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

Two new Lincoln police officers sworn in

New Lincoln Police officers Matthew Armata (center) and Joe Pellegrini with Town Clerk Susan brooks after the swearing-in ceremony.

Joe Pellegrini and Matthew Armata became Lincoln’s two newest police officers after being sworn in by Town Clerk Susan Brooks on June 30.

The new arrivals succeed Officer Robert Gallo, who retired last year after serving in Lincoln for 32 years, and Officer Robert Surette, a 14-year Lincoln veteran who took a new position with the Harvard University Police in October 2016. Armata and Pellegrini are the first officers hired in Lincoln since Matthew Forance, who joined the force in 2014, according to Police Chief Kevin Kennedy.

Pellegrini, 25, is not new to the Lincoln force—he was promoted after being hired as a 911 dispatcher in early 2016. He has a master’s degree in criminal justice studies from UMass–Dartmouth and was a dispatcher at Framingham State University before coming to Lincoln.

Armata is 26 and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice studies from Fitchburg State University. He previously worked for an investment management company and the Boston Red Sox security staff, but “he always wanted to be a police officer,” Kennedy said. Both men beat out a lot of competition for their posts—there were more than 100 candidates for the two positions, he added.

Pellegrini and Armata are now doing a 10-week in-house training with more senior Lincoln police officers, “learning the town and procedures,” Kennedy said.

 

AmeriCorps crew restores section of Farrar Pond trail

A crew of AmeriCorps volunteers recently restored several eroded sections of trail on the eastern and southern shores of Farrar Pond that had become difficult to walk on due to erosion.

Fred Winchell and other members of the Farrar Pond Conservation Trust identified 10 spots in three sections of trail that needed the most work. A retaining wall and fill were installed to cover exposed roots and provide a level walking surface in one area. The crew also installed check steps—timbers placed across the trail to act as both low dams to slow water flowing down a trail and as steps for trail users. Some trail parts were also widened or rerouted slightly.

Over a 10-day period in late May and June, the five AmeriCorps crew members refurbished on a total of almost 8,000 feet of trail, including 250 feet of new trail and the 35-foot-long retaining wall.

Based in the Berkshires in northwestern Massachusetts, the Student Conservation Association’s (SCA) Massachusetts AmeriCorps program is a residential community of emerging leaders who devote five or 10 months to full-time educational and conservation service.

“Though our [Farrar Pond] projects were things we had little previous practice in and were hard work, we were motivated by visits from lots of furry and feathered friends. During one lunch break, Ryan played peek-a-boo with a weasel. Two swans made constant rounds with their four new babies in tow. And we were visited many times a day by our site contact, Fred [Winchell], and his friendly dog, Finnick,” AmeriCorps crew leader Caitlin Faulds wrote.

The project was funded by the Farrar Pond Associates via donations from pond abutters and other friends of Farrar Pond as well as a generous gift from Bob Davoli and Eileen McDonagh.

Photos courtesy SCA Massachusetts AmeriCorps and Fred Winchell; click here to see more.

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News acorns

Community Cops ‘n Cones

Residents of all ages are invited to meet Lincoln’s police officers and enjoy free ice cream and games at Community Cops ‘n Cones on Tuesday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn behind Donelan’s and Premier Dry Cleaner. Sponsored by the Lincoln Police, Donelan’s, Lincoln Woods, and the Rural Land Foundation.

Summer music on tap

The Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring three more summer concerts, each beginning at 6 p.m. at the Codman Pool. For the first time, all four bands (including the Nays, who played on June 28) have direct ties to Lincoln. Admission is free. Pool use for non-members during the show is $5/person. Concerts may be rescheduled due to rain; check www.LincolnRec.com for the latest updates.

Wednesday, July 12 — Alter Ego
Talented, entertaining, and versatile, Alter Ego has been performing in the Boston metro area since 2005. They play a variety of music ranging from rock to country, including some originals, that appeal to all ages. They feature excellent vocals (six of seven band members sing) and strong musicianship.

Monday, July 17 — Parkville Zoo
Parkville Zoo plays original music that’s edgy, happy, philosophical, satirical and hopeful. Rich, three-part harmonies jump and swing from a structure of rhythmic wood and steel.

Wednesday, July 19 — Dadda
Not a Norwegian nanny or a German polka band, but four of Lincoln’s funkiest local boys playing the heck out of an eclectic mix of new and old rock classics.

