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

News acorns

Conservation Commission seeks assistant

The town of Lincoln seeks qualified candidates for an administrative assistant to work 30 hours a week under the direction of the conservation director and the Conservation Commission. Duties include processing wetlands permit applications, preparing and posting meeting agendas, taking and finalizing meeting minutes, working with office volunteers and student interns, and updating the Conservation Department webpage.

The administrative assistant is the primary point person for fielding inquiries regarding wetlands permitting and other conservation-related issues from residents, builders, realtors, consultants, etc., and therefore must have strong customer service skills. Attendance is required at Conservation Commission public meetings on Wednesday nights every three weeks. Municipal experience and an interest in and knowledge of wetlands, open space, and natural history preferred. Starting pay is $21.48–$23.48/hour, based on experience. Submit cover letter and resume to Mary Day, Assistant Town Administrator, Town Offices, 16 Lincoln Rd., Lincoln MA 01773 or jobs@lincolntown.org by September 26.

Bemis lecture on Ogden Codman Trust

Bemis Free Lectures presents “Philanthropy Shaping Lincoln: The Ogden Codman Trust,” a special conversation with Bill Tyler, trustee emeritus and founding trustee of the Ogden Codman Trust and Susan Monahan, current trustee, on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

House concert on Sept. 22

Lincoln pianist and music therapist Trevor Berens is organizing a house concert in Lincoln on Friday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. The music will include solo piano music by Lincoln resident Richard Cornell (Lutine Bell), Toru Takemitsu’s crystalline Rain Tree Sketch II, and the “Thoreau” movement from Charles Ives’s iconic Concord Sonata. The second half features soprano Jessica Berens performing her husband Berens’s song cycle Pomes Penyeach (based on the poetry of James Joyce) and Lazarus by French composer Jacques Burtin, and written for the couple.

Tickets are $12 at the door, and light refreshments will be served. Proceeds will help defray concert expenses and benfit future recordings by the Sonic Liberation Players, a nine-member musical group that includes Berens and Tunick that “investigates the area between ‘academic/intellectual’ and ‘pop-influenced’ classical,” according to its website.

Email Berens at trevorberens1@gmail.com to reserve seats (seating is limited) and receive the address for the house concert.

L-S Boosters ski and sports sale

The ninth annual L-S All Sports Boosters Ski and Sports Sale will take place on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m.–noon at the Fieldhouse at 31 Union Ave. in Sudbury. Come grab your sticks, rackets, bats, clubs, balls, helmets, pads, cleats, skates, snowboards, skis, boots, bags, bikes, and backyard games—all sizes and age ranges represented. If you’re cleaning out before then, please drop off donations on September 21 and 22 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Fieldhouse. All proceeds go to L-S Boosters, which supports L-S athletics at all levels.

Public hearings coming up

 

Historic District Commission

The Historic District Commission will hold public hearings on Tuesday, Sept. 5 starting at 7:30 p.m. to consider the followng applications:

  • Michael Barnicle and Anne Finucane for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new structure known as a sleeping cottage at 20 Trapelo Rd.
  • John and Lara MacLachlan to replace 15 windows and a side door at 49 Bedford Rd.

Zoning Board of Appeals

The Zoning Board of the Appeals will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and to act on the following petitions for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment:

  • Erin Kelly and Lionel McPherson, 2 Forester Rd.
  • Sarah Cannon Holden, 60 Weston Rd.
  • Andrew Pickett, 12 Longmeadow Rd.
  • Kelly and Lincoln Greenhill, 12 Page Farm Rd.
  • William Churchill, 6 Horses Crossing
  • Peter Von Mertens and Dea Angiolillo, 16 Tower Rd.

The ZBA will also hold a public hearing that night to hear and act on two more applications:

  • Charlene McCart Jackson, trustee of McCart Realty Trust, 14-16 and 22-24 Lewis St., for an extension of an existing special permit for the expansion of non-conforming residential use in a B-2 District.
  • James Pingeon and Elizabeth Graver, 47 Old Sudbury Rd., for a special permit to extend the roof to cover the landing outside the front door.

Property tax classification hearing

The Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of determining for fiscal year 2018 the percentage of the real estate property tax burden that shall be borne by the residential and commercial classifications of property respectively. General inquiries prior to the hearing may be directed to the Assessors’ Office, 781 259-2611.

