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

Exhibit celebrating the life of Gerald Foster starting June 4

Gerry Foster

An exhibit celebrating the life and work the late Lincoln artist, architect, and author Gerald Lee Foster will be on displayed from June 4 through July 13, 2024 at The Gallery at Villageworks (525 Massachusetts Ave., West Acton).

Foster passed quietly in his sleep on June 25, 2023 in Lincoln at the age of 86. Contributions in his memory may be made to Mass Audubon, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. Burial arrangements were handled by the Dee Funeral Home. See his full obituary and online guestbook. 
 
The exhibit is organized by Foster’s children Mark Foster, Ryan Foster, and Shelby O’Neill. Contact Shelby (shelbymfoster@gmail.com) for further information.
 

Police log for May 16–22, 2024

May 16

Lincoln Police Department (10:16 p.m.) — An officer assisted an individual with contacting family members.

May 17

Todd Pond Road (12:16 p.m.) — An officer assisted an individual regarding a possible internet-related fraud.

Oak Knoll Road (12:56 p.m.) — A maintenance vehicle responsible for the soccer field was parked on Oak Knoll Road. An officer checked on the operator and confirmed.

Todd Pond Road (2:43 p.m.) — An officer assisted an individual regarding a possible internet-related fraud.

Bedford Road (2:53 p.m.) — An officer assisted an individual regarding possible bank-related fraud.

Doherty’s Garage Inc. (4:33 p.m.) — An officer assisted an individual with an inquiry regarding criminal records.

Todd Pond Road (5:07 p.m. and 6:08 p.m.) — Attempts to serve court paperwork were unsuccessful.

Walden Street (6:47 p.m.) — Multiple Lincoln officers assisted the Concord Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police with a sobriety checkpoint.

Todd Pond Road (7:08 p.m.) — An attempt to serve court paperwork was unsuccessful.

Lincoln Police Department (8:10 p.m.) — An individual came to the station to speak with an officer regarding an on-going situation.

North Great Road (9:40 p.m.) — An officer checked on two parked, unoccupied vehicles at the Minuteman National Park lots.

Lincoln Police Department (9:56 p.m.) — An individual reported missing items from a recovered wallet.

Bedford Street, Lexington (11:32 p.m.) — Officers assisted the Lexington Police Department with a large group of people.

May 18

Walden Street, Concord (1:52 a.m.) — While conducting a sobriety checkpoint with the Massachusetts State Police, Eamon Donovan, 22, of Fitchburg was arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of liquor. Donovan was released shortly thereafter and ordered to appear at Concords District Court on May 20.

Bedford Road (5:31 p.m.) — A loose dog was located and reunited with its owner.

Todd Pond Road (7:04 p.m.) — An attempt to serve court paperwork was unsuccessful.

May 19

Canoe landing parking lot (1:18 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, unoccupied motor vehicle.

Todd Pond Road (1:56 p.m.) — An attempt to serve court paperwork was unsuccessful.

Huckleberry Hill (2:38 .m.) — Officers responded to a civil matter.

Hartwell lot, North Great Road (9:02 p.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, occupied vehicle. The vehicle cleared from the lot a short time later.

Bedford Road (9:44 a.m.) — An officer responded to Bedford Road for the report of a bicyclist who had fallen. The officer responded but the bicyclist was gone on arrival.

Wells Road (11:44 a.m.) — The Lincoln Fire Department responded to a fire alarm activation. The cause was determined to be from burned food.

Hartwell lot, North Great Road (9:02 p.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, occupied vehicle. The vehicle left a short time later.

May 20

Hartwell lot (2:15 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, unoccupied vehicle.

Sandy Pond Road (8:20 a.m.) — A caller reported a black bear sighting. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (10:05 a.m. — Lincoln Police and Fire assisted the Massachusetts State Police with a motor vehicle crash on Route 2 East.

Lincoln Road (10:46 a.m.) — An officer responded to the commuter lot for an illegally parked vehicle. The vehicle was gone when the officer arrived.

