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

News acorns

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.

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.

L-S parents protest proposed cuts to music program

letterTo the editor:

The Lincoln-Sudbury Friends of Music (LSFOM), a committed group of parent volunteers, would like to express our strong objection to proposed cuts to the L-S music program and our unwavering support for Michael Bunting, the L-S choral director.

The L-S administration is proposing a cut to the L-S music program that is far more than a reduction in the availability of choral blocks. These short-sighted changes would devastate the music program and make it difficult to rebuild. We respectfully ask you to take a minute to familiarize yourself with the far-reaching impacts of what the L-S administration is positioning as a mere “scheduling” issue.

The proposed cuts are as follows:

  • Elimination of an entire block of choral instruction. As a practical matter, this cut would make it impossible for many students to fit Chorus or Chamber Singers into their schedules.
  • Elimination of two music electives (Guitar and Songwriting).
  • Reduction of Mr. Bunting’s position to a part-time position, which is untenable for him financially, and may cause LS to lose this treasured and irreplaceable faculty member.
  • In the bigger picture, this cut threatens to destroy L-S’s well-nurtured arts program.

On our website, www.lsfom.org, we have summarized some of the contributions that Mr. Bunting offers to our school and community, from directing the vocals for the L-S musicals, to running the L-S Chamber Singers, to supporting L-S’s five a cappella groups, to organizing school and community concerts, to supporting students in elite singing competitions. Please see our website for a more detailed list.

Mr. Bunting also contributes to our community in many intangible ways through his joyful pursuit of music. Many students have found a home at L-S in the music program through his and Mr. Tom Grandprey’s infectious love for music.

Ten years ago, the music program suffered cuts similar to those now proposed, and it took almost five years under Mr. Bunting’s leadership to bring the program back to life. In fact, one could argue that even today, our music offerings pale in comparison to what is available in other comparably excellent MetroWest public high schools. On our website, we offer a chart that shows the contrast.

While choral enrollment numbers may dip occasionally, it would be a mistake for L-S to overreact to any short-term dip in enrollment with devastating cuts in offerings. Only a robust choral program can continue to attract and retain students and deliver excellence, and cutting core courses and electives will only depress enrollment in this essential element of arts education.

LS should be looking at how to enhance its current music offerings — commensurate with those other excellent local high schools — under Mr. Bunting’s leadership, rather than cutting its program and risking losing this exceptional educator. Even the best part-time Choral Director would not have the time or capacity to provide anywhere near the offerings and support — not to mention dedication and vision — that Mr. Bunting now provides our students in his full-time position.

Our community has successfully fought against such cuts before. Just last year, the Sudbury community protested cuts to the Curtis Middle School music program, and was able to save that program. We know that protecting the arts is a treasured value for our students, parents and the community.

It is gratifying that over 1,200 people have signed a student petition against the cuts. This is more people than voted in the last town election concerning the proposed new fire station. We encourage you to sign and share the petition. Mr. Bunting’s current and former students, on their own initiative, also organized a student concert to celebrate his contributions on January 10.

We encourage anyone concerned about these cuts to take further action. It is urgent that you please take the time to express your support for the preservation of our L-S music and arts program, and for Mr. Bunting retaining his full-time choral director position, directly to L-S Superintendent and Principal Bella Wong at bella_wong@lsrhs.net and to the L-S School Committee at lsschoolcomm@town.sudbury.ma.us.

Sincerely,

The L-S Friends of Music
lsfriendsofmusic@gmail.com

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.

News acorns

“Wildlands, Woodlands and Farmlands” talk

On Thursday, Jan. 18 from 7:30–9 p.m. in Bemis Hall, the Lincoln Agricultural Commission presents Brian Donahue of Wildlands and Woodlands speaking on “Wildlands, Woodlands, and Farmlands: A Vision for the Future of New England.” Donahue will lay out the current state of New England’s managed forests, wildlands, and farmland and show us what needs to happen in the way of coordinating smart industrial and community development, along with the commitment of private landowners to accelerate land conservation, to preserve these natural spaces.

Donahue, associate professor of American environmental studies at Brandeis University and environmental historian at Harvard Forest, is author of the prize-winning books Reclaiming the Commons: Community Farms and Forests in a New England Town and The Great Meadow: Farmers and the Land in Colonial Concord.

