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

News acorns

Gordon to speak on climate change action

On Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m. in Bemis Hall, the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will host Andrew Gordon, the legislative coordinator with grassroots climate movement 350 Mass, will give a talk on “Becoming an Effective Advocate on Climate Change and Environmental Justice.” Following a brief presentation, Gordon will lead a conversation about how we can make a difference. Coffee and pastry will be served starting at 9:45 a.m.

Donate used bikes to benefit Bikes Not Bombs

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School junior Ethan Webber is organizing a Bikes Not Bombs Bike Drive to collect used bikes to benefit Bikes Not Bombs on Sunday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Hartwell Pod A on the Lincoln School campus. Bikes Not Bombs is a nonprofit organization that collects used bikes and ships them to international programs in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, or uses bikes to teach local youth about bicycle mechanics. 

Ethan’s volunteer work at Bikes Not Bombs preparing bike shipments to Ghana and El Salvador inspired him to launch a bike drive in Lincoln and support the use of bikes for international social change. Suggested donation of $10/bike to defray storage, processing, and shipping costs.

Garden Club hosts talk on Thoreau and trees

The Lincoln Garden Club invites residents to a lecture on “Thoreau and the Language of Trees” by author Richard Higgins on Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall, in anticipation of the group’s Lincoln Tree Tour event this coming June. The talk is free of charge and open to the public. Higgins (a photographer, former Boston Globe staff writer, and co-author and editor of several books) will explain how trees inspired Thoreau’s creativity as a writer, his work as a naturalist, his philosophical thought, and his spiritual life. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Residents approve plan to integrate deCordova with TToR

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will move forward with plans for integration with The Trustees of Reservations (TTOR) after a unanimous vote of approval at the March 23 Annual Town Meeting.

The deCordova sought a partnership because it was not on stable footing financially. Its income from membership and admission fees and other sources has not been enough to sustain the organization, which has relied for years on large gifts from a handful of donors to keep operating.

“Our structural weakness puts enormous pressure on contributed income,” said John Ravenal, the deCordova’s executive director, said on Saturday. Donations provide 45 percent of the $4.94 million operating budget, said Paul Blanchfield, a Lincoln resident and member of the integration working group.

The integration agreement reached by the boards of the two organizations last year was contingent on the town’s vote to approve changes to the bylaws that govern the structure of deCordova’s board, as well as the completion of a $15 million fundraising campaign ($10 million of which will go into the deCordova’s endowment). The campaign is still $3.5 million short of its goal; donations can be made online or by calling 781-259-3628.

Under the new arrangement, Lincoln will continue to own the deCordova land and buildings, but they will be maintained by TToR. The integration (which officials hope to complete by July 1)  is not officially a merger because TToR will assume management of the deCordova as one of its affiliates, while the deCordova retains its own 501(c)(3) status.

The TToR manages more than 100 properties. Previous TToR integrations included the Boston Natural Areas Network in Boston in 2008, the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard in 2016, and The FARM Institute in Edgartown in 2016. 

The deCordova’s activities, curatorial mission, and holdings will not change, and Lincoln residents will continue to have free access to the grounds and museum. TToR plans “significant investment in landscaping and deferred maintenance” but expects to see savings through “staffing efficiencies, greater membership, and marketing capacity to help stabilize dipping attendance,” Ravenal said.

There will be “no adverse impact on the cherished small-town quality” of the deCordova, and the organization will not ask the town for funding in the future; in fact the integration wll “eliminate the risk” of the town having to step in financially to maintain the property, which could have required $1 million a year, Ravenal said.

“The town of Lincoln takes its responsibility as steward and landowner of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum very seriously, and town officials have worked diligently to ensure transparency, public involvement, community input, and strong collaboration with The Trustees throughout this process,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said in in a statement after the meeting. “We are pleased that our residents had the opportunity to understand the issue before their positive vote and the town is thrilled to have found a partner that shares our core values.”

“We are so pleased to receive this vote of approval from the town of Lincoln and thank everyone from the community who came out to offer their support,” Barbara Erickson, TToR president and CEO, said in the statement. “Today’s vote brings us another step closer to realizing this important partnership between two organizations who believe in the power of connecting people to nature and culture through engaging art experiences. We look forward to the prospect of welcoming the deCordova into The Trustees family.”