COA activities in September

New fitness classes for all levels
September 5 at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Looking for an opportunity to get fit and toned, limber up, and enhance your physical and mental well-being? Try one of the Council on Aging’s new fitness classes at Bemis Hall. At 11:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, come to Stretch and Flex for all fitness levels. You’ll start with a gentle warmup, then progress to resistance training with bands or weights. At 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, come to Active Aging that begins with a stretch followed by muscle toning and strengthening with weights, aerobic dance, and cooldown. Both classes are $3 a session with no signup needed and begin September 5. Attend when you like. The certified instructor, Terri Zaborowski, teaches these two classes in other COAs where they are so popular they have wait lists. For more information, call the COA at 781-259-8811.

Think you might want to join the memoir group?
September 6 at 10 a.m.
If you’re interested in writing your memoirs or just curious about what goes on in the group, please come to the first meeting of the Memoir Group on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at Bemis Hall and find out what they do. If you like what you hear and want to continue, the cost of the eight-session term is $75. The dates for the term are September 6 and 20; October 4 and 18; November 1, 15, and 29; and December 13. If you want more information, call Connie Lewis 781-259-9415 or email her at conlewis1000@gmail.com.

Line dancing
September 6 at 11 a.m.
Enjoy the fun and fitness of line dancing Wednesdays at 11 a.m. beginning September 6 at Bemis Hall with Katrina Rotondi. Those who come to the line dancing class love it. $3 payable the day of the class. No signup needed. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Katherine Clark
September 6 at 1 p.m.
Jimmy Santos, constituent services and military liaison for Congresswoman Katherine Clark, will hold office hours at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. on federal benefits and other concerns. No need to sign up.

Join a new group to declutter and get organized
September 6 and 20 at 2 p.m.
Decluttering and getting organized can seem overwhelming, but you can do it with some help, and you will enjoy your living space more and feel better about yourself and your life. Come to a new decluttering group facilitated by Pam Mizrahi at Bemis Hall on September 6 and 20 at 2 p.m. and every other week thereafter to talk about why we clutter and learn strategies.

Coffee with artist Susan Wu
September 7 at 2:15 p.m.
Come join Lincoln artist Susan Wu for Coffee with the Artist on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 2:15 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Wu will be showing her Chinese brush paintings at Bemis Hall in September and October. Originally from Taoyuan, Taiwan, Wu has studied Chinese brush painting at the deCordova Museum and with Qinxiong Ma. She is a member of the Chinese Painting Guild of Boston and is a featured artist on their website, chinesepaintingguild.org, and is also a member of the Sumi-e Society of America (Sarasota, Fla., chapter). She has shown her work in the annual Art in the Park exhibits at University Park in Sarasota since 2001 and has won many awards. Wu has also exhibited her work at the deCordova Museum and the Lincoln Library, among other places.

Lincoln Academy with Donald L. Hafner, Captain, Lincoln Minute Men—The “Inexplicable” Captain: William Smith and Lincoln’s Minute Men of 1775
September 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 11 at 12:30 to hear Donald L. Hafner, Captain of the Lincoln Minute Men, discuss “The “Inexplicable” Captain: William Smith and Lincoln’s Minute Men of 1775.” What explains the election of William Smith as Captain of Lincoln’s Minute Men in 1775? A report in 2007 for Minute Man National Historical Park asserted that Smith’s election was “inexplicable,” and it does seem puzzling. Among the Minute Men were long-time Lincoln residents, military veterans, and men older than William Smith. Yet to command them in battle, they elected Smith, who had moved to Lincoln barely a year earlier, was only 28 years old, and had no military experience. Various explanations have been offered for William’s election, but are they persuasive? Come join the conversation, review the evidence, and judge for yourself whether William Smith was the “inexplicable” captain. Donald L. Hafner is a retired professor of political science and a long-time member of the Lincoln Minute Men. His most recent book, published by the Lincoln Historical Society, is William Smith, Captain: Life and Death of a Soldier of the American Revolution. The COA 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.

