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

Lincoln Dems say climate change is the #1 issue for 2020

By Joan Kimball and Barbara Slayter
Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

Over 40 enthusiastic Democrats attended the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) at a November 16 meeting that defined strategy and goals for the group in the 2020 elections.

Lincoln Democrats voted climate change as the overwhelming #1 issue. Identified as “very important” were gun control, health care, and immigration. As the group looked ahead and discussed goals for 2020, they also reviewed fall activities, including collecting signatures to get ranked-choice voting on the ballot.

Kate Kavanagh and Denise Gieseke, co-founders of Concord Indivisible, shared how individuals can work with their group to promote voter engagement, election integrity, and causes. Everyone is invited to write postcards, text, call and canvas voters around the country and participate in registration drives and rallies.

Barbara Slayter described the work of Force Multiplier (FM) a volunteer group that focuses on raising funds for outstanding Democratic House of Representative candidates in swing districts. A recent Metrowest FM event in Lincoln drew almost 150 people to hear Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is seeking re-election in Virginia’s 7th district. The event raised over $17,000 for Spanberger. 

Joan Kimball, coordinator of the Grandmothers for a Brighter Future, described the postcard writing that Lincoln volunteers have done. In 2016, the Lincoln Grandmothers for a Brighter Future sent out 5,000 postcards for senate races in three states. Anyone over age 10 is invited to write postcard either separately or in groups. The goal for 2020 is 5,000–7,000 postcards. For more information, email Kimball at selenejck@gmail.com.

All interested Lincoln residents are invited to the next LDTC meeting on Saturday, Jan. 11 from 9–11 a.m. in Bemis Hall.

Property sales in October

0 South Great Rd. and 16 Old Sudbury Rd. — Martin D. Madaus to Solaire LLC NID for $6,000,000 (October 31)

9 Baker Farm Rd. — Jane G. Langton Trust to Cynthia G. Ferris for $880,000 (October 29)

90 Conant Rd. — Kathryn N. Doyle to Jessica W. and Christopher G. Tranchino for $1,360,000 (October 18)

82 Virginia Rd. #B412 — Linda W. Conrad to Robert Brenner and Bin Wang for $525,000 (October 15)

122 Chestnut Circle — Stephen H. Webster to Luiz de Oliveira for $675,000 (October 16)

19 Huckleberry Hill — Bor Yeu Tsaur to the Mark Zaitlin Trust and Linda Zaitlin Trust for $2,300,000 (October 11)

0 Baker Bridge Rd. — Carroll School to Robert and Debra Campbell for $750,000 (October 9)

129 Lexington Rd. — Larissa Kolontareva Trust to Lou Makrigiannis for $1,370,000 (October 3)

Letter to the editor: Susan Fargo will be much missed

To the editor:

Susan Fargo served the town and state so well, as a member and chair of our Selectboard and as our senator, both with such accomplishment and both for a long time.

Susan had so many wonderful qualities — her intelligence, her ability to see both the big picture and the details, her hard work always, her wit, her extraordinary writing skills — that benefited us as our reporter and editor for the Lincoln Journal, Selectwoman and Senator. Her causes were always justice for all.

When we moved to Hillside Road in 1974, we were fortunate that our across-the-street neighbors were Susan, Foster, and Mandy. We visited back and forth; we adults were friends, and Mandy and our daughter played together for years. We were so glad when we learned that Amanda and her son, Brady Foster Fargo, had moved back to Lincoln, and we know how very happy Foster and Susan were to have their precious family here.

We are grateful for the lives of Susan and Foster and we miss them, and yet they are here, firmly in our memories. They have left us an important legacy. And we, too, are so glad that Amanda and Brady are here. We send them our very very best and our condolences.

Sincerely,

Joan Kimball
10 Hillside Rd., Lincoln

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Service on Saturday for Susan Fargo, 1942–2019

Susan Fargo

A celebration of the life of State Senator Susan Fargo (née Cooley), who died on November 15 at the age of 77 following a period of declining health, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. at the First Parish Church (4 Bedford Rd., Lincoln). A private burial will be held at Lincoln Cemetery.

Susan was elected to eight consecutive terms in the Massachusetts State Senate, serving the 3rd Middlesex district (the 5th Middlesex district prior to 2003) from 1997–2012. She proudly wore out three pairs of shoes during her first campaign walking the nine towns in her district introducing herself to her constituents in order to win as a democrat in a traditionally Republican district.

As Senator, Susan served as chair of the Public Health Committee and co-chair of the Committee on Elderly Affairs. She was widely praised for her tireless work to ban smoking in the workplace, increase access to affordable housing, advance the circuit-breaker bill that provides tax credits to many elderly, and champion the health of women, including legislation that affirmed the rights of mothers to nurse their babies in public.

