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

School group to tackle final project cost cuts this week

The School Building Committee plans to finish trimming the school project to get it under budget this week as it also awaits final information about potential savings on things like temporary classrooms and site work.

The current estimate for construction is $84.98 million, but the construction portion of the budget approved by residents in June is $76.01 million, meaning a total of almost $10 million needs to be cut or found from some other source. In its first two “value engineering” meetings, the SBC approved net reductions of just over $900,000.

The SBC meets on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room in a week full of meetings on the school project, including a multi-board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 18. On Tuesday, the Finance Committee will meet to discuss cash flow estimates and bond strategies, solar arrays for the school using capital expenditures vs. a power purchase agreement for the school’s solar array, and the use of debt stabilization funds.

At the October 10 SBC meeting, John Snell, chair of the Green Energy Committee, outlined a combination of construction incentives and energy credits for using green energy sources that could save $400,000–$1 million in the first year, with credits of $208,000–$444,000 annually over 20 years ($4.1 million to $8.9 million total).

The SBC last week also approved several more cost reductions from a list of “value engineering” items provided by architects. The cuts approved in two meetings thus far total $1.05 million:

  • Reseeding rather than sodding playing fields — $141,836
  • Not replacing some existing bookshelves, cabinets, interior doors and markerboards (5 items total) — $511,440
  • Changing floor materials in the learning/dining commons and toilet rooms from porcelain and ceramic to linoleum and epoxy, respectively — $239,514
  • Eliminating a sun shade/canopy and PV array for the new Reed gym link — $68,245
  • Electrical and plumbing items — $90,000

However, the SBC also approved an additional expenditure of $150,000 for a slightly redesigned learning commons/media center/third grade wing, so the net savings thus far are $901,035.

Still undetermined as far as exact dollar amounts are potential savings on temporary classrooms that were budgeted at $3.68 million, photovoltaic direct costs budgeted at $3 million, auditorium work (some of which might be paid for with other funds since that space is also used for Town Meetings), and some portion of the site work (roads and paths, curbs, drainage, landscaping, etc.). A total of $4.98 million could be cut if the only site work done is code-mandated work and repairs after construction.

Finding affordable temporary classrooms (which come with big expenses in addition to their leasing and moving costs) is difficult. “Locally there’s high demand. We have a lot of schools in the area whose enrollment is bursting,” Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall said. School officials even looked at the possibility of busing Lincoln School children to the existing modular classrooms at Hanscom to save on the cost of moving and installing modular classrooms on Ballfield Road, but then every Lincoln School parent would need a pass to get onto the Air Force base, and Hanscom probably has plans for the modular classroom site anyway.

Now that it’s combed through the value-engineering list for items with relatively low dollar values, the SBC will have to discuss cutting some of the bigger-ticket line items. These include:

  • Eliminating all work in the auditorium except code upgrades, sprinklers and HVAC — $1.59 million
  • Eliminating the media center wing and making the learning/dining commons space also accommodate the media center — $1.26 million
  • Eliminating the link to the Reed gym — $1.17 million
  • Keeping preK in the main Hartwell building — $1.01 million
  • Eliminating the third-grade hub space — $210,000

Though not a true savings, officials could also move the $1.06 million cost for furniture and equipment out of the construction budget and into the school’s operating budget.

Clarification

An October 8 News Acorn about the Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge noted that the lodge had raised $17,000 for charity. That was the amount awarded at a recent charity night, not the total for the entire year. The article has bene updated to reflect this correction.

Letter to the editor: Hanscom/Lincoln rapport is exceptional

To the editor:

Colonel Chad Ellsworth, the recently appointed commander of the 66th Air Base Group at Hanscom Air Force Base, reaffirmed the criticality of excellent relationships with Lincoln and the three other towns with ties to the base during his Change in Command ceremony. While representing our town at the ceremony with colleague Board of Selectmen member Jennifer Glass, I was struck by how frequently this theme of base/town relations was mentioned.

This theme was noted by the ceremony’s facilitator, Col. Ellsworth, and Lt. Gen. Robert McMurry during their formal remarks. Outgoing base commander Col. Roman Hund mentioned what surprised him most about his time at the base in a Hanscom News article—it was not the work done on base, but the community partnerships.

“At many of the bases I have been in my career, the installations have not been as active in the local community or with local groups as they are here,” he said. “The rapport we have with our local communities is among the best I have seen in my Air Force career.” More than once, I heard that other bases are looking to learn from Hanscom and emulate its close ties with state and local governments and businesses.

