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

Property sales in August 2025

17 Long Meadow Road — David C. Brush to Eli B. Cutler and Tania S. Benjamin for $1,700,000 (August 28) 

276 Cambridge Turnpike —  Thomas J. Aprille Jr. to Henry Donham for $705,000 (August 26)

17 Storey Drive — Lee A. O’Brien to Joshua M. and Allyson H. Joseph for $2,224,000 (August 26)

141 Old County Road — Charles E. Sizer to David Sozanski for $1,300,000 (August 22)

8 Old Winter Street — Owen Beenhouwer Trust to Margarita Rabinovich and Michael Harradon for $1,460,000 (August 15)

6 Stratford Way — Gregory H. Salvucci Trust to Haihua Feng and Ying Xu for $2,950,000 (August 12)

104 Tower Road — Albion P. Bjork Trust to Samuel Simmer for $1,250,000 (August 13)

News acorns

New story-telling service at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln is piloting a new casual service called “Hearth & Hope” featuring welcoming music and few powerful stories told by people a la The Moth on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 5:00pm in the Parish House auditorium (14 Bedford Road). The theme for this first service is “I See You.” Storytellers: Kelly Kerber, Edwin Elineema, and Sarah Bishop. All ages and identities welcome. Free dinner following.

Make a mask and learn about animals

Kids ages 6–10 are invited to make masks at the Lincoln Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 3:00pm. Learn about animal adaptations and create an upcycled animal or monster mask in a workshop presented by the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Registration required. Questions? Email dleopold@minlib.net. Made possible by Friends of the Lincoln Library.

October wildlife column now posted

The monthly wildlife column written by Gwyn Loud for the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust is now available on the LLCT website. Feel free to contact her with your sightings and questions at 781-259-8690 or gwynloud555@gmail.com. 

Tickets still available for TEDx Walden Pond

A few tickets have just opened up for TEDx Walden Pond “Threads of Connection: From Self to System” on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the First Parish in Lincoln. Hosted by Tim Washer (comedian, writer and actor from “Saturday Night Live”), this year’s lineup newly includes award-winning Canadian journalist Farah Nasser, as well as Alden E. Stoner, Kate O’Neill, Bryant McBride, and more. Click here to see the full lineup of speakers and purchase tickets.

Coming up at Codman

Click on a date for more information and registration for these workshops at Codman Community Farms.

Pie Dough Workshops
Wednesday, Nov. 5 and Thursday, Nov. 6 from 5:30–7:30pm

Holiday Wreath-making Workshops
Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 5:30pm-7:00pm and Sunday, Dec. 7 from 4:00–5:30pm

Lincoln Dems to host Danielle Allen

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee presents “Righting the Democratic Ship: Forging a Path for Positive Change” on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10:00am in Bemis Hall. The featured speaker will be Danielle Allen, founder and president of Partners in Democracy. Follow the Lincoln Dems on Instagram.

Police log for October 1–12, 2025

October 1

Sandy Pond Road (8:10pm) — A caller reported an encounter with a person on their property. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate anyone.

Old Sudbury Road (5:51pm) — MBTA police requested assistance for the report of people walking on the railroad tracks. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate anyone. Weston police were also advised.

October 2

Wells Road (10:40am) — A person spoke to an officer regarding a harassment prevention order.

October 3

Mill Street (3:32pm) — A caller reported seeing a suspicious person in their yard. Officers checked the area but were unable to find anyone.

Airport Road (11:25am) — An officer recovered several discarded items that were then marked for destruction.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (4:25pm) — Lincoln police assisted the Massachusetts State Police with a two-vehicle crash.

October 4

Police received calls at 4:23pm, 6:15pm, and 8:41pm about disturbances on North Commons. They said the calls involved an ongoing situation between neighbors but declined to elaborate further. Court papers were served on October 6.

Minuteman Visitor Center parking lot (4:48pm) — A caller reported an encounter with a dog on the Minuteman trails.

October 5

Cedar Road (7:14pm) — A caller reported hearing an object strike their back door. Officers checked the area but were unable to determine what caused the noise.

October 6

Old Cambridge Turnpike (8:40am) — An officer spoke with a person regarding a past incident related to a dog bite.

Concord Road (9:00am) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a dispute with a neighbor.

Lincoln Public Library (9:16am) — A caller reported a motorist who appeared to be in distress. An officer checked the area and found the reported vehicle unoccupied.