Tai chi for health, rehabilitation, and wellness
September 11 at 1 p.m.
Tai chi has been shown to develop a better sense of overall well being, reduce stress, help with posture and balance, increase strength and flexibility, and more. It is beneficial for anyone who wants to increase wellness in general or who is recovering from an illness and wants a gentle movement routine. The COA’s fall tai chi classes begin September 11 and continue until the week of December 11 at Bemis Hall. Level I (Beginners) is taught on Mondays from 2:15– 3:15 p.m., Wednesdays from 1–2 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:15–10:15 a.m. Level 2 is taught Mondays from 3:15-4:15 and Thursdays from 10:15–11:15. Level 3 is taught on Wednesdays from 2:15–3:15. The cost is $60 for 1 hour a week, $80 for 2 hours a week, and $100 for 4 hours a week. Instructors are Jane Moss, Ellie Horwitz, and Cynthia Rosenberger. For information, contact Jane Moss, at 781-259-9822 or mindbodyjm@comcast.net. Beginners may sign up now by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. Continuing students do not need to sign up.

Free elder law clinic
September 11 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, Sept. 11 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                                     
September 12 at 10 a.m.
PLACE: Lincoln Woods
Meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods on Tuesday, Sept. 12 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.

Monthly positive psychology group
September 13 at 9:30 a.m.
All are welcome to come to a new group to support each other in Positive Psychology practices like gratitude, mindfulness, resilience, coping, and more. The group will focus on incorporating Positive Psychology into our daily lives through community-building, support, shared practices, facilitated discussions, and social media like Facebook. You don’t need to have attended previous Positive Psychology groups. The group will be facilitated by Alyson Lee, who is certified to teach Positive Psychology. The group will meet at 9:30 on Wednesdays, Sept. 13 and 27, and then monthly every second Wednesday. Funded by the Friends of the Lincoln COA. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 for more information.

Getting the most out of your iPhone and iPad
September 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Our programs on iPhones and iPads given by Andy Payne have been so popular that the COA has asked him to come back yet again. Andy will be at Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 15 at 9:30 a.m. to give you more information on the operation and features of iphones and ipads and answer your questions. You are welcome to attend whether you came to the other sessions or not. If you have tips for using your iPhone or iPad, bring those, too.

Using social media like Facebook and Twitter: it’s easier than you think
September 15 at 11 a.m.
These days, if you’re going to get the latest information about events and other things, you need to know how to use the Internet’s social media like Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. If you’d like to know which site has what kind of information, how to sign up, how to keep your private information private online, and more, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m., when Andy Payne will give an introduction to what social media is and how to use it.

Lincoln Academy with Heather Korostoff Murray—African-American improvisational quilts
September 18 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 18 at 12:30 to hear Heather Korostoff Murray discuss African-American improvisational quilts. She will introduce you to African-American improvisational quilts: the unique qualities of these extraordinary textiles, their possible African connections, and the stories behind their creators, including their inspirations and astonishing talents. Heather’s talk will focus on the lives and work of eight significant African-American improvisational quilt makers, with slides from the extensive quilt collection and research of her mentor, quilt scholar and curator Eli Leon. On exhibit will be several antique and vintage quilts from her collection, illustrating the key characteristics of the genre. The COA 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.

Hand drumming for fun and wellness
September 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Hand drumming is a fun and unique way to spend enjoyable time with others, improve musical skills for playing any instrument, and de-stress, relax, and feel more positive. Learn this special art with acclaimed drummer Mike Connors from the Concord Conservatory of Music on six Tuesday mornings at 9:30 beginning September 19 at a cost of $78. Sign up now.

Gourmet luncheon with friends old and new
September 19 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, Sept. 19 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 us know if you need transportation or a seating partner. 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.

Techno teach-in with LEAP students
September 20 at 2:30
Middle school students from the LEAP afterschool program invite you to join them at Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 20 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 today.

Science and technology club: the science and economics of developing new drugs
September 21 at 10:15 a.m.
Every new medication undergoes years of development and testing between the initial spark of scientific innovation and the time patients’ lives are saved or improved. What is the scientific process of bringing a drug from idea to market, and what are the costs involved that can raise the price of a medication to thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars a dose? Find out when Mary Elisabeth Field comes to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10:15 a.m. Field, a Lincoln resident, has provided quality assurance and compliance services to Genzyme and other pharmaceutical corporations as they develop new medications for over 30 years.

