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

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.

Library news

2025 Library Crawl
Wednesday, August 6 (all day)
It’s a scavenger hunt — visit as many area libraries as you can and take a picture of yourself with a designated item or two in each. Libraries will have handouts and giveaways — show your pictures to a librarian and receive a prize. All ages are welcome to participate in the self-guided crawl (start and end wherever you like). No registration required.

“All Together Now” friend and family puzzle tournament
Thursday, Aug. 14 from 6:00–8:00pm
The Lincoln Public Library Children’s Department invites teams of three to five players to complete a jigsaw puzzle in a fun, friendly tournament. Each team will be assigned a table with a 300-piece puzzle to be opened when the tournament begins (puzzles will be from the same manufacturer). The first team to finish their puzzle wins. Snacks and refreshments will be served. Prizes for all. Best for ages 5+ (younger children are welcome on family teams). Register here (limited to eight teams). Questions? Email dleopold@minlib.net.

August featured artist
The Library Art Gallery is exhibiting art by painter Bruno Wernli.

Book sale moves
The Friends of the Lincoln Library book sale has moved. Items for sale will now be located on shelves in the vestibule as you enter the building, with the cash box located on the wall to the right of the circulation desk.

Hours update
Effective Saturday, Aug. 2, the library will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays, with Saturday hours resuming on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Part of Bedford Road to see daytime closure again this week

Bedford Road will be again be closed from Monday through Friday, August 4–8 from 7:00am to 3:00pm between the five-way intersection to Canaan Drive to accommodate the water main project. 

Water Department Superintendent Richard Nolli last week answered questions about the project, which was originally supposed to have Bedford Road reduced to on lane at times rather than closed altogether. The work has been complicated by inaccurate records and balky valves.

“To prepare for this project, Water Department staff and consultants performed an extensive review of all existing maps, drawings, and notes to confirm the location of our distribution system lines. But due to historical inaccuracies in these records, and the overall age of the system, we are still occasionally required to make modifications during construction,” he said in an email to the Lincoln Squirrel.

“For example, some old valves are difficult to close and can cause delays when shutting down the system. In another instance, the contractor encountered a pipe that was previously thought to be disconnected but was still connected and pressurized, requiring additional time and effort to close. Events like this are not uncommon when working on old water systems.  Town staff, engineers, and the contractor worked together to address them quickly, so some delays caused longer work shifts than anticipated, but this hasn’t delayed the project overall.

“For the past three years, we have been electronically updating and adding photographic documentation for every portion of the distribution system to ensure our records are accurate and up to date for future work,” Nolli said.

The Bedford Road phase of the work will be completed in late August, and once it moves down Lincoln Road in the fall, one travel lane will remain open at all times, he said.

A Q&A about the water main project

An old water pipe almost completely clogged with minerals (2014 photograph). The existing mains under Lincoln Road are narrowed enough that booster pumps had to be installed as part of the Lincoln School project to achieve acceptable fire protection.

The Lincoln Squirrel emailed town officials with questions about the progress of the water main replacement project and what residents can expect going forward. Here are the answers (lightly edited) from Water Department Superintendent Richard Nolli.

Q. Were the daytime road closures in fact not planned at the outset? If so, what necessitated them?

A. Initially, we planned to keep one lane open to minimize disruption. However, as a result of preconstruction meetings with the contractor and Lincoln Police Department it was determined that full closures were necessary. The nature of the work, the equipment being used, and the proximity of traffic can create hazardous conditions for the construction crews, the officers responsible for traffic control, and the traveling public.

Q. How many more days of daytime closures can we expect, and when?

A. The Bedford Road phase of the work will be completed on or about last week of August.  We do not anticipate needing to fully close roadways once this phase is completed and the contractor moves on to the Lincoln Road phase of work.

Q. What is the latest project schedule?

A. The Bedford Road phase will be completed on or about last week of August. Work on the Lincoln Road phase (Five Corners to Ballfield Road) will begin around late August and be completed on or about late October/early November.

The Water Department will solicit bids to extend the main from Ballfield Road to Codman Road in the winter, but this is contingent on MBTA and wetlands permitting. We anticipate awarding a contract in the spring so that work can begin in early summer [2026]. This phase of work is expected to be completed in 2027.

Q. Will there be daytime disruptions once school starts?

A. Work will be ongoing into early November, including in the area of Ballfield Road. One travel lane will remain open at all times. We are coordinating with school administration to minimize disruption during dropoff and pickup times. Traffic detail officers will be on site at all times to ensure the safety of students, parents, and school staff commuting to and from the campus.

Q. Is the project going to require more money than budgeted?

A. Funds for the project were provided through a combination of water revenues and state grants. With any significant construction project, there is always risk of unforeseen conditions and associated costs; however, thus far, none have been encountered.