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

Considering and comparing school options on Tuesday

An important milestone in planning for the Lincoln School project arrives on Tuesday, when residents will have a chance to voice opinions and ask questions about a range of renovation and construction concepts.

In November and December, architects presented options for a mostly new school (the “B” options) or renovating and adding to the existing building (the “A” options). On January 10, the School Building Committee saw a subset of those concepts: option A1, four variations on option A3, and the least expensive “B” concept. Estimates for those six options start at $73 million, whereas a repair-only project would cost about $48 million. However, cost estimates and building design sketches are very approximate at this stage, the SBC noted.

The identical workshops will be on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Reed Gym.

At both sessions, the Finance Committee will also provide a high-level overview of updated financial parameters. Preliminary finance numbers were discussed at the multiboard meeting earlier this month. The workshops will serve as an opportunity to make comparisons in advance of a special Town Meeting on June 9, when they will a vote on a preliminary design.

The framework for evaluating choices includes these guiding principles:

Educational program:

  • Create engaging and inspiring learning spaces
  • Foster 21st-century learning skills
  • Facilitate communication and collaboration
  • Optimize connection to the natural environment
  • Integrate pre-K into the Lincoln School

Community:

  • Campus feel — maintain or enhance the connection with the outdoors and other parts of campus
  • C0mmunity spaces — enhance and/or add spaces shared with the community such as the auditorium. a dining commons, and gymnasiums.
  • Sustainability — provide a sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy building
  • Financial responsibility — provide a long-term, financially responsible solution.

SBC consultants are further refining the baseline repair concept to get a firmer understanding of the minimum cost, and they are also working with sustainability expert Bill Maclay to analyze the energy and lifetime sustainability impacts of each concept.

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LLCT screens “Earthflight”

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust presents “Earthflight” followed by a talk by retired marine biologist and veterinarian Vincent Durso on Monday, Jan. 22 from 7:30–9 p.m. in the LLCT office in Lincoln Station above the post office. Using trained HD camera-carrying birds, drones, paragliders, and remote-control microflight planes, see amazing viewpoints that have never been seen before  In episode one of a six-part series, fly across North America with migrating snow geese, pelicans, and bald eagles over the Great Plains, the Grand Canyon, Alaska, New York City and the Golden Gate Bridge as they encounter bears, dolphins, bison, and spawning fish. Following the film, Dr. Durso will discuss specific migrating bird habitats in Lincoln, including water, field and forest, and how the migrant species differ in these varied locations.

“Question box” service at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln (FPL) will host a “question box” service on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. in the church at 4 Bedford Rd. In this service, the parishioners submit anonymous, spiritually themed questions for Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, FPL’s senior minister, to answer. Refreshments and hospitality will follow the service.

“Psychedelic Cinema” at deCordova

On Friday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m., the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum presents “Psychedelic Cinema,” a groovy night of film, music, and art making where attendees can sip on cocktails and dance to retro hits from a live DJ while they watch vibrant images from Psychedelic Cinema float across the screen. Take a break to see mesmerizing art on view in the current exhibitions or make some of their own. Psychedelic Cinema is a collection of vibrant, hallucinatory films from the late 1960s created by experimental filmmaker Ken Brown. Originally projected behind performers like Jimi Hendrix and the Velvet Underground, it offers a visual tapestry of multi-layered imagery to enhance the auditory experience. Tickets are $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers, and $5 for children 12 and under. Each ticket includes film, music, art-making activities, exhibitions, one complimentary drink, and snacks. Additional cocktails will be available for purchase.

Residents invited to run for local office

Are you looking for a rewarding if occasionally vexing way to feel more connected? Willing to undertake new challenges?  Unafraid to speak up? Then run for local office! Nomination papers, which are available at the Town Clerk’s Office now, must be returned by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6. The annual Town Election will take place on Monday, March 26.

The following offices will appear on the March ballot:

  • Board of Selectmen (one seat for three years)
  • Board of Assessors (one seat for three years)
  • K-8 School Committee (two seats, both for three years)
  • Water Commissioner (one seat for three years)
  • Board of Health (one seat for three years)
  • Cemetery Commission (one seat for three years)
  • Planning Board (one seat for three years)
  • Commissioner of Trust Funds (one seat for three years)
  • DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum trustee (one seat for four years)
  • Housing Commission (three seats: one for year, one for two years, and one for three years)
  • Parks and Recreation Committee (one seat for three years)
  • Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee (two seats, both for three years)
  • Bemis Trustee (one seat for three years)

To learn more, click here visit this link  or contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607 or brookss@lincolntown.org.