Whether an ally or opponent, Susan was a remarkable force, infusing all her interactions with a dry wit and keen observations. On Susan’s retirement in 2012, then Senate President Therese Murray called her a “powerful voice for the 3rd Middlesex District” and “a passionate and true leader on Beacon Hill who approaches every issue with the well-being of her constituents in mind.”

Prior to serving in the Senate, Susan served as a selectperson in the town of Lincoln, as editor in chief of the then-weekly Lincoln Journal, and, early in her career, as a middle school teacher in Newton.

Susan was born in Peoria, Ill., on August 27, 1942 to Dr. William Cooley, Jr. and Adelaide Nation Cooley. She attended Stephens College for two years, then graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Northwestern University (where she was also homecoming queen) in 1964 and received her Master of Arts in Teaching from the Harvard University School of Education in 1965. In 1994 she received a certificate in public leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

She and her future husband Foster M. Fargo Jr. met and lived in Cambridge while both were in graduate school. They married in 1966 and moved to Newton during Susan’s teaching years and then settled in Lincoln, where they lived for over 45 years (he died last April after they were married for 52 years). Susan had an exceptional appreciation of beauty which she cultivated around her, most notably in her remarkable clothing, her home and in her active support of the arts. She was a consummate gift giver, matching recipients with perfect selections often cherished over a lifetime. 

Susan leaves behind a devoted daughter, Amanda Reed Fargo and her grandson, Brady Foster Fargo of Lincoln; her sister Marcia Cooley Blevins of McMinnville, Ore.; her brother William Carl Cooley and his wife Seddon Reed Savage (Susan’s husband’s sister) of Concord, N.H.; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to The Trustees of Reservations, Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, the First Parish in Lincoln, CareGroup Parmenter Home Care & Hospice (1 Arsenal Market Place, Watertown MA 02472), or Deaconess Abundant Life Services (80 Deaconess Rd., Concord MA 01742).

Obituary courtesy of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

News acorns

Email Linda at LHamme@aol.com if this cuddly creature is yours.

Did you lose this toy?

A soft and cuddly toy was found along the edge of Pierce Pond. To reunite your baby with this one, please email Linda at LHamme@aol.com.

DeCordova artists’ market now open

The 26th Annual Holiday Artists’ Market in the deCordova Store featuring regional and national artists is now going on. Browse winter accessories, ceramics, glass, metal work, paper sculpture, home décor, housewares, and more to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. Open daily from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (see extended holiday hours here) through December 30.

Talk on art and the environment

A talk titled “Art and the Environment: A Local History” on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 6:30–8 p.m. by Associate Professor of Art History Kirsten Swenson will situate the exhibition “Peter Hutchinson: Landscapes of My Life” and the commission “Andy Goldsworthy: Watershed” within the history of land and environmental art, with particular focus on the significance of these artist’s practices within the New England landscape. Free admission; registration requested.

Enjoy art and nature on Black Friday

Instead of shopping, join Massachusetts artists at Drumlin Farm for the annual “Giving Thanks for Nature and Our Senses,” a family art experience on Friday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Engage your senses on a nature walk outdoors and help create a natural animal sculpture, enjoy an indoor art gallery, and make your own nature-inspired crafts to take home. Other highlights include music with the Grey Whisker Pickers; wildlife sketching; installations and gallery artwork by local sculptors, painters, and photographers; and storytelling with Ron McAdow. Local produce will also be on sale. Cohosted by Mass Audubon and the Umbrella’s Arts and Environment program, Musketaquid, and made possible through a generous grant by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Free for Mass Audubon members and Lincoln residents; event takes place ran or shine.

Shop and help a good cause

Join the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable (DVR) for a holiday “sip and shop” hosted by Selections Boutique (435 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury Crossing Shopping Center) on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6–9 p.m. Enjoy wine and refreshments while you shop. Even if you can’t come, Selections owner Cathy Regensburger, has graciously agreed to donate a percentage of the proceeds from all sales on December 5 to the Roundtable.

The DVR is also collecting gift cards for families served by REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence. Gift cards to Stop & Shop, Market Basket, Target, Marshalls, TJMaxx, Amazon, and Walgreens as well as Visa gift cards would be greatly appreciated.

Funeral Mass on Nov. 20 for Dorothy Manzelli

Dorothy Manzilli

Dorothy (Latronica) Manzelli, 96, of Lincoln, died on Friday, Nov. 15 in Wingate at Needham. She was the loving wife for 69 years of the late John Manzelli, who died in 2012.

