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

Police log for April 17–26, 2024

April 17

Lincoln Road (12:03 p.m.) — An officer responded to the commuter lot for an illegally parked motor vehicle.

Conant Road (12:37 p.m.) — Administrative paperwork was served in hand to a resident.

Lexington Road (12:42 p.m.) — A caller reported the gates to the cell tower appeared to be open. An officer checked the area; the open gates appeared to be the result of neglect.

Winter Street (5:24 p.m.) — Officers responded to a vehicle that was occupied, parked, and running. The operator was a food delivery driver who left the area a short time later.

North Great Road (6:30 p.m.) — Officers responded to a call reporting a suspicious incident. They spoke to all parties involved and confirmed the incident was a misunderstanding.

April 18

Lincoln Road (1:05 p.m.) — A parking ticket was issued to an illegally parked motor vehicle.

Lincoln Road (4:18 p.m.) — An officer conducting a radar assignment stopped a vehicle for speeding. The officer subsequently arrested the operator, identified as Diego Guadagnano, 35, of Marlborough, for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for unlicensed operation and failing to stop. He was bailed and ordered to appear at Concord District Court on April 19.

April 19

Public Safety Building (8:49 a.m.) — A party turned in fireworks for destruction.

Bedford Road (12:53 p.m.) — A caller reported that several men were filming individuals by the library. Officers responded and spoke with the individuals.

Old Concord Road (5:36 p.m.) — An individual asked to speak with an officer regarding a possible scam.

Mount Misery parking lot (9:27 p.m.) — An officer spoke with occupants of a parked and occupied motor vehicle. The parties left the area a short time later.

April 20

Virginia Road (9:06 a.m.) — Officers responded to the civil air terminal to assist the Massachusetts State Police with a protest.

April 21

Boyce Farm Road (3:47 a.m.) — Officers assisted a caller with checking a property.

Lincoln Road (11:12 am.) — A caller reported unauthorized leaf blower usage. An officer checked the area and found no violations.

Lexington Road (5:31 p.m.) — A caller reported possible graffiti on their property. The area was checked; the markings appear to be from a contractor.

Food Project office, Lewis Street (6:22 p.m.) — An officer came upon a vehicle parked, occupied, and running. The operator had pulled off to take a quick power nap. They were on their way a short time later.

April 22

Old County Road (5:18 a.m.) — A caller reported seeing light from a flashlight in an area behind their residence. The area was checked but nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

April 23

Conant Road (8:10 a.m.) — A caller reported a possibly sick raccoon in their yard. Animal Control was notified. The raccoon made its way back into the woods.

Mount Misery parking lot (2:43 p.m.) — A caller reported that their dog was missing. They reported a short time later that their dog had been found.

Beaver Pond Road (10:38 p.m.) — A caller reported that a brush fire had grown too big and requested assistance. Police and fire units responded and regained control.

April 23

Old Sudbury Road (7:28 a.m.) — Police responded to the railroad crossing for a report of the gates stuck in the down position. Officers remained on scene for approximately 20 minutes until MBTA personnel arrived and resolved the issue.

April 24

Mount Misery parking lot (2:30 a.m.) — An officer checked on a tow driver who had stopped in the parking lot to check their GPS.

Lincoln Road (1:35 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Codman and Lincoln Roads when a vehicle had failed to stop at the stop sign. Neither of the operators were injured. One of the vehicles became engulfed with flames that were extinguished a short time later.

Bedford Road (8:31 p.m.) — An individual found several items at a trailhead and turned them in to police.

Canoe landing parking lot (11:22 p.m.) — An officer found an individual sleeping in their vehicle. They were sent on their way a short time later.

April 25

Old Winter Street (12:37 p.m.) — A caller turned in several items to the police for destruction.

April 26

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (12:35 a.m.) — A small fire was reported. Police and fire units responded and knocked down the remnants of the flames.

The Commons in Lincoln (10:18 a.m.) — A caller misplaced several items initially reported stolen but located them a short time later.

Sandy Pond Road (2:06 p.m.) — Officers assisted Concord police with a single-vehicle crash.

Lincoln Road (3:22 p.m.) — An individual found a suspicious item on their property and turned it over to the police.

Lincoln Road (4:35 p.m.) — A minor two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Route 117 when one vehicle rear-ended another. There were no injuries reported. A written warning was issued to the operator of the vehicle responsible for the crash.

Lincoln Road (6:39 p.m.) — A caller reported observing a white male in his mid-30s with brown/black hair, a mustache, and wearing khaki shorts who had exposed himself. The area was checked but no one matching the description was found. An investigation is ongoing.