Old Winter Street (10:43am) — A caller reported that their license plate had been stolen. An officer responded and took a report.

Baker Bridge Road (12:44pm) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a possible scam.

South Great Road (4:30pm) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a possible scam.

Page Road (9:05pm) — A caller reported seeing a person in distress on the side of the road. The area and side streets were checked but nothing was found.

October 7

Moccasin Hill (7:31am) — A fallen tree was blocking both lanes of travel. The DPW was called to remove it.

South Great Road (1:43pm) — A utility wire was reported to be hanging into the middle of the road. Verizon was notified.

Mount Misery parking lot (2:25pm) — A caller reported a bee’s nest in a tree that was struck by a fishing pole. The DPW was notified.

October 8

South Great Road (12:59am) — Verizon was notified a second time about the wire that was hanging in the roadway.

Battle Road Farm and North Commons — Police were called at 1:34am, 10:56am, and 11:50am to handle public disturbances.

Lincoln Library (10:56am) — An employee reported a suspicious interaction with a patron.

South Great Road (4:00pm) — A caller reported that a branch had fallen into the road. Officers checked the length of Route 117 and found nothing out of the ordinary.

South Great Road (5:26pm) — A caller reported utility wires hanging lower than usual. Verizon was notified.

October 9

Trapelo Road (11:39am) — Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash by Old County Road that occurred after a vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. There were no injuries reported. The operator that caused the crash was cited.

Lincoln Road (1:44pm) — A caller spoke to an officer regarding a stolen item.

October 10

Oak Meadow Road (4:06pm) — An officer spoke to a person who reported a possible bank fraud.

October 11

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (2:05am) — Officers assisted the Massachusetts State Police after a deer was struck on Route 2.

Hanscom Drive (3:59pm) — An officer responded to the area of Hanscom Drive and Old Bedford Road for the report of a motorist encounter with a pedestrian. The officer searched the area but was unable to locate the pedestrian.

The Commons of Lincoln (8:40pm) — Officers responded for a report of a person who may have inappropriately gained access to one of the buildings. The individual in question was an employee.

A photo of the rollover crash taken by a neighbor.

October 12

Bedford Road (2:00pm) — Police, fire, and mutual aid personnel from Concord and Wayland responded to Bedford Road and Tracey’s Corner for a one-car rollover crash with a person trapped inside. The operator was extricated from the vehicle and transported to the hospital, though police said they were released that night. The operator was ultimately cited for a marked lanes violation.

Legal notice: DPW hearing on trees

LEGAL NOTICE — DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the DPW office, 30 Lewis Street, a Public Hearing will be held by the Tree Warden, Deputy Tree Warden and/or their designees to consider the removal of the below trees in the Public Right-of-Way. This meeting is consistent with the requirements of the Shade Tree Act (MGL,c.87) and Scenic Road Act.

******************************************************************************

The cutting and removal of the following trees has been made at the request of Eversource Energy. The trees have been marked and are being considered for removal because they are dead, in decline, or otherwise posing a safety or operational hazard to the safe and reliable operation of the Eversource Energy electrical system. The trees are marked as to size category and type along the following roads:

