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

My Turn: Thanksgiving pies and pantries

By Tara Mitchell

Right now, our local food pantries need assistance more than ever before.  With government aid slowing to a trickle, every little bit can help.  Please consider a donation to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry or the Sudbury Food Pantry.

Additionally, FELS (the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury) is in the final week of its annual Thanksgiving pie sale. You can order a pie as a donation for a family to pick up from the food pantries in Lincoln or Sudbury, to gift to teachers and staff at LSRHS, or for your own Thanksgiving table. Orders must be in by Monday, Nov. 17. 

Either means of donation to our food pantries will allow local families to have a better opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving together. Thanks to both our towns for your ongoing support of our food pantries and FELS, and best wishes for a safe and festive Thanksgiving!

Mitchell, a Sandy Pond Road resident, is co-president of FELS.

“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 Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Doherty’s project to accommodate new electric school buses

A map showing where the electric school buses (light blue) will be parked. The red line is the trench for the charging stations. Click image to enlarge.

Workers have begun digging a trench at the east side of the Doherty’s Garage property to install charging stations for a new fleet of electric school buses.

As part of the project, the grassy area now occupied by cars awaiting repair will be paved, expanded, and moved 21 feet closer to the tree line, though only one tree will be taken down. The EV transformer will supply electricity on two different meters for Doherty’s and the public, which will have access to two new charging stations in the adjacent dirt commuter lot. 

The Lincoln Garden Club’s plants in the area were removed but will be replaced, and there will be new plantings on the Lincoln Road side of the property to partially screen the school buses from view. The Planning Board approved the addition on October 28.

 “It’s going to be a huge improvement. Right now it looks like a junkyard. The site needs to be cleaned up,” said Paula Vaughn-Mackenzie, director of planning and land use.

Board members asked why the buses need to be charged and parked full-time at that location rather than at the Lincoln School or the DPW on nearby Lewis Street where they’re now stored. Scott Rodman of the Green Energy Committee, who has been working with property owner Mike Callender and Highland Electric Fleets, replied that the school had neither access to enough power nor space to park the buses with sufficient turnaround room — “much to my chagrin, because I thought was perfect place for them, too,” Rodman said. “I tried everything humanly possible.”

The buses also can’t be parked behind the garage building because it’s too close to wetlands. As for the DPW, the town expects to rebuild the site at some point, and when that happens, there won’t be room for the buses there either. It wouldn’t make fiscal sense to install the EV chargers there and then later tear them out and reinstall them elsewhere, Rodman said. “These chargers are very expensive — you can’t do it as a sort of temporary thing.”

A 2019 town study said that the DPW would have to be replaced at what was then an estimated cost of $15 million. Consultants looked at several alternate sites in town and concluded that the current Lewis Street was the most suitable.

For now, Doherty’s will keep some of its diesel buses as backups and for use on  field trips and longer athletic trips; eventually they will be phased out, Callender said. He asked the board to approve the plan right away to qualify for grant funding. The project needs to be up and running by January 1, 2026; “otherwise, several million dollars in federal and state funds may go elsewhere, and given the political climate, may not return,” he added.

Doherty’s and the school agreed earlier this year to amend their contract to allow introduction of the new buses, and the change will not cost the schools or town any additional money.

Though everyone agreed that electric school buses are a good idea though not without some grumbling about the fact that the application was submitted as a “minor change” to the property’s site plan.This meant that a public hearing was not required and some board members found out about the proposal rather late in the game, though Reid McIntire, project manager at Highland Electric Fleets, said they’d been working on the plan since April.

“I’m shocked that we just found out about this — you’re putting a gun to our head,” said board member Rob Ahlert. “I feel like it came out of nowhere, though maybe it’s all good.”

“On principle, I believe this is a major modification, but I also believe that this project needs to move forward,” said board member Susan Hall Mygatt, who urged the board to have a future discussion of what exactly constitutes “major” and “minor” changes to site plans. Ultimately, though, members unanimously approved the “minor change” designation and the project itself.