LincolnTalk guidelines for town officials are clarified

An earlier prohibition on town officials participating in LincolnTalk for fear of open Meeting Law violations has been loosened and clarified by Town Counsel Joel Bard.

Planning Board members were advised at their April 16 meeting that they were no longer allowed to post emails to LincolnTalk or even subscribe to the listserv. Director of Planning and Land Use Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie said this was the advice of Town Counsel Joel Bard and accompanied a recent public records request by resident Barbara Peskin for emails and other communications relating to the March 23 Town Meeting.

“The one-sentence summary is that town officials may participate and post on social media, but they must avoid any discussions or ‘deliberations’ with fellow board members and should limit their posts to simple factual points,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins told the Select Board on April 29.

Board and committee members may post information about meeting schedules and other basic administrative matters on LincolnTalk as well as basic factual information, including offering corrections to misstatements, Higgins wrote in a memo to the Select Board, which makes reference to the Attorney General’s Office FAQs on the Open Meeting Law. However, they may not post a response to the posting of another member, “as doing so risks becoming a deliberation outside the confines of a properly convened public meeting,” and they also may not use LincolnTalk to “engage in debate with fellow board members or the public.”

“‘Deliberation’ is defined broadly,” Higgins said at the meeting. “If we start to respond to one another’s posts or even respond to a post by a resident other than to clarify basic factual information, it’s a slippery slope, and [Bard] has seen a number of clients slide down that slope.”

At the heart of the matter is that LincolnTalk should not be viewed by residents as a primary information source about town government. “Lincoln Talk has a limited place among the town’s communication and outreach strategies. It is not the primary vehicle through which the town communicates with its residents. Residents who post questions or concerns to LincolnTalk should not expect that a town official will be responding,” Higgins’s memo notes.

Instead, residents who have questions should contact the relevant department listed on the town website (hover your mouse over the Government link at the top of the page). Those who aren’t sure where to start may contact the Town Administrator’s Office.

“My takeaway is that there’s frustration on this side of the table that more folks don’t reach out directly to us,” Higgins said. “LincolnTalk is valuable in its own way but it’s not an official communications vehicle for the town.” There is no staff member whose job includes monitoring LincolnTalk, “and none of us is authorized to respond on behalf of the town in an official way” on that platform.

News acorns

Select Board continues fight against Hanscom proposal

The Select Board this week approved a detailed letter to the state that takes issue with the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on a proposal to significantly expand hangar space and make other changes at Hanscom Field to accommodate private jets.

The DEIR is “deeply troubling for a number of reasons,” including what the letter says are:

  • incomplete treatment of GHG emissions,
  • unsubstantiated analysis of ferry flights (empty flights),
  • inaccurate representation of the role of sustainable aviation fuels, and
  • misleading characterization of commitments to solar installations.

“We are forced to conclude that the proponent’s DEIR is not a serious assessment of the environmental impacts of the proposed project, and that their claims are not backed by adequate analysis or fact. We therefore urge [Secretary Rebecca Tepper, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs] to instruct the proponent to revise their DEIR to produce a more comprehensive and accurate environmental impact report,” the letter says.

Officials and residents from area towns and all over the country have been protesting the plan. The public has until May 10 to submit comments on the DEIR.

Open Studio reception and exhibit at library

Lincoln Open Studio’s biennial exhibit in the Lincoln Public library is now on display through May 25. There will be an opening reception with the artists on Thursday, May 2 from 4–6 p.m.

Arts and Farmers Market begins this Saturday

Starting on Saturday, May 4, the Lincoln Arts and Farmers Market runs weekly from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. on the green outside the Tack Room (145 Lincoln Rd.). the market will take place each Saturday until the end of October. New vendors from the community are welcome to set up a table to sell garden produce, arts and crafts as well as vintage and collectible items. There is no table fee, but it’s nice to tip the band $5 or more as they attract many patrons. Please bring your own table, tent (optional), etc.; you’re welcome to join as many or few markets as you wish. For more vendor information, email Bill Huss at billhuss53@gmail.com.

Session on parent-child communication

Join Lincoln Nursery School and local child behavior specialist Emily Barker for a conversation and Q&A in Studio Purple on Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at LNS at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Her parent-coaching business called Little Love Language uses a holistic approach as well as her signature tools to help parents communicate with and better understand their children.

