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

Town Meeting now eyed for May 30; further postponements possible

(Editor’s note: this article was updated on April 9.)

Lincoln officials plan to postpone the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) until at least May 30 as Lincoln’s Covid-19 caseload has risen to nine residents, including two at The Commons.

Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean reported on April 6 that there were eight “lab-confirmed” cases reported so far (the ninth was reported in a town communique on April 7). This does not include cases “where the doctor says ‘It sounds like Covid’” but the patient has not been tested, she said. McGean added that she would not be informed of cases among town employees who don’t live in Lincoln; however, the public health nurse in their towns of residence would do contact tracing for those patients, which would include co-workers but not customers who hadn’t been in close contact with the person.

  • Click here to see previous Lincoln Squirrel articles about Covid-19 in Lincoln

Five of the eight cases reported as of April 6 have recovered; one is in the hospital and the other two are in isolation, McGean said. Lincoln emergency response personnel who were in contact with individuals who subsequently tested positive have subsequently tested negative.

McGean noted that, at the recommendation of the state Department of Public health, some towns have stopped publicly posting their case numbers because the figures underrepresent the true number of cases in the community and may lead to a false sense of security. However, Lincoln officials will continue to report the figures.

“We don’t believe there would be any complacency,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said at the April 6 Board of Selectmen meeting.

“As much information as we can provide to the community is critical. I don’t see a downside to doing it,” said board chair Jennifer Glass.

Continuing to report cases “provides some measure of the spread rate of the virus and one additional data point for residents to consult when making personal health decisions,” McGean said in the April 7 update.

The Commons has taken extra protective measures for residents in their memory care unit as outlined in a March 31 letter to families. This builds on measures outlined in an earlier letter, when there was one case reported at the facility. These include:

  • assigning dedicated staff to care for memory care residents
  • utilizing a separate entrance into the community, where possible, and having them avoid visiting other communal areas
  • implementing enhanced employee and resident engagement activities to maintain safety, structure, dignity, and connection for memory care residents
Town meeting

Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden this week postponed the Annual Town Meeting to May 23 with the ultimate goal (for now) of postponing to May 30. The change has to happen in two steps because state law allows postponements of no longer than 30 days at a time. Towns are required to hold their ATMs no more than 30 days after the lifting of the governor’s state of emergency, which currently extends to May 4. 

“Public health and safety will be the determining factor in deciding whether we need to postpone beyond May 30. The moderator and the selectmen will not bring people together before the state has lifted the state of emergency and large gatherings are allowed,” the board said on April 9.

The Special Town Meeting for voting on restoring items to the school building project and the ATM will now be combined into a single streamlined meeting, which may include an online budget presentation that residents can watch ahead of time. The meeting will almost certainly be limited to votes on financial items, with the rest of the agenda postponed to a Special Town Meeting in the fall.

The town had originally hoped to have the school vote before June 1. If construction begins as scheduled in June and the fate of the school items is still up in the air, it might be possible to start without those items but include them later by creating a change order. It wasn’t clear on Monday what additional cost, if any, that process would incur.

The local election is now tentatively planned for June 1. State election officials have said that towns can postpone local elections to an undetermined date as long as they occur by June 30. Local voting normally must be done in person only, but early voting by mail will now be allowed.

Covid news acorns

Council on Aging newsletter is online

The Lincoln Council on Aging has published its monthly newsletter online rather than in print, with information on taking fitness classes online from the COA and Parks and Recreation, instructions for attending virtual public meetings, a summary of COA resources for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, etc. Click here to read the newsletter.

Schools need help funding free lunches

The state has required schools to stay closed until May 4, but the Lincoln Public Schools are still providing free lunch each weekday to 55 students in 32 families at home in Lincoln, Boston, and at Hanscom Air Force Base at a cost of $850 a week despite getting no reimbursements for this expense. The district has appealed again for donations in any amount to help cover costs. Go to this UniPay site, scroll down to select Lincoln Public Schools, and click the Meal Assistance bar on the left.

Retail news

  • Donelan’s now offers shopping for seniors only from 7–8 a.m. each day and is open until 7 p.m. daily.
  • Twisted Tree has closed until April 19. “We are hoping that we will be able to open after two weeks but we will be monitoring this ever-changing situation,” the café wrote on its Instagram page.
  • Something Special is taking phone orders (781-259-0544) and making free deliveries to Lincoln. They are posting pictures of merchandise on their Instagram page and will mail items as well.

Covid-19 scammers spread to social media

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic is creating new opportunities for scammers. In addition to being wary of emails and phone calls, also be cautious of messages on Facebook or other social media purporting to be from governmental agencies needing personal information in order to get you benefits or companies asking for money to help you obtain benefits. The government will not contact you by email, phone or social media, and you do not need an outside company to apply for any government benefit. Also, don’t fall for offers of vaccines, treatments, or hard-to-come-by household products from unsolicited phone calls, emails, or social media messages.

