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

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 Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.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.

News acorns

Socially distanced Fourth of July activities announced

Lincoln’s usual July 4 Firecracker Road Race and parade can’t go on as usual because of the pandemic, but the Parks and Recreation Department has planned some alternatives.

On Independence Day, get out on the town and exercise, and then post a comment and picture that represents your workout on Facebook using this link. Feel free to be creative. The Lincoln Squirrel hopes to publish some of the entries for readers who don’t do Facebook.

This is a free event, but participants re encouraged to donate to the Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides small grants or loans to residents in extreme financial difficulty to enable them to stay safely in our community, or the Lincoln Small Necessities Project, which provides smaller amounts for basic needs like food, medication, and lodging that do not meet the guidelines of the fund program.

To make a donation, please send a check made out to “Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund/Small Necessities Project, Town of Lincoln” to Lincoln Emergency Assistance Committee, c/o Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773. You may designate your donation to go to either the Emergency Assistance Fund or the Small Necessities Project, or to be divided between them.

The traditional parade will take the form of a “reverse parade” on July 4 starting at about 10:30 a.m., with the usual spectators becoming the motorized participants. Register your vehicle online at www.lincolnrec.com. Then decorate your vehicle and arrive at Ballfield Road by 10:15 a.m. ready to roll.

The route will be as follows: Ballfield Road to Lincoln Road to Old Sudbury Road to Route 117 to Tower Road to Lincoln Road to Sandy Pond Road to Cider Lane (The Commons), under Route 2 to Route 2A to Sunnyside Lane to Morningside Lane to Bedford Road to Lincoln Road to Ballfield Road.

  • Participants must stay inside their vehicles; they cannot be on trailers, truck beds, or roofs.
  • Participants cannot throw anything from their vehicle (candy, toys, handouts, etc.)
  • Only registered vehicles may join the parade
  • No golf carts, ATVs, horses, bicycles, etc.
  • Vehicle decorations must be less than 10 feet tall and must be securely affixed to the vehicle so as not to fall off while traveling at 15 m.p.h.

If you just want to watch, find a socially distant space along the parade route, decorate yourself and your space, and cheer back! Some of you live on the route, others can find plenty of space along roadside paths or public land. Enjoy a different and equally memorable way to get together.

As with the morning workout, this is a free event, but consider donating to the Lincoln Food Pantry at stjulia.org/svdp in place of an activity fee. They provide meal and financial assistance to many community members in need and have been a lifesaving service during this pandemic. Donations in any amount are very much appreciated.

Drumlin Farm open on weekends

Drumlin Farm is now open on weekends during the summer and plans to open its farm stand for public sales on Saturdays beginning on July 4. The farm will be closed to the public on weekdays during July and August while summer camp is in session.

As required under state Covid-19 guidelines, the farm is now using an online entry and parking reservation system. This means all visitors (including Audubon members and Lincoln residents) must reserve a visit time prior to arriving; you cannot reserve a spot in person. This will help limit the number of people at the sanctuary at any given time and ensure the safety of our visitors and staff. More details and the link for reservations can be found at massaudubon.org/reservations.

Kuol Acuek, former “Lost Boy” and Lincoln resident, passes away

Kuol graduating from L-S.

Kuol Acuek, a former “Lost Boy” from Sudan who lived at Codman Community Farms in Lincoln for a time, died on June 15 after a three-year battle with cancer. At the time of his death, he was at a refugee camp in Uganda with his father and brother by his side.

Born in Bor, Sudan, Kuol was among 20,000 boys who were displaced or orphaned seeking refuge from the civil war in that country. In 1989, at the age of 7, Kuol was separated from his family and travelled over a month by foot from his village to Ethiopia. He lived in a refugee camp in Ethiopia for two years when in 1991, the war forced the Lost Boys to flee once again to Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Kuol described living in the refugee camp as “very very hard.” There was little food and the camp was extremely violent.

He lived there for almost ten years before coming to the United States. first to Roxbury and then to Lincoln. He lived at Codman Farm and attended Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (LSRHS). While at L-S, he was a soccer star and helped bring the soccer team to the state championship. Kuol was loved by his peers and teachers alike. He graduated in 2005 and attended Lasell University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in sports management in 2009. He lived in Chelsea after college and worked at the Langham Hotel.

Kuol with his wife and daughter.

Kuol was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2017. He was very grateful to the medical professionals at Dana Farber, Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and various rehabilitation centers that cared for him during his illness. In March 2020, he went to Uganda to be with his wife’s family and his father and brother. Although he had every intention of returning home to Boston, he became gravely ill and died on June 15.

Kuol is survived by his wife of three years, Achol Tavisa, and his one-year-old daughter Aliee. Donations in his memory may be made to the preschool and education scholarship fund for his daughter. Donations can be sent to the South Sudanese Enrichment for Families, PO Box 492, Lincoln, MA 01773.

There will be a virtual funeral on Sunday, June 28, 2020 at 5p.m. on Zoom. If you would like to attend, please send an email to davidchristenfeld05@gmail.com and you will be sent the link.

News acorns

Water use restrictions in effect; drought possible

Lincoln’s normal summer water use restrictions are now in effect, and restrictions may tighten if the state enters a drought, as now seems possible.