  1. 34 Bedford Rd. One 6”-12” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 1/65 to 1/66.
  2. 8 Sandy Pond Rd. One 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 23/3 to 23/4.
  3. Near 7 Baker Bridge Rd. One 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 6/1 to 6/2.
  4. Near 7 Baker Bridge Rd. One 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 6/2 to 6/3.
  5. 8 Hillside Rd. One 6”-12” ash with emerald ash borer and two 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 16/4 to 16/5
  6. Near 161 Concord Rd. Three multi-stemmed ash with emerald ash borer. Three stems are 6”-12”, two are 12”-18”. Poles 7/74 to 7/75
  7. 3 Hillside Rd. One 12”-18” dead hemlock. Poles 7/81 to 16/1.
  8. 31 Old Concord Rd. One 6”-12” dead Norway maple. Poles 60/13 to 60/14.
  9. 31 Old Concord Rd. One 12”-18” dead Norway maple. Poles 60/14 to 60/15.
  10. 31 Old Concord Rd. One 36+ oak with storm damage and overhang, abutter request. Pole 60/15.
  11. 60 South Great Rd. One 18”-24” ash with emerald ash borer. Pole 30/114.
  12. 28 Farrar Rd. One 12”-18” dead sugar maple, and one 24”-30” ash with emerald ash borer. Pole 8/13.
  13. 23 Blueberry Ln. Two 12”-18” dead black birch. Poles 57/10 to 82/10.
  14. Across from 39 Lexington Rd. One 6”-12” dead elm. Poles 22/64 to 22/65.
  15. Near 80 Trapelo Rd. One 18”-24” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 15/46 to 15/47.
  16. Near 14 Winter St. One 6”-12” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 14/x2 to 14/x3.
  17. 60 Lincoln Rd. One 12”-18” elm, strong decline likely from Dutch elm disease. Poles 24/27 to 24/28.
  18. 88 Lincoln Rd. One 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Pole 24/33.
  19. Across from 38 Codman Rd. One 18”-24” ash with emerald ash borer. Pole 46/31.
  20. 270 South Great Rd. One two-stemmed ash with emerald ash borer. One stem is 1.5”-6”, the other is 12”-18”. Pole 30/30.
  21. 169 Lincoln Rd. One 36”+ ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 4/70 to 4/71.
  22. Near 208 Tower Rd. One 18”-24” with emerald ash borer. Pole 50/88.
  23. Across from 237 Tower Rd. One 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 50/101 to 50/102.
  24. 17 Weston Rd. One 24”-30” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 24/1 to 25/0.
  25. 17 Weston Rd. Two 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 25/5 to 25/6.
  26. Across from 91 Weston Rd. One 12”-18” ash with emerald ash borer. Poles 25/37 to 25/38.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Service on Oct. 21 for John Power

John Power

John G. Power of Lincoln, formerly of Weekapaug, R.I., passed away peacefully on October 3, 2025, at the age of 92. He was predeceased by Pat Power, his loving wife of 59 years, and his youngest son, William. He leaves behind his partner of several years, Fay Boudrot.

John is survived by his son John G. Power III (Alessandra Araujo); his daughter Janet (Jan) Power (Peter Nobile); his grandchildren Eoin Power (Jelena Dokic), Nike Power, and Duncan Nobile; and his great-grandson, Lazar Power. John also leaves behind his sister Mary Power of Ossipee, N.H., his brother Frank of Marietta, Ga., and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was born in Medford and grew up in Winchester, the fourth of six children. He was a Korean War army veteran who returned home to marry Patricia Gillis and then attend college at the University of New Hampshire. John was always proud of his UNH affiliation and went on, in 1989, to become a founding board member of the UNH Foundation, which raises funds to support university programs, students, faculty, and facilities. He also contributed his time and skills as a board member of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and Shawmut Bank in Boston, and as a trustee of the Weekapaug Foundation for Conservation.

A graduate of the Wharton School of Business, John spent his career, post-grad school, working for The Hartford Insurance Group in Hartford. While raising his family with Pat in Simsbury, Conn., John rose to senior vice president of the Investments department at The Hartford.

While John was serious about investing, he had a wry sense of humor, was an enthusiastic storyteller, and will be remembered by many for his readiness with a vintage song snippet. He was naturally curious about people and the world and had a strong belief in the importance of education. His serious and sometimes imposing demeanor belied a warmth that made guests feel welcome in his home, which he and Pat opened to many friends and family. A big sports fan, John would engage family in the annual “Bowl Picks” competition to choose the most winners of the college football bowl games on New Year’s Day. Winners received only bragging rights, but John (and Pat) zealously tracked the results and announced the winner each year with a modicum of fanfare.

John was someone who showed up — for his children’s and grandchildren’s many sports games, plays, or musical performances, and for friends and family who were going through important life passages. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

Relatives and friends will gather for a period of visitation on Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 10:00–11:30 am at Dee Funeral Home (27 Bedford St., Concord). A memorial service will follow at 11:30am in the funeral home, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the UNH Foundations. Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. Share a memory or to offer a condolence on John’s tribute page.

News acorns

Road closure

Lincoln Road will be closed from the five-way intersection to Tower Road from Tuesday to Friday, Oct. 14–17 from 8:15am–4:00pm. Click here for detour information.

Film: “Music for Black Pigeons”

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “Music for Black Pigeons” (2022), a documentary that explores the lives and processes of some of the world’s most renowned and prolific jazz musicians, on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6:00pm in the Tarbell Room.