Leaf blower restrictions narrowly approved at Town Meeting

A new bylaw restricting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Lincoln was approved at Town Meeting by a leaf-thin six-vote margin after more than a dozen residents spoke passionately for and against the proposal.

The new bylaw allows residents to use gas-powered leaf blowers only during the fall and spring cleanup seasons with some exceptions, though electric and battery-operated machines can be used all year round. Police or the building inspector can issue a warning after the first violation and a $100 fine for subsequent violations of the bylaw, which takes effect on October 1.

  • More coverage of the 2019 Annual Town Meeting in the Lincoln Squirrel tomorrow

Supporters argued that gas-powered leaf blowers are unacceptably noisy and polluting and harm Lincoln’s rural atmosphere. “Gas blowers are the most polluting machine ever made,” one resident said. “It fills my entire house with fumes… they’re very noisy, very polluting, and very stupid. Get an electric blower or a rake.”

Eric Harris, who lives near Route 2, said he doesn’t notice the highway traffic noise much, “but the difference when you have a leaf blower is enormous, not just decibels but the kind of noise it makes — it’s the kind of noise you can’t escape from. I wish this proposal had been more draconian than it is.”

“This is a reasonable solution to a problem that’s resulted in over 70 unsolicited complaints on our website,” said John Koenig, a member of the Leaf Blower Study Committee, which has been studying the issue for several years and proposed the bylaw.

Other residents in favor of the new rules said limiting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers is the responsible thing to do for the environment, given climate change and the particularly polluting exhaust of the two-stroke engines that many of the devices use.

But others said the bylaw was an overreach and unfairly singles out just one of many noise-producing landscaping devices. Some electric leaf blowers are no quieter than gas-powered models, and because they’re not as powerful, “they’re making just as much noise and they’re out there three or four times longer,” said Jeff Sutherland. Also, since gas-powered devices can still be used during primary leaf-clearing times of year, the regulation won’t have any effect during the periods of heaviest use, he added.

Ironically, the rural town character that the bylaw is trying to protect is also a cause of the problem, noted Margaret Olson. “We have leaf blowers because we have big pieces of property because of our zoning… if you’re banning a consequence of the look we’ve created in Lincoln, that doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

“We are a rural town, and we have chainsaws, yard trimmers, lawn mowers and log splitters. These are the tools we use to maintain our property. Try farming without a tractor,” said Andy Payne.

“This issue really makes me sad. When we start legislating behavior against each other, there’s no end to it,” Noah Eckhouse said. Also, if police have to get involved in enforcing the new rules, “there’s a nonzero chance that our police force will be busy writing a ticket in some corner of town” when they’re needed for a medical emergency elsewhere, he added.

“There’s got to be a better way to do this. I’m really disappointed,” Eckhouse said.

It would be nice to be able to ask neighbors to tone down their use of noisy leaf blowers, “but I have businesses and condos around me, so I can’t do that. For those of you not surrounded by conservation land, it’s a real problem,” said Jessica Packineau.

Although the proposal needed only a simple majority to pass (because it is a general bylaw rather than a zoning bylaw), the voice vote sounded like a tie, which it almost was — the subsequent standing vote revealed a final tally of 112 votes in favor and 106 votes against.

News acorns

Codman Estate closed until late May

The Codman Estate on Codman Road in Lincoln is closed until late May for major construction and preservation projects. Residents may have already noticed the heavy equipment and closed signs at each entrance to Codman Estate. For everyone’s safety, please do not drive or walk onto the property until it re-opens at the conclusion of the preservation project in late May 2019. Dog-walkers are welcome to use surrounding conservation land, but please do not enter the Codman Estate. For more information, call 781-259-8098.

L-S offers additional college prep classes

Two new classes for high school students starting in late April and May are being offered by Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s adult education program: “SAT II: Biology Test Review” taught by L-S science teacher Regina Shopiro, and “Writing An Effective Personal Statement for College Applications and Scholarships” taught by L-S English teacher Annalisa Notaro. For more information and to register, click here.

Discussion on “Difficult Conversations”

All are invited to a community book discussion on “Difficult Conversations: Talking with and Supporting Our Children, Our Students” on Monday, April 1 from 7-9 p.m.in the Lincoln School’s Brooks library. Facilitators Corinne Jairston-Parris, Jenny Nam, and Alyssa Rosenfeld will use the novel Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng as the basis for the event. Interested participants should read the book before April 1; copies are available for loan at the Brooks library. Please register online.