Coffee with a cop—share concerns and ideas with the Lincoln Police
September 21 at 1 to 3 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 1–3 p.m. to meet privately with an officer from the Lincoln Police Department. Do you have a security concern regarding yourself, a family member, or neighbor? An idea the police should try? Would you like guidance about a situation? Come on down—no need to make an appointment. An officer will be at Bemis on the third Thursday of every other month from 1–3 p.m.

Fall and winter safety with the Fire Department
September 22 at 11:30 a.m.
Place: Public Safety Building
Fall and winter will soon be here, so brush up on how you can prevent a fire, accident, or related tragedy. Join Ben Juhola of the Fire Department on Friday, Sept. 22 at 11:30 at the Public Safety Building to learn about such topics as burning leaves, using space heaters safely, shoveling snow the right way, and more. The Fire Department will be serving a sandwich lunch, so please sign up.

Piano recital of music by Schumann, Gershwin, and Liszt by Abla Shocair
September 22 at 2:15 p.m.
You are invited to enjoy an afternoon of piano music with Abla Shocair on Friday, Sept. 22 at 2:15 p.m. at Bemis Hall. She will play Schumann’s Carnaval, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C# minor. Abla, originally from Jordan, started playing piano at age 4. She is a civil engineer and has given many piano concerts in a variety of venues.

Greatest artworks of the 20th century
September 23 at 3 p.m.
Place: Library
Adults of all ages are invited to take a five-week free course that will reveal the genius behind various 20th century artworks and artists from Picasso to Pollock and beyond and discuss their own thoughts and reactions to each piece. The course will be from 3–4:30 p.m. at the Library on Saturdays Sept. 23, October 7, 21, and 28, and November 4. The course is taught by Steven Kendall, tour leader and teacher. The course is co-sponsored by the Library and COA and made possible by the Friends of the Lincoln Library and the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging. Please sign up by calling the library at 781-259-8465.

Lincoln Academy with Susan MacMillan Kains (Siusaidh Nic a’Mhaoilean Cahans)—Gaelic woman on a braided path
September 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Sept. 25, at 12:30 to hear Susan MacMillan Kains discuss “Gaelic Woman on a Braided Path.” This presentation will trace the interweaving of Susan’s life as a Scots-Gael, moving among and living with her Gaelic-speaking relatives of Canada and the North American Indian tribes, especially the Oglala Lakota Sioux of western South Dakota, with whom she has been an adopted family member for 35 years. The COA 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.

Fireside chat: what’s on your bucket list?
September 27 at 10 a.m.
Place: Lincoln Woods
What’s on your bucket list? What should/could be in it but isn’t? What is your favorite list item, either something you’ve done or have yet to do? Get together with others and have some fun talking about things you want to do or have done and things that make us happy on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. at the 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.

Get what you need from your financial advisor
September 29 at 10 a.m.
Financial advisors vary significantly in not only their expertise, but also in how dedicated they are to meeting your needs instead of theirs. To make sure that you are getting the right advice from the right advisor, come to Bemis Hall on Friday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. when attorney Christine R. Fitzgerald will talk about the suitability of investments, questions to ask when offered a financial product, and what to look for in financial advisors. Fitzgerald, a founder of the Belcher Fitzgerald law firm, has extensive experience with legal issues related to the financial services industry. Bring your questions and concerns.

Good habits to reduce inflammation for health
September 29 at 1 p.m.
Chronic inflammation is associated with major diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and depression. You can help reduce chronic inflammation through eating the right foods, exercising, reducing stress, sleeping better and more. Find out about what foods to eat and avoid, how to exercise, and more when Jane Polley, MS, RD, LDN, and Laila Vehvilainen, MS, MPH, NASM, come to Bemis Hall Friday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m..

