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

Planning Board candidate #1: Steve Gladstone

ballotEditor’s note: This is the first of three articles on candidates for the Lincoln Planning Board, which has three candidates running for two seats. Tomorrow will feature incumbent Margaret Olson and Saturday will feature Jennifer Morris Gundy. Next week we will have an article about Board of Selectman candidate James Craig, who is running unopposed for the seat of Noah Eckhouse, who is stepping down. The town election is Monday, March 28.

Steve Gladstone

To the editor:

I would like to announce my candidacy for one of the vacant seats on Lincoln’s Planning Board.

Having joined the Lincoln community nine years ago, my wife Susan and I are still relative newcomers to a town whose founding families still enrich our community.  It has been a real pleasure to become ever more closely involved with townsfolk, governance, and of course the landscape.

Soon after our arrival, I was in a position to serve on the Facilities Coordinating Committee. Identifying usage patterns, availability, capabilities and limitations of our core meeting spaces led to deeper engagement in the town’s management and social processes. Most recently I was selected as one of the three at-large members of the Community Center Study Committee.

Professionally, I have applied two science master’s degrees as Director of Research Operations at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) for 22 years, where I was part of the management team responsible for an interdisciplinary academic/clinical research enterprise with a $325 million budget. As a director in BIDMC’s Office of Science and Technology, I was intimately involved in budgeting, strategic planning, space allocation, and implementation of diverse critical functions. I am now part of the management team at a pharmaceutical startup in Cambridge.

Lincoln enjoys a distinct rural character unique among towns so near Boston. It is a fundamental aspect of our special town spirit, one that deserves to be maintained, to “Keep Lincoln, Lincoln.” We must and will change as times change.  This mindfully managed evolution is one of my core values. The Planning Board and Town should and must be open to new ideas and concepts as they blend with this guiding principle.

Volunteers are the backbone of Lincoln’s community spirit. It is exciting to continue my involvement in Town affairs by offering my candidacy for the Planning Board.  It is my hope that this note gives the voters of Lincoln some familiarity with me personally, and with my professional background.  Please call or email me with your thoughts, questions, or concerns—or join me for coffee at the Whistle Stop.  And please DO vote, DO volunteer and DO get involved in this exceptional town!

Sincerely,

Steve Gladstone
67 Winter St.
steve.gladstone@gmail.com

News acorns

pancakesSap to Syrup Breakfast on March 12-13

Maple sugaring season started a few weeks early at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, giving us the perfect opportunity to reap the benefits of a warm winter at the annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast on March 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feast on hearty pancakes with local maple syrup, as well as Drumlin Farm sausage and home fries. Diners are welcome to stay at the farm for as little or as long as they’d like and enjoy special maple-themed activities:

  • Visit Drumlin Farm’s maple grove and see sugaring in progress
  • Learn about traditional sap-to-syrup techniques
  • Sample and take home Drumlin Farm’s very own maple syrup

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children age 2+ (free for children under 2). Register online or by calling 781-259-2206.

“40 Years of Community in Lincoln” event gearing up

40 years fair logoThe Lincoln Council on Aging, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Lincoln Review are all turning 40 this year, and there will be a town-wide celebration with activities, food, performances, arts and crafts, and more on Saturday, April 30 from 1-4 p.m. in Pierce Park (rain date: May 1). Organizers have created this website to provide updates on planning and solicit individuals and town organizations who would like to offer an activity, serve food, or set up a display. Some of the activities already being planned include an obstacle course, an art and photo exhibit, a hayride and more.

Those who would like to participate should fill out this application, which is also available on the “40 Years of Community in Lincoln” website. Organizers also invite exhibits by artists who live in Lincoln or are affiliated with Lincoln-based art programs to fill out an artists’ application. Anyone with questions may call Carolyn Bottum (Council on Aging) at 781- 259-8811 or Dan Pereira (Parks and Rec) at 781-259-0784.

Honduras kids are latest recipients of Lincoln soccer gear

Two boys in xxx sport Lincoln Youth Soccer uniforms.

Two boys in Uganda sport Lincoln Youth Soccer uniforms. Photo: Sandy Storer

Lincoln Youth Soccer continues to (charitably) expand its brand among kids in other countries who are delighted to have used LYS uniforms and soccer equipment.

Honduras is the third country to receive donated LYS gear. Kids from Ethiopia and Uganda have previously gotten Lincoln Youth Soccer gear.

LYS treasurer Ted Charrette again spearheaded the latest drive, which tallied many types of equipment: 215 jerseys, 43 pairs of shorts, 65 pairs of socks, 18 pairs of shin pads, 30 pairs of cleats, 17 balls, and an assortment of goalie jerseys, shorts, gloves and miscellaneous supplies.

