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

Squirrels galore! (Lincoln through the lens, 10/27/14)

Squirrels galore! On the left is a black squirrel photographed by Harold McAleer. On the right is one of the more common gray variety seen by Barbara Peskin. See more of her nature photos at www.barbarapeskin.com.

On the left we have a black squirrel photographed by Harold McAleer. On the right is one of the more common gray variety seen by Barbara Peskin. See more of her photos at www.barbarapeskin.com.

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Training this week for election helpers

ballotIf you’d like to serve as a poll worker at the November 4 election, please join us for an election worker training from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the Town Office Building.

For deputy wardens, several innovations are set to be introduced at the election. Please join us for a training session at the Town Offices on Tuesday, Oct. 28  from 7-8:30 p.m.

Polls will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 4 in the Smith gym from 7 a,m, to 8 p.m.

 

November activities hosted by the COA

bemisLincoln Academy with Ian Spencer—Forensic art: Blending creativity and crime-fighting
November 3 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 3 at 12:30 to hear Ian Spencer of the Lincoln Police Department discuss “Forensic Art: Blending Creativity and Crime-Fighting.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.

Ole time traditional jazz concert
November 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Join in the fun on Thursday, Nov. 6 at 2:30 when our regular traditional jazz combo gathers around the Steinway Grand at Bemis Hall for an afternoon of spontaneous jamming. Share the joy as cornet, sax, clarinet, trombone, bass, drums and piano belt out good old foot stompers of the ’20s,’30s and ’40s. Tap your toes to old favorites such as Ain’t Misbehavin’, I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Makin’ Whoopie, On the Sunny Side of The Street, Honeysuckle Rose, I Got Rhythm, etc., ending with a rousing all-in When The Saints Go Marchin’ In. Get up and dance around the room if you feel the urge. If you missed the last one, you definitely won’t want to miss this one. Just ask anyone who was there. Check them out. You might end up staying!

Zen cancer wisdom
November 7 at 10 a.m.
If you or a friend or family member has been touched by cancer, you know that having cancer is a journey involving the body, mind, heart, and soul. That journey can be made easier, however, by words of wisdom from those who have experienced it. All are invited to Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov.7 at 10 a.m. to hear Sue Stason discuss the newly released book Zen Cancer Wisdom: Tips for Making Each Day Better by Sue’s daughter-in-law, Daju Suzanne Friedman. Ms. Friedman, a scholar of Daoism, qigong master, Zen teacher and professor and doctor of Chinese medicine, was a cancer patient twice. Her book includes tips on and specific practices for managing the physical effects of cancer and its treatment, coping with stress, living fully with a cancer diagnosis, harnessing the mind and more.

Basic self-defense with the Lincoln Police
November 7 at 1 p.m.
Whether you’re at home in Lincoln or traveling to another place, you need to know how to prevent crime or, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, know how to get away unharmed. Find out the best ways to secure your home and your vehicle as well as learn strikes, blocks, kicks, and patterns of movement to get you out of a situation in which you are being attacked when Ian Spencer of the Lincoln Police comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. The methods you learn will use minimal energy with the goal being escape. Those who attended the previous workshop will benefit from the refresher provided by this workshop.

Lincoln Academy with Holly Holleroth—The “naked truth” about aging
November 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 10 at 12:30 to hear Hugo “Holly” Holleroth discuss “The Naked Truth about Aging.” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.

Important Hanscom Air Force Base and MassPort update
November 12 at 10 a.m.
Hanscom Air Force Base and Massport are integral to Lincoln in many ways. Join part two of our conversation about what’s going on at Hanscom and Massport when Tim Higgins, Lincoln’s Town Administrator, comes to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. He will update the group and then answer questions and concerns. This presentation is part of Fireside Chat, a discussion of a current news topic using questions and answers led by Sharon Antia each second Wednesday of the month. All are welcome.