Save the date:

Tour of the State House and lunch
Come to the Massachusetts State House and the John Adams Courthouse on Wednesday, October 11. These historic and beautiful buildings house the story of Massachusetts. Think you know our history? John Adams’s passion for justice, community and learning are evident in the stunning 19th-century courthouse where the Supreme Judicial Court or Appeals Court meets right across the street from the Massachusetts State House, where the group will begin a docent-led tour. Do you know our state motto? Why do we have a state insect? Who owned this land? Who designed this beautiful building? Why is our Constitution so important? There’s a lot to learn. The bus will leave Donelan’s parking lot at 9:15 a.m. sharp and plan to be back in Lincoln by 4 p.m. Lunch will be on your own at the Union Oyster House, the oldest continually operating restaurant in the country. The cost of the trip is $15 and is supported by the Hurff Fund so the trip is limited to Lincoln seniors. Both buildings have elevators but expect to be standing on both tours. Send your check payable to FLCOA, along with your phone numer and email, to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 or call 781-257-5050 or email donna@ecacbed.com.

Let’s bowl!
Let’s go bowling on Thursday, Nov. 9. Most of us haven’t bowled in years and certainly not with large balls. Don’t worry, the group will be using small balls (candlepin bowling). They will have four bowlers to a lane and maybe get a little competition going. Afterwards they’ll head for an early dinner at a nearby restaurant to discuss their bowling skills or lack thereof.

Express your love of nature with watercolors with Jane Cooper
Rediscover the joyful soul within you through art and nature in Jane Cooper’s watercolor class. Jane will offer fun dabbling in watercolor painting of scenes of nature, landscapes or some favorite sky. Four classes will be offered on October 13, 16, 20, and 23 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $30, all materials included. Call the COA at 781-259-8811 to sign up now.

Medicare 101
Are you turning 65 in the next year? Save November 1 at 7 p.m. at Bemis Hall for a program about what Medicare offers, how to choose a plan, when to sign up, and more, provided by the Minuteman Senior Services SHINE program. The federally funded SHINE program only has funding through March 2018 due to federal budget cuts, so this may be your last opportunity to attend a program about Medicare benefits.

School Committee selects dual-firm design partnership

By Kim Bodnar, SBC member

The School Committee voted last week to approve the School Building Committee’s recommendation to enter into negotiations with Symmes, Maini and McKee Associates (SMMA) of Cambridge, which has entered into a collaborative partnership with EwingCole for the purposes of designing a Lincoln School project.

SMMA has extensive knowledge of the Ballfield Road campus, having completed a conditions analysis of the Lincoln School and Hartwell buildings in 2006-07. For this project, the firm is teaming up with Philadelphia-based EwingCole, which designed the new Hanscom Middle School (which opened in April 2016) and the new Hanscom Primary School (currently under construction). The start of SMMA/EwingCole’s work on the Lincoln School project is subject to the successful negotiation of a contract.

The interview and selection process for the five finalists took many hours over two evenings. The School Building Committee (SBC) thanks all the community members who attended the sessions and provided invaluable input. Their involvement in the process and candid feedback was greatly appreciated.

Earlier this summer, the SBC asked residents to complete a survey entitled “Shaping our Town’s Evaluation Criteria” and received 364 responses. Below is a summary of those responses.

1.  “We should maintain the current L-shaped footprint of school.”
  • 64% neutral, 15% disagree/strongly disagree, 12% agree,  9% strongly agree
2.  “We should take a blank-slate approach to the design.”
  • 33% strongly agree, 32% agree, 20% neutral, 15% disagree/strongly disagree
3.  “We should consider all new construction.”
  • 33% agree, 26% strongly agree, 21% neutral, 20% disagree/strongly disagree
4.  “The primary focus of the project is a design that focuses on our educational vision.”
  • 48% strongly agree, 35% agree, 12% neutral, 5% disagree/strongly disagree
5.  “The primary focus of the project is to make repairs and meet code.”
  • 27% disagree, 23% strongly disagree, 19% agree, 16% neutral, 15% strongly agree
6.  “The project should reach high energy efficiency standards.”
  • 42% agree, 39% strongly agree, 13% neutral, 6% disagree/strongly disagree
7.  “Adding additional recreation fields is important.”
  • 38% neutral, 33% agree, 15% strongly agree, 10% disagree, 4% strongly disagree
8.  “Building safety and security are a primary consideration.”
  • 41% agree, 26% neutral, 25% strongly agree, 8% disagree/strongly disagree
9.  “We need to minimize construction time.”
  • 42% neutral, 27% agree, 15% disagree, 12% strongly agree, 4% strongly disagree

When respondents were asked to rank the criteria mentioned in Questions 1-9 in order of importance, educational vision was #1, energy efficiency was #2, and building safety and security was #3.

