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

News acorns

“Lucy Vincent Beach, Cloudy Day” by Jim Wojno.

Artist’s reception for Wojno

There will be an artists’ reception on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 2–5 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library for Lincoln resident Jim Wojno, who is having an art show in the library’s Main and Stay Put galleries from October 29–November 25.

Five-part opera series scheduled

“Opera for Everyone with Erika Reitshamer,” a five-part lecture series presented by Erika Reitshamer, will begin at the Lincoln Public Library on Sunday, Nov. 5. All sessions are from 2–3:30 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Topics will be as follows:

Giuseppe Verdi

  • November 5—”The Life of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).” Verdi was the leading Italian composer of opera in the 19th century. He was not only a great operatic composer, but also a symbol of an entire country’s hopes & dreams.
  • November 19—”Otello.” Verdi’s greatest tragedy is a miraculous union of music and Shakespeare’s drama, a masterpiece. On DVD, Placido Domingo will sing his greatest role to Kiri Te Kanawa’s Desdemona.
  • December 17—”Falstaff.” Verdi’s last opera is a brilliant comedy based on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor.” It was written when the composer was nearly 80 years old. On DVD with Renato Bruson and Katia Ricciarelli.

Other dates in the lecture series are January 7 and 21, 2018.

“Nutcracker,” South Asian poetry at library

The Lincoln Public Library will host a reading of The Nutcracker geared to young children accompanied by dancers from the Commonwealth Ballet Company acting out some of the parts on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m.–noon. All ages welcome; drop in. On Sunday, Nov. 12, there will be a program on “South Asian Poets of New England” at 2 p.m. For details, email B. Misra at misra.bijoy@gmail.com.

The Lincoln Public Library will be closed on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10 and 11 in observance of Veterans Day. It will also close at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 23. The library will reopen on Friday, Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. and will be open regular hours for the remainder of the holiday weekend.

Movies at library in November

November is Alfred Hitchcock month for the Lincoln Library Film Society. All screenings start at 3 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. Refreshments served. To join the mailing list, email Lincolnlibraryfilmsociety@gmail.com.

  • November 6 — Rear Window (1954) with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.
  • November 13 — To Catch a Thief (1955) with Cary Grant with Grace Kelly. When a reformed jewel thief is suspected of returning to his former occupation, he must ferret out the real thief in order to prove his innocence.
  • November 20 — Vertigo (1958) with Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak. A San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend’s wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.
  • November 27 — North by Northwest (1959) with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. A hapless New York advertising executive is mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and is pursued across the country while he looks for a way to survive.

FELS offers Thanksgiving pies

FELS, the Foundation for Educators at L-S, announces its the annual Thanksgiving pie sale. Home-baked apple, pumpkin, pecan, and chocolate pies are available for $18 each; purchase for your own family or as a donation to a local charity (Lincoln or Sudbury fire/police, the Sudbury Food Pantry, the L-S Senior Citizen Thanksgiving dinner, or a specific L-S teacher). Proceeds help fund enrichment grants for L-S faculty and staff. Order online or download an order form from the website and mail it in. Pies must be ordered by Friday, Nov. 10; pie pickup is Tuesday, Nov. 21.

A historical comedy look at marriage and taxes

The Lincoln Historical Society will present Marriage is Taxing, a look into Britain’s imposition of the Stamp Act on the American colonies, on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. at The Commons (1 Harvest Circle). This one-act comedy by Lincoln attorney, author and humorist Martha Lufkin was inspired by the documented “stampede” to marry in the weeks before the Stamp Act took effect, as couples sought to avoid the impending tax on marriage certificates. The program also features Lincoln resident Walter Bossert as the Prime Minister of England, delivering a scathing rebuke to the rebellious colonies. Light refreshments will be served.