Get ready for the Great Create

The Lincoln School Foundation invites K-5 students to complete creative challenges in the Great Create at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum on Sunday, May 19 from 1–3 p.m. (check-in starts at 12:30 p.m.). Working together in small groups, students will use unexpected materials and make connections between art and nature. Join us for a fun afternoon of community and friends while supporting the LSF’s mission to inspire and fund innovative teaching and authentic learning experiences in our schools. Register at www.lincolnschoolfoundation.org.

Battle Road BioBlitz

The Battle Road BioBlitz at Minute Man National Historical Park from Saturday, May 11 to Friday, May 17 will engage scientists, naturalists, and the interested public to survey and document as many species as possible within a designated time period. The 10 free events at various times and locations — including Amphibians and Aquatic Organisms, Battle Road Botanizing, Biodiversity at Dusk, Pollinators and Plants, and Quest for Uncommon Species — take place at various locations and times at the park; sign up for one or several (space is limited). Click here to register or view the entire collection on Eventbrite. 

Co-sponsored by MMNHP and Friends of MMNHP; the towns of Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln; the Concord and Lincoln Land Conservation Trusts; the Brookline Bird Club, and Zoo New England. Questions? Contact Margie Brown at margie_coffin_brown@nps.gov. 

Watering restrictions now in effect

Water use restrictions are automatically implemented from May 1 through September 30 each year, and higher restrictions may be imposed in response to state drought declarations. Lincoln is  now in Stage 2 (one stage higher than state guidelines, per the Lincoln Water Department’s Drought Management Plan), which allows use of sprinklers, drip irrigation and soaker hoses two days a week from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. by house number. See this chart for details on rules for all types of outdoor water use. Customers who are farmers as defined in the Lincoln Right to Farm Bylaw are exempt from these restrictions.

Water Department staff will be monitoring all sprinkler use in town and will stop to remind residents of the new restriction policy. A first offense will result in a $100 fine, and subsequent violations will result in a $200 fine. If any residents have questions, please contact Darin LaFalam, Water Superintendent, at email lafalamd@lincolntown.org or 781-259-2669. For further information on water conservation, visit the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ drought page.

News acorns

L-S School Committee listening session on Monday

The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee will hold a listening session for students, families, and community members on Monday, April 29 from 7–8 p.m. on Google Meet. These sessions are not public meetings with an agenda, but rather a casual opportunity to meet with committee members (in this case, Lucy Maulsby and Mary Warzynski). Click here to join the meeting.

LSB show for young audiences

LSB Players presents “Aesop’s (Oh So Slightly Updated) Fables” at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Kirshner Auditorium on Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. (special sensory-friendly performance) and 3 p.m. There will be lobby activities for young children before the show and during intermission. Concessions will also be sold at intermission (cash only). Ticket at the door or in advance online are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens/students, $5 for ages 5 and under.

Birth-a-Thon on May 10-11

Bird-a-thon, Mass Audubon’s annual statewide species identification competition, returns May 10-11 when birding enthusiasts of all abilities and backgrounds will engage in a friendly but focused competition to identify the most species from Friday at 6 p.m. to Saturday at 6 p.m.

The popular two-day marathon takes place during the height of the annual spring migration period, when millions of birds are returning to the Bay State to breed and raise young. The competition also serves as a major fundraiser (both in the field and online) for Mass Audubon. Last year, teams recorded 279 species overall — a record for the event now in its fourth decade. To participate in Bird-a-thon and to learn more, visit massaudubon.org/birdathon.

Take part in No Mow May

This May, do good by doing (almost) nothing to your lawn. There are no rules for No Mow May; you can mow less (maybe every other week) or never mow again. But even leaving a small patch of unmowed lawn can improve ecological resilience, support pollinators, create a diverse wildlife haven when butterflies and bees thrive, and help increase ecosystem resilience and store carbon in the soil. Click here to learn more and get your small No Mow May sign or email outsideinformation@gmail.com.

Film: “Green Days by the River”

The Lincoln Film Society presents “Green Days by the River” (2017) on Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Set in 1952 in a remote coastal village in Trinidad, 15-year-old Shellie follows a kindhearted Indian planter to work on his plantation along the river as he pursues the affection of two girls in a lasting tale of young love and loss.

Food Project program for rising eighth-graders

The Food Project in Lincoln is offering “The Pollinators,” a new two-week summer program for rising eighth-graders centered around sustainable agriculture, healthy food systems, and social and food justice through engaging workshops and hands-on activities. Day campers will gain a deeper understanding of their own identity, acquired invaluable knowledge about agricultural and food production systems, and explored different culinary recipes. Sessions are July 1-12 (greater Boston) and August 5–12 (north shore). Click here for more information and to apply (applications due by May 3).