The next School Building Committee will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room (click heree for the agenda). All are welcome to attend. Anyone with questions or comments may email sbc@lincnet.org.

Letter to the editor: DPW proposal generates important questions

letter

To the editor:

I was heartened to read the story (“Residents wary of planned study on relocation of DPW,” August 14, 2017) about the July 31 Board of Selectmen meeting where several Lincoln residents voiced strong objections to the proposal within the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee (SLPIC) to relocate the DPW facility to the undeveloped 37-acre parcel on Mill Street that houses the transfer station.

I spoke in opposition to the proposal, noting that the 37-acre Mill Street parcel is an environmentally sensitive site. Although some have referred to the parcel as the “transfer station site,” the transfer station actually takes up a very small portion of the parcel. The vast majority of the 37 acres are in a natural state and could easily be mistaken for Lincoln conservation land. The area is residential. Moreover, the Mill Street parcel sits well within the Cambridge Reservoir watershed.

Almost all of the many residents living near the Mill Street parcel are on well water. The activities of the DPW facility, fueling and maintenance of heavy equipment and storage of hazardous waste, would impose a risk to the water sources of homeowners in the vicinity of the parcel if the DPW were to be relocated there. In addition, the DPW activities would impose a risk of contamination to an important source of Cambridge’s water.

As a town, we owe a duty to our own residents to avoid subjecting any group of them to a substantial risk of harm through the actions of our elected officials. In addition, we owe a duty to the people of Cambridge to protect their water sources from contamination by pollutants.

Although I spoke of the Mill Street area at the meeting, the point I urged on the Board of Selectmen applies with equal force to every community in the town. The DPW facility has proven itself to be environmentally harmful. I asked the selectmen to adopt a resolution either prohibiting or strongly discouraging the relocation of the DPW to any area within the town that is substantially more environmentally sensitive than its current location. I happen to be aware of the sensitivity of the Mill Street parcel, but there may be other areas under consideration by SLPIC that are also sensitive (e.g., because of similar well water dependency). So far, SLPIC has not revealed any other alternative sites under consideration.

There are many other issues noted by North Lincoln residents who attended the Board of Selectmen meeting (a video recording can be found here).

One such issue is the enormous price tag of the proposal. Weston recently constructed a new DPW facility at a cost of $15 million. The remediation costs (at the current site) alone would run into the millions, and cannot be estimated precisely until the current facility is destroyed and remediation requirements fully evaluated. The overall expense would contribute to an inordinate tax burden and could crowd out other projects such as the new school building or the community center.

The enormous relocation costs (to any area) might be acceptable if all town residents would benefit greatly from adopting the proposal. However, the goal of the relocation proposal is inconsistent with the town’s history of development—as a zero-sum scheme, it would disadvantage one part of town to offer a phantom benefit to another part. In addition, the proposal would result in the taxpayer subsidization of a private commercial developer. Why should Lincoln residents incur a burden of tens of millions of dollars to subsidize a private developer?

I hope town residents will urge SLPIC to present a careful and thorough examination of the costs and benefits of the relocation proposal before asking the town to give $9,800 to a consulting firm to study the feasibility of relocation. The current request for funds from SLPIC—a vague, one-page letter that appears to assume that the selectmen are all on board—is completely silent on the potential taxpayer costs of the proposal, the potential for environmental harm, and even a justification for the ultimate goal. Why spend scarce public resources studying the feasibility of a proposal that has not been adequately justified and most likely would be harmful to the town if implemented?

Sincerely,

Keith Hylton
5 Oakdale 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.

News acorns

Clarification on Elizabeth Warren town hall location

Due to the editor’s oversight, the location for the August 25 town hall with Sen. Elizabeth Warren was omitted from the August 22 edition of News Acorns. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Concord-Carlisle High School (500 Walden St., Concord). Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

School Council seeks new member from the community

The Lincoln School Council is an advisory body to the school principals that includes parents, teachers and a community member. Due to a resignation, the group is seeking a new community member to serve. The council meets on a monthly basis, typically during the school day. Recent School Council work includes supporting goals in areas of homework, community building, and technology. Anyone who has questions or is interested in participating may contact one of the Lincoln School principals:

FOLL book sale seeks volunteers

The Friends of Lincoln Library Book sale is looking for additional volunteer help, The group meets on Tuesday afternoons from 1–3 p.m. to sort and cull donations of used books and other materials. The book sale takes place on the second Saturday of the month in the Bemis Hall basement from 9 a.m.–noon. Getting involved is a great way to get first dibs on books for yourself and family, or just to meet with like-minded bibliophiles. For more information, contact Susan Hallstein at reerichards1@gmail.com or 781-259-1023.

