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

Council on Aging activities in January

Musical jazz lunch
January 3 at noon
Celebrate the end of the week by grabbing a table at Bemis Hall 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.

Explore the poetry of Robert Frost
January 4 at 2 p.m.
Join Stephen Collins for a free four-session interactive seminar on the poetry of Robert Frost at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Jan. 4, 11, and 25 at the Lincoln Public Library, and on January 18 at Bemis Hall. Sponsored by the Council on Aging and the library. Stephen performs one-man shows and teaches courses on historical figures like Melville, Walt Whitman, James MacNeill Whistler, and William Shakespeare.

What new discussion groups would you like?
January 6 at 10 a.m.
The COA loves to offer discussion groups for people who would like to discuss their experiences in a supportive group environment where they can share with others their concerns and challenges and get and give tips and strategies. We want to make sure that they are providing the groups you are most interested in. In the past, they have held groups about coping with losses, change, and difficult family issues. Which of these topics would you like to see offered again or what new topics would you like to talk about? Come to Bemis Hall at 10 a.m. on January 6 to brainstorm with the COA, or call Carolyn at 781-259-8811 with your ideas. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in January

Pierce House manager gets ready for her first First Day

Victoria Otis

By Alice Waugh

For the new Pierce House manager, January 1 will be her first First Day, and she’s planning a good time for all.

The New Year’s Day event offers food, drink and entertainment for Lincolnites of all ages from 1–5 p.m. “It’s going to be so much fun,” said Victoria Otis, the enthusiastic Pierce House manager. First Day is a Lincoln tradition that was threatened with cancellation due to a lack of funds in 2018, but residents stepped up and made it happen. 

This year’s event will feature music from the Lincoln Trad Jazz Sextet, and a balloon artist and “candy bar” for kids. Food and beverages are being donated by William Ference Catering, BG Events, Two Chefs Are Better Than One, Fireside Catering, and Gordon’s Liquors. Other donations include funds from the Parks and Recreation Department and a police detail from the Lincoln Police Department.

After graduating from Johnson and Wales College in 2017, Otis was event manager at the Stevens Estate in North Andover, another town-owned historic property now rented out for gatherings. She started at the Pierce House last summer and has already raised the historic house’s profile the new-fashioned way: online. Getting listed on TheKnot.com and WeddingWire quickly paid for itself with more wedding bookings, and she’s also boosted the number of followers on the Pierce House social media sites, including Instagram.

Otis (who also manages the Pierce House property with oversight from the Pierce House Committee) is bubbling with other ideas, including new plantings and garden arrangements, an ice machine, fundraising, and a wall or some other measure to appease neighbors who are unhappy with the sound levels during events.

During the slow winter months, she keeps busy meeting vendors, networking with the National Association for Catering and Events, and working with new part-time assistant Jennifer Curtin (who also works for the Conservation Commission).

Weddings are the Pierce House’s bread and butter, and running this kind of event is becoming second nature to Otis. “All my friends are getting married, so I kind of look at what they’re doing and it makes it a lot easier for me,” she said.

Otis still needs First Day volunteers, especially for setup and cleanup. Those interested may contact her at 781-259- 9757 or Victoria@piercehouse.com.

Police log for week of Dec. 14, 2019

December 14

Old County Road (9:08 a.m.) — Tree down on Old County Road near Trapelo, partially blocking the road. DPW notified to respond.

Lexington Road (11:18 a.m) — Resident reports receiving a letter from a neighbor that’s bothersome. Officer spoke to the resident and documented it.

Ballfield Road (9:05 p.m.) — Man parked on Ballfield Road. Officer spoke to the driver and sent him on his way.

December 15

South Great Road (1:05 a.m.) — Hazardous pothole reported in the road near the railroad tracks. DPW notified.

Lexington Road (1:06 a.m.) — Branch down in the roadway. Officer was able to remove it himself.

December 16

Old Winter Street (1:56 p.m.) — Caller reports possible damage to her lock. Officers checked the residence; all is fine (appears to be a defective/broken lock mechanism).