She was born in Boston on Nov. 29, 1922, as the daughter of the late Felice and Angelina (DeLorenzo) LaTronica. During World War II, she worked in clothing manufacturing before marrying John and moving to Lincoln in 1951.

Mrs. Manzelli was a faithful parishioner for many years at St. Joseph Church. She volunteered for the Lincoln 4-H and enjoyed being active with the Lincoln Council on Aging. She also loved sewing and quilting.

She leaves behind three children, Jeanne Manzelli of Windsor, Conn., John Manzelli, Jr. and his wife Marjorie of Yarmouth, and Donna Berube and her husband Paul of Watertown; grandchildren, Jordan Roiz, David Polon, Elizabeth Phillips, Philip Manzelli, and Peter Manzelli; four great-grandchildren, Matt, Eleanor, Julianna and Chloe; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Phyllis Dunlap, and her brother, Joseph Latronica.

Family and friends will gather for a period of visitation on Wednesday, Nov. 20 beginning at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 142 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Lincoln Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Lincoln Council on Aging, c/o Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln MA 01773.

Obituary courtesy of Dee Funeral Home.

Letter to the editor: Gearticks urge better home insulation

The fifth-grade Purple Gearticks include (left to right) William Mendelson, Evie Packineau, Jasper Clark, Lucy Reiner, and Quinn Clark. (Photo courtesy Ginger Reiner)

To the editor:

We are the Purple Gearticks (a Lincoln First Lego League robotics team). We are working on a project to decrease energy wasted in houses and making energy greener. These days we’re all worried about climate change, and you can do your part by reading this letter and taking some of the advice at the bottom of the page.

One of the important things we learned is that two-thirds of the energy you use is heat loss: one-third goes through the walls despite insulation and one-third is leakage from windows and doors through cracks. Some ways to improve on this are window seals or door seals. You could also install more insulation or attic caps. Most people do not have enough insulation in their houses.

We hope you will contribute to this effort by sealing your windows and doors. You can consider getting a free energy audit with MassSave. They will come to your house and give you ideas on how to lose less energy.

Sincerely,

The Purple Gearticks, 5th grade: William Mendelson, Quinn Clark, Jasper Holleran Clark, Evie Packineau, and Lucy Reiner

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Police log for week of November 8, 2019

November 8

Concord Road (12:47 a.m.) — Assisted Massachusetts State Police and Concord police with looking for a hit-and-run crash driver in Concord.

South Great Road (5:58 p.m.) — Deer was struck by a vehicle and went off into the woods. Officer reports deer may be injured but does not need to be dispatched.

Codman Road (11:14 p.m.) — Resident reports a juvenile yelling towards a residence on a nightly basis. Officers spoke to the juvenile and advised them to stop such behavior.

November 9

10 Oak Meadow Rd. (1:10 p.m.) — Resident reports one of his license plates was lost or stolen. Report taken.

86 Conant Road (2:52 p.m.) — Follow-up report of a resident providing additional information on identity theft.

Lincoln Public Library (4:31 p.m.) — Walk-in at Police Department reported seeing a male party at the library viewing inappropriate on the computer. Officers responded and were unable to locate the party. Officers spoke with library staff who were made aware of the individual and will advise police if he returns.

November 10

184 Bedford Road (11:18 a.m.) — Caller reported their neighbor is putting leaves on their property. Officer spoke to the neighbor, who said he will stop doing so.

408 North Ave., Weston (9:20 p.m.) — Mutual aid, assisting Weston Fire Department  with a medical emergency.

South Great Road (9:21 p.m.) — Caller reports possibly seeing a vehicle turn onto the railroad tracks on Rte. 117. Officers checked all train crossings and reported no vehicle on the tracks.

DeCordova Museum (9:56 p.m.) — Caller reports possibly losing car keys in the parking lot. Officer checked the area and was unable to locate.

November 11

Lincoln Road (6:02 p.m.) — Driver stopped and cited for being an unlicensed operator.

November 13

Lincoln Road (7:31 a.m.) — Car struck a pedestrian at the intersection of Codman Road. Minor injuries, pedestrian transported to a local hospital. The impact was described as a “nudge.

South Great Road (7:37 a.m.) — Caller reports that a car struck a deer near Lee’s Bridge. Area checked; no sign of deer and no vehicle on scene.

15D South Commons (10:00 a.m.) — Assisted a party at the police station with legal documents.

42 Blackburnian Road (12:1 p.m.) — Caller report smoke in the area. Fire Department reports that Stonegate Gardens was having an outside burn.