Roughly half the items were given to Suzanne Burgos, a Vermont resident who is active in ACTS Honduras and will ferry the items to a remote region in northeastern Honduras. The rest was given to Sandy Storer, the Lincoln resident who kicked off the long-term effort by distributing gear in Uganda. LYS gear will be used in a Uganda tournament run by Fund a Field, which has distributed almost 12,000 uniforms, socks, cleats, balls and more, according to its website.

Kasich winners clustered around Lincoln

donkey-and-elephantMany of the 16 Massachusetts towns that went for John Kasich in the March 1 Republican primary are mostly in the Lincoln area but also include Amherst, Brookline, Cambridge and Wenham as well as Egremont and Mount Washington on the state’s western border, according to a map published by the Boston Globe on March 2.

Donald Trump won the Massachusetts Republican primary with 49.3 percent of the vote, followed by Kasich (18 percent), Rubio (17.8 percent), Cruz (9.6 percent) and Carson (2.6 percent).

On the Democratic side, the Globe reported that Hillary Clinton captured a large swath of towns in the Boston suburbs as well as some on the south shore, western Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Statewide, she won 50.1 percent of the Democratic vote vs. 48.7 percent for Sanders.

Lincoln goes for Kasich, Clinton in presidential primary

Here are the unofficial returns from the March 1 presidential primary in Lincoln.

Republican primary
Precinct 1 Precinct 2 Total votes Total %
Kasich 158 84 242 36%
Rubio 114 66 180 27%
Trump 93 81 174 26%
Cruz 20 19 39 6%
Carson 6 10 16 2%
Bush 7 1 8 1%
Christie 1 0 1 —
Fiorina 1 0 1 —
Gilmore 1 0 1 —
Santorum 1 0 1 —
No preference,
blank, write-in		 4 3 7 1%
Totals: 406 264 670
Democratic primary
Precinct 1 Precinct 2 Total votes Total %
Clinton 748 388 1,136 60%
Sanders 470 287 757 40%
O’Malley 2 1 3 —
No preference,
blank, write-in		 1 1 2 —
Totals: 1,221 677 1,898
Ballots cast by party:
Democrat 1,898 74%
Republican 670 26%
Lincoln's voting precincts (click to enlarge)

Lincoln’s voting precincts (click to enlarge)

Letter to the editor: Minuteman withdrawal ‘unfortunate’

letter

To the editor:

As a result of the recent vote at Special Town Meeting, it is unfortunate Lincoln is leaving the Minuteman High School district. A 260,000-square-foot total-replacement school facility will be built on Lincoln land, without Lincoln as a member town.

While I am disappointed for Lincoln, I am thankful that students in remaining district towns are guaranteed the opportunity to contribute to the success of Minuteman High School in the advancement of computer science, robotics and other program areas.

Sincerely,

Judson B. Reece
50 Wells Road

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.

News acorns

Three Lincoln School students to perform in district music festival
Jada Edwards, Simon Perry and xxx will represent the Lincoln School at the xxx.

Jada Edwards, Simon Perry and Maria Hamandi will represent the Lincoln School at the MMEA Eastern District Junior Festival.

Lincoln School eighth-graders Jada Edwards and Simon Perry and seventh-grader Maria Hamandi were selected through a vigorous audition process to participate in the MMEA Eastern District Junior Festival at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School on March 4 and 5.

The program is offered by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association as an enrichment opportunity that brings together the top school musicians. Over 900 outstanding music students in grades 7-9 from 30 school districts auditioned on January 30, and less than half were accepted. Simon and Maria will represent the Lincoln School in the Mixed Chorus and Jada in the Treble Chorus. This is her second acceptance to the festival.

Film looks at new approaches to education

Come to the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School auditorium on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. for a screening of the documentary Most Likely to Succeed. The film examines the history of education in the United States, revealing the growing shortcomings of conventional education methods in today’s innovative world, and explores compelling new approaches that aim to revolutionize teaching as we know it. The screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session.