Tests for COVID-19 can only be ordered by a physician and obtained at a reputable site such as a hospital. Do not accept tests from anyone who comes to your door, approaches you in a store or other public place, or who calls or emails you or messages you on social media. Never give personal information including bank account, credit card, Social Security, or Medicare numbers to anyone you don’t know. If you think you’ve been the victim of a scam or you have a question about a communication you have received, call the Lincoln Police Department at 781-259-8113.

South Sudanese affected by Covid-19, seek donations

The Lincoln-based South Sudanese Enrichment Fund is appealing for help for members of its community who have been laid off or ineligible for unemployment. Many former refugees in the Boston area work in the gig economy, the hospitality sector, and convalescent homes affected by quarantines and closures of non-essential services. The SSEF offers grants of $500 from its Emergency Fund and loans of up to $1,500. The organization is also looking for volunteers to make masks for their community from provided African fabric, and to send care packages to each of the approximately 80 families in Massachusetts. Anyone who can help can get more information and donated online at www.ssefboston.org or email Executive Director Susan Winship at susanwinship@comcast.net.

Free access to Ancestry.com

Through the month of May, Ancestry Library has agreed to offer home access to their database for Lincoln Public Library users. You can access the database through the Lincoln Public Library website at www.lincolnpl.org or via the Minuteman Library Online Resources page at www.minlib.net.You will need a Lincoln Public Library card to log into Ancestry.com. The site offers access to census records, immigration records and other types of other vital information. Anyone with questions can email the library at lincoln@minlib.net.

Book talk to be held via Zoom

The Lincoln Public Library and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust present a Zoom discussion of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard by Douglas Tallamy on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m. Tallamy argues that collectively, we can save biodiversity by turning our yards into conservation corridors filled with native plants. Registration is required for this Zoom meeting to share ideas and plans; click here to register.

Property sales in February 2020

31 Old Farm Rd. — Thomas Lee to Hugo and Emily Beekman for $1,550,000 (February 7).

334 Hemlock Circle — Martha Lundgren to Jennifer and Richard Saffran for $511,000 (February 14).

0 Old Sudbury Rd. — Roy S. MacDowell Jr. Trust to the Carroll School for $400,000 (February 27) — property then donated to Mass Audubon.

Tell us about how you’re managing during the Covid-19 pandemic

There’s been lots of news about how Lincoln’s government, health officials, schools, library, etc., are reacting to the rapid changes we’ve all had to make since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing, online learning, takeout-only restaurant food, digital books instead of paper, indoor recreation, meetings via Zoom… the list goes on. Lincolnite Andy Payne did a quick survey on March 22-23 via LincolnTalk about how people in town were living and working — click here for the results. 

Since there are no public events these days, the usual sources of news for the Lincoln Squirrel have changed as well. The story now is you, the readers — and how this is affecting you. Tell us a brief story about what’s different about your life that illustrates the strange and historic time we’re going through. How are you and your family adapting to all the changes? What new things are you doing with your time? What have you discovered about yourselves? Feel free to be humorous, serious, or both.

Here’s an example from my family. We’d been thinking for a while about getting a second cat, but shelters nowadays are open only by appointment and there are few cats available, since (fortunately) people have been adopting and fostering more. But as luck would have it, an acquaintance was looking for a home for her kitten because her other cats were not being nice to this one. We got her yesterday, and today our vet came to give her shots and take blood samples (did you know cats can spread a feline type of coronavirus? I didn’t). In normal times we would have gone the shelter route, but as luck and the pandemic would have it, this is how things turned out, and we’re very happy to have a furry new diversion in our house. Meanwhile, I keep wondering if this is the day I’ll finally straighten out the Tupperware cabinet 🙂

Please email your stories and photos to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com (and please include your name and phone number in case we have questions). Next week we’ll publish a selection of the responses. And keep your ideas for fiction and other creative work flowing as well. The Lincoln Chipmunk has been a bit delayed by events, but it is still very much on the front burner.  Thanks to everyone who has sent submissions — and if you haven’t done so yet, you’re not too late for the first issue, which Lincoln Squirrel readers will be able to access at no extra charge. We’ll let you know when it’s ready. Meanwhile, stay well, and let’s hope for warmer weather!

Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel
lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com

Obituaries

Joseph Hingston

Joseph Hingston, 94

Joseph A. Hingston of Lincoln died on March 6, 2020. He was born in Boston on Nov. 29, 1925. and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII. He worked for the Boston Public Schools Department of Planning & Engineering until his retirement and then worked with his son Wayne building New England School Services, which is now run by his grandson Brian. Survivors include his wife Gloria of Lincoln. Donations in his memory may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice House, 125 Winter St., Lincoln, MA 01773. Click here for full obituary (courtesy of Douglass Funeral Home).