“This is a real chance to do something that would be unusual for a town as small as Lincoln,” board member Gary Taylor said.

Doherty’s Garage, a three-generation business in Lincoln since 1905, was sold in 2023 to 161 Lincoln Rd. LLC. The property and business activities were split up; Cindy Murphy (granddaughter of founder Matthew Doherty) and her husband Dennis still manage the school bus transportation and rubbish collection services, while Johnny Frangieh of Lincoln Petroleum runs the gas station and auto repair shop. 

Addendum

The November 9 story headlined “Bank of America to close Lincoln branch” should have included statements by RLF Executive Director Geoff McGean that “we are actively in discussions with other potential banks to replace [Bank of America]” and that “Civico or other developers have not made additional progress on drawing up proposals for redeveloping the mall.” Also, only the Cambridge Trust’s Lincoln branch closed in  2016, not the entire company. The article has been updated.
 
 

Bank of America to close Lincoln branch

The Bank of America branch at the Mall at Lincoln Station.

Editor’s note: this story was updated on November 10, 2025.

Lincoln’s Bank of America customers received emails on Friday that the town’s branch would close in March 2026.

The email didn’t say why the move was being made but said those who have a safe deposit box at this location will receive a separate letter with instructions about how to close the box and collect your personal belongings. Jennings Rainey, Vice President/Consumer Banking Market Leader for the Middlesex Market, referred questions to the bank’s corporate media office, which did not return an email from the Lincoln Squirrel on Friday.

Geoff McGean, executive director of the Rural land Foundation, the mall’s owner, said Bank of America had an option to renew their lease starting in April 2026 and notified the RLF that they would decline it.

“BoA has been a valued tenant at Lincoln Station for 25 years,” McGean said. “The decision to leave was made exclusively by BoA and was a surprise to RLF. The employees at the bank have cited a lack of activity as being the reason for the closure but that is all we have been told at this time.” The RLF is actively in discussions with other potential banks to replace [Bank of America],” he added.

“I think we as a community need to look broadly at the state of retail/banks in particular and ask ourselves to really lean in and support this town in all ways possible,” said Andrew Stevenson, RLF’s board chair. “It is more important than ever that we show all local companies support and shop at them to make sure they see a viable future in Lincoln, whether they be stores at Lincoln Station or any local vendor.”

Voters approved zoning changes in December 2023 that, among other things, would allow the mall to be redeveloped as a two-story building with housing on the second floor, a project that will inconvenience the current commercial tenants in the short term. The RLF has been in discussions for some time with Civico about ideas whereby the company would redevelop the mall while adding a second and third floor for multifamily housing as stipulated in the Housing Choice Act. However, neither Civico nor any other developer have made “additional progress on drawing up proposals for redeveloping the mall,” McGean said.

A branch of the Cambridge Trust Co., which was located across Lincoln Road from the Bank of America, closed its doors in 2016.

Police log for October 22—November 3, 2025

October 22

Old Concord Road (2:53pm) — An officer spoke to two youths who were fishing in a private area and suggested alternate locations.

Pierce House (4:22pm) — A large tree was partially blocking the roadway. The DPW was notified.

Beaver Pond Road (5:07pm) — An officer responded to Beaver Pond Road after a report of increased volume and speed of vehicles.

October 23

Battle Road Farm (12:30am) — Officers responded for an ongoing neighbor dispute.

Harvest Circle (9:19am) — A person reported a missing or stolen item. An officer responded.

Oriole Landing (11:15am) — A person reported recovering several articles of mail in a wooded area adjacent to the roadway. An officer took possession of the items.

October 24

Bypass Road (9:02am) — A resident reported that their car was stolen from their driveway some time during the night. Lincoln police, Massachusetts State Police, and neighboring agencies are investigating.

