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

News acorns

Volunteers sought for Pierce House Committee, CapCom

The Board of Selectmen is seeking interested volunteers for the Capital Planning Committee and the Pierce House Committee. The Capital Planning Committee (CapCom) is charged with evaluating capital requests as well as maintenance funding requests. Members are tasked with evaluating each proposal for need, viability, and the effect on operating budgets. The mission of the Pierce House Committee is to “be stewards of the historic property so that residents of Lincoln, neighbors and guests may continue to use the Pierce House as a venue to gather and celebrate in keeping with the spirit of John H. Pierce’s gift to the Town of Lincoln.”

Letters of interest for either position should be sent to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Selectmen’s Office, elderp@lincolntown.org. Click here for a volunteer application form or call the Selectmen’s Office at 781-259-2601 for more information.

Library activities for school vacation week

School vacation week at the Lincoln Public Library will feature the following events for kids:

Origami Workshop
Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 2–3 p.m. for grades 1–3, and 3:30–4:30 p.m. for grades 4–6
Learn how to fold 3D origami snowflakes with Lisa Corfman from Rocky Arts Unfolded. Registration is required. Call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net.

Singalong with Matt Heaton
Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m.
Musician Matt Heaton will be bringing his unique mix of rockabilly, surf, American roots and Irish traditional music to the library. All ages welcome; no registration necessary.

Family Bingo Night
Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.
Come one, come all for a fun night of bingo! All ages welcome, no registration required. Prizes for everyone.

Girl Scouts pancake breakfast on Feb. 29

The Lincoln Girl Scouts will host Pancake Breakfast, Take 2 (postponed from Winter Carnival week) on Saturday, Feb. 29 from 8–11 a.m. at the First Parish Church (14 Bedford Rd., Lincoln.) There will be plain, blueberry, chocolate chip, and gluten-free pancakes with pure maple syrup along with coffee, tea, orange juice, and fruit, and face painting and crafts for kids. Girl Scout cookies will also be on sale. Tickets are $5 for children under 12 and $10 for everyone else ($30 family maximum).

Three-part series on opera singers

The Lincoln Public Library will host a three-part series on “Opera For Everyone: A Salute to Three Great Opera Singers” with Erika Reitshamer on Sundays, March 1, 8 and 22 at 2 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Each session will look at a different artist: Jessye Norman on March 1, Fritz Wunderlich on March 8, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky on March 22. Click here for more information. Reitshamer was active in the formation of the Boston Lyric Opera Company, has led opera tours to Europe, and served as vice president of the Boston Wagner Society for many years.

Poetry workshop for kids

The Lincoln Public Library will host a poetry workshop for kids in grades 4-6 on Mondays, March 2–30 from 4–5 p.m. with a PoetryFest performance on evening of April 6. Kids will read, write and perform poetry and create an accordion book to fill with favorite poems and artwork. the final session will be filled with lights, snacks, and poetry performances for friends and families. It’s important to attend all five sessions. Registration required; call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net. 

Lincoln Dems schedule caucus for state convention

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) will hold its annual caucus on Sunday, March 8 from 1:30–3:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Attendees will elect five delegates and four alternates to the Massachusetts Democratic Party 2020 Convention in  Lowell on Saturday, May 30.

Registered Democrats may vote and are also eligible to be delegates. Enrollment cards provided by the Town Clerk’s office will be available for those who wish to register to become a Democrat at the caucus just before it opens. Democrats who will be 16 by February 2020 may pre-register at the caucus and participate and run as a delegate or alternate to the convention, although they are not eligible to vote in general elections until they are 18. Youth, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be add-on delegates to the caucus at www.massdems.org.

Anyone with questions may contact LDTC co-chairs Barbara Slayter (bslayter@comcast.net) or Joan Kimball (selenejck@gmail.com).

Talk on supporting healthy emotions in children

Erika Christakis, author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need From Grownups, presents “The Essential Connection: Supporting Healthy Emotions in Children” on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Nursery School at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Technology and the demands of 21st-century life can make it especially hard to see how children really think and feel. Christakis will share highlights from the science of early learning and explain how to improve the emotional “cueing system” between adult and child, with special attention to children’s need for autonomy, competence, and connection. Attendees are invited to read articles in The Atlantic and the The Washington Post before the event.

Planning Board has the only contested seat in upcoming town election

By Alice Waugh

Signatures have been gathered and papers filed to decide who will be on the ballot for the town election on March 30 (see full list below). And despite an earlier flurry of interest by would-be candidates for Water Commission, the Planning Board will have the only contested race, where three residents — Lynn DeLisi, Richard Rundell, and Robert Domnitz — are running for two open seats.