Lincoln Road (11:43a.m.) — An officer spoke to an individual doing work in town.

Old Town Hall Exchange (12:16 p.m.) — A post office box was damaged. An officer responded and took a report.

Lincoln Public Library (12:32 p.m.) — A rock was thrown through a second-floor window of the library. Both the library incident and the Old Town Hall incident are under investigation.

Lincoln School (12:04 p.m.) — An officer spoke to the principal of the K-4 school.

Sandy Pond Road (8:02 p.m.) — Three juveniles were fishing at Sandy Pond and were moved along.

May 21

Lincoln school (3:08 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, unoccupied vehicle at the school.

Hanscom AFB Vandenberg Gate (9:44 a.m.) — An officer responded for a male with an active arrest warrant out of Hillsborough County, N.H. Antonio Castro, 22, of Lowell was taken into custody, charged as a fugitive from justice, and transported to Concord District Court.

Brooks Road (7:04 p.m.) — A caller reported a dove under a structure on the property. The bird appeared in good health but the caller was concerned about it becoming a victim to a predator. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Acorn Lane (7:21 p.m.) — A caller reported an occupied motor vehicle parked on the side of the road. The operator had pulled off the road to sleep before continuing on their way and then left the area.

Todd Pond Road (8:57 p.m.) — Court paperwork was served in hand.

May 22

Wells Road (1:12 a.m.) — A caller reported hearing animal noises coming from the surrounding wooded area. They were given the Animal Control Officer’s number to report the noises.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (11:43 a.m.) — A motorist had pulled over and reported their vehicle was smoking. There was no fire upon arrival.

Lincoln Road (12:53 p.m.) — A vehicle was cited in the commuter lot for failing to pay the parking fee.

Acorn Lane (3:10 p.m.) — A caller requested assistance/guidance after discovering a deceased turkey in their yard. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Merriam Street, Weston (4:46 p.m.) — A lost dog in the area of the Lincoln/Weston line was reported. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Clark Gallery (10:17 p.m.) — An open door was discovered. An employee was on scene.

News acorns

What to do if you find a baby bird

Around this time of year, you may find hatchlings, nestlings, or fledglings away from their nests. Lincoln Conservation Director Michele Grzenda recommends learning more from Mass Audubon about what to do and what not to do if you find a baby bird.

Reduce carbon footprint through food you eat

A significant amount of our carbon footprint is generated by the foods we consume. Join Charles Sizer and Vicky Diadiuk at Town Hall or on Zoom on Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. as they provide insight on the carbon footprint of your diet and how you can reduce greenhouse gases while also eating a healthier diet in “Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Low-Hanging Fruit and Food Choices.” In-person attendees can take part in a tasting after the lecture that will compare similar foods prepared with different technologies that impact carbon footprint. To register for the Zoom link, click here. This program, part of the “Getting to Zero” series, is hosted by CFREE (Carbon-Free Residential, Everything Electric), a working group of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee.

LincFam meetup for new and expecting parents

LincFam welcomes new and expecting parents to a meetup. At the Twisted Tree at deCordova on Saturday, June 8 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. No RSVP required. Both parents and children are welcome. If you’d like to join LincFam’s list for families with children under 2 or you’re expecting a child, please fill out this online form.

Community center group seeks new member

The Community Center Building Committee is about to enter the final stage of our process — schematic design and construction of the new center on Ballfield Road — and is seeking a community member to fill an at-large seat. Since this phase of work will focus on construction design and project management, they are particularly interested in residents with experience completing complex construction, engineering and/or landscaping projects. Applicants who represent minority populations are strongly encouraged to apply. If interested, fill out this volunteer application and send it with a letter of interest to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Select Board’s Office, at elderp@lincolntown.org. Questions? Feel free to call Peggy at 781-259-2601. Applications are due by Friday, June 21. Click here to learn about other town volunteer opportunities.

