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

Minuteman High School appoints principal

Jack Dillon

Jack Dillon

John “Jack” Dillon III of Woburn, who has been serving as the school’s interim principal for the past four months and was the school’s assistant principal for nine years before that, was selected by Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, Minuteman’s Superintendent-Director from 34 applicants for the position. He succeeds Ernest F. Houle, who was appointed Superintendent-Director at Assabet Regional Vocational Technical High School in Marlborough.

“Minuteman is a great school and I’m very proud of the staff and students here,” Dillon said. “The next year will be very important for us as we try to promote a building project. It’s a herculean effort and I’m committed to working with our superintendent and our communities to help make it happen.”

Dillon has worked in education for 25 years. Before coming to Minuteman, he served as assistant principal at Maynard High School and as a health teacher and acting assistant principal at Burlington High School. He holds a master’s degree in education from Cambridge College and a bachelor’s in education from Bridgewater State University.

News acorns – 05/11/15

Lincoln Democrats to elect reps to state convention

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee (LDTC) will elect delegates to  the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s annual convention scheduled for September 19 on Saturday, May 16 from 9-11 a.m. at Bemis Hall. Light refreshments will be served. The public is always invited and encouraged to attend LDTC meetings and events, including these delegate caucus elections. Any Lincoln Democratic voter registered as of January 31, 2015 can nominate others, can be nominated, and can be elected as either a delegate or alternate to the state convention. You can even nominate yourself if you like. For questions, contact Gary Davis at garyddavis04@gmail.com.

Fundraiser party for Lincoln Police Association PMC team

For the third consecutive year, the Lincoln Police Association has a Pan Mass Challenge team, and residents are invited to support the team and fight cancer by attending a fundraiser on Friday, June 5 from 7-11 p.m, at the Pierce House. Team members are Dan Pereira of the Parks and Recreation Department, Lincoln Police Detective Ian Spencer and resident Kim Mooney. A donation of at least $50 lets you in to enjoy dance music from Honeytrain, an open bar, finger foods and more. Harpoon is sponsoring the beer but the team is footing the bill for the music, food and wine. For more information and to donate, see the team’s PMC profile page.

A bus full of donated supplies heading to Nepal earthquake victims.

A bus full of donated supplies heading to Nepal earthquake victims.

Lincoln’s Adrian Smith posts updates on Nepal relief efforts

Adrian Smith has succeeded in getting some supplies to an area of Nepal that was badly damaged by the recent earthquake, his mother Diana Smith reported (see her earlier letters to the editor here and here). “Less than two weeks ago we began with the idea of supporting a village of 50 families in the aftermath of the earthquake in Nepal. The outpouring of support we have received has allowed us to scale up our relief efforts to deliver over 14,000 kg. of food and other supplies (over 30,000 lbs.) to roughly 1,000 families who had not yet received any aid,” Adrian wrote on a Facebook page about his work. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude to all who have supported us and have made this possible.” For more updates and information about how to donate, go to the Nepal Earthquake Relief–Sindhupalchowk Facebook page or call Diana Smith at 781-259-9758.

Letter to the editor: costs and benefits of Minuteman proposal

letter

To the editor:

As a town resident living near Minuteman High School, I have always considered the high school a very good neighbor. Minuteman runs a fine program, which serves four to six Lincoln students each year. The superintendent’s house is on Mill Street in Lincoln, so he has every reason to join with Lincoln neighbors in protecting the tranquility and scenery of an area dominated by the landscape of Minuteman National Historical Park.

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Lincoln is #5 in millionaire density in Mass.

moneybagLincoln’s population may be small, but it’s near the top of the list in the its concentration of millionaires among its residents in 2012, according to this recent Boston Globe article.

The Globe article includes a map showing each town’s number of millionaires per 1,000 residents. The state’s largest city, Boston, has the largest overall number of millionaire taxpayers (1,698), followed by Newton (1,136), Wellesley (767), Weston (529), Brookline (442), and Lexington (379). Gosnold, which comprises the Elizabeth Islands, is an outlier in millionaire concentration, with only 75 residents but 19 millionaires. About two-thirds of Gosnold residents live on Cuttyhunk Island and almost all the rest on Naushon Island, which is privately owned by the Forbes family.

Town Number of millionaires per 1,000 residents
Gosnold 253
Weston 47
Dover 36
Wellesley 27
Lincoln 22
Sherborn 21
Manchester 19
Concord 17
Cohasset 17
Wayland 15
Lexington 12

Source: Boston Globe, April 22, 2015

An earlier Globe article noted that Lincoln has the third-highest average property tax bill in the state (see the Lincoln Squirrel, April 15, 2015).