Letter to the editor: support hurricane victims at student-run blood drive

To the editor:

Did you know that January is National Blood Donors Month? On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Lincoln School Student Council will be hosting their first-ever blood drive in Lincoln in the Reed Field House (Brooks gym).

Soon after hurricane Irma hit Puerto Rico, the Student Council decided they wanted to do something to help all the people whose lives were affected by that tragic event. One student came up with the idea of hosting a blood drive. The other students liked the idea and contacted the Red Cross for more information. Sadly, it turned out that they could not actually send donated blood to Irma victims themselves, as blood had already been sent there immediately after the disaster.

However, the Student Council still liked the idea of hosting a blood drive. They learned that every two seconds, someone in the U.S. is in need of blood, and donors are always essential to restock the supply. They also learned that each blood donation can help three at least people in need. Currently, the blood supply is running low, due to many blood drives being canceled due to weather and donors are even more needed.

On the day of the blood drive, students will also be hosting a used book sale and bake sale. They still liked their idea of helping Puerto Rico in its recovery efforts, so all proceeds from the two sales will aid victims of the Puerto Rico hurricane. If you have any gently used books you don’t need any more, you can drop them off at the Lincoln School office anytime before the blood drive, or you can bring them in during the event.

To donate blood, we encourage you to sign up for a time slot, but walk-ins are also welcome. All donors will be rewarded with a $5 Dunkin Donuts Gift Card. To register online, go to www.redcrossblood.org and go to the “Find a blood drive” box. Type in “01773”, then select the “By distance” tab and click on “Brooks Middle School.”

The blood drive is a student-initiated and student-run activity. The whole Student Council is very passionate about this and are hoping for this to be a success. Please spread the word to all your family and friends—we would like to see as many people as possible at the blood drive. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Prerna Karmacharya and Quinn Harnden (Lincoln School eighth-graders)

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.

Clark rallies the Democratic troops at Lincoln event

Rep. Katherine Clark addresses the crowd of close to 100 in Bemis Hall on January 14.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass. 5th) advocated for national Democratic candidates running for Congress  at a “Campaign 2018 Red to Blue Kickoff Rally” sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee in Bemis Hall last Sunday,

Clark is now vice chair in charge of recruiting for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), whose goal is to identify, train and encourage Democratic candidates in targeted congressional races across the nation. She described 18 new candidates that the DCCC has endorsed in 16 states from Arizona to New York, with more expected in upcoming primary elections.

These young candidates make up a group referred to as the Blue Wave that Democrats hope will retake control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the November elections. Twenty-four seats must “flip” from Republican to Democrat for Democrats to regain the majority.

So far, over 400 Democratic candidates have registered with the Federal Election Commission for Congressional races—almost seven times the previous high number in 2007. Democrats are encouraged by recent election results in Virginia, New Jersey, Alabama, Florida and Wisconsin, where this week a first-time Democratic candidate won a state senate seat that had been held by the opposition for over 17 years.

Clark also asked the audience to volunteer and support candidates running to replace retiring Congresswomen Niki Tsongas (D-Mass. 3rd) and Carol Shea Porter (D-N.H. 1st). Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass. 6th) has endorsed several candidates with military experience for a variety of offices including Congress on his ServeAmerica PAC. Emily’s List is likewise endorsing women for seats in state and local elections as well as for Congress and the Senate.

—Submitted by Gary Davis and Barbara Slayter, co-chairs of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee

Clarification and correction

The January 15 article headlined “Developer seeks 60 units of mixed-income housing” was unclear as to the financial qualifications for affordable units in the proposed Oriole Landing development. It should have said that for prospective tenants to qualify, their household income may be no more than 80 percent of area median income adjusted for family size. The original article has been updated.

Correction

Dates for two events were listed incorrectly in the January 16 story headlined “Five days of events coming up for Lincoln Winter Carnival.” The Adult Cooking Class and LPTO Family Bingo Night are on Friday, Jan. 26. The calendar and original article have been corrected.

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Library open late for studying

The Lincoln Public Library will be open until 10 p.m. on January 17, 18 and 22 for high school students studying for exams. Snacks and building monitors will be provided but no reference or circulation services.

Ms. G ushers in Groundhog Day activities at Drumlin

Ms. G

The Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary is set to host its annual Groundhog Day celebration on Friday, Feb. 2. Watch Ms. G, the official state groundhog of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as she wakes from hibernation. If she sees her shadow, plan for six more weeks of winter. If not, spring will come early this year.

