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

Letter to the editor: concerns over leaf blower group activities

January 12, 2016

To the editor:

Last fall, the Leaf Blower Study Committee spent $829.81 of the taxpayers’ money to mail a flyer to every postal patron in Lincoln, describing the alleged risks of leaf blowers. The flyer said nothing of the benefits of leaf blowers or costs of restricting their use. The money was taken from the Selectmen’s printing budget and categorized as “educational.” Town taxpayers also paid to obtain an Internet domain name for the Leaf Blower Study Committee.

Treasured object has narrow escape but is reunited with owner

January 10, 2016

Jeff Eaton (top photo, center) and his recovered fender with Lincoln DPW workers Ian Sears (left) and Mike Desmond. Lower photo: the fender back in its rightful place.

This is the story of an antique, a transfer station, and the people in a small town who helped reunite the antique with its owner just as it was about to be unwittingly tossed into a garbage truck. Sounds like it might have been a priceless family heirloom, but actually it was something a bit more utilitarian—the fender from an old utility trailer owned by Jeff Eaton.

News acorns

January 10, 2016

Talk on high-schoolers and satellite missions

Can a high school design, build and operate a satellite mission to the moon and beyond? Come hear Paulo C. Lozano, Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Director at MIT’s Space Propulsion Laboratory, when he speaks at the Lincoln Public Library on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. Rethink space exploration and consider how advances in miniaturization and spacecraft engineering allow students to design their own satellite and put it in space.

Run for local office in Lincoln

Looking for a rewarding if occasionally vexing way to feel more connected? Willing to undertake new challenges? Unafraid to speak up? Then run for local office! The annual Town Election will take place on Monday, March 28, 2016. Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office now. Papers must be returned by 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8. For additional information, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607.

The following offices will appear on the March ballot: Board of Selectmen for three years; Board of Assessors for three years; K-8 School Committee for three years; Water Commissioner for three years; Board of Health for three years; Cemetery Commission for three years; Planning Board, two seats for three years; Commissioner of Trust Funds for three years; deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park for four years; Housing Commission for three years; Parks and Recreation Committee for three years; Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee, two seats for three years each; Bemis Trustee for three years; Town Clerk for three years; and Library Trustee for three years.

Aka Bistro discount for Lincoln Public Library patrons

The Lincoln Public Library and Aka Bistro are offering Lincoln residents who hold Lincoln library cards a 1o percent discount on food at Aka Bistro during the months of January and February. Drinks are not included, and the offer is not available on Valentine’s Day weekend (February 12-14).

Photo: Philippe Leray/Thalassa

Hear about seven months at sea

Come to an hourlong presentation detailing the maritime adventures of Adam Hodges-LeClaire, recently returned from seven months of sailing aboard the recreated frigate l’Hermione on her maiden voyage from France to the United States, on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Adam, currently a history major at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, grew up in Lincoln and brought his love for recreating the 18th-century to work on this French tall ship. Hi’s adventures were the subject of a lengthy article in the Boston Globe this year. Topics he’ll address include the context of the original l’Hermione, its connection to Lafayette, and its significance in French naval operations during the War of American Independence.

Obituaries

January 8, 2016

candle2 Doris Garabedian Carlson, 88 (November 13, 2015) — resident of The Commons

Steven Lo, 97 (December 6, 2015) — architect and MIT alumnus

Allanson Sturgis, 96 (December 12, 2015) — teacher and part-time Lincoln Police officer

Codman Farm has new farming family

January 7, 2016

Pete and Jen xxx and their two-year-old son Abraham. Photo courtesy Angela Klempner Phtography

Pete and Jen Hashley and their two-year-old son Abraham. (Photo courtesy Angela Klempner Photography)

Editor’s note: This is an edited version of an item that appeared in the most recent Codman Community Farms member newsletter.

The new year brings new faces and changes to Codman Community Farms (CCF) with the arrival of Peter Lowy and Jennifer Hashley as the farm management team at Codman.

For the past decade, Pete and Jen have operated Pete and Jen’s Backyard Birds in Concord and Sudbury, growing vegetables and raising pasture-based livestock. They’ve moved their mini-store to CCF, so visitors will notice a new look at the Codman Farm Store, including a selection of Backyard Birds products alongside Codman’s. Pete and Jen are committed to growing high-quality, tasty food for Lincoln and surrounding communities, so they’ll be expanding production, revamping the Farm Store, and supplying area restaurants and farm stands.