L-S Friends of Music annual meeting

Lincoln-Sudbury Friends of Music (LSFOM) invites all parents of music students and community members to their annual meeting on Monday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in L-S Conference Room A. Join them to get information, talk to board members, have your questions answered, meet fellow music program supporters, and learn about opportunities to get involved.

Lincoln Girl Scouts “cross the bridge” in ceremony

Lincoln Girl Scouts at the Bridging Ceremony in Bemis Hall (click  enlarge).

More than 30 Lincoln Girl Scouts stepped up to the next level of the organization at the Girl Scouts’ annual Bridging Ceremony at Bemis Hall on May 16.

Four different troops hit these bridging milestones. The girls from grades 3, 5, 10 and 12 spoke about their year of service, adventure, and camaraderie including helping local food pantries, running donation drives, delivering sand buckets, rock climbing, camping, and coding.

Two Lincoln-Sudbury High School seniors explained what they did to earn their Gold Awards, the organization’s highest honor. Courtney Mitchell created and implemented hands-on curriculum about wetlands to add to the second-grade science program in the Lincoln Public Schools, while Lucy Dwyer created and implemented an age-appropriate awareness and education program surrounding menstruation and de-stigmatization of periods for fourth-grade students in the Lincoln and Hanscom Schools.

Lucy Dwyer and Courtney Mitchell receiving their Gold Awards.

Gold Award projects are individual service projects that require a minimum of 80 hours including research, coordination, and implementation on a topic that will make a positive and lasting impact on the girl scout’s community. Courtney and Lucy were recognized along with other Gold Award Recipients at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts headquarters on May 19. Two months earlier, Lucy also received the GESM’s Leading Women Award at the Boston Copley Marriott on March 20.

Anyone interested in starting a Girl Scout troop should reach out to Laura Taylor at lauranastos@yahoo.com or Diana Jong at diana.jong@gmail.com.

Service on June 15 for Ed Foster, 1941–2024

John Edward Foster

John Edward Foster of Lincoln passed away on May 11, 2024 at Emerson Hospital in Concord. His wife, daughter and son were at his bedside. He was 83 years old.

Ed was born in Muskogee, Okla., in 1941 to John Norman Foster and Viola Gard Foster. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sara Kay Foster, and his two children, Kristine Foster Carbone and John Douglas Foster. He also leaves behind four beloved grandchildren, Enna Lea Carbone, Amelia Elizabeth Foster, Evan Aaron Foster and Margaret Avery Foster. His sister Virginia Foster McLain predeceased him in 2006.

In 1962, Ed received a B.S. in business at Oklahoma State University and a B.A. in English at the University of Oklahoma in 1964. He then obtained a law degree at Harvard Law School in 1967. He practiced law as a probate court and estate planning attorney with a solo practice in Harvard Square for 48 years. He was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Ed was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court, nominated by Lawrence Tribe, Professor Emeritus at Harvard Law School. He also served on the board of Coppermark Bank in Oklahoma City for many years.

Ed was a well-rounded individual and always had vigorous vegetable gardens at his home in Lincoln and a second home in Denmark, Maine. At his Denmark garden, he grew vegetables for the Bridgton Farmers market. He was a bee-keeper and his children helped sell the 150 pounds of honey from his hive at Lincoln’s Codman Fair.

Ed studied oil painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He loved to paint and he painted regularly for the last 20 years of his life. Enamored with Monhegan Island, his paintings depict the colorful houses and landscapes of the island he loved in Maine. He also painted many portraits of his grandchildren. Curious and adventurous, he loved traveling with his wife and family abroad and in the United States. He also had a private pilot’s license and took many trips around New England. He was quick to laugh and will always be remembered for his unique sense of humor and dry wit.

Relatives and friends will gather for Ed’s memorial service at The Commons in Lincoln at Lincoln on Saturday, June 15 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please contribute in Ed’s memory to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Ed’s online guestbook, click here.