Liz Simmons at next LOMA night

Liz Simmons

Liz Simmons is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, April 8 in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. The event runs from 7–10 p.m., and Simmons will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. Her current trio, Low Lily, won Falcon Ridge’s “Most Wanted Band” award in 2016, and she’s toured internationally and shared the stage with such luminaries as Tom Chapin and Livingston Taylor.

Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Adams shares Gropius memories

“Memories of Walter and Ise Gropius: An Oral History by Douglas Adams” will be offered on Sunday, April 7 from 4-6 p.m. at the Thoreau Institute (44 Baker Farm Rd., Lincoln). The event is sponsored by Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln.

Kids’ activities at the library

Kids ages 4+ are invited to come create a piece of art with Peeps as the Lincoln Public Library will host its fourth annual Peeps Diorama Fun Day on Thursday, April 4 at 4 p.m. The library will also host the following activities during school vacation week. For events requiring registration, call 781-259-8465 x4 or email dleopold@minlib.net.

  • Friday, April 12: Flower Yoga for children (ages 2-5) and families from 10-10:30 a.m. Registration required.
  • Saturday, April 13: Author and illustrator Sarah S. Brannen will read and talk about her two new books, Bear Needs Help and Seashells: More Than a Home (written by Melissa Stewart) at 11 a.m. Drop in; recommended for ages 3+.
  • Tuesday, April 16: “All About Frogs” from 11-11:45. Ages 4+. Registration required.
  • Wednesday, April 17:
    • “Peepshi” at 5:30 p.m. Inspired by Japanese sushi-making, Peepshi combines food and craft as kids learn about different kinds of sushi while making making their own copies with marshmallow Peeps, Rice Krispy treats, and fruit roll-ups. For children in grades 5 and up. Registration required.
    • Duckling Dance Party from 11-11:45 a.m. No registration. Ages 6 and under.
  • Thursday, April 18: “Make & Take” Fairy House Craft Program from 2-3 p.m. for ages 5+ Registration required.
  • Friday, April 19: Movies and Muffins at 10:30 a.m. Gentle springtime-themed films for ages 2+.

Letter to the editor: leaf blow bylaw is the wrong approach

To the editor:

Like many in town, I really hate the fall and spring “cleanup” seasons when squads of lawn care workers descend upon the lawns of Lincoln with their high-powered leaf blowers to afflict us with an awful racket and clouds of debris and dust. It seems like it takes forever for them to do just to do one property, and you hear (and see) this mayhem for weeks all over town.

Also, the environmentalist within me cringes at the ways in which what are seen as “standard” lawn care practices harm the environment — such as the overuse of leaf blowers and the bagging of grass clippings — both of which strip important nutrients from the soil. This in turn increases erosion and encourages the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides — all of which washes into our ponds and streams.

Every defense I’ve seen for this proposed bylaw — as much as I agree with them — focuses on how bad leaf blowers are, and how good it would be to protect the environment by eliminating their use. In other words, it is a moral argument. And (as history teaches us) attempts to legislate a specific standard of morality through a ban, without a solid communal consensus in support of it, tend to fail — badly. So, to me it is obvious that a ban such as this cannot work, and will cause a lot of needless strife and controversy.

As additional evidence for the difficulty of making such a ban work, it appears that the proposed bylaw has been rewritten and tweaked many times to address the concerns of specific groups. The introduction of such complexities and exceptions before the bylaw has even been brought up for a town vote is a clear indicator that the basic approach is flawed. This ban is not a robust solution. It is not a fair solution. It is not a workable solution.

Let me be clear: I heartily support the goal, but I am convinced that this proposed Bylaw cannot work, and will create significant negative consequences and complications — many of them unanticipated and unintentional. An entirely different approach is necessary.

Sincerely,

Allen Vander Meulen
30 Beaver Pond 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.

Your handy background guide for Town Meeting

Here is a list of headlines and links to stories and letters to the editor that have appeared in the Lincoln Squirrel that relate to the Town Meeting warrant articles that will come up for a vote on Saturday, March 23 starting at 9:30 a.m. Click here for the warrant articles and financial report.

