There will be a memorial service to celebrate the life of Pamela Gallup on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. in Bemis Hall. Gallup, a longtime member of the Housing Commission and Housing Trust, died in January. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, masks are required while in the building.
Bill Nockles
Bill Nockles died in Sudbury at the age of 94. He and his widow Diane were both teachers at the Lincoln School. Full obituary.
October 11South Great Road (1235 a.m.) — Concord police requested assistance looking for a party who fled on foot from a motor vehicle crash
Patterson Road, Hanscom AFB (7:09 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces requested assistance regarding a disturbance on base. Officer responded and the incident was handled by Security Forces.
Harvest Circle (2:56 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle was blocking their garage on their property. Police left a phone message for the owner of the vehicle noting it was on private property
Tower Road (6:56 p.m.) — Officer made contact with a resident regarding a well-being check due to a possible safety concern.
Todd Pond Road (8:48 a.m.) — Caller reported receiving credit cards that were opened up in their name. Officer spoke to the party and assisted them with cancelling the cards.
Round Hill Road (3:03 p.m.) — Caller requested a well-being check on a resident. Officer made contact with the party and everything was fine. A message was delivered to the party.
Lincoln Road (2:26 p.m.) — Caller reported losing a cellphone and was looking to see if someone had turned it in. Nothing had been; police obtained contact information given in case the phone is turned in.
Birches School (4:33 p.m.) — Police and Fire Department responded to the Birches School for a missing 5-year-old student. Several area organizations including state police airwing assisted in the search. A hiker found the child unharmed on the trail system behind the school (see this story in the Lincoln Squirrel).
Old County Road (11:29 a.m.) — Officer responded to the residence to speak with the owner and a dumpster company regarding an issue with a dumpster. The matter was civil in nature; officer advised the parties of their legal options.
South Great Road (4:50 p.m.) — One-car crash at the Concord town line. One party was transported to the Emerson Hospital and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Winter Street (2:49 p.m.) — Caller reported a red convertible driving up and down Winter Street near Care Dimensions at a high rate of speed. Officer responded but was unable to locate the vehicle.
Wells Road (3:57 p.m.) — Caller asked to speak to an officer regarding an ongoing concern they have with a neighbor. An officer spoke to the resident and followed up with the Council on Aging & Human Resources.
Police Department (6:48 p.m.) — A party came to the station to pick up a lost cellphone that was found.
South Great Road (9:47 p.m.) — Caller reporting striking a deer near the Weston town line. Officers responded; the driver was uninjured. The deer was moved to the side of the roadway and the DPW was notified.
Meadowbrook Road (11:41 a.m.) — Caller wanted to speak to an officer regarding a conflict with a contractor allegedly not doing work. Officer spoke to the resident; the matter appeared to be civil in nature.
Old Sudbury Road (3:11 p.m.) — Caller reported his dog got into a fight with a skunk and is concerned about the possibility of the skunk having rabies. The town’s Animal Control Officer contacted the resident.
Lexington Road (3:13 p.m.) — Caller spoke to an officer regarding a civil matter with their neighbor. The officer provided them with their legal options.
Hanscom Drive (10:23 p.m.) — One car crash, no injuries.
Patterson Road, Hanscom AFB (1:15 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station asked to speak to an officer regarding threatening emails they received. Officer spoke to the party and is investigating the matter.
Wells Road (12:38 p.m.) — Management company called regarding a mall business dumping their trash in the development’s dumpster. An officer spoke to the business and advised them to stop. The business owner will speak to staff and correct the training issue.
Bedford Road (5:17 p.m.) — Caller reported being rear-ended near Route 2. An officer responded; no injuries, minor damage.
Farrar Road (9:35 p.m.) — Caller asked to speak with Animal Control regarding snakes on their property. Animal Control will contact the resident.
Weston Road (6:43 p.m.) — Caller reported seeing a party walking on Weston Road two hours previously who they believe to be a missing person from Minnesota. Officer checked the area but could not find the person.
Lincoln Road (8:12 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station requested a ride home. An officer dropped them off.
South Great Road (8:55 a.m.) — Car-vs.-bicyclist accident at the intersection of Route 117 and Lincoln Road. The cyclist was transported to the Lahey Clinic. The vehicle operator was cited for failing to yield.
Mill Street (5:23 p.m.) — Caller reported a large metal item in the road. Two officers moved it off to the side of the roadway. The item came from a telephone pole.
