219 Sandy Pond Rd. — Jason H. Chu to Eniana and Jacob Tabor for $1,017,000 (February 22)
22 Juniper Ridge Rd. (land only) — Peter F. Billings to Walter Scott for $20,000 (February 19)
Correction
Some of the kilowatt figures in the April 7 story headlined “Codman Community Farm to draw all its power from the sun” were incorrect. The story has been updated.
Codman Community Farm to draw all its power from the sun
These historic barns at Codman Community Farm will soon sport 21st-century solar photovoltaic arrays.
(Editor’s note: this story was updated with corrected figures on April 8.)
Codman Community Farms will install solar photovoltaic panels on the roofs of three barns and that will provide 100% of the facility’s electricity by this summer.
Work will begin soon on reshingling the barns (which were last replaced more than 20 years ago) at a cost of $110,000, paid for via Community Preservation Act funds approved at last month’s Annual Town Meeting. SunBug will design and build the solar photovoltaic array at a cost of $150,000, but two grants totaling $50,000 will offset some of that. Donations to CCF (including its ongoing capital campaign) will cover the rest.
The 54 kW system will generate all the electricity CCF needs. “With our conversion to a high-efficiency heat pump, we will no longer be reliant on fossil fuels and will effectively become ‘net zero’,” said David Alperovitz, president of CCF’s Board of Trustees.
CCF qualified for the $20,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) due to its robust farm activities, with more than 50% of its income derived from agricultural products. Codman is only the second nonprofit to receive a REAP grant and the first in many years. The other grant for $30,000 came from the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources.
The farm will also save or earn roughly $15,000 a year on electricity and Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program tariffs, Alperovitz said. The state’s SMART program is a long-term sustainable solar incentive program that offers compensation for lean energy usage calculated as a proportion of the kilowatt hours of the electricity that a solar-powered facility produces.
Codman Community Farms will be the first town-owned entity to go solar, but certainly not the last. The Rural Land Foundation is hoping to build a 250 kW solar canopy in the mall parking lot this year, and the rebuilt Lincoln School, with a 700-770 kW system according to 2018 estimates, will be net zero for energy use when it comes online in 2023. The First Parish Church is also planning a 20 kW array.
Other nonresidential solar arrays are already up and running at St.-Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church and in the meadow behind Lincoln Woods.
Further down the road, officials are hoping for town-owned solar PV arrays on the Public Safety Building roof and atop the transfer station. That complex project is still tackling issues such as getting access to the grid through land owned by Minute Man National Historical Park. If and when the two projects are completed, they could generate up to 50% of the electricity used by town facilities.
“Working with the town of Lincoln has been amazing,” Alperovitz said. “[Town Administrator] Tim Higgins and [Town Facilities Manager] Michael Haines have been enormously supportive and helpful, and without them this would not have been possible. They pushed for funding for the shingles to be redone in a time frame that’s in keeping with our grant restrictions, and they’ve allowed us to thread a fine needle (still in process) through many obstacles and hurdles.”
The Historic District Commission has also been “wonderful and supportive,” he added.
“I’m reveling in the fact that the farm buildings will soon be powered by the sun (our eggs are already washed by water heated by the sun as well), and the fact that establishing this system will help to put the farm on better footing financially for the years to come,” Alperovitz said.
Why did the salamander cross the road?
To get to the vernal pool! Incidentally, if this fellow’s yellow spots were intended to be protective coloration, it wasn’t very effective despite his proximity to a patch of yellow ground, since that ground happened to be the center line of Silver Hill Road. Photo by Tricia Deck—click image to enlarge.
Another sure sign of spring can be heard rather than seen. These invisible creatures were recorded by Heather Silvestro near Flint Field (click here to play).
Online trail walks and spring activities on offer from LLCT
Now that spring is more or less here, stir-crazy Lincolnites and visitors are turning their thoughts to walks in the woods — but where to begin? Try one of the 10 suggested walks on the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust’s redesigned website.
With the help of LLCT staff and volunteers, Lewis Trails created the suggested walks using the town’s GIS map and Google Maps. Users can click on a trail name to get a description of the trail and surrounding property plus parking directions. Then they can carry the map with them on their smartphone, zooming and scrolling as they walk. The one- to two-mile walks are loops so walkers can return to where they parked without retracing their steps.