Police log for May 7–15, 2024

Police get reports of wandering bear

Lincoln police received numerous calls about a black bear sighting last week. In each case, Massachusetts Environmental Police and the Animal Control Officer were notified. Click here to read more about the bear’s Lincoln journey.

  • May 9 around 7–8 p.m. — Multiple calls were received for sightings in the area north of Trapelo Road between Bedford Road and Old County Road, and then a bit later in the area of Codman Community Farms.
  • May 10 — Blueberry Lane (time unknown as it was reported the following day).
  • May 12 — Garland Road (5:40 p.m.) and Autumn Lane (6:41 p.m.).

The last reported bear sighting in Lincoln (to LincolnTalk, not police) was on May 13 on South Great Road close to the Wayland town line. Wayland police confirmed this week that they received reports of the bear on May 14 on Folsom’s Pond Road and several on May 15 in the Rice Road area.

May 7

Lincoln Road (12:15 p.m.) — An officer cited a vehicle in the commuter lot for failing to pay the parking fee.

Juniper Ridge Road (2:05 p.m.) — Two vehicles were involved in a minor crash. An officer responded and helped the operators exchange pertinent information.

Farrar Road (4:30 p.m.) — A caller asked to speak with the Animal Control Officer regarding a barking dog complaint.

May 8

Morningside Lane (6:12 a.m.) — An individual called to provide some information regarding ongoing work in the area.

Concord Road (6:15 a.m.) — Dig Safe called to notify the Water Department regarding some work that needed to be completed.

Trapelo Road (8:02 a.m.) — Two vehicles were involved in a minor crash near Minebrook Road. The operators exchanged paperwork prior to officers arriving on scene.

Lincoln Road (8:09 a.m.) — A crash occurred when a vehicle failed to stop at the stop sign as it was traveling west on Codman Road and struck a vehicle traveling south on Lincoln Road. The operator of the vehicle traveling west was cited for failure to stop. The operator was also transported to the hospital. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Todd Pond Road (9:23 a.m.) — A caller reported a possible injured owl in their yard. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Deer Run Road (11:53 a.m.) — A scam victim called to speak with an officer.

Weston Road (12:18 p.m.) — Multiple callers reported a single-vehicle crash on Weston Road when a vehicle struck a utility pole and severed it. The operator was transported to the hospital and the road remained closed in that area for several hours until utility crews could repair the damage and restore utility service.

Beaver Pond Road (11:56 a.m.) — A caller reported a dog barking and causing a disturbance. A short time later, the caller reported the dog had stopped barking for the time being.

May 9

Lincoln Road (12:09 p.m.) — A vehicle was cited at the commuter lot for failing to pay the parking fee.

Concord Road (1:33 p.m.) — A caller reported a large dog running free in the area of Weston Road. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Lincoln Woods (3:05 p.m.) — An individual requested assistance with a resident.

Wells Road (5:46 p.m.) — An officer spoke with several residents regarding a neighborhood dispute.

South Great Road (11:34 p.m.) — A caller reported striking an animal on Route 117 by Tower Road. An officer discovered a deceased coyote and moved the carcass off the roadway.

May 10

Pierce House (5:58 a.m.) — A caller reported possibly striking a vehicle in the area of the Pierce House. The area was checked but no damaged vehicles were found.

Wells Road (8:24 a.m.) — Officers responded for an ongoing incident.

Tower Road (10:53 a.m.) — A caller spoke to an officer regarding recently discovered vandalism.

Bypass Road (11:00 a.m.) — A caller requested information in how to identify a sick raccoon.

Wells Road (10:10 a.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding harassment.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound, Concord (11:38 a.m.) — The Lincoln Fire Department responded to the town of Concord for a mutual aid ambulance request.

Tower Road (12:44 p.m.) — An individual provided additional information regarding a possible vandalism incident.

Birchwood Lane (12:46 p.m.) — A caller reported a possible truck fire. The Fire Department responded and confirmed the truck was not in fact on fire.

