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

Heated discussion over Lincoln and Minuteman

mm1By Alice Waugh

Many of the 16 towns in the Minuteman High School district are ready to move forward with a new regional agreement, but Lincoln is standing firm on its demand for compensation as host community to a new high school—a stance that could potentially torpedo a new agreement.

Selectmen from the member towns met on December 2 to try to agree on a deal in principle for amending the agreement that would be acceptable to all 16 towns. The idea, originally proposed by Boxborough Selectman Vince Amoroso, would achieve several things: [Read more…] about Heated discussion over Lincoln and Minuteman

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Christmas Eve services at First Parish

The First Parish Church in Lincoln will hold Christmas Eve services on Thursday, Dec. 24 at 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the church sanctuary (10 Bedford Road). The service at 5 p.m. will be a family service led by Kathy Cronin, Acting Director of Religious Education. The services at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. will be led by Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti and will feature a choir and candle lighting. All are welcome.

Scholarship Committee gets web page

The Lincoln Scholarship Committee (Carolyn Dwyer, Nancy Marshall, and Barbara Slayter) now has its own page on the Town of Lincoln website at www.lincolntown.org/index.aspx?nid=645. The web page contains general information for graduating seniors and their parents about the scholarships and awards managed by the LSC.  The application form and information regarding 2016 applications will be available for downloading on February 1, 2016.

Lincolnites involved in hospital fundraisers
football

Members of the Lincoln-Sudbury sixth-grade Warriors football team, presented a $750 donation to Dr. David Rose, chairman of Emerson hospital’s Radiology Department, who accepted the donation on behalf of the Hermel Breast Health Center. The young athletes raised the money by selling pink-themed t-shirts and socks at their football games over the past two years to support patient care at Emerson. Front row, left to right: Ben Lisa, Riley O’Connell, Will Ginand, and Kyle Mitchell of Sudbury, and Alek Valleau of Lincoln. Back row, left to right: Karter Singh, Kieran O’Connell, and Dhamari Coren of Sudbury, and Dr. David Rose.

Mount Auburn Hopsital 2015-11-14 "Party of the Year" Gala: One ( 1) year non-exclusive use for Mount Auburn Hopsital's internal publications,PR, and web-site use only. Not for: Advertising, indiviuals usage (including photo subjects), any outside publications or institutions, media, or any other usage without written permission of Joshua Touster. Copyright 2015 Joshua Touster

Mount Auburn Hospital raised over $500,000, including $100,000 for pediatric critical care equipment, at its 11th annual “Party of the Year!” charity gala. Left to right: Jeanette Clough, president and CEO of Mount Auburn Hospital; Dr. Michael Shortsleeve of Lincoln, chair of the hospital’s Department of Radiology; and his daughter Michelle Shortsleeve. Photo: Joshua Touster.

 

 

Letter to the editor: Lincoln families give generously

presentsTo the editor:

Fifty Families was started in 1997 by a group of friends around a table at Lincoln’s Codman Harvest Feast with the intention of getting 50 Lincoln families to provide holiday cheer for those in need. It has blossomed into more than 150 families taking part and is a sight to behold—hundreds and hundreds of wrapped gifts in festive shopping bags delivered to families at the Bay Cove Small Wonders Early Intervention Center.

Bay Cove, founded by Lincoln resident Dan Boynton, has been providing compassionate care to some of Boston’s neediest families for more than 30 years. Many of the children come from families burdened with poverty, mental illness, and drug and alcohol addiction. The caseworkers working with the families provide names, ages and a suggested gift. In most cases these will be the only gifts the families will receive for the holidays.

Year after year Lincoln, parents tell me how this event is what the holidays are all about and how their children help in the process of choosing the right gifts for the children who are in need of some joy. This year, a 12-year-old Lincoln boy has taken the birthday money he was given and bought for a little boy named Mohamed. A cashier from Toys R Us in Natick heard about our program and has provided for two children this year.

