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

GearTicks pivot from making robots to PPE

Olivia Crisafi delivers masks made by the Lincoln GearTicks to the Newburyport Salvation Army.

By Olivia Crisafi and Victor Han

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the GearTicks, Lincoln’s FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, has been making and delivering face shields for nearby health facilities, fire departments, and nursing homes.

After winning Inspire, the top award at the Massachusetts state championship, the GearTicks shifted focus away from competing, since the FIRST Championship event in Detroit was cancelled, and looked at ways to use their unique skills, tools, and materials to help the community. They recognized the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) from health care workers and first responders and decided to put their mechanical design skills to work.

The GearTicks designed two versions of the face shield, both of which used easily available transparent report covers to shield the user. They used CAD (computer-aided design) software to design simple, lightweight finished products. One design uses 3D printing technology, while the other uses laser-cutting technology. Due to the shortage of rubber bands, the team utilized rubber tubing to secure the 3D printed headpiece.

One of the laser-cut face shields.

To date, they GearTicks have delivered 275 face shields to nine facilities. Email hello@gearticks.com if you have need of their face shields. 

Property sales in May 2020

40 Huckleberry Hill Rd. — Susan E. Conway to Alexandra Chomut and Christopher E. Brook for $1,800,000 (May 29)

41 Greenridge Lane — Patrick Greene to Christopher McCarty and Nataly Dvash for $550,000 (May 27)

59 Winter St. — Richard Wiggin to Marcus and Nicole Ruopp for $1,420,000 (May 18)

3 Smith Hill Road — Piyush Srinivastava to Brendon and Rachel Reiff for $1,150,000 (May 8)

21 Birchwood Lane — Alan J. Shapiro to Anthony M. Dubon and Kary K. Lee-Dubon for $598,320 (May 8)

54 Conant Rd. — Mary Q. Pope to Meghan K. Lytton for $1,090,000 (May 6)

Sandy Pond Rd. — Joseph Kasputys to [name withheld at editor’s discretion] for $1,078,000 (May 2)

L-S Mutual Aid Network aims to help and connect communities

After only three months in existence, the Lincoln-Sudbury Mutual Aid Network has redistributed over $3,500 in donations, and more than 150 community members have reached out to support the group with money or time.

“Mutual aid is an effective way for communities to take collective responsibility in supporting each other when governmental systems are failing us,” said group member Leah Kanzer of Lincoln. “This type of support historically has existed within marginalized communities, but because of the pandemic, there is a greater widespread need, and this kind of network has been formalized all around the country.”

In addition to redistributing funds, the group coordinates grocery deliveries and connects community members virtually for tutoring and companionship for residents of Lincoln, Sudbury, and surrounding communities. They also act as a clearinghouse for resources for housing, workers’ funds in the state, unemployment, childcare, mental health, and education.

The L-S Mutual Aid Network consists of about eight organizers who are white college-aged students from Lincoln and Sudbury, but they want to expand to “fully reflect the community we aim to support,” Kanzer said. The hope is that more permanent residents of Lincoln and Sudbury join the team and sustain it after the Covid-19 crisis and when the current organizers have moved away.

“Coming together to work as a team and sharing resources lets the community speak up for itself with change at the forefront of everyone’s mind,” said group member Catherine Garrett of Sudbury. By pooling resources, “we’re able to form relationships outside of government intervention and trust one another. Making this statement that we can work as a neighborhood without the government is powerful and uplifting. My hope is that this network is able to provide the people of Lincoln and Sudbury a place to form relationships and create practical change through projects and community connection.” 

“The L-S Mutual Aid Network has been a huge learning experience for me,” Kanzer added. “Working outside of the nonprofit model gives us the freedom to experiment with how mutual aid should work in our unique towns.”

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Food truck picnic at Pierce House

The Pierce House is hosting a Lincoln picnic on Saturday, July 18 from 4–8 p.m. with several vendors (Moyzilla food truck with Asian food, the Bacon Truck, and the Shuck Truck with fresh local seafood) offering dinner for sale. Bring your own blanket and beverages. Patrons are encouraged to wear wear face masks and maintain social distance of six feet while in line and on blankets, and they may enter the Pierce House to order and purchase food. All staff and food service is in compliance with CDC guidelines.

Library book pickup hours expand

Starting on Monday, July 6, the Lincoln Library will expand its curbside pickup hours for reserved books. The new hours will be Mondays and Thursdays from 1–7 p.m., and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Hours are subject to weather; any changes will be posted on the library’s website, which also has more information on the reservation and pickup process.