Both openings on the Planning Board are for three-year terms, so the top two vote-getters will be seated. DeLisi and Rundell are incumbents running for reelection, while Domnitz is a former board member. He ran for reelection in 2015 but lost to challenge and current board member Gary Taylor, who ran unopposed for reelection in 2018.

A whopping seven residents took out papers in preparation for running for three openings on the Water Commission, which has been troubled by budget and personnel issues. However, only incumbent Ruth Ann Hendrickson, Michelle Barnes and James Hutchinson submitted papers and signatures to get on the ballot before the February 10 deadline. The others who initially took out papers were Ephraim Flint, Steven Kanner, Allen Vander Meulen, and Tobin Hack. 

Those running for the Water Commission have to declare their candidacy for a specific term. Hendrickson (who has said this will be her last term) is running unopposed for reelection for a two-yer term. Barnes joined the board in the fall as one of two emergency appointments after two of the three commissioners resigned, and she is now running for a full three-year term. Hutchinson is currently serving a seven-year term on the Finance Committee that expires in March 2021 and is resigning to run unopposed for a one-year term on the Water Commission.

No one is running for openings on the Housing Commission and Trustees of the Bemis Fund, although two residents (Deb Wallace and Victoria Benaflew) took our nomination papers but never submitted them. Anyone can write in a candidate for those seats or any other. However, if no one is elected, the group in question and the Board of Selectmen may jointly make an appointment to fill the opening at a later date.

There are two candidates for two openings on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee, and Lincoln resident Harold Engstrom is running for the seat being vacated by Patty Mostue, who is retiring after many years of service with that group. Candace Miller of Sudbury is running for reelection.

* Asterisks indicate incumbents

Board or CommitteeOpenings/termsCandidate(s)
Board of AssessorsOne for three yearsEllen Meadors*
Board of Health
One for three yearsFrederick L. Mansfield*
Board of SelectmenOne for three yearsJonathan Dwyer*
Cemetery CommissionOne for three yearsManley Boyce*
Commissioners of Trust FundsOne for three yearsD. Paul Fitzgerald*
Housing CommissionOne for three years—
ModeratorOne for three yearsSarah Cannon Holden*
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School CommitteeTwo for three yearsCandace Miller,* Harold Engstrom
Parks and Recreation CommitteeOne for three yearsRobert Stringer
Planning BoardTwo for three yearsRichard Rundell,* Lynn DeLisi,* Robert Domnitz
School CommitteeTwo for three yearsTara Lynn Mitchell,* Adam Hogue*
Trustees of BemisOne for three years—
Water CommissionOne for three years, one for two years, one for one yearRuth Ann Hendrickson,* Michelle Barnes, James Hutchinson

Residents argue pros and cons of South Lincoln rezoning

By Alice Waugh

Current zoning in South Lincoln (left, where “SLOD” stands for South Lincoln Overlay District) and the changes being proposed. Click image for larger version.

A proposal to rezone part of South Lincoln met with opposition last week as residents worried about ceding too much control to the Planning Board for building projects in that area.

More than 60 residents packed the Town Hall conference room for the second public forum on the rezoning proposals, which was hosted by a subcommittee of the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee (SLPIC). The group has been working with an outside consultant in drafting changes to the zoning bylaw to encourage a more dynamic “village center” around the train station with a greater variety of businesses and housing. This would result in a larger commercial tax base as well as options to stay in Lincoln for older residents and others in smaller households who are looking to downsize. 

The proposal builds on recommendations of several planning studies done in the past 20 years, including the 2009 Comprehensive Plan.

As outlined in the forum last May and the State of the Town meeting in November, the proposal would create a new South Lincoln Village District consisting of two subdistricts: Village Business, which emphasizes commercial or mixed use, and Village Residential, which provides a variety of housing options close to transit and retail amenities. That area would also allow buildings up to three and a half stories if they’re farther back from Lincoln Road.

Units that combine living and working space for a yoga studio, artist, architect, or designer, or bed and breakfast would be allowed in the entire village district, while uses such as an artisan bakery or a microbrewery would be allowed in the business district. 

Under the proposal, projects that have up to six units per acre and no more than 25% lot coverage would require only a site plan review by the Planning Board. “Lot coverage” takes height into account, so if a building’s footprint occupies 15% of the lot’s square footage but has two stories, it would have 30% lot coverage.

These criteria are still quite restrictive, however — “that’s not going to get anyone’s juices flowing,” Planning Board chair Margaret Olson said at the February 5 forum. The expectation is that developers would prefer more density, which would require them to apply for a special permit as well as the site plan review. With a special permit, projects could be up to 20 units per acre and have a greater maximum lot coverage (60% for residential and 100% for business). The developer would also have to include “density bonuses” such as outdoor play areas or gardens, sidewalks and seating, and at least 10% of the housing would have to qualify as moderate income.