Smith Hill Road (9:33am) — An officer spoke to a person regarding an out-of-state civil issue with a rental company.

Lincoln North office building (1:40pm) — Officers were made aware of a protest occurring on Hanscom Drive. The protest was a peaceful demonstration requiring no police response.

Ballfield Road (8:58am) — An officer checked on a motorist at the side of the road. They had pulled over to make a phone call and were on their way shortly thereafter.

October 25

St. Anne’s Church (9:55am) — An officer spoke with a person reporting damage to several trees.

Lincoln Road (4:48pm) — Police and fire personnel responded to a residence after a person reported a missing child. Several area resources were started to the area. The child was located unharmed a short time later on the property.

Conant Road (6:12pm) — A caller reported that a vehicle had made several passes in a brief period of time. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate anything out of the ordinary.

Red Maple Lane (10:02pm) — Officers responded to a residence and assisted the occupants.

October 26

North Commons (9:42am) — Officers helped a person transport a family member.

Lincoln Road (1:57pm) — A caller reported seeing a suspicious person behind the Town Hall. Officer checked the area but were unable to locate anyone matching the description.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (8:58pm) — Lincoln officers assisted the Massachusetts State Police with a two-vehicle crash.

October 27

South Great Road (5:12pm) — An officer assisted a caller with an incident involving a neighbor.

October 28

Robbins Road, Bedford (8:43am) — An officer responded to Hanscom Air Force Base to assist Hanscom Security Forces with a person who had an active arrest warrant. Patrick Prendiville, 64, of Southbridge was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant from New Hampshire. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and transported to Concord District Court.

Storey Drive (10:04am) — An officer helped a person contact another person who was not answering the door or their phone. Contact was made and the two communicated.

Bypass Road (2:50pm) — Police and fire units responded to the area for a two-vehicle crash involving a bus. There were no injuries reported. The operator of the vehicle that had caused the crash was cited for failing to yield. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the students were transferred to a second bus.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:33pm) — A resident was burning leaves without a permit and outside the allotted season. The Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire.

Tower Field Lane (5:09pm) — A caller reported seeing a possible hunter in the field next to their residence. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate anyone hunting in the area.

Old County Road (9:46pm) — A caller reported a possibly abandoned vehicle parked on the side of the road. An officer located the vehicle and, a short time later, the two occupants. The parties were told that they were trespassing and moved from the area.

October 29

Juniper Ridge Road (10:34am) — A caller reported a possible vehicle fire. An officer checked the area and located the vehicle; there was no fire, just a mechanical issue. A tow truck was summoned.

Sandy Pond Road (12:57pm) — Police and fire units responded to the area for a two-vehicle crash when a vehicle and school bus struck one another while backing at a slow speed. There was minor damage and no injuries reported. Both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

North Great Road (6:21pm) — A caller reported seeing a person pushing a shopping cart and wearing a headlamp in the area. An officer located several runners wearing headlamps but no shopping carts.

October 30

South Great Road (12:00pm) — A caller reported a possible malfunction with the railroad crossing gates. An officer responded and monitored the area; the gates appeared to be functioning without issue, but Keolis was notified.

Bypass Road (11:29pm) — A caller reported discovering a snake in their dining room. An officer responded and was able to swiftly and safely relocate the snake to a more suitable habitat.

October 31

Police received reports of trees and branches down throughout the day and evening at the Twisted Tree Cafe and on Granville Road, Farrar Road, Lincoln Road, South Great Road, Mill Street, Deerhaven Road, Old Concord Road, and Greenridge Lane.

Tower Road (1:14am) — Due to strong winds and tree damage, electrical wires were severed, resulting in an electrical fire. The area was secured until the power could be deactivated. Later that morning, an officer returned to several closed sections of the road to redeploy barriers to prevent motorists from accessing areas that were unsafe.

North Great Road (9:41am) — A disabled vehicle was being repaired in the MMNHP visitors lot and was moved when repairs were complete.