Covid-19 bereavement workshops, fundraising walk

Care Dimensions, which operates the hospice house in Lincoln, is hosting single-session virtual support groups and an eight-week-long support group for people who have had a family member die from the Covid-19 virus. The sessions are Tuesday, July 21 from 4–6 p.m. (RSVP by July 17) and Thursday, Aug. 20 from 3–5 p.m. (RSVP by August 14).

Led by a bereavement counselor, the eight-week group (for those whose loved one died at least three months prior to the first meeting) will be a safe space to process grief, learn coping techniques, and make connections with others who are on a similar grief journey. This group requires commitment from participants to attend all sessions, which will be on Wednesdays from September 9 to October 28 from 3–4:30 p.m. (RSVP by September 4).

All sessions will be held via Zoom. Although there is no charge for most support groups, donations are appreciated. For more information or to register, click here, call 855-744-5100, or email  grief@caredimensions.org.

Care Dimensions is revamping the format of its 33rd Annual Walk for Hospice to ensure the safety of walkers and the community. This year, individuals and teams are encouraged to walk when and where they feel comfortable by Sunday, Sept. 27. To learn more, register a team or individual, or make a donation, go to www.caredimensions.org/walk.

Care Dimensions staff care for hospice patients where they live and at two inpatient houses (one in Lincoln). They also run HomeMD, which provides in-home primary care to patients over age 65 in select communities on the North Shore and greater Boston who have difficulty leaving home. The Care Dimensions Learning Institute educates more than 7,000 healthcare professionals and community members each year on advanced illness and end-of-life topics.

My Turn: Thanks from the Front Steps Project

By Corey Nimmer

This is a bit delayed, but I just wanted to reach out with an update and huge thank-you regarding the Front Steps Project fundraiser that we wrapped up in early June.

Between May 10 and June 5, households in Lincoln participated by posing for a five-minute photo shoot outside their homes and received digital copies in exchange for a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which operates the town’s food pantry and provides financial support to those in need. In the end, 89 households participated over 12 shooting days, and together we raised well over $7,000!

If you want to read a little more about the story behind this and see the gallery of photos, you can do so by clicking here.

I would like to thank Kristen Collins and Cara Soulia for starting the Front Steps Project in Needham back in March and for their guidance along the way. I’d also like to thank Ursula Nowak, Tomasina Lucchese, and Sarah Bishop for their help with organizing, spreading the word, and processing donations. Most of all, thank-you to all the incredible people who participated in this project. You are what makes Lincoln great and your generosity will help ensure that everyone who calls it home can stay here safely and happily.

Keep an eye out for some of the photos on my car in the 4th of July parade!

Corey Nimmer

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Pandemic effects for police: more traffic stops, fraud claims

Traffic stops in Lincoln since January 1 (click to enlarge).

Lincoln police have experienced the Covid-19 pandemic in various ways over the months — many fewer traffic stops at first, and now, a rash of reports of fraudulent unemployment claims.

Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts on March 10, and starting a few days before that, the rate of routine traffic stops began falling dramatically (see graph), partly to safeguard officers and the public from infection but mostly because traffic volume plummeted as everyone sheltered in place. The rate has crept back up since late May, but nothing compared to the pre-pandemic days.

“Traffic was pretty much nonexistent” in those early weeks, Chief of Police Kevin Kennedy said. These days, officers wear masks when approaching and interacting with drivers, and collect as much information verbally as they can, as opposed to having the driver hand over his or her license and registration.

Another effect of the pandemic, of course, is that unemployment has shot up as businesses laid off staff. As a result, millions of people have filed for unemployment benefits — and police have been getting reports from residents who were notified by the state that unemployment claims had been filed in their names.

“It’s all over the country — there have been a ton of fraudulent unemployment claims” using compromised Social Security numbers, Kennedy said. He advised anyone who has had this happen to check their recent credit history to make sure other accounts weren’t hacked into, or false accounts created in their name. The federal government is investigating, he added.

Another recent development that’s required police attention is the surge of visitors to Walden Pond, more popular than ever since many other recreational venues in the area are closed due to Covid-19. Because the main parking lot closes when it reaches capacity, visitors park illegally on Baker Bridge Road and Old Concord Road. Kennedy said police plan to install electronic message boards warning people that parking in those areas may result in their cars getting towed.

Police log for June 18-24, 2020

June 18

Mary’s Way (6:51 q.m.) — Caller complaining about trucks working early at a construction site. Caller advised to contact the building department.

Todd Pond Road (6:59 p.m.) — Caller reported that her mother was solicited over the phone from someone purporting to be from a veteran’s agency.

Old Concord Road (9:14 a.m.) — Caller reported a landscaping crew is using a leaf blower. Officer checked the area and the crew was not using a leaf blower.