“If you’re new to Lincoln or its trails, it’s a great resource. Then on the next visit, you can start to explore a little more,” said Bryn Gingrich, assistant to the executive director at the LLCT.
The website also includes a town-wide map of all of Lincoln’s trails as well as 10 subsections for downloading and printing. “We thought it would be nice to offer those two options and decide what works best for them,” Gingrich said. Large paper trail maps, a paperback trail guide, and other items are also available in the LLCT’s online shop.
Upcoming LLCT events
Stewardship work day
Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Lincoln School’s Smith parking lot)
The LLCT and the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) are partnering to provide trail maintenance on part of a Bay Circuit Trail connection in Lincoln, as well as to provide invasive plant removal at the People for Pollinators meadow site. Some of the work will include removing debris, filling holes, clearing the tread of the trail, and cutting back bittersweet and other invasive plants. For more information and to register, click here.
Turtle Time with the Turtle Rescue League
Saturday, April 27 at 4 p.m. (St. Anne’s Church)
Turtles are amazing reptiles that have been around for more than 200 million years, longer than crocodiles and snakes. Meet a snapping turtle, box turtle, painted turtle and more at this family-friendly program. Representatives from the Turtle Rescue League will share information on what to do when you find a turtle in your backyard or in the road. We will also learn what steps to take when faced with an injured turtle, baby turtle, or turtle nest that’s imperiled.
Spring Birding in Lincoln
Sundays, April 28, May 5, May 12, and May 19 at 7:30 a.m.
Click here for meeting locations and details.
History and Nature Walk
Saturday, May 4 at 3 p.m. (Food Project parking lot on Rt. 126)
Gwyn Loud, LLCT trustee, and Rob Todd will lead us on an exploration of the past and present landscape in Adams Woods, through the woods and fields that inspired Thoreau and past the railroad tracks that brought economic growth in the area. Along the way, we will also note the sights and sounds of nature that have reclaimed this space. An important site for agriculture, commerce, transportation, and the development of American philosophy, Adams Woods is now a haven for wildlife and is an integral part of Lincoln’s network of conservation land. Co-sponsored by LLCT and the Lincoln Historical Society.
Spring Mindfulness Walks with John Calabria
Tuesdays, April 2, May 7, and June 4 beginning at 1 p.m. (click here for meeting locations)
Sponsored with Lincoln’s Council on Aging, join walks where you can unplug, disconnect from the world for a while, and let your senses come alive in nature. Walk with naturalist John Calabria in some of Lincoln’s most beautiful places.
Meeting locations will be determined by trail conditions and posted to our website two weeks ahead of each walk. Walks are organized for those who are 55+, but all are welcome. Choose footwear and clothing appropriate for weather conditions. Walking sticks or walking poles can help for stability, if you have them. In case of inclement weather, call the LLCT at 781-259-9251 after 10 a.m. the morning of the walk for direction.
LLCT Annual Meeting
Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. (St. Anne’s Church)
The annual meeting will feature a keynote address by Matt Burne, Conservation Director at the Walden Woods Project and Vice President of the Vernal Pool Association. Burne will bring the captivating and ephemeral nature of vernal pools into focus as he explores their biological diversity and ecology. Learn about spotted salamanders, wood frogs, fairy shrimp, and other wildlife species that rely on these amazing ponds.
A reception, including light refreshments and drinks, begins at 7 p.m.; the LLCT business meeting begins at 7:30 p.m., and the keynote address will follow. All are welcome.
Coming up at deCordova Sculpture Park and Musuem
Curator-led Tour
Wednesday, April 10 from 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Join Curator Sarah Montross and Koch Curatorial Fellow Sam Adams for an in-depth look into the works on display. Free; registration requested.
Art for April Vacation
Wednesday to Friday, April 17–19 from 1–3 p.m. (drop in)
Inspired by the Biennial and Arbor Day, create large-scale woven and architectural sculptures in the Park. Free with admission or membership; click here for more information.