Lincoln kids stage one-act comedies

Lincoln middle school students will celebrate friendship, teamwork and great storytelling with performances of Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures and Nate the Great on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. in the Brooks auditorium. Gooney Bird Greene is about the new kid in second grade and what happens when she bursts on the scene with a dazzling imagination and amazing stories. Nate the Great, from the book series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, is about a kid detective, who solves the neighborhood’s most pressing mysteries along with his faithful dog Sludge and his band of friends. This family-friendly production runs 90 minutes plus one intermission. Tickets ($5 each) will be sold at the door.

Public hearings coming up

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and to act on the following petitions:

  • Jonathan Donaldson, 7 Old Lexington Rd., for a special permit for an accessory apartment.
  • Walter Scott, 0 Juniper Ridge, for a special permit to construct a single-family house.
  • Patricia Horwitz, 68 Conant Rd., for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.
  • Kathy Moritz, Trustee 135 Lexington Rd. Realty Trust, 135 Lexington Rd., for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.

Planning Board

The Lincoln Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14 to review an application for Site Plan Review. The applicants, Anne Finucane and M. Barnicle, 20 Trapelo Rd., propose to add an accessory structure.

A full list of legal notices for Lincoln can be found here.

Letter to the editor: sign Lincoln petition to overturn Citizens United

letter

To the editor:

Citizens in Lincoln and throughout the nation are working to restore regulation of campaign financing. The petitions seek to overturn the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 588 U.S. (2010) that invalidated bi-partisan rules on political advertising, based on the Court’s holding that corporations have a constitutional right to freedom of speech.

In 2012 Lincoln voted to support a bill filed by Mass. Rep. Jim McGovern proposing that the U.S. Constitution be amended to provide that corporations are not “people.” It stated that Constitutional rights are the rights of human beings only, and campaign contributions and expenditures may be regulated. In 2015 Lincoln again voted on this issue, calling for a Constitutional Convention and directing Congress and the states to place limits on political contributions and expenditures. These resolutions were approved in cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth and in many other states.

Citizens across Massachusetts and the nation are now trying to move forward with a 2018 ballot measure. This initiative petition would create citizens’ commissions in Massachusetts and other states to consider and recommend potential amendments to the U.S. Constitution to establish that corporations do not have the same Constitutional rights as human beings and that contributions and expenditures may be regulated.

It is not easy to amend the Constitution, and it can take many years of determined work. Massive and unregulated spending by our wealthiest citizens and corporations, including foreign corporations, threatens the integrity of our democracy. It is not a partisan issue. This amendment is supported by overwhelming majorities of Republican, Democrat and independent voters all across the nation.

Volunteers will be seeking Lincoln voter signatures in Lincoln Station on October 30 and November 7, and at the State of the Town Meeting on November 4.

Sincerely,

Peter Pease
40 Huckleberry Hill

Gary Davis
20R Indian Camp Lane

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.

Updates on multitude of issues planned for State of the Town

An agenda chock-full of information and discussion about issues affecting Lincoln’s future will greet residents at the State of the Town meeting on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in the Lincoln School auditorium. The event offers informational updates on important issues in town and (in some cases) a preview of measures that will come up for votes at the Annual Town Meeting in spring 2018.

The first 90 minutes will consist of presentations the two proposed campus building projects: the Lincoln School building project and the Community Center project. Recent Lincoln Squirrel articles on these topics include:

Other agenda items are below, and are also discussed in the latest Selectmen’s Newsletter. There will then be an open forum from 11:40 a.m.–noon and an opportunity to talk to representatives of the groups who presented during the meeting at information/discussion tables from 12:30–1 p.m.

Lincoln Station

The South Lincoln Implementation Planning Committee is studying improvements to the Lincoln Station area as well as possible rezoning, though a proposed zoning bylaw change is not likely by spring. There are five teams working on different topics for SLPIC, which reports to the Planning Board.

Plastic bags and bottles

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Environmental Club is revisiting its push to regulate the sale of disposable plastic grocery bags and single-use plastic water bottles in Lincoln. Warrant articles were tabled in Town Meeting in 2017 but passed in Sudbury. Town Meeting will feature either warrant articles or a general bylaw change proposal.

