7:00 .m.) — Caller reported hearing gunshots in the area of Flint’s field. Officers checked the area but nothing was found

September 30

Nothing of note.

October 1

Tower Road (1:25 p.m.) — Follow-up on September 29 call about a vehicle: officers spoke to the resident and the caller regarding the civil matter.

October 2

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (12:22 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported a possible medical emergency in a vehicle. Officers and Fire Department responded. The party checked out OK and was sent on their way.

Tower Road (11:29 p.m.) — Caller reported an unwanted party at the residence. Officers made contact with the party and sent them on their way.

October 3

Tower Road (4:34 p.m.) — A resident came to the station requesting assistance in obtaining a protective order. Officers assisted the resident.

Tower Road (6:49 p.m.) — Caller reported being harassed by a family member who resides in Weston. Officers went to the house and spoke to the resident as well as the family member from Weston, who denied harassing the resident. No police action taken.

News acorns

Build Scarecrows at Stonegate to benefit PTO

Show fall spirit for your town and your school by build a scarecrow during the annual Scarecrows at Stonegate fundraiser. Bring a pillowcase for your scarecrow’s head, old clothing (pants with belt loops and long-sleeve shirts – teen to small adult sizes are best), and fun accessories (hats, masks, wigs, etc.) or old Halloween costumes. Stonegate Gardens provides hay, twine, stakes, additional craft supplies, and step-by-step instructions. Choose to display your scarecrow in Lincoln or take it home (display scarecrows will not be returned).Dates are as follows:

  • Wednesdays, Oct. 6 and 13 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 9 from 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 10 from noon–5 p.m.

Scarecrow-building takes place at Stonegate Gardens (33 South Great Rd.), and caretaker supervision is required at all times (no drop-offs). There is a $15 donation fee per scarecrow, which will be donated to the Lincoln School PTO. Social distancing and masks are required. For more information about how Stonegate is modifying this year’s event to prevent COVID spread and to sign up for a slot, please visit this SignUp Genius link.

Film on Mike Wallace at library

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “Mike Wallace is Here” on Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. The documentary offers an unflinching look at the legendary reporter, who interrogated the 20th century’s biggest figures in over 50 years on air, and his aggressive reporting style and showmanship that redefined what America came to expect from broadcasters. Unearthing decades of never-before-seen footage from the 60 Minutes vault, the film explores what drove and plagued Wallace, whose storied career was entwined with the evolution of journalism itself.

LSB Players start season with “The Addams Family”

The LSB Players at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School have announced their schedule of plays for 2021-2022 and invite residents to subscribe for season tickets. The shows will be:

“The Addams Family”
November 17–20 at 7:30 p.m. (Kirschner Auditorium)
Directed and choreographed by Carly Evans, music directed by Michael Bunting. This hilarious and irreverent musical tells the story of the Addams Family, a loving yet macabre family set in their ghoulish ways, as they face the prospect of their daughter/sister marrying someone far too normal for their taste.

8th Annual Winter One-Acts
February 4 at 7:30 p.m., February 5 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (Rogers Theater)
Three L-S seniors will direct “That’s Not How I Remember It,” “As It Was,” and “I, Chorus.”

“Sense and Sensibility”
April 8 at 7:30 p.m., April 9 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., April 10 at 2 p.m.
Kate Hamill’s fast-paced adaptation of the Jane Austen novel takes on the gossipy society of late 18th-century England and examines the societal pressures that affect the lives of sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood.

9th- and 10th-grade play (title TBA)
May 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.. (Rogers Black Box Theatre)

COLLAGE XXVI, a collection of scenes, one-acts and original pieces selected and directed by students
June 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. (Rogers Black Box Theatre)

Tickets for all 2021-2022 shows are $8 for students and senior citizens, and $15 for adults (Collage XXVI is free). Benefactors and season ticket holders receive advance notice before tickets are available to the general public so they can reserve for the evening of their choice. Season tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for students and senior citizens, while Benefactors’ tickets are $60. All Season Ticket holders and Benefactors are named in each program of the year. Click here to order.

Obituaries

Myrna Graf

Myrna Graf, 80

Graf was a former executive secretary, real estate agent, and Spanish interpreter in banking. She died on October 1. Read full obituary.

Anthony “Tony” Thomas, 61

Tony Thomas

Thomas, who passed away on September 30, worked as a jeweler and lapidary, musician, audio engineer, and wildcrafter. He is the son of George and Jane Thomas of Lincoln. Read full obituary.