Volunteers sought for Housing Commission

The Select Board is seeking interested volunteers to serve a five-year term as an appointed member on the Lincoln Housing Commission starting in June 2024. They seek Lincoln residents who have demonstrated interest or engagement in issues concerning housing, affordable housing, property development and/or management, local policy, land use or related topics. All commission members also serve in a liaison and/or representative capacity on one or more other town boards/committees. The time commitment for non-chair members is around 5 hours a month.

Letters of interest should be addressed to Select Board Chair Kim Bodnar and sent to Peggy Elder, Administrative Assistant in the Select Board’s Office, along with a completed volunteer application. Applicants are also encouraged to attend a Housing Commission meeting, held on the first Thursday of the month. For more information, call the Select Board’s Office at 781- 259-2601.

FOLL seeks volunteers, children’s books

The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library (FOLL) seeks volunteers to join its Board of Directors. FOLL is a nonprofit organization that encourages community use of the library and raises money to pay for services not included in the Town budget: adult and children’s programs, museum passes, lectures, events, and special equipment and furnishings. Those interested may email cemlincolntalks@gmail.com.

FOLL is also planning a children’s book sale at the library’s Summer Kick-Off Party on Wednesday, June 12. Please donate children’s books in good condition by emailing cemlincolntalks@gmail.com for pickup. Funds raised by the FOLL pay for adult and children’s programming, lectures, special equipment, museum passes and other enhancements to library’s services that are not included in the town budget.

Schools have open staff positions

The Lincoln Public Schools have several open positions including volleyball coach, substitute teachers, and bus monitors. Click here to learn more.

Burglars who targeted Indians and South Asians in Lincoln and other towns are arrested

Some of the stolen items recovered by investigators.

Four Rhode Island men have been arrested in a wide-ranging string of burglaries that included one in Lincoln in July 2023. 

Jovan Lemon, 29, of Providence, Paul Lemon, 30, of Warwick, Steven Berdugo, 28, of Providence, and Paul Miller, 46 of Woonsocket were charged with 95 counts of unarmed burglary and breaking and entering a dwelling house in the daytime with intent to commit a felony.  The 43 burglaries and break-ins occurred in Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Easton, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Weston, Sudbury, Andover, Bellingham, Boxford, Franklin, Hudson, Littleton, Medway, Middleton, Millis, North Attleboro, Norwell, Pembroke, Seekonk, Sharon, Southborough, Wenham, and Westwood between July 21, 2018 and March 30, 2024.

According to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, most of the victims were of Indian or South Asian heritage. Investigators believe that they were targeted based on a belief that due to their ethnicity, their households were more likely to contain precious metals, jewelry, and other valuable heirlooms. The defendants are part of an organized burglary ring with ties to a violent Providence-based gang known to law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island.

Property reported stolen in the breaks included pieces of jewelry with individual values of up to approximately $75,000, as well as large quantities of cash. In several cases, the property had been secured in locked safes weighing up to 400 pounds, which the perpetrators removed from the residence. The aggregate reported value of the stolen property exceeds $4 million.

“The defendants in this case were very sophisticated. They targeted victims based on their ethnicity and then gathered information about their targets in order to strike when families were not at home. They were disciplined in concealing their identity, avoiding alarms and minimizing cell phone use before, during and after the breaks and using Wi-Fi jammers,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan. 

The men were taken into custody on the morning of April 25 after being arrested in their homes by members of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rhode Island State Police Task Force. The arrests are the result of a nine-month investigation by the Middlesex DA’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the DA’s Office, and the Massachusetts State Police Division of Homeland Security, including the MACrimeNet program operated by the MSP Fusion Center, which allows police from different departments capabilities to share intelligence about criminal acts and patterns, suspects, and other relevant information to help solve complex or cross-jurisdictional cases.

Peskin files public records requests on Article 3 Town Meeting process

Resident Barbara Peskin recently submitted three public records requests to the town in connection with the controversial March 23 Annual Town Meeting vote on Housing Choice Act rezoning.

Town administrator Tim Higgins received the requests under the Massachusetts Public Records Law on April 5. Peskin confirmed that she had made the requests but declined further comment. Her specific requests seek emails, files, and communications regarding the March 20 Moderator’s meeting (see “Groups will get time to present positions” subheading) and Article 3 at the March 23 Town Meeting that were shared among town officials including Planning Board and Select Board members, Town Meeting Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden, Director of Planning and Land Use Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie, Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Curtin, Higgins, Assistant Town Administrator Dan Pereira, IT Director Michael Dolan, and “staff who support them.”

