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

Police log for July 31–August 14, 2205

July 31

Bank of America, Lincoln Road (2:14am) — An officer checked on a person who had stepped outside to make a phone call.

Weston Road (3:25am) — An officer performed a check on a parked and occupied vehicle. The operator cleared from the area a short time later.

Lincoln Road (8:02am) — An officer assisted a motorist who had sideswiped a utility pole.

Cranberry Terrace, Hanscom AFB (4:28pm) — An officer attempted to serve court paperwork.

August 1

Conant Road (8:11am) — An officer spoke to a person about a potential scam.

Bypass Road (10:09am) — An officer provided a courtesy transport to a motorist after their vehicle was disabled.

Lincoln Road (5:14pm) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Lincoln and Codman Roads. One operator was transported to the hospital. The operator who caused the crash was cited for failing to yield to oncoming traffic.

August 2

Red Rail Farm (12:11pm) — A person spoke with an officer about a possible fraud.

Lincoln Road (12:17pm) — An officer helped a person with a follow-up related to a past motor vehicle crash.

Lincoln Road (8:12pm) — A caller reported hearing a dog barking, possibly in distress, from inside a residence. An officer arrived on scene and heard no barking and observed no signs to indicate the animal was in distress.

August 3

Baker Bridge Road (12:36pm) — An officer performed parking enforcement.

Virginia Road (1:54pm) — An officer investigated a reported noise complaint.

North Commons (4:06pm) — An officer spoke to the owner of a vehicle that was blocking access to a parking spot. The vehicle was moved a short time later.

August 4

Drumlin Farm (4:27am) — A caller reported seeing an injured deer by the side of the road. Due to obvious injuries, the deer was dispatched by police.

Baker Bridge Road (9:04pm) — A caller reported their dog was missing. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Bedford Road (2:07pm) — A caller reported a golden retriever running alongside Bedford Road near Route 2. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Lincoln Road (2:43pm) — The dog from the previous call was reunited with its owner.

Old County Road (3:15pm) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a potential fraud.

Winter Street (4:17pm) — An officer spoke to a person regarding a potential fraud.

Doherty’s Garage (4:20pm) — An officer responded regarding a person who did not pay for their gas.

August 5

Greenridge Lane (10:28am) — A caller reported the unauthorized use of a gas-powered leaf blower. An officer arrived but did not observe anyone using such a device.

Old County Road (1:01pm) — An officer was unsuccessful in an attempt to serve court paperwork.

North Great Road (4:56pm) — A caller reported seeing a person in distress on the side of the road. Police and fire units responded. The person was fine and required no assistance.

August 6

Greenridge Lane (11:04am) — A caller reported the unauthorized use of a gas-powered leaf blower. An officer arrived and spoke with a landscape crew, which was using a battery-powered leaf blower.

Todd Pond Road (3:25pm) — A caller reported the unauthorized use of a gas-powered leaf blower. An officer spoke with the landscape company and advised them of the bylaw violation.

August 7

Old Lexington Road (7:54am) — Verizon was notified regarding utility wires hanging in the roadway.

Magic Garden, Ballfield Road (8:06am) — An officer performed a courtesy transport.

Todd Pond Road (8:59am) — An officer was asked to perform a well-being check.

Lincoln Road (9:17am) — An officer came upon a downed power line. The roadway was detoured for a short period of time until Eversource could arrive to remove the wire.

Magic Garden, Ballfield Road (8:56am) — A caller reported a suspicious person in the area. An officer checked the building and surroundings but was unable to locate the person.

Lincoln Road (4:31pm) — A caller reported a tree leaning on utility wires. Verizon was notified.

August 8

Lincoln Road (11:44am) — Comcast was notified regarding the tree leaning on wires.

Todd Pond Road (1:37pm) — A caller reported the unauthorized use of a gas-powered leaf blower. An officer arrived on scene and confirmed the leaf blower use was from a battery-powered device.

Acorn Lane (5:17pm) — A caller reported the Acorn Lane street sign had been struck and was in the roadway. The DPW was notified.

August 9

Davison Drive (12:25pm) — An officer checked on a potential parking issue due to a yard sale in the area.

Winter Street (7:34pm) — An officer responded to the one-way section of Winter Street for the report of cars racing in the area. The vehicles were gone on arrival.

Page Farm Road (9:11pm) — An officer responded to a residence to check on the property. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

August 10

Mall at Lincoln Station (10:40am) — An officer performed a well-being check on a motorist parked in the Donelan’s parking lot. The person declined any assistance.