Phyllis Wasserman, 89

Phyllis Wasserman

Phyllis Wasserman of Lincoln passed away peacefully on the morning of March 22, 2020. She grew up in Chisholm, Minn. With her husband Herbert Wasserman, she raised her two children in Lexington and was Director of Volunteers at the former Deaconess Hospital. Donations in her memory may be made to the Concord Orchestra, 51 Walden St., Concord, MA 01742. Click here for full obituary (courtesy of Levine Chapels).

Covid acorns

Town offers links for help during pandemic

Council in Aging Director Carolyn Bottum has compiled this list of resources for residents of all ages who need general assistance during the Covid-19 emergency as well as help with food, medication delivery, donating or receiving financial assistance, and managing stress and anxiety. Resources are being added as time goes on; send any changes or corrections to bottumc@lincolntown.org.  

Food pantry needs shopping bags

With an increased client load, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Lincoln is running low on shopping bags and seeks donations of sturdy paper shopping bags with handles and strong plastic bags (not the flimsy single-use ones). Please drop them off on a dry day at the side entrance to St. Joseph Church on the left side of the church where the ramp is).

Trails open but usage monitored

Although some towns in the area are closing their conservation trails due to the pubic health emergency, Lincoln is keeping its trails open but “keeping a close eye on usage,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said on March 30. Walkers are urged to maintain social distancing, and dogs must also be kept on leash at all time. The town’s parks and playgrounds are closed.

Zoom practice meetings now offered twice a week

Resident Andy Payne is hosting “Zoom for beginners” practice video meetings every Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. Go to https://zoom.us/j/577144331 or, if you already have the free Zoom app installed, launch Zoom and type in meeting ID 577 144 331 at the appropriate time. All are welcome (participants needn’t be Lincoln residents). The meetings offer basic lessons on using Zoom and and give a chance for those who aren’t familiar with video conferencing to learn, explore, and fiddle with the settings and features in a low-stakes environment. For help in installing Zoom, email Payne at andy@payne.org or click on one of the websites below.

Library book group to meet on Zoom

On Friday, April 10 at 9:30 a.m., the Lincoln Pubic Library’s Friday Morning Book Group will meet via Zoom to discuss The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald. Anyone interested in joining the discussion online may email lincoln@minlib.net for an invitation and instructions. Copies of the books are available for download in e-book or audio book formats via Hoopla.

Board mulls options for Town Meeting as Covid-19 caseload ticks up

As of Monday night, five Lincoln residents have been confirmed as having Covid-19, and two of the town’s firefighters were exposed to the virus and are in quarantine.

Of the five infected Lincolnites, one is still hospitalized and another has recovered and been released from isolation, Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean reported on March 30 to the Board of Selectmen, which is now meeting weekly via Zoom. A person at Hanscom Air Force Base has also been infected and is isolated.

McGean is the public health nurse for Concord and Carlisle as well as Lincoln, and performs some public health functions for Maynard as well. Her position in the town is through a contract with Emerson Home Care, which has quadrupled her hours, Town Administrator Tim Higgins said. McGean has trained about 12 public and private school school nurses from all four towns to help with Covid-19 case contact tracing, and others have volunteered to pitch in. The current contact tracing and follow-up caseloads are manageable for one person at the moment, “but in the next week or two, I’ll probably be asking for more help,” she said.

One of Lincoln’s 13 full-time firefighters and one of its seven on-call firefighters are in quarantine, Acting Fire Chief Brian Young said on March 31. Firefighters, who respond to all medical calls, are wearing surgical masks and goggles for all calls and are screening callers to check for symptoms of Covid-19. If anyone in the residence might be symptomatic, firefighters then add gowns and N95 masks to their protective gear before they arrive, he said.

“We’re really treating every call as if it’s positive” for Covid-19, Young said, adding that the fire and police departments have enough personal protective equipment for now.

Town meetings, election

The fate of the two town meetings that were rescheduled for April 25 is still undecided. At their March 30 meeting, the Board of Selectmen discussed the possibility of combining the two meetings (one of which was a Special Town Meeting (STM) to vote on adding back items to the school project) and postponing votes on all non-budget-related items that were on the Annual Town Meeting (ATM) agenda until the fall.

A streamlined ATM could still be held, but it could be very brief — most or all of the financial items could be moved to the consent calendar, meaning that they would be voted on as a bloc except for any items that residents ask to pull out for separate discussion and voting. Financial items include the school and town budgets, appropriations from the Community Preservation Act and Capital Planning Committee, etc.

The school funding question would also have to be a separate warrant article. This is the most time-sensitive issue because contractors have said that some of the items on the list need a definite yea-or-nay decision by June 1, as construction is slated to begin later that month.

Changes in town meeting scheduling or procedures must be approved by Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden, who is expected to attend the April 6 selectmen’s meeting in her official capacity.