November 14

Concord Road (1:55 p.m.) — Car struck a bicyclist near Rte. 117. Minor injury to the cyclist, who was transported to a local hospital. Workers blowing leaves in the area created a dust cloud, contributing to the crash.

Bedford Road at Juniper Ridge Road (9:42 p.m.) — Dana Mahadeo, 46, of Bolton, Mass., pulled over and arrested for OUI/liquor.

News acorns

Dems host strategy session for 2020 election

Join the Lincoln Democrats’ planning session on Saturday, Nov. 16 to “get fired up and ready to go” for 2020. Hear about the work of Concord Indivisible from co-founders Kate Kavanagh and Denise Gieseke. Share your thoughts on getting out the vote and communications. Explore the critical issues ahead and determine which Lincoln Democrats will prioritize for action. Coffee and pastries starting at 8:30 a.m.; meeting starts at 9.

Bluegrass gospel band at First Parish

On Sunday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m., the First Parish in Lincoln welcomes Dover’s Pilgrim Bluegrass Gospel Band, who (together with choir director Ian Watson) will share their music as they perform a variety of traditional and contemporary songs to complement the order of service. Band members are Michele Sauter on mandolin and vocals, Geoff Sauter on five-string banjo and vocals, Bob Cocks on guitar and vocals, Francesca Wier on vocals, and Greg Algieri on upright string bass and vocals.

Old Town Hall Corp. meetings

The Annual Meeting of Members of the Lincoln Old Town Hall Corporation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Town Office Building. The agenda will include the election of trustees for the ensuing year, as well as financial reports and a review of the past year’s activities. The Annual Meeting of Trustees will immediately follow, and will include the election of officers and the conduct of such other business as may be brought before the meeting. All members are urged to attend.

Jamming for L-S school in Cambodia

Former students and musicians from Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will get together to jam and support their sister school, Memorial School in Cambodia, on Friday, Nov. 29 from 7–11 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Likely performers will include Chris and James Nifong, Eve Elkort, Nick Smith, Madelyn Paquette, Nate Gerry, Sam Pace, John and Molly Roach, Nora Telford, Kerry Kittelsen, and Lauren Weintraub. Tickets are$10. Food will be sold at the event. Send RSVPs and any questions to danielle_weisse@lsrhs.net.

News acorns

Middle school play: “Trap”

Picture this: an incomprehensible event during which every person in the audience of a middle school play falls unconscious — every person but one. Using interviews with witnesses, loved ones, first responders, and the investigators pursuing the case, a theatre ensemble brings the story of the strange event to life, documentary-style. But as the strands weave together, it looks like this phenomenon might not be entirely in the past. Trap by Stephen Gregg will be presented by Lincoln Middle School’s drama department on Thursday and Friday, November 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. in the Donaldson Auditorium. Tickets at the door. Suitable for ages 9+.

Change of venue

“Poetry & Music with Mary Crowe & Evelyn Harris” on Sunday, Nov. 17 has been moved from Bemis Hall to the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room.

Thoreau Animal Index Blitz

Join the Thoreau Animal Index Blitz at the Walden Woods Project (44 Baker Farm Rd., Lincoln) on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 1–8 p.m. to co-create an index of all of the animals mentioned in Thoreau’s journals. Like Ray Angelo’s Thoreau botanical index, this will become a valuable resource to Thoreau scholars for years to come. Each participant will be assigned a certain number of pages, depending on how much time they have, of Thoreau’s journal to read (accessed online). As participants read, they will be asked to note any mention of an animal. We will provide instructions and a list of frequently asked questions. You can come for as much or little time as you’re able. Experience the rare fire in the Walden Woods Project’s Great Hall walk-in fireplace. Hot chocolate, tea and goodies will be served.

Help available with fuel bills and financial emergencies

If you need help paying your winter fuel bill, Lincoln’s Fuel Assistance Program may be able to help. The program provides a cash benefit, payable to an authorized fuel provider, for both homeowners and renters of all ages; amounts depend on household income, number of people in the household, and heating costs. Those who receive fuel assistance may also be eligible for other benefits, such as weatherization services, heating system repairs, and discount utility rates.

When Lincoln residents have an unforeseen and extreme financial emergency that threatens their well-being, the Lincoln Emergency Assistance Fund and the Small Necessities Project may be able to help. The fund is supported entirely by the Ogden Codman Trust, the First Parish Church, and donations.

For more information or to apply for help under either the fuel assistance or financial emergency program, call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 to set up an appointment. Residents 60 and over may ask for Joan Ingersoll or Abigail Butt, while those under 60 may ask for Natalia Dedkov.