Horses Crossing (3:12 p.m.) — A caller reported receiving possible threats from a business.

Mary’s Way (4:39 p.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding an off-site incident.

Sandy Pond Road (3:55 p.m.) — An individual requested to speak with an officer regarding identity fraud.

May 11

Mount Misery parking lot (12:33 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, occupied vehicle at Mt. Misery. The occupants were attempting to find a location suitable for viewing the aurora borealis.

Codman Road (12:36 a.m.) — Several more individuals were on the side of Codman Road attempting to find a suitable viewing spot for the aurora borealis.

Lincoln Road (9:52 a.m.) — A postal employee called to report a verbal altercation with an individual.

Hanscom Drive (10:45 a.m.) — Hanscom Air Force Security Forces called to advise that they had an individual in their custody with an active arrest warrant. A Lincoln officer arrived, confirmed the active arrest warrant, and took into custody Victor Olubambi, 32 of Stoughton. After booking, he was transported to Concord District Court.

Mayflower Road, Hanscom AFB (1:56 p.m.) — The Lincoln Police and Hanscom Air Force Security Forces performed a well-being check.

South Great Road (5:18 p.m.) —Police and fire units responded for a single-vehicle crash. All occupants refused medical aid. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

May 12

Bedford Road (10:25 a.m.) — An individual spoke with an officer regarding a civil matter.

Hillside Road (3:31 p.m.) — A dog discovered behind a resident’s home was retrieved by the Animal Control Officer.

Village Road, Weston (11:32 p.m.) — Lincoln police responded to the town of Weston to assist with a drone search for an individual.

May 13

Giles Road (10:02 a.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding an online scam.

May 14

Silver Birch Lane (8:04 a.m.) — A resident turned in several items for destruction.

South Great Road (8:19 a.m.) — A commuter called to report that they were stuck in traffic. The caller was advised that due roadwork on Route 126, traffic was detoured, causing the delay.

Lincoln Road (11:09 a.m.) — Several vehicles in the commuter lot were issued citations for failing to pay the parking fee.

Round Hill Road (11:27 a.m.) — A Great Dane was spotted wandering in the area.

Lincoln Road (1:56 p.m.) — A minor two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Lincoln Road and South Great Road. The operators exchanged paperwork and both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

South Great Road (4:07 p.m.) — A caller requested to speak to an officer regarding a traffic complaint.

Rockwood Lane (4:34 p.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding possible fraudulent activity.

Winchelsea Lane (4:26 p.m.) — A caller inquired about a closed road.

Trapelo Road (6:56 p.m.) — A group of individuals fishing at the Cambridge Reservoir were moved along.

Lincoln Road (8:57 p.m.) — An officer assisted a person with an unsecured container.

North Commons (9:30 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a motorist dragging a traffic cone. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the vehicle.

May 15

Mill Street (1:05 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked vehicle that was occupied. The vehicle was on its way a short time later.

Concord Road (7:28 a.m.) — A caller reported a deceased raccoon on the side of the road. The DPW was notified.

Lincoln Police Department (11:45 a.m.) — A resident turned over several fireworks marked for destruction.

Hawk Hill Road (11:45 a.m.) — A contractor locked their keys in their vehicle. They were advised to contact a tow company or locksmith.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:08 p.m.) — A caller reported ducks crossing a portion of Route 2. The Animal Control Officer was advised.

Trapelo Road (4:05 p.m.) — Three juveniles were fishing in the Cambridge Reservoir. They were advised fishing was prohibited.

Trapelo Road (5:50 p.m.) — A deceased owl was reported on the side of the road. The DPW was notified.

Lincoln Woods (7:33 p.m.) — An officer assisted an individual with a civil matter.

Trapelo Road (8:15 p.m.) — A motorist ran out of gas. A tow company was called to assist.

