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

Lincoln firefighters douse two blazes

Firefighters battle the Round Hill Road blaze involving a car and home. See the Lincoln Fire Department Facebook page for more photos.

In the mid-afternoon on Tuesday, Nov. 18, Lincoln police and fire began getting reports of a car fire on Round Hill Road. Lincoln firefighters responded with Engine 2 and, on arrival, found the car fully involved, with the fire rapidly spreading to the house.

The four members of the duty crew went to work extinguishing both the house and car. The fires were rapidly brought under control, keeping damage to the house to a minimum. All residents are accounted for with no injuries reported.

The Weston, Wayland, and Concord Fire Departments helped on scene, while Sudbury and Waltham covered Lincoln. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

On Friday, Nov. 14, Lincoln firefighters responded to Concord Road for a report of an outside fire. On arrival, they found that the fire had started when a charging lithium ion battery was accidentally placed on a wood stove, causing it to overheat and catch fire. The resident who reported the fire picked it up, carried it outside, and threw it off the deck. Just as a hose was being deployed, the battery exploded and “embers and sparks blew in all directions,” according to the department’s report. The fire was quickly extinguished. The resident had facial burns but declined transport to the hospital.

When used properly, lithium ion devices are safe, but Fire Chief Brian Young offers these tips:

  • Try to use battery-powered devices and replacement batteries that are known brands that also have a UL listing. This will make sure the batteries were properly engineered and have passed safety checks.
  • Use only manufacturers’ recommended parts and batteries.
  • Follow safe charging instructions, including using the correct charging devices on hard, flat locations away from heat sources.
  • If a battery is damaged, discard it. A damaged battery cell could cause possible thermal runaway.

News acorns

Film screening: “Endless Summer Syndrome”

The Lincoln Film Society presents “Endless Summer Syndrome” (2023, directed by Kaveh Daneshmand; French with English subtitles) on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6:00pm. A lazy late-summer weekend is disrupted by a shocking allegation when Delphine gets an anonymous call from her husband’s colleague about an alleged affair with one of their adopted children.

Organization offers financial education, seeks donations

The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable (DVR) hosts the first program of its Survivor Series: Domestic Violence & Financial Abuse on Monday, Dec. 8 from 7:00–8:00pm via Zoom. Financial abuse is a pervasive form of control that can trap survivors in dangerous situations by limiting their access to money, employment, and financial independence. Click here to register. Questions? Email infodvrt@gmail.com.

As the holidays approach and many families are struggling with the loss of SNAP benefits and the prospect of higher health care costs, the DVR is conducting holiday drives to make the season brighter for survivors of domestic abuse and their children. Gift cards for Shaw’s, Market Basket, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart or Visa cash cards are especially helpful. You can also make a cash donation or send a check that allows Roundtable partner agencies to purchase gift cards for the families they serve. For more information on the webinar or the holiday drive, click here.

Coming up at the deCordova

DeCordova Performance Series: Antje Duvekot
Friday, Dec. 19 from 6:30-8:00pm

Solstice Stargazing with Aldrich Astronomical Society
Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21 from  5:00–7:00pm

Teen pageant winner launches toy drive

Kit Walkup, Miss Massachusetts Pre-Teen. (Photo courtesy Julia Walkup)

Kathryn “Kit” Walkup, a sixth-grader at the Lincoln School, earned the title of Miss Massachusetts Pre-Teen with the Royal International Miss organization in her very first beauty pageant. As part of her year of service, she will be completing monthly volunteer projects and public appearances to support families and children in need.

To kick off her community service, Kit has launched a holiday collection drive to benefit The Boston House, a nonprofit organization that provides free housing and support for families whose children are being treated for cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children’s Hospital. Residents can support the drive in two ways:

The drive also welcomes snacks, pantry supplies, and laundry essentials to help families focus on caring for their child rather than the costs of everyday necessities.

