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

Solar farm at landfill finally becoming a reality

Solar supports begin to rise from the landfill.

Construction on the solar installation atop the capped landfill is finally underway. When complete, the facility should supply all of the electricity needs of town-owned buildings except the Lincoln School, which have its own solar collection system to make them net zero.

The electricity will go directly to the electrical grid via the Eversource poles and wires on Mill Street and the town will then receive income from a power purchase agreement (PPA).

Lincoln won’t have to pay anything and will actually see three revenue streams from the deal. In addition to income from the PPA in the form of electricity savings — estimated at $170,000 to $200,000 per year — HESP Solar will make lease payments for use of the land and PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) for their personal property on the site.

A closer view of the panel footings.

The project was slowed by several factors including the pandemic and lengthy negotiations with Minute Man National Historical Park. The park owns the right of way on either side of Route 2A, so the town needed their approval to install power lines from the landfill out to the road.

The town will receive financial credits from Eversource for the energy produced, as well as annual property tax payments and payment in lieu of taxes.The facility is expected to generate about 1.4 million kWh in the first year, yielding about $150,000 a year for the town in total savings and revenue. 

In 2017, residents approved a “land swap” arrangement whereby some of the landfill property was taken out of conservation status in exchange for putting the same amount of land elsewhere into conservation. That land is part of the Wang property on Bedford Road that the town purchased, now the site of an athletic field as well as nine acres of conservation land.

Lincoln group forms in response to ICE arrests

A newly formed group called Lincoln Witness is asking the Select Board to quickly publicize a forthcoming set of FAQs about ICE and immigrants’ rights in the face of the federal crackdown, and to host an informational public event as it did shortly after the murder of George Floyd.

Several Lincolnites met in May after ICE detained people in Acton and “realized that it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ ICE raids would affect those who live and work in Lincoln, but ‘when’,” the group’s website says. Kim Jalet, who co-founded Lincoln Witness with Kathy Madison, told the Select Board on September 8 that “things are going to ramp up pretty quickly [with the start of the Patriot 2.0 arrest surge in Massachusetts] and we think time is of the essence at this point” to educate Lincolnites about what to do if they see ICE activity in town and how they can support immigrants. Lincoln Witness members, who now number more than 30, believe President Trump “is testing the waters for denying rights to others groups. Protecting the rights of one group protects all of us,” she added. 

Lincoln Witness members have participated in weekly vigils outside the ICE office in Burlington as well as other area protests and standouts. They’re establishing a network of people in Lincoln ready to mobilize as witnesses and reporters should ICE activity be detected in town, and printing and distributing “know your rights” cards in Spanish and Portuguese.

Jalet said that official town support for the aims of Lincoln Witness is especially appropriate in light of the town’s vote to designate Lincoln as a “safe and welcoming community” in 2018 — though not without some disagreement and controversy on the floor of Town Meeting.

“My staff is trained to follow the values expressed in Town Meeting. Those resolutions matter,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said. “We do not assist ICE in its activities. We cannot interfere but we do not assist.”

Local law enforcement can’t be compelled by the federal government to carry out civil immigration enforcement but may also not interfere or obstruct ICE operations. However, “we’re also guided by law” when it comes to protecting bystanders and property, acting Chief of Police Jon Wentworth said.

Water main project on budget but drainage pipe issues found

The water main replacement project is proceeding on schedule and on budget, though workers have encountered some blocked drainpipes that will have to be cleared or replaced.

Two of the three piping components of the water main project’s Phase 1 are complete: Bedford Road from the hilltop well down to the five-way intersection, and Lincoln Road from Tower Road to Ballfield Road, Water Superintendent Rick Nolli told the Select Board on September 8. Coming up:

  • Week of September 15 — valves will be installed at Weston and Trapelo Roads, which will remain open to traffic.
  • Mid- to late September — pipe installation for the section from the five-way intersection from Lincoln Road to Tower Road piping will take place.
  • October — workers will do sample and pressure tests and start making connections.
  • First week of November — temporary bypasses will be removed and water service through the new mains will start.