Getting a special permit would require a public hearing, notices to abutters, traffic and environmental analyses, input from other town boards, and other conditions. However, Town Meeting approval would not be required unless a proposed project exceeds the special-permit density. 

Recently added to the rezoning proposal is a circuit-breaker provision that limits the total number of residential units that can be created at Lincoln Station over time. Once that number is reached, the hurdles become steeper for developers, and Town Meeting could also amend the cap at any time.

Town Meeting discourages developers

For developers today, the Town Meeting process is “lengthy, costly, and unpredictable,” so many potential applicants in Lincoln simply go elsewhere, said Olsen. The town would be better served by a rigorous Planning Board review using new regulations and guidelines, which includes a series of back-and-forth discussions with the developer, she added. This is “poorly suited to the Town Meeting process, and frankly, if you want to lean on a developer, it helps to have had practice.” The result would be a more comprehensive, predictable and efficient process for permitting, according to an FAQ sheet created by SLPIC.

Another stumbling block for existing South Lincoln businesses is that many do not meet current zoning, and, as a result, require a special permit to operate. Special permits can require renewals if there is a change in tenant or for any improvement to the building.

“Building owners stated that such uncertainty in the permitting process made it difficult to find suitable tenants because small local businesses or their lenders would not expend time and up-front money with the risk that permits might not be issued. Consequently, some existing businesses are not making improvements to their properties due to the current permitting process,” the FAQ sheet says. 

Additionally, under current rules, any modification to the mall other than minor changes must be approved by a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting. The mall and restaurant/post office building are owned by the Rural Land Foundation and sit in the South Lincoln Overlay Zone.

“With Town Meeting, there’s no rules… [Developers] have very little idea of whether [the project] met the town’s expectations,” Olson said. “If we want to achieve the goals of 20 years of master planning, we need a set of rules we can communicate about what is and is not acceptable in our town.”

A few residents at the forum spoke in favor of the rezoning proposal. “There are needs for more housing and more diverse economic availability for people. I’m concerned that my children won’t be able to live in a generational town or afford to retire here,” said C.J. Doherty, a Lincoln resident who co-owns the Twisted Tree Cafe. “As a business owner, having more people living around my business would certainly help. We need businesses to make a town. Change is painful and disruptive, but I don’t think it should preclude us from even considering it.”

Potential applicants in the past have asked if they would have to go to Town Meeting for a specific project, and when they learn they do, “that ends the conversation,” said Allen Vander Meulen, a member of the Housing Commission.

At a Town Meeting, “there are maybe 200 people who actually know anything about the particular question. [Other attendees] haven’t researched it. They just vote a straight yes or no on housing or school funding or whatever,” resident Paul Rice said. “My faith is in the [Planning] board, and if we’re putting the wrong people on the board, that’s a whole different question.”

Voice in opposition

But others protested what they saw as taking voting power away from residents and giving too much power to the Planning Board.

“Town Meeting is the ultimate arbiter of our town collectively, not just one five-person committee,” Peter Braun said. Under the rezoning proposal, “all we have is a ‘trust us’ kind of dimension to it. This is radical change in how we’re governing ourselves.”

“If we allow Town Meeting to keep having the final say on every single project, there will be no projects,” Olson said.

“If it’s the right project, it will pass,” replied Braun, noting that voters approved The Commons in Lincoln and Oriole Landing (albeit with the help of a $1 million grant from the Housing Commission for the latter).

Others said SLPIC has not gathered enough input from renters and homeowners in the areas that would be subject to rezoning, and that they do not have a representative on its planning and zoning subcommittee. Olson said that the Planning Board will consult town counsel about the legality of opening up more seats.

“Any steps in being less transparent as citizens as a town is the wrong direction. Part of what I love about Lincoln is having Town Meeting and having that say,” said Greenridge Lane resident Lisa Parker.

Along with official handouts at the forum were flyers produced by United Residents for Responsible Redevelopment touting its website, StrongSouthLincoln.com, that argues against the rezoning proposal. One member of the coalition, Jessica Packineau, said after the meeting that she supports mixed-use redevelopment, especially for the mall. 

“I think there are strategic ways to do it,” said Packineau, who lives at 148 Lincoln Rd. behind St. Joseph’s Church. “I love the goals of increasing [train] ridership and I think attention to parking is critical, but we should look at it holistically across the town. There are a lot of tweaks we could make to the zoning code that would advantage homeowners in what they could do to create more value on their lots.”