Letter to the editor: kudos to the DPW

letter

To the editor:

Spring has arrived! The mini dunes of sand on the bike paths and roads seem to have magically  disappeared overnight. Certainly we are safer as we walk, bike and drive Lincoln’s sidewalks and byways. But the real magic for me is that winter has (almost) been swept from memory. I’m feeling warmer and cheerier just looking at the newly de-sanded landscape. Thanks to the DPW for ushering in the new season (and again, for getting us through the last)!

Sincerely,

Rob Jevon
9 Trapelo Road

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrel.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.

News acorns – 5/6/15

acornWater mains to get annual flushing

As part of its water quality and distribution maintenance program, the Lincoln Water Department is now conducting its annual flushing program of town water mains. Flushing will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. on weekdays and will continue until early June. Residents may experience discoloration of the water as the system is flushed and should avoid using washing machines and dishwashers during daytime hours. If the water in your home becomes discolored, please run an outside tap to remove any accumulated sediment from the service. For more information on the flushing program, please call the Water Department at 781-259-8997 or 781-259-1329. The Water Department appreciates the cooperation and patience of Lincoln residents.

Volunteer and/or rock out at Codman Farm

Join friends of Codman Community Farms (CCF) and Farmer Eric for a a volunteer work day this Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come for the whole day or just an hour. The farm is looking for some strong and skilled people to help redo the chicken coop fencing, but other tasks will also be available, and all are welcome. Pizza lunch and snacks provided. Bring work boots and gloves.

CCF’s annual Club Codman, where attendees can enjoy great dance hits of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond while supporting Codman Farm, is Saturday, May 16 from 7-10:30 p.m. in the Codman barn. Costumes are encouraged but not required. This is an adults-only event. Get your tickets online ($40 apiece) or call 781-259-0456—no door sales.

deCordova fundraising gala set for May 30

“Black and White in the Park,” the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum’s annual benefit gala, will take place on Saturday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. This year’s event honors Boston art gallery owner Barbara Krakow, who played a central role in bringing Antony Gormley’s Reflection II to deCordova as the museum’s first major outdoor acquisition. Her gallery also represented two recipients of the deCordova’s  Rappaport Prize, a yearly gift of $25,000 to a contemporary artist: Suara Welitoff (2012) and Ursula von Rydingsvard (2008). Tickets start at $500 and tables at $5,000. To make a purchase or contribution, see this deCordova web page or contact development coordinator Lizbie Harbison at lharbison@decordova.org or 781-259-3621.

“Live in Lincoln Center” concert on May 31

The First Parish Church in Lincoln presents its Spring Choral Concert on Sunday, May 31 at 3 p.m. in the Parish House auditorium (14 Bedford Road). The program will feature the First Parish choir performing music from the Renaissance to spirituals. Ian Watson, music director at the First Parish and resident conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society, is conductor and accompanist. A $20 donation is suggested.

Garden tour on June 7

The Lincoln Garden Club is having a Garden Tour on Sunday, June 7 from 1-5 p.m. to finance a horticultural intern at the New England Wildflower Society who will design and install a native plant garden at Lincoln’s Station Park. The five Lincoln gardens are a self-guiding tour with a variety of landscapes, ranging from huge plant collections (one garden has over 300 rhododendrons of all colors) to natural landscapes like wetlands. Those who purchase a Garden Tour ticket will also get access to a champagne reception, which will feature live music, food prepared by devoted Lincoln Garden Club members, a silent auction and a nature photo exhibit. Tickets are $45 per person ahead of time ($50 on June 7). A pair of tickets is $80 and four tickets are $150. For more information, visit the Lincoln Garden Club website.

Quake hits home for Lincoln family from Nepal

A Nepalese child in the earthquake rubble. (Photo from OLE Nepal's Indiegogo fundraising page)

A Nepalese child in the earthquake rubble. (Photo from OLE Nepal’s Indiegogo fundraising page)

Editor’s note: An April 30 letter to the editor from Diana Smith noted that her son Adrian is in Nepal and is collecting PayPal donations for supplies that will be transported to rural villages. On May 3 she noted that readers can also donate via check if they prefer not to use PayPal. Direct contributions to Adrian are not tax-deductible, but 100 percent of the gift goes to help the villagers; there are no administrative fees. Adrian and his friends will be carrying the supplies through the mountains to the villages because the roads are blocked. You can make out a check to Adrian Smith and mail it c/o Diana Smith, P.O. Box 6294, Lincoln, MA 01773. The memo can say “Earthquake Relief.”

By Alice C. Waugh

Only a few months after Rakesh Karmacharya and his family began calling Lincoln home, much of their homeland lies in rubble after the devastating earthquake in Nepal.

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