Veterans Day luncheon
November 12 at Noon
Veterans and their spouses are invited to a Veterans Day luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at noon at Bemis Hall. Come for soup/chowder and sandwiches. This will be a relaxing, fun time for veterans and their spouses to get together, chat, and enjoy some time together. Please sign up by Friday, Nov. 7 by calling the COA. A $5 donation is requested.

European river cruises and meet-up
November 14 at 9:30
The Danube, the Seine, the Rhine the Main—Europe’s rivers are romantic, beautiful and full of historic intrigue. Find out more about the rivers and cruises that can take you on them without the aggravation and uncertainty of planning the trip yourself when Peggy Dawson, travel advisor and accredited cruise counselor, comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. She’ll describe some popular tours, let you know how to choose a.m. ong them, and give the inside scoop on costs. Start the morning at 9:30 a.m. with a “meet-up” of people who would like to travel but need traveling companions or who just like to talk about traveling.

Observation status: are you an inpatient or outpatient?
November 14 at 1 p.m.
The difference between being admitted as a hospital inpatient vs. being under “observation status” as an outpatient is a costly problem for seniors and even more difficult to understand. Learn the difference between the two and how to advocate for yourself or a loved one when Lindsay Brennan, LSW, CMC, executive director of Life Care Directions of New England, comes to Bemis Hall on Friday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. There will be time for questions and concerns. Refreshments will be provided by Right at Home.

Do you have something you need sewn?
November 17 at 10 a.m.
Do you have a seam that needs repairing or a hem to be taken up, or some other sewing need? Barbara Straus has volunteered to come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. to help you with your sewing needs! No need to sign up, just come on down!

Lincoln Academy with Walter Bossert—was Edith Wilson the de facto president?
November 17 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 17 at 12:30 p.m. to hear Walter Bossert discuss “Was Edith Wilson de Facto President of the United States During the Last 17 Months of Woodrow Wilson’s Presidency?” featuring live music of the era. Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.

Senior dining
November 18 at 11:30 a.m.
Lincoln seniors are invited to a gourmet meal in an elegant setting at 11:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at St. Anne’s Church. You must reserve by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 at least a week ahead even if you have previously attended. The cost of each meal is $5. Caregivers are welcome to come with those for whom they are caring. Let the COA know when you call if you need transportation or a seating partner. The lunch is co-sponsored by the COA, the Friends of the COA, Minuteman Senior Services, and St. Anne’s. And the volunteer serving staff consists of your Lincoln friends and neighbors. Except in extenuating circumstances, you must call to cancel at least a week ahead or the COA will need to charge you for the meal in order to cover costs.

Meet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
November 19 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. to meet with Natalie Kaufman, Constituent Service Representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark. She will be available to assist residents with Social Security, Medicare, and MassHealth/Medicaid. You’re also welcome to discuss other matters with her that she may be able to help with.

Happy feet, happy life: foot massage you do yourself
November 21 at 10 a.m.
Your feet don’t just get you here and there—they have key pressure points. Keeping them in good shape is essential to our overall health and well being, including improving circulation, removing toxins, stress relief, and more. Find out how foot massage can become part of your wellness routine and how to do foot massage on yourself or someone else with Jai Kaur Annamaria San Antonio on Friday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m. Jai Kuar Annamaria teaches the COA’s popular Easy Yoga course, among other yoga classes, and is a qualified massage therapist in private practice. Bring your feet and your questions!

Developing a job search action plan
November 21 at 1 p.m.
Join Tee Provost of Operation ABLE when she continues her series on successfully finding a job on Friday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Tee will focus on deciding between job options, setting goals, evaluating resources and obstacles to achieving goals, and developing an action plan with clear, obtainable steps. This program will be of benefit even if you have not come to previous sessions.

Lincoln Academy: Birches School teachers
November 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 24 at 12:30 p.m. to hear Teachers from Birches School discuss “Birches School: Offering a Nature-based, Community-based STEAM Education” (STEAM = science/technology/engineering/arts/mathematics). Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.