L-S Boosters membership now open

L-S All Sports Boosters membership is now open. Your $85 donation gets each family member an L-S Boosters card to use for admission to all home games (excluding playoffs). Get your card now and join us for the first home football game on Friday, Sept. 8. To purchase a membership or find more information, go to www.lsboosters.org.

News acorns

Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Sen. Warren to hold town hall in Concord

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren will be hosting a town hall in Concord on Friday, Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. and all are invited. She will be making remarks and answering questions about what’s happening in the Senate and how she’s fighting for Massachusetts families. This is also a chance to talk with her staff about any questions or concerns you might have, or assistance you may need. Doors open for the event at 5:30 p.m.

West Bank/Gaza movie rescheduled for Aug. 27

The date for a second screening of The Law in These Parts sponsored by the GRALTA Foundation has been changed from August 20 to Sunday, Aug. 27 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Click here for details.

Solar home tour reminder

Four homes in Lincoln will offer tours and Q&As about their solar installations on Sunday, Aug. 27 from 13 p.m. Additional details about the homes can be found here. Lincoln residents are also welcome to tour similar homes in Wayland on Saturday, Sept. 23 as part of the three-town Solarize Massachusetts PLUS program.

Art and Ales at the deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will host Art and Ales with Aeronaut Brewing Company on Thursday, Sept. 7 from 5–8 p.m. The event features beer tastings matched with sculptures in the park, plus live music and a food truck. Tickets (buy online here or in person on the day of the event) are $20 for deCordova members and $30 for nonmembers, and free for children 12 and under.

Lincoln property sales in July

  • 140 Lincoln Rd. (a Ryan Estate unit) — Daniel Hertzel to Robert L. and Ruth Mozzi for $463,000 (July 31)
  • 29 Lincoln Rd. — Paul M. Blanchfield to Jane K. O’Rourke and Ursula A. Matulonis for $1,325,000 (July 27)
  • 3B South Commons — John C. Hessler to Abbey B. Salon for $360,000 (July 19)
  • 65 Winter St. — Darlene Mula Trust to David Johnston for $992,000 (July 17)
  • 140 Lincoln Rd. (a Ryan Estate unit) — Robert T. Ferguson Sr. to William N. and Haekyung K. Weir for $475,000 (July 13)
  • 263 Concord Rd. — Paul C.R. Edwards to Nicholas and Gretchen Covino for $920,000 (July 13)
  • 8 Boyce Farm Rd. — Ren Dahai to James C. Anson for $850,000 (July 12)
  • 20 Birchwood Lane — Myrna J. Beecher Trust to Sharla F. Levine for $599,000 (July 6)

News acorns

Visit local homes with solar installations

Lincoln residents are invited to get an up-close view of some of their neighbors’ solar photovoltaic (traditional solar) and solar hot water arrays on Sunday, Aug. 27 from 1–3 p.m. (rain or shine).

Sponsored by Solarize Mass, a program of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and a joint effort by the towns of Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland, the Solarize Tour of Lincoln includes four host residences featuring different styles of solar arrays. Residents of all three towns are encouraged to visit as many homes as they’d like, enjoy refreshments, gather resources, and chat with homeowners about their experiences with the installation process. The homes on the tour are:

  • Ron MacNeal, 247 Concord Road
  • Bob Schudy and Liz Watson, 131 Trapelo Rd.
  • Jim and Ann Hutchinson, 53 Stonehedge Rd.
  • Belinda and Paul Gingrich, 146 Bedford Rd.

More information on each house’s unique solar array can be found at www.lincolngreenenergy.org. There are also solar open house events in Wayland on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 1–4 p.m. and in Sudbury on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 2–4 p.m. More details about these events will be available on www.solarizeLSW.org. All Lincoln, Sudbury, and Wayland residents are welcome.