Walden Pond boat ramp (11:57am) — The Lincoln Fire Department responded to the town of Concord for a mutual aid request.

Emerson Road (12:36pm) — A person turned in two firearms-related items marked for destruction.

August 11

Hawk Hill Road (1:14pm) — An officer responded to a residence for a reported bylaw violation.

Lincoln Road (6:53pm) — A caller reported seeing a turtle in the roadway. When an officer arrived, the turtle had already made it safely across the road.

Wells Road (7:48pm) — The Fire Department responded to a residence for the odor of gas coming from a stove. The stove was disconnected and maintenance was notified.

August 12

Nothing of note.

August 13

South Great Road (8:12am) — Weston police requested assistance in locating a person who needed assistance. The area was checked by both departments but the person could not be located.

Lincoln Road (11:44am) — Verizon and Comcast were notified regarding a tree limb on utility wires.

Baker Bridge Road (9:46pm) — A tree limb was reported in the roadway. The responding officer was able to remove it.

August 14

Lincoln Road (1:41pm) — An officer spoke with a person in the lobby of the police station.

Harvest Circle (9:40pm) — An officer spoke with a person who mistakenly contacted the police for assistance.

Architect Carolyn Bargmann passes away

Carolyn Bargmann

Carolyn Hendrie Bargmann, an esteemed architect whose vision shaped spaces and whose laughter lit rooms, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2025, surrounded by her loving husband, daughters, and close relatives.

Born in Plainfield, N.J., and raised in Colorado Springs, Colo., Carolyn’s early life was marked by curiosity, creativity, and a love of adventure. She attended Kent School for Girls (now Kent Denver), Smith College, and Williams College, and earned a master of architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

Carolyn co-founded Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype in 1987 alongside her husband, Joel Bargmann. Together, they built a practice renowned for its design excellence, collaborative spirit, and enduring impact.

Carolyn distinguished herself as an industry leader in the design of corporate headquarters and office buildings — designing spaces that encouraged movement, fostered collaboration, and created the chance encounters that reconnect people across an organization every day. Over the course of her career, she designed more than twelve million square feet of office interiors for clients nationwide in financial services, law, entertainment, and technology, and earned numerous AIA and industry design awards. She was especially proud of her work in downtown Boston for Bain Capital and Goodwin Procter. Carolyn brought to every project a rare blend of ambition, artistry, and personality — qualities that continue to resonate in her work today.

She will be remembered not only for her professional achievements, but for the light and laughter she brought to all who knew her. She had a magnetic personality, boisterous laugh, quick wit, and gift for friendship. She loved hosting gatherings with family and friends, carrying on family traditions, engaging in clever wordplay, spending time in nature, and living an active lifestyle. Carolyn’s life was one of creativity, connection, and joy.

In recent years, Carolyn lived at Bridges, a memory care home in Lexington. Her family is deeply grateful for the devoted caregivers and team at Clear Guidance who surrounded her with compassion through her final days.

Carolyn is survived by her devoted husband of 45 years, Joel; her daughters and their husbands (Jane Bargmann and Nate Akers, Sarah and Jake Fay, and Leslie and Mason Brunnick); four cherished grandchildren; and her sisters Ann (a.k.a. “Funny),” Ellie, Laura, and Jane Hendrie.

A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held on October 18, 2025 from 1:00–4:00pm at the deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln. A remembrance ceremony will be held starting at 1:30pm, reception to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Codman Community Farms, 58 Codman Road, Lincoln MA 01773 near Carolyn and Joel’s home. Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence on Carolyn’s tribute page, click here.

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Detours for water main project this week

From Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 19–22, a portion of Lincoln Road will be closed for water main work. Drivers will be detoured to Peirce Hill Road and Tower Road, and they will be able to access the Lincoln School campus only from the Peirce Hill side of the Lincoln Road/Ballfield Road intersection.

PTO event welcomes new students and families

The Lincoln PTO welcomes incoming kindergarteners as well as all new students joining the Lincoln community on Thursday, Aug. 27 at the Lincoln School’s Red Playground for lemonade and a snack.

  • Kindergarten meet & play: 11:00–noon
  • New Lincoln family meet & play: noon–2:00pm

If you’re interested in helping, please email ptochair@lpto.org. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their children regardless of grade.

West Nile Virus found in Lincoln

A map showing towns with low, moderate, and high risk of West Nile virus (click to enlarge). Source: Mass.gov.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in Culex pipiens/restuans mosquitoes collected in Lincoln on August 5, 2025. This raises the risk level in Lincoln to moderate.

