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

Letter to the editor: town working on zoning rules for small farmers

letter

To the editor:

These remarks were intended for presentation at the State of the Town Meeting on November 14. Unfortunately, time constraints prevented us from getting to them.

At the Annual Town Meeting in March 2011, the town passed “The Right to Farm” bylaw, a new section of the town’s general bylaws. This was done to broadly inform residents of state law regarding agriculture and to recognize the town’s general support of farming. Since that time, the Planning Board has been working together with the Agricultural Commission to bring our zoning bylaws (ZBL) into conformance with state law, while making refinements that reflect our local needs and circumstances.

State law provides for very modest local control over agriculture practices on properties greater than 5 acres. Therefore, our efforts have largely been focused on properties less than 5 acres. We are also respectful of rights currently held by residents, especially those enjoyed for personal use, such as keeping a backyard pony, a few beehives, or a small flock of chickens.

Our ZBL already allows for the raising and sale of produce (defined by our Zoning Board of Appeals as plant-based—vegetables, fruit, etc.) by an owner or tenant. But what should be done regarding the small farmer raising livestock and selling animal products, on less than 5 acres? These include sheep farmers, beekeepers, and poultry raisers, among others.

Our primary focus has been attempting to craft a permitting process under a definition of commercial agriculture, possibly based on sales per acre. This is still very much a work in progress. We are trying very hard to strike a balance between the needs of small farmers and non-farming residents. Public hearings on our proposed amendments will be scheduled in the near future and we look forward to your feedback. We hope to be ready for the March 2016 Town Meeting.

I would especially like to thank Lynne Bower, Jim Henderson and Ari Kurtz of the Agricultural Commission for their hard work. Please feel free to contact any of us if you have questions or concerns.

Bryce Wolf, Planning Board vice chair
52 Birchwood 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.

MBTA delays changes in commuter rail schedule

MBTA copyDisgruntled commuter rail riders—including many from Lincoln—scored a reprieve when the MBTA announced it would not eliminate Lincoln stops beginning December 14 as previously announced.

Five state senators and six state representatives from communities affected by the schedules gave MBTA and state officials a stack of complaints from constituents about planned changes on four commuter rail lines, the Boston Globe reported last week. One of the changes was eliminating the 5:30 p.m. train from North Station that stops in Lincoln, as well as the 7:50 a.m. inbound stop.

Among the complaints were letters from Lincoln residents and a petition circulated by Lincolnite Ruth Rothstein that garnered more than 200 signatures.

In the meetings with state officials, “I explained that these schedule changes will create tremendous hardship for my constituents,” state Sen. Michael Barrett said in a statement last week. “I’m pleased to report that we’ve scored a victory, if not forever, then for now. The T will delay cuts in train stops in Concord and Lincoln until May of 2016. It has committed to reconsidering its prior schedule changes and will be entertaining ‘robust public engagement’ before making any new scheduling decisions.

“A new proposed schedule is expected next month, following which there will be the kind of opportunity to comment that was lacking this time around. As their revised plan moves forward, I’ll be sure to let you know of new developments. Let’s keep pushing on this,” Barrett added.

 

Enjoy new features and show the Squirrel you care!

The Lincoln Squirrel proudly announces some new features:

  1. You can now easily email Squirrel stories to a friend or family members. Just click on the link that says “Forward this story to a friend” that now appears at the bottom left of every post. No more cutting and pasting URLs into emails!
  2. We  now have an automated Facebook and Twitter feed, so each new Lincoln Squirrel post will show up right away on your Facebook (www.facebook.com/LincolnSquirrel/) and Twitter (twitter.com/Squirrel01773) timelines.

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, we’re in full-on holiday season and its attendant angst about what to get for your loved ones. Do some online shopping at the Lincoln Squirrel store! Perhaps a thermos or mouse pad with the Squirrel logo—or better yet, a flask to help you get through those long Town Meetings? The selection also includes water bottles, tote bags, T-shirts, hoodies, onesies for the littlest Squirrel fans, and evening apparel such as pajamas, boxer shorts and even thongs. It’s a gift they’ll never forget!

It’s also that time of year for squirrels to store up acorns for the winter (and “winter” can also be taken to mean “college for young squirrels”) 🙂 So if you think the Squirrel provides a valuable service, please make a donation via check, credit card or PayPal account.

Happy holidays!

Council on Aging activities for December

bemisMeet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
December 2 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. to meet with Anthony Moreschi, Constituent Service Representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark. He will be available to assist residents with Social Security, Medicare, and MassHealth/Medicaid. You are also welcome to discuss other matters with him that he may be able to help with.