The live groundhog forecast starts at 10 a.m., followed by special winter activities. Hot cocoa will be provided. Drumlin Farm will be open on February 2 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. This special event takes place from 10 a.m. to noon and is free with paid admission ($9 for adults and teens, $6 for children 2–12 and seniors) and free for Mass Audubon members.

  • Learn the forecast for spring’s arrival from Drumlin Farm’s woodchuck weather expert
  • Visit with more resident wildlife and farm animals, learn about winter tracking, and explore the wildlife sanctuary’s trails
  • Make winter crafts to take home
  • Investigate our local climate with Don McCasland of Blue Hill Observatory Science Center
  • Purchase produce grown at Drumlin Farm
  • Learn about how climate change impacts hibernating species in New England

Special guests will include former WBZ-TV meteorologist Mish Michaels and the Wellesley students who joined Mass Audubon in submitting the bill to the Massachusetts legislature to declare Ms. G the official state groundhog. The bill was enacted into law and signed by then-Governor Deval Patrick on July 31, 2014.

Hendrickson works exhibited in Acton

A show at the Acton Memorial Library (486 Main St., Acton) will feature “Paintings of Color and Light” by Lincoln resident Ruth Ann Hendrickson Art Show through February 26. There will be an artist’s reception on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 5–7:30 p.m.

LSB Players present “The Emperor’s New Clothes”

LSB Players, the theater production company of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, presents The Emperor’s New Clothes by Greg Atkins and directed by Carly Evans on Friday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. in the Kirshner Auditorium. The LSB Players are excited to offer TYA (theatre for young audiences) but audiences of all ages will enjoy the hilarious adaptation of this classic tale. There will be lobby activities for young children. The Saturday matinee will be a special sensory-friendly performance. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for seniors/students, and $5 for children age 5 and under and may be reserved by emailing lsbtickets@gmail.com. Please include your name, date and time of the show(s) you would like to attend, and number of adult, student/senior and child tickets you would like to order. You will receive a separate email confirmation once your order has been filled, and tickets will be held at the Will Call table.

Five days of events coming up for Lincoln Winter Carnival

Weekend-long activities

Online snow sculpture contest
Build your snow sculpture, then snap a photo with you in it and send it to smulroy@lincnet.org. Submit as many sculptures as you like! We will accept submissions until 5 p.m. on Sat, Jan 27, then post them online for voting. Winners will be chosen on Friday, Feb. 2.

Discover Drumlin Farm in winter
See our animals in their winter homes, look for wildlife tracks or other signs of animals in the snow, or check out our feeders at our Wildlife Blind. Drop-in naturalist programs take place on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. Free admission for Lincoln residents. Call 781-259-2200 for more information.

Wednesday, Jan. 24

Lincoln School Student Council: American Red Cross blood drive
1–6 p.m., Brooks Gym
If you’re healthy and eligible to donate blood, please come on out. Ages 17+ can donate blood, and 16-year-olds may donate with parental permission. Learn more and schedule to donate at: www.lincolnschoolbloodrive.org. Questions? Contact Advisors Jaime Moody (jmoody@lincnet.org) or Keith Johnson (kjohnson@lincnet.org).

Thursday, Jan. 25

FOMA movie night: Columbus, Indiana: Different by Design 
7–9 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
Please join us for a film about the architectural odyssey of industrialist J. Irwin Miller of Cummins Engine Co., who re-imagined the architecture in Columbus, Ind. By offering to pay for talented engineers and designers from all over the world, he fostered an architectural environment that would have a positive effect on the lives of people. Peter Sugar, who designed the Grace Lutheran Church in Columbus in 1966, will introduce the film.

Friday, Jan. 26

Intergenerational sing-along
3:30 p.m., Bemis Hall
The LEAP After-School Program, the Council on Aging and Magic Garden Children’s Center invite residents of all ages to enjoy a free Multigenerational Sing-Along including performances from the organizations singing favorite folk songs, children songs, and more.

LPTO Family Bingo Night
5:30–7:30 p.m., Brooks Gym
Come celebrate Family Bingo Night with even more chances to win! Prizes awarded for each winning board as well as awesome raffle prizes. Pizza dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. with snacks and drinks available for purchase. Free entry. Bingo cards are $5 (15-game multi-pack); raffle tickets are $1 for one, $5 for six, and $10 for 15.