Due to ongoing evidence of mosquito samples carrying the virus, the risk level for WNV is classified as high in Acton, Bedford, Billerica, Boston, Brookline, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell, and Newton. 

“WNV findings in mosquitoes have accelerated rapidly over the last several weeks,” said State Epidemiologist Catherine M. Brown. “We are now in the peak time for transmission of mosquito-borne disease to people, and it is important for people to know that so they can take steps to protect themselves.”

The state Public Health Laboratory confirmed this year’s first WNV-positive mosquitoes in Massachusetts on June 17. Since then, there have been 168 WNV-positive mosquito samples detected from 12 counties including Middlesex. No human cases of WNV have been confirmed in Massachusetts so far this year.

Although serious illness caused by WNV is uncommon, there have been 142 cases of WNV in Massachusetts between 2015 and 2024. There were nineteen human cases of WNV in 2024, six human cases in 2023, and eight human cases of WNV in 2022. In addition, there have been seven mosquito samples that have tested positive for EEE (eastern equine encephalitis) this year, but no confirmed human or animal cases so far.

“Both West Nile virus and EEE pose risk to the people in Massachusetts,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said in an August 12 press release. “The weather remains warm and somewhat humid, which increases mosquito activity. I encourage everyone to take measures to protect themselves: use mosquito repellent when outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants, and be aware of peak mosquito hours.”

More information on both viruses as well as protection and control measures can be found on this Mass. Department of Health web page. 

According to Lincoln public health nurse Tricia McGean, East Middlesex Mosquito Control collects mosquitoes by setting out mosquito traps. Once back at the lab, mosquitoes from each individual trap are sorted by species, and certain species are submitted to the Department of Public Health to be tested for both WNV and EEE. Each sample submitted consists of 5-50 mosquitoes, all of the same species. Each sample is tested as one unit, so if one “pool” of 25 mosquitoes is submitted and tests positive, that would count as one WNV+ sample.

The specific locations that yielded positive samples are not disclosed, she said.

The end of the Hartwell pods

Demolition of the Hartwell pods began on August 14 starting with Pod C, which housed LEAP until June 2025. They’re being cleared to make way for the new community center, which is slated for completion in late fall 2026. It will house the Council on Aging and Human Services and the Parks and Recreation Department as well as LEAP.

The pods were designed by famed Modernist architect Henry Hoover (who also designed the Brooks School complex across the ballfield) and built between 1959 and 1964 to accommodate the growing number of schoolchildren in town — including the Lincoln Squirrel’s Alice Waugh, who attended kindergarten in the Pod C classroom closest to the main Hartwell building. 

“It’s a bittersweet, generational moment. We’re excited to see the first big milestone for construction of the community center, but we’re also sad to see the demolition of a building where so many memories were made,” said Community Center Building Committee Chair Sarah Chester.

See the Lincoln Squirrel’s short video of the Pod C demolition, as well as more photos and information in the Owners’ Project Manager’s monthly report to the CCBC on August 13, 2025.

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Talent show to benefit kids

Vama Gandhi, a rising senior at L-S, is organizing a talent show with Maddy Csendes through Kids4Humanity to raise money for Save the Children’s Emergency Fund on Sunday, Aug. 24 from 3:00-5:30pm in Bemis Hall. Everyone is welcome to participate, and talents can range from a magic trick, dancing, singing, playing a short piece on an instrument, or anything that makes you happy. All participants will receive a gift card as a donation from partnered local businesses. Register here by Wednesday, Aug. 20 and/or donate here (the goal is to raise $2,500). Questions? Email kids4humanity2025@gmail.com.

PTO back-to-school picnic

The Lincoln PTO is hosting it annual back-to-school picnic on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 5:00–7:00pm on the Lincoln School back fields. Local groups and organizations will have tables with information for students and families to learn more and get involved. If you would like your organization to host a table at the picnic, please respond via this form. Park in the lot closest to the red playground and walk around the back of the school. If the weather does not cooperate, the event will be held in the middle school gym. Pizza (one slice per student) and water will be provided to kids. Families are encouraged to set up picnic blankets, bring additional food, reconnect, and celebrate the kick off of the school year.

Rep. Gentile schedules office hours

State Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury) will hold virtual office hours on Friday, Sept. 12 from 10:00am–noon. Any constituent who wishes to speak to Rep. Gentile can sign up for a 20-minute time slot by emailing his legislative aide, Ravi Simon, at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov. Please provide your full name, address, phone number, email, and discussion topic.

