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

Groups proposed for economic development, south Lincoln

shopTwo new committees to promote business development in Lincoln are being proposed.

At a Board of Selectmen meeting earlier this month, Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Burney offered a proposal for an Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) and a South Lincoln Implementation Planning Committee (SLPIC) to the Board of Selectmen earlier this month. Creating groups to focus on economic development and south Lincoln were among the recommendations of the 2009 Comprehensive Long Range Plan.

The EDAC would be similar to an Economic Development Commission or a Chamber of Commerce found in many towns, but it would expand its membership to include nonprofit Lincoln-based organizations. The group’s goal would be “to help attract, retain and grow businesses (for profit and non-profits) and jobs in Lincoln that respects Lincoln’s character and adds to the quality of local residential life by providing goods, services and amenities desired by residents, jobs and livelihoods for Lincoln residents, and tax revenue that support the town services that are important to Lincoln residents.”

If approved, selectmen would appoint nine members to the EDAC, and the Planning Board would appoint seven members to the SLPIC. Each group would include members from the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board, the Rural Land Foundation, business owners, and an at-large member with experience in retail estate or business development. The EDAC would also include a member from a nonprofit such as a farm or cultural/historical organization.

Aside from its focus on South Lincoln, the SLPIC would be more project-oriented than the EDAC. It could create working groups for specific projects drawing on other one-time members, such as a people from the Department of Public Works and the bicycling community for a signage project, or a marketing consultant to work with business owners on marketing and displays, Burney explained.

“It’s a way to find out who’s out there and what they’re struggling with. Do you have a vacancy rate? How can we help you fill your vacancy rate? Are you planning to expand, and If so, how can we keep you in Lincoln?” she said.

Burney’s proposal also included economic data, some of which was also presented in the 2014 Lincoln Station Planning Study.

  • In 2015, there were 190 establishments in Lincoln that provided 2,034 jobs with a total of $143 million in wages.
  • The North Lincoln office development near Hanscom Field has a vacancy rate of 30-40 percent.
  • The Mall at Lincoln Station earns only $7.7 million per year in sales and “leaks” as much as 80 percent of total consumer spending in adjacent towns.
  • Lincoln has a median household income of $150,000, with over 40 percent earning a combined income of $200,000 or more.

Planning Board member Gary Taylor noted that South Lincoln is at a transition point with two new restaurants opening, even as commercial space across the street remains vacant.

“I really think we have an opportunity here to chart a new path with respect to economic development and particularly South Lincoln,” he said. “We’ve never really [said to businesses] that we really want to get behind you and we want to listen to you.”

“As a Planning Board member, I feel revisiting South Lincoln is a really important mission and something that excites me,” board member Lynn DeLisi said. “We spend a lot of time deciding whether people should have spruce trees or Eastern cedars or whatever, but really the heart of the matter is revitalizing the town.”

Selectman were cautious, saying they had questions about the missions and membership criteria of the two groups. They wondered if the business community would include those with home offices in town, or those who are Lincoln residents but run successful businesses elsewhere.

The two proposed groups seem to have a lot of overlap, said Selectman James Craig, the liaison to the Planning Board, adding that he wanted to “talk more and see why this can’t be under one umbrella.” However, Town Administrator Tim Higgins, who worked with Burney on the proposal, said he saw the value in having two separate groups and recommended that approach to her.

The EDAC was a particularly valuable asset in Ayer, where he was previously town administrator, he said. “I certainly didn’t realize just the power of networking” for the business community, Higgins said. “It’s a nice way of businesses getting to know one another and understand one another, regardless of any specific action items that might come.”

“I’d like to go a little slower and take it under advisement,” Selectman Peter Braun said.

Burney will meet with Higgins and Craig to discuss the EDAC further, and Craig will report back to the other selectmen. The Planning Board will reach out to other boards and committees to explain the SLPIC and its charge to see if there is interest in serving on the group or a subcommittee.

Letter to the editor: Tully seeks votes in 9th District

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Editor’s note: Tully is running an an independent against incumbent Rep Thomas Stanley (D).

To the editor:

My name is Stacey Gallagher Tully, candidate for state representative in the 9th Middlesex District, and I humbly ask for your vote on November 8th. I am running on a platform of ideas that will bring fresh thinking, positive energy and proven leadership to Beacon Hill on behalf of all constituents in Lincoln and Waltham.