Peskin and a number of other residents were unhappy about how the zoning bylaw in the Housing Choice Act warrant article was presented and amended at Town Meeting. Questions were raised about who said what to whom and when regarding the amendment in the preceding days.

The public records law requires the town to provide its initial response within 10 business days. “When the scope of the request is extensive, the town responds with an estimate of the time and expense involved in searching and preparing its response,” Higgins said on April 23. “Once the fee is paid, the town undertakes the search and compiles its response. In the process, the town does review the records to determine whether any of the materials may be withheld or redacted pursuant to the exceptions that are spelled out in the statute. The requester is free to appeal the town’s decisions to the Supervisor of Public Records under 950 CMR 32.08 (1)(d). We are required to advise all requesters of their appeal rights when we send our response.”

Asked if he knew how much time and expense that meeting the process would involve, Higgins said on April 25, “We are in the process of working with the requester. Out of respect to the requester and the process, I would prefer not to comment on the request until the process is concluded.”

Perhaps not coincidentally, Vaughn-MacKenzie told Planning Board members on April 16 that they had to use their town-issued email addresses to discuss town government matters in the future. She also said that Town Counsel Joel Bard had advised that officials unsubscribe from LincolnTalk. However, it isn’t clear whether (1) officials must unsubscribe entirely (i.e., not be able to read posts to the listserv), or if they can post emails about non-town-related issues, and (2) if the recommendation applies to elected officials appointed officials, paid town employees, or all three.

On April 24, Higgins said he had spoken with Bard in an attempt to clarify what is permissible for board and committee members regarding listservs and social media, and that he would report on the issue at the Select Board meeting on April 29.

Activists continue push to derail Hanscom expansion

Climate activists including a number from Lincoln participated in two recent protests against the proposal to significantly enlarge hangar space for private jets at Hanscom Field.

On April 20, protesters from Extinction Rebellion and other groups stood in front of planes to clock them from taxiways and also blocked the entrances of fixed base operators Signature Aviation, Jet Aviation, and Atlantic Aviation. Twenty of them were arrested, though apparently none from Lincoln. Two days later, activists held a standout at the State House and called on Gov. Maura Healey to denounce the expansion and align her office with the Green New Deal.

The protest at Hanscom, which involved about 40 people from eight towns — included Alex Chatfield and Dilla Tingley of Lincoln (see her “My Turn” piece here). The event drew news media (see reports from WCVB, NBC-Boston, and Boston 25 News) and a heavy police presence. He is one of the organizers behind Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere, a coalition that has grown to include Extinction Rebellion and more than 80 other groups. Lincolnites also participated in an October 2023  State House rally on the same issue.

The protests arose after the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR — go to this page to download) submitted by the project proponent became public in late March. That statement asserted that the project would not result in a net increase of flights because many of them will allegedly replace “ferry flights” by planes that aren’t based at Hanscom.

The project proponent (North Airfield Ventures and Runway Realty Ventures) want to build 17 new hangars — down from the initial 27, though the total square project is still 495,000 square feet, including about 82,000 square feet of storage space in a refurbished Navy hangar. The project also includes four 20,000-gallon jet fuel tanks and one 5,000-gallon tank for aviation gas.

Letters of protest were also sent to the Mass. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) by Save Our Heritage and the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission, among other organizations. The DEIR is “inconsistent, does not support its claims, contradicts state climate policy, and ignores relevant scientific research,” HFAC chair Chris Eliot of Lincoln wrote in the group’s letter, which asks MEPA to return the DEIR to the proponents and resubmit with more information.

The HFAC letter cites an independent analysis by Industrial Economics, Inc., that disputes the ferry flight calculations and other claims in the EIR. “The proposed project will greatly increase the number of operations at Hanscom Field and the GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions associated with the facility’s flight operations. Due to the very small number of aircraft likely to relocate to Hanscom from other airports, the beneficial effect of avoided ferry flights would be insignificant when compared with the substantial increases in operations and GHG emissions expected from new aircraft based at Hanscom Field,” that report says.

Activists have also noted that the developers are only required to disclose the emissions associated with the proposed hangars and equipment, but not the GHG emissions from the aircraft themselves.

The multiple protests and hundreds of letters probably won’t be able to stop the project, however. EOEEA Secretary Rebecca L. Tepper noted in the document requiring the DEIR that MEPA (the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act overseen by the EOEEA) “is not a permitting process and I do not have the authority to approve or deny a project. The purpose of MEPA is to provide meaningful opportunities for public review of the potential environmental impacts of projects for which agency action is required, and to assist each agency in using… all feasible means to avoid damage to the environment or, to the extent damage to the environment cannot be avoided, to minimize and mitigate damage to the environment to the maximum extent practicable.”