The board is also likely to further postpone the town election that was originally scheduled for March 29 and later pushed back to April 27. State election officials have said that towns can postpone local elections to an undetermined date as long as they occur by June 30. Local voting normally must be done in person only, but early voting by mail will also be allowed.

The selectmen’s online meetings now include a 15-minute period for public comments and questions by residents who join the Zoom meeting. Participants can listen in without offering their own audio or video, though their Zoom screen name will be visible to others. Instructions on how to join each meeting can be found on the meeting agendas, which are posted here.

Police log for week of March 24, 2020

March 24

South Great Road (6:37 a.m.) — Business owner arrived and found an open door. Officers checked and it appears that the door opened as a result of the wind.

Wells Road (10:01 a.m.) — Caller requested a check on a relative whom they can’t get in touch with. Officer spoke to the party; all is fine and they’ll get in touch with the caller.

March 25

Trapelo Road (3:26 a.m.) — Caller reported a bonfire in the area. Fire Department checked; there was no one around the fire, which they extinguished.

Concord Road (6:18 a.m.) — Caller reported an injured deer on the side of the road near Old Concord Road. Officer had to dispatch the deer. DPW was asked to remove the body.

Sandy Pond Road (9:36 a.m.) — Caller reported an outside odor of gas. Fire Department checked the area with their meter; no readings found, but gas company notified.

North Great Road (3:56 p.m.) — Concord police asked Lincoln officers to look for three males running on the Minuteman National Park trails. They were looking to speak with them regarding an encounter with a party in Concord. Officers checked; unable to locate.

March 26

Weston Road (1:09 a.m.) —Officer checked on a vehicle parked on the side of the road. Parties were moved along.

South Great Road (9:57 a.m.) — Caller complained about noise coming from Stonegate Gardens.

Weston Road (3:10 p.m.) — Caller complained about a rock that was partially in the roadway. Officer responded and removed the rock.

South Great Road (9:10 p.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked on Rte. 117 near the railroad tracks. They’ll all set and were sent on their way.

March 27

Mill Street (1:18 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked along Mill Street. He spoke to the parties and sent them their way.

Old Concord Road (10:42 a.m.) — Party turned in two firearms for safekeeping.

Woods End Road (3:25 p.m.) — Party called to complain that someone cut trees down near his property a day or so ago.

Lincoln Road (4:05 p.m.) — Caller reported a party acting suspicious in the Lincoln Mall parking lot before driving off. Registration given was different than described vehicle. No contact made.

Juniper Ridge Road (6:08 p.m.) — Framingham police asked Lincoln police to contact a resident and have them call them in regards to an incident in that city.

March 28

Oakdale Lane (10:03 a.m.) — Caller asked for a well-being check on a party. Party was no long at the residence; officer later spoke to them.

Sandy Pond Road (3:28 p.m.) — Caller reported cars parked along Sandy Pond Road near DeCordova causing a congestion issue. Officer moved several vehicles along.

Conant Road (4:00 p.m.) — Caller asked to speak with an officer  regarding a civil matter. Officer documented the report from the caller.

March 29

Old Sudbury Road (8:37 p.m.) — Caller reporting an odor of smoke in the house, possibly due to being struck by lightning. Fire Department responded and found no fire.

More information on Covid-19 “close contacts”

For those who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Lincoln, Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean will get in touch with people who are identified as “close contacts” of the patient—but the patient’s name will not be shared with those contacts if they don’t already know who it is, she said.

The March 27 Lincoln Squirrel story headlined “Second case in Lincoln confirmed; general procedures outlined” explained that close contacts of newly diagnosed cases of Covid-19 will be ordered into home quarantine for 14 days by the public health nurse after she receives notification of a positive case from the Massachusetts Department of Health. Some readers asked how they would know if they had been in close contact with the patient. 

A “close contact” is defined by the Centers for Disease Control as someone who was within approximately six feet of a Covid-19 case for a prolonged period of time, or someone who had direct contact with infectious secretions of a Covid-19 case (e.g., being coughed on). “Close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a healthcare waiting area or room with a Covid-19 case,” the CDC says (see Footnote 2 on this page).

“Most close contacts already know about the person’s status, as these close contacts are often friends and families,” McGean said on March 28. “If they were on a bus, plane or train, it makes it more difficult, though planes not as much, as we know seat numbers. So, when I reach out to contacts, they may know the person or may not. I would never give the person’s name of the positive case. That is an extreme violation of HIPPA.”

HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a series of rules designed to protect patients’ medical records and other health information provided to health insurance plans and health care providers. The standards provide patients with access to their medical records and more control over how their personal health information is used and disclosed. 

Once a case is identified, McGean follows the case and the case’s contacts until the risk of infection is over and everyone has been released from isolation (for the positive case) and quarantine (for the close contacts).