My leadership style has always been and will continue to be one of collaboration. I want to be a strong advocate for you, the people of the 9th District, and I would be honored to earn your vote so that I can work together with you to help make our community an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

I have a proven track record of being a strong voice and advocate for the people of Lincoln and Waltham. As a teacher, I am involved with instructing people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. My philosophy as a teacher is to listen to the students so that my classroom experience brings out the best in them. As your state representative, I will listen to you, the constituents of the 9th District, in the same manner to ensure your voice is heard in the process. We will work collaboratively to come up with innovative public policies that will make our community stronger and more vibrant for all residents.

Over the past few months, I have had the honor of campaigning for your vote. As I have discussed with many of you in your homes and around the community, I am running on a platform that will support our public education system; improve our crumbling infrastructure; protect our veterans and active-duty personnel; support our seniors; and work in a bipartisan fashion to support our community’s fight against addiction. With your vote, we can work together to solve these important issues.

On a personal note, I am a strong family woman, wife and mother, and a firm believer in being a leader and promoter of good will. I have been and will always be accessible, approachable and visible in the community. As your state representative, I will bring these qualities and more to ensure that I am accessible to you at all times.

Your vote is a valuable tool in our American democracy and something I will honor each day as your representative. Please vote Stacey Gallagher Tully for State Representative on November 8th.

Sincerely,

Stacey Gallagher Tully
85 Lincoln St., Waltham

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letters to the editor on both sides of charter school question

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Vote “yes” on Question 2

To the editor:

As an educator, parent and student, I do not approve of decisions regarding education that are based entirely on (at times erroneously understood) monetary reasons. I would ask that citizens not blindly follow the “no” vote recommended by school committee.

For those educators whose mission in life is that there be a place for every child to learn and succeed, we have seen charter schools save the intellectual and emotional lives of many learners, as well as raise the standard of education in existing public schools.

It has been my experience as a parent and teacher in three states that charter schools can vastly increase chances of a superior education for all kinds of learners. The only detriment to the existing public school that I have seen over the course of 23 years is, at times, that the best and the brightest students often leave their existing public school for what can often be a more diverse and rigorous academic life in a charter, once parents realize the astonishing breadth, depth, and range of knowledge to which a charter school is committing its students.

Charter schools are different from each other and not easy to compare, just as a current public school in an affluent community is quite different from an urban school in a financially poor area. For this reason, rather than make generalizations about all schools, I would urge voters to educate themselves thoroughly on this issue as Ted Charrette has suggested. Please take the time to fully understand why an award winning teacher like Ted is bringing this to your attention.

I cannot say I have ever won an award for teaching, but the well-being and integrity of our American school system and the future of your children is a subject about which I am passionate. Vote “yes” to ensure we put the academic and personal growth of every student in Massachusetts ahead of any other concern. And because it is time to begin making decisions from a place of courage rather than fear.

Sincerely,

Isabella Nebel
1 Millstone Lane

Vote “no” on Question 2

To the editor:

I am no fan of the “Common Core” curriculum, and feel that we have yet to develop adequate reforms to ensure our schools remain competitive and beneficial, especially for students who are less privileged (by virtue of economics, race, native language, etc).

That being said, I agree with the School Committee’s letter to the editor in the Lincoln Squirrel: Question #2, if passed, would pull money away from our public schools and there would be a worrisome lack of accountability for the use of that money. This is deeply concerning.

As I see it, Question #2, even though well-intended, is not a recipe for reform but an abandonment of our responsibility to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity for a good education—so I will be voting “no” on Question #2.

Sincerely,

Allen Vander Meulen III
30 Beaver Pond Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Falling bodies (of water) – Lincoln Through the Lens

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Two photos of the Cambridge Reservoir, taken from the same spot exactly three years apart (2013 and 2016, before last weekend’s rain) on Old County Road by Craig Nicholson.