The DEIR and other documents can be found here. The public comment portal is here (project 16654, login/registration required). The deadline for comments on the DEIR has been extended to June 14, 2024.

My Turn: Civil disobedience and Hanscom Field expansion

By Dilla Tingley

(Editor’s note: see “Activists continue push to derail Hanscom expansion” for context.)

I joined Bill McKibben’s Third Act. Wrote my letter and encouraged others to write letters in response to the DEIR on the Hanscom hangar project. Eagerly joined Alex Chatfield’s protest on Saturday April 20.

We were told that Extinction Rebellion [ER] was going to be disrupting flights on the runway. Our plan was to occupy the parking lot and the lounges of Signature Air and Jet Air. Signature Air was referred to as an enabler. They apparently have the contract to run the facilities at the new hangars. They currently provide luxurious amenities to owners and fliers of private jets.

When we arrived, the police presence was already there and handcuffing people in front of the Signature Air facility. Large presence of state, Concord, Bedford, and eventually Lincoln police. We had read our statements in the parking lot and then we stood across the drive from the Signature Air facility where they were arresting folks, and we sang songs and chants with the ER people providing much moral support. Eventually a state policeman dragged over a person in a traffic vest and said he was from Massport. That person demanded that we leave. The policeman gave us the option of crossing the drive and joining “your friends” and being arrested or leaving. We left. I think we were there about an hour.

I was not part of the group that stayed at the intersection of Hanscom Drive and Old Bedford Road. They were interviewed by many members of the press.

I was really happy to play a small part in this action. Private jet travel is anathema to our climate goals and the whole air lobby has way too much power. Jet fuel is not taxed. There is no sales tax if you buy a private jet. The only leverage we have over what happens at Hanscom is to control the building of infrastructure.

“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.

Police log for April 3–16, 2024

April 3

Patterson Road, Hanscom AFB (2:05 p.m.) — An individual called to speak with an officer regarding an ongoing incident.

Trapelo Road (3:45 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred when a vehicle attempted to cross Trapelo Road from Old County Road. The vehicle failed to yield to Trapelo Road traffic and struck a vehicle traveling east on Trapelo. There were no reported injuries. The operator of the vehicle traveling north on Old County Road was issued a citation for failing to yield.

Masonic Temple, Lincoln Road (8:12 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing smoke coming from the Masonic Temple. The Fire Department responded and discovered smoke emanating from the chimney.

April 4

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (12:30 a.m.) — A caller reported a two-vehicle crash on Route 2. The Fire Department and Massachusetts State Police responded.

South Great Road (9:13 a.m.) — A fatal car crash occurred near Sweet Bay Lane. Click here for details.

Wells Road (11:41 a.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding a past incident.

South Brook Road (2:56 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing an unknown vehicle parked in their driveway. An officer responded but the vehicle was gone prior to arrival.

Care Dimensions, Winter Street (3:53 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a sick or injured raccoon. The area was checked but the raccoon could not be found.

April 5

Route 2 Gas (12:57 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, occupied vehicle in the parking lot of Tracey’s. The operator was hired by the owner and was supposed to be at that location.

Mount Misery parking lot (4:08 a.m.) — An officer checked on a vehicle parked in the Mt. Misery lot. The operator had pulled off to make a phone call.

April 6

The Fire Department responded for mutual-aid station coverage in Concord (2:04 p.m.), Weston (7:47 p.m.), and Sudbury (8:35 p.m.), where a three-alarm fire destroyed a house on Hemlock Road.

Lincoln MBTA station (8:44 p.m.) — An officer assisted a commuter after they got off at the wrong train stop.

Emerson Hospital, Concord (10:45 p.m.) — An officer returned some items to an individual.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (2:03 a.m.) — An officer provided a courtesy transport to two individuals who had been dropped off by their rideshare driver.

April 9

North Great Road (7:39 a.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of North Great Road and Brooks Road when one vehicle rear-ended another. There were no injuries associated with the crash.

Horses Crossing (10:09 a.m.) — A caller reported an injured coyote on their property. Officers responded and asked the Animal Control Officer to some the residence. At 12:25 p.m., the Animal Control Officer determined that coyote was sick or injured and had to be put down.

Lincoln Road (2:13 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash when a vehicle traveling east on Codman Road failed to stop at the Lincoln Road stop sign and struck a vehicle traveling south on Lincoln Road. The operator of the vehicle traveling on Codman Road was transported to the hospital for injuries suffered in the crash.

