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

Rental assistance program is maxed out

The Lincoln Rental Assistance Program (LRAP) that started just a few months ago is asking for $16,000 for the fiscal year beginning in July, but applications indicate that the need is many times that figure.

Qualifying households are eligible for up to $5,000 in rental assistance per year for three years. The amount of subsidy each household actually receives is based on their income and rent. “Based on these limits, the total dollar amount if we were to fund every eligible household up to their eligible subsidy would be about $100,000 per year,” said Carolyn Bottum, director of the Council on Aging (COA), which receives applications for the program overseen by the Lincoln Housing Commission. (Although the COA is involved, LRAP eligibility is not limited to seniors.)

The program, which began accepting applications last fall, is funded through the Community Preservation Fund, which in turn is funded by a small surcharge on property taxes plus state grants. Its goal is to provide greater housing stability and housing opportunities to cost-burdened households who are renting or wish to rent qualifying housing units in Lincoln. Each participant receives enough funds to ensure they don’t pay more than 30% of their household income for rent and certain utilities.

In its first year, the pilot program’s budget was $30,000. Some of that amount went for startup expenses, including work by town counsel to make sure the program met legal requirements and hiring an independent housing agency to verify eligibility, hold the lottery, and then disburse the checks. As a result, actual disbursements didn’t begin until later than expected, and there are funds left over from this year that can be used in fiscal 2021.

Twenty-nine households submitted applications by the December 31 deadline, and two more have requested information and/or applications since mid-March. The process of verifying applications is ongoing, but of the eight applications they have verified, only one has not been eligible, Bottum said.

The Covid-19 pandemic will almost certainly increase demand for the program. “Since we are still in the beginning of the emergency and the resulting economic impacts, I do believe we will have more applications come in,” Bottum said.

The local program follows federal income and affordability guidelines. Income limits to qualify for the LRAP are $77,000 for a two-person household and $96,250 for a four-person household. The 2020 median income in this area for a four-person household is $119,000.

Anyone interested may download program guidelines and an application, or call the COA at 781-259-8811 or email bottumc@lincolntown.org to receive materials by mail.

Letter to the editor: there are no ventilators for our planet

To the editor:

Today (April 22) is the 50th year celebration of Earth Day, a day to celebrate Mother Earth and bring attention to the impact of human activity on climate change. Let Covid-19 serve as a global wake-up call. If nations are not prepared for a pandemic — whether it be a virus or rising seas — the threat will not wait.

After Donald Trump was elected president, a group of advisors from the Obama Administration met with a group of Trump advisers to bring them up to speed on protocols that were in place to meet three powerful threats — cyberattack, natural disasters, and pandemics. Each group was represented by about 30 advisers. The need for preparation and vigilance was emphasized. By the time the Covid-19 came to national attention, only about six of the original 30 advisors were still working in the Trump administration. And the U.S. Pandemic Response Team had been disbanded in 2018. No one was watching the store.

When Covid-19 exploded into Trump’s consciousness at the end of February, he called it another “hoax” propagated by the Democrats. “It’ll be over by April when it gets warm,” he promised. “It’s not going to be that bad. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” Well, it’s April.

This Virus Denier became a Virus Blamer, as if that would change the course of Covid-19. The virus paid no attention, nor will climate change.

The President promised to have a vaccine in a few months. Scientists say that is not possible. He said free tests are available everywhere and that protective coverings for hospital staff are widely available. The hospitals say it is not so. On March 11, the president spoke from the Oval Office, ostensibly to reassure the country. Never has a leader in this country spoken on so serious an issue with so little information, so little conviction, and so little empathy as Trump did that evening. The next day, the stock market suffered its biggest meltdown since the 1987 crash. And that got his attention.

As the coronavirus moves silently around the world, it leaves a screaming trail of destruction. The impact is immediate. When we emerge from its grip, however, the biggest pan-threat of all time still awaits our urgent attention: climate change. Let us pause to reflect on what the coronavirus has taught us. Imagine the threat. Listen to the experts. Be proactive.