Reflections on Tech & Human Experience
Thursday, May 2 from 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Join Subforum in a sequence of conversations and activities throughout the Biennial galleries. Free; registration requested.
Eli Brown’s Museum of Queer Ecologies
Saturday, May 4 from 1–3 p.m.
Join Biennial artist Eli Brown as he leads a talk and interactive workshop. Free with admission or membership; registration requested.
Self-Portrait Sculptures with Chanel Thervil
Sunday, May 5 from 1–3 p.m.
Work with Biennial artist Chanel Thervil to represent your superpower though vibrant color and bold, abstract shapes. Free with admission or membership; registration requested.
Newly elected Lincoln officials sworn in
Residents who were newly elected and reelected in the March 25 town election were sworn in last week by Town Clerk Valerie Fox (herself newly elected, succeeding the retired Susan Brooks). Back row, left to right: Douglas Harding (Commission for Trust Funds), Steve Gladstone (Planning Board), and Susan Taylor (School Committee). Middle row, left to right: Sara Mattes (trustee of Bemis), Heather Ring (Water Commission), Adam Hogue and baby (School Committee), Dennis Picker (library trustee), Laura Sander (Board of Assessors), and Fox. Front row, left to right: Anita Spieth and daughter (Parks and Recreation Commission), Trintje Gnazzo (School Committee), and Linda Hammett Ory (trustee of deCordova). Missing from photo: James Craig (Selectman), Keith Gilbert (Housing Commission), Conrad Todd (Cemetery Commission), Steven Kanner (Board of Health), and Setha Margaret Olson (Planning Board).
Conservation Dept. breaks out emission-free tools
News acorns
Town seeks tax work-off program coordinator
The town of Lincoln seeks qualified applicants for a stipend position of Work-Off Programs Coordinator. Under the direction of the Council on Aging director, this position will oversee implementation of the town’s Senior and Veterans’ Tax Work-Off Programs. Duties include assisting participants with applications and other forms, matching applicants and positions, and preparing and submitting administrative forms to the town. Excellent administrative, organizational, and verbal and written communication skills required. Annual $1,500 stipend. The Work-Off Coordinator may not participate in either work-off program while serving in this role. Please submit a cover letter and resume to Mary Day, Town Office Building, 16 Lincoln Road, Lincoln MA 01773 or jobs@lincolntown.org by Friday, April 19. The position begins July 1, 2019.
Survivor to speak at Domestic Violence Roundtable
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Round Table will present “A Survivor’s Story” on Tuesday, April 9 at at 3 p.m. in the Community Safety Building (38 Cochituate Rd., Wayland). The speaker will share her journey of survival, recovery, and the reclamation of her strength and power. For more information or to volunteer for Roundtable events, please visit www.domesticviolenceroundtable.org.
Household hazardous waste collection dates announced
Pre-registered Lincoln residents may bring materials to the Minuteman Household Hazardous Products Regional Facility at 60 Hartwell Ave. in Lexington on one of eight dates in April through November. Choose a date that’s convenient and contact the Board of Health to obtain a registration form, which you must bring with you to the facility. You may visit the Board of Health in the Town Office Building Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed on Fridays in the summer), or call Elaine Carroll at 781-259-2613. You will receive directions to the site and information about acceptable materials and how to dispose of unacceptable materials.
The site is open on the following days from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- April 20
- May 18
- June 15
- July 20
- August 17
- September 15 (Sunday)
- October 19
- November 2
Wedding showcase at Pierce House
The Pierce House and Boston Event Divas invite you to a wedding showcase on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28 from noon–4 p.m. at the Pierce House. Vendors including wedding planners, caterers, florists, and photographers and more will be on hand. There will be door prizes, and during the April 28 event, the Lincoln Minutemen and His Majesty’s Troops of the Boston Garrison muster at the Pierce House. Tickets on both days are $10 for groups up to four people; click here to register.