Robin Isaacs

Robin Frentz Isaacs, 68

Isaacs ran the Massachusetts chapter of the Frontier Nursing Society, which helped bring midwifery to Appalachia and was active with the Friends of the Sudanese. She died on September 6. Read full obituary.

Lincoln Cultural Council announces 2020-21 grants

The following organization received funding from the Lincoln Cultural Council to help pay for projects and activities for the community. The LCC is accepting applications for the next round of grants until October 15; see “News acorns” (Oct. 4, 2021) for more information. Questions? Contact Meg Ramsey at meg.ramsey@verizon.net.

Historic New England — “Three Centuries of Lincoln Topics.” The hybrid in-person and virtual three-part series highlighted Lincoln residents who were pioneers of taste, design, and culture over the course of three centuries from great-grandfather John Codman to Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius.

deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum — A Thursday outdoor concert and performance series. The 2021 summer season was informed by the work of exhibiting artists Jeffrey Gibson and Sonya Clark. The performance series focused on performers who address issues of advocacy, social justice, and indigenous cultures.

Maitreyee Chakraborty — “Songs and Poems of Rabindranath Tagore.” Tagore was an early 20th-century polymath and Nobel laureate whose poems and songs talk about the joy beyond immediate sorrow, the mettle of human spirit in face of suffering. The program had vocal music, poems, discussions, and dance numbers and told a human story of 2020.

Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm — “Sensory-Friendly Days,” an opportunity for families and children with autism or other sensory issues to connect with nature and each other in a sensory-friendly environment (fewer people, less crowded trails/exhibits, and less noise).

Lincoln Council on Aging — “An Afternoon of Poems by Robert Frost” presented and performed by Stephen Collins.

Lincoln Chipmunk design and launch — The website for the Lincoln Chipmunk (the online successor to the Lincoln Review), a bimonthly publication featuring poetry, artwork, fiction, photography and other creative work by and for Lincoln residents, was designed and linked to the Lincoln Squirrel new website.

Lincoln METCO Committee — Presentation in the Lincoln schools of “Living the Legacy of METCO” by Ron Jones, developed by Boston METCO.

Discovery Museum — Open Door Connections provides a range of ways for families to visit the museum at no or low cost. This includes families with children on the autism spectrum, those with sight or hearing limitations or are EBT and ConnectorCare cardholders, educators, and military families. The grant also funded free admission for all on select Friday evenings.

Wonderland Spectacle Co. — Locally based art and nature videos for kids about discovering the nature in your own neighborhood and across the region.

Lincoln Historical Society — Bringing Lincoln’s rich history into our everyday lives by placing historical road signage on the six roads that extend outward from the town’s historic center.

My Turn: Thanks to “Every Mile Counts Walk” participants

By Karen Salvucci and Ursula Nowak

We’d like to express our deep appreciation to the Lincoln community for the great success of our “Every Mile Counts Walk” last Saturday. The walk was fun, inclusive, and a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and funds to continue our mission of relieving poverty and restoring human dignity. You are truly neighbors helping neighbors and your help means so much.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston is devoted to helping individuals and families in our communities who need critical assistance to meet some of their most basic needs. People in our towns facing challenges like food insecurity, unemployment, health issues, or a sudden change in circumstances have come to us in greater numbers than ever before seeking help and guidance. Thanks to your involvement and support, we have been able to respond when that call comes in. And as the need continues, so do our efforts.

Again, many thanks!

Salvucci and Nowak are president and outgoing president, respectively, of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to share letters to the editor or 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

Apply by Oct. 15 for cultural council grants

The Lincoln Cultural Council has $5,100 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council to allocate in grants. Local priorities are:

  1. Providing work for performing artists severely impacted by the pandemic
  2. Serving families and/or seniors (intergenerational programs are of particular interest)
  3. Performances/programs in various art forms
  4. A focus on local history, environmental issues, or the natural world
  5. Collaborations between multiple artists and/or town organizations
  6. Applicants who have secured a local venue and have backup plan in place for in-person events
  7. Applicants who have shown an ability to successfully present a virtual experience, if applicable. 

The application deadline is October 15. To apply, go to massculturalcouncil.smartsimple.com. Questions? Contact Meg Ramsey at meg.ramsey@verizon.net.

L-S grads running for office plan online fundraiser

Political candidates and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School alumni Brian Worrell (L-S ’01) and Jared Nicholson (L-S ’04) are teaming up for a joint Lincoln-Sudbury community fundraiser, seeking the support of their classmates, teachers, administrators, and the Lincoln-Sudbury community at large. Worrell, a candidate for Boston City Council District 4, and Nicholson, a candidate for mayor of Lynn, had decisive wins in preliminary elections in September and will advance to runoff elections on November 2.