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:11 a.m.) — An officer found damage to an exit sign at Route 128 along with a vehicle bumper. State Police were notified.
North Commons (5:14 p.m.) — Caller reported that someone damaged plants on their porch. An officer responded to take a report.
Last spring, the Lincoln Historical Society began to explore Lincoln’s past as a town that included enslaved people with a talk by Elise Lemire (co-sponsored by the Bemis Free Lecture Series) on “Slavery in Lincoln, Massachusetts: Reckoning with Our Past, Planning for a More Honest and Inclusive Future” (click here to watch video). The LHS will dig deeper on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. with a talk on “Entangled Lives, Black and White: Lincoln and Its African American Residents in the 18th Century” by LHS board member Donald Hafner, a retired vice provost and professor of political science at Boston College. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID: 936 3276 0035, passcode: 177417).
The event is co-sponsored by the First Parish in Lincoln’s Racial Justice Journey, which began this fall with a focus on national, local, and church history and the ways in which that history has involved us in questions of race. The aim is to offer access to a variety of sources of information and perspectives that will let participants reconsider these questions together, in preparation for the next stages of the journey, focused on issues (winter) and action (spring). Every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. this fall, there will be Zoom meetings with talks, documentaries, book discussions, or movies. Field trips are also offered as part of the program. Everyone is invited. To learn more, contact Mary Helen Lorenz at mhelen808385@gmail.com.
The Parks and Recreation Department will host the first-ever Fall Fest at Pierce Park on Saturday, Oct. 30 from noon–3 p.m. The event will feature the popular Trunk-or-Treat along with activities such as caramel apple decorating, bounce house, hayrides, an apple pie contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. This event requires online registration and a $5 per person entry fee ($20 maximum per family).
Want to learn how to restore an apple tree? Or a whole orchard? Join the Lincoln Garden Club on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. for a presentation by Matt Kaminsky, aka “Gnarly Pippins.” Matt is an arborist, author, and expert in the production of cider. Click here to register in advance for this meeting; you will then receive a confirmation email with your Zoom link.
Lincoln-affiliated artists and artisans of all ages are invited to submit their work for the Lincoln Arts Show from Friday to Sunday, Nov. 5–7 from noon–5 p.m. at the Pierce House. Show the town your two- and three-dimensional creations for display or sale. Click here to register (entry fees start at $10, though the fee is waived for students). Once you’ve registered, a form for the artist statement and labels will be sent to you. Entry forms, artist statements, and art labels must be received by Monday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. Any late entries will be accepted on a space-available basis.
There is no commission; artists are responsible for collecting sales tax. All work must be ready to hang or present. Hanging/displaying times are Thursday, Nov. 4 from 4–6 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m.–noon. Take-down time is Sunday, Nov. 7 from 5–6 p.m. Artists or their designees will be responsible for hanging/displaying and removing their own works. Hanging materials and tools are provided. The opening reception is Friday, Nov. 5 from 5–7 p.m. Questions? Contact Sarah Chester at schester636@gmail.com.
John Lynch
Lincoln resident Sammy Andonian will be the featured artist in Massachusetts Peace Action’s Music for Peace series opening concert on Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church (1555 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) from 7:30–9 p.m. Limited tickets are available for in-person seating; the event will also be live streamed. Support a worthy cause while enjoying beautiful classical music for solo and accompanied violin.
Lincoln’s John Lynch will be on stage of Lovers and Other Strangers, a comedy of 1970s love lives in five one-act vignettes, on November 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 8 p.m. and November 7 at 2 pm. at Theater III (250 Central St., West Acton). Vaccination and masks are required. For details, see theatre3.org or email lsminkoff@theatre3.org.
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) and the Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) are hosting a virtual Trail Use Public Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 7–8:30 p.m. LLCT and LCC have begun a comprehensive review of the multiple uses of Lincoln trails and how best to manage them for the protection of open space and overall public benefit. Trail uses have changed over time, and we are seeking a current community understanding of the appropriate way to use and enjoy our open spaces and trails.
The forum will start with a brief slide show reviewing the goals of Lincoln’s 2017 Open Space and Recreation Plan and a summary of previous and current trail uses, with the goal of developing a trail use vision that is appropriate for Lincoln today. After the presentation, attendees are encouraged to provide feedback and comments. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID 927 0523 1109, passcode: 971375). If you’re unable to attend the public forum, please submit any comments you’d like to share regarding the use of Lincoln’s trails to the Conservation Department (conservation@lincolntown.org or 781-259-2612) by November 30.