Mill Street (11:43am) — A caller reported a large turtle in the roadway. Officers checked the length of the road but were unable to locate it.

Fridolin Hill (2:08pm) — An officer performed a vehicle check for a resident.

Beaver Pond Road (3:30pm) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding a possible scam.

Concord (8:49pm) — An officer assisted Concord police with a mutual-aid deployment of a drone for a missing-person search. The response was terminated shortly thereafter when the person was found safe.

November 1

Wheeler Road (12:02am) — Officers checked the area for a suspicious motor vehicle. The vehicle left the area prior to police arrival.

Weston Road (9:09pm) — Police were notified of a downed power line. The area was cordoned off until Eversource arrived.

Old County Road (10:49am) — A motorist reported striking a deer. The vehicle sustained no damage and was able to be driven from the scene. Due to its injuries, the deer had to be put down.

Harvest Circle (11:34am) — An officer served paperwork.

South Great Road (4:48pm) — A motorist reported a wire down in the area. The wire was a utility wire and not electrical. It was moved to the side of the road and Verizon was notified.

Page Road (3:40pm) — A resident reported a power outage. Eversource was notified.

Old Concord Road (9:03pm) — An officer responded to a house party that had grown to an unmanageable level.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (9:24pm) — A dead deer was reported in the roadway. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

November 2

Lexington Road (10:10am) — A caller reported that a vehicle had struck a rock wall and then fled the area. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the vehicle.

South Great Road (11:40am) — Officers helped a person reunite with family members after they had become separated.

November 3

Weston Road (3:02pm) — A caller reported that a vehicle was parked on their grass. The owner was located a short time later and the vehicle was moved.

Select Board highlights from Nov. 3 meeting

Solar array at landfill nears completion

The focus is now on wiring the system, according to Town administrator Tim Higgins. The contractor was able to use the existing conduit to Mill Street, eliminating the need for additional clearing and excavation through the woods. The equipment pad on Mill Street has been poured and the pedestrian path has been paved. The system should be mechanically complete this month and operational before the year’s end, assuming Eversource does what is needed to connect to the grid.

New building commissioner

Jon Metivier will start work as Lincoln’s new building inspector and zoning enforcement officer on December 1. He succeeds Mark Robidoux, who took another position in Southborough. The job responsibilities are not changing, said Assistant Town Administrator Dan Pereira.

L-S needs a new roof

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will request funds from both towns for fiscal 2027 to replace the high school roof. Preliminary estimates range from $3.3 million to $7.5 million, and Lincoln’s share of enrollment is 12.7%, meaning it will be liable for roughly $419,000 to $953,000. Town officials will ask the Finance Committee for its preference for a funding mechanism. The L-S School Committee will vote to authorize the project and debt, which will become effective unless one or both towns vote at Town Meeting to reject that vote.

News acorns

Water main update: Town Hall closed on Friday

On Thursday, Nov. 6, Town Hall and Old Town Hall Exchange will be open, but only accessible from the five-way intersection. Tell roadway staff if you are headed to either location and they will let you through. On Friday, Nov. 7, Town Hall will be closed while water lines are disconnected and reconnected. Offices are working remotely, so residents may contact staff via email or conduct online transactions at www.lincolntown.org. Work will begin each day at 8:15am and finish between 4:30pm and 5:30pm as subsurface conditions permit.

Lincoln food pantry gets $5,000 grant

In response to the SNAP funding cut brought on by the federal government shutdown, the Sudbury Foundation announced an emergency funding initiative of $155,000 to support 17 hunger relief organizations across its catchment area. The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry serving Lincoln and Weston received $5,000. The largest grants went to A Place to Turn in Natick and Open Table in Maynard ($15,000 apiece), according to a press release from the foundation.