To wait and watch (or ignore) is irresponsible. Every president since JFK has warned about climate change. Decades ago, Jimmy Carter and Al Gore spoke to us with conviction and empathy, warning of devastating climate changes, and the need to act to reverse the trends. Nixon signed the National Environmental Policy Act in 1970. Reagan focused on ozone depletion. Bush 41 created the National Climate Assessment and focused on acid rain. Clinton created the Climate Initiative. Bush 43 took a detour and pulled out of the Kyoto Accords. Obama negotiated and signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016.

The alarms went off but the batteries are dying as Trump undermines 60 years of achievements. There will come a point where the planet can no longer support us any more than our hospitals can support those infected by Covid-19. There are no ventilators for our planet. The only masks are the ones that cover our eyes.

Wake up, America. This is a test. Let the lack of preparation and the delayed response to the coronavirus be a warning. It is abundantly clear that the nations of the world are interdependent. If we are to save our one planet, we will have to change our ways. The United States cannot step away from global engagement. Climate change is neither a hoax nor a political issue. It is a fact of life that knows nothing of political affiliation. It is a “virus” created by humans which humans must cure. We the people of the world have to step up to ensure that we take the necessary preventative measures in time to save our one precious Planet that sustains all life. We have only one chance.

Sincerely,

Sarah Cannon Holden
Weston Road

News acorns

Kids’ programs this week from Farrington NatureLinc

Farrington NatureLinc is going virtual with partners sites to offer with live streaming outdoor adventures and nature crafts for kids twice every day this week. Topics will be:

  • Tuesday, April 21 — Cairns and Rocks (11 a.m.), Flowing Water (2 p.m.)
  • Wednesday, April 22 — Earth Day (11 a.m.), Nature Journals (2 p.m.)
  • Thursday, April 23 — Nature Weaving (11 a.m.), Bird Feeders (2 p.m.)
  • Friday, April 24 — The Story of the Land ( 11 a.m.), Backyard Wildflowers (2 p.m.)

Those who like FNL’s Facebook page in advance will get notified when each event is about to go live, or the programs can be viewed on its YouTube page a day or so after each Facebook Live event.

FNL will also host Goat Yoga online on Saturday, May 9 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.; click here to register. Get a sneak peak at the baby goats in this Chip In Farm video.

Walden Woods Project offers virtual events

The Walden Woods Project has three more “Thursdays with Thoreau” scheduled. Each event takes place from 10–11 a.m. and from 4–5 p.m. Registration for each session opens the Thursday before at 5 p.m. Click here to register for the April 23 session.

  • April 23: Society — What do these times suggest about us as a society and how can Thoreau’s words help us reflect on where we currently stand as a society?
  • April 30: Spring — “Shall a man not have his spring as well as the plants?” (Journal, June 1850). How have you been able to experience and observe the transformations of spring this year? Has social distancing allowed you more or less opportunity to notice these seasonal changes? What metaphorical lessons, many noted by Thoreau, does spring have to offer us?
  • May 7: Living Without Regrets — May 6 marks the anniversary of Thoreau’s passing. On his deathbed, Thoreau stated that he had no regrets about his life. What would it take to come to the end of one’s life and have no regrets? In what ways did Thoreau’s life and outlook put him in that position? Are you inspired in this way by Thoreau’s life?

Do you have a question about Thoreau, his work, life, family, or friends? Ask Thoreau scholar and author Jeffrey S. Cramer, WWP Curator of Collections, on Thursday, April 27 from 1–2 p.m. Participants may submit questions prior to the virtual event, or during the chat. Click here to register (participants will receive Zoom access information after registering).

In honor of its 30th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, please click here to donate to the Walden Woods Project and help fund its free virtual events.

L-S seniors will get plants instead of balloons

Because of the Covid-19 epidemic, the L-S Class of 2022 Steering Committee will modify its traditional fundraiser.  Instead of selling and attaching balloons to the mailboxes of graduating seniors, they’ll distribute potted red blooms donated by Cavicchio Greenhouses located close to the high school in Sudbury.