The Commons earns kudos

The Commons in Lincoln has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for short-term rehabilitation, earning the magazine’s highest overall designation of “high performing.” Across Massachusetts, only 17% of rehabilitation centers received a high performing distinction, according to a press release from The Commons. In earning the honor, the facility demonstrated excellence in safety, management, staffing and patient outcomes, among other attributes.

Nearly 15,000 centers nationwide were evaluated for this year’s awards, which analyze the consistency of registered nurse staffing, the use of antipsychotic drugs, and success in preventing emergency room and hospital visits. Short-term rehabilitation ratings further assess the prevention of falls and serious infections as well as residents’ ability to return home. At The Commons, physical therapist staffing is more than three times the national and state average, and nurse staffing is over 50% higher than the average. Ratings are determined using data submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Earlier this year, The Commons was awarded a five-star rating by CMS and was also named a Boston Magazine 2025 Top Senior Living Community.

Police log for November 4–14, 2025

November 4

Woodcock Lane (3:38pm) — Officers received a report of a missing child. The child was located a short time later.

Lincoln Road (8:44am) — A motorist reported that the operators of two other vehicles were arguing in the five-way intersection. An officer checked the area but it was clear upon arrival.

Page Road (11:47am) — After a tree fell through the roof of a residence, the home was evacuated. The building inspector was contacted and deemed the home to be safe.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (3:27pm) — A person reported being the possible victim of a scam.

Old Lexington Road (11:19am) — A person reported being the possible victim of bank fraud.

Lincoln Road (2:57pm) — An officer stopped and cited a motorist for a crosswalk violation.

November 5

Donelan’s Supermarket (8:59am) — A person spoke to an officer regarding a possible assault and battery occurring in the supermarket.

Windingwood Lane (3:45pm) — A caller reported seeing two people start a fire on a small island on Farrar Pond. Officers were able to locate the youths and transfer them to their parents. The Fire Department found the fire but it had been extinguished prior to their arrival.

Lincoln Road (12:52pm) —A caller reported a possible issue with the railroad gates. An officer arrived on scene and confirmed the gates were functioning properly.

Tower Road (10:55pm) — A caller reported a branch had fallen into the roadway, blocking both directions of travel. Officers cordoned off the area and asked the DPW to remove it.

November 6

Tower Road (8:48am) — An officer assisted with traffic at the intersection of Tower Road and Route 117.

Bedford Road (10:15am) — A caller reported seeing two branches resting on wires. An officer checked the area and determined there was no hazard.

Wells Road (1:38pm) — A person requested documents from the police department.

November 7

Bedford Lane (12:57pm) — A caller reported seeing a vehicle enter their driveway and a man leaving the vehicle. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate anyone matching the description.

Lincoln School (7:06pm) — A caller reported the detour signs in place from earlier were still in the roadway. An officer removed the signs.

November 8

Indian Camp Lane (11:47am) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding a civil matter.

Rockwood Lane (3:44pm) — A person spoke to an officer regarding a past incident.

November 9

Tower Road (2:18pm) — A caller reported a dispute with a food delivery driver. An officer arrived on scene and spoke with both parties.

Concord Road (4:06pm) — A lost item was turned in to the police station and reunited with its owner a short time later.

November 10

Lincoln Road (4:34pm) — An officer facilitated the transfer of property that had been held for safekeeping.

November 11

Tower Road (1:03am) — An officer came upon several youths walking along Tower Road. The officer contacted several parents and made sure the youths made it home.

Fox Run Road (6:56am) — An officer responded to the area after the report of several mailboxes that had been damaged.

November 12

North Great Road (7:43am) — An officer helped with a disabled vehicle until a tow truck arrived.

Farrar Road (10:26am) — A caller reported that a utility service vehicle had the roadway entirely blocked. An officer checked the area and traffic could pass, one direction at a time.

Tower Road (6:44pm) — A caller reported wires down in the area. An officer checked the area and found no issue with the electrical or utility wires.