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Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Letter to the editor: School Committee urges ‘no’ vote on Question 2

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Dear Lincoln residents,

At our October 6th meeting, the Lincoln School Committee voted unanimously to recommend a “no” vote on Ballot Question 2 (you can read our resolution here). Ballot Question 2 would lift the current charter school cap and allow up to twelve new publicly-funded charter schools each year. Also, each year it would allow charter school enrollment to expand by 1% of total statewide public school enrollment. We believe that there are two main reasons for rejecting this proposal and keeping the current limits:

  • Additional loss of town/city revenue—“Chapter 70” is the Commonwealth’s law that governs state funding for public education, and it provides a significant portion of the local aid package that cities and towns receive from the Commonwealth to support schools and other municipal services. When a child is enrolled in a charter school, the municipality in which the child lives is charged a per-pupil cost that is determined through a three-part formula. The resulting amount is then paid to the charter school, and is subtracted from a city’s or town’s local aid. Currently there is no impact on the town of Lincoln’s local aid, but many cities and towns, including our neighbors Bedford, Concord, Sudbury and Waltham are already experiencing a loss in local aid due to charter school tuition.
  • Lack of local accountability—Although cities and towns pay for each student that attends a charter school, there is no local oversight. Despite receiving public funds, charter schools have no accountability to locally elected officials such as school committees or selectmen. In town such as ours, where we govern through Town Meeting, the charter school accountability and funding structures represent a distinct departure from the direct oversight we, as Lincoln voters, currently have over public education and municipal finance.

For these reasons, we, the members of the Lincoln School Committee, voted to join the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and over 180 school districts in urging a “no” vote on Ballot Question 2.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Glass, Chair
Tim Christenfeld, Vice-Chair
Peter Borden
Jena Salon
Al Schmertzler

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Students apply engineering skills to solving school problems

Lincoln School students in grades 5-8 spent two full days planning and building prototypes in a hands-on engineering effort to solve specific problems at the school they’d previously identified.

STEM Day (science, technology, engineering and math) on October 13-14 involved involved 270 students as well as dozens of faculty and parent volunteers. During the month of September, students brainstormed about problems in the school that could be solved using the engineering design process. A group narrowed the list to the following four:

  1. How do we cover the walkway between the school and the gym so we can get to class without getting wet? Similarly, how do we create portable shade for lunchtime?
  2. How do we keep the soccer ball from going into the street when it is kicked toward the net close to the road?
  3. How do we find places in the building and ways to store things that are too big to fit into lockers?
  4. How do we create portable seating so more kids can eat lunch outside and have a place to sit?

Students consulted with Lincoln Building Inspector Dan Walsh and Parks and Recreations Director Dan Pereira to learn about building codes and how the field in front of the school is used by multiple town groups. They then brainstormed, measured, drew, evaluated, got feedback and built.

Smaller groups of students created prototypes in the classrooms. They then presented them to their peers for feedback and revised their original designs. Toward the end of the day, all four grades gathered in the auditorium, and one project from each problem was presented to the school.

Because the students had chosen their problems, they were excited and engaged from the outset. Along with basic engineering, they had to consider things like budgeting, aesthetics (for example, specifying a stained-glass type of plexiglass roof for the gym walkway so colors could shine through) and sustainability, such as incorporating solar panels as a way to get extra benefits from a project. At the very end of the day, Principal Sharon Hobbs invited students who really loved their designs to come see her to talk about how some of their work might come to fruition.

The prototypes are temporarily on display in the school library so the students can benefit from seeing other people’s thinking.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”45″ gal_title=”STEM Day 2016″]

Medicare 2017 open enrollment session on Friday

CaduceusAnyone who’s now on Medicare as well as their family members and other caregivers should plan to attend the Medicare 2017 Open Enrollment Insurance Update Session on Friday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. This session offers an opportunity to find out changes in Medicare’s benefits and costs and get information directly from supplemental insurance companies and the town’s Veterans Services Officer.

The program will be presented by Don Milan and Anne Meade, Lincoln’s SHINE counselors, along with staff from the Minuteman SHINE Program, a Medicare health benefits counseling program. It is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Council on Aging (COA) and Minuteman SHINE.

This year’s Medicare Open Enrollment period, which is your opportunity to change plans, is October 15 to December 7. After that time, people with Medicare Advantage plans (HMO and PPO), and people with Part D prescription coverage may only change plans under special circumstances such as if you move, lose your employer’s coverage, etc.