Social distancing requirements mean that gathering dozens of volunteers to inflate and tie up the balloons won’t be possible. In addition, helium is in short supply because it’s used for a type of respiratory therapy as well as for cooling the superconducting magnets used in MRI scanners.

Any balloon orders already received can be converted to these red potted blooms. Pennant orders will be honored unless we hear otherwise in the coming weeks from the manufacturer. Pickup and delivery will be coordinated with the school in keeping with health guidelines with details to come. Recipients can get creative with their displays by adding, bows, flags, signs, and items to the planters in a display that honors graduates and the contributions they’ve made as an LS students.

Orders for plants can be made until May 20 by clicking here. Anyone with questions may email celebrateourgraduates@gmail.com.

Letter to the editor: thanks from food pantry

Andrew Craig and Henry Darnall with the vanload of donations they collected.

To the editor:

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul would like to thank Andrew Craig for organizing a food drive for our Food Pantry in Lincoln. With the help of his mother Julia, his friend Henry Darnall, and Henry’s dad Greg, he collected food from 30 households. They delivered two carloads of food to the Food Pantry, sorted the food, and checked all the use-by dates. It was an incredibly successful food drive. Our thanks go also to the 30 households who took part by donating food so generously.

It is not too late to help. Please drop food donations off at the side entrance on the left side of St. Joseph Church, where the ramp is. If you buy food at Donelan’s you can drop it off in the collection barrel behind the registers.

Items most needed are pasta sauce, Progresso soup, cereal, pasta, brown rice, white tuna, cans of corn, cans of black beans, and Campbell’s chicken noodle soup, as well as toilet paper and paper towels.For monetary donations, please make checks payable to St. Vincent de Paul and mail them to St. Vincent de Paul, PO Box 324, Lincoln MA.

We are very impressed with how much food Andrew was able to collect. The need is growing fast, and we rely on donations more than ever before. We have never before given out so much food. It is heartening to see a young person like Andrew take initiative and so many Lincoln residents responding to his request for donations.

Sincerely,

Ursula Nowak
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Joseph Conference

Region seeks special designation for Battle Road Scenic Byway

There will be a virtual public meeting on Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. on the efforts to nominate the Battle Road Scenic Byway, which includes Minuteman National Historical Park in Lincoln and other towns, as an All-American Road.

A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized as having one or more of six “intrinsic qualities” — archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, or scenic. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation’s scenic but less traveled roads and promote tourism and economic development. All-American Roads must have two of the six intrinsic qualities. The designation means they have features that do not exist elsewhere in the United States and are unique and important enough to be tourist destinations unto themselves.

There are 150 National Scenic Byways in the United States; 41 of them are All-American Roads. The Battle Road Scenic Byway was established in 2006.

The Lincoln Board of Selectmen submitted a letter to the Federal Highway Administration in support of the nomination and outlining the road’s history earlier this month. An All-America Road designation “will enshrine the storied Byway that sparked revolutionary thought and action essential to the American narrative and will continue to promote its status as a national tourist attraction,” the letter says.

Speakers at the virtual meeting will be Clarissa Rowe, chair of the Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee (BRSBC); Richard Canale, committee vice-chair and B.J. Dunn, Minute Man National Historical Park superintendent. To participate in the meeting, click here. For questions, contact Ali Carter at acarter@town.arlington.ma.us.

Letter to the editor: please support the COA

Dear neighbors,

Like all of us, the Lincoln Council on Aging (COA) has been faced with many new challenges as a result of the coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic. While many of the COA’s regular programs and activities have been cancelled, others have adapted and moved online. The entire COA staff is working remotely and focused on protecting and serving the town’s most vulnerable residents of all ages by helping people find the resources — food, counseling, medical care, etc. — they need in these unprecedented times.

Especially now, the needs of those served by the COA have been increasing faster than the town’s ability to cover the cost of meeting those needs. Fortunately, the Friends of the Lincoln COA, a nonprofit organization formed to provide financial assistance to the COA, is able to supplement the COA budget. Last year, the Friends were able to contribute roughly $30,000 to COA programs and services.