First Parish hosts series on domestic violence

The First Parish in Lincoln will host “Hidden in Plain Sight: Domestic Violence Awareness,” a series of three evening events designed to raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse in Lincoln and the surrounding communities. Among the speakers will be Lt. Sean Kennedy of the Lincoln Police Department. The program will be an opportunity to learn about local resources available to domestic violence survivors, as well as provide information for those who are interested in volunteering to help.

The classes will be held on January 23, February 21, and March 27 from 7–8:30 p.m. in the Parish House (14 Bedford Rd.). Ministerial Intern Terry Cummings will lead the program. The meetings are free and open to all. To register, please email Terry at terry@fplincoln.org.

February vacation programs at Minuteman, deCordova

Minuteman Community Education is offering programs for students in grades 1-12 from Tuesday–Friday, Feb. 20–23. Programs include Artrageous Art, Aspiring Chefs, Beginner Baking, Creative Writing, Digital Photography, Drivers Education, Engineering Workshop, Games Galore, Graphic Design, Minuteman Sports, Work-It Circuits, and a new Pre-Apprentice Workshop for those interested in the highway and construction trades. Morning sessions run from 8:30–11:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions run from noon–3 p.m.  Students can register for just one program or bring lunch and stay the full day. For more information, click here or call 781-861-7150. Minuteman also offers April vacation and summer programs.

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is offering drop-in program on February 21–23 from 1–3 p.m. for kids from 5-12. In the sessions are Inspired by artwork in Screens: Virtual Material and Cool Medium: Art, Television & Psychedelia, 1960-1980, kids can create unexpected electronic and analog art from television drawings to assemblages from computer parts to psychedelic stitched weavings. Free with admission or membership. Click here for details.

Officials at multi-board meeting mull campus project questions

Officials shared recent town financial data and outlined questions that will have to be answered about the two proposed campus projects at a joint meeting of four boards on January 9.

Some residents are feeling sticker shock after learning the projected costs for a school project, let alone a community center, but most agree that both are needed. “These projects are about key components of our community, and we need to navigate a complicated and nuanced cost-benefit analysis,” Selectman Jennifer Glass said.

There will be community forums on preliminary design options for the two projects later this month. The School Building Committee will host workshops on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Reed Gym, while the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee will host sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 8–10 a.m. and 7–9 p.m. in the Hartwell B pod.

The SBC learned late last year that a basic project to make repairs and bring the school building up to code would cost about $46 million, while a comprehensive project with more new construction could cost anywhere from $73 million to more than $90 million. A preliminary estimate in 2015 put the cost of a community center at about $13 million.

Selectmen this week presented a detailed list of questions and issues that officials and residents must tackle in advance of a special Town Meeting in June, when they will be asked to vote on a preferred design for the school. Among those questions:

  • How can the value of different project solutions be compared?
  • What are the implications of phasing the two projects vs. bonding and/or building both at the same time?
  • What are the short- and long-term cost implications of making the buildings as energy-efficient and sustainable as possible?
  • How well will the two project concepts “fit” the campus?
  • What are the data from other towns regarding finances?
  • How much can the town borrow and still keep its AAA bond rating, and what happens if it doesn’t?
Property tax impact

Finance Committee Chair Jim Hutchinson updated town property tax data and potential borrowing costs that the panel first presented last spring. A recent consultation with the town’s bond advisor revealed that the town could borrow up to $100 million without losing its AAA rating—up from an estimated $80 million last year, Hutchinson said.

The FinCom also learned that state law currently caps the town’s permissible debt at $106 million. The town currently has about $9 million in outstanding debt, leaving a $97 million new borrowing limit. However, the town can appeal for a higher amount and would probably have a strong case since the debt would fund a needed school project (as opposed to a sports stadium, for example) and MSBA funding is not in the mix.

The estimated median household tax increase—unchanged since last spring—is $275–$310 per $10 million borrowed, meaning a rise of about $3,100 if the town were to borrow $100 million and repay it over a 30-year period, Hutchinson said. The tax rate would rise from the current 13.7 mills (1 mill translates to $1 in tax for every $1,000 of a home’s assessed value) to somewhere between 16 and 17 mils—still lower than Carlisle, Sudbury and Wayland.

In fiscal 2017, the average assessed value of a single-family home in Lincoln was $1,108,423 and the average tax bill was $15,185. Depending on the amount borrowed ($60 million, $80 million or $100 million), the average tax bill would climb to roughly $17,733 to $18,900. However, the town would apply a chunk of its debt stabilization fund (currently at $4.7 million) to soften the impact of the first few years of repayment.