Over the summer, there were complaints about water quality in some homes served by a longer temporary above-ground pipe exposed to the heat, but flushing the pipe plus cooler weather mitigated the problem, Nolli said.

However, during the course of excavation on Bedford Road, workers discovered that the roadway/stormwater drains that connect the catch basins to the main drain line that runs down the center of the road were disintegrating. The contractor was told to replace those cross drains since they’re located above the new water main. This raised the question of whether the main drainage line and not just the smaller cross drains also need to be replaced, DPW Superintendent Steve Olson said.

The town has hired a consultant to do camera inspections on the main line, which thus far have shown two blockages. The hope is that cleaning and internally relining the affected pipe segments will solve the problem. Doing that work on the Bedford Road section will cost about $300,000, but if the pipes actually need to be replaced, the cost would be four to five times that amount, Town Administrator Tim Higgins said.

Unless the pipes are in imminent danger of collapse, the town will crate a capital planning request for the next budget cycle. “We are not currently anticipating some type of emergency procurement/change order to have the water main contractor do the stormwater drain repair/replacement,” Higgins wrote in a memo to other town officials.

If immediate repairs are in fact required, they could be funded by the town’s Chapter 90 funds, and/or a reserve fund transfer. “This scenario is certainly not ideal as the current plan is to use our Chapter 90 funds to keep the roads in reasonable condition until we can get bonds approved for the next major pavement project. Draining the Reserve Fund so early in the fiscal year is also problematic,” he wrote.

Phase 2 from Ballfield Road to Codman Road is still in the design phase and will go out to bid in February, Nolli said. Workers will try to maintain one lane open at all times. “We’re hoping we don’t have to redirect traffic because it’s along detour to get around that section of Lincoln Road,” Nolli said, adding that the part near the mall “is going to be a tight area” as well.

Voters approved $2.2 million in bonding for Phase 1 in 2023 and another $6.2 million in March 2025 for Phase 2. Water rates are expected to rise by 10% in each of the next four years to pay those debts.

Legal notice: Conservation Commission (DPW)

LEGAL NOTICE — CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Notice of Public Hearing

The Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 7:05PM in accordance with the MA Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This is in response to the duly filed Notice of Intent by the Town of Lincoln Department of Public Works for stormwater management improvements within the 100-ft Buffer Zone on Trapelo Road (Parcels 144-22-0, 144-32-0, and roadway). Information on how to log onto the virtual public meeting will be included in the LCC Agenda posted on the town’s website at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. More information can be reviewed here.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Police log for August 22–31, 2025

August 22

Trapelo Road (7:42am) — Police and fire units were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash. There were no reported injuries.

Lincoln Road (4:27pm) — A caller reported seeing a motorcycle on the sidewalk near Lincoln Woods. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the motorcycle.

Sandy Pond Road (4:48pm) — A caller reported a loose dog running toward the five-way intersection. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the dog.

Sunnyside Lane (5:48pm) — An individual spoke with an officer regarding a possible scam.

Lincoln School (6:50pm) — A caller reported seeing a vehicle with the driver’s door left open. An officer made contact with the operator who had inadvertently left the door open.

Sandy Pond Road (7:04pm) — An officer advised a person that fishing in Sandy Pond was prohibited.

Weston Road (7:51pm) — A motorist reported seeing a golden retriever in the middle of the road. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the dog.

Weston Road (8:04pm) — A person spoke to an officer regarding a civil matter.

August 23

Bedford Road (1:23am) — An officer encountered a motor vehicle pulled to the side of the road. The driver, Natalie Rodriguez, 40, of Chicopee, was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. She was bailed later in the morning and ordered to appear at Concord District Court on August 24.

Mount Misery parking lot (4:58pm) — An officer assisted a person who had locked their keys in their vehicle.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (5:06pm) — An officer assisted the Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash.

Bedford Road (1:08pm) — Officers assisted with traffic for a funeral procession.

August 24

Partridge Lane (11:27am) — Officers assisted a person who had gotten lost on conservation trails.