Recreational marijuana

The Board of Selectmen is forming a committee to help the town understand the 2016 statewide measure that legalized the cultivation, personal use and retail sale of recreational marijuana. The group will assess the law’s implications for Lincoln and make recommendations regarding potential policies, bylaws and regulations that may be desired and/or required to protect the town’s interests. Town Administrator Timothy Higgins said this week that a bylaw proposal may come up at a Special Town Meeting later in 2018 rather than the annual spring meeting.

To learn more about the committee, contact Higgins at 781-259-2604 or higginst@lincolntown.org. To apply, submit a letter of interest to Administrative Assistant Peggy Elder at elderp@lincolntown.org.

At Town Meeting in 2017, residents approved a moratorium on allowing use of land or structures for recreational marijuana establishments until November 30, 2018 pending new regulations from the Cannabis Control Commission and possible zoning amendments in Lincoln.

Historic District

The Historic District Commission and Friends of Modern Architecture are working with property owners interested in adding their Modern houses to the Lincoln Historic District. At Town Meeting, residents will vote on a proposal that would allow at least 17 owners of Modern homes to voluntarily join the Lincoln Historic District. The district currently consists of 73 properties in four different areas.

Sanctuary Town

A planned Town Meeting measure seeks to make Lincoln an official Sanctuary Town, which organizers hope will safeguard illegal immigrants in Lincoln from federal immigration enforcement and otherwise help immigrants feel protected

Mothers Out Front

This group has been working on local responses to climate change such as curbing greenhouse gas emissions by fixing gas leaks from underground pipes. Members are expected to propose a resolution at Town Meeting calling for the repair of utilities’ leaking gas pipes.

Council on Aging activities in November

Holiday shopping fraud prevention
November 1 at 12 p.m.
The holidays are right around the corner. Are you armed with vital information to keep yourself safe from scammers when you do your shopping, whether in stores or online? Come to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at noon when Robin Putnam, research and special projects manager from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, will lead a discussion on topics such as: Black Friday shopping tips, return policies, defective merchandise, warranties, lost or stolen packages, gift certificates, credit card skimming devices and how to spot them, and identity theft and fraud prevention.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Katherine Clark
November 1 at 1 p.m.
A constituent services representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark, will hold Office Hours at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 1–2 p.m. on federal benefits and other concerns. No need to sign up.

You’ve been selected!
November 1 at 2 p.m.
To drop by and visit with a member of the Board of Selectmen. Bring your ideas, feedback, questions, or favorite Lincoln anecdote. Whether you stop by for a minute or stay for the hour, they hope to see you from 2–3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Medicare 101: what to know, how to choose
November 1 at 7 p.m.
Come find out the basics of Medicare on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall with Minuteman Senior Services SHINE counselors Don Milan and Anne Meade. This introduction to Medicare is especially for those who will be signing up in the next year, but is also for those who just wish to learn more and understand their benefits better. Don and Anne will discuss traditional Medicare, Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and medication drug coverage (Medicare, Parts A, B, C, and D), how to go about choosing the plan or plans that are best for you, avoiding penalties when you sign up late, and more. Bring your questions and concerns! Minuteman Senior Services provides a variety of services that help seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. For more information, call toll-free 888-222-6171 or visit www.minutemansenior.org.

Coping when you have a family member in hospice
November 3 at 10 a.m.
Having a family member with an advanced/life limiting illness can be overwhelming, but this stage of life can also be a time of healing for all involved. All family members are invited to an informal discussion at Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. Steve Menichetti, RN, and Lilian Warner of Deaconess Abundant Life Services, and Mary Crowe, LICSW, ACHP-SW of Care Dimensions will offer some information and strategies on caring for the caregiver from a physical, emotional and spiritual perspective with plenty of time for you to share your own experiences.