The virtual fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 15  at 6 p.m. will feature special guest speakers including retired L-S history teacher Bill Schechter and will offer a unique insight into the candidates, their respective campaigns, and their time at Lincoln-Sudbury. All donations will directly benefit the candidacies of Brian and Jared, and all are welcome to attend.

“I am forever grateful for the education that I got at L-S and have been thrilled to be part of the public education team in the Lynn Public Schools as a member of the School Committee. I’m hoping to build on that work as mayor and excited to partner with Brian on this great way to connect with the L-S family,” said Jared Nicholson. 

“I owe my many successes to the foundational education I received from L-S through the METCO program, and I have been deeply impacted by the experience,” Worrell said. “The shared community at L-S and my positive experience at the school has prepared me for leadership and I intend to take with me the many values I learned at the school to city hall.”

Purchase tickets for the virtual fundraiser or donate by clicking here. For more information, email Monique_worrell@yahoo.com or krushfirth@gmail.com.

Lincoln Nursery School open house

Visit the Lincoln Nursery School at their Enrollment Open House on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 9–11 a.m. The school is on the campus of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. To learn more about their cooperative, play-based, Reggio-inspired approach, follow them on Instagram @lincolnnurseryschool or visit www.lincolnnurseryschool.org.

“Fabulous Finland: Architecture, Furnishings & Design”

Join Friends of Modern Architecture and FoMA Advisory Board member Katherine Mierzwa for a recap of her 2019 trip to Finland on Sunday, Nov. 7 from 4–5 p.m. She and her husband spent two weeks roaming the cities and countryside of southern Finland to see 20 of Alvar Aalto’s (1898-1976} iconic buildings, and saw lots of stunning new architecture along the way. Sign up for this virtual tour to see modern architecture and Scandinavian design. Click here to register for the Zoom link.

News acorns

Fireside event at Farrington Nature Linc

Enjoy a crisp evening by the fire as Doria Hughes tells stories about the fall, nature and animals on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Farrington Nature Linc. Tickets for Tales & Treats: Slightly Scary Stories and S’mores are $10 each or $30 for a family of four. Feel free to bring blankets and/or chairs to sit around the fire, and wear or bring layers as it gets colder once the sun goes down.

Family fundraiser features cornhole tournament

Form a two-person kid or adult team (age 16+) to play in the cornhole tournament on Sunday, Oct. 17 from 2–6 p.m. at Codman Community Farms. The event is a fundraiser organized by the Doo family, whose daughter Kalea is living with moyamoya disease. The event also features pumpkin decorating courtesy of Stonegate Gardens, live music by Jimmy’s Down Band, a magic show with Ed Popielarczyk at 5 p.m., a bounce house, Hawaiian shaved ice, local beer and hard cider, food trucks and snacks, and a raffle. Click here for more information and to register, donate, or sponsor and keep a custom-made cornhole board. Questions? Email doofam@gmail.com.

Codman Harvest Feast tickets now on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Codman Community Farms Harvest Feast on Saturday, Oct. 23  from 5–9 p.m. The feast will take place under a big tent and feature live music by the Splinters as well as CCF’s slow-roasted, Lincoln-pasture-raised pork served with homemade cornbread, roasted potatoes, bean and green salads, and apple desserts. Dinner will be followed by a special raffle and dancing under the stars. Buy tickets online ($40 for CCF member and $50 for nonmembers) and click here to learn about other fall events at CCF including Sugar Shack Storytime, Harvest Wreath Happy Hour, and a three-session course on growing your own mushrooms.

Kids’ activities at the library

The Lincoln Public Library has several special events for children this month:

“Who Gets to Make History? The Story of Statues and Monuments”
Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
What are monuments for? Whose stories do they hold up for celebration? Whose stories do they erase or keep hidden? In this virtual workshop, Wee the People, a Boston-based social justice group, will explore what monuments mean and reimagine how they can celebrate values of community, equity, and justice. Intended for school-aged children. Email dleopold@minlib.net to register and receive a Zoom invite. 

Pumpkin Palooza
Saturday, Oct. 23 from 10:30–12 p.m.
Wear your costume and join us on the library lawn for Halloween fun: pumpkin painting, fortune telling, crafts, and more. Drop in; best for ages 6 and under. Rain date: October 30. 