Jennifer and I had a few moments to talk with Col. Ellsworth, Col. Hund, and their families after the ceremony, and both described their appreciation for how Lincoln has supported the base, citing our connections with schools and public safety, among others. Ms. Ellsworth and Ms. Hund both spoke appreciatively of their experience with the schools, and thanked us for the town’s support.

Lincoln’s connections to Hanscom are deep. Everyone living on the base resides within our town’s borders. Our public school administration runs the base’s schools, under contract with the Department of Defense. Our Conservation Department influences building projects within the border to protect natural resources. Our Police Department answers emergency calls in the base’s residential neighborhoods.

With these connections, Lincoln helps Hanscom to achieve its mission to acquire critical systems for the Air Force and sister services such as radar, communication and intelligence systems; command and operations centers; network infrastructure; and cyber defense. The ripple effect is real: across New England and Upstate New York, Hanscom’s economic impact was reported to be about $6 billion in 2017, according to Colonel Hund.

Sincerely,

Selectman Jonathan Dwyer
14 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.

Running of the dogs? (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Toby, an Anatolian shepherd who lives with and protects the chickens of Codman Community Farms, gallops through the enclosure. Photo by Eli Newell.

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Corrections

  • Due to a typographical error, the ending time for the open forum portion of the October 20 State of  the Town Meeting was listed incorrectly in the Lincoln Squirrel. It runs from 12–12:30 p.m., not 2:30. The agenda in the original post and subsequent correction have bene corrected.
  • The October 10 article headlined “Sales of dolls, antiques providing big share of MCC budget” incorrectly stated that the MCC fundraising had enabled a group of METCO students to go to Lincoln Summer Day Camp for free. They actually have to pay a minimal fee comprising a small fraction of the actual cost. The original article has been corrected.

News acorns

Scarecrow Classic steps off this Sunday

More than 550 participants are expected to join the LLCT for the sixth Annual Scarecrow Classic on Sunday, Oct. 14. The race kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Codman Road by the fire station and runs along Lincoln’s scenic roads, fields, and trails.

After the race, there will be a raffle with prizes, live music, cider donuts, seasonal soup, and prizes for the top three runners in each age category. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at the LLCT offices, from LLCT trustees, or on October 14 before the race. Online registration is open through Friday, Oct. 12 and same-day registration is available starting at 8 a.m. Visit scarecrowclassic5k.com for the route map and online registration.

In keeping with conservation principles, participants are asked to bring a refillable water bottle (they can place it at the finish line ahead of time). There will be a hydration station and limited emergency water supplies for those without a water bottle. All utensils, cups, bowls, and napkins will be 100% compostable.

Diaper drive headed by Lincoln residents seeks donations

Residents are urged to drop off disposable diapers at the Lincoln Public Library for the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive, which runs through Sunday, Oct. 21. Diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC office, which serves Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Bedford, Lexington, and Lincoln. Donors may also purchase diapers from these Amazon or Target registries and having them sent directly to the WIC office.

The diaper drive began six years ago after Kerstin Sinkevicius (now of Lincoln) and Aimee Mills of Somerville read an article detailing how difficult it was for financially challenged families to afford diapers. Neither WIC nor SNAP benefits cover the cost of diapers. Two years ago, Kim Jalet of Lincoln replaced Mills as co-coordinator. A full list of collection points can be found at mbdiapers.org.

The Metro-Boston Diaper Drive was formerly called the Somerville Moms’ Diaper Drive, but “we changed the name this year to the Metro-Boston Diaper Drive because it has grown far beyond the original scope of Somerville now that we have 31 collection points in eight towns,” said Jalet said. A full list of collection points can be found at mbdiapers.org. Last year, the event donated more than 22,000 diapers. This year, organizers hope to donate at least 30,000 diapers.

College planning seminar at L-S

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Adult Ed is offering a college planning seminar for parents of ninth- and tenth-graders on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 7–9 p.m. in the L-S lecture hall. Tuition is $20/family and pre-registration at www.lsrhs.net/sites/adulted/ is required. Todd Richman, founder of Achieve Admissions, and Annika Noren, co-founder of InspireDo LLC, will address how colleges evaluate applicants, academic planning during high school, extracurricular and summer activities, considerations for student-athletes, when to take standardized tests, and why sophomore year is important to financial aid. 

Tales of the Night at Drumlin

Put on your favorite costume, grab a flashlight, and come to Tales of the Night, Drumlin Farm’s  family-friendly Halloween tradition, on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 25 and 26 from 6:30–9 p.m. Visitors will have the chance to:

  • Explore the farm at night, lit by a display of over 100 jack-o-lanterns
  • Meet some of the nocturnal wildlife of Massachusetts
  • Enjoy treats, “spider cider,” and “witches’ brew” at the ghoulish graveyard
  • Step into a story on the Nursery Rhyme Trail to meet your favorite characters
  • Venture out into the fields for a haunted hayride full of spooky surprises (7–8:30 p.m.)