During the week of November 15, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Lincoln Public Schools. The PSM visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights will include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.
In addition to the onsite visit, parent/guardian outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from PSM will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, PSM will interview the chair(s) of the district’s Interim Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.
Parents/guardians and others may email PSM chair Erin VandeVeer at erin.vandeveer@mass.gov or call 781-338-3735 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.
Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chair will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which it meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which it requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report here.
Harold McAleer made this photo collage showing some of the scarecrows bulit by kids and displayed at the mall for the Scarecrow Classic 5K. The scarecrow-building event is hosted each year by Stonegate Gardens as a fundraiser for the Lincoln PTO.
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.
Real-time data from Symphony PublicVue showing search aircraft flight patterns as they starting their work (top) and then circling at various altitudes during the search. Images courtesy of Alaric Naiman.
A child who went missing in the woods off of Bedford Road Thursday evening prompted an all-hands-on-deck search involving police, firefighters, ATVs, helicopters, and K9 police dogs before he was found.
At about 4:30 p.m. on October 14, Lincoln Public Safety received the call about a missing five-year old boy, and the search began near where he was last seen near the Birches School. Due to privacy issues involving a juvenile, Fire Chief Brian Young and Police Chief Kevin Kennedy declined to say whether the boy was a student at that school, though Kennedy did say he was not a Lincoln resident. Birches School officials did not immediately return calls or emails.
The child reportedly ran away from a group while walking along conservation trails between Red Maple Lane and Flint’s Pond, police said. Due to the large search area, they immediately requested assistance from the Concord and Bedford Police and Fire Departments, as well as from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council and Massachusetts State Police, who scrambled several helicopters from their air wing with thermal imaging equipment to help locate anyone concealed beneath the tree canopy.
As it turned out, the high-tech and canine capabilities weren’t needed. Police got a 911 call at 5:47 p.m. from a hiker on the trails saying they had found a boy alone in the woods. He was found about 200 yards from the end of Orchard Lane and brought out of the woods by firefighters on an ATV who located the pair using verbal descriptions and the town’s Outerspatial GPS trail-mapping system.
There was a short delay in reuniting the boy with his parents, who were waiting anxiously at a second command post at the deCordova Museum (the other post was on Oak Knoll Road).
Upon emerging, the boy was physically healthy but “very upset” and frightened of the firefighters who brought him out of the woods, Young said.
Online aircraft data showed there were six helicopters circling the area during the search, though at least one of them was a news helicopter. Local TV news stations reported the story that night. The searchers were fortunate that the boy was found before the sun set about 45 minutes later, Young said.
One result of the incident: all the town’s firefighters have now downloaded the Outerspatial app to their phones to help in future cases of people lost in Lincoln’s woods, he said.
“The [hiker] calling 911 was certainly the biggest piece,” Young noted. “When you see something out of place, call 911.”
October 4Bedford Road (8:08 a.m.) — Car-vs.-deer crash. Officer responded, no injuries, DPW notified to pick up the deceased deer
Windingwood Lane (12:52 p.m.) — A walk-in at the station requested that an officer confirm a vehicle identification number so their vehicle can be registered in Massachusetts.
Tower Road (3:36 p.m.) — Court paperwork delivered to the resident.
Tower Road (5:12 p.m.) — A resident came to the station to speak with an officer regarding an ongoing civil matter.
Wells Road (9:36 p.m.) — A walk-in at the station requested assistance with an ongoing problem. Officer assisted the party and referred them to an agency who could help.
Lincoln Road (10:20 a.m.) — Officer took a report regarding unemployment fraud.
Tower Road (11:18 p.m.) — A walk-in at the station was looking for assistance in an ongoing civil matter. Officers attempted to assist the party.
Mackintosh Lane (7:42 a.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle parked in a No Parking zone, causing a hazard. Officer responded and issued a warning to the party and also later spoke to the operator regarding not parking on the street.
Codman House (10:48 a.m.) — Caller reported their dog ran off. Officers advised in case they see a loose dog.
Lincoln School (7:48 p.m.) — Caller reported someone riding minibikes down at the school. Officer responded and spoke to the parties, who are selling them and wanted to meet in a public area.
Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (9:55 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces reported someone at the gate with an outstanding warrant. Ryan Cormier, 33, of Lunenburg was arrested on a traffic offense warrant and brought to the Concord District Court.