Toe-tappin’ jazz at Bemis
December 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 2:30 when a traditional jazz combo gathers around the magnificent piano at Bemis Hall for an afternoon of old-time favorites. Share in the fun as trumpet, sax, clarinet, trombone, bass, drums and piano belt out foot stompers of the ‘20s, ’30s and ’40s. Tap your toes to good ole oldies such as Ain’t She Sweet, Somebody Stole My Gal, Bei Mir Bist Du Shein, or I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World.

Be prepared for winter’s fury: lunch and learn
December 4 at 12 p.m.
We all learned last year how challenging New England winters can be, but blizzards, power outages, and other potential disasters can be easier if you are prepared. Join Ben Juhola of the Lincoln Fire Department on Friday, Dec. 4 at 12 p.m. at the Public Safety Building for lunch and a presentation about how you can be sure you are ready for winter, including what supplies you need, ensuring you have communication, what to take if you need to go to a shelter, how Public Safety will be there to serve you, and more. Please sign up in advance by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 so Public Safety knows how many people to expect.

Celebrate the holidays with other veterans and spouses
December 7 at 9 a.m.
Celebrate the holidays with other veterans and their spouses on Monday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. You’ll be treated to pancakes with butter and syrup, coffee, and great conversation! This is a social time just to chat and get to know other veterans in town. The breakfast will be followed by the Veteran to Veteran discussion group at 10 a.m. The breakfast is free, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities for December

Letter to the editor: thanks from Chris Reilly

letter

To the editor:

After spending the last five years as Lincoln’s Director of Planning and Land Use Permitting, I recently took a parallel position in a nearby community. Leaving Lincoln after five years was not something I anticipated considering when I took the job, but I feel I certainly made the best effort I could as I bring with me many positive memories of the considerable time, energy and spirit spent trying to serve Lincoln’s true, interests. To that end, I would like to thank those who supported my position and made the experience worthwhile.

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News acorns

gobbleGobble Wobble is on for Thanksgiving

Join your neighbors on Thanksgiving morning for the annual Thanksgiving Gobble Wobble, a family fun run/walk for all ages. No timing and no bibs—just a very casual way to burn some calories, hang with friends and neighbors, and do some good for people. There are two routes of approximately 2.5 miles and 3.5 miles. The entry fee is a bag of nonperishable groceries per runner/walker, which will be donated to Open Table in Concord. Please, no turkeys—they cannot be donated.

Organizer Jen Flanagan will be at the Donelan’s/Whistle Stop parking lot at 8 a.m. to start collecting groceries, and the Gobble Wobble will start at 8:30. We’ll start the Wobble at 8:30. Please note that roads will not be closed for this event, so younger kids must be accompanied by a parent or older sibling. Email jen@flanagans.us if you have questions.

Boy Scout Christmas tree sale starts Saturday

Lincoln Boy Scout Troop 127 is selling trees, wreaths, and garland at the corner of Codman and Lincoln Roads starting Saturday, Nov. 28. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends and on select weeknights from 5-7 p.m. Look for the lot lights to be on! Sales benefit Lincoln Boy Scout troop activities, and additional funds are donated to local charities.

See “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” performed

The Hampstead Stage Company presents The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a stage adaptation of the beloved children’s book, on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 4 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library. Step with us through the door of an old wardrobe and enter a snowy world laced with fantasy and wonder. For all ages. No registration necessary.

Mike Tannert

Mike Tannert

Tannert to speak on memoir of the Alps

The Lincoln Public Library and the Lincoln Council on Aging are pleased to present Lincoln resident Mike Tannert discussing his new memoir, For the Love of Mountains, on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 2-3 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room. Tannert will sign copies of his memoir recalling his love of the Alps and the life lessons he learned while climbing.

 

Minuteman school project in a political and financial tangle

mm1By Alice Waugh

Although the topic of school building projects in Lincoln has focused on the K-8 Lincoln School in recent years, Minuteman High School is moving ahead with plans to construct a new building of its own on town land—a project that may cost towns more than they thought and is now tangled in a political web.

[Read more…] about Minuteman school project in a political and financial tangle

Consultant presents ideas for campus configuration

By Alice Waugh

A Campus Master Planning Committee consultant offered some scenarios for configuring the school campus while affirming that there are no septic or regulatory issues that would prevent putting a community center on the Hartwell side.

Speaking at the November 14 State of the Town Meeting, Greg Smolley of LLB Architects also repeated what he said at an October 17 public forum—that a second Lincoln Road entrance to the campus east of Ballfield Road to accommodate a community center is not needed or advisable.

[Read more…] about Consultant presents ideas for campus configuration