Virginia Road (6:57pm) — A caller reported a downed wire don that the utility company had been made aware of several times already. An additional call was made to Verizon.

November 13

Hanscom Drive (10:36am) — A caller reported a hit-and-run that occurred the previous evening.

Bedford Road (2:51pm) — An officer passed a notification to one resident at the request of another.

North Great Road (2:52pm) — A caller reported a minor two-vehicle crash. Officers responded and helped the drivers exchange information.

Lincoln Road (3:16pm) — A vehicle crashed into a utility pole. Wires were reported on the vehicle and in the roadway. Eversource arrived on scene and shut off the power. The operator was not injured and was cited for a marked lanes violation. The vehicle was towed from the scene and power was restored to the area.

November 14

St. Anne’s Church (1:51pm) — A caller reported smoke inside the building. The Fire Department determined that the cause was an overloaded circuit and an electrician was summoned.

Town seeks input on how to spend opioid settlement money

Residents of Lincoln and six other towns are being asked to take surveys that will shape how the towns will spend their shares of the legal settlements with opioid companies and Johnson & Johnson.

Massachusetts is receiving more than $900 million from the 2021 settlements, all of which is intended for substance use prevention and treatment efforts. Local municipalities are receiving 40% of the funds, or about $360 million. Annual payments vary and are determine by the state, and Lincoln averages about $20,000–$25,000 annually, according to Assistant Town Administrator Dan Pereira.

Lincoln is part of the Great Meadows Regional Public Health Collaborative with Wayland, Sudbury, Weston, Concord, Bedford, and Carlisle. Within that group, the SAFE Initiative (Substance Awareness for Everyone) intends to look at regional responses to the opioid problem. Surveys are being conducted in all of the towns and the data will be used to develop both regional and local programs.

The anonymous survey for Lincoln, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, will help the town understand community priorities for spending opioid settlement funds. Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean, the Health Department, and Pereira represent Lincoln on the collaborative and will work with other Lincoln officials and SAFE to guide investments in prevention, treatment, recovery, and related services.

The SAFE team expects to close the survey before the end of 2025 and will publish results sometime in 2026 once they’ve had time to analyze the data.

Community center gets going from the ground up

The driver and washed stone are in place for creating the rammed aggregate piers.

During the last few weeks, general contractor Hutter Construction has made significant progress on the beginnings of Lincoln’s community center. Demolition is complete and Hutter is moving forward with site work and ground improvements using rammed aggregate piers.

In thus technique, a driver pounds washed stone down 6–12 feet and then compacts it into a pier. There will be 279 of these piers along the outline of the building and under the interior about every 8–10 feet.  This will create a stiffened mass of soil and a solid foundation for the building.

The subcontractor has begun compaction testing and mobilization to identify the rammed aggregate pier sites. As piers are installed, the contractor will begin preparing for footings in sequence. Excavation will continue into the week of November 17, with footing installation beginning shortly thereafter, marking the beginning of foundation work for the new community center. By late November, the foundation work will progress as footings are set, and the first walls begin to rise. Moving into early December, crews will continue building out the foundation with additional footings and walls, further shaping the structure.

Installation of the rammed aggregate piers will generate vibrations and noise on the project site, so these operations only occur during the times allowed by the Town of Lincoln and the Building Department.

The next Community Center Building Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 19 in the Donaldson Roon and on Zoom. See the CCBC website for more information and images.

My Turn: supporting our neighbors this Thanksgiving

By Ursula Nowak for the SVdP Food Pantry

At our SVdP Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston, we’ve seen how the delayed payments and recent cuts of SNAP benefits and the lingering effects of the government shutdown have affected our neighbors. Many of our pantry clients — families, seniors, and individuals who were already stretching every dollar — are now facing even tougher choices about how to put food on the table.

Reductions to SNAP funding and, in some cases job loss, have left many with smaller benefits and greater food insecurity. For families who already rely on every bit of support, that translates into skipped meals and less nutritious options. Even though our pantry faces higher demand and fewer resources, we are making every effort to meet the growing need.

