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

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SSEF celebrates end of summer

The South Sudanese Enrichment for Families community gathered at the end of August at Codman Pool to celebrate the end of summer with swimming, basketball, books and socializing. Donelan’s provided fruit, vegetables, and cakes, while L-S students helped out. See more photos here.

First Parish kicks off new year

The First Parish in Lincoln invites residents to two events:

Yoga at Pierce Park

The Lincoln School Foundation and The Nest Yoga Lincoln are offering yoga sessions at Pierce Paek on two Sundays, Sept. 7 and 14 from 9:00-10:00am. Requested donation: $20 cash (100% of proceeds benefit LSF). Bring your own yoga mat and water bottle. Park at Lincoln Town Hall.

Meet new COA&HS staff

Come to Bemis Halll on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at noon for a free pizza lunch to welcome new town social worker Lily Sonis and Transportation Coordinator Katherine Kmetz to the Council on Aging & Human Resources. Lily holds master’s degrees in both social work and public health and was VP of Refugee and Disability Services at JVS Boston. Katherine most recently worked at McLean Hospital and is completing her master’s in social work.

Rep. Peisch schedules office hours

State Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch’s staff will hold virtual office hours on Friday, Sept. 12 from 10:00am–3:00pm for constituents of Wellesley, Weston, and Precinct 2 in Lincoln, to discuss matters pending before the Legislature, issues they may be having with an executive agency, or any other district matters. Register for the link using this SignUp Genius page. Questions? Email wesley.stanton@mahouse.gov. Any constituent who wishes to speak to Peisch but can’t attend office hours may make an appointment by calling 617-722-2783 or emailing Alice.Peisch@mahouse.gov.

Author discusses book about Royal Tar

Jane Gardner will discuss her latest book, “The Wreck of the Circus Ship Royal Tar: Tragedy in Penobscot Bay,” on Friday, Sept. 26 at 12:30pm in Bemis Hall. This true story involves a maritime disaster in 1836 involving a steamship, circus animals, and a desperate rescue off the Maine coast. Sponsored by the Friends of the Council on Aging & Friends of Lincoln Library.

Woman arrested in Lincoln after incident in Concord

A doorbell camera recorded this image of April Grueter before she was arrested after a search in the woods. (Image courtesy Rick Watkins)

A woman who allegedly pulled two fire alarms and intentionally left a suspicious package in Concord was captured by police in Lincoln late last week after fleeing the scene in her car and on foot.

Concord Police and Fire Departments responded on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7:12pm to the Dunkin Donuts at 1641 Sudbury Road for a report of a fire alarm activation. Upon arrival, police said they discovered that two pull stations within the store had been pulled maliciously by a woman who then left the store. That same woman then went next door to the Nine Acre Farm Convenience Store, where she made threatening statements, then left a suitcase inside the store and fled in a vehicle, police said.

The convenience store and Dunkin Donuts were both closed, and all businesses within 300 feet were evacuated as a precaution while a State Police bomb squad responded to the scene to evaluate the suitcase.

While Concord Police and Fire secured the stores with assistance from mutual aid partners, they also began searching for the suspect who left the suitcase behind and located her crashed vehicle on South Great Road in Lincoln a short time later.

Meanwhile, Rick Watkins, who lives on South Great Road close to the Concord town line, went to answer his doorbell, but by the time he got there, the person was gone. However, his doorbell camera caught an image of her. She had apparently walked up his driveway from her car around a gate, then fled into the woods after ringing the bell.

“I was going to go outside but my wife and son said to call the police because it seemed odd — no one ever comes up our driveway,” Watkins said.

Police and K-9 units arrived within two minutes and arrested the woman after searching around his house for about an hour, he said. April Grueter, 48, of Webster, was charged with causing a false fire alarm, tampering with a fire call box, disorderly conduct and possession of a hoax device.

The State Police Bomb Squad determined the suitcase did not contain any explosives or incendiary devices.

Watkins praised the police response and search efforts, saying, “they were unbelievable… it was pretty impressive to see them work.”

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.

Police log for August 15–21, 2025

August 15

Lewis Street (12:52pm) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a possible larceny.

Conant Road (1:28pm) — An individual turned in multiple items marked for destruction.

Trapelo Road (6:16pm) — An officer spoke with a person who appeared in distress after having an encounter with another person on Trapelo Road. The officer provided a courtesy transport to the train station.

August 16

Old Cambridge Turnpike (7:56pm) — An officer spoke to a person who had been bitten by a dog. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

August 17

Nothing of note.

August 18

Conant Road (10:30am) — An officer made a notification at a residence at the request of an outside agency.

Greenridge Lane (12:39pm) — An officer attempted to serve court paperwork but was unsuccessful.

Weston Road (4:01pm) — An officer served court paperwork.

Tower Road (5:17pm) — An officer assisted a person with retrieving a lost item.

August 19

Hanscom Drive (8:08am) — An officer assisted a motorist after their vehicle was struck by a lawnmower.

Wells Road (12:22pm) — Officers attended a community event.

August 20

Oriole Landing (4:05pm) — A caller reported a past noise complaint related to a neighbor’s dog. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

August 21

Baker Bridge Road (9:00am) — A person reported a missing item that had been inadvertently left on a walking path.