Acorn Lane (5:25 p.m.) — Caller reported that a vehicle had been parked on the road for a few days. Officers responded and found a note left about the car being disabled. Officers attempted to contact the owner.
Tower Road (8:13 p.m.) — Officer spoke to a resident regarding an attempted scam.
Lincoln Road (9:08 p.m.) — Report of smoke in the area of Town Hall. Fire Department investigated and found a resident had a small fire pit in their back yard.
Bowles Terrace (7:52 a.m.) — One-car crash into a telephone pole. One person was injured and transported to the Emerson Hospital.
Lincoln School (3:07 p.m.) — Report of a minor crash in the school parking lot. Officers responded and took a report.
St. Anne’s Church (7:30 p.m.) — Caller reported vehicles parked on the side of the church and was concerned it could be people looking for a place to hunt. Officer found that an event was ongoing at the church; vehicles left after the event was over.
Drumlin Farm (2:29 p.m.) — Caller reported a possible sick raccoon on the property. Officer responded and the raccoon did not appear to be sick but was avoiding people. No action taken.
Bank of America (3:50 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked in the bank parking lot. The party lives locally and was headed home.
Wells Road (6:27 p.m.) — An elderly confused party called requesting assistance at the residence. Officer went to the house and spoke to the party; everything was fine.
The Freemasons will host an open house at the Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge (181 Lincoln Rd.) on Saturday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Freemasonry, the world’s oldest and largest philanthropic fraternity, includes 35,000 members and more than 230 lodges in Massachusetts. To learn more, visit askafreemason.massfreemasonry.net.
Because SNAP and WIC benefits do not cover diapers, the 9th annual Metro-Boston Diaper Drive organized by Lincolnites Kim Jalet and Kerstin Sinkevicius is collecting donation of disposable diapers until Sunday, Oct. 24. This year’s drive will be entirely online — visit mbdiapers.org to make a donation, or click directly on the links to the Amazon and Target registries. All diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Lincoln as well as Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, and Lexington. For more information, email Jalet at jaletkl@gmail.com.
The first phase of an engineering study of the wastewater treatment plant near the mall shows that it’s working well and has additional capacity to handle some commercial or residential development in the area.
The plant in the field about 1,500 feet north of the apartments was built in 1975 to serve the Lincoln Woods apartments and the businesses in the mall. It’s now owned and operated by TCB (The Community Builders), which is paying part of the cost of the Wright-Pierce study. The town needs to know the status of the plant to make informed decisions about rezoning South Lincoln to allow for more types of development.
The plant is “a little long in the tooth” and the building used mainly for records and water testing is in bad shape and needs to be replaced soon, said Kevin Olson, senior project manager at Wright-Pierce, as he presented Phase 1 of the study to the Planning Board meeting on October 5. However, after visiting the plant and looking at maintenance records, the plant is “performing well and is not overloaded,” said his Wright-Pierce colleague Adam Higgins.
The plant’s state permit allows it to handle up to 26,000 gallons per day of wastewater, though its average annual flow is less than half that. “There’s still available treatment capacity and flow capacity,” Higgins said.
Assuming the plant is maintained but not substantially upgraded or replaced, it will cost about $311,000 for work that should be done within the next five years and another $121,000 (in 2021 dollars) for work done in five to 15 years, according to the study.
Phase 2 of the study will look at whether the plant can handle flow above 26,000 gallons per day (gpd) for which it’s permitted, alternative treatment methods with a life-cycle cost analysis, and a recommendation on how to proceed, both with flows and treatment type.
“The increase in flow will likely be cut off at 40,000 gpd, but we’re waiting for input from the Planning Board and SLPAC [the board’s South Lincoln Planning and Advisory Committee] if more is desired based on wanting additional commercial/residential development,” Higgins said in an email.
The Phase 2 report is due in early December, with a report to the Planning Board expected shortly before Christmas.
Neither the board nor SLPAC has voted on how the cost will be divided between the town and TCB if plant upgrades are desired, “but my expectation is that whoever does the development will pay for any required treatment plant work or expansion,” board Chair Margaret Olson said. “That being said, the town does need to know what can be done and what it would cost before investing large amounts of staff and volunteer time into proposing changes that would require wastewater treatment.”
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.)
Zoom advance registration link (night 1)
SOTT #2 (Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.)
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.
September 27Tabor 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.
Nothing of note.
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
Nothing of note.
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.
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.
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.