The March 31 article headlined “Board mulls options for Town Meeting as Covid-19 caseload ticks up” gave the wrong dates for the Town Meetings and election. They are currently scheduled for April 25 and April 27, respectively. The original article has been corrected.
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.
- Download app from Zoom
- Mac computers (video tutorial)
- iOS download for iPhones
- Plugin for the Chrome browser
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).
Covid acorns
Sign up for Covid-19 news flashes from town
The Town of Lincoln has set up a “News Flash” that notifies subscribed residents when there is an update to its Covid-19 webpage. At the top of www.lincolntown.org, go to the “How Do I?” section, then scroll down to “Sign up for town notifications.” On the resulting “Notify Me” page, scroll down to News Flash and click on “Coronavirus update.” You’ll then receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription.
Landscaping companies to reopen
Local landscaping and tree service companies are planning to reopen next week after the governor clarified that they are exempt from the lockdown order for nonessential businesses. Landscapers and other businesses that don’t operate out of a bricks-and-mortar location may continue to operate even if they are not considered an essential service, as long as they maintain social distancing between all employees, and between employees and the public.
Byrnes Landscaping of Lincoln and Lynch Landscaping in Wayland were among the businesses that initially closed after the lockdown order but said they would resume services on Monday, March 30.
Stonegate Gardens
Stonegate Gardens will be available for deliveries in the local area as well as curbside pickups. The physical store will be closed to customers and all but essential employees, who may be contacted Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Staff will take photos or videos of anything you would like to order. Orders and credit card payment will be taken over the phone, and products will be labeled on a cart for driveway pickup (please call prior to pickup) or delivered within a certain service area. For more information, call 781-259-8884 or email info@stonegategardens.com.
Enjoy trails but leash dogs
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is asking residents to have dogs leashed on all trails and to maintain six-foot social distancing when walking. Click here for printable trail maps and click here for some suggested walks.
L-S athletic fields closed
The athletic fields at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School are closed due to the epidemic. This includes the grass and turf fields behind the school, the softball fields, the tennis courts and all indoor athletic facilities at L-S. The fields are closed at least until school has been reopened. The Sudbury Police have been notified of this request.
Library expands Hoopla offerings
Hoopla Digital, one of the Lincoln Public Library’s online services, is offering a Bonus Borrows Collection with more than 1,100 audio books, movies, and e-books through April 30. Titles span all genres of literature and reading levels (including a special Books Kids Love section). Click here for all of the library’s digital offerings. Anyone with questions may email the library at lincoln@minlib.net.
Second case in Lincoln confirmed; general procedures outlined
As of March 27, Lincoln has been notified of its second confirmed case of coronavirus. Here are the actions that must be taken by Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean, patients, and close contacts in these situations:
- The public health nurse is notified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health when there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 in town. She is not given negative test results.
- The public heath nurse notifies the positive case of their result, if they don’t already know. The new case is then given strict instructions to isolate themselves from household members and is not allowed out into the community until directed by a public health authority.
- If you are ordered to isolate, you may not leave your home. If you live with someone else, you need to isolate yourself from other people in the home. There are specific guidelines that must be met for isolation discontinuation which will be strictly enforced before a positive case can leave the house and circulate in the community.
- The other household members will most likely be in quarantine for 14 days. “Isolating” refers to sick people while “quarantine” refers to for healthy people who are at risk of getting sick.
- The next step is to identify close contacts of the new positive case. Close contacts refer to those people who were within six feet for 15 minutes or more when the infected person was symptomatic with fever, cough, etc. This is the time when the virus is most contagious. Those contacts are identified and interviewed by the public health nurse and told to quarantine themselves in their home for 14 days. Frequent calls and check-ins are made throughout the 14-day period for both the positive case and his/her close contacts.
Police log for week of March 16, 2020
March 16
Hanscom Drive (10:15 a.m.) — While trying to enter Hanscom Air Force Base, John Hogan, 49, of 79 Laurel Drive in Bradford was arrested on a warrant from Haverhill District Court for OUI/liquor.
Sunnyside Lane (4:02 p.m.) — Caller reported that someone rang their doorbell and then left the previous evening. No further information.
March 17
Old Concord Road (10:54 a.m.) — Resident called to report being a victim of identity fraud. Investigation is ongoing.
Moccasin Hill (2:58 p.m.) — Caller reported their house was filled with smoke. Fire Department determined that the fireplace flue was closed, causing the smoke.
Offutt Road (3:56 p.m.) — Resident reports being harassed by a family member. Office took a report and explained legal options to the party.
March 18
Lincoln Public Schools (12:59 a.m.) — Officer witnessed a party driving into the school complex. Officer stopped the vehicle and made contact with four juveniles. Officer contacted a parent, who came to pick the juveniles up.