Lincoln July 4 events on video

If you missed Lincoln’s parade or fireworks show on July 4, click here to see a video of the parade by Hal McAleer and click here to see the fireworks finale.

Library offers adult reading challenge, other activities

For grown-ups who don’t want to kids to have all the fun, the Lincoln Public Library has created its second annual summer reading challenge just for adults. Small prizes will be awarded, along with an invitation to a wine and cheese party on a September date to be announced. Participants have to read books in several categories including Pulitzer Prize winners, biographies of people you’ve never heard of, and books that take place in another country. Stop by the library to pick up your reading challenge form or click here to download the reading lists for children and adults.

Other selected events at the library this month (click here for more information in children’s programs or click here for featured adult events:

  • The Hampstead Players perform Beauty & the Beast for ages 4+ on Tuesday, July 11 from 4–5 p.m.
  • Flip Flop Hip Hop Dance Party for ages 6 and under on Wednesday, July 12 from 11–11:45 a.m.
  • Sing-along showing of the movie Grease for all ages on Wednesday, July 12 from 7-8:30 p.m.
  • “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” party for ages 8+ on Thursday, July 13 from 4–5:30 p.m.  (advance signup required; call 781-259-8465).
  • Nappy’s Puppets singalong for all ages on Thursday, July 20 from 11 a.m.–noon.
  • Caribbean concert by the Pan Loco Steel Band on Thursday, July 20 at 6 p.m. on the front lawn (Tarbell Room in case of rain).
  • Zoo New England for all ages on Tuesday, July 25 from 11 a.m.–noon.
  • Family Bingo Night on Wednesday, July 26 at 7 p.m.
  • Beatles Hour with Berklee College of Music Professor Lauren Passerelli on Thursday, July 26 at 7 p.m.

 

Residents offer thoughts on school project priorities and goals

The School Building Committee has released a summary of the hopes and priorities for the school building project expressed by residents at the committee’s kickoff meeting on June 14.

About 40 residents at the meeting answered a series of four questions during a participation activity after the SBC outlined its timeline and asked for community input. Since then, the committee has also received more than 250 responses to an online survey on “Shaping Our Town’s Evaluation Criteria,” which is open until July 15. The video of the meeting (minus the activity session) is here.

The questions and most frequent answer are below.

Question 1: The Lincoln School is important to the community because…

  1. it is the heart of the community
  2. education is a core value
  3. the physical campus is an important meeting place for both young families and older adults
  4. it generates civic pride
  5. it educates our future leaders
  6. education is the foundation of the community and central to the quality of life

Question 2: I would like the opportunity to…

  1. improve the educational environment
  2. have an environmental sustainability in building
  3. see the total town coming together to make a decision
  4. have significant input at several points along the way
  5. understand decisions; understand how input is handled
  6. to get all school information to all Lincoln citizens at all times

Question 3: When developing the design of the Lincoln School, the primary focus should be on…

  1. a welcoming, comfortable, safe atmosphere. Affirm student, faculty, and community dignity through use of materials, natural light, textures, color, etc.
  2. flexible space in support of student and faculty experience
  3. a structure that encourages community and collaboration
  4. design—effectiveness for variety of needs at acceptable cost
  5. educational program augmented by well-designed spaces which promote Lincoln’s values of community, conservation, and history
  6. integrating the building into the greater campus (roads, sidewalks, fields, etc.)

Question 4: I hope that the School Building Committee will consider ….

  1. the educational mission that Becky McFall has been sharing regarding 21st-century learning spaces
  2. making sustainability a top priority from the get-go
  3. a building that supports the progression of grades and makes sure all kids have access to the outdoors
  4. practicality—”do not let perfection be the devil of getting it done”
  5. really listen to the input from the town and all the past work that has been done
  6. having the project design led by energy efficiency

To obtain the full set of responses, email sbc@lincnet.org.

The next SBC meeting is Wednesday, July 12 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room. The agenda will be posted here.