Right now, compared to seven surrounding towns, Lincoln has the second-highest average tax bill but the lowest debt-to-operating cost ratio, the second-lowest tax rate, and the lowest average annual growth rate in tax bills since 1999 (2.7 percent), Hutchinson said.

Borrowing costs

If the town’s bond rating were to drop from AAA to AA+ as a result of borrowing more than $100 million, future borrowing costs would rise, but “it wouldn’t make much of a dollar impact” on property tax bills, Hutchinson said. However, he added, “it takes years of hard work to raise your credit rating… it’s pretty easy to lose it and kind of hard to get it back.” Among the seven neighboring towns, all but Carlisle have a AAA rating.

The financial implications of borrowing one large sum all at once or in two segments a few years apart are fairly minor, Hutchinson said. Borrowing the whole amount at once could save about 0.15 percent in interest on the first $10–$15 million of the debt, but that affects only 10–15 percent of a $100 million bond, he noted.

When comparing construction costs to the lifetime costs of a project (including expected repairs and energy use), “I would put this in the no-brainer category,” Hutchinson said. The FinCom recommends making decisions based on the total lifetime cost of a project, meaning that (for example) it makes sense to spend more on energy-efficient features that will more than pay for themselves in future savings.

Future capital expenses

Looking ahead to future borrowing needs outside of the school and community center, the Hartwell building may need a new roof in 2020 at a cost of about $660,000, and as in past years, there will likely be multimillion-dollar land acquisitions that can’t be identified yet, said Audrey Kalmus, chair of the Capital Planning Committee.

Other possible expenses include a new roof for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in about 2021 (Lincoln’s share would be about $300,000), a new fire engine in 2023 ($575,000) and renovation of the Brooks athletic field at an undetermined date ($400,000).

The most recent big-ticket items for the town were $5.8 million in 2012 for the town office building renovation and $5.5 million for a road project in 2009. The next major road project won’t be needed until about 2035, Kalmus said.

News acorns

Presentation on anxiety in teens

According to the Metrowest Youth Health Survey, 41% of L-S students reported that life was very stressful. Lincoln-Sudbury Connections will host “The Yin and Yang of Adolescent Stress” on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the L-S lecture hall. Psychologists from McLean Hospital specializing in research and evidence-based treatments of anxiety disorders in youth will discuss ways in which anxiety and stress may present in high school students, and they’ll provide instruction in broad-based coping strategies to help manage stress. This seminar will also address how to differentiate normative anxiety from more impairing anxiety disorders, and will highlight treatment strategies and resources for those students and families struggling with elevated anxiety. There will be opportunity for questions after the presentation.

Democrats host 2018 kickoff rally in Lincoln

What happens now after a year of activism, marching, and the recent election results in Virginia, New Jersey, and Alabama? Learn how you can support new young Democratic congressional candidates in critical districts across the nation at the Campaign 2018 Red-to-Blue Kickoff Rally on Sunday, Jan. 14 at Bemis Hall (reception at 12:30 p.m., program from 1–3 p.m.).

Congresswoman Katherine Clark, now vice chair for recruiting for the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, will be on hand to discuss candidates and the national support program, as will Congressman Seth Moulton’s campaign director. Also invited: Democratic candidates Quentin Palfrey (lieutenant governor) and Donna Palatano (Middlesex district attorney). Light refreshments will be provided. Sponsored by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee. Please RSVP to garyddavis04@gmail.com.

Blood drive at Lincoln School

The Lincoln School Student Council is hosting the first-ever blood drive on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 1–6 p.m. in Reed Gym. Click here to sign up for a time slot (walk-ins are welcome, but preregistration is preferred) and read eligibility requirements. Child care will be provided while parents are donating blood. There will also be a bake sale and a used-book sale. Please donate used books in decent condition; boxes will be placed around the school to collect books before January 24. For additional information, email Jamie Moody (jmoody@lincnet.org) or Keith Johnson (kjohnson@lincnet.org).

Obituaries

Mary Steedly

Stephen Vercollone

Diana L. Powers, 75 (December 29), former MGH nurse. Visiting hours on Thursday, Jan. 11 from 4–7 p.m. at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford St., Concord, Mass.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in Lincoln for Stephen E. Vercollone, who died in in Naples, Fla., on December 5 at age 73.

Mary Margaret Steedly, 71 (January 4), professor of anthropology at Harvard.