If the current proposal were to be enacted, “it could have been very lucrative for us,” Packineau added, noting that her property would be eligible for denser development. “I’m not being Nimby about it — I think it’s just wrong philosophically and politically.”

The rezoning proposal was originally slated for a Town Meeting vote next month, but officials didn’t complete all of their impact analysis in time, Olson said, so the vote will be postponed until a Special Town Meeting next fall. One of the provisions that might change is the 20-units-per-acre maximum that would be allowed with a special permit but not a Town Meeting, she said.

Police log for the week of Jan. 31, 2020

January 31

Baker Bridge Road (10:28 a.m.) — Property owner reports they recently put up “No Trespassing” signs up on their property and they were removed, possibly by a neighbor.

Bypass Road — Caller reports receiving a suspicious package for which she doesn’t recognize the packaging. Officer spoke to the party and found that what she ordered was in fact inside the box.

February 1

Wells Road (3:07 p.m.) — Resident reported being a victim of a scam. Report taken; the matter is under investigation.

Giles Road (4:39 p.m.) — Caller reports a dead deer on conservation land behind their residence. Dispatch contacted the Conservation Department to handle.

February 2

Cambridge Turnpike (2:30 a.m.) — Diana Casillo, 36, of 3 Jeanette St. in Worcester was stopped and subsequently arrested for OUI/liquor.

February 3

Browning Lane (5:05 a.m.) — Resident called asking questions about her alarm system. Resident was advised to contact her alarm company.

February 4

145 Lincoln Rd. (3:11 p.m.) — Party called saying he lost an item in the Donelan’s parking lot and left contact information in case the item is found.

February 5

Old Concord Road (7:44 a.m.) — Walk-in to the station requested a well-being check on a family member. Officer responded and assisted the resident and family with resources.

Trapelo Road (8:10 a.m.) — Caller was concerned about a child crying while walking with an older male. Officer spoke to the parties; the child was upset about missing the school bus and having to walk to school.

145 Lincoln Rd. (9:25 a.m.) — Officer spoke to party about jumping over the fence onto the railroad tracks to catch the train.

Bypass Road (12:43 p.m.) — Walk-in spoke to an officer in regard to a civil matter. Officer assisted the party with information.

Old Concord Road (1:48 p.m.) — Fire Department was asked to check the residence for carbon monoxide; none found.

Concord Road (4:20 p.m.) — Report of a dog running in the roadway on Rte. 126 near the railroad bridge. Nothing found.

Lincoln Road  (4:42 p.m.) — Party found an item in the parking lot and brought it to the police station. Owner was contacted and item returned.

February 6

Wells Road (12:39 a.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious person. Officer spoke to the caller and all is fine.

Harvest Circle (12:56 a.m.) — Party reported an unknown person coming into their room. Officers responded and found that the unknown person was a staff member.

Warbler Springs Road (9:14 .m.) — Report of a dog barking in the area. Officer checked and all is quiet.

News acorns

Megan Kate Nelson

Lincoln author gives book talk

Lincoln resident and historian Megan Kate Nelson will talk about her new book, The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West, on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Concord Bookshop (65 Main St., Concord). Exploring the connections among the Civil War, the Indian wars, and western expansion, Nelson reframes the era as one of national conflict—involving not just the North and South, but also the West. She portrays how nine charismatic individuals fought for self-determination and control of the region, showing the importance of individual actions in the midst of a larger military conflict.

February vacation programs at Minuteman

Minuteman Community Education is offering hands-on learning programs for students in grades 1-12 during February school vacation (Tuesday–Friday, Feb. 18–21). Programs for grades 1-8 include Artrageous Art; Aspiring Chefs; Beginner Baking; Creative Writing; Digital Photography; The Language of Java (computer programming); Business Sharks; Earth, Space, and Sea; and Expert Architects. Minuteman also offers a driver’s education course for students in grades 9-12 and a Girls in STEM Camp for students in grades 7 and 8.

Morning sessions run from 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions from noon–3 p.m. Students may register for just one program or bring lunch and stay the full day. Visit the Minuteman Community Education website to register.

Food Project receives grant

The Food Project has received a grant of $150,000 from the Ann Theodore Foundation to support the employment, training, and mentorship of youth participating in its three-tiered youth development program.

“Now more than ever, young people must learn to transcend difference through shared work in service of a more just and compassionate world,” said Anne Hayes, executive director of The Food Project. “This substantial grant from the Ann Theodore Foundation will expand our foundational Seed Crew program in greater Boston while supporting our entire youth development program in greater Boston and the north shore.”

Water Commission proposes 30% rate hike

By Alice Waugh

The Water Commission has proposed a water rate increase of 30%, along with a base meter rate hike from $35 per quarter to $50. In addition, the base meter charge for multi-unit complexes would be assessed on a per-dwelling basis, not by a per-meter basis as has been done in the past.