Public hearings coming up

Zoning Board of Appeals

Thursday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. to hear and act on the following requests:

  • Gail Alden, 240 Concord Rd., for a special permit to build a two-story detached garage.
  • Lloyd Dahmen, 10 Grasshopper Lane, for a special permit to construct a garden shed.
  • Daniello Jeha, 170 South Great Rd., for a special permit to sell used cars.
  • Stephen Gladstone, 67 Winter St., for renewal of a special permit for an accessory apartment.
  • Deborah Race and James LaPlante, 41 South Great Rd., for a special permit for an addition and expansion with a two-car garage.

Planning Board

  • Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m. to review an application for Site Plan Review. The applicant, Robert Pace, proposes to construct a new home at 169 Lexington Rd.

Conservation Commission

  • Wednesday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. in response to the Notice of Intent by Edward and Ellen Julian for a replacement septic system in the Outer Buffer Zone Resource Area at 104 Todd Pond Rd.
  • Wednesday, July 12 at 8:15 p.m. in response to the Notice of Intent by F. Douglas Adams for construction of a new home and associated landscape elements in the Outer Buffer Zone Resource Area at Granville and Llanover Roads.

Criminal justice speaker, film draw dozens to Bemis

Ex-con Clarence Bevins speaks to the crowd in the Bemis Hall basement.

By Laura Berland

Clarence Blevins gave face and voice to the prison population, sharing his experience of spending almost 25 years in Massachusetts’ prisons (including significant time in solitary confinement) at a presentation and film on criminal justice attended by about 70 people in Bemis Hall.

After being incarcerated at a young age, Blevins described prison as a place where no one cares, rehabilitation efforts are virtually nonexistent, and waiting lists for counseling and work programs can be up to three years. But while in prison, he began to read and study and ”help himself because there is no other help offered,” he said at the June 11 event. Today he is a motivational speaker who addresses students, at-risk youth, community-based organizations, and others about his experiences and criminal justice reform and is passionate about helping young people avoid bad decisions that result in incarceration.

The documentary 13th (the title refers to the 13th amendment which forbade involuntary servitude—thus ending slavery—except as a punishment for crimes) was also shown. Through interviews, photos, music and video clips, director Ava DuVernay’s film looked at the effects of convict leasing, lynching, Jim Crow laws, and the war on drugs on minority communities which, by the late 20th century, resulted in a disproportionate incarceration of people of color.

Afterwards, State Senator Mike Barrett opened the floor to responses and questions from the audience. One participant sharing feelings of “shame;” others talked of the need to do something and asked Barrett and Blevins for suggestions.

Barrett discussed the bill he’s sponsoring that aims to restrict “fine-time” sentences—numerous fees that burden low-income defendants and may result in incarceration for failure to pay. He also advocated ending mandatory minimum sentences for all but murder, along with other legislative proposals regarding bail reform and solitary confinement.

Blevins spoke about the Massachusetts Bail Fund which assists those who can’t afford to post bail by paying up to $500, and a number of organizations including Span, Inc., which assists former prisoners to achieve healthy, productive and meaningful lives.

A follow-up session is planned for the fall.

Police, CRANE warn about Snapchat feature

Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix, Lincoln Police Lt. Sean Kennedy and Sudbury Lincoln CRANE wish to inform parents and guardians of a new feature on the Snapchat social networking tool that allows users, including children, to share their exact location with others on the mobile phone app.

The Snap Map feature is automatically included in the latest update of Snapchat, and it allows users to view the locations of their “friends” while they’re active on the app. The feature also includes the ability for users to share their photos and videos publicly, even if their profiles are otherwise private.

“The community should be aware of the potential dangers associated with this update to the Snapchat app,” Nix said. “The ability for other users to track a person’s exact location is a big concern for us, and we highly recommend that parents disable this feature on their children’s phones.”

The Snap Map’s tracking capability can be disabled by activating “Ghost Mode.” Here is how to enable “Ghost Mode” and disable pinpoint GPS tracking:

  • Pinch the screen on the main camera portion of the app
  • Once the map is activated, click on the icon in the upper right-hand corner of the screen
  • Press the slider next to the “Ghost Mode” label at the top of the menu
  • If left active, the Snap Map will pinpoint and display a user’s location whenever they are actively using the app, and will also display a person’s most recent known location.

“This new Snapchat feature is extremely concerning as it allows anyone, including strangers, to access an individual’s location,” Kennedy said. “Parents are strongly encouraged to deactivate this feature if their children use the social media app to ensure they aren’t putting them in any danger.”