Sign up or verify your data in the L-S directory

The deadline to be included in the printed version of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School directory is Monday, Aug. 21. Many Lincoln families of incoming freshman are still missing. To register, log in the the directory, select “Schools”, then select “Sign up now” at the bottom of the page, and follow the instructions to set up your family, households, and students.

If your email address has changed since last year, please log in to your account and verify that it is correct. If the directory does not have your correct email address, you will not receive communications including password reset requests and are at risk of being left out of the directory. Anyone with questions may click here or email LSRHSdirectory@gmail.com.

September movies announced

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen movies at the Lincoln Public Library at 3 p.m. on three Mondays in September:

  • September 11—La Notte (1961) starring Jeanne Moreau and Marcello Mastroianni, directed by Michelango Antonioni.
  • September 18—The Lovers (1958) starring Jeanne Moreau, Jose Luis de Villalonga, and Alain Cuny, directed by Louis Malle.
  • September 25—Cet amour-la (2001) starring Jeanne Moreau and Aynmeric Demarigny, directed by Josee Dayan

Refreshments will be served.

Free course on 20th-century art

“Christina’s World” by Andrew Wyeth (1948)

A free five-week course on “Great Artworks of the 20th Century” will be offered in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room from 3–4:30 p.m. stating on Saturday, Sept. 23 and continuing on Oct. 7, 21, and 28, and Nov. 4. The genius behind various 20th-century artworks and artists from Picasso to Pollack and beyond will be revealed, and the group will discuss their own thoughts and reactions to each piece. This program is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library and the Friends of the Lincoln Council on Aging. It is open to adults of all ages. Preference will be given to Lincoln residents. Class size is limited to 35. Sign up for one session or all five. For more information or to register, contact Lisa Rothenberg at 781-259-8465 or lrothenberg@minlib.net.

Pelland to perform at LOMA

Steven Pelland

Steven Pelland is the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, Sept. 11. The event runs from 7-10 p.m., and Pelland will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30. He’s been aired on live radio and performed at premiere East Coast folk venues including Passim and Bull Run. Pelland released his first major CD, These Days, last year. A video of the first cut, California, highlights his finger-picking style and strong lyric sensibility.

LOMA is a monthly event. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com for a slot. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups.

Fall series on “Embracing Change”

Embrace Change is offering a free fall series for parents embracing the transition period they encounter as children leave the nest. Parents will connect with others experiencing the same transition, explore what’s next, and have opportunities to design their personal path for this new stage of life. See the Embrace Change website for program details.

All six events run from 1:30–3 p.m. The first three will be held at the Lincoln Public Library:

  • September 13 — “Promoting Productive Communication with Adult Children” with Teresa Simonelli, PsyaD
  • September 20 — “What’s Next? Finding Purpose” with Deb Elbaum, MD, career and life coach
  • September 27 — “Navigating Transitions with Self-Care” with Charlotte Sahyoun, yoga therapeutics specialist

The second set of programs will take place at the Pierce House:

  • October 4 — “Expanding Your Horizons: Delving into New Activities and Careers”
  • October 11 — “Balancing College Students Needs with Your Own Personal Opportunities for Growth” with Michelle Silbert, career and life coach
  • October 18 — “Ready, Set, Go!” with the Embrace Change team

Police want to hear from credit card fraud victims

In the past three months, have you been notified by a credit card company or bank that a credit card had been fraudulently opened in your name? If so, the Lincoln Police Department would like to know about it. Police department in Lincoln and other towns are investigating a substantial credit card fraud ring where credit cards have been opened up in residents’ names and used locally. There are likely additional victims who did not report this to police because the credit card company or bank assumed the loss. If you’ve been notified of this type of fraud, please call the Lincoln Police Department at 781-259-8113.

Conservation land manager sought

The town of Lincoln seeks a full-time land manager to work under the direction of the Conservation Director and the Conservation Commission. This is primarily a field position with some office responsibilities. Duties include managing and monitoring conservation land and trails, public outreach and education, enforcing regulations, and oversight of town-licensed agricultural properties. For details on duties and qualifications and how to apply, click here or email or jobs@lincolntown.org by Friday, Sept. 8.