Give thanks for the Lincoln Trad Jazz Band!
November 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday and jazz is America’s most traditional music, so celebrate Nov. with the Lincoln Traditional Jazz Band! Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov. 3 at 12:30 to hear them play, tap your toes, or get up and dance if you can’t sit still. Cheek to Cheek, Ain’t Misbehavin’, When You’re Smilin’ — you name it, they play it!

Toni Lynn Washington and Sax Gordon Beadle sing and play the blues
November 5 at 2 p.m.
All ages are invited to a free concert by renowned Boston-area blues vocalist Toni Lynn Washington and acclaimed saxophonist Sax Gordon Beadle on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at Bemis Hall. The performance is the First Annual Ronna Cooper Memorial Concert and is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. It is a gift from Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother’s life. Ms. Washington has delighted and awed audiences in Boston and around the country and the globe for decades as both a singer and songwriter. She has received the Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, had seven Blues Music Award nominations, and released five CDs. Sax Gordon, known for his “hard-blowing, exciting, gutsy” signature style, has performed around the world, won numerous awards, and recorded six CDs. The Duke Robillard rhythm section: Bruce Bears on keyboard, Jesse Williams on bass, and Mark Teixeira on drums will back up Toni Lynn and Sax Gordon for this fabulous afternoon of music.

Lincoln Academy with Jennifer Haugh: Making climate change personal—using public art to motivate sustainable behavior
November 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 6 at 12:30 to hear Jennifer Haugh discuss “Making Climate Change Personal: Using Public Art to Motivate Sustainable Behavior.” Despite the increased frequency of extreme weather events, the effects of individual impacts on climate change are still an abstraction for many. This presentation by the founder of Iconic Energy Consulting looks at concepts ranging from mitigating the aesthetic effects of wind turbines to “feedback” sculpture that rewards communities for reducing energy use, and explores the challenges of connecting the dots between personal choices and global impacts. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome!

Techno teach-in with LEAP students
November 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Middle school students from the LEAP after-school program invite you to join them at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 2:30–3:30 p.m. to get help with a variety of devices, such as computers, cell phones, iPads and tablets, and more! Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Celebrate Veterans Day with other veterans and spouses
November 9 at 9 a.m.
Celebrate Veterans Day with other veterans and their spouses on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. at Bemis Hall. You’ll be treated to pancakes with butter and syrup, coffee, and great conversation! This is a social time just to chat and get to know other veterans in town. The breakfast is free, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Bowling
November 9 at 2 p.m.
Go Bowling at the Acton Bowladrome with the COA on Thursday, Nov. 9. Most of us haven’t bowled in years, but don’t worry — bowlers will be using small balls (called candlepin bowling). The group will have four bowlers to a lane and maybe get a little competition going. Afterwards, they will head for an early dinner to Not Your Average Joe’s to discuss their bowling skills or lack thereof. They will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 2 p.m. and plan to be back in Lincoln by 6:15 p.m. Traveling in a Doherty’s School Bus, the cost of the trip is $15 which includes lane and shoe rental and dinner will be on your own. To make your reservation, send your check to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Rd., Lincoln MA, 781-257-5050.

How much is that antique or jewelry worth?
November 9 at 2:15 p.m.
You never know what treasures you might have hidden in your attic or jewelry box. Come to a special Appraisal Afternoon with Karen M. Keane, CEO, and Kaitlin Shinnick, senior specialist, fine jewelry, from Skinner Auctioneers, on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 2:15 at Bemis Hall. Ms. Keane or Ms. Shinnick will identify, comment on, and place a value on one item. If you don’t have anything to be appraised, come on down to join the fun and see what your friends and neighbors have brought.