Lexington Road (9:02 p.m.) — Caller reports car parked in the cemetery. Spoke to owner; son parked the car there and got a ride elsewhere from a friend.

December 17

Tower Road (1:31 a.m.) — Caller reports hearing screaming in the woods. Officers checked the area; appears to be animals in the woods making the noises.

Lincoln Road (10:15 p.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle parked in the resident lot. The party inside works for the railroad.

December 18

Aspen Circle (1:30 a.m.) — Caller concerned about a friend’s well-being. Officers spoke to the party and all is fine.

December 19

Hanscom Drive (2:35 p.m.) — Officers responded to a two-car crash. No injuries; report taken.

News acorns

Join the Christmas Bird Count

The annual Christmas Bird Count, a nationwide event sponsored by National Audubon, will take place in Lincoln on Sunday, Dec. 29 when participants record the visitors to their bird feeders. If you have established feeders (meaning they are already up and being used), can watch them for at least an hour, and are confident in identifying the species of birds you see, email Gwyn Loud at gwynloud555@gmail.com and she will send you a checklist and other information.

Library offering automatic renewals

Automatic renewals are coming to the Lincoln Public Library and the Minuteman Library Network. Eligible library materials (books, DVDs, CDs) will be automatically renewed two days prior to their due dates. Items that are automatically renewed must meet the following criteria:

  • There are no holds on that title
  • Your library allows this type of item to renew
  • The item has not reached its maximum allowed renewals
  • Your library card is not blocked or expired

Patrons will receive a courtesy reminder two days before due date if an item cannot be renewed. If you do not have an email address associated with your library account, items will still be automatically renewed. You can check due dates by logging into My Account at the MLN website at www.minlib.net or by calling the circulation desk at 781-259-8465.

Film: “Ayiti Mon Amour”

The Lincoln Film Society will show “Ayiti Mon Amour (Haiti My Love)” on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. In the film (in French with English subtitles), a magical fable weaves together the lives of three different people in Haiti five years after the devastating earthquake.

Lincoln-Sudbury recognized for German program

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School has been chosen as one of the few recipients of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) School of Distinction school plaque award, in recognition of its exceptional partnership in fostering long-term youth exchange between the U.S. and Germany.  

Since 2003, the high school’s GAPP coordinator, Joan Campbell, has been organizing exchanges with the Gymnasium Vilshofen in Vilshofen, Germany, bringing students together with host families in their respective countries and building lasting relationships between teachers, administrators, schools and participating communities. GAPP program is supported by the German government, the U.S. Department of State, and the Goethe-Institut.

“With this recognition, we highlight and celebrate the school’s dedication to student growth and inclusion of global perspectives, and we celebrate the work of everyone involved in the GAPP exchange,” said GAPP Executive Director Molly Rowland.

The call of Lincoln’s reference librarians: “Can I help you find something?”

Reference librarian Laura Paryl and her colleagues are the library’s “in-house detectives” for finding resources.

By Lucy Maulsby

The Lincoln Public Library may be small, but its reference librarians are always busy. In addition to answering routine questions (over 100 a week) about the library’s holdings, directing patrons to “a good book,” and assisting with research on a variety of topics, they’re also teaching people how to access and effectively use the expansive electronic library of books, journals, and other media — all of which are transforming the ways in which we engage with news, entertainment, and information.

“My work has always involved helping people find what they’re looking for, helping them use the tools available, and solving problems,” reference librarian Kate Tranquada said. But those tools and problems have changed a great deal. When she first started working as a librarian in Waltham, “the card catalog filled the lobby and we had a few computers in use at the library — for staff use only. We were just getting everything barcoded — lots of data entry. Checkout still involved punching cards and pockets in books. Music and books on cassette had not quite replaced the vinyl record collection.”