August 25

Old Winter Street (2:06pm) — A caller reported seeing branches suspended on utility wires. The DPW confirmed that the branches were growing through the wires and not resting on them.

Trapelo Road (2:33pm) — A second call for branches resting on wires was received. These branches were also growing through the utility lines.

Lincoln Road (11:01am) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a civil matter.

Lincoln Town Hall (8:51am) — An officer responded for an issue with the elevator alarm. The elevator appeared to be in normal operation.

Commuter rail parking lot (4:10pm) — An officer spoke to a motorist regarding excessive idle time.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (10:21am) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a dispute with a landlord.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (10:44am) — A motorist called 911 asking for directions. Directions were provided as well as a brief instruction for the appropriate use of the 911 system.

August 26

Bedford Road (4:22pm) — A tree fell on a motor vehicle. The operator was able to self-extricate. and was transported to the hospital. The DPW was notified.

Kelly Lane, Hanscom AFB (6:59pm) — The Lincoln Fire Department responded to Hanscom Air Force Base for a reported garage fire.

Sandy Pond Road (3:25pm) — An officer responded to the area for the unauthorized use of a gas-powered leaf blower.

Todd Pond Road (1:05pm) — An officer responded for the unauthorized use of a gas-powered leaf blower. The landscape company was advised.

South Great Road (9:32am) — An officer responded to the railroad gates for the reported malfunction. Keolis was notified and responded a short time later.

August 27

Bedford Road (7:34am) — A motorist reported seeing several branches resting on wires. The report was unfounded.

Lexington Road (8:35am) — An officer responded to a two-vehicle crash on Lexington Road at Route 2 eastbound. There were no reported injuries. One of the operators was cited for failing to yield the right of way.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (2:27pm) — Lincoln police assisted the Massachusetts State Police with a two-vehicle crash.

Wells Road (3:25pm) — An officer spoke with a person regarding an ongoing situation.

Lincoln Road (7:00pm) — A caller reported that a traffic cone partially obstructing the travel lane. The cone was in place to identify a component of the water main replacement project.

August 28

South Great Road (8:05pm) — Lincoln officers assisted the Concord Police Department in locating and arresting April Grueter, 49, of West Brookfield, for an incident that occurred in the Concord. Click here for details.

Morningside Lane (7:44pm) — A caller reported a solicitor had been on their property without the appropriate credentials. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate anyone.

Bedford Lane (11:09am) — An officer checked the area for the report of an uncredentialed solicitor. The area was checked but nothing was found.

Lincoln Road (6:10pm) — A caller reported a tree resting on utility wires. The report was forwarded to Verizon.

August 29

Page Road (6:49pm) — An officer checked the area for the report of an uncredentialed solicitor. but found no one.

Weston Road (7:28pm) — An officer spoke with a person regarding a civil matter.

August 30

Lincoln Road (2:01pm) — An officer addressed a parking complaint on Lincoln Road.

South Great Road (2:11pm) — A two-vehicle crash near the Concord town line resulted in the. roadway being closed in both directions. Both vehicles were towed from the scene and one of the operators was transported to the hospital. The responsible party was cited for causing the crash.

August 31

Concord Road (2:27am) — Officers and utility crews addressed a downed tree that had also damaged utility and electrical wires. Units remained on scene until the road could be reopened.

Old County Road (4:38pm) — A large tree fell and blocked the roadway. The DPW and Eversource were called, and the road was opened a short time thereafter.

Page Road (7:43am) — A caller reported that a large limb was blocking the roadway. An officer was able to remove it.

Deerhaven Road (8:38am) — A caller reported seeing a suspicious vehicle in the area. An officer checked but was unable to locate anything out of place.

Twisted Tree Café (10:34am) — A caller was advised to contact the Rural Land Foundation to follow up regarding a parking complaint.

News acorns

Correction

An item in the September 3 issue of News Acorns incorrectly stated that Rep. Alice Peisch would hold online office hours on Friday, Sept. 12 from 10:00am–3:00pm. While the date and time were correct, the office hours will be conducted by Peisch’s staff, not Peisch herself. The original item has been corrected.