News acorns

Presentation on drugs and teens

Want to know what recovering young adults have to say about drugs and a night of partying gone horribly wrong? Come see “Back to Life,” a presentation by the Drug Story Theater, on Tuesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in the L-S auditorium. This performance and talkback is geared toward parents and community members to explain the prevalence of deadly fentanyl and xylazine in recreational drugs available to their children, how trying drugs laced with these substances just one time can be fatal, to destigmatize Narcan, and to show that by providing it lives can be saved. Free and open to all. Brought to you by L-S Community Connections. Questions? Please email  community-connections@lsrhs.net.

School Committee listening session

Caregivers, students, and community members from our Lincoln and Hanscom schools will have the opportunity to raise items with Matina Madrick and Yonca Heyse of the Lincoln School Committee on Tuesday, May 21 from 6-7 p.m. on Zoom. This session is not a public meeting with an agenda, but rather a casual opportunity to meet with committee members. Click here for the Zoom link.

See films made by L-S students

There will be a screening of short films made by Lincoln-Sudbury students about the importance of community belonging on Wednesday, May 22 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the L-S auditorium (special reception at 6:15 p.m.) Three of the four films by teams of students from Lincoln, Sudbury and METCO explore the theme of belonging. The fourth film is a 25-minute meta documentary called Belong-In about the workshop experience itself (click here to see a trailer). The films were produced after L-S history teacher David Grace, Director of Education of the EMA Foundation, approached Lincoln resident Tom Flint about putting together a workshop through Flint’s Filmbuildfing organization. Questions? Call 617-930-1560.

Juneteenth event for kids

In an interactive family workshop at the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, June 1 from 2–3 p.m., Boston-based social justice group Wee the People will explore the story of Juneteenth, the oldest commemoration of the outlawing of slavery in the United States. Through stories, craft-making, and a Jubilee teach-in, we’ll honor the joy and radical resistance of Black Americans then and now. Geared for ages 6 and older accompanied by an adult. Registration required. click here.

Virtual hikes through history

“Hikes Through History” with author and adventurer Alison O’Leary provides a sampling of fun and interesting hikes in eastern Massachusetts from her Appalachian Mountain Club guidebook Best Day Hikes Near Boston. The program on Thursday, June 6 from 7–8 p.m. talks about the history of the land we hike on, including the people and historic events that shaped our parks and open spaces. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Library. Registration required; click here.

Florenzo “Lolly” Evangelista, 1925–2024

Florenzo “Lolly” Evangelista

Florenzo T. “Lolly” Evangelista, of Lincoln, died on April 8, 2024 at Lahey Hospital in Burlington at the age of 98. Lolly was born in Berlin, N.H., on August 31, 1925, to Charles Evangelista and Annie (Bencivenga) Evangelista. Both Charles and Annie grew up in Calazzo, Italy, and moved to the United States after they were married. Lolly was the youngest of their 12 children.

Lolly left school at age 15 after the death of his father and went to work on DeVincent Brothers Farm in Waltham to help support his family. Five years later, on February 6, 1946, he enlisted in the Navy and engaged in active duty as a Fireman First Class on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Tarawa (CV-40), spending most of his service in the Far East. He was honorably discharged on December 16, 1947. He spent the remainder of his working career as a manager with ABC Building Supply Co. in Waltham.

On September 4, 1949, Lolly married Dorothy L. Hand of Waltham, to whom he was married for 60 years until her death in 2009. They moved to Lincoln in 1958 and raised their family there.

Lolly is survived by his three daughters, Karen McEneaney of Gardner, Mont., Janet Dickey of Littleton, Mass., and Paula Lewis of Lincoln; two grandchildren, Julia Dugan of Manchester, N.H., and retired 20-year veteran First Sgt. Jesse Dugan: and five great-grandchildren.

Everyone who knew him thought Lolly was remarkable for his health and longevity. In fact, he was a three-time cancer survivor and lived with one kidney for 14 years. He went for two walks a day on Mill Street in Lincoln right up until November 2023.