Lincoln Road (11:10am) — An officer conducted a follow-up investigation related to a past incident.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:10pm) — A caller reported that pieces of a ladder were in the roadway. The Massachusetts State Police and Mass. Highway were notified.

Indian Camp Lane (2:02pm) — A tree fell onto a gas meter at a residence. National Grid was notified and responded shortly thereafter.

Hanscom Drive (4:07pm) — Hanscom Air Force Base Security Forces requested assistance for a person with an active arrest warrant. Intabikangwa Farjanie, 28, of Andover was taken into custody.

Legal notice: Historic District Commission (7 Lincoln Rd.)

LEGAL NOTICE — HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

The Historic District Commission will hold a virtual online public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to consider the application of 7 Lincoln Rd., M/P 143-8-0 to repoint or repair missing or crumbled mortar on the front of the house. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should be present at the designated time and place.

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: Historic District Commission (9 Baker Farm Rd.)

LEGAL NOTICE — HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

The Historic District Commission will hold a virtual online public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to consider the application of 9 Baker Farm Rd., M/P 137-15-0, to replace the roof, chimneys and change out two windows into doors. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should be present at the designated time and place.

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: Historic District Commission (0 Concord Rd.)

LEGAL NOTICE — HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

The Historic District Commission will hold a virtual online public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, to consider the application of 0 Concord Rd., 160-14-0, to determine the significance of the building. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should be present at the designated time and place.

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: Zoning Board of Appeals (Sept. 24, 2025)

The Zoning Board of the Appeals of the Town of Lincoln will hold a virtual online public hearing on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 7:00 P.M to hear and to act on the following petitions under the Zoning Bylaws:

New:

Robert Fallon and Jenn Monaghan, 23 Boyce Farm Rd., M/P 178-15-0 for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.

Mike Preshman, 6 Brooks Rd., M/P 112-12-0 for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.

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.

News acorns

Road closures this week and next

To accommodate water main work, Bedford Road will be closed from the five-way intersection to Canaan Drive at the following times:

  • Thursday and Friday, Aug. 28–29 from 8:15am–3:00 pm (closures begin later on the first two days of school)
  • Tuesday though Friday, Sept. 2–5 from 7:00am–3:00pm 

New appointments

The Select Board has approved the following appointments to town positions:

  • Conservation Commission — Ross Tucker (replacing Susan Hall Mygatt, now on the Planning Board)
  • Roadway & Traffic Committee — Sharon Collura (replacing Deborah Howe) and Robert Soluri (filling a vacant seat)

The Lincoln Police Department also appointed two new recruits. Aidan Hawley is the newly approved 14th  officer in the department and Owen Hughes is replacing Officer Greg Lamb, who was hired in another town. They are attending the Boylston Police Academy in Boylston and will be probationary police officers when their training is completed in six months.

Fall harvest shindig at the Food Project

Everyone is invited to the Shindig at Baker Bridge Farm, The Food Project‘s harvest festival fundraiser, on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 11:00am–2:00pm at Baker Bridge Farm. The schedule:

  • 11:00am–1:00pm — Hands-on apple pressing, yoga, djembe drum circle lessons, and bluegrass music
  • 11:00am–1:30pm — Lunch and seasonal farm-inspired food and drinks from Fresh Food Generation, Mei Mei Dumplings, Root plus beer and wine
  • 1:30–2:00pm — Dessert (fresh cider donuts from Red Apple Farm) and final bids on the silent auction. Items to bid on include a wine and cheese basket by Vin Fromage, a vacation getaway in Bremen, Maine, a tasting menu experience at Nightshade Noodle Bar in Lynn, and more to come.

Reserve your tickets at www.thefoodprojectshindig.org ($50 for adults, $20 for children age 3–12).

Town gets grant to improve Stony Brook culverts

The culvert under Peirce Hill Road.

The town has received a state grant of $149,000 to collect field data preparatory to replacing three undersized culverts on Lincoln Road, Pierce Hill Road, and Tower Road over Stony Brook.

The Lincoln appropriation is part of a $2.9 funding package provided by the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration to 21 towns with the goal of strengthening resilience against extreme weather events, improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and restore crucial wildlife habitat.  

“Massachusetts has over 25,000 culverts, most of which are undersized. By replacing these outdated culverts with larger, safer structures, we can better prepare our communities for severe weather,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said in a statement. “Investing in these projects now will save our cities and towns money on disaster recovery in the future.” 

A map showing the three culverts.

The existing Stony Brook culverts also act as barriers to fish passage, and larger culverts would reconnect 2.3 miles of the brook’s cold-water fishery and state-designated Outstanding Resource Water, enhancing wildlife populations in important wooded wetlands, Conservation Director Michelle Grzenda said. Certain stretches of the brook have been known to provide habitat for trout, and historical surveys have documented additional species including bluegill and American eel, she added.

The Lincoln Road crossing features a stone box culvert of undetermined age, while the Pierce Hill and Tower Road crossings have corrugated metal pipe culverts showing evidence of erosion. All three structures are undersized by current engineering standards and function as barriers to aquatic organism passage, Grzenda said.

“We’re very excited to have received this grant award,” she said. “I also want to gratefully acknowledge the Charles River Watershed Association for their invaluable assistance in the grant application process, which made this important watershed restoration initiative possible.”