The new rates will be the subject of a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. in Town Hall.

The increases, which were endorsed by Lincoln Finance Director Colleen Wilkins, are necessary for the Water Department to meet its projected costs for fiscal 2021. The department is seeking an operating budget that’s 38% higher than this year’s, and it also needs to replenish its retained earnings, which have been depleted by unanticipated expenses over the past year.

After several years of no rate increases, last year’s 25% hike sent into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, largely to finance bonding of almost $2 million. Wilkins recommended that the new rates go into effect for water that’s used starting on April 1.

The proposed meter-vs.-dwelling change is the result of Water Commission research into how neighboring towns charge for housing that has more than one dwelling on a meter. In Lincoln, for example, most single-family homes have a single water meter, but complexes such as Lincoln Woods and the multistory independent-living building at The Commons have many separate dwellings but very few meters (often only one or two).

For medical facilities that have beds rather than dwellings, such as the skilled-nursing portion of The Commons and the Care Dimensions Hospice House, the number of beds will be divided by the number of people that typically dwell in one house in Lincoln, which was about 2.3 several years ago (the Water Commission is double-checking to make sure the figure is accurate today).

Since multi-unit buildings will now incur multiple base charges based on the number of dwelling units, the total bill for the complex will go up, regardless of how much water is used. Multi-dwelling complexes in Lincoln are charged at Tier 1 rates, since they use considerably less water than single-family homes where residents water their lawns and gardens.

“We reached a consensus that it is fair that every dwelling should have an equal part in the basic assessment required to sustain the infrastructure such as pipes, pumps, and treatment plants that varies very little as the amount of water used changes,” Water Commission Chair Ruth Ann Hendrickson said. “We are trying hard to base our decisions on data, and we are trying to be fair.”

Brush cleared over gas pipeline

The recently cleared Kinder Morgan right of way across Bedford Road near Oak Knolll Road (click image to enlarge).

The gas company Kinder Morgan recently cleared brush over a gas pipeline crossing Bedford Road and other locations in Lincoln. The company’s right of way is 30 to 50 feet wide in Lincoln, a company spokesman said.

“Periodically clearing the rights of way is part of our safety protocol to ensure the right of way can be visually inspected both by air and on the ground. The frequency of clearing depends on tree and brush growth in the area. In cases where a right of way crosses private property, the property owner is notified in advance.” The railroad ties in the photo were used to support heavy equipment on the soft ground and will be removed, the spokesman said.

Police log for the week of Jan. 24, 2020

January 24

Virginia Road (3:45 p.m.) — Police responded to an argument between two neighbors.

Cordaville Rd., Southborough (4:30 p.m.) — Det. Ian Spencer assisted Southborough police with a forensic sketch related to an ongoing investigation.

Lexington Road (7:52 p.m.) — Officer delivered court paperwork to a resident.

Lincoln Police Department (1:41 a.m.) — Party came to the station looking for directions to a residence in Wayland. Wayland police had requested a well-being check on the party earlier. Wayland police were contacted and took the party home.

January 25

Lincoln Road  (4:40 p.m.) — Power outage reported. EverSource contacted.

Trapelo Road (5:12 p.m.) — Caller requested a check on the residence as son never arrived to meet the reporting party. Officers checked and everything was fine.

Concord Road (11:48 p.m.) — A large tree limb fell onto the roadway. An officer responded and was able to move it to the side of the road.

January 26

Lincoln School (1:48 a.m.) — Fire alarm in the link building. Fire Department located the detector and everything is fine. School maintenance staff was notified.

South Great Road (4:15 a.m.) — Caller reported loud music in the area. Officers checked and found a party sleeping inside a vehicle in their driveway with the music on. Party was advised to turn the vehicle off and head into the house.

Lincoln Road (11:31 a.m.) — Caller reported being stuck in an elevator. Fire Department responded and found the caller had exited the elevator and it seemed to be working fine.

Pierce House (2:22 p.m.) — Caretaker requested assistance as she was having an issue with the oven. Fire Department responded and assisted the caller.

Water treatment plant, Sandy Pond Road ( 4:02 p.m.) — A car was parked near the treatment plant. An officer spoke to the operator and they were sent on their way.

Lincoln Police Department (5:10 p.m.) — Party came to the station with low pressure in one of their tires. Fire Department assisted the party.

Old Winter Street (1:08 a.m.) — Emerson Hospital notified Lincoln police of a past report of a dog bite. The information was given to the Animal Control Officer for follow-up.