Reagle holiday gala
Revel in holiday joy as you experience over two hours of enchanting Christmas cheer at the Reagle Music Theater’s Holiday Gala on Sunday, Dec. 7. You’ll enjoy a breathtaking spectacle including a full orchestra and 150 talented performers featuring Yuletide songs and pageants of the Parade of Wooden Soldiers, Santa’s Workshop, a Victorian Christmas and more. The bus will leave the Mall at 3:15 p.m. on a Doherty’s bus and return about 7 p.m. The cost, including transportation, is $36 per person. Remember to bring some cash for ice cream and drinks that will be served at intermission. To reserve your place, send a check made out to FLCOA Trips to Claire Mount, 123 Tower Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 by November 19. Questions? Call Claire at 781-259-8695.

Save the date! Winter piano recital by Wanda Paik
Join Lincoln resident Wanda Paik for a solo piano performance on Friday, Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Admission is free and open to the public and will be followed by refreshments. Music by Chopin will be performed. Paik has appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler and Erich Kunzel, the Boston Classical Orchestra with Harry Ellis Dickson and the Boston Civic Symphony with Max Hobart, among others. She has also performed at the National Gallery in Washington, the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, at numerous colleges and universities throughout the U.S., and in Brazil, Trinidad and South Korea. Paik has served as president of the New England Piano Teachers’ Association and a board member of the Concord Area Music School Association. She is a member of the music faculty at Regis College in Weston and has released two CDs: Piano Perennials and Romantic Classics.

Letter to the editor: Support Sharon Antia

letter

To the editor,

We are writing in support of Sharon Antia for state representative in the upcoming election on November 4. We have known Sharon for over 15 years. Sharon and Laurie worked side by side as co-members of the Lincoln School Committee for several years. For as long as we have known her and worked with her, we have seen her dedication to service, her unflagging optimism, her good nature, and her interest in understanding the views and needs of her fellow citizens.

Were you to follow Sharon during this election season, you would see someone who is not out to convince the electorate of the correctness of her views, but rather someone who has spent countless hours in the community, even going door to door, seeking to understand the views of her prospective constituents. Sharon believes that the role of an elected representative in a representative democracy is to advocate as her constituents—the citizens she represents—would wish her to. Sharon’s only political ambition is a desire to understand how she can best help and represent her fellow citizens, especially to give voice to those whose voices are too often ignored.

Sharon always faces a challenge with optimism, courage and a smile. We can think of no one better suited to represent the citizens of Waltham and Lincoln in the state legislature and urge every voter to carefully consider her background, dedication to public service and character before casting their ballot on November 4.

Sincerely,

Chris and Laurie Manos
1 Forester 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 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.

Letter to the editor: Vote for Coakley

letter

To the editor:

The Coordinated Campaign Office of the Third Middlesex Area Democrats in Waltham recently hosted a rally for Martha Coakley, candidate for governor. Supporters from the Third Middlesex Area towns of Lincoln, Carlisle, Weston, Lexington and Waltham filled the office.

Preceded by a rousing introduction by area state Senator Mike Barrett, Coakley made a very energetic presentation illustrating her motivation to carry her message throughout the Commonwealth and encouraging supporters to get out the vote for the November 4 general election. She touched on some of her key messages including continuing to build a state-wide economy that works for everyone not just those at the top, bringing down the cost of doing business in Massachusetts and fostering strengths in our high tech and medical technology industries, providing 21st-century workforce job training programs with community colleges, bringing down cost of housing and health care, making college more affordable, creating universal access to high-quality early education, and improving access to mental and behavioral health care.

Volunteers from the Third Middlesex Area Democrat member towns manage this Coordinated Campaign Office in Waltham to act as a focal point for campaign activities, materials and candidate appearances. In addition to gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley and candidate for lieutenant governor Steve Kerrigan, there is a long list of other progressive candidates running for office including primarily Ed Markey for U.S. Senate, Katherine Clark for U. S. Congress, and Maura Healey for state attorney general. Likewise, our neighbor Mike Barrett is seeking re-election as our state senator. Refer to