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

Police log for week of April 13, 2020

April 13

Harvest Circle (4:55 a.m.) — Confused party stated he was at a hotel in Concord and needed assistance. Caller ID showed that it was coming from The Commons in Lincoln. Officer responded and spoke with staff, who checked on his well being — everything was fine.

Hilliard Road (3:07 p.m.) — Caller reported that a tree fell on wires and was on fire. Fire Department responded; while en route, caller reported that the limb fell and the fire is now out (click here for more information).

Oakdale Lane (3:33 p.m.) — Report of tree on wires causing a fire and power outage in the area. Fire Department responded and Eversource notified.

Calls about trees or branches down on Moccasin Hill, Codman Road, South Great Road, Bedford Road, Farrar Pond Village, Juniper Ridge Road, Boyce Farm Road, Goose Pond Road, Drumlin Farm, Lincoln Road and Mill Street. Power outage calls from Weston Road, Sandy Pond Road, Giles Road, and Tabor Hill Road, with power also interrupted at the police station, which went to its backup generator.

April 14

Sunnyside Lane (1:36 a.m.) — Caller reported a water leak in the kitchen; stated that she’ll call maintenance in the morning.

Wells Road (1:53 a.m.) — Confused party called the station looking for assistance. Officers responded and everything was fine.

April 15

Airport Road (9:15 a.m.) — Caller requested a check on their parents due to power loss. Officer checked and found smoke in the house due to a fire in the fireplace. Fire Department was contacted to assist.

Lexington Road (10:20 a.m.) — Council on Aging requested a check on the resident. Officer checked and everything was fine, though no phone service due to the storm

Meadowbrook Road (12:22 p.m.) — Officer attempted to serve legal paperwork; no answer at door. (Also on April 15 at 6:21 p.m. and April 16 at 1:07 p.m.)

Woods End Road (12:33 p.m.) — Officer delivered legal paperwork to a resident.

Concord Road (4:27 p.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious-looking party in dark clothing waling in the area. Officer checked and was unable to locate the party.

Hallett Hill Road, Weston — A Weston resident found a dog that was possibly from Lincoln. Dispatch found that it was in fact a dog from Lincoln. The dog’s owner will contact the Weston resident.

April 16

Meadowbrook Road (8:15 p.m.) — Officer delivered legal paperwork to a resident.

Wells Road (11:27 p.m.) — Resident believes someone is running in around in her apartment. Officer responded and everything was fine; contact was made with a family member.

April 17

Lincoln Police Department (9:39 a.m.) — Party found a credit card in the woods. Police attempted to return it to the owner.

April 18

Reports of power outages on Lincoln Road (3:03 a.m.), Old Sudbury Road at Wayland line (3:04 a.m.).

Reports of tree down on wires on Lincoln Road between Ballfield Road and Pierce Hill Road ( 3:56 a.m.)

Brooks Hill Road (9:29 p.m.) — Report of possible gunshots. A teenager from Morningside Lane was setting off fireworks. Officers spoke to parents of the teen.

Bemis Hall (1:47 a.m.) — Office investigated car that was pulled over; driver was using phone.

April 19

Old Lexington Road (3:43 p.m.) — DPW requested assistance closing the road in order to take down a damaged tree.

Trapelo Road (3:52 p.m.) — Caller reported people fishing in the reservoir. Officer responded and moved them along.

Town Meeting decision expected next week

Town officials will make a decision next week about whether to go ahead with a streamlined Annual Town Meeting on May 30 as currently planned.

At their April 20 meeting, the Board of Selectmen indicated they were waiting on word from Gov. Charlie Baker about whether Massachusetts schools would reopen May 4 when his closure order was originally set to expire. But the following day (April 21), he decreed that schools will stay shut for the rest of the academic year due to Covid-19 epidemic.

If an abbreviated Town Meeting is to take place on May 30, officials must commit by May 11 to meet public notice and printing requirements. The board’s next weekly meeting is April 27.

Along with other financial items that can’t be delayed, the Town Meeting will include a vote on whether to spend additional money for items that had to be cut by the School Building Committee (SBC) in February. Before the Covid-19 pandemic upended plans, the SBC identified three lists of items grouped by priority totaling $2.08 million that they hoped to see restored.

One possibility that’s been discussed is postponing a proposed $1.5 million public radio system and use the money for the school instead. Potential budget sources include free cash or the town’s stabilization fund, which currently stands at $2.2 million (this requires a two-thirds majority vote at Town Meeting). More borrowing would require a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting plus a simple majority at the ballot box.

Because of increased expenses and shortfalls in expected revenues, the town is facing a two-year estimated deficit of $600,000–$830,000 for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, even after some Covid-related expenses are reimbursed through state and federal grants, Finance Committee Chair Andy Payne told the SBC on April 15.

Guaranteed maximum price approved

The SBC voted last week to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $78,324,908. That figure covers hard construction costs plus the construction manager’s contingency as well as insurance and bonds. It also incorporates cuts of $783,162 from items that were on the lists to bring to Town Meeting.

The SBC is awaiting word on the scheduling of Town Meeting before deciding whether to amend its lists of requests. They are scheduled to meet next on May 13. However, the project will proceed regardless of the outcome of the Town Meeting votes.

There was a delay in finalizing the GMP because the town and construction manager Consigli Construction had to negotiate how they would handle any extra expenses incurred as a result of the epidemic. They agreed that Consigli can tap its $1.7 million construction contingency, and if that is exhausted, they can ask for reimbursement of additional expenses totaling no more than $425,000 from the town. Any expenses Consigli identifies as being due to Covid-19 will be submitted for approval to Daedalus (the owner’s project manager) and/or the SBC. 

In March, the SBC signed a power purchase agreement for a 1.4 MW solar photovoltaic system along with a 500 Kw battery backup and gas-fired backup generator that will make the campus net-zero in terms of energy use. SunPower Corp. will provide the solar PV system through a nonprofit solar program organized by PowerOptions, Inc.

One possible bright spot about schools closing for the rest of the year is that the project might be able to start earlier than planned. Work can’t begin until teachers and students leave after the last day of school, which normally isn’t until mid-June.

“The subcontractors are champing at the bit. If school were to be canceled [for the rest of the year], they’re ready and raring to go,” Consigli’s Christian Riordan told the SBC on April 15.

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