Hanscom Drive (6:54 p.m.) — Caller reported passing by a crash scene (car vs. MBTA bus). Officers checked the area and there were no signs of a crash. MBTA confirms no reports of a crash involving a bus

Sandy Pond Road (6:54 p.m.) — Caller reported possibly being followed by a moped from Concord into Lincoln. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate.

June 19

Lincoln Road (10:10 a.m.) — Caller reported a fraudulent unemployment claim was filed in his name. Report taken.

Morningside Lane (1:57 p.m.) — Court paperwork delivered to a resident.

Baker Bridge Road (4:00 p.m.) —  Caller complained about landscapers using leaf blowers.               

Baker Bridge Road (June 9 at 4:08 p.m. and 5:29 p.m., June 20 at 11:04 a.m., June 21 at 9:17 p.m., June 23 at 7:42 p.m.) — Caller complaining about cars parked along Baker Bridge Road. Officers checked the area; Walden Pond staff will make an announcement. Cars were ticketed in some cases.

Virginia Road (7:30 p.m.) — Caller reported that earlier in the day, mulch at the Minuteman Commons complex was smoking. Landscapers had been on scene and it no longer was smoldering. Caller advised to call back if she sees any smoke or fire.

South Great Road (10:37 p.m.) — Caller reported hearing an alarm going off in the area. Police were unable to locate the source of the alarm.

June 20

Conant Road (6:36 p.m.) — Caller reported that his house was egged sometime the previous night. Report taken.

Hastings Road, Weston (10:22 p.m.) — Weston police reported a missing child over age 12, possibly on Rte 117 or Rte 126. A Lincoln officer checking the area located the juvenile and notified the parents.

June 21

Birchwood Lane (8:18 p.m.) — Caller reported that a squirrel was in her house. Fire Department assisted the resident.

June 22

Old County Road (8:19 a.m.) — Large tree down across the roadway near Rte 2. DPW notified.

Concord Road (12:07 p.m.) — Caller reported a small brush fire near St. Anne’s Church. Fire Department will handle.

Twisted Tree Café (12:20 p.m.) — Report of an odor of gas. Fire and police evacuated the building and notified National Grid and Eversource. Gas and power were later restored to the building.

South Great Road (3:36 p.m.) — Resident reported that someone backed into his vehicle white it was parked in the Mt. Misery lot. Report taken.

June 23

Virginia Road, Concord (1:32 a.m.) — Concord police requested assistance with two parties on bikes who were acting suspicious and fled into the woods.

South Great Road (9:43 a.m.) — A passing motorist notified a detail officer of a brush fire along the railroad tracks near Rte. 117. Fire Department located and handled the fire while train service was stopped.

Stonehedge Road (2:02 p.m.) — Caller reported wires down across the road near Tower Road. Eversource notified and responded.

Premier Cleaners, Lincoln mall (3:52 p.m.) — Caller reported the store is open and no one is inside. Officers checked the area and everything looked OK. Officers were able to lock the door and the owner was notified.

June 24

MBTA station (1:44 a.m.) — Officer observed a party at the train platform and checked to see if they were OK. Party was out for a walk.

My Turn: Girl Scouts are a big help to food pantry

By Tomasina Lucchese

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston would like to thank the Lincoln Girl Scouts for organizing a very successful July Fourth-themed drive!

Rising seventh-grader Ariana Shokrollahi and her mother Elaine Papoulias organized a service project and invited Girl Scouts of all ages to join them in supplying fun treats for the families of the food pantry. And what better thing for the Girl Scouts to generously give than cookies? They gifted cookies in Fourth of July-themed bags, decorated with American flags and other patriotic treats, to more than 90 families. And as a result, there were many smiles of appreciation as the families were warmly welcomed into summer.

Rising seventh-grader Ariana Shokrollahi and her mother Elaine Papoulias get ready to deliver bags of cookies.

The generosity and support of groups like the Girl Scouts enables SVdP to do our work. Twice a month, we serve a wonderful array of healthy foods to 275 members at the SVdP Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston. There’s a growing need for food in our community these days, and because of increased demand statewide, we cannot rely on the Greater Boston Food Bank to the extent we could in the past. SVdP also offers emergency financial assistance throughout the year to many neighbors in crisis. SVdP truly appreciates everyone’s support — we wouldn’t be able to do our work without it. 

If you or somebody you know is in need of food or emergency financial help, please reach out at 781-899-2611 ext. 4 or svdplincolnweston@gmail.com. This is a challenging time for many and although it can be difficult to ask for help, we are here to support. All communication remains completely confidential.

With much gratitude,

Tomasina Lucchese
Vice President of SVdP of Lincoln and Weston

”My Turn” is a forum for Lincoln residents to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.