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Coming up at the library

Craft & Chill: Octopuses
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 4:00–5:00pm
Create some colorful cephalopods. These craft events are for giving yourself a mental break and having some fun with other chill adults. All supplies are provided by the library. For ages 16+. 

Lincoln Library Film Society: “Female Perversions”
Thursday, Aug. 21, 6:00–8:00pm, Tarbell Room
In her U.S. film debut, Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton stars as a bisexual lawyer on the edge of professional breakthrough, personal breakdown, and sexual awakening. Shocking when it was first released in 1995, it is now deemed a feminist classic.

Garden Club hosts Lemonade in the Park

The Lincoln Garden Club invites anyone interested in joining the club to come to a Lemonade in the Park party on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 3:00pm. Meet some of the members, socialize, and learn about what the club does. Please RSVP to belinda.gingrich@gmail.com.

Almost Grown-Ups star at next LOMA

Almost Grown-Ups (selected members of The New Grown-Ups) will be the headliners at the next Lincoln Open Mic Acoustic (LOMA) on Monday, Sept. 8 from 7–10 p.m. in Bemis Hall. LOMA is a monthly open mike night event with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Come and perform (contact loma3re@gmail.com to sign up) or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word. Free admission.

Get early-bird tickets for TEDx Walden Pond

TEDx Walden Pond will return to Lincoln on Wednesday, Oct. 30 in Lincoln featuring a lineup of local and national speakers sharing “ideas worth spreading.” Early-bird tickets for $50 are available through September 1, after which prices will increase to $75. Tickets can be purchased at tedxwaldenpond.com. This year’s lower ticket prices are made possible by the generosity of local sponsors including Bjornson Dentistry, Beacon Driving School, Walsh and Walsh Associates (Concord), and Wellness in Motion (Concord). Special thanks to Dr. Tom and Kelsey Bjornson of Bjornson Dentistry, the event’s first Platinum Sponsor.

Addendum

The August 10 story headlined “My Turn: Protecting animals at Rodenticides Lobby Day” was missing the name of Trisha O’Hagen as one of the two authors. The story has been updated.

My Turn: Protecting animals at Rodenticides Lobby Day

By Carrie Stamos and Trisha O’Hagan

On July 24, Save Lincoln Wildlife, a group of Lincoln residents, joined over 200 advocates from various Massachusetts cities and towns, along with 75 legislators and staff, for the “Protect Animals from Rodenticides Lobby Day.” The event also featured notable raptor ambassadors Falco the Red-tailed Hawk and Bella the Barn Owl.

We established Save Lincoln Wildlife after learning from Heather Packard from Mass Audubon about the toxic food web created by rodent poisons (rodenticides) and having follow-on discussions with Lincoln’s Conservation Department.

We learned that raptors, foxes, coyotes, and other beneficial predators play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of Massachusetts’ ecosystems. Unfortunately, many of these iconic creatures and even pets are poisoned and die after consuming rodents tainted with first- and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs and SGARs).

At Lobby Day (left to right): Sara Dunleavy of Carlisle, Staci Montori and Carrie Stamos of Lincoln, Meaghan Sinclair of Concord, and state Sen. Michael Barrett.

We at Save Lincoln Wildlife are dedicated to:

  • Educating the community about the dangers of rodenticides.
  • Promoting safer rodent control methods.
  • Encouraging other communities to join our mission.
  • Supporting Mass Audubon’s Rescue Raptors campaign.
  • Welcoming all Lincoln residents to participate!

You can learn more by visiting:

Thank you for your help. Our wildlife ecosystem needs us all!

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

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Water main work in front of the library on August 6, with a piece of the old main in the foreground. (Photo by Alice Waugh)

Last two days for Bedford Road closure

Bedford Road from Five Corners to Canaan Drive will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 11-12 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate the water main project.

Deadline extended for nature photos

The deadline to submit photos of Lincoln for the 2026 LLCT/RLF Open Spaces of Lincoln Calendar and Nature Note Cards — a showcase of Lincoln’s rural landscapes, abundant wildlife, and recreational activities — has been extended to Friday, Aug. 22. All proceeds benefit the conservation, stewardship, and educational activities of the LLCT. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and feature natural landscapes, flora, or fauna. No limit to photo submissions. Click here for details on formatting, naming, and submitting files.

Paper-cutting workshop

A paper-cutting workshop with multimedia artist Elena (Zhonghe) Li will take place on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 11:00am–12:30pm at the Walden Pond Visitors Center (915 Walden St., Concord). Sponsored by the Lincoln-based Walden Woods Project and Friends of Walden Pond. Free, but limited to 25 participants and registration required — email walden.programs@mass.gov with the subject line “Paper-cutting Workshop.”