The program will begin with a general presentation about changes in Medicare, including what’ss covered and what isn’t, and how much you will pay. After that,Milan and Meade will be available to answer your questions. Attendees will also have the chance to visit tables with representatives from the major supplemental health insurance plans serving Lincoln (Harvard Pilgrim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts,  Fallon, and AARP/United Health Care) who will give 2017 information. Also present will be Priscilla Leach (Lincoln’s Veterans Service Officer) and a representative of Brookhaven Hospice’s We Honor Veterans program.

The October 28 program is designed to go over 2017 changes in basic Medicare, Medigap and Medicare Advantage insurance plans.  On Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., SHINE will present an in-depth “Medicare 101” to go over the basics of Medicare and the different types  of  insurance plans (Medigap and Advantage) available to supplement coverage.

Milan and Meade also provide one-to-one counseling for Lincoln residents who need assistance in signing up for Medicare, choosing among plans, applying for Medicaid/MassHealth, deciding about whether long term care insurance is appropriate, resolving problems related to Medicare, and more. To arrange for an appointment, call the COA at 781-259-8811.

SHINE (a federal program administered through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs) provides accurate, unbiased information regarding health insurance and prescription drug options through community education and free, confidential counseling. Minuteman Senior Services provides a variety of services that help seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice. For more information, call 888-222-6171.

News acorns

jackolanternHalloween kids’ events at the library

Come listen to some fun and “not too scary” tales, jokes, and songs with storyteller/actress Sally Kindleberger on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. Recommended for ages 5 and up. On Saturday, Oct. 29, come to a Halloween dance party at 11 a.m. for ages 6 and under. Families will groove to children’s songs and Halloween favorites, and then finish with a unique Pumpkin Freeze Dance. Participants are encouraged to dress in costume, but be sure you can still move! Both events are drop-in and are sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

Programs for tenor fans, students interested in law careers

Lincoln-Sudbury students are invited to a Local Heroes presentation and discussion on the education and experience of being a lawyer offered by Lincoln residents Maria Hylton and Peter Georgiou in the Tarbell Room of the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. The presentation will highlight the journey of education through college and law school, the diverse range of practice and role of attorneys in the world. Hylton is a professor at Boston University Law School and was educated at Harvard College and Yale Law School. Georgiou is a private practitioner with his own firm and was educated at UMass Lowell and New England School of Law. Local Heroes is a partnership of the Lincoln Public Library, Lincoln School and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School whereby resident luminaries offer inspiration to students about what they might want to explore in their college years and beyond.

On Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m., come learn about what makes a great tenor with Erika Reitshamer of the New England Opera Club. Get to know the challenges and the significance of what makes the tenor voice so unique. Discover the different kinds of tenor voices with contemporary and historic audiovisual excerpts of great tenors singing amazing arias.

Birches School open house

The Birches School in the stone church at 14 Bedford Rd. will hold an open house for prospective students in grades K-8 on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Birches School Open House November 6 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Birches is an independent K-8 school offering vigorous, interdisciplinary academics within a mindful, nurturing environment. Located on the edge of conservation land, Birches affords close, daily contact with nature and teachers conduct many of their thematic inquiry-based units outdoors.

Food Project offers Thanksgiving CSA shares

Enjoy local, sustainably grown produce for the holidays with a Thanksgiving CSA share from The Food Project. This is a huge share that will contain between 30-50 pounds of produce, much of which can be stored and will keep throughout the winter. The bounty of seasonal produce typically includes carrots, winter squash (butternut, acorn and carnival), onions, garlic, leeks, potatoes, daikon radish, popcorn, kale, sweet potatoes and winter greens. Available vegetables may be subject to change. Cost: $125. Pickup will be on Saturday, Nov. 19 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Codman Community Barn. Add a turkey from Codman Community Farms and pick it up with your Thanksgiving CSA share! Delicious Codman turkeys are pasture raised and fed certified organic grain to ensure that you and your family receive the best bird. Birds of 10–25 pounds available. Click here for more information and to reserve your turkey.

Car accident sends two to hospital

The October 18 accident scene (Photo: Lincoln Police Facebook page)

The October 18 accident scene on Route 117 looking north (Photo: Lincoln Police Facebook page)

A major traffic jam on Route 117 late Tuesday afternoon was caused by a two-car accident that resulted in the arrest of a Waltham man on multiple charges including OUI.