Session on wolf restoration

The Walden Woods Project and Restore: The North Woods will co-host “Potential for Wolf Restoration in New England” with George Wuerthner on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 7:00–9:00pm on Zoom. Wuerthner will provide background on the Endangered Species Act as it relates to wolf restoration, how wolf restoration in Oregon and California has progressed, and its potential for New England. Register here.

Book discussion with Don Hafner

Join the Lincoln Minute Men for a discussion with Lincoln resident Donald Hafner, author of Entangled Lives, Black and White: The Black Community, Enslaved and Free, in Eighteenth-century Lincoln, Massachusetts, on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 2:30–4:00pm in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Copies of the book are available on reserve at the library or for purchase from the Lincoln Historical Society or Amazon.com.

News acorns

McElligott wins Emerging Leader Award

Robin McElligott with her 2025 Emerging Leader Award.

Robin McElligott, recently promoted to plant operations director at The Commons in Lincoln, has been recognized by LeadingAge Massachusetts with the 2025 Emerging Leader Award. The award is given annually by the trade association to an individual who demonstrates exceptional promise, leadership, and commitment to mission.

“Robin has grown tremendously, from starting at The Commons ten years ago as our concierge to now leading our 28-unit expansion project as plant operations director. She has a gift for combining exceptional communication skills, operational excellence, and a resident-first mindset that sets a new standard for customer service across our community,” said Reynaldo LeBlanc, executive director of The Commons. According to LeadingAge, “McElligott’s collaborative and empathetic leadership has strengthened The Commons in Lincoln’s culture, improved communication and engagement, and fostered an environment of trust and respect among residents and staff.”

“The Art of War: Trench Art from the Civil War to Desert Storm”

Trench art comprises decorative items created by soldiers, prisoners of war, or civilians using materials found around war zones. Lincoln Veterans Services Officer Peter Harvell shares and describes trench art forged during wartime on Friday, Nov. 7 at 12:30pm at Bemis Hall. Free evaluation of wartime memorabilia offered by Joe Martinelli. Leave all firearms at home, regardless of their age. Sponsored by the Council on Aging & Human Services.

Mattress sale fundraiser to benefit L-S music

The L-S Music Department is holding a mattress sale fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10:00am–4:00pm in the LSRHS cafeteria. Mattresses come direct from the manufacturers in a variety of sizes and styles at 30-50% off retail prices. Delivery and 0% financing available, as well as sheets, pillows, bean bags, and more. Text LSMUSIC25 to 617-553-7722 for discount coupons or click on the Facebook event for more information.

Arts and crafts show next weekend

The annual Lincoln Arts (and Crafts) Show will take place on Friday to Sunday, Nov. 14-16 from noon–5:00pm at the Pierce House. It kicks off with an artists’ reception on Friday, Nov. 14 from 5:00–7:00pm. The open show is for all ages, all creative arts, and all abilities, and student entries are free. Details and registration (deadline to submit work: November 7).

Wreath-making workshop

Bring your family for a fun afternoon making some festive decorations on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 1:00–3:00pm at the LLCT office at Lincoln Station. Please bring some foliage cuttings from your own yard to help fill out your wreath. Sponsored by Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. RSVP here.

Celtic music concert

Come hear Hanneke Cassel with Jenna Moynihan and Keith Murphy, three of the top Celtic musicians in the U.S., at the Live in Lincoln Center series on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 4:00pm at First Parish Church in the Parish Hall at 14 Bedford Road. Click here to learn more and buy tickets ($14–$28).

Learn about offshore wind energy

Zach Fuerst, commercial director at Vineyard Offshore, will discuss the challenges facing the industry today and opportunities for the future in “Offshore Wind Energy: Overcoming Federal Headwinds” on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7:00pm via Zoom. For more information and registration, click here. Sponsored by Green Newton and CFREE, part of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee.