January 27

Tower Road (3:54 p.m.) — Party reported receiving an odd phone call asking for an unknown person. Officers found that the unknown person was the former subscriber of the phone number.

Main Street, Medford (4:15 p.m.) — Det. Ian Spencer assisted Medford police with a forensic sketch in regard to a Medford investigation.

Chestnut Circle (4:45 p.m.) — Caller asked police to remove a home health care worker. The caller appeared to be confused, and officers contacted a friend to come and stay with them.

January 28

Virginia Road (8:51 p.m.) — Caller reported an odor of natural gas. Caller said they’d already contacted National Grid; while on the phone with the caller, National Grid arrived at the home.

January 30

Vandenberg Gate, Hanscom Air Force Base (12:39 p.m.) — William Norman, 65, of 970 Main St., Tewksbury, was arrested for an outstanding traffic warrant while attempting to enter the base and was later brought to Concord District Court.

North Great Road (3:10 p.m.) — Concord police requested a check of the area around Minute Man National Historic Parks for a missing person from their town. They later called back to report the party had been located.

Baker Bridge Road (3:18 p.m.) — Resident requested assistance for information on legal options for a civil matter.

Lincoln Road (4:04 p.m.) — Caller reported damage to her car that she believes happened while it was parked in her driveway. Report taken.

News acorns

Forums present focus group results on L-S racial climate

At two upcoming community forums, civil rights attorney Richard Cole and his associate Steven Flythe will present results of focus groups that were held at L-S to hear views and recommendations regarding the L-S school climate and culture, with an emphasis on race, color, and national origin-related issues. The first will be on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Melnea Cass Recreation Center (120 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Boston) and the second will be on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the L-S Chorus Room. 

L-S Cabaret Concert on Friday

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s annual Cabaret Concert will feature small vocal groups and soloists as well as student rock combo, jazz combo, and jazz ensembles in the high school café on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 ($20 maximum per family). L-S Friends of Music (LSFOM) will have snacks and beverages available for sale, including cheese plates and dessert.

Music Zoo, mattress sale to benefit L-S music programs

LSFOM welcomes all children ages 5–13 and their parents to visit the second annual Music Zoo on Sunday, Feb. 9 from 1–3 p.m. at the high school. Touch, try, hear, and learn about a variety of musical instruments with demonstrations from L-S student musicians, enjoy student vocal performances, and learn about music groups and lessons.

This program will be held in conjunction with the L-S Music Department’s annual mattress sale fundraiser from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The L-S  cafeteria will be transformed into a mattress showroom, where people can browse and try out name-brand mattresses and pillows. Get up to 50% off retail on all styles and sizes while supporting the L-S music program. There will also be a free chamber music concert at 2 p.m. in the auditorium featuring a string quartet, violin ensemble, flute choir, brass ensemble, and vocal groups.

Events explore what it means to be a “good man”

The Domestic Violence Roundtable invites men and boys of Sudbury, Wayland, and Lincoln to come together and discuss the definition of manhood in 2020, examine characteristics traditionally associated with masculinity, and consider the societal pressures that affect the social-emotional development of boys and men in a series of events that will examine what it means to be a “good man.” They’ll culminate in a March 14 summit, “Tough Guys and Gentle Men: Healthy Men in the Age of #MeToo,” featuring guest speakers and discussions.

The events will kick off this month with small group discussions of men and/or boys on the subject of “What Does it Mean to be a Man?” These groups will be led by male members of the local White Ribbon Campaign planning committee and will include faith-, student- and senior-based discussions. The campaign has grown to an international movement bringing men together as part of the solution to help end gender-based violence.

Details about the summit will be released soon. For more information on time and location of the discussions, call Roundtable president Sue Rushfirth at 508-265-8748 or email infodvrt@gmail.com.

Committee now accepting scholarship applications

The Lincoln Scholarship Committee has opened its 2020 application process. Click here for information on the available scholarships and awards as well as the procedures for applying. Application forms and instructions are available here. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 30.

Two new sculptures at deCordova

“Conservatory for Confectionery Curiosities,” 2008/2019, Mixed media installation, New York/Los Angeles. Photo by Jeffrey Jenkins.

Michael Sailstorfer, “Factories,” 2017, bronze, concrete, courtesy of the artist and König Galerie. Photo by Roman März.

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum has unveiled two new sculptures: Factories by Michael Sailstorfer and Conservatory of Confectionery Curiosities by Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood. Factories comes from a group of five unique beehive box sculptures in which bees play the role of “factory workers” as they complete and transform the sculpture. The finished sculpture is then cast in bronze. Conservatory was originally created for the Tuileries in Paris and recalls nineteenth-century horticultural hothouses, window panes allow visitors to gaze at the colorful desserts but not touch. The octagonal glass structure entraps stacks of Jell-O-like molds covered in insects partaking in the sugary sweets.