Diaper drive

There will be a collection bin at the library for donations to the 2025 Metro-Boston Diaper Drive until Saturday, Oct. 18. All diapers and donations go to WIC Somerville, which supports families in need in Lincoln, Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Lexington, Bedford, and Belmont. To learn more or donate via Target or Amazon, visit mbdiapers.org.

Four films shown by GRALTA

The GRALTA Foundation returns with a series of four film showings on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The schedule:

“The Other Son“
Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7:00pm, Bemis Hall
Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1:30pm, Lincoln Public Library
Two young Israeli men, one Jewish and one not, discover they were accidentally switched at birth. Directed by Lorraine Levy.

“A Borrowed Identity“
Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7:00pm, Bemis Hall
Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1:30pm, Lincoln Public Library
A Palestinian-Israeli boy is sent to a prestigious boarding school in Jerusalem and struggles with language, culture, and identity. Directed by Eran Riklis.

“Louis Theroux: The Settlers“
Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7:00pm, Bemis Hall
Sunday, Nov. 16 at 1:30pm, Lincoln Public Library
Fourteen years after his first visit, British journalist Louis Theroux meets religious-nationalist West Bank Israeli settlers who have their eyes on Gaza. Directed by Josh Baker.

“The Teacher“
Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7:00pm, Bemis Hall
Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1:30pm, Lincoln Public Library
A Palestinian school teacher’s struggles to reconcile his commitment to political resistance with offering emotional support for his students and his romantic relationship with a volunteer worker. Directed by Farah Nabulsi.

The Great Pumpkin Smash

Composting your Halloween pumpkins can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bring your jack-o’-lanterns and decorative gourds to smash and feed to the Codman Community Farm pigs on Sunday, Nov. 2 from 10:00am–2:00pm. Food provided by CCF and ice cream cookie sandwiches prepared by the Ice Cream Bike (vegan and gluten free options available). Please remove any stickers, candles, and other decorations and leave your painted pumpkins at home. Suggested donation of $1 per pumpkin to benefit CCF. Sponsored by the Lincoln & Concord Chapters of Mothers Out Front, the Weston Community Children’s Association, and CCF.

National Constitution Day

On September 17, the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism Committee (IDEA) hosted a National Constitution Day out-loud read of the U.S. Constitution. Massachusetts Poet Laureate Regie Gibson joined 39 community members to read the Constitution. Click here to see the recording, or see the IDEA website for photos and the slide deck.

Crosswalk work to last through November

The Route 117 crosswalk construction site on October 13 looking east from Old Sudbury Road (right) and Hannan Agro Farms (left). Photo by Alice Waugh.

A new crosswalk project now underway on Route 117 at Old Sudbury Road has caused traffic slowdowns due to bumps and potholes in unpaved roadway.

The work consists of a pedestrian island with flashing beacons, a short section of sidewalk at the Old Sudbury Road end that connects to the sidewalk on the opposite side of Route 117, and new pavement between the railroad tracks and the crosswalk.

“We anticipate completing this work by the end of November,” said DPW Superintendent Stephen Olson.

The Transportation Coalition’s five-year plan (click image to enlarge).

The project is high on the list of roadway safety improvement priorities in the Transportation Coalition’s five-year plan presented in a September 30 forum (slides here, recording here). The first on the list, an improved crosswalk in front of the Old Town Hall, has been delayed by the water main project.

As a result of increased awareness of pedestrian and cyclist needs and design best practices, the coalition said, Lincoln’s basic roadway standards have been adjusted:

  • Narrowing of roadway travel lanes
  • Widening of shoulder between the white edge lines and edge of pavement
  • Consistent roadway edge treatments to minimize surprises
  • Beefed-up crosswalk designs, including flashing beacons, raised crosswalks
  • New paths

My Turn: A tribute to Jane Goodall

(Editor’s note: the piece below is a tribute posted on the Facebook page of Lincoln author Ruth Mendelson plus a postscript and is republished here with her permission. Goodall died on October 1, 2025 at age 91.)

Jane Goodall (left) and Ruth Mendelson in a Boston hotel room that they hastily adapted as a recording studio in 2016 (see this second Facebook post).

Dr. Jane has been far more than a friend and colleague over the past 23 years. What a blessing to love and be loved by a true human being. Each time Dr. Jane came into town, it meant joy and celebration. She always made a point to contact me ahead of time so we could hang out privately. We would sit on the floor wherever she was staying and talk deep into the night, not bothering to turn the lights on after sunset. Just whispering together throughout the night, sharing about life, vast expanses of inner and outer space, dreams, adventures, purpose and upcoming projects.