Donations from individuals in Lincoln are the Friends’ principal source of income. We hope that you will support the COA and its work with your tax-deductible contribution. If you can, please contribute by sending your check to Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging, P.O. Box 143, Lincoln, MA 01773. We appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Swain
President, Friends of the Lincoln COA

Police log for week of April 6, 2020

April 6

Blueberry Lane (9:55 a.m.) — Homeowner called about people using their yard as a cut-through.

Mary’s Way (11:43 a.m.) — Anonymous third-party caller reported that a worker had come in contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. The caller had no direct knowledge of the facts and would not provide a name of someone who had direct knowledge of the incident. Officer followed up with the construction supervisor, who explained their safety protocols; no one on site had symptoms. The party the caller was speaking of hadn’t been on site for well over a week.

April 7

North Great Road (4:20 p.m.) —  Hanscom security forces reported a possible crash on Rte. 2A or Hanscom Drive. Officers checked; a telephone pole had fallen down. Verizon was notified.

North Great Road (7:59 p.m.) — Concord police asked Lincoln police to check for a missing Concord resident. Officers checked Rte. 2A and Walden Pond area. Concord police called back to cancel; party was located and all is well.

April 8

Brooks Road (6:19 p.m.) — Caller asked why emergency vehicles are on Brooks Road. They were advised that there was a medical emergency at a residence.

April 9

Cambridge Turnpike Eastbound (9:42 a.m.) — Officer stopped a bicycle on Rte. 2 after it drove through a red light.

South Great Road (8:20 p.m.) — Caller reported a traffic light problem on Rt. 117 in Concord. Concord police were notified.

April 10

Lincoln Road (4:21 a.m.) — Officer found wood placed in the roadway and removed it.

North Avenue, Weston (5:23 a.m.) — Weston Fire Department requested an ambulance to Sunrise Assisted Living for a medical situation.

Indian Camp Lane (10:20 a.m.) — Council on Aging requested a well-being check on a resident. Officer made contact; all was well and party was advised to contact the COA.

Aspen Circle (10:36 a.m.) — Council on Aging requested a well-being check on a resident. Officer found that the party no longer lives at the residence.

Todd Pond Road (4:04 p.m.) — Caller reports that a raccoon attacked their dog. Officer went to the residence and the raccoon was no longer there.

April 11

Todd Pond Road (5:39 p.m.) — Caller reported that parties she spoke to yesterday are again fishing on her property. Officer went to the residence and the parties have since left. A check of the area found no people or vehicles.

Conant Road (5:57 p.m.) — Caller reported an outside fire near their home. Officers found a small camp fire on the property and the homeowner put the fire out.

North Great Road (7:59 p.m.) — Caller reported an erratic vehicle that struck a pole on Rte. 2A and continued to drive and was now stopped on Bedford Road. Officer investigated and subsequently arrested Marjorie Offield, 61, of 260 Old Marlboro Rd. in Concord. She was charged with OUI–liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle,  leaving the scene of a property damage crash, and marked lanes violation.

April 12

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (2:03 a.m.) — Dispatcher received multiple reports of gunshots being fired in the area of Rte. 2 and Bedford Rd. While responding to the area, a Blueberry Lane resident called reporting hearing gunshots. While investigating the reports, officers stopped a vehicle and subsequently arrested Khiry Murray, 29, of 46 Everett St. in Lawrence for carrying a firearm without a license, possession to distribute Class B (cocaine), conspiracy to violate the drug control laws, possession of ammunition without an FID, resisting arrest, improper storage of a firearm, assault with a  dangerous weapon, and vandalism with noxious/filthy substance. Carisa Brown 27, of Marblehead was arrested for possession of Class E drug, improper storage of a firearm, and conspiracy to violate the drug control laws. Both were bailed and are due to be arraigned on May 6. (For more information, click here.)

Mary’s Way (9:10 a.m.) — Caller reported noise in the area. Officers checked and found  workers at the cell tower site working.