Council on Aging activities in February

The many faces of loss: a new group
February 3 at 10 a.m.
As we age we confront loss in many forms. It may be the death of loved ones or physical or cognitive changes in loved ones, friends, or ourselves. It may include regrets about lost opportunities or the recognition of our own mortality. Claire Gerstein, LICSW, a social worker with many years of experience helping people navigate the losses of later life, will facilitate a group which will give people the opportunity to talk about these issues in a supportive environment. The six-week group will run on Mondays from 10–11 a.m. beginning on February 3 at Bemis Hall. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Lincoln Academy with Ariane Liazos: Reforming the city — the contested origins of urban government, 1890–1930
February 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 3 at 12:30 p.m. when Ariane Liazos discusses “Reforming the City: The Contested Origins of Urban Government, 1890–1930.” Most American cities are now administered by appointed city managers and governed by councils chosen in nonpartisan, at-large elections. In the early twentieth century, many urban reformers claimed these structures would make city government more responsive to the popular will. But on the whole, the effects of these reforms have been to make citizens less likely to vote in local elections and local governments less representative of their constituents. How and why did this happen? Lincoln resident and author Ariane Liazos will examine the urban reform movement that swept through the country in the early twentieth century and its unintended consequences. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome

Musical jazz lunch
February 7 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis while the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band serenades you with familiar good old tunes. Bring a bag lunch and, if you like, food purchased already prepared at the store to share. The COA provides beverages and dessert.

Lincoln Academy with Matt Burne — Exploring the natural history of Walden Woods
February 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Feb. 10 at 12:30 p.m. when Matt Burne discusses “Exploring the Natural History of Walden Woods.” Henry Thoreau famously walked the forests and fields of the historic Walden Woods for hours every day, collecting the grist for his important mill. Walden Woods, in Lincoln and Concord, today are largely protected and open to the public for recreation, connection, and inspiration. Discover what makes Walden Woods unique and distinct, and some of the natural treasures to be found here. Matt Burne is Conservation Director with the Walden Woods Project. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Free wellness clinics for all ages
February 11 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at 50 Wells Road in Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon or Bemis Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Services provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. The Bemis Hall clinic is supported by the Pierce House.

Oriole Landing information session
February 13 at 10 a.m.
Join Christopher Fernandez of the Oriole Landing management team on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall for coffee, snacks, and an informational session about Oriole Landing, the new housing development that will open in Lincoln this spring. Find out about the affordable housing units that are still available as well as the market rate apartments, what the community has to offer and other amenities, floor plans, and more.

What you need to know: Municipal energy aggregation
February 14 at 10 a.m.
Join C.J. Volpone and Paul Shorb of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee on Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. at Bemis Hall to learn more about their municipal energy aggregation program before the Annual Town Meeting update. Also called community aggregation, municipal aggregation is an exclusive agreement with an electricity broker to provide energy to all residents. Our residential and commercial electricity supply is negotiated using our bulk purchasing power, which enables a community’s residents to receive energy from local sustainable sources. Specifying these local green sources of electricity in turn increases aggregate demand for renewables in the electricity market.

Art, movement, and fun for winter relaxation
February 14 at 1 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. when Catherine Collins, RN, MS, QTTT (Qualified Therapeutic Touch Teacher), leads a fun afternoon of using art, movement, and other playful techniques to de-stress, loosen up, and get ready to truly savor all the joys of the season. Winter weather doesn’t have to make you crazy. Whether you feel stressed or not, you’ll have a great time and learn some techniques you can use any time of the year. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Valentine singalong with Magic Garden
February 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Join the young children of Lincoln’s own Magic Garden for a singalong on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 10:30 a.m. in the Hartwell building on Ballfield Road. First each of the Magic Garden classes will sing a song or two, and then the audience will join for a couple of sing-along songs. Please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up so Magic Garden knows how many people to expect.

Lunch with town administrator Timothy Higgins
February 18 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch with friends new and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at St. Anne’s Church. Our special guest will be Lincoln’s town administrator, Tim Higgins. Come meet him, ask him your questions and give your ideas. Tricia McGean, Lincoln’s Public Health Nurse, will offer free blood pressure readings. The cost of lunch is $5 per person. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let us know if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club.

Coffee with Sheila Beenhouwer: Russian art and my own work
February 18 at 2:30 p.m.
Join artist Sheila Beenhouwer at a Coffee with the Artist on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 2:30 at Bemis Hall as she shares with you art from her traveling life in Russia and a bit of her own work. The exhibit will be up in the Bemis Hall Gallery through the end of February.