Talk on Codman and Edith Wharton
Historic New England is hosting a brown bag lunch and slide talk on “Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman: A Creative Kinship Talk and Tour” on Wednesday, April 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall, followed by a special access tour of Codman House from 1:30–2:30 p.m. (a single exception to the closure for construction; see News Acorns, March 26). Ogden Codman, Jr. and Edith Wharton wrote the 1897 classic The Decoration of Houses. Using original letters from Historic New England’s Codman collection, this illustrated talk offers an inside peek into their artistic friendship, which spanned more than 40 years.
Free to Lincoln residents, $10 for Historic New England members, $15 for nonmembers. Registration recommended; please call 617-994-6690 or buy tickets online. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
Krzysztof Wodiczko
Lecture features artist Krzysztof Wodiczko
The 2019 Paul J. Cronin Memorial Lecture featuring acclaimed artist Krzysztof Wodiczko takes place on Friday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Wodiczko is renowned for his large-scale slide and video projections on architectural facades and monuments that address themes of trauma, collective memory, and the power of mass media to disseminate and manipulate information. $5 for members and students; $10 for nonmembers; click here to register. Come early for a casual reception starting at 6 p.m. with wine, beer, and nonalcoholic beverages. Your lecture ticket includes one complementary drink ticket; additional alcoholic drink tickets will be available for $5 each.
Pastel painting workshop at library
Have you ever wanted to do a landscape, portrait, or special project in pastels? Bring a simple photo or just come to participate in an art workshop, lecture and demonstration with award-winning pastel painter Gregory John Maichack on Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Participants will receive an engaging hands-on experience of basic pastel painting as well as advanced techniques. Everyone will receive help tailored to their projects, whether landscape, still-life or portraiture.
Participants are encouraged to experiment with the artist’s professional-grade hard, soft and super soft pastels, professional pastel paper, etc. However, if you have your own pastels, please bring them. For adults and those over 14 if accompanied by an adult. Class is limited to 30 people and registration is required. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Funding for the workshop was also provided by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.
One-man play about Herman Melville
Stephen Colins as Herman Melville
Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Herman Melville’s birth by enjoying a free performance of “Sailing Towards My Father” by actor Stephen Collins on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The play chronicles the life of Melville (best known for his whaling epic Moby-Dick) from youth to old age, concentrating on his evolution as a writer and his complex relations with God, his parents and siblings, his wife and children, and Nathanial Hawthorne. It was written and directed by Carl A. Rossi. For more information, call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.
Letter to the editor: local initiative aims to help regional crisis
Editor’s note: for more information, see “New program aids Lincoln homeless and those at risk” (Lincoln Squirrel, January 14, 2019).
To the editor:
Last year, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a housing crisis in Massachusetts, and the issue of affordability largely stems from what many people count as positives: rising home prices and a booming economy.
Forgotten, however, are the individuals and families who can’t keep up — and homelessness is growing in Massachusetts. Last year, an estimated 20,068 people were experiencing homelessness, representing a 20.6 percent increase compared to 2010, according to an annual report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The numbers, advocates say, are woefully undercounted.
Lincoln’s Council on Aging (COA), in partnership with The Commons in Lincoln, a senior living community, is undertaking a new initiative to prevent homelessness in this area. Through the Staying at Home in Lincoln project, the council and The Commons in Lincoln will help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless locate temporary emergency housing. The town’s social service staff also will assist the individuals in finding permanent housing and services to ensure they successfully remain in their new homes. The temporary emergency housing would be in places such as area hotels or motels, assisted living facilities, or other supportive housing.
The Commons in Lincoln is invested in the community, and this partnership with the COA is an example of that commitment. We want to help Lincoln and its residents work to stem homelessness, and start a ripple effect throughout the entire area where similar projects will emerge.
In Massachusetts, six out of 10 older adults living alone can’t afford the basic necessities of life such as food, housing in a safe community, and health care. This data hits close to home and is the driving force in what became of the Staying at Home in Lincoln project.
People of all ages are homeless or are at risk of being homeless. Some have lived in Lincoln for decades, while others are new to our area. Some have been highly paid professionals, while others have never had the advantages that have allowed them to earn a living wage. Some are single and alone, while others are the heads of families with small children. But for all those people, homelessness or the risk of homelessness is their main concern.
Sincerely,
Reynaldo LeBlanc
Executive director, The Commons in 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.