Adult cooking class and dinner
7–9 p.m., Pierce House
Ring in the New Year in culinary style as we enjoy an evening of good food and festive flair. Learn the techniques to preparing a mouth-watering dinner with a renowned Boston chef. The evening will include a full meal. Details are available at www.piercehouse.com. Cost is $95 and the class is limited to 10 people.

Saturday, Jan. 27

Girl Scout pancake breakfast
8–11 a.m., Stone Church
Start the weekend off with pancakes with real maple syrup! Plain, blueberry, choc- chip, and gluten-free pancakes with maple syrup along with coffee, tea, OJ, and fruit. Enjoy face painting and crafts! Girl Scout Cookies will be sold. $5 under 12, $10 everyone else ($30 family max).

Snowshoe tours
10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1-2:30 p.m., deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
Enjoy nature and art in winter. Discover a fun and active way to explore the Sculpture Park. Tours are led by a museum guide and an EMS instructor. Click here to purchase tickets. Rent snowshoes or bring your own.

Magic Garden preschool fun
11 a.m.–1 p.m., Magic Garden Preschool
Come and visit with friends and neighbors at Magic Garden Children’s Center. Enjoy carnival games, arts and crafts activities and indoor “ice skating” in your socks! This event is suited for children ages 2-5.

Lincoln holistic wellness fair
Noon–3 p.m., Bemis Hall
Come learn about complementary medicine, including therapeutic touch, essential oils, energy work, reiki, quick energy balance, food as medicine, sound healing with crystal bowls, shamanic healing, gentle Hatha yoga , family yoga, Kundalini yoga, gong meditation and more! Contact Jai Kaur Annamaria at asanajai@verizon.net with questions.

Community skating and bonfire
1–3 p.m., Cemetery Pond (Lexington Road)
Enjoy skating, hot chocolate, and toasted marshmallows by the campfire. Bring your own skates. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will be hosting a capture-the-flag event instead, so stay tuned to www.lincolnrec.com for updates.

LFA energy blaster
3–5 p.m., Brooks Gym
Jump in a bounce house, run through an obstacle course, climb, slide, and joust. The gym will be filled with ways to let out some energy. Free for LFA 2018 members; nonmembers are $10 per child. A new 2018 LFA membership on the spot includes admission. Renew now at www.lincfam.org to bypass the lines.

Lincoln Acoustic Coffeehouse
7–10 p.m., Bemis Hall
Our annual night to showcase local musicians and performers! We have over 12 acts—some returning, some new—ready to perform, and there’s a good chance you know some of them! Coffee and desserts will be served. Tickets are available online at www.lincolnrec.com. General Admission is $10. Table of 8 is $160. Doors open at 7 p.m. sharp,

Sunday, Jan. 28

Make you own snow globe
10:30–noon, deCordova Carriage House
Join Lincoln Nursery School in partnership with deCordova to craft your own Winter Wonderland Snow Globe. Choose from a variety of materials to create your own wintery scene. Appropriate for all ages.

Let the games begin!
12:45–1:45 p.m., Stone Church
An old-fashioned battery-free family event. Join us for an hour of games including from Candyland, charades, Jenga and Twister. There will be lots of prizes for all ages! Laughter guaranteed. Cocoa and community. Visit fplincoln.org for info.

Karen K & the Jitterbugs
2–3 p.m., Lincoln Public Library
Known for their high-energy show packed with humor and amazingly catchy, well-crafted tunes, Karen K & the Jitterbugs has become one of the most buzzed about “kiddie” bands on the East Coast. Described as “power pop sheen that makes them fun for the whole family,” the Jitterbugs have quickly become a favorite among families. Drop in.

Historical Society event: “Lincoln’s Schools and Who was Joseph Brooks, Anyway?”
2 p.m., Bemis Hall
How did our school campus develop, and what schoolhouses came before it? From the 18th century to the Little Red School House to the Joseph Brooks School, learn how schools and education in Lincoln have changed. Then hear graduates tell tales from their school days.

Correction

A January 16 article headlined “Developer seeks 60 units of mixed-income housing” incorrectly said that several 40B developers expressed interest when the “Hollingsworth property” went on the market in 2016. It should have said the “Morrissey property.” The article has been updated to reflect this correction.

Developer seeks 60 units of mixed-income housing

A conceptual rendering of the interior courtyard at Oriole Landing.

If residents vote yes at Town Meeting in March, a proposed 60-unit mixed-income housing development would help meet Lincoln’s state-mandated affordable housing requirement for decades.