Dr. Jane’s life was not glamorous. She was ALWAYS working for the benefit of the planet. She was the first one to get up and the last one to go to bed. She was a living nomad who subsisted out of one small suitcase, traveling 300 days a year in service to our planet and the human condition. She lived incredibly simply, and would make her morning toast using an iron from her hotel room. The only interruption to her travel schedule was covid. And during that time, she was busier than ever — constantly in Zoom meetings and recording interviews, literally 14 hours a day. Her voice often threatened to go out during that time, but she’d continue with the rigorous routine regardless.

People know her for her wonderful work with chimps, but Dr. Jane worked tirelessly for ALL beings on our planet to eradicate poverty, homelessness, disease, plastics — the list goes on and on. She worked with refugees, was constantly meeting with world leaders to improve environmental and social policies, and always made time for children and those afflicted with illness.

Part of Dr. Jane’s rocket fuel came in the form of working with children and youth. Her global youth initiative, Roots & Shoots, was her pride and Joy. I encourage anyone reading this to please check this out for yourself and your local community. 

Amidst the seriousness of the conditions she worked tirelessly to address, Dr. Jane was also FUN! She was a living Dr. Doolittle. She really DID speak animal — I mean with ALL animals. Just extraordinary. I’d like to note here that Dr. Jane often told me that hyenas are completely misunderstood, misrepresented — that they are in fact very loving and affectionate (she spent a lot of time with them in her earlier years). I got her hyena socks one year for Christmas and she was OVER THE MOON!

Dr. Jane was mischievous, bold in her compassion, gentle yet direct, extraordinarily courageous, uniquely resilient, magical, unrelenting and wise. And she was true to the beauty of her purpose to the very end.

Thank you, Dr. Jane, for everything — including being a treasured role model for the whole wide world. Amidst the torrential grief I’m wading through right now, I know I’ll emerge from this with a cleansed and renewed commitment to our beautiful planet and all life upon her. Together we CAN, together we MUST, together we WILL.

Postscript: 

Many people have asked me how we met. Dr. Jane and I first crossed paths in 2002 at the United Nations in Geneva, where I was performing as a bassist with the One Human Family Gospel Choir (we were opening for an international peace summit). Actually, Dr. Jane noticed me first due to a series of hilariously awful events. Sometimes the wrong thing happens in the right way — revealing the very magic of the universe at work. Here’s what happened:

First, my bass was lost at the airport in London (we were playing at the UN the next day). Because of this, I stayed at the airport for hours filling out paperwork and caught a later shuttle to my hotel. My seatmate just happened to be Dr. Jane’s assistant. We had a lovely conversation about life and purpose.

My bass arrived the next day, but then the electricity went out during sound check at the UN. The power came back on right before we performed. There on stage without a sound check (every musician’s nightmare), I shut eyes and hoped for the best. While playing with my eyes closed, my amplifier somehow got turned around and rolled in front of me. So I tried to nonchalantly kick the amp back into position while continuing to play. Dr. Jane (in the audience) smiled as she watched the sideshow, and asked her assistant the name of the musician who was awkwardly dancing with her amplifier. 

Later that day, I saw Dr. Jane descending a flight of stairs and introduced myself. Dr. Jane smiled warmly, said her assistant had told her all about me, and asked me to carry her purse. And that was it — instant connection! We walked arm-in-arm to a workshop Dr. Jane was hosting and have been doing humanitarian and creative projects together ever since — especially projects serving children and youth. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of composing many soundtracks for Dr. Jane’s films and her wonderful podcast series Hopecast, and have served as producer and composer for her updated audiobook, “My Life With the Chimpanzees,” etc.

Dr. Jane wrote the foreword for my novel, “The Water Tree Way.” She even offered to make a brief personal home video about the book because she believed in it so much. That’s how generous she was — even with her nonstop schedule, Dr. Jane was never too busy to express love and care. “The Water Tree Way” is a story about the triumph of the human spirit. The book invites all of us to delve into the most magnificent, mysterious, magical, and necessary of places: inside our very own selves. Dr. Jane’s foreword is precious. I am forever grateful for my beautiful soul friend.