Most Likely to Succeed follows students into the classrooms of High Tech High, an innovative new school in San Diego. There, over the course of a school year, two groups of ninth-graders take on ambitious, project-based challenges that promote critical skills rather than rote memorization. the film points to a transformation in learning that may hold the key to success for millions of our youth—and our nation—as we grapple with the ramifications of rapid advances in technology, automation and growing levels of income inequality.
Lotus Blossom to hold benefit for L-S Jamaica Jammin’

On Tuesday, March 8 from 5-9 p.m., the Lotus Blossom restaurant (394 Boston Post Road in Sudbury) will donate 20 percent of the total cost of each dine-in or take-out order when customers mention Jamaica Jammin’. In its 23rd year, this graduation party is where seniors can celebrate together in a safe, substance-free environment. The all-night chaperoned tradition helps to keep the graduates safe and off the roads on graduation night. In years past, there has been more than 94 percent participation of graduating students. Customers can dine in or place take-out orders by calling 978-443-0200. Just remember to say “Jamaica Jammin’” to support a safe graduation night.

Minuteman school district down to 10 towns

mm1By Alice Waugh

Boxborough and Weston voted last week to withdraw from the Minuteman High School district, whittling the final number of member towns from 16 to 10. The other towns that voted to withdraw are Lincoln, which voted on February 23; Carlisle, Sudbury and Wayland.

All 16 towns approved Minuteman’s revised regional agreement, which will take effect on July 1, 2017. As of that date, Lincoln and the other towns that withdrew will no longer have a seat on the Minuteman School Committee, but they are also not liable for debt service on the new school building (except for per-student fees they may pay as out-of-district towns).

“I’m sad to see some towns leave because the access that students have to high-quality career and technical education will be different going forward,” Minuteman Superintendent-Director Ed Bouquillon said. “On the other hand, I’m proud and pleased that after six years of attempting to revise the regional agreement, it’s a new day,” pending final approval from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, he added.

Minuteman is seeing a one-year increase of 22 percent in applications for 2016-17 from the 16 original member towns, Bouquillon said on Monday. The school had projected an increase of 8-9 percent, “which no one at town meetings believed,” he said. Future enrollment projections will depend on how many students are accepted and enrolled as of October 1, 2016, he added.

Some Lincoln residents at the February 23 Special Town Meeting expressed concern that Minuteman could reach its capacity some time after the new building opens. If that happens, applicants from Lincoln and the other towns that recently opted out will no longer have preference in admission over applicants from in-district towns.

Other towns such as Watertown and Everett have expressed interest in joining the Minuteman district, Bouquillon noted at the Special Town Meeting. However, if they did so, it wouldn’t have an immediate impact on overall enrollment because those towns already send students to the school as out-of-district students, he said.

Minuteman also announced on Monday that it had received a $500,000 state grant to launch a new Advanced Manufacturing and Metal Fabrication program. The money will be used to purchase 10 industry-standard machines and 15 ancillary training simulators including five mini mills, four CNC (computer numerical controlled) tool room lathes and one CNC lathe with Y axis.

The school will be ordering and installing equipment and designing the new program over the next several months and hopes to have initial course offerings in the fall. Advanced Manufacturing will be part of the new school’s Engineering, Construction and Trades Academy.

 

Letter to the editor: Sanders is on the ‘right side’ of questions

letter

To the editor:

In the lively and much appreciated discussion in the Squirrel on the Democratic candidates, I have seen people I respect supporting Hillary Clinton. While it would be historic to elect a woman president, I am concerned more about the rest of the history that will some day be written about the next four or eight years.

As a country, we are approaching turning points in several critical areas. Will we continue policies that generate income inequality and financial instability? Will we keep on pouring resources into being the world’s top cop? Will we come to grips with how we treat “those people,” be they black Americans or brown immigrants? Will we throw people out of the lifeboat of our heath care and safety net systems in order to keep them financially afloat?

From my perspective, Mr. Sanders is on the right side on all of these questions. He would take on the banks and question corporate-oriented trade agreements. He would show restraint in sending our troops into the world’s hot spots. He has been dedicated to civil rights his entire adult life. He would pursue rational, tested policies to assure effective and efficient health care.

Ms. Clinton, not so much. She is cozy with Wall Street, which is indebted to her husband for helping repeal the Glass-Steagall Act. Mr. Clinton also brought us corporate-friendly free trade with NAFTA, and Ms. Clinton was for the pending TPP trade agreement until grassroots opposition caused her to pause. As a senator, Ms. Clinton voted to invade Iraq, and as Secretary of State convinced President Obama to intervene in Libya. Despite her apparent popularity with African-Americans, her record on civil rights is checkered. On health and welfare issues, she speaks Washington-speak and favors policies that are yielding a slow-motion train wreck.

Pragmatic folks say the hill facing Mr. Sanders is just too steep. Well, as they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Or, perhaps more apropos to our locale, every revolution starts with a single shot. We did that once.  I’m for doing it again.

Sincerely,

Gary Taylor
2 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.