The library offers both the old and the new, subscribing to a rich array of electronic resources even as it continues to build a robust print collection. These resources include subscriptions to national and local newspapers such as the New York Times and Boston Globe as well as the millions of news, magazine, and journal articles available through General One File.

Digital books, audiobooks, and movies can be accessed through the library catalogue as well as through Hoopla (movies, music, audiobooks, e-books, comics, and TV shows), Overdrive (e-books, magazines, audiobooks, and videos), and Kanopy (documentaries, classics, and independent films).

Helping patrons learn about and use these resources is central to the library staff’s work. “Although the market for print books is expanding, publishers are no longer printing many reference books. These resources are now available only in digital formats,” reference librarian Laura Paryl noted. She and the other reference librarians help patrons understand what is and isn’t available online (from social services to movies) and how to access that information. They’re also experts at helping patrons evaluate the quality of information available through online platforms.

In order to provide technological assistance, reference librarians answer questions via email, phone, and, as always, in person (on the first floor to the left of the entrance in the reference room).

“The library has always been a place for the public to get their hands on the latest dominant technology. We work with people who can use help getting up to speed on current tools,” Tranquada said. “We also provide equipment for experts whose computers and printers are temporarily on the blink, or for people away from home. Next to meeting so many people, my favorite part of the job has been learning how to use all the new gadgets and programs as they become available.”

To better help resolve technical issues and set up accounts through which patrons access digital books, Tranquada holds 30-minute drop-in help sessions on Thursdays from 3–5 p.m. She helps people install apps and download materials onto their personal devices including iPhones, iPads, Android devices, and Kindles. In addition, she makes regular visits to The Commons and can sometimes be found at Bemis Hall during their computer drop-in sessions on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m.

The library’s core collection now includes a wide range of digital subscriptions that allow patrons to research diverse topics. Subscriptions to Britannica Digital Learning and World Book open doors to learners of all ages on an expansive range of topics.

“The online versions are much easier to use — no need to consult multiple heavy volumes just to find the magazine article you need,” Tranquada said. “Sometimes it’s been hard for old-timers like me to part with the gorgeous volumes that were once as valuable as gold to us. The challenge is letting people know we still offer many of the same expensive reference tools. But now they’re more invisibly digital: there are no bookcases full of volumes reminding people what the library offers.”

Since space is not as much of a concern as it once was, the reference material at the library has expanded to include new kinds of resources. For patrons interested in family history and heritage, online databases such as Heritage Quest — which includes federal censuses, books, and bank records — offer access to extraordinary collections. In addition, digital copies of some local public records and archives are available through the Lincoln Archives. For information about accessing these, patrons can email Lincoln’s archivist, Lisa Welter, at archives@lincolntown.org.

The library also subscribes to indexes that offer practical information about and ratings of goods, services and investments such as Consumer Reports, Consumer’s Checkbook, Morningstar, and Value Line.

The secret to finding all the digital riches available is through the library website: www.lincolnpl.org. Under the Services tab, select Research Tools to see resources listed by subject. If you have a question — any question — you can bring it to a reference librarian. And if the librarians can’t find the answer, they’ll refer you to someone who can.

Lucy Maulsby is the Lincoln School Committee’s appointee to the Library Board of Trustees.

Barrett, Stanley address Lincoln issues at meeting

Lincoln’s representatives in the state legislature, Sen. Mike Barrett and Rep. Tom Stanley, updated residents and town officials about locally issues important including transportation, housing, and sustainability.

At their December 16 meeting, selectmen asked about $500,000 that was allocated in a state bond bill for designing improvements to Lincoln’s commuter rail station. Although the bill passed in 2018, the money has yet to be released. This has been a source of frustration for Lincoln officials, who hope to upgrade the station as part of a larger plan to rezone South Lincoln to allow more mixed-use development, making it more attractive for commuters, residents and businesses.

“Is it worth the time and effort to continue to push in this direction, or start to make some noise in another direction?” Selectman James Craig asked.