In 2014 we donated 327 gift bags, 4,782 diapers, and over $2,000 in grocery and Target gift cards. Can we top 2014? I invite you to come by and see the magic we collect the bags on Monday, Dec. 14 between 3 and 6 p.m. at the First Parish stone church (14 Bedford Road). The later you come, the more magical it becomes when the room fills with the gift of giving. If you’d like to bring some diapers (sizes 3, 4 or 5) or a gift card to Target, Walmart, or Stop & Shop, we would be thrilled.

Sincerely,

Tucker Smith
6 Canaan Drive

Need a gift idea? It’s in the bag!

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Gifts should be useful and sustainable as well as decorative, right? Everyone needs reusable lunch bags, tote bags, laundry bags, shopping bags and beach bags. Go green and support the Lincoln Squirrel by shopping at the Lincoln Squirrel store (or click on one of the images to go right to that product).

You can also show your appreciation for the Squirrel by making a donation. Happy holidays!

Obituary: Laurence W. Zuelke, 84

Larry Zuelke as a Lincoln MinuteMan in 2006. Photo courtesy Henry Hibben.

Larry Zuelke as a Lincoln MinuteMan in 2006. (Photo courtesy George Hibben)

Laurence W. Zuelke, 84, passed away on December 1 at the Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association. He was a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean conflict and had a long and distinguished career working for The Architects Collaborative (TAC) in Cambridge for 28 years and in private practice until 2010.

He and his wife Nancy Augustus were happily married for 58 years, including more than 50 years in Lincoln. As a wedding present to each other, they purchased a 1957 VW bug that Larry restored and enjoyed driving (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Jan. 17, 2013). He also participated in many Revolutionary War reenactments with the Lincoln Minute Men and was captain for one of their most important events, the inaugural parade for President Clinton.

Services and interment will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to a nonprofit organization of your choice. Click here for the full obituary.

 

 

First Parish gearing up for Christmas

Nancy Fleming and Karin Levy (pictured L to R), co-chairs of First Parish in Lincoln’s upcoming Touch of Christmas Fair, bring wreaths to the church to be decorated in preparation. The Fair will be held Saturday, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nancy Fleming (left) and Karin Levy, co-chairs of First Parish’s upcoming Touch of Christmas fair, bring wreaths to the church to be decorated in preparation.

The First Parish Church in Lincoln will hold its Touch of Christmas Fair on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Parish House (14 Bedford Road). Children can have their photo taken with Santa starting at 11 a.m. The fair will also feature decorated wreaths, holiday centerpieces, baked goods, crafts, and a cash raffle. In addition to Santa’s visit, Touch of Christmas offers many children’s activities, including the Children’s Room, where young people can do their own holiday shopping. Kids can decorate cookies or ornaments, and “go fishing” on a Christmas tree for a gift. For further information, contact Nancy Fleming at nlfleming@comcast.net or Karin Levy at karinlevy54@gmail.com.

The First Parish will hold its Christmas Pageant, a presentation of the traditional Christmas story, on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 11:15 a.m. in the Parish House auditorium. There is a part for every child already enrolled in the church’s religions education program who wants to participate. Rehearsals will be held December 6 and 13 during religious education. Admission is free, and refreshments will be available following the production.

As part of its “Live in Lincoln Center” series, the First Parish will present Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. in the Parish House Auditorium. The traditional holiday musical production will feature the Lincoln Baroque Players and Chorus and is conducted by Ian Watson. Suggested donation is $30, but any amount is appreciated. Seating is limited and is first-come, first-seated basis; doors will open at 2:30 p.m.

The First Parish in Lincoln will hold its Winter Solstice Service on Monday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary (10 Bedford Road). This service marks the longest night of the year and celebrates the return of light as days start to lengthen. It will include music, dancing, and the lighting of candles.

The Lincoln Ringers will present a candlelight handbell concert on Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. in the parish house auditorium.

 

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boxDonate your cardboard boxes to FOLL

As the holiday season ramps up and you receive boxes from Santa and fulfillment packages from Amazon, the Friends of the Library could use your discarded boxes for storing and mailing books. Drop them at Bemis Hall entryway, or if you have too many to deliver, please email Belinda Gingrich at belinda.gingrich@verizon.net and she will pick them up.