A section of Route 117 around the accident site between Codman and Old Sudbury Roads was closed for several hours after the accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. The driver of one of the cars was a 48-year-old woman from Greenfield. Both she and the other driver were taken to the hospital.

Later on Tuesday night, police arrested the other driver, 36-year-old Christopher Ackles of Waltham, on charges of operating under the influence (second offense) causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, driving to endanger, resisting arrest and failure to keep left.

According to Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy, Ackles tried to leave the scene on foot but was apprehended a short distance away. He was arraigned on Wednesday in his hospital bed and is due in court on October 31. His bail was set at $10,000.

The accident is being investigated by Lincoln Police, Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

 

 

 

 

 

News acorns

Dr. Timothy Johnson to speak at St. Anne’s

tim2Join Dr. Timothy Johnson at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. for the first of a two-part forum series on his book, Finding God in the Questions: A Personal Journey. Ranked #8 on The New York Times Hardcover Advice Bestseller List, Finding God urges us to ask the probing questions of whether God is real, if religion is relevant to our lives, and whether faith is possible for each of us. All are welcome at St. Anne’s, located at 147 Concord Road in Lincoln.

L-S teacher/staff/student variety show on tap

Want a good laugh? Come to the 12th annual Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Faculty, Staff and Student Variety Show on Friday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kirschner Auditorium at L-S. The event is a benefit for FELS (Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury) and the LSTA Scholarship Fund. Acts include live music, dance, film, comedy and more. Advance tickets are $6 for students and senior citizens, $8 general admission, and will be sold from 11-12:30 p.m. outside the L-S cafeteria from October 24-28. Tickets at the door are $8 for students and senior citizens and $10 general admission. For more information, please contact Paul Sarapas at paul_sarapas@lsrhs.net.

Halloween lantern walk at Minute Man NHP

hartwell-autumn-cms_1The Friends of Minute Man National Park (FMMNP) will host its annual Halloween Lantern Walk on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at Hartwell Tavern (136 North Great Road in Lincoln). Come in costume or just as you are to enjoy an autumn evening accompanied by special colonial guests on a lantern walk along the Battle Road. The walk will be followed by spooky Halloween stories in Hartwell Barn performed by the Guild of Historic Interpreters (appropriate for children age 7 and up). FMMNP, a nonprofit that supports park initiatives and engages the community in educational events, will provide lanterns and glow in the dark bracelets to all for a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family. All funds received will support programs and services of Minute Man National Historical Park. For more information or to become a member of FMMNP, call 978-318-7822 or visit www.friendsofminuteman.org.

Piano recital by Rhapsody

Rhapsody will stage its annual piano recital on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The performance is free and open to the public. Rhapsody was formed in 2003 by amateur pianists who sought a venue in which to perform for each other, both to grow musically and to share their musical journey with others. It has since grown to 18 people from the Boston metropolitan area, and members have met continuously for 13 years. Now an annual event, this will be their seventh public performance on the beautifully restored Steinway at Bemis Hall in Lincoln. The program will feature selections from Bach, Beethoven, Celentano, Chopin, Delej, Dvorak, Gliere, Saint-Saens and Tchaikovsky.

Help out at deCordova Fall Work Day

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DeCordova volunteers, trustees, and staff take a break during Work Day in June (click to enlarge).

Bring friends, a water bottle and work gloves to deCordova Fall Work Day on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 2–4 p.m. Pruners and rakes are also helpful (make sure they’re labeled). The Fall Work Day is a fun way to help deCordova get ready for winter with a little help from its friends. Kids who are old enough and inclined to follow directions are welcome, too. All participants will receive a Friends of the Park T-shirt. Meet in front of the deCordova STore; RSVP to rsvp@decordova.org.

Learn about energy efficiency for your house

Interested in learning the ins and outs of home energy efficiency, solar options and financing, or purchasing electricity from renewable sources? Want to know about cost savings, loans and rebates, or share your own experiences? Come to the Residential Energy Workshop at the Pierce House, on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. Experts from the Lincoln Green Energy Committee, Co-op Power, and HomeWorks Energy will provide answers and refreshments. House and condo owners and renters are all welcome. For more information, contact Sue Klem at Susan.M.Klem@gmail.com or go to LincolnEnergyChallenge.org.