Silver Hill Road (12:13 p.m.) — Caller reported that a vehicle was parked at a vacant residence consistently for the past five days. Officers checked and the car was gone on arrival. A check of the house appears OK.

Marrett Road, Lexington (5:26 p.m.) — Lexington police notified Lincoln police that a person had walked away from the Aloft Hotel. Lincoln police were unable to locate the party.

Lincoln Road (7:46 p.m.) — Caller reported an outside fire nearby. The fire was a cooking fire and the resident said they would put it out once they’re done cooking.

Two Covid-19 deaths at The Commons

Two residents at The Commons at Lincoln have died of Covid-19 and the town’s total number of cases has risen to 16, Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean reported on Tuesday.

Lincoln has the lowest number of cases compare to surrounding towns. Lexington has the most with 151 (see table below).

“The other towns I cover are really amping up, and I’m guessing that Lincoln will continue to have more and more cases,” said McGean, who is also the public health nurse for Concord and Carlisle and performs some public health functions for Maynard as well. 

“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of social distancing,” she added. Anyone who needs help with food or medication delivery can contact the Lincoln Board of Health (781-259-2614 or carrolle@lincolntown.org) or Council on Aging director Carolyn Bottum (781-259-8811 or bottumc@lincolntown.org).

The Commons, like other senior housing and care facilities, is vulnerable to clusters of illness because of the age and physical proximity of its residents. “The situation has been escalating over the last week,” McGean noted. The facility is “exploring, among other options,” the idea of creating a Covid-19 isolation unit, said a spokesperson for Benchmark Senior Living, which owns The Commons along with 34 facilities in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Many staff members at The Commons also work at other Benchmark facilities. Thirteen employees who work at The Commons have tested positive so far, the spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.

“We are working closely with agencies to limit their staff interactions in other buildings. All associates, whether they are a full-time Benchmark Senior Living associate or a temporary agency worker, are screened and protected in exactly the same way in accordance with CDC guidelines,” the spokesperson said. The company outlined its precautionary measures on its coronavirus web page.

The Board of Health has strongly recommended that the facility test all residents and staff (a total of about 500 people) for Covid-19. “The best way to control this is to know who’s infected as early as possible and isolate them,” Lincoln Board of Health member Patricia Miller said.

The problem is the limited availability of tests. The board recommended that The Commons reach out to the National Guard, which is providing free on-site testing for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities (though not independent living units), but they’re backed up by at least one to two weeks, Miller said. 

The facility is also looking into the possibility of having testing done through Mt. Auburn Hospital. Benchmark Senior Living, which owns The Commons, can do testing, but there’s a long turnaround time to get results back from labs in another state, Miller said.

The Board of Health hasn’t officially ordered testing at The Commons only because it wouldn’t make any difference. “They want to get everyone tested as well — they want to do the right thing in this situation,” Miller said, referring to management at The Commons. “All these facilities are vying for the same resources. There’s just not enough to go around because we’re in the peak of this.”

The Benchmark spokesperson would not confirm testing plans except to say that they are “proactively looking at all options to test our staff and residents.”

Staff members are leaving dinner and breakfast for the following day at residents’ doors each evening, based on what they ordered from a menu, according to two residents. They also shop for groceries requested by residents and call them every day to check on their health and answer questions. No one (even those in independent living cottages and apartments) may have outside visitors, and residents are discouraged from visiting each other. 

“The Commons has done a marvelous job. They’re working as hard as they can to keep us safe,” said resident David Levington.

Covid-19 cases in Lincoln and surrounding towns

(Note that towns post data on different days)

TownTotal
cases		DatePopulation
(2010)		Cases as %
of 2010 pop.
Lexington1514/15/2033,4800.45%
Weston654/13/2012,0670.54%
Bedford*644/15/2014,1260.45%
Sudbury494/13/2018,9400.26%
Wayland264/10/2013,7200.19%
Concord224/13/2019,3230.11%
Lincoln164/12/206,7260.24%

* Includes Hanscom Air Force Base

Covid news acorns

Property tax deadline extended

The deadline for property tax payments (normally May 1) has been extended to June 1. The town will waive interest and penalties if payment is received by June 30.