Tickets ($15 for Mass Audubon members, $17 for nonmembers) must be purchased in advance—no admission at the gate. Purchase tickets online or register by phone at 781-259-2206.

Amelia Earhart events at library

Actor Sheryl Faye returns to the Lincoln Public Library to portray aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. As attendees learn how Earhart follows her dream with an indomitable spirit, her story will inspire them to pursue their own budding interests and passions. Local historian and Medford Public Library Director Barbara Kerr will discuss Earhart’s Boston-area connections on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to all.

Seminar covers Hindu period in India history

The next seminar in the India Discovery Project (IDP) covering the Hindu period (500–1500 AD) is on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. The seminar is an all-day event with slide presentations, lectures and music; lunch and tea will be provided. Presenters will include Lincoln resident and IDP President Bijoy Misra. The public online registration fee is $25, but Lincoln residents can get a $5 discount by sending a check to the India Discovery Center, 180 Bedford Rd., Lincoln, MA 01773.

Sales of dolls, antiques providing big share of MCC budget

Joanna Schmergel (left) and Erica Gonella, MCC treasurer and director of annual giving, in a room full of dolls to be sold by the organization (click images to enlarge).

What began last year as an eBay auction of donated vintage dolls has turned into a multipronged nonprofit effort that has netted thousands of dollars for METCO and provided summer camp scholarships for 34 kids.

Joanne Schmergel’s Cerulean Way home is slowly being taken over by dolls, antiques and other items she’s collecting and selling to benefit the METCO Coordinating Committee. What was once an office become, in her words, “a full-blown doll shop, and our formal dining room is a living estate sale.”

When the MCC first began supporting the summer camp program, they dedicated a majority of funds from its annual mailing campaign—but this drastically reduced the funds available during the school year to pay for late METCO buses, MCC president Pilar Doughty said. When Schmergel approached the group with her doll sales idea, “we thought ‘we don’t have anything to lose.’ Little did we imagine that she’d be able to raise enough money to make doll sales the new cornerstone of our Boston-based student summer camp funding in 2017-18.”

A donated painting for sale, which Schmergel jokingly titles “Why Did We Buy a Farm Share?”

Last year, doll sales netted $7,800, or 45 percent of the MCC’s total annual budget. This allowed the group offer full scholarships to 48 Boston-based, METCO-enrolled Lincoln School children to the four-week Lincoln Parks & Recreation summer camp, allowing them to attend at minimal cost to them (though only 34 kids wound up participating).

Schmergel, who is in charge of MCC’s fundraising and special projects, collected more donated inventory during the summer, including 30 American Girl dolls (now on sale in individual baskets for $59.99 each) and 200 collectible Barbie dolls donated by Lincoln resident Erica Mason that will likely net $3,500–$4,500 on eBay. The MCC also plans to sell antique and vintage dolls at the Boston Toy Show and is marketing more items on LincolnTalk, including four Chinese mud clay figures and various estate-sale items.

Chinese figurines for sale by the MCC.

The next goal is raising money through various methods fund Boston-based middle-schoolers who would like to attend Lincoln Summer Day Camp. Because the middle camp tuition is costlier and the transportation logistics are tricky, the MCC hasn’t been able to advertise the camp scholarship program widely to middle schoolers.

“The MCC had seen steady, gradual decline in both volunteerism and monetary donations over the past five years, and this seriously impacted the number and frequency of programs that we have been able to offer,” Doughty said. “When Joanna came to the team with renewed energy and a ‘can-do and will-do’ attitude, she provided a breath of fresh air. Knowing that we’re on stable financial ground for the year (because of her fundraiser) allows our leadership team to step out of panic mode and plan more effectively for the future.”

Corrections

  • The agenda for the October 20 State of the Town meeting posted in the Squirrel on October 9 was incorrect. Here is the correct agenda for the meting, which will take place in Brooks auditorium from 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.:
    • Campus building projects (10:30–11 a.m.)
    • South Lincoln planning (11–11:30 a.m.)
    • deCordova bylaws (11:30a.m.–noon)
    • Open forum (12–12:30 p.m.)
    • Post-meeting table session (12:45–1:15 p.m.)
  • A photo caption in the October 10 story headlined “Sales of dolls, antiques providing big share of MCC budget” was initially incorrect; the second person in the photo is Erica Gonella, the MCC’s treasurer and director of annual giving.

Both posts have bene updated to reflect these corrections.