“I understand some things are really riding on this… that’s good for us to know about,” Barrett said. “It’s not a good idea to plan on the assumption that that money is going to be available in the next two years… [but] it’s worthwhile pushing hard and asking us to push hard.”

Both legislators were optimistic that the state will authorize spending to address the Boston-area traffic and transportation crisis, which could encompass public transportation improvements such as those sought in Lincoln. “I believe in the next 24 months, serious money will be made available for transportation projects. Certainly the demand is there. It’s approaching anger,” Barrett said.

One avenue being pursued is the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), a regional effort to institute a carbon cap-and-trade system that would also raise gasoline prices. “The particulars are gnarly, but if this is put in place, it would generate a huge amount of money,” Barrett said.

Stanley has also introduced legislation that would study the potential for a mileage-based fee to replace motor fuel taxes. The two proposals work in different ways to achieve the same goal: increasing revenue from gasoline while also driving down greenhouse gas emissions.

“Legislators are in the habit of putting in play many more projects that can be actually launched and funded,” Barrett said, referring to the stalled Lincoln MBTA funding, “but with TCI fnds, the odds change and many more projects become financially viable.”

Housing

Another important regional issue is the housing crunch. To make it easier for housing developments to win local approval, the proposed Act to Promote Housing Choices would lower the requirement for town-wide approvals from a two-thirds supermajority to a single majority. This would affect projects that require Town Meeting approval such as Oriole Landing, a mixed-income project that Lincoln voters approved in 2018.

Significantly larger so-called 40B affordable developments are looming in several towns bordering Lincoln that aren’t meeting the state requirement that 10 percent of their housing be affordable. The housing choice legislation, if approved, could result in even more projects.

However, that proposal is now being targeted for amendments from two differections. Some say the bill takes away too much local control, while others want it to go even further in relaxing requirements for developments. Meanwhile, Springfield and Needham are asking that they and about 70 other towns (including Lincoln) that already meet the 10 percent affordable-housing requirement would be exempt from the law, if passed.

Because of all the proposed changes, “the central idea is in danger of sinking,” Barrett said. “Already the idea is being slow-walked, and no one is really eager for that discussion,” especially heading into an election year, he added.

Dover Amendment

Selectman James Dwyer asked the lawmakers if there was any possibility that the Dover Amendment requirements might be somehow “capped” for towns like Lincoln. That state law allows educational and religious institutions to bypass some local zoning rules and also have those parcels be exempt from local property taxes.

Lincoln’s tax revenue is limited by a combination of a small commercial tax base and a significant portion of state and federal land, such as Minuteman National Historic Park, Hanscom Air Force Base (where children of military retirees who live in tax-exempt base housing attend public school), and various nonprofit institutions. More land was lost to the tax rolls when McLean Hospital recently won a legal battle to create a tax-exempt residential treatment facility on Bypass Road.

“I like the Dover Amendment, but is there ever a limit as to how much a town could bear?” Dwyer asked.

Stanley said he was willing to work with the town on this issue, although changing the Dover Amendment is “very controversial,” he cautioned. Many other communities including Boston and Cambridge (with their universities and hospitals) and western Massachusetts with its many state parks and forests also lose out on some local tax revenue. “Lincoln has a case to make, but these other places would come forward with a surprising diversity of cases of their own,” he said.

Property taxes

Selectman Jennifer Glass noted that Lincoln is working on a proposal to limit the impact of rising property taxes on needy seniors with a local version of the state circuit-breaker program (a move that would need legislative approval even if Lincoln residents vote in favor). Lincoln hopes to expand the state criteria to include eligibility for renters as well as homeowners in town, she said.

“I think a home rule [petition] is the way to go, and I would be prepared to be very supportive,” Barrett said.

News acorns

Ugly sweater party to benefit FELS

The Rustic Twenty-Nine restaurant (29 Hudson Rd., Sudbury) is hosting an Ugly Sweater Party on Thursday, Dec. 26. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury. Bring friends and enjoy holiday movies, festive cocktails, door prizes and raffles in support of FELS. No reservations necessary — just don your ugliest attire and bring what’s left of your holiday cheer. Show your Facebook RSVP at the door to get two free raffle tickets.