Clark hosts telephone town hall with mental health experts

On Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m., Congresswoman Katherine Clark will host a telephone town hall discussion about how people can support the mental health needs of themselves and their loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic. Clark will be joined by Dr. Claire McCarthy, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Brent Forester, chief of McClean Hospital’s Center of Excellence in Geriatric Psychiatry, who can provide best practices and resources available to our community as we guide our families through this challenging time. The public will be invited to submit questions ahead of the call or ask their question live. Questions can be submitted here. Dial 844-734-8764 to join the call.

Student will pick up food pantry donations

A group of Lincoln-Sudbury High School students including Lincoln’s Andrew Craig is asking residents to donate nonperishable food items to the St. Vincent de Paul food bank at St. Joseph’s Church. The teens will stop by your home on Saturday, April 18 to pick up items and deliver them to the food bank. Email him at andrewcraig1210@gmail.com if you can donate. Please leave your items in a bag in a visible location near your driveway or mailbox by 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Donations by check can be sent to Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St Joseph Conference, PO Box 324, Lincoln 01774 (attn: Food Bank). Shoppers at Donelan’s can pick up extra non perishables can walk down the left side of the little church across the street and leave them in the basket just inside the door at the top of the ramp.

Memorial Day observance to be virtual

The town’s annual Memorial Day celebration has been postponed, and officials hope to have an observance in the fall. This year, there will be a wreath-laying that residents can view online details TBA.

Walden Woods virtual author talk with Dahr Jamail

Dahr Jamail

Join The Walden Woods Project and RESTORE: The North Woods for a virtual lecture by Dahr Jamail on Wednesday, April 22 at 1:30 p.m. Jamail will discuss his award-winning book The End of Ice: Bearing Witness and Finding Meaning in the Path of Climate Disruption, in which he journeys to locations experiencing the most dramatic impacts of climate disruption, climbing and diving alongside leading experts and front-line scientists. The End of Ice was named one of the 10 Best Science Books of 2019 by Smithsonian and is a finalist for the 2020 Pen/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award for exemplifying literary excellence. 

The free virtual event will take place via Zoom. Directions for logging on will be sent to those who register online.

Class and other art activities offered online

The deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park is closed but is offering “Learning from the Masters: An Online Drawing Workshop” on Wednesday, April 22 from noon–2 p.m. Click here for more information and to register. The deCordova is also offering virtual visits and other activities for all ages — click here to learn more.

Letter to the editor: help get Markey on the ballot

(Editor’s note: This is reprinted at the request of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee from the LTDC website at www.lincolnmadems.org/news-opinions.)

To the editor:

In order to have both declared U.S. Senatorial candidates (Ed Markey and Joe Kennedy) appear on the primary ballot, each candidate must have 10,000 signatures on their nomination papers by May 5. As of April 7, Ed Markey had 7,000 signatures and Joe Kennedy had 15,000 signatures — so as of that date, only Joe Kennedy had qualified.

If Lincoln Democrats and independents share our desire to have a contested election with both candidates on the ballot, please follow these steps: 

  • If you’re registered to vote as a Democrat or an unenrolled voter in Massachusetts, fill out this form to say you’re willing to add your name to get Markey on the ballot: EdMarkey.com/sign.
  • The Markey team will mail you the official paperwork with instructions on what you need to do.
  • Add your signature (and ask any other registered voters in your household to do the same).
  • Mail it back to the Markey campaign in the stamped and pre-addressed envelope that they’ll send you.

That’s it. It’s fast and easy. And please help ASAP!

The Massachusetts State Committee is recommending that both candidates be on the ballot, as long as they have the required signatures on their nomination papers. Although the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee does not officially support candidates before the primary, we strongly believe in contested elections and offering voters a choice of  qualified candidates. Therefore, we are writing and asking if you could sign Ed Markey’s nomination papers.

Sincerely,

Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter
Co-chairs, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee