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

Iconic Lincoln pot takes a hit

The Five Corners flower pot sustained damage after it was hit by a car (pieces of which can be seen at left).

The familiar flower pot marking the Five Corners intersection in front of the library was hit by a car on March 23 and is temporarily grounded.

Chief of Police Kevin Kennedy said the accident happened when a car driving south on Bedford Road tried to turn left on Trapelo Road. The car sustained more than $1,000 in damage, necessitating the police report, and several paving stones were also dug up in the crash. No one was injured and no charges were filed.

The town will have the flower pot repaired, but when that will happen is uncertain. “We will try to expedite the repairs as soon as possible, but we will be going through the insurance process, so I’m unsure as to a time schedule,” said Chris Bibbo, superintendent of the Department of Public Works.

The flower pot was installed in 1892 by Henry F. Jenks of Pawtucket, R.I., as a watering trough for horses, according to town historian Jack McLean. “In addition, water would flow over the sides and be caught in a smaller trough around the outer edge of the base, where dogs could also drink. It was hooked up to the town’s water system, with the water coming out of a top section that is no longer present (the street signs that projected above the flower pot stood where the water source was located),” he said in an email.

McLean noted that the town had a second similar watering trough at the intersection of what is now Routes 117 and 126 which is now on the grounds of the Old Town Hall on Lincoln Road, still with its original top section. A third horse-watering trough of a different design still stands at the intersection of Lincoln and Codman Roads.

Lincoln GearTicks team advances to world championship

By Kevin Ji

The Lincoln-based GearTicks robotics team did well at a state championship in Oxford, Penn., earlier this month and advanced to the world championship in Detroit in April.

The GearTicks take part in a competition called the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for middle and high school students, where they design, build, and program robots to compete in a challenge each year while also promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in their community. Teams all over the globe compete in this competition.

This year’s challenge, Rover Ruckus, features whiffle balls and gold cubes. Each team must design a robot that can deliver as many of these “minerals” into the lander — an elevated box with separate containers for the whiffle balls and the cubes. At the end of the game, robots get extra points for attaching to the lander and lifting off the ground. On top of that, each team can program a set of instructions for a 30-second autonomous period at the start of the match, where robots get points for finding a gold mineral in a randomized place and dropping off a “team marker” in the corner of the field, along with other tasks.

The matches were intense. After winning four out of five qualifying matches, the GearTicks were ranked fourth seed and became the division finalist in the tournament. The GearTicks were also runners-up for the Inspire Award, the highest award at the competition. The team impressed the judges with their community outreach and robot design.

The team was very excited to attend the states, meeting other teams and participating in the matches, and the volunteer event organizers were genuinely happy to be there. There were lots of laughs, dancing, and even ice cream.

GearTicks at the FIRST Tech Challenge in Pennsylvania included (left to right) Jack Hutchinson, Ben Morris, Olivia Crisafi, Ken Hawkey, Amelia Pillar, Audrey Gammack, Evan Lee, and Erin Crisafi (crouching with the team’s robot). All are Lincoln residents except Morris, who is from Sudbury. Other team members are Kevin Ji from Sudbury and Linconites Alex Payne, Andreas Muzila, Howie Tsang, Laura and Emily Appleby, Prerna Karmacharya, and Ken Hawkey.

 
 

 

Town Meeting 2019 roundup

Here are some of the measures approved by residents at the March 23 Annual Town Meeting. See previous stories for coverage of the votes on the leaf blower bylaw and the deCordova/Trustees of Reservations integration.

Town budget

Voters approved a FY 2020 budget of $41.55 million, a 10.3% increase from this year’s budget of $37.68 million. The total includes $4.29 million in debt service for the school building project and a 2.39% increase in the operating budget. Property taxes on the median-value house (assessed value of $998,400) will increase by about $1,781 or 12.7%. See pages 4 and 6 of the Annual Town Meeting Financial Section and Warrant for pie charts showing revenues and expenditures by category.

Capital and community preservation items

Voters approved the requests from the Capital Planning Committee and Community Preservation Committee (see the Lincoln Squirrel, March 14, 2019). Also approved in a separate vote was an appropriation of up to $400,000 for an irrigation systems for the Codman athletic field next to the pool. This will be the second irrigated field in town; the first is the new Wang field on Bedford Road set to open this spring (the town’s first new athletic field in 60 years).