News acorns

Fundraiser tournament for L-S girls’ soccer

The L-S Girls Soccer Program is participating in “Small Goals, Big Change” fundraising tournament in East Boston on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9:00am–1:00pm at East Boston Memorial Stadium (143 Porter St., East Boston) to support Soccer Without Borders. Learn more here and follow the Instagram page at @lsgsforswb. To donate, click here.

Photo exhibit by Lincolnite

Lincoln resident Linda Hammett Ory is exhibiting new work for the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts’ sixth annual Juried Spotlight Members’ Exhibition. Many of her images are taken while exploring the landscape of Lincoln and Concord. The exhibition runs from October 16 through November 14 with an opening reception on Thursday, Oct. 16 from 5:00–8:00pm. More information.

Join Lincoln Dems at protest

Members of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will take part in the No Kings protest on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11:00am–1:00pm in Concord and invite all Lincolnites to join them. The group will meet at the Lincoln MBTA commuter train at 8:00am, travel to Concord, and walk in solidarity to the Old North Bridge with hundreds of others.

Halloween costume parade

LincFam’s annual Halloween costume parade begins on Saturday, Oct. 18 (rain date: October 25 at 3:00pm at Matlock Farm (39 Old Lexington Road). There will be a hayride and treats. Please RSVP here.

Volunteers needed for Agriculture Commission

The Select Board is seeking two interested volunteers who have an interest in farming, livestock, and land use to serve as at-large members on the Lincoln Agriculture Commission with terms expiring in 2028. Time commitment is a minimum of four hours a month including  an hour-long evening meeting once a month via Zoom. Address a letter of interest to Agriculture Commission Chair Louise Bergeron and send it with a volunteer application to Peggy Elder, administrative assistant in the Select Board’s Office, at elderp@lincolntown.org, by Thursday, Oct. 23. For more information, call 781-259-2601.

Domestic violence awareness vigil

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will again be partnering with the Sudbury United Methodist Church (251 Old Sudbury Road, Sudbury) to host a Shine a Light Vigil on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7:00pm. The indoor event will focus on remembering those who have lost their lives to domestic violence in the past year, recognizing those surviving abuse today, and calling all of us to action as we work to prevent abuse in our communities. For more information, email infodvrt@gmail.com.

Halloween events at Drumlin Farm

Fall-o’ween on the Farm
Saturday, Oct. 25 (rain date: Sunday, Oct. 26) from 9:00am–5:00pm
Celebrate the season with a full day of autumn fun for all ages with themed activities. Costumes earn a free farm treat. Tickets: $8–$15. More information.

Masks and Marshmallows
Saturday, Oct. 25 from 6:30–8:30pm
Adults are invited to make papier-mâché masks and gather around the campfire for s’mores, ghost stories, crafting tips, and autumn memories. All supplies and ingredients will be provided. Tickets: $20–$24. More information.

Happy faces and shiny shovels at community center ground-breaking

One of several groups of Lincoln residents, officials, designers and builders who wielded shovels at the community center ground-breaking in the Hartwell lot. Among them were Dilla Tingley (third from left), who has served on all six community center committees, and leaders of the organizations that will occupy the new building: Jessica Downing of Parks and Rec (fourth from left), Abigail Butt of the COA&HC (center), and Katie Hawkins of LEAP (far right). Click image for larger view.

The community center construction officially broke ground on October 8 with shiny shovels and dozens of happy town officials and volunteers thanking residents and each other for years of work to make the day happen.

Many members of the past and present groups involved were in attendance. Among the six committees that served over the years were the Community Center Feasibility Study Committee, which issued its report in 2012; the Community Center Planning & Preliminary Design Committee, and the current Community Center Building Committee (CCBC).

“We couldn’t be more pleased and grateful that the project is moving forward here, for nothing else we were running out of acronyms,” joked Town Administrator Tim Higgins.

“I’m especially pleased for our seniors, who agreed to set their needs aside so that the school project could move forward first and continue to make do at Bemis Hall,” Higgins continued. “You won’t need to make do much longer… we expect to be back here in 12 months to cut the ribbon on the new building.”

Though most have agreed for years that the Council on Aging & Human Services needed a new home, planning for the community center (which will also house the Parks and Recreation Department and the Lincoln Extended-day After-school Program) was delayed until the $93 million school project was complete. The CCBC started work in June 2022; voters approved most of the funding for the project in March 2024, and heavy machinery finally arrived this summer to demolish the three Hartwell pods.

A construction banner hung on construction fencing at the ceremony.