Indian ballet performance at Bemis

Biswajit Das, the lead dancer from the international Saptavarna troupe that toured the United States and visited last summer, is returning to the Boston area over the holidays and will perform in Lincoln on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 4 p.m. in Bemis Hall. the event is free for Lincoln residents. Das will perform the traditional new year ritual that takes place each year at the Konark Sun Temple in India.

Winter wonderland (Lincoln Through the Lens)

An early winter snowfall blankets trees in Minute Man National Historic Park. (Photo by Ron Boisseau)

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Police log for week of December 6, 2019

December 6

Deerhaven Road (1:19 p.m.) — Officer delivered court paperwork.

Lincoln Road near Codman Road — Two-car crash. One person transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Wells Road — Confused elderly resident requesting assistance. Spoke to resident and assured them all is fine.

Hanscom Air Force Base (10:54 a.m.) — Pagano Modesto, 43, of Wakefield was arrested on a warrant for leaving the scene of a crash. 

December 7

Concord Road (9:35 a.m.) — Family member requested a well-being check on a party driving on Concord Road and says they’re tracking the party’s phone. Driver reported to be in Concord; call transferred to Concord Police Department.

Transfer station, North Great Road — Caller complaining that the cardboard recycling bin is full. Call transferred to the DPW.

Beaver Pond Road (10:49 a.m.) — Party reported odor of natural gas. National Grid contacted to check the area. 

Tower Road — (10:50 a.m.) — Reported odor of natural gas. National Grid contacted to check the area.

Deerhaven Road (1:50 p.m.) — Caller reports a phone wire fell in the roadway. Verizon contacted.

Food Project field, Concord Road — Caller reports her vehicle is stuck in the snow at the Food Project lot. Tow truck was contacted to assist.

Wells Road (9:56 p.m.) — Elderly resident requesting assistance. Advised that all is fine at the residence.

December 8

Codman Road (9:50 p.m.) — Caller reports an injured deer on the side of the road. Officers unable to locate the deer.

Wells Road (11:56 p.m.) — Elderly resident requesting assistance. Advised that all is fine at the residence.

Department of Public Works (2:01 a.m.) — Officer found footsteps in the snow around the cell tower and open door. Cell tower company notified.

Ryan Estate, Lincoln Road (3:03 a.m.) — Party called with a civil matter; officer assisted them with information.

Ryan Estate, Lincoln Road (4:28 a.m.) — Party called again about same issue; was given same information.

December 9

Lincoln Road (2:20 p.m.) — Low-hanging wire. Verizon contacted.

Wells Road (3:17 p.m.) — Call complained about a door-to-door solicitor, who was informed of the bylaw and sent on their way.

December 10

Weston Road (3:00 p.m.) — Caller reports a worker saw a van pull into their driveway earlier and then leave. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate. 

Wells Road (3:34 p.m.) — Same elderly resident requesting to speak to an officer. No issue at the residence.

Old Lexington Road (5:38 p.m.) — Officer assisted parties after a minor two-car crash.

December 11

Rte. 117 at the railroad tracks (12:54 a.m.) — Hazardous pothole in road reported; DPW contacted.

Lincoln Public Library (5:01 p.m.) — Andan Thi, 57, of Acton was arrested on a warrant from Harvard University Police for trespassing.

December 12

Old County Road (6:28 a.m.) — Report of deer in Cambridge Reservoir. Fire Department assisted in getting it out of the water.

Tower Road (11:31 a.m.) — Caller reported goats in the road. Neighbor returned them to their residence.

Hemlock Circle — Resident walked into police station to report an ongoing neighbor dispute. Officer took a report to document the complaint.

Monopod waterfowl (Lincoln Through the Lens)

A group of Canada geese huddle from the cold — but one leg stays exposed. (Photo by Harold McAleer)

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.