Bedford Road closure

To accommodate water main work, Bedford Road will be closed from the five-way intersection to Canaan Drive from Monday–Wednesday, Sept. 8–10, from 7:00am–3:00pm.

Get your antiques assessed for free

Do you have an item whose value you’ve always wondered about? Rick Keller of Perfect Pastime 617 is offering a community-wide collectibles appraisal event and will be at the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 1:30–4:30pm. Registration for a 10-minute time slot is required beforehand, and registrants must supply photos of what they plan on bringing in before the event. Similar events in other towns are listed here.

Babysitter/parent meet & greet

Are you a teen interested in babysitting or a parent looking for a reliable sitter? Come to a babysitter meet & greet at the upcoming PTO meeting on Monday, Sept. 29 from 7:30–9:00pm in the Lincoln School Learning Commons. Teen sitters are encouraged to bring a short bio or flyer with your availability, experience, and contact info. This is open to teens ready for independent babysitting or pre-teens interested in mother’s helpers opportunities. Sign up here.

Volunteers needed for CapCom, Pierce House

The Select Board is seeking two volunteers to serve as at-large members on the Capital Planning Committee and another two as at-large members on the Pierce House Committee.

CapCom helps the town identify and prioritize current and future capital needs in light of the town’s fiscal constraints. The committee seeks members who have interest/experience in building and facilities management, grounds and infrastructure maintenance, technical systems development, and strategic planning. The Pierce House Committee seeks residents with experience or interest in historic building maintenance and restoration, budgeting and financial oversight.

For CapCom, address letters of interest and a volunteer application to Town Moderator Sarah Canon Holden by Friday, Sept. 26; for Pierce House, address them to Pierce House Committee Chair Anne Crosby by Monday, Sept. 22. In both cases, email them to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Select Board’s Office, at elderp@lincolntown.org. Questions? Call the Select Board’s Office at 781-259-2601.

Talk on geothermal energy

On Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., MetroWest Climate Solutions and Green Newton will offer a free webinar on geothermal technologies. In 2017, Boston-based HEET.org proposed that gas utilities, which have millions of miles of gas pipes laid under streets, replace those pipes with water-filled geothermal pipes. The warmed pipes would transfer their warmth to ground-source heat pumps designed to both heat and cool homes. Last year, Eversource launched the first geothermal network in Framingham built by a gas utility that moved over 130 customers onto geothermal energy for all heating and cooling. It is believed to be the first project of its kind in the world. Angie Alberto Escobar, HEET’s gas-to-geo transition director, will provide an overview of geothermal technology and an update on the Framingham project and will discuss what’s next for this energy source. Register here for the webinar.

Down on the farm

Coming up at Codman Community Farms (click on an event title for details and registration):

Service on Wednesday for Mary Herman, 1946–2025

Mary Herman

Mary G. (McPhee) Herman, age 79, a former longtime resident of Lincoln, died on Sept. 5, 2025 in New Horizons at Marlborough. She was the loving wife for 59 years of Peter P. Herman.

Mary was born in South Boston on March 5, 1946, as the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (Arrigal) McPhee. She was a graduate of South Boston High School, class of 1963. Later in life, she attended classes at Becker College. For nearly 30 years, Mary was an Executive Secretary for New England Telephone Company, and later, Verizon.

Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed knitting, gardening, reading, cooking and traveling extensively. Above all, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

In addition to her husband, she leaves behind four children: Mary Elizabeth Duffey of Clinton, Kristin White and her husband Chris of Marlborough, Theresa Shephard of Hopkinton, and Thomas Herman and his wife Rachael of Marlborough, as well as her grandchildren Kayla, Sean, Paige, Jaimie, Madison, Connor, and great-granddaughter Brynnley. Mary was predeceased by her granddaughter, Cheyenne, and her brother, Kenneth McPhee. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visiting hours at the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford St., Concord on Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 4:00–7:00pm. Mary’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 9:00am from Dee Funeral Home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 am in St. Joseph Church, 142 Lincoln Road, Lincoln. Burial will follow at Lincoln Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mary’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Legal notice: Property Tax Classification Hearing (Sept. 15, 2025)

Public Hearing — Select Board
Property Tax Classification Hearing

The Select Board of the Town of Lincoln will conduct a public hearing on Monday evening, September 15, 2025, at 6:30 pm, for the purpose of determining for fiscal year 2026 the percentage of the real estate property tax burden that shall be borne by the residential and commercial classifications of property respectively.