That’s why our Thanksgiving gift card drive is more important than ever this year. Every November, we invite community members to purchase grocery gift cards that we distribute to local families. These cards give our clients the dignity of choosing their own Thanksgiving meal — fresh produce, a turkey, or a favorite family recipe ingredient — and help restore a sense of normalcy during difficult times.

Please help us make these holiday meals possible by donating a $35 Donelan’s gift card before Friday, Nov. 21. You may buy a gift card at Donelan’s in Lincoln and leave it at the register or donate here. To donate by check, please make it payable to ST. VINCENT DE PAUL and mail it to P.O. Box 324, Lincoln MA 01773. Remember to write “Thanksgiving Gift Cards” on the check.

This year, as SNAP benefits shrink and costs rise, that simple gesture means even more. We’re asking our community to come together once again to help make the season a little brighter for our neighbors. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community has a reason to give thanks this year.

With gratitude,

The Society of St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Legal notice: Historic District Commission (79 Lincoln)

PUBLIC HEARING — HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

The Historic District Commission will hold a virtual online public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to consider the following application:

  • Winthrop Estates, LLC, 79 Lincoln Rd., M/P 153-15-0, to demolish the existing barn.

Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should be present at the designated time and place.

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.

Legal notice: Historic District Commission (241 Old Concord)

PUBLIC HEARING — HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

The Historic District Commission will hold a virtual online public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to consider the following application:

  • Joanne Wise, 241 Old Concord Rd., M/P 156-7-0, to demolish the shed/lean-to.

Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should be present at the designated time and place.

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.

News acorns

LincFam gift card drive, meetup

LincFam is organizing an urgent grocery gift card drive to help bridge the next few weeks for local families while SNAP benefits are disrupted by the government shutdown. Drop off new or partially used cards (please note remaining balance) at Erin Rist’s House (10 Hawk Hill Road, Lincoln), email e-gift cards to lincnhn@gmail.com, Venmo a donation to @erinrist (LincFam will purchase grocery cards), or give directly to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry — drop gift cards in the locked box in garage at 10 Hawk Hill Road or email e-gift cards to lincnhn@gmail.com.

LincFam offers new and expecting parents a chance to meet for a walk on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10:00am outside the deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park’s Twisted Tree  Cafe. Free beverage after the walk. Anyone with babies under age 2 are welcome. Questions? Contact Emily at 207-712-7363.

Craft & Chill: watercolor pumpkin cards

Give yourself a mental break and have some fun with other adults on Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 1:00–2:00pm in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. All supplies are provided by the library. For ages 16+. Register here.

Lincoln resident photo exhibition in R.I.

Lincoln resident Linda Hammett Ory’s is included in the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts upcoming exhibition, “Landscapes: Real or Imagined,” juried by photographer and gallery director Cara Weston (granddaughter of Edward). This show celebrates contemporary landscape photography, offering a wider lens to provide a more expansive presentation of landscape photography today. The exhibition runs from November 20 through December 12, and the opening reception is on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 5:00–8:00pm. More information can be found on RICPA’s website.

Talk by Lincoln’s Dobrow on her new book

Julie Dobrow will discuss her new book, Love and Loss After Wounded Knee: A Biography of an Extraordinary Interracial Marriage on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 3:00pm in Bemis Hall. See her Medium post on how she learned about her subjects.

“Nothing Solid” film screening and Q&A

“Nothing Solid,” a semi-autobiographical, medical dark comedy based on Sharisse Zeroonian’s real-life experience with cyclic vomiting syndrome (a rare neurological brain-gut disorder), will be screened on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 6:00pm at the Lincoln Public Library. Zeroonian will be on hand to answer questions. Open to ages 16+.

Coming up at the deCordova

Talismans:  Pysanky Gift Making
Saturday, Dec. 6, 10:00am–noon

Holiday Wreath Making with Derby Farms
Saturday, Dec.6, 2:30–4:00pm