The largest capital item was $600,000 for a new roof for the Hartwell school building. The roof was installed 31 years ago but was designed to last for only 20, and the Finance Committee recommended doing it this year “because we could fit in in budget and we are worried about long list of capital projects on the docket in coming years,” FinCom chair Jim Hutchinson said.

Recognitions

This year’s Bright Light Award went to Gary Davis, who was recognized for outstanding volunteerism. Davis, a retired architect, headed a project to digitize and create a searchable index of Planning and Department of Public Works documents, as well as updating the Planning Department filing system.

Tim Higgins was recognized for his 25 years of service as Town Administrator. His citation noted his “integrity, accessibility to the community, creative problem solving. tireless diplomacy, eternal optimism, endless patience and thoughtful leadership.”

“There are very few dull moments in Lincoln; we seem to move from one interesting and challenging project to another,” Higgins said in accepting the award, which included his very own parking spot at Town Hall. “If you’re a public policy nerd like I am and a history-oriented person, you can’t imagine a better place to spend your career.”

Departing Water Commission chair Packy Lawler and School Committee chair Tim Christenfeld were also thanked for their service.

Solar bylaw

Residents approved changes to new definitions for roof-mounted solar systems, energy storage systems and carport/canopy PV systems; financial and ownership arrangements to allow power purchase agreements; increased height limits for canopy-carport solar arrays; and adding a general waiver section. See section starting on page 11 of the list of motions (Article 28) for details.

State flag and seal

Residents voted to support creation of a state commission to study the idea of changing the Massachusetts state flag and seal, which some believe depicts oppression of Native Americans by English settlers.

“I would put to you that this is your version of the Confederate flag,” said Patricia Thornton Wells, who grew up in Georgia. “It has symbolism that means certain things to certain people that is very offensive. Most people in my town growing up didn’t take offense, but every African American does. I think this needs to be reconsidered from the context of all the people in our community.”

Noting that the motto on the flag and seal reads in part, “By this sword we seek peace,” resident Peter Pease said, “If that is not an aggressive statement… It seems so wrong to put people who owned this land before we came and have them on a flag… with a sword over their head. Please, let’s get this out of here.”

About a dozen residents voted nay, including Michael Coppock. He referred to the Native American on the flag, partly modeled on Metacomet, who led a rebellion known as King Philip’s War. “It was most deadly war in U.S. history as a percentage of population loss… he abandoned his father (Massasoit’s) of peace,” he said.

Other measures approved

  • Authorization to bond $1.1 million for the Water Department
  • Bylaw changes:
    • Adding an exception for nonconforming lots that were reduced in size by an eminent-domain taking
    • Adding two new properties to the Brown’s Wood Historic District
    • Clarifying the definition of “demolition” under the demolition bylaw
  • A ban on sales of e-cigarettes (a preemptive measure since no stores on Lincoln currently sell them). A handful of residents voted no.

Voters approve ban on cannabis businesses in Lincoln

Lincoln voters have affirmed a ban on cannabis retail businesses in Lincoln that was first passed at a Special Town Meeting in October 2018.

Lincoln residents voted in favor of legalizing sales of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts in a statewide vote in 2016. Because of that result, state law required a twi0thirds majority at Town Meeting and a simple majority in an election if residents wanted to ban cannabis businesses within Lincoln. The ban can be reversed by another vote in the future if the town wishes, but once cannabis sales are legalized, they can’t be banned later. 

In unofficial results, the ban was affirmed this week by a margin of 279-126 (69% to 31%) on the ballot question. Last October, the ban achieved the required two-thirds majority by a tally of 73% to 27%.

Personal, noncommercial growing and possession of recreational marijuana are unaffected. Massachusetts law allows residents 21 and older to use the drug and have up to one ounce on their person (up to 10 ounces in their homes). Households with one adult over 21 can also grow up to six marijuana plants, or 12 plants if there are two adults in the household.

The Lincoln move also will have no effect on potential home delivery of marijuana products, should the state’s Cannabis Control Commission decide to allow it. As the law now stands, medical dispensaries can deliver cannabis products to registered patients but doesn’t permit deliveries of recreational pot.

Residents also voted in a new slate of town officials in this week’s election (though none of the races was contested). Click here for full election results. 

 

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