Police log for July 21–30, 2025

July 21

Lincoln Road (7:43am) — An officer assisted a person at a residence.

Concord Road (10:32am) — An officer spoke with a person regarding a possible scam.

Greenridge Lane (1:46pm) — An officer investigated a parking complaint.

Ent Road, Hanscom AFB (7:55pm) — An officer spoke with a person about an ongoing harassment situation.

Ent Road, Hanscom AFB (8:29pm) — An officer spoke with a person regarding a possible scam.

Bank of America, Lincoln Road (10:41pm) — A caller reported the crosswalk sign on Lincoln Road had been struck. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the vehicle.

July 22

Bedford Road (8:40am) — An officer assisted two motorists involved in a minor motor vehicle crash with exchanging paperwork.

Weston Road (9:08am) — The police and fire departments responded to a single-vehicle crash on Weston Road that occurred when the driver struck a tree. There were no injuries reported and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

North Great Road (12:22pm) — A caller reported a mattress in the roadway. The Massachusetts Highway Department was notified.

July 23

Greenridge Lane (12:50pm) — A caller reported someone using a leaf blower in violation of the town bylaw. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate any violation.

Granville Road (2:05pm) — An officer spoke with a person regarding a possible scam.

Todd Pond Road (3:42pm) — A caller reported someone using a leaf blower in violation of the bylaw. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate any violation.

Twin Pond Lane (10:06pm) — Officers responded for a noise complaint. They made contact with the person involved and asked them to turn the music down.

July 24

Lincoln Road (12:52am) — An officer helped a person with an ongoing matter.

Wells Road (11:21am) — An officer spoke to a person who had reported their mail may have been tampered with prior to delivery.

Bedford Lane (10:14pm) — A caller reported seeing lights moving behind their home. The lights were a neighbor’s string lights swaying in the breeze.

July 25

Codman Pool, Ballfield Road (10:57am) — An officer spoke with a person regarding a possible incident at the Codman Pool.

Trapelo Road (4:34pm) — A lost item was discovered on the side of the road. The owner was contacted and retrieved the item.

Lexington Road (8:14pm) — Officers checked the area for a vehicle parked partially on the roadway. Upon arrival, the vehicle had cleared the area.

July 26

Trout Brook Road, Wayland (6:32am) — Officers assisted the Wayland Police with a missing person.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (9:30am) — A caller reported seeing what they thought was smoke rising from a culvert on Route 2. Officers and members of the fire department checked the area. Nothing was found.

Tower Road (1:45pm) — A small water main break was reported in the area. The Water Department was notified.

Baker Bridge Road (2:13pm) — Several parked vehicles waiting to access Walden Pond were moved from the area.

Care Dimensions, Winter Street (2:51pm) — An officer spoke with a motorist after a report of a loud vehicle in the area.

Conant Road (3:11pm) — An officer spoke with a person about a possible fraudulent contractor scheme.

July 27

Sandy Pond Road (9:29am) — An officer freed a raccoon who was stuck in a trash barrel.

July 28

Weston Road (11:08am) — An officer observed a pedestrian on Route 2 in Concord. Concord police and the Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Indian Camp Lane (12:57pm) — Officers performing a well-being check on a person. Everything was fine.

Clark Gallery, Lincoln Road (4:34pm) — An officer conducted a follow-up to a previous incident.

July 29

Harvest Circle (11:03am) — A caller reported a person was stuck in an elevator. While the Fire Department was en route, the maintenance staff freed the individual.

Farrar Road (11:33am) — A person asked to speak to an officer about a specific matter.

Lincoln Road (7:20pm) — A person asked to speak with an officer.

Lexington Road (8:52pm) — A motorist reported their vehicle was disabled and in need of a tow. The vehicle was removed a short time later.

Lincoln Road (9:56pm) — A motorist reported having car trouble. The vehicle had pulled off the road and waited a short period of time but then proceeded on their way.

July 30

Wells Road (1:24am) — A caller reported hearing a knocking sound toward the rear of their residence. Officers checked the area but did not locate the source of the noise.

Lexington Road (11:33am) — A caller reported a motor vehicle crash that had occurred earlier in the day.

Lincoln Road (7:39pm) — An officer helped a person with a technology issue.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (8:59pm) — Officers assisted the Town of Acton with locating a person. Further updates indicated that the individual had left Lincoln.