News acorns

Fire station open house

The Lincoln Public Safety Dept. will hold an open house on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in observance of Fire Prevention Month. The day will include interactive demonstrations, a fire safety coloring contest, Smokey the Bear, and free pizza.

Free bike safety event for kids

Do you and your kids love to bike? Help keep your kids safe on the road! As part of her Gold Award project, Lincoln Girl Scout and Senior Ashley du Toit will be hosting a free two-hour bicycle safety event for the children of Lincoln on Sunday, Oct. 14 from 1-3 p.m. in Hartwell Pod B Activities include bike and helmet decoration, an educational course on safety, and a bike obstacle course. Be ready for a day of fun for all ages. Bring your bike and helmet. Questions? Email ashley1dutoit@gmail.com.

Outdoor painting, ceramics event at deCordova

Paint outdoors and celebrate love through ceramics in two events at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Bring your easel and supplies, pick a spot anywhere in the park, and enjoy creating art outdoors at the Paint Fest Plein Air Competition Sunday, Oct. 14 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Juried and People’s Choice prizes ($50–$250) will be awarded. Click here to sign up. At “The Sweetest Day” Date Night Clay Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 5–7 p.m., come with your spouse, partner, or friend for a ceramic sculpture project for pairs. No ceramic experience necessary. Click here to sign up.

Battle Road committee offers updates

The Battle Road Scenic Byway Committee invites area residents to a meeting to update the public on the group’s recent activities and offer feedback. The event takes place on Monday, Oct. 15 from 6–8 p.m. at the Minute Man National Historical Park Visitor’s Center.

The state-designated Battle Road Byway stretches from the Arlington/Cambridge line through Arlington, Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln to the national park. It traces the route of Colonial and British soldiers during the American Revolution and highlights historical and cultural sites along the way. (There is an additional loop in Lincoln that traverses Bedford Road to Baker Bridge Road and back up Route 126 to Route 2A that loop highlights Lincoln’s special historical, cultural, and architectural landmarks.) MassDOT’s District 4 has been an active participant.

Congress is expected to vote this fall on reinstating the Federal Program for Scenic Byways. If passed, the legislation could qualify the towns for federal money. At the October 15 meeting, the group will review what it’s done to date and invite ideas for future initiatives.

Buy coffee, support L-S Ultimate

Sudbury Coffee Works will donate 10 percent of its proceeds for the day to the Ultimate teams at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, where about 70 students play Ultimate. L-S students receive a 15 discount discount anytime they visit the store.

More from the Masonic Lodge

The October 8 News Acorn item about the October 20 open house to be hosted by Lincoln’s Joseph Warren-Soley Masonic Lodge neglected to include this photo from the group’s Lincoln charity night that included several Lincoln residents. The group raised $17,000 for the following organizations, most of which serve Lincoln: Gifts of Hope Unlimited, the Lincoln Fire Department’s SAFE Program, the Food Project, the Cotting School, Shriners Hospital for Children, the Lincoln Garden Club, the JWS Masonic Angel Fund, Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program, Greater Waltham ARC, the Lincoln School Foundation, the Wayland Public School Foundation, Children’s Dyslexia Centers, Inc., Fischer House of Boston, Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging, and Lincoln’s Parks & Recreation Department. (Click photo to enlarge)

Town Meeting and election information

(Editor’s note: This post has been updated to reflect the corrected agenda for the State of the Town meeting.)

Special Town Meeting and State of the Town

On Saturday, Oct. 20, there will be a Special Town Meeting vote on the status of marijuana businesses in Lincoln starting at 9 a.m., immediately followed by the State of the Town meeting at 10:30. During the Town Meeting, residents will be asked to vote to:

  • Extending the current town moratorium on marijuana-related businesses from Nov. 30, 2018 to June 1, 2019.
  • Amending the zoning bylaw to prohibit all marijuana establishments (retail, cultivation, testing, research, product manufacturing, etc.).

Click here for the warrant. Previous Lincoln Squirrel articles: 

State of the Town

There will be no votes at the State of the Town portion of the morning, but officials will present updates on the following:

  • Campus building projects (10:30–11 a.m.)
  • South Lincoln planning (11–11:30 a.m.)
  • deCordova bylaws (11:30a.m.–noon)
  • Open forum (12–12:30 p.m.)
  • Post-meeting table session (12:45–1:15 p.m.)

Early voting hours set

Early voting for the November 6 election will be offered in the Town Clerk’s office from Monday, Oct. 22–Friday, Nov. 2. Hours:

8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

8:30 a.m.–7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Oct. 23 and 30, and Thursdays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1

9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Voting on Election Day takes place in the Smith gym from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone who has not registered for the election must do so by Wednesday, Oct 17. Click here for a specimen ballot.