Special Halloween Storytime and Parade
Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. 
Wear your costume for some Halloween fun, stories, dancing, and a parade on the library lawn. For babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Click here to learn about children’s book groups and other events, or call 781-259-8465 x4 with any questions.

Halloween at deCordova

Celebrate Halloween at deCordova Sculpture Park on October 22, 23, 29, 30, and 31. Watch the moon travel across the sky as you and your family complete a series of ghoulish activities, all inspired by mysterious artworks. Explore different disguises, create monstrous shadows, and solve tantalizing mysteries. Click here to purchase tickets.

Two from Lincoln earn National Merit Scholar commendations

Two Lincoln students, Amie Jiang and Casey King, are among Lincoln-Sudbury’s Commended National Merit Scholars this year. The others from L-S are Akim Abramkin, Tarkan Ayata, Matthew Boone, Joshua Cohen, Joshua Geel, Jishnu Ghosh, Lyx Huston, Henry Knapick, Benjamin Krasnow, Max Reinhardt, Benjamin Rippy, Zachary Schwarzwald, Madeleine Swire, Sarah Watson, Robyn Wessman, Richard Yao, and Brian Yin.

Residents slam South Lincoln survey at forum

Current zoning in South Lincoln (left) and the changes that were proposed in 2020 (click image for larger version).

Residents at a September 28 public forum to discuss the results of a survey on the future of South Lincoln criticized the study as being biased toward development and asked for another survey done by an objective professional.

The survey was open from May 14 to June 30, and data and comments from the 790 responses were released in August. Results indicated that residents have mixed feelings about South Lincoln. There was no consensus on whether the village center should change, and respondents wanted both a viable commercial center and perhaps some moderately priced housing but also wanted to maintain the town’s rural character.

“People want more benefits but not the things that could lead to those benefits,” observed resident Jen Morris.

“Welcome to our world,” quipped Planning Board Chair Margaret Olson.

Potential drivers for change include a new state law that will require areas near MBTA train stations to allow denser housing, though the specific details and any penalties for noncompliance are still unclear. The state aims to encourage more housing construction along with public transportation use, but since most of the daily commuting by train to Boston ended due to the pandemic, the viability of South Lincoln as a commuter point is also unclear, with or without new housing nearby.

Another factor: although Lincoln is generally wary of growing its population, enrollment at the Lincoln School has been declining over the past several years. “We have plenty of capacity in the Lincoln School to accept many additional students and would welcome more students,” Superintendent of School Becky McFall wrote in an email to Olson, who shared it at the forum attended by more than 50 residents via Zoom.

McFall is expected to send a more detailed memo regarding school enrollment in October.

In the survey, 46% of respondents said they supported more affordable or moderately priced housing in South Lincoln, but one-third either did not support it at all, or supported it in a location other than the South Lincoln village center.

“I support activity such as a playground, dog park and community gathering/meeting point, etc., [but] as I have said many times, there is a lot we could do to have a viable town center without adding new rental units,” Planning Board member Lynn DeLisi wrote in the chat area of the Zoom forum.

Also affecting possible development in South Lincoln is the limited capacity of the septic system that currently serves the mall and Lincoln Woods. A study is currently underway by engineers who will make a preliminary report at the Planning Board’s October 5 meeting. And even if the mall were to be redeveloped, there isn’t agreement about what sort of businesses can achieve long-term success there, given the proliferation of online shopping and nearby stores such as Market Basket and Costco, forum attendees noted.

Both the mixed-use zoning that was proposed in early 2020 by the Planning Board and the notion of “if you build it they will come” are “flawed models,” said Richard Ohlsten, adding that many storefronts in the Wayland Center development are still vacant years after completion. “I’m not opposed to development but let’s just do something smart and unique. If we get this wrong, there’s no going back.”

Many brick-and-mortar stores in Lincoln and elsewhere are struggling, “and I don’t know that we can build our way out of it,” resident Sara Mattes said. She suggested looking into subsidizing the types of  businesses that Lincoln wants, or even using Community Preservation Act funds to buy smaller houses and “put into permanent affordability… it’s the kind of crazy forward thinking that Lincoln used to do with land acquisition and preservation,” she said.

Many residents at the forum said the survey questions were skewed and urged the Planning Board to commission another survey, this time using an outside firm. “The survey wasn’t designed to hear from those of us who are opposed to development,” said Barbara Peskin.

Mattes suggested framing questions in terms of what tradeoffs people are willing to make to achieve certain objectives. “The information generated in the survey has been questioned, and to use it to guide or direct any potential change, some of us feel, is not appropriate,” she said.