Page Road (4:07 p.m.) — A resident found an abandoned puppy on Page Road. Click here for details.

Partridge Lane (4:50 p.m.) — Waltham police located a personal item belonging to a Lincoln resident. Lincoln police returned the item to the owner.

Old Sudbury Road (8:00 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a dog near the roadway barking at cars. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the dog. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Longmeadow Road (8:34 p.m.) — An individual came to the Police Department to speak with an officer regarding an ongoing incident.

April 10

Bedford Lane (3:52 p.m.) — A caller reported spotting a raccoon near their garage. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound at Crosby’s Corner (5:43 p.m.) — Massachusetts State Police, Lincoln Police and the Lincoln and Concord Fire Departments responded to a motor vehicle crash in Concord.

Hanscom Vandenberg Gate (9:34 p.m.) — An additional charge of fugitive from justice was filed with Concord District Court on a past arrest (February 16, 2024) of Javon Epps, 32, of Rochester, N.H.

Patterson Road, Hanscom AFB (10:59 p.m.) — A tow company called to report a vehicle repossession.

April 11

Route 2 Gas (1:27 a.m.) — An officer checked on an occupied vehicle parked at the gas station. The operator had pulled off Route 2 to briefly sleep.

Lincoln North office building (2:14 a.m.) — An officer checked on a parked, occupied vehicle. The operator was an employee of one of the businesses.

Bank of America, Lincoln Road (11:47 p.m.) — A Bank of America employee reported that a customer was the possible victim of a scam. An officer responded.

Waltham Street, Wayland (1:44 p.m.) — Lincoln officers assisted Wayland police and fire with a motor vehicle crash.

Lexington Road (5:44 p.m.) — An officer unsuccessfully attempted to serve court paperwork. A second attempt at 6:51 p.m. was successful.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (9:36 p.m.) — An officer located a disabled motor vehicle and remained with the vehicle until a tow truck arrived.

April 12

Silver Hill Road (6:57 p.m.) — Multiple calls were received for a vehicle striking a tree. The operator was uninjured and was cited for a marked lanes violation and impeded operation.

Old Sudbury Road (2:07 p.m.) — A vehicle struck a utility pole on Old Sudbury Road. The operator refused medical attention at the scene. The road was shut down for several hours while the utility pole was repaired.

Sandy Pond Road (3:17 p.m.) — A caller requested to speak to an officer regarding a possible fraud.

Mount Misery parking lot, South Great Road (9:25 p.m.) — Officers removed a deceased beaver from the roadway.

April 13

Canoe landing parking lot, South Great Road (12:57 p.m.) — An officer spoke with the occupants of two vehicles that were parked after hours. The individuals were sent on their way.

Minuteman Technical High School (7:44 a.m.) — Officers responded to Minuteman Tech on a follow-up call.

Lincoln Road (9:12 p.m.) — An officer spoke to an individual at the station regarding a possible phone scam.

Hanscom AFB Vandenberg Gate (12:21 p.m.) — Officers responded to Hanscom Air Force Base for an individual with an active out-of-state arrest warrant. Officers took into custody Phillip Hardin, 58, of Orlando, Fla., for an outstanding arrest warrant out of Ohio. He was charged as a fugitive from justice. After booking, He was transported to the Billerica House of Correction.

Old Concord Road (3:14 p.m.) — A resident reported a possible unpermitted solicitor. An officer spoke to the individual and advised them of the soliciting requirements.

Conant Road (4:20 p.m.) — Lincoln fire and police responded to a motor vehicle crash on private property. The operator of the vehicle was transported to the hospital.

South Great Road (5:35 p.m.) — Officers checked the area for a reported party slumped over the wheel of their car. The area was checked but nothing found. Area police departments were notified.

Trapelo Road (6:52 p.m.) — Two individuals were advised that fishing was prohibited at the Cambridge Reservoir.

April 14

Page Farm Road (10:50 a.m.) — A caller reported being the possible victim of a scam.

Old Winter Street (11:52 a.m.) — An item was discovered and turned over to the police for destruction.

South Great Road (8:04 p.m.) —Weston Police called to report a hit-and-run crash that had occurred in their town. The vehicle that fled returned to the scene a short time later.

Wells Road (8:06 p.m. and 8:37 p.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding an ongoing issue.

Russett Court (8:38 p.m.) — Burned food caused a fire alarm activation.

April 15

South Great Road (11:52 a.m.) — Animal Control was notified regarding a large black dog walking near the roadway. At 4:59 p.m., a caller requested information about the dog.