Free beginning meditation
February 19 at 10 a.m.
Come to a free beginners’ meditation session Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m. for a half-hour at Bemis Hall. Meditation opens the channels of our natural states of peace, joy, and health, and aids in decreasing the negative effects of aging. Experienced meditation teacher Lynne LaSpina will begin the session with a few minutes of stretching muscles to relax, and breathing exercises to help focus before meditating for about 10 minutes. Lynne will offer walking meditation for those who find it difficult to sit quietly for 10 minutes. For information, contact Lynne at 908-892-2408 or llas902551@aol.com.

Cash benefit for families of some deceased veterans
February 20 at 10:15 a.m.
Surviving spouses of veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities may be eligible for the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a tax-free monetary benefit, and many other Massachusetts benefits. Come find out more at a presentation by Lincoln’s Veterans Services Officer, Peter Harvell, on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 10:15 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Parents who were financially dependent on a service member or veteran who died from a service-related cause may also be eligible for the Parents’ DIC.

Breakfast with Carolyn: Caregiving 101
February 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Are you new to caregiving and would like to be pointed in the right direction? Come have breakfast with Carolyn Bottum, the COA Director, on Friday, Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m. at Bemis Hall. You’ll learn what services can be provided in your home or in the community, who can help you evaluate and monitor services, and tips and strategies for reducing your stress while being a caregiver.

Empowering you to thrive at home
February 21 at noon
You are invited to join Tori Taylor, PT, executive director of Deaconess Abundant Life Services, on Friday, Feb. 21 at noon when she reviews safety and balance tips to keep you active and thriving in your homes. She will also discuss how home care may be brought in to help you remain independent, whether temporarily if you are not well, or for a more extended period of time.

Lincoln Academy with Judith Ann Foster, PhD — The obesity epidemic: why we must get the science right
February 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Currently, more than a third of the country is now obese, making the U.S. one of the fattest countries in an increasingly fat world. Mounting research suggests that U.S. life expectancy may be starting to decline for the first time since 1993. Most now believe that the increase in obesity is due to the increase in average caloric consumption, increased consumption of refined carbohydrates high in simple sugars, and a sedentary lifestyle with little exercise. Unfortunately, the U.S. Low-Fat Diet Recommendations of 1977 may have contributed to the increase in weight gain. Dr. Foster is Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine. The COA provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Memory Café
February 27 at 10:30 a.m.
The Commons in Lincoln, Right-at-Home In Home Care and Assistance, and the Lincoln Council on Aging invite those with dementia and their family, friends, and caregivers to the free Lincoln Memory Café on Thursday, Feb. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the main building of The Commons in Lincoln. Enjoy refreshments and the entertainment of “Ragtime” Jack Radcliffe, a fiddle, guitar, and piano performer, in a fun, informal, social atmosphere. The Memory Café is held each fourth Thursday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon at The Commons in Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Kaupp of Right at Home at 781-275-1400 or the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Meet other independent scholars for ideas and feedback
February 28 at 10 a.m.
Independent scholars who do research in history, science, the social sciences and more without being formally employed by an academic or research institution are publishing distinguished books and making important contributions to their fields. Sometimes only after you stop working full-time can you pursue that passion you have been quietly studying for decades but never had the time to fully explore. Independent scholars and those interested in learning more are invited to join us on Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. for the first meeting of the Independent Scholars Gathering. If there is interest, the group will meet monthly to share resources and ideas, give feedback, and be a scholarly conclave.

Annual Town Meeting preview
February 28 at 1 p.m.
Annual Town Meeting is Saturday, March 28, but you can get a preview on Friday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Town Administrator Tim Higgins. You’ll hear about the budget and other issues that are on the agenda for the Annual Town Meeting such as the recommendations of the Property Tax Study Committee, new zoning regulations related to South Lincoln, and more, and you can ask questions and give ideas. This is your opportunity to become informed about and discuss issues of importance to the town in an informal setting.

Save the date:

Museum of Fine Arts in March
Join the Council on Aging on Thursday, March 19 for a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. The group will have a one-hour guided tour, “Highlights of the Art of the Americas,” featuring masterpieces from the Art of the Americas collection. Then you are free to wander the museum and grab lunch (not included in the fee) in one of their four restaurants and visit the gift shop. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9 a.m. and leave the MFA at 2 p.m. to return to Lincoln by 3 p.m. This trip requires the ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time. The cost is $30 and is non-refundable. To make a reservation send a check payable to FLCOA/Trips to Ginny O’Brien, 4 Linway Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Include your telephone number and email. Your reservation is complete when your check has been received. Questions? Contact Ginny at 781-259-1291 or vobrien39@yahoo.com.