General inquiries prior to the hearing may be directed to the Assessors’ Office, Lincoln Town Offices (781 259-2611).

Pursuant to the extension of the remote meeting authorization of the Open Meeting Law through June 30, 2027, under Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, this meeting of the Select Board will be conducted as a hybrid meeting, providing the public the opportunity to participate in-person or remotely.

Specific information and the general guidelines for remote participation by members of the public and/or parties with a right and/or requirement to attend this meeting can be found on the Town of Lincoln website, at www.lincolntown.org.

Topic: Lincoln Select Board Meeting

Time: September 15, 2025, 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/91832375325?pwd=aXRpdnlJWHJINnZzd0xOQW9ZTjIvdz09

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Legal notice: Planning Board hearing (0 Mary’s Way)

PUBLIC HEARING — LINCOLN PLANNING BOARD

The Lincoln Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7:01 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 via hybrid meeting to review an application for a Renewal of a Special Permit for an existing wireless communication facility located at 0 Mary’s Way, Parcel 111-10-0, under Section 12.6 of the Zoning Bylaw. The applicant, T-Mobile LLC proposes to maintain the existing wireless communication facility by Special Permit for a new term. The application is available for review by e-mailing Jennifer Curtin at curtinj@lincolntown.org. The agenda with the Zoom information and meeting location will be posted to the Town website at lincolntown.org/Calendar.aspx at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. Anyone wishing to be heard may be present at the designated time and place, written comments will also be accepted.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Road project list is focus of upcoming public forums, survey

The Transportation Coalition will hold a pair of public forums on Tuesday, Sept. 30 to share its five-year project plan and discuss funding opportunities and constraints for various road improvement projects. The group is also gathering feedback and support via this survey about roads, roadside paths, and trails.

The Select Board approved the formation of the Transportation Coalition in 2023 with members from the Roadside & Traffic Committee, the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the Select Board, town staff and engineering consultants. In June 2024, the board approved a five-year plan listing 12 projects identified as priorities by the group. Those items were drawn from a more comprehensive master plan created by the BPAC that included a wide range of recommendations for safety improvements on roads and roadside paths in Lincoln.

The question, as always, is how to pay for what residents decide to do. As noted in a flyer recently sent to Lincoln homes, funding for most road work comes from the state’s Chapter 90 program, but that doesn’t cover the cost of significant upgrades or repairs, which are usually paid for via bonding. A $5.5 million major road repaving project was bonded in 2010, but “the roads are approaching the end of useful life and will soon need repaving, which will require a significant bond. Another upcoming project that may require bonding is the reconstruction of Ballfield Road currently slated for 2026,” the flyer notes.

The five-year project plan (whose order of priorities was adjusted in November 2024 in the table cited on the Transportation Coalition web page), also took into account the priorities in 2023’s Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. In past years, MassDOT’s Complete Streets grant program funded a crosswalk with pedestrian islands at Route 117 and Lincoln Road, the-ADA accessible route from Lincoln Station to Codman Farm, and improved signage at Lincoln Station, Codman Farm, and Drumlin Farm. It will also fund a new crosswalk with pedestrian islands at the intersection of Old Sudbury Road and Route 117 expected to be completed by this winter.

“Many residents have requested roadside paths and/or crosswalks for their neighborhood [but] the town’s ability to improve the infrastructure is limited by available funds, staff capacity, and easement challenges,” the flyer notes. In light of limited funding and a plethora of projects that could be tackled, residents are invited to one of two forums on September 30: a Zoom session from 9:00–10:30am and an evening event from 7:00–8:30pm in the Lincoln School Learning Commons.

The survey is open until October 9.