Articles 9, 10, and 11 – Capital Planning Committee and Community Preservation Committee

Article 12 – Citizens’ petition to ban sales of e-cigarettes

Article 24 – Water Department capital items

Article 27 – Integration of deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum with The Trustees of Reservations

Articles 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32 – Changes to bylaws regarding solar installations, eminent domain, demolition, and Brown’s Wood Historic District

Article 33 – Leaf blower bylaw

Article 34 – Citizen’s petition to support a study on changing the state seal

 

Letter to the editor: Fox asks for your vote

To the editor:

My name is Valerie Fox, interim Town Clerk in Lincoln, and I am honored to be on the ballot for a three-year term as Lincoln’s Town Clerk. I will follow esteemed predecessors Susan Brooks, who served as Lincoln’s Town Clerk for 13 years and retired last July, and Nancy Zuelke, who ably served Lincoln in the role for 22 years.

Service is the key word for this position and is at the forefront of all its functions. One of the oldest positions in municipal government, the Town Clerk is the official keeper of town records, attesting by her signature and application of the town seal to the authenticity of everything from Town Meeting appropriations to the finality of Planning and Zoning Board decisions.

The Town Clerk serves as the administrator of elections, the chief registrar of voters, and the conductor of the annual town census. The clerk is the local liaison with respect to campaign finance, open meeting law, and conflict of interest laws. The office is also the registrar of vital records and the issuer of marriage licenses and dog licenses. And in Lincoln, the clerk serves as the town’s cemetery agent, overseeing the operations and maintenance of the four public cemeteries and providing assistance to families in the burial of their loved ones.

I hope for your vote on Monday, March 25 and feel so fortunate to be offered the opportunity to continue serving the residents of Lincoln as Town Clerk.

Sincerely,

Valerie Fox
250 South Great Rd.

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.

Letter to the editor: amend or defeat leaf blower measure

Here’s why we should all vote “no” on this proposed bylaw, along with a suggested amendment that would make it far less of an overreach.

  1. The proposed bylaw bans use by individual homeowners of their own gas-powered leaf blowers for seven months of the year. This may make a lot of sense to people who don’t use or have a gas leaf blower, but it’s an overreach to impose those sensibilities on everyone else.
  2. It offers no transition period nor any help for residents to replace gas leaf blowers with electric ones that would perform as well. It offers no recourse for individuals except to go out and buy new equipment plus extra batteries to do what their current equipment can easily do.
  3. While it reduces overuse by contractors, it has very little beneficial impact to others by banning individuals doing any of their own light summer yard work or winter debris removal on most of Lincoln’s rural, wooded, two-acre-plus zoning. Does that make any sense?
  4. It targets the noisy, polluting overuse of multiple simultaneous gas leaf blowers in summer months by lawn service contractors by banning all use, including that of individual homeowners. Why not limit that to the lawn service contractors?

Recommended amendments:

B2: For lawn service contractors, gas-powered leaf blowers may be used only from… (as proposed)

B3: Individual homeowners may use no more than one gas leaf blower from December 21 to March 19 and from June 1 to September 30, subject to the “time of day” limitations specified in section C.

By making the above changes, the Leaf Blower Study Committee would have a huge impact on the harmful and annoying overuse that is described in their literature and videos without denying individual homeowners the ability to act reasonably.

Sincerely,

Mark Deck
30 Silver Hill Rd.

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.

David Andrysiak, 2000–2019

David Andrysiak

David Roswell Andrysiak, age 18, died peacefully at home in Lincoln on March 13, 2019, with his parents by his side. Born on November 30, 2000, he was the beloved son of Christopher and Sarah (Donaldson) Andrysiak. He is also survived by an adoring extended family that he loved deeply.

David attended the Middlesex School in Concord, where he relished academic pursuits (particularly math), the Jazz Band, sports, and good friends. Blessed with a quick wit and kind heart, David formed deep relationships with peers, mentors, and teachers. He was eager to return to school in the fall of 2018 for his senior year, but health issues intervened.

David was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor when he was a fourth-grader at the Fenn School. He never let the tumor define him. Through years of chemotherapy and progressive loss of vision caused by the tumor, David demonstrated grace, resilience, and adaptability. When vision loss impaired his baseball-hitting skills, he dedicated himself to becoming an excellent pitcher instead. After additional vision loss made baseball (his favorite sport) unsafe, David shifted to golf. “I knew this day would come, it’s okay,” he said. 