Goose Pond Road (2:48 p.m.) — Council on Aging requested a well-being check on a resident. Officer made contact; all is well, and party will contact the COA.
Old Winter St. (3:09 p.m.) — Council on Aging requested a well-being check on a resident. Officer went to the residence and found that the party no longer lives in town.
Meadowbrook Road (3:22 p.m.) — Officer delivered court paperwork to the residence.
South Great Road (5:58 p.m.) — Caller reports a young teen walking along Rte. 117. Officer made contact; juvenile had left their residence in Weston after an argument. Weston police contacted and responded.
Wells Road (9:52 p.m.) — Caller reported an outside fire. Fire Department found a campfire outside and handled.
March 19
No log entries recorded.
March 20
Deerhaven Road, Brooks Hill Road, Deer Run Road — Several callers reported having no water or low water pressure. Officer found what appears to be a water main break on Deerhaven Road at Old Cambridge Turnpike; Water Department notified.
Old County Road (3:01 p.m.) — Council on Aging requested a well-being check on a resident. Officer made contact; all is well, and party will contact the COA
Winter Street (4:03 p.m.) — Resident called asking about the leaf blower by-law.
March 21
Wells Road (1:32 a.m.) — Concord police requested assistance in making contact with a Lincoln resident and having them contact Concord. Notification made.
Walden Street, Concord (1:53 a.m.) — Concord police requested assistance with an alarm at Concord-Carlisle High School.
Minebrook Road (2:29 p.m.) — Caller reported a party trespassing on their property near conservation trail. Officer responded and took a report.
Concord Road (3:00 p.m.) — Caller complained about a leaf blower in the area. Caller was advised of the by-law.
Lincoln Road (3:30 p.m.) — Concord police requested assistance in making contact with a Lincoln resident. Officers responded and asked the party to call Concord police.
Virginia Road — Caller complained about flight schools at Hanscom operating and not practicing social distancing. Caller was advised to contact MassPort Operations.
South Great Road (5:58 p.m.) — Concord police reported that they received a call that a Sudbury police officer stopped a car on Rte. 117 near the town line and may need assistance. Officer checked the area and was unable to locate.
Trapelo Road (9:51 p.m.) — Caller reports a power outage in the area. Eversource notified.
March 22
Lexington Road (9:08 a.m.) — Caller reporting an ongoing civil dispute with their neighbor
Millstone Lane (11:55 a.m.) — Caller reports an out-of-control brush burn. Fire Department checked; resident had fire under control.
Cambridge Turnpike Eastbound (3:33 p.m.) — Officer found bicyclist riding on Rte 2 and advised them move off highway onto a side road.
Lincoln Road (4:32 p.m.) — Caller reports a party in a parked car near Donelan’s had an open container of alcohol. Officer made contact. No impairment; the open container was removed and the party was sent on their way.
Conant Road (6:17 p.m.) — Caller complained about leaf blowers. Officers spoke to the work crew and advised them of the by-law.
Beware of scammers taking advantage of Covid-19 emergency
The Lincoln Police Department and the Council on Aging remind residents of all ages to be wary of scams that are already related to the coronavirus public health emergency. These include offers of treatments or vaccines, work-at-home jobs, or in-demand products like medical and cleaning supplies that may come by phone, email, or on the internet. Remember:
- There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines for the coronavirus.
- Be wary of emails saying they are from the CDC, WHO, or other government agencies with information about the virus, and don’t click on any links or attachments in such emails. Instead, go to the Centers for Disease Control or World Health Organization websites for the most up-to-date information.
- Don’t make donations, especially over the phone, unless you know the organization and you initiated the call.
- Never order something on the phone or online from a company or individual you don’t know.
- Hang up on robocalls. Answering and talking to them or pressing a number will just get you many more robocalls.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Also, with the potential for checks coming from the U.S. government, scammers will be calling and emailing, saying they are from the government and asking for personal information like Social Security numbers or credit card or bank numbers, or claiming they can help you get your payment. The government will never call or email you for these purposes.
If you believe you’ve been the victim or a scam, please call the Lincoln Police Department at 781-259-8113. You may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAMA.victimassistance@usdoj.gov, or call 888-221-6023 and leave a message or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center by visiting www.IC3.gov.
The U.S. Secret Service has also issued a warning to Americans about Covid-related “phishing” scams (the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies to entice individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.) Cyber criminals are exploiting the coronavirus emergency with mass emails posing as legitimate medical and or health organizations.
The Food and Drug Administration also warns that products claiming to cure, treat, or prevent serious diseases like Covid-19 may cause consumers to delay or stop appropriate medical treatment, leading to serious and life-threatening harm. Fraudulent Covid-19 products may come in many varieties, including dietary supplements and other foods, as well as products purporting to be drugs, medical devices or vaccines.