“Beaverland” author talk

On Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6:00pm at the Concord Public Library and on Zoom, Leila Philip, author of Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America, will speak about beavers, which play an outsized role in American history and its future. Sponsored by the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the Concord Land Conservation Trust, the Walden Woods Project, OARS, and the River Stewardship Council. Register to attend in person or on Zoom.

My Turn: Lincoln in the ICE age

By Kathy Madison

Lincoln has long felt like a kind of refuge — blessed by acres of conserved land, home to miles of wild trails and ponds. Our backyards visited by wildlife from opossums and wild turkeys to coyotes and bears. Homes nestled along quiet roads, with gardens and working farms… a quiet, friendly place where one can feel safe.

But we are not safe.

For me, it began last March. A Maryland father, Kilmer Abrego Garcia, was arrested and deported without trial to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The judge’s orders to return him, along with others, were ignored by this administration. Then in April, a Tufts student was grabbed suddenly by masked men on a Somerville street and flown to Louisiana. In May, ICE agents shattered car windows in Acton and Waltham to grab residents, and one morning in Lincoln, a woman didn’t show up for work. Weeks later we learned that ICE had taken her, her family desperate to find her.    

In May, I cofounded Lincoln Witness with Kim Jalet. We formed in response to a clearly out-of-control immigration enforcement machine. Twenty Lincolnites showed up for our first meeting; today there are forty of us. You may have seen us at the July Fourth parade with our Lady Liberties costumes, or at the Farmer’s Market, handing out Know Your Rights cards and raising emergency funds for immigrant families. Our goal is to serve as witnesses to injustice, to prepare ourselves and others in these dark days, to share information, resources and reach out to our neighboring communities.   

In early September, we asked the Town of Lincoln to spread the word, to offer guidance to residents regarding town-wide policies, to inform and educate, because in this town some people still say, “I have nothing to worry about from ICE since I’m not illegal.” The fact is that since January, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained, abused and held for days because ICE considers due process optional.

Recently, an American citizen and veteran experienced the fury of ICE and, when contradicted by his captors, refused to keep silent. He wrote about it here.

Remember when we were told that only the “worst of the worst” would be targeted for deportation? In fact, today there are more than 62,000 people in immigration custody – more than half of whom have no criminal record. The crackdown accelerates. During September more than 1,400 Massachusetts residents have been detained by ICE. Families are ripped apart. Law-abiding, tax-paying workers, children, those suffering serious medical conditions — all have been grabbed by an enforcement agency acting with impunity, with faces masked, with no oversight, and permitted now by the Supreme Court to conduct racial profiling.

Nearly one hundred years ago, another regime in another country first mercilessly stigmatized Jews and then rounded up them up. I’ve often wondered how many of their former neighbors missed them as they disappeared, first slowly, then all at once. Did anyone stay up nights wondering where they’d gone? If they were OK?

Today, in 2025, undocumented immigrants are called “illegals,” a pejorative that strips their humanity, practically equates them with the “worst of the worst,” and decrees that they be detained and deported — even to countries foreign to their original homelands. No consideration is given to those immigrants and refugees who are simply showing up for a regular, scheduled visit to an immigration office on their path to citizenship. For ICE, there’s a quota to fill. And their budget is monstrously huge, bumped up by $75 billion in July.

Here’s the thing. Immigrants are the first targets. But increasingly, any individual or organization that dares to criticize the administration has become a potential enemy. I think about what that fact means for me and countless others who are showing up to confront injustice. Increasingly, we must assess what level of risk we are willing to assume. What words we are willing to publish. What we can say in public. 

It may come down to a simple equation: “the land of the free” = “the home of the brave.”

Editor’s note: Madison, who lives on Concord Road, invites readers to join a vigil, march, and rally starting at Waltham District Court (38 Linden St.) on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11:00am. Click here to see related events in the area.

“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.

Correction

In the November 3, 2025 “News Acorns,” the date for the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mic Acoustic) was listed incorrectly. It will be on Monday, Nov. 10. The post has been updated.