The usual May 1 to September 30 restrictions are required by the state Department of Environmental Protection because Lincoln annually exceeds the withdrawal permit and the daily per-person water use guideline of 65 gallons. Water Department Superintendent MaryBeth Wiser told the Water Commission this week that Massachusetts Drought Task Force is meeting this week to assess possible drought conditions and may vote to impose more stringent restrictions than those required by Lincoln’s official drought plan, which was developed after the 2017 drought. Wiser will report back to the commission on the results of that meeting on July 8.

Virtual bingo hosted by LLCT

Join the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of virtual bingo. We’ll be highlighting some of Lincoln’s bees and butterflies, but no naturalist knowledge is required to win.This is a free event, but registration is required; click here to register. Once you’re registered, you’ll receive the Zoom meeting link and a bingo card. There will also be prizes from local businesses and LLCT swag.

Grief groups for children and teens

Children and teens (rising first-graders to recent high school graduates) who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life are invited to join a virtual group hosted by Care Dimensions to connect with grieving peers and learn some coping tools to navigate this difficult time. Group will be held via Zoom starting on Tuesday, June 30 the following times:

  • 10 a.m. – Elementary school students
  • 11 a.m. – Middle school students
  • 12 p.m. – High school students

Advanced registration is required; rolling enrollment. For more information or to register, contact Kelia Bergin, children’s program coordinator, at KBergin@CareDimensions.org or 781-373-6570.

Changes afoot in several town employee positions

While Lincoln is transitioning to a new Council on Aging director, several other personnel moves are occurring as well.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Dan Pereira is expected to move into the assistant town administrator’s job once a new PRD director is in place. “I’m really excited about the possibility of a partnership and having Dan join the leadership of the town,” said Town Administrator Tim Higgins, who said he had met with Pereira several times. “To a person, [the PRD] are thrilled for the opportunity for Dan to progress and for us to keep him in the fold.”

Pereira replaces Mary Day, who left at the end of May. Her departure was sudden but was a “voluntary resignation,” said Higgins, adding that he could not comment further on personnel matters.

Day was appointed in 2013 after working for several years as the town treasurer/collector. The role involves supporting Higgins in day-to-day administration and oversight of town services as well as overseeing the town’s human resources, risk management, and purchasing functions. 

Paula Vaughn-Mackenzie, administrative assistant in the Planning Department, is the acting director of planning while Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney takes a leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act. She’s expected to return on September 1, Higgins said.

Finally, Brian Young has been named deputy fire chief after serving in an acting capacity for about a year. “The last four months have really kind of sealed the deal for me, seeing him taking on responsibility after responsibility” since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, Higgins said. “In short order, he has really grown into the role and embraced the role.”

Bottum retires as Council on Aging director

After a decade as director of Lincoln’s Council on Aging, Carolyn Bottum is retiring next week and will be succeeded by former assistant director Abigail Butt.

“I decided this would be a good time to retire about a year ago,” Bottom said. “I knew that Abby would be fantastic [as director], and we anticipate it will be a seamless transition.”

Butt, who was hired almost three years ago, has been instrumental in expanding the town’s human services network, including establishing the social worker position and mental health clinics, outreach campaigns such as the holiday gift bags, helping start the Rental Assistance Program and other housing initiatives. Bottum also credited her with computerizing the COA and creating a single intake form for residents of all ages who need services.

When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, “we were able to immediately generate lists of at-risk residents and reach out to offer assistance via telehealth and housing assistance when needed. Without Abby, we would have had none of these,” Bottum said.

Amy Gagne

Taking Butt’s place will be newly hired assistant director Amy Gagne. She is already well known to the COA, having worked with Bottum, Butt, and public health nurse Tricia McGean to create the New Connections Cafe at The Commons for memory-impaired residents. From 2007 to 2019, Gagne was the community relations manager/care coordinator at Right At Home of Bedford. Since 2019, she was community outreach director for RiverCourt Residences Senior Living Community in Groton.

“I’ve been helping to serve the most vulnerable population for over 12 years, and it’s been an honor to be trusted by these local families. Programming is something I enjoy and look forward to brainstorming with the team to bring some new events to the community,” Gagne said. “Lincoln has such wonderful programming, and I’ll work hard to continue that and have my door open for any new ideas they may be interested in for the future.”

Bottum cited the significant growth of Lincoln’s human services system and working with residents on the community center project. “Having adequate, accessible, and attractive space is so essential to achieving the COA’s mission,” she said. “And Mary Ann Thompson’s design, if that’s what the town chooses, would be a beautiful, ecologically sustainable, and very functional home for the COA, Parks and Rec, and the other organizations that will use the building.”

The staff, volunteers and residents who use the COA’s programs and services will be very much missed, Bottum said. “Even before I started, I was told that Karen Santucci, who was director before me, had always said that being the COA director was the best job in town, and I have to agree wholeheartedly. The COA is where so many people with such a rich array of life experiences gather to share the best of themselves and expand their horizons together. I’ve always found Lincoln residents of all ages to be kind, thoughtful, and truly wanting to make a meaningful difference. Every day I would come to work knowing that, sometime during the day, people would come into my office and tell me a story about some fascinating life experience, or share a great idea, or just let me into some aspect of their lives.”