Lolly loved to bowl. He was a member of a bowling league in Acton from the 1970s all the way until Covid hit in 2020. He enjoyed gambling and played cards three nights a week, and belonged to a private club in Maynard. He loved to draw and regularly took art classes at the COA in Lincoln. He could draw anything including cartoon characters, flowers, people, animals, and birds. He volunteered at the Lincoln COA front desk for several years and he enjoyed Senior Dining in Lincoln every Friday. Most of all, he loved singing to anybody and everybody who would listen to him, and he never stopped whistling and singing.

Over the past ten years, during the summer and fall, he helped his friend Frank Rotundo by manning the farm stand at Rotundo Farm in Concord while Frank worked in the field. He even made it onto “Chronicle” when they did a story called “Farmstands,” which aired September 2017. Of course he was singing!

Lolly was a friend to everyone he met. He was always smiling, always happy and would do anything to help anybody. People loved him and constantly commented on how amazing he was, and how happy. He never let anything get to him. He attended Club 600 in Bedford every week and he sang to everyone while he worked out. His daughter Paula, who worked at Bedford Charter school bus company, regularly brought him with her so he knew all the bus drivers. At the end of every summer when Paula had a BBQ/birthday party to celebrate his birthday, the bus drivers would come to celebrate his longevity, happiness and friendship. He loved having people over his house.

Lolly always ended the summer with his three closest friends, Ron, Lynne, and Priscilla, and his daughter, Paula, celebrating his Labor Day birthday with a cookout and an afternoon of playing cards on the back deck. Lolly will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.

Black bear causes backyard havoc during Lincoln meanderings

A map showing the bear’s Lincoln whereabouts last week (click to enlarge).

There’s a bear in the woods — and it’s not a Reagan campaign ad, either. It’s in the Lincoln woods (not to be confused with Lincoln Woods, never fear).

Paula Robinson, who lives on Rockwood Lane, was the first to report seeing the young black bear on May 9 at 4:30 a.m. Her doorbell camera caught the bear in the act of vandalizing her bird feeders — apparently bears are fond of birdseed. About a week earlier, another resident spotted what appeared to be bear tracks on the trails between Bedford Road and deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum.

“The scary thing about the whole situation is that the bear was approximately 10 feet from my bedroom window and the windows are floor to ceiling, so it was a very surreal experience,” Robinson told the Squirrel. “The bear did take the feeder into the woods but not far and we found it intact this afternoon… We’ve all heard of sightings but I never expected to have such a close encounter due to the fact that we are so close to Route 2.”

A flurry of comments, photos and videos on LincolnTalk in the following days documented sightings all over town south of Route 2, and Lincoln police said they got calls about sightings at various times, primarily north of Trapelo Road near Lexington Road, Page Road, and Old County Road.

On May 10, the bear ransacked the trash can of Jai Kaur San Antonio, who lives near the Codman Estate. “I heard something banging around outside just as I got into bed around 11 p.m. I didn’t even consider it would be the bear. But when I woke up, I saw what a mess it had made — and there were muddy bear prints on some things,” she said.

That same day, Addie Bigelow on Grasshopper Lane shot this video of the bear tackling another bird feeder and successfully spilling the contents onto the ground to eat. 

Peter Speert’s photo of the bear outside his house on Fox Run Road on May 12. 

On May 12, the bear was in the Fox Run Road neighborhood. “I usually let my kids play outside unsupervised, but since a bear roamed into our yard, I have decided to supervise my kiddos more closely. Our neighbor’s dog chased the bear out of our yard and the bear scrambled up a tree,” Fox Run Lane resident Eri Buitrago, who posted this video.

By May 13, the animal had made its way to the home of Caroline Hayes, who lives on South Great Road close to the Wayland town line. She saw him just minutes after he was reportedly seen on Williams Road in Wayland, which is very close to her house.