The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission jointly issued warning letters to Vital Silver, Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd., Xephyr, LLC doing business as N-Ergetics, GuruNanda, LLC, Vivify Holistic Clinic, Herbal Amy LLC, and The Jim Bakker Show. The products cited in these warning letters are teas, essential oils, tinctures and colloidal silver. The FDA has previously warned that colloidal silver is not safe or effective for treating any disease or condition.
Checking on claims
An easy way to check the truthfulness of almost anything you hear or read online is through FactCheck.org or Snopes.com, which has a Covid-19 section. Snopes presents claims about all sorts of things and then labels them “true,” “false,” “mixture,” “scam” or “unproven” with explanations. Here are some of the claims that the site has researched (see below for answers or click on the questions):
- Will Sipping Water Every 15 Minutes Prevent a Coronavirus Infection?
- Did Corona Beer Sales Drop Sharply Due to Fear About the Coronavirus?
- Is Coronavirus Spreading Faster Than SARS, Ebola, and Swine Flu?
- Can You Get a Free Coronavirus Test by Donating Blood?
- Was COVID-19 Discovered in the U.S. and South Korea on the Same Day?
- Can a Homemade Tito’s Vodka Hand Sanitizer Help Stem Coronavirus?
(Answers: 1=false, 2=false, 3=mixed, 4=false, 5=true, 6=false)
Schools closed until May 4; distance learning to be rolled out
Gov. Charlie Baker announced on March 25 that all public and private schools in Massachusetts as well as nonemergency daycare facilities must remain closed until May 4.
“This is not an extended school vacation,” Baker said. “During this long-term closure, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will work with school districts to further develop educational programming students can use at home… This will allow school districts to provide the best possible opportunities for remote learning to all students.” Click here for remote learning and other educational resources from the state.
“We are working to put a more extensive plan in place to support student learning during this extended closure,” Superintendent of Schools Rebecca McFall wrote parents in an email on Wednesday evening. Parents are being asked to complete an online survey by Friday, March 27 at 7 a.m. (doing so multiple times for more than one child in the schools) about what they and their children need to make home schooling successful, such as help with using online resources, making a schedule, or creating longer-term projects for children. Faculty and administrators will use the feedback to design the next phase of supports and will share plans and our progress early next week.
Before Baker’s announcement, Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley met with teacher, superintendent, and school committee organizations but offered little guidance about remote learning curricula or requirements, according to a Wednesday night email to parents from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Principal/Superintendent Bella Wong.
“Since the order to close all schools effective March 15, 2020, there has been lack of sure guidance offered by state leadership for what is permissible for delivery of alternative education beyond what we are currently offering. What we are allowed to offer is affected by state and federal rules designed to ensure equitable access for all our students. The purpose of the meeting was to impress upon the commissioner the urgency for guidance given a likely extension of school closure. Now that the order for closure has been extended to May 4, the urgency for guidance is all the more imperative. Commissioner Riley suggested guidance would be provided last week, and now states it will be by this Friday.”
In the meantime, L-S staff have been working together to develop “meaningful learning experiences for all our students,” Wong wrote. “L-S teachers will continue with the lesson plans already developed for the remainder of this week. Whether we receive guidance this week as suggested or not, please be assured our planning teams have already considered the possibility of and will adjust for a longer-term of school closure.”
School lunch assistance
In an earlier email to parents on Wednesday, McFall appealed for donations for meal assistance that the schools are providing to needy students. As with most school districts, the Lincoln Public Schools’ regular food service program is not funded in the operating budget. Costs are recouped through federal grants and revenue from student lunch purchases. The federal government is reimbursing districts for providing meals only if 50% or more of the students receive free or reduced lunch and Lincoln doesn’t qualify, so expenses meal assistance during the Covid-19 closure aren’t covered.
Lincoln schools are now providing 55 students in 32 families in Lincoln, Boston, and at Hanscom Air Force Base with lunch for each weekday at a cost of $3.10 per meal, or about $850 per week. The district is seeking 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.
Click here for other sources of food assistance in Bostb and MetroWest. Click here for mental health contacts and resources for Lincoln chuldren and families.
Technology devices
The schools last week distributed 47 devices (laptops, Chromebooks and iPads) on loan to families and another 90 on March 25. Anyone in need of technology support may email support@lincnet.org.
MCAS testing
The state has postponed the grade 10 English language arts assessment scheduled to begin on March 24 and the start of the grades 3-8 English language arts assessment window scheduled for March 30. Gov. Baker has asked the legislature to waive the high school competency determination for seniors and all other MCAS requirements for this school year. More information will be shared as it becomes available.