“This recent update is obviously worrisome, as Snapchat is extremely popular among students and young people,” said Dan Pereira, president of Sudbury Lincoln CRANE and director of the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department. “We are encouraging parents and guardians to talk to their children about the importance of privacy and never sharing personal information with strangers, especially your location.”

Property sales for May

160 Tower Rd. — Edmond E Charrette III Trust to Spencer and Lane Lauren for $915,000 (May 26)

19 Moccasin Hill — The Ruth J. Wales Trust to Neal H. and Kimberly A. Rajdev for $1,105,000 (May 26)

25 Morningside Lane — Maria Martha Hanafin Pearson to Alexander J. Nicholas and Ann Feng Cheung for $741,000 (May 19)

177 Concord Rd. — The Food Project to Jackson A. and Carolyn Caine for $601,000 (May 19)

7 Silver Hill Rd. — Edmund Turowski to the Rong J. Guan Trust and the Minping Liu Trust for $2,100,000 (May 12)

20L Indian Camp Lane — The Jack W. Carpenter Trust to Ernest L. and Yana A. Fisher for $469,000 (May 8)

21 Greenridge Lane — Jack E. Bossom to Tanicia Choice for $500,000 (May 3)

Obituaries

Herbert Haessler, 91 (June 20) — senior warden of St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church, member of Lincoln Board of Health.

Thomas P. Beal, 88 (June 13) — teacher at the Rivers School in Weston and the Fenn School in Concord.

Anne Marie (Broderick) Mahoney, 83 (June 9) — longtime health aide in the Lincoln schools.

Robert McCart, 81 (June 8) — brother-in-law of Anthony and Lucy Cotoia and Charles and Jean Stankard, all of Lincoln.

Thomas P. Beale

Herbert Haessler

Robert McCart

 

Selectman mull another sign request from Old Winter St.

Undeterred by an earlier denial by the Board of Selectmen, some Old Winter Street residents have asked the board to restrict evening commuter traffic on their road, though members were at best noncommittal at their June 19 meeting.

The Roadway and Traffic Committee (RTC) fielded a complaint from the road’s residents in 2015 that some commuters traveling north on Winter Street from Waltham to Lincoln were using the Old Winter Street loop as a cut-through to “jump the line” of traffic backed up at the intersection with Trapelo Road. The RTC recommended that the town install a sign banning left turns onto Old Winter Street from 4–7 p.m. for a six-month trial period.

However, the Board of Selectmen voted by 2–1 margin later that year to deny the request. Selectmen Peter Braun and Renel Fredriksen were reluctant to restrict use of a public road in general and were concerned about setting a precedent for similar situations in Lincoln.

Earlier this year, the RTC reiterated its recommendation for a no-left-turn sign, but RTC members also plan to write a memo with “a detailed rationale and explanation of what makes this circumstance unique as compared with other cut-through traffic circumstances elsewhere in town,” said Town Administrator Tim Higgins.

“If nothing has changed and we’re getting the same request again, it’s almost akin to judge-shopping or forum-shopping,” Selectman James Craig said. “Previous colleagues who’ve sat in these seats have already studied and carefully, thoughtfully, and painfully deliberated this. For me that’s concerning.”

Selectmen deferred action pending the memo from the RTC.

Other highlights of the June 19 Board of Selectmen’s meeting compiled by former Selectman Peter Braun:

  • After interviewing four additional candidates, the board appointed the four at-large members of the Community Center Planning and Preliminary Design Committee: Douglas Crosby, Owen Beenhouwer, Sarah Chester, and Ellen Meyer Shorb. The board also approved committee members who were nominated by their respective boards or committees: Steve Gladstone, Jonathan Dwyer, Eric Harris, Dilla Tingley, and Margit Griffith.
  • Town Administrator Tim Higgins reported on the current status of staff’s conversations with a new advocacy organization called Mothers Out Front that is focusing on natural gas leaks.
  • Higgins reported on the recent Route 2 celebration event and his intention to invite to a future board meeting certain residents who were unable to attend the event, so their efforts could be recognized in person.
  • The board approved the concept of forming a housing options working group with the Housing Commission and other agencies to coordinate consideration of opportunities to enhance affordable housing in Lincoln.
  • The board discussed ideas for enhancing communications with the public in general, including enhancing coordination and public outreach concerning proposals that are intended for Town Meeting presentation.