David spent six summers at Camp Becket as a camper and counselor, enjoying time spent outdoors and the strong community. In August, David’s tumor unexpectedly hemorrhaged while he was working at camp. The Becket community saved his life that day; over the next seven months, Becket friends lifted David’s spirits with weekly visits full of laughs and reminiscences. 

Thanks to the generosity of Middlesex School and David’s determination, he returned to campus to audit two classes in early 2019. Greeting friends, making music, and taking classes gave David moments of great joy even as his condition worsened.

While David lost his memory and his mental agility, his grace, gratitude, and kindness remained. “Thank you”, “How are you?”, “That was so nice for him to visit”: these were David’s words during the pain and confusion of his final weeks.

Hard-working, bright, and witty, David leaned in to life. Whether a subject he loved or disliked, a game he was winning or losing, David showed positive attitude, dry humor, and resilience. He could be counted on for a timely quip, an act of inclusiveness, or the grit to get through the final stretch. 

David most enjoyed baseball (playing and analyzing), school (working hard and doing well in the company of friends), music (listening, playing, composing), his dogs, and time with friends around a campfire. He always wanted to stay “in the game” even if that meant taking up a new position, new sport, or new instrument.

So many hearts are broken by David’s death. The Andrysiak and Donaldson families, as well as friends, mentors, and teachers, will miss him greatly.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate David’s life on Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at the Middlesex School Chapel in Concord. Gifts in David’s memory may be made to support financial aid at two institutions that he loved: the David Andrysiak Scholarship Fund at Camp Becket, Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, 748 Hamilton Rd., Becket, MA 01223, and the David Andrysiak ’19 Scholarship Fund at Middlesex School, 1400 Lowell Road, Concord, MA 01742.

Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.  To share a remembrance or to send a condolence in David’s online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.  

Letter to the editor: deCordova/TToR integration should go forward

To the editor:

On Saturday, March 23, we will gather for our annual Town Meeting. Town Meeting matters. It is the legislative body for our town. It is in this legislative body where discussion, debate and ultimately decisions (votes) take place that will govern our town for the coming year. As in other legislative bodies, during discussion and debate, amendments may be offered and voted on. This is why citizens who are registered voters must be present to cast a vote.

This year, the town will be asked to support a major change to an institution that has been an integral part of the town’s life since 1950 — the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.  Originally the estate of the late Julian de Cordova (1851-1945), it was gifted to the town in 1930 to be a public museum of art after Julian’s death. This gift has proved both a blessing and a curse for the town. The curse lies in the fact that Julian crafted a problematic will and did not provide for the ongoing support of this property and art collection. Over the decades, different boards and administrators have sought to find ways to maintain the museum and park. 

The town has been the beneficiary, as we have enjoyed innovative installations, a beautifully maintained (and expanded) facility, art classes, music programs, unique outdoor art, all in a stunningly landscaped setting. All this has been supported primarily by a few very generous donors, museum membership, and programs, with no financial support from the town. Valiant efforts by various boards, most recently led by Linda Hammet Ory, have not been able to “right the ship.” Continuing in the current structure, was unsustainable. Something had to change.

Under Ory’s leadership, the deCordova has found an enthusiastic potential partner, The Trustees of Reservations (TToR), to carry on the mission of the sculpture park and museum. TToR will bring not only financial backing and administrative support, but more importantly, a commitment to mission. TToR has years of experience in managing properties similar to deCordova (the Crane Estate, Fruitlands, etc.).

The deCordova the governance structure would be changed to include TToR. The governance of the museum is established through its bylaws, which can only be amended through town meeting vote.  We will be asked to vote on this change. Click here for more information.

From a Lincoln resident’s perspective, the experience of deCordova will remain the same.  Any major changes will be required to go before the Board of Selectmen and the town. The vote before the town is an opportunity to secure the future of this cherished property and institution while adding no financial burden to the town.

The leadership of the town — led by Selectman James Craig, the working group who crafted the agreement, the town’s administrative leadership led by Town Administrator Tim Higgins, the administrative leadership of the deCordova, deCordova director John B. Ravenal, and the leadership of the deCordova Board of Trustees and Overseers, Linda Hammet Ory — deserve our thanks and a vote of support for the proposed integration at our upcoming Town Meeting

Sincerely,

Sara Mattes
71 Conant Rd.

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.