“Star Wars” movie marathon at the library

In anticipation of the new Star Wars movie opening in theaters on December 18, the Lincoln Public Library will host a daylong Star Wars marathon of the original trilogy on Saturday, Dec. 12:

  • Episode IV: A New Hope – 10 a.m.
  • Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back – 12:15 p.m.
  • Episode VI: Return of the Jedi – 2:30 p.m.

There will be raffle prizes as well. All movies are rated PG; recommended for ages 6 and up. Adults welcome!

Letter to the editor: climate change bill presented

letter

To the editor:

State Senator Michael Barrett’s bill S1747–An Act Combating Climate Change as previously endorsed by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee was recently presented to the Senate Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy. The hearing room was packed, showing broad bipartisan support by business, civic, environmental, and academic communities.

Senator Barrett and the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee fully understand the science and reality behind climate change and appreciates the need to take urgent steps to reduce carbon emissions as one means of helping to reduce global warming. The bill is based on the successful 2008 precedent used in British Columbia that charges a fee to users on their use of carbon-based fuels. However, because this bill is revenue-neutral, it encourages conservation, and collected fees are returned to businesses, institutions, and individuals, so it does not put an unfair burden on the poor or small business.

To the extent that the modestly sized Commonwealth can form a part of a universal climate solution, this initiative provides an effective way for Lincoln and Massachusetts to combat climate change and provide a constructive example to others.

Based on the presentation of Senator Barrett to the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee last January, the report of the Senate Committee Hearing, and his very thorough carbon pricing resource material, the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee has been pleased to support and endorse this important climate change bill since its original introduction.

Sincerely,

Gary Davis (chair, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee)
20R Indian Camp Lane

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, 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.

Campus study draft to be presented next week

The current school campus showing when various sections were built.

The Campus Master Planning Committee (CMPC) will receive a draft report from its consultants with recommendations for reconfiguring the Lincoln School campus on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Hartwell multipurpose room.

Residents heard an interim report at the State of the Town meeting in November from LLB Architects, who outlined some examples of how the building areas, pedestrian walkways, playing fields, and roads on the campus could be configured to accommodate a school project and a new community center somewhere on the Hartwell side. They did not include site work cost estimates for the scenarios.

The CMPC also released results of an informal survey of residents who attended an October 17 public forum. About 160 people responded to seven statements with answers ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” The results of Questions 1 and 5 indicate support for reducing the footprint of the school building, which would most likely mean a two-story structure, although the overall character of the campus is still seen as important.

1. Gaining additional field space is a worthy reason to reduce the overall school footprint.

Agreed or
strongly agreed		 Neutral Disagreed or
strongly disagreed
52% 20% 25%

2. Locating parking near building entrances and fields is more important than the character of the campus.

Agreed or
strongly agreed		 Neutral Disagreed or
strongly disagreed
17% 21% 60%

3. Pedestrian walkways should take precedence over vehicular drives and parking lots.

Agreed or
strongly agreed		 Neutral Disagreed or
strongly disagreed
54% 30% 15%
4. The campus character is tied directly to the current footprint of the buildings.

Agreed or
strongly agreed		 Neutral Disagreed or
strongly disagreed
38% 25% 31%

5. We should consider reducing the footprint of the school in order to gain building efficiencies, better educational layout, and more space on campus for playing fields and other uses.

Agreed or
strongly agreed		 Neutral Disagreed or
strongly disagreed
62% 14% 19%

6. The value (functionality, appropriateness, and life expectancy) of the projects should take precedence in decision making if the costs exceed the previously projected costs.

Agreed or
strongly agreed		 Neutral Disagreed or
strongly disagreed
8% 19% 67%

7. Future projects should aim to reduce the impact on the regulated areas [wetland buffers, riverfront setbacks] to the extent that is practical.

Agreed or
strongly agreed		 Neutral Disagreed or
strongly disagreed
27% 25% 42%

The final report is due to town officials on December 31. The CMPC and its consultant have been working for six months on the project and have presented information at five public forums this fall.