New Hanscom Middle School proceeding on schedule

January 6, 2016

The new Hanscom Middle School will have "neighborhoods" of classrooms with shared central space.

This 2014 sketch of the planned new Hanscom Middle School will have “neighborhoods” of classrooms with shared central space.

Construction of the new Hanscom Middle School is on schedule and expected to be completed this spring.

“Education has changed a lot since the old schools were built 60 years ago. This new space will allow us to teach with 21st-century methods,” said Erich Ledebuhr, Hanscom Middle School principal. “The setup of the building is different as it is not the traditional classroom-by-classroom setting. There are a lot of common and open spaces—the design of the building was built around a common indoor space in the center of the school with classrooms surrounding that.”

In 2014, Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall offered examples of the school’s design features and a floor plan when making the case for educational enhancements to the Lincoln School.

The new school will feature indoor and outdoor learning areas, STEM-enabled classrooms (science, technology, engineering and math), and a building system with solar panels and rainwater harvesting for teaching. There are also two general-purpose rooms, a gymnasium, an information center, a computer lab, a science lab, a specialist room, music and art rooms, a classroom for learning-impaired students, and administrative offices.

Since breaking ground on the middle school project in June 2014, students have been educated in nearby temporary facilities. As the project nears completion, school officials are ramping up plans to move the primary school into the temporary facility over the summer so that work can begin on the new primary school, which is slated to open in September 2018. Once they’re both complete, the schools be connected and will share a cafeteria and kitchen.

Both schools were built in the late 1950s and have had several upgrades. The last major renovation/addition was in 1988 at the primary school.

All funding for the two projects—$34 million for the 85,000-square-foot, 310-student middle school and $36 million for the preK-3 elementary school designed for 450 students—is from the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity.

For Birches School, education is in their nature

January 6, 2016

By Alice Waugh

Lincoln’s Birches School, which opened four years ago with just five students, made the cover of the winter 2016 issue of Independent School magazine and is poised to add a sixth grade for 2016-17.

News acorns

January 4, 2016

Group forms to study vocational education possibilities

The newly formed Vocational Education Options Working Group will hold its second meeting on January 11 to explore options for Lincoln students in the event the town decides to withdraw from the Minuteman High School district.

At its first meeting on December 29, the group discussed its change and composition, with formal votes expected on Monday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Selectman’s conference room. Members thus far are Selectman Peter Braun, Town Administrator Tim Higgins, Finance Committee member Laura Sander, Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall, and at-large member Patricia Mostue, a member of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Committee.

The Board of Selectman decided to form the Vocational Education Options Working Group on December 21, the same night it scheduled a Special Town Meeting on February 23 at which Lincoln residents will vote on whether to withdraw from the Minuteman district and whether to ratify the new regional agreement. Students from Lincoln will still be able to enroll at Minuteman if the town withdraws, though they will not be guaranteed a spot.

Card still working on coffee shop/bookstore plan

Lincoln resident Richard Card is still looking for a location for his planned bookstore, coffee shop, and cocktail bar because the first site he had in mind fell through due to parking issues.

Blazes was hoping to work out a lease at 10 Lewis St. in part of the space owned by the Food Project, but the parking at that site wasn’t sufficient, he said. He declined to specify other possible sites. Card added that he has “investors who are very, very interested but haven’t signed anything yet,” but may do so once a site is secured for the business.

Letter to the editor: Wolf won’t run again for Planning Board

January 4, 2016

To the editor:

After serving two terms totaling 10 years on the Lincoln Planning Board, several times as chair or co-chair, my tenure is ending. As much as I have enjoyed these past years, I will not be seeking reelection in March. It is time for a newer, fresher resident to have a seat at the table.

Letter to the editor: many Minuteman issues to mull

January 4, 2016

(Editor’s note: the most recent Lincoln Squirrel article about Minuteman can be found here.)

To the editor:

Minuteman High School has become an important topic of discussion here in Lincoln. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, we will have a Special Town Meeting at which we will be asked to decide if we want to remain in the Minuteman School District. There are many incredibly complex issues to be examined and an informed decision will require much thought, consideration, and understanding from all of us.