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

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.

News acorns

Film on slave trade

The First Parish Racial Justice Advocates will screen “Traces of the Trade: a Story from the Deep North” via Zoom on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. The film is about a Rhode Island family that follows the route of the  triangle slave trade through Ghana, Cuba, and Rhode Island and see a family reacting to the past and the present. Click here for details and the Zoom link.

Two from Lincoln are National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

Amanda Pillar

Sonali Das

Lincoln residents Sonali Das and Amelia Pillar are among the seven Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School students who have been named semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Competition. The other honorees are Nicola Donlan, Madison Johnson, Spencer Reith, Joy Ren, and Jeffrey Zhang. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring.

Free flu clinic on October 23

The town will offer a public flu vaccination clinic on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the newly renovated Brooks School gymnasium for residents age 3 and up. High-dose vaccines will be available for those over age 65. To sign up:

  1. Click here to register for a time.
  2. Download and complete the Vaccination Consent Form (one per person) and bring it with you.
  3. Download the Vaccine Information Statement for your records.

Jeffrey Gibson exhibition opens at deCordova

Jeffrey Gibson, INFINITE INDIGENOUS QUEER LOVE, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, glass beads and artificial sinew inset into wood frame. Courtesy of the artist and Sikkema Jenkins and Co. Image: Jason Wyche (click to enlarge)

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum announces the exhibition Jeffrey Gibson: INFINITE INDIGENOUS QUEER LOVE opening Friday, Oct. 15 and on view through March 12, 2022. The two outer terms suggest boundless spaces and generative, tender relationships, while the interior words convey markers of identity that Gibson disassembles and reconstructs through his artistic practice as a queer Choctaw-Cherokee man. The exhibition comprises a series of collages, an immersive display featuring three hanging fringe sculptures, and recent videos created with collaborators, musicians, and performers. It complements Gibson’s large-scale outdoor installation Because Once You Enter My House, It Becomes Our House (an homage to pre-Columbian architecture) on the sculpture park’s front lawn. A series of related programs will take place throughout the fall and spring; visit thetrustees.org/jeffreygibson for more information.

State of the Town meeting to be held virtually in November

Since large in-person gatherings are still not feasible due to the pandemic, the town will again hold the annual State of the Town meeting via Zoom. A preliminary schedule discussed by the Select Board on September 27 calls for three sessions, each starting at 7 p.m., with updates on topics assigned as follows (though the schedule may be compressed into two nights and topic moved around):

November 1:

  • The public health situation
  • Finance Committee 
  • School building project
  • Special Town Meeting warrant articles

November 2:

  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Antiracism Initiative (IDEA)
  • Climate Action Planning Committee

November 3:

  • South Lincoln planning
  • Community center

The final schedule is subject to feedback from various town committees on how much time they need for presentations and possible breakout discussions or snap polls on certain items. 

Officials will use the State of the Town to gauge interest in a community center, which was promised after the school project was finished in 2022. The discussion will include a review of the needs for a center (primarily for the Council on Aging & Human Services and the Parks and Recreation Department), possible designs, and the expected site on the Hartwell campus. They’ll also look at any other big-ticket needs on the horizon and the town’s projected borrowing capacity.

In 2018, the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee (CCPPDC) submitted its final report outlining two possible design directions for the facility, which was then estimated to cost $15.3 million to $16.2 million. Construction costs have escalated significantly since then, so those estimates will have to be updated.

A 2018 survey showed that residents were about evenly split between the two design options. However, one design element that will most likely be reviewed is having more outdoor seating and program areas — something that wasn’t a priority before the Covid-19 pandemic.

If all goes as planned, a Community Center Building Committee will be formed early next year to update the CCPPDC report, schedule public meetings, hire an architect, and produce a schematic design. A Town Meeting funding vote on the project could take place in March or November 2022.

Special Town Meeting

A Special Town Meeting on November 6 will feature three warrant articles asking approval for the following. All three need to be voted on before the Annual Town Meeting in March 2022 for contractual and construction season reasons.

  1. Using money that wasn’t spent on the recent Hartwell re-roofing project for a new roof on Pod C. The remaining funds are about equal to the cost for that project.
  2. Prepaying a portion of the cost of the refurbished school’s solar power purchase agreement to create more long-term savings and lower energy costs.
  3. Additional funds for parapet repairs on the Lincoln Public Library, as construction bids were all higher than the project’s $355,000 budget approved last spring.

Police log for Sept. 20–26, 2021

September 20

Tower Road (1:48 p.m.) —Caller reported that he is a livery driver and was having a dispute with a resident because he was owed money from a fare. Officer responded and spoke to both parties, who came to an agreement on payment.

September 21

South Great Road (12:33 p.m.) — Caller reported a party stumbling in the roadway on Route 117 near Tower Road and was concerned for their well-being. Officers responded and spoke to the party, who was brought to the Emerson Hospital.

Tower Road (2:07 p.m.) — Caller reported his water meter was leaking and he couldn’t get in touch with the Water Department. The Water Department was contacted and will get in touch with the caller.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:15 p.m.) — Report of a minor crash near Bedford Road (no injuries). State Police handled the crash and a Lincoln officer responded to assist.

Old Lexington Road (7:14 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle parked in the road. Officer checked the area but the vehicle was gone.

September 22

North Great Road (4:14 p.m.) — National Park Service reported a party walking on Route 2A having a mental health emergency. Officers responded to the area. The park service spoke to the party and assisted them.

September 23

South Great Road (1:45 p.m.) — Caller reported being a victim of fraud involving their payroll check. Report taken.

Old Concord Road (4:05 p.m.) — Caller reported that two bicycles were stolen from the side of the road at the bus stop.

September 24

Old Concord Road (12:03 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station dropped off old ammunition to be destroyed.

Drumlin Farm (7:09 p.m.) — An employee reported individuals having a fire pit on the property. Officers made contact with four individuals and asked them to leave.

Trapelo Road (8:55 p.m.) — People fishing were asked to move along.

September 25

Macintosh Lane (11:25 a.m.) — Caller complained about a vehicle parked on the roadway, concerned tat an emergency vehicle can’t get by. Officer spoke to the caller regarding the process of getting No Parking signs posted.

Offutt Road, Hanscom AFB (8:41 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces requested assistance with a possible intoxicated driver on base. Officers responded and it appeared that the party was having a medical event. They were transported to a local hospital by Hanscom’s contract ambulance

Tower Road (9:38 p.m.) — Caller wanted to speak to an officer about a civil matter. Officer assisted the party.

September 26

North Great Road (12:52 p.m.) — Caller reported hitting a deer with their car. A National Park ranger moved the deceased deer off to the side of the roadway.

Wells Road (4:14 p.m.) — Caller reported hearing yelling in the area. Officer spoke to the resident and everything appeared to be fine; he spoke to neighbors who did not hear the yelling.

Wells Road (5:53 p.m.) — Caller reported a child yelling in the area. Officer responded and spoke to a group, who reported there was no argument; the group was talking about the earlier call about hearing yelling.