Civico Development is proposing to build 60 one- and two-bedroom units in two adjacent buildings on Mary’s Way abutting The Commons. Fifteen of the units in Oriole Landing will be deed-restricted as affordable; for prospective tenants to qualify, their household income may be no more than 80 percent of the area median income adjusted for family size. Seventy percent of the 15 affordable units will be set aside for town employees and others who work in Lincoln, current Lincoln residents, and those with children in the Lincoln Public Schools.

Civico is holding a series of open houses (see below) in advance of the March 25 Town Meeting, which will include two measures relating to the project. Voters will be asked to approve a zoning change to establish a North Lincoln Planning Development Overlay District and to approve a preliminary development and land use plan for the project. If it gets those approvals, Civico will later have to undergo a site plan review with details on traffic and environmental impacts and obtain a special permit from the Planning Board, Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney said.

Company representatives have been meeting since October with town officials including the Housing Options Working Group (HOW), the Planning Board, and the Affordable Housing Trust. The Planning Board has scheduled a February 13 public hearing on the preliminary plan. At its December 12 meeting, the board noted that “the timeline may be aggressive for March Town Meeting” but that Civico could always defer until the special town meeting scheduled for June.

On the affordable housing cusp

The fate of the project is important because if the town doesn’t create more affordable housing by the next census in 2020, it’s in danger of falling below the state-mandated minimum. In towns where affordable housing comprises less than 10 percent of the housing stock, developers are allowed to bypass a number of local zoning restrictions when proposing 40B housing projects (named after the relevant chapter of state law).

In 2017, the Housing Commission estimated that Lincoln’s subsidized housing inventory would fall from 10.9 percent to 9.75 by 2020. As of November 2016, 11.17 percent of the town’s housing units were classified as affordable, Burney said.

The Oriole Landing site just off Route 2 and directly south of The Commons.

When at least 25 percent of a given development’s units are affordable, the state allows all of the units to be counted in the town’s subsidized housing inventory. If Oriole Landing is approved, the additional 60 units will put the town “well above” the 10 percent benchmark, she noted.

“We need more multifamily housing in Lincoln. There are so many seniors who want to downsize, and a lot of young professionals can’t afford houses” in town, said HOW member and former Housing Commission chair Pamela Gallup.

In an effort to create more affordable units in town while avoiding a large single development, residents approved the Affordable Accessory Apartment Program in 2017. That program provides incentives for homeowners to offer affordable rental units attached to their single-family homes. However, the program is still awaiting legislative approval for the tax-exemption portion, Gallup said.

$1 million grant

The Affordable Housing Coalition is supporting the project with a $1 million grant with funds from Community Preservation Act appropriations, Phase 2 of The Commons, and a bequest from the late Florence Hollingsworth, whose will required that some of the proceeds from the sale of her Twin Pond Lane home be used for affordable housing in town, she said.

The six-acre parcel on Mary’s Way was formerly Oriole Farm, a working farm owned for decades by the Morrissey family. The property includes a house (part of which was built in 1865 and is on the Historic Register) plus several smaller buildings. Civico will go before the Historic District Commission tonight (January 16) to discuss demolition or other measures.

When the Morrissey property went on the market in 2016, several 40B developers inquired about the site in hopes of building anywhere from 125 to 250 housing units, “but we were able to say no to them” because the town was above the 10 percent affordable-housing threshold, Gallup said. Oriole Landing “is small in comparison with that a 40B developer would put there,” she added.

Civico’s plan has itself gotten smaller. The company initially proposed 72 units on four floors but scaled it back to 60 units on three floors (with a 40-foot height maximum) in two separate buildings after getting feedback from town officials. The current proposal also calls for underground parking for each unit with additional parking along the perimeter; a community building with a fitness center, office space and meeting area; and a community garden and public outdoor gathering space.

Public meetings

The Housing Coalition and Civico will hold an informational meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the town office building. The developer has also created a web page to solicit feedback and will hold open houses in the Lincoln Public Library where residents can drop and learn more about Oriole Landing on the following Thursdays:

  • January 25 from 2–4 p.m.
  • February 8 from 6:30–8:30 p.m.
  • February 15 from 1–3 p.m.
  • February 22 from 6:30–8:30 p.m.

“As developers, we want to work in communities that are creative and open to providing a diversity of housing types, and the town of Lincoln has a history of being resourceful in this aspect,” architect and Civico head Andrew Consigli said in an email to the Lincoln Squirrel.

If all goes as planned, construction could start as soon as fall 2018 and would take about 14–16 months, with occupancy beginning in the spring of 2020, Consigli said.