Lincoln Academy with Zach Woods: amateurs assist in the second war for U.S. independence
November 13 at 12:30 p.m..
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 13 at 12:30 to hear Zach Woods discuss “Amateurs Assist in the Second War for U.S. Independence.” Non-professional militia, privateers, and Napoleon hindered and helped as we fought against the superior but hamstrung British military in the War of 1812. What was the war all about? Learn about some of the surprising and telling moments in the conflict through a short film and presentation. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Free elder law clinic
November 13 at 3 p.m.
Got a question about issues such as estate planning, MassHealth, protecting assets for a loved one with a serious disability, guardianship, conservatorship or probate? The COA is pleased to provide a monthly legal clinic with elder law attorney and Lincoln resident Sasha Golden on Monday, Nov. 13 from 3–4 p.m. at Bemis Hall. There is no charge for the thirty-minute consultation, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811.

Free wellness clinic for all ages
November 14 at 10 a.m.
Meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Blood pressure, nutrition and fitness, medication management, chronic disease management, resources, and more. Funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care.

The COA science group: 4,000 feet of climate change, part II
November 16 at 10:15 a.m.
Join physicist Stanley Solomon on Thursday, Nov. 16 at 10:15 a.m. in Bemis Hall for the second in a three-part series exploring the physicists’ view of climate change using articles from three issues of Physics Today, a professional journal published by the American Physics Society and read by physicists worldwide. In this session, Stan will discuss the validity of accumulated temperature measurements. He plans to distribute copies of the articles before the sessions, so if you would like copies, please call the COA at 781-259-8811 to leave your name and email address.

Brush up on CPR and auto-defibrillators
November 17 at 9 a.m.
Knowing CPR and how to use an automatic defibrillator (AED) can help you save a life. Come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. for a brush-up or an introduction to CPR and use of a defibrillator given by the Fire Department. This free workshop may lead to certification or you may take it just in case you come across someone in need in your daily life.  Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up and let us know if you would like certification. All ages are welcome! (maximum of 20.)

Lincoln Academy with Lawrence Climo: An American doctor in the Vietnamese Health Service, 1966–67
November 20 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 20 at 12:30 to hear Lawrence Climo discuss “An American Doctor in the Vietnamese Health Service, 1966-67.” Dr. Lawrence Climo is a retired physician, new to Lincoln. He’s also a Vietnam vet. Larry participated in an unusual military mission during the Vietnam War for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by the U.S. government and the Gallantry Cross with Palm by the Republic of Vietnam. Come hear about those experiences, which he has recently detailed in a book. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion. All ages welcome.

Gourmet luncheon with friends old and new
November 21 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincolnites 60 and older are invited to enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with new friends and old at 11:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at St. Anne’s Church. They welcome new diners often — give them a try! Please reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead even if you have previously attended. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let them know if you need transportation or a seating partner when you sign up. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, Newbury Court, St. Anne’s, and the Lincoln Garden Club.

Fireside chat: what are you grateful for?
November 22 at 10 a.m.
Let’s give thanks. Even if you’ve had a challenging year, let’s not dwell on that. What are you grateful for? Discuss your thoughts and ideas with a group on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. at their new location in the Community Room at Lincoln Woods (50 Wells Rd.). The Fireside Chat meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday at 10 a.m. and is facilitated by Sharon Antia.

Property sales in September

  • 5 Deerhaven Rd. — Theresa Meehan to Roger and Rebecca Yeh for $860,000 (September 1)
  • 19 Brooks Rd. — Sarah Smith Cairns to Brian and Kimberly Jalet for $850,000 (September 22)
  • 142 Bedford Rd. — Hui Pires to Paul and Reanna Wu for $618,999 (September 18)
  • 12 Old Cambridge Turnpike — Amanda Fargo to Leon Calitri for $575,000 (September 1)
  • 169 Lexington Rd. — Yolanda Cellucci Trust et al to Lincoln Master Build 1 LLC for $350,000 (September 13)
  • 0 Fridolin Hill Rd. (three parcels) — Donald W. Barron and Charles Anton to Yesim Taskor and Halil Ali Pirnar for $1,400,000 (September 29)

deCordova reopens cafe with new location, longer hours

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s cafe has reopened in a new location in the central courtyard with more seating, longer hours, and and an expanded menu.