“My birdhouse has a camera in it, and it did a weird thing at 5:35 a.m., so I believe that’s the same bear they saw in Wayland this morning,” Hayes said. “This morning, we woke up to find both of our bluebird houses on the ground, wood broken open with force, one with metal pole bent (and broken!) down to the ground. One had another species’ eggs in it, smashed, and luckily the other had four live baby bluebirds. We were able to repair their house a bit and parents are nearby. I can’t imagine any other creature but a bear could do this and bend the metal like that. I can see how they look like bird feeders since they are on poles and about the same height.”

Black bears are expanding their range eastward from western and central Massachusetts, according to the Mass. Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), which has received reports of a bear in Lincoln and Concord.

“Black bears spend more time in residential areas when they find food such as bird seed, trash, unprotected backyard chickens and goats, and outdoor pet food,” Nicole McSweeney, Assistant Director for Outreach and Education at MassWildlife, told the Lincoln Squirrel. Bears that are fed directly or indirectly by people can become habituated and lose their fear of people, potentially resulting in more property damage or even a threat to public safety.

Resident Linda McMillan, quoting another MassWildlife official she spoke to, said the bear was moved from Worcester where he was wandering into a very developed area not because he was aggressive or violent. “He’s about two years old and has moved about 35 miles in the last week. They have no intention of moving him out of Lincoln. He said we should get used to having bears in our town. The likelihood is that we will see more,” she reported.

“If a bear is seen in town, leave the animal alone and keep pets leashed,” McSweeney said. “A gathering of people not only stresses the animal but adds the risk of having a bear chased out into traffic or into a group of bystanders. In most situations, if left alone, bears will return to forested areas on their own.”

Most bear sightings do not need to be reported to MassWildlife or law enforcement, she added. If a bear is seen in a densely populated area, contact the Environmental Police Radio Room at 800-632-8075 or the nearest MassWildlife District Office to report the sighting and get advice.  

And of course there’s always plenty of advice to be found on LincolnTalk as well. Resident Margaret Olson posted this old adage: “If the bear is black, fight back; if the bear is brown, hit the ground; if the bear is white, say good night.” To which another resident added, tongue in cheek, “If the bear is pink, put down that drink.”

If there’s one thing that captures the attention of Lincolnites, it’s wild animals (remember Bruno the serval in 2022?), so news media including the Lincoln Squirrel faithfully report on these incidents — as do local TV news stations (OK, not really; that’s a parody video from The Onion with a few naughty words, so be warned).

Service on May 25 for Maurice Torti, 1931–2024

Maurice Torti

Maurice “Moe” Leo Torti Jr., 92, of Lincoln, passed away on May 13, 2024, at his residence. He was born in 1931 in Memphis, Tenn., to Maurice Leo Torti and Leah Glidewell Torti. 

He earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering and materials sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Engineering. At MIT, he lettered in crew and played rugby. Upon completing his studies, he worked at the National Research Corp. in Cambridge, where he developed several patents, processes, and equipment for the purification of tantalum metal. His work contributed to developing tantalum powder for electronic uses and solid tantalum forms for industrial applications. He ultimately held the title of Senior Scientist at the Norton Abrasive Co., now Saint-Gobain Abrasives. Upon retirement, he continued as a consultant for the same company. 

In 1969, he married Nancy Hunnewell Morse of Cambridge. After some years of living on the Boston waterfront, they moved to Lincoln. Dr. Torti was an avid skier, sailor, gardener, and tennis player. He was a member of the Longwood Cricket Club, where he served on the board of directors for several years. Upon retirement, he pursued a lifelong interest in sciences and humanities through the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, where he attended and led classes for twenty years. 

He leaves his wife, Nancy Hunnewell Torti of Lincoln; a niece, Dr. Leah Neel Zartarian (Gary Zartarian), of Bath, Maine; and several great nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by two sisters, Alice Torti Neel of San Antonio, Texas, and Polly Jean Torti Lucas of Huntsville, Ala. 

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Moe for his memorial service at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 147 Concord Road, Lincoln, on Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m. followed by a reception in Flint Hall. All are welcome. 

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, which provided this obituary. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in Moe’s online guestbook,  please click here.