North Great Road (5:17 p.m.) — Lincoln Police assisted Lexington police and Massachusetts State Police with locating an individual who had fled prior custody. The wanted subject was captured a short time later in the town of Lexington.

South Great Road (8:19 p.m.) — Police searched an area for a missing dog. Area departments were also made aware and assisted in the search.

April 16

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (1:00 p.m.) — A motorist reported two mopeds were operating in the breakdown lane of Route 2. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Tower Road (10:33 p.m.) — A motorist reported that the railroad gates were stuck in the up position. Officers responded and asked Keolis to respond as well.

News acorns

Sessions on spiritual differences, atheism, job searches

The First Parish in Lincoln has three events coming up:

Theology on Tap: Navigating Spiritual Difference in Relationships
Monday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. (Tack Room)
How do we navigate our connection with partners, family, and friends with different religious and spiritual traditions? Share your experiences and learn from one another.

Atheists and Other Seekers
Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. (First Parish Stearns Room)
Join us for the third meeting of the Atheists and Other Seekers discussion group. In a judgment-free setting, we’ll focus on a few keywords that came up at our last discussion. All are welcome, from the atheist to the agnostic to the believer.

Job Search Conversation Group
Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. (First Parish Stearns Room)
In a culture where we are often defined by “what we do,” the gaps between work offer both possibility and challenge. Join Rev. Nate Klug for a new conversation group focused on providing community and support for those in transition between jobs.

Office opening event with entertainment

Real estate team Jeannine Taylor and Jessica Packineau invite residents to an opening event for their own office on Friday, April 26 from 4–7 p.m. at 152 Lincoln Rd. Explore the renovated space and get your burning real estate questions answered while enjoying music by Casey Murray (banjo, guitar, cello) and Molly Tucker (fiddle) and artwork by Lincoln’s Pauline Curtiss.

Work day and taco night at Codman Farms

On Sunday, April 28 from 2–4 p.m., support our local farm while doing tasks for all ages —raking, mulching, weeding, organizing, painting, and special box decorating for our littlest of volunteers. Come prepared to get dirty and please bring your own work gloves. Click here to sign up.

That evening from 4–7 p.m., enjoy your dinner fresh from the Codman kitchen with braised beef tacos, vegan chorizo tacos, braised beans, rice and fixings. Eat in the courtyard with a cozy fire and live music from The Honey Steelers (or if you can’t stay, take your dinner home).

Speakers coming to library

Author Emily Falcon on From the Sidelines to the Finish Line
Thursday, May 9 from 7-8 p.m., Tarbell Room
What’s something you always wanted to do but weren’t able? Author Emily Falcon was held back by her heart condition until she was 35, but now she can run races. Her memoir, From the Sidelines to the Finish Line: A Chronic Illness Survivor’s Challenges and Everyday Triumphs is a story of survival and how her physical situation shaped and limited her. She intends this story to be a helpful resource to families, caregivers, and physicians who want to gain insight into a patient’s point of view.

Poetry reading with Lincoln’s Linda Lamenza
Saturday, May 11 from 3-4 p.m., Tarbell Room
Join us for a poetry reading with Linda Lamenza, a poet and literacy specialist for Lincoln Public Schools in Massachusetts. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, and her chapbook, Left-Handed Poetry, was a finalist for Hunger Mountain’s May Day Mountain Chapbook Series. Feast of the Seven Fishes, her first full-length book, is forthcoming.

Golf classic, raffle for L-S All Sports Boosters 

The 18th annual L-S Boosters Golf Classic fundraiser kicks off on Friday, May 10 at 7:45 a.m. at the Wayland Country Club, 121 Old Sudbury Rd., Wayland (breakfast and registration starting at 6:45 a.m.). Money raised from this event goes directly to benefit L-S athletic teams at all levels. Over the years, the Boosters have approved grants averaging $50,000 per year totaling over $1.5 million. Click here to register to play, be a sponsor, or come to a post-golf lunch. Raffle tickets are also available online through Wednesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. Click here to purchase raffle tickets. 

Globe looks at home values in towns including Lincoln

An April 17 Boston Globe article headlined “The mystery of falling prices in Belmont, Brookline and more swanky suburbs” (subscription required) examined slow sales and falling home prices. In Lincoln, “the Warren Group found prices fell more than 15 percent in 2023. The median-priced single-family home there sold for $1,411,250 last year, down more than $200,000 from 2022,” according to the article, which also quotes Lincoln real estate agent Terry Perlmutter.