The deCordova Café was moved from the fourth floor of the main building to a central location near the store and parking lots. Hours are 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Groups of 10 or larger are encouraged to call in advance and order from the group menu. School groups are not permitted to dine in the Café without prior warning. Seating for larger groups is available at the Sculpture Terrace, and the Store’s Courtyard.

The café menu includes sandwiches, salads, and soups made fresh daily in house. It also offers snacks, desserts, and hot and cold beverages including beer and wine, plus warm pastries, quiche and espresso for breakfast. A selection of artwork by local artists from deCordova’s corporate art loan program is on display, and there is free WiFi.

DeCordova’s courtyard was renovated with the help of local businesses and community members under the leadership of landscape architect Natalie DeNormandie, with new design elements and plantings. More than half of the courtyard project was donated by local residents, designers, contractors, and others.

“We’re excited to reopen the deCordova Café and Courtyard to offer the community a beautiful space to grab a bite to eat, enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine with friends, or simply relax outdoors surrounded by art and nature,” said David Duddy, deCordova’s deputy director for operations.

News acorns

Trunk or Treat moved to Friday

Due to a rainy forecast, the “Trunk or Treat” event originally scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25 has been rescheduled for Friday, Oct. 27 from 5–6 p.m. in the Brooks parking lot. This is an annual event sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department where the back ends of cars and trucks are decorated for Halloween and children can “trunk or treat” among them in safety. Register your vehicle for one of the reserved spots, decorate your trunk area, and pass out candy or non-candy items or host fun games. If you can’t participate, candy donations are always welcome. No vehicles will be admitted into the lot after 4:15 p.m. To register, call 781-259-0784.

Halloween party at the library

Celebrate Halloween early with a kids’ party at the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. Families can groove to children’s songs and Halloween favorites. Come in costume if you wish—but be sure you can still move! Recommended for ages 6 and under, but all are welcome.

Fall knitting group starting

A new weekly knitting group is starting on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room and will run though December 21. Knitters of all levels are welcome. Beginners should contact Jen James at jenjames@gmail.com to find out what materials are required.

Clarification

An October 23 article headlined “School committees float idea of a shared L-S/Sudbury superintendent” quoted a brief by attorney Marc Terry as saying that the ability of a town district and a regional district to share central office functions is “an unsettled point of law.” While this quote is accurate, it does mean to imply that the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not allow such arrangements, only that state statutes are silent on the subject. The last paragraph of Terry’s memo notes that any potential challenge could be forestalled by an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) subject to approval by the Boards of Selectmen.

Community center group selects architect

The Community Center Preliminary Planning and Design Committee (CCPPDC) has selected the firm of Maryann Thompson Architects to help design a proposal for a community center for Lincoln.

Massachusetts work by the Cambridge-based firm includes designs for the Atrium School in Watertown, the Broad Institute in Cambridge, the Walden Pond visitors’ center, and Temple Ahavat Achim in Gloucester. The firm is already working closely with SMMA Architects, which was hired to design the Lincoln School project.

The CCPPDC and the School Building Committee will present updates at the State of the Town meeting on November 4. By that time, “we want the two architectural firms to have spoken quite a bit and start aligning their processes and procedures, and maybe put a couple of community forums on the calendar,” said CCPPDC Vice Chair Margit Griffith.

Maryann Thompson Architects should have a proposed basic design for a community center along with firm cost estimates ready before an anticipated Special Town Meeting in June, when residents will be asked to vote on a school design, Griffith said. If and when residents decide to pursue the community center project, the town will ask for bids from firms to do the detailed design. “They’re not producing a plan for a community center that people vote on [in June] and break ground on,” she said.

The CCPPDC is drafting a timeline in conjunction with the SBC with “key choice points for decisions and deliverables by the architect,” said committee Chair Ellen Meyer Shorb. Designing a school and a community center simultaneously is “a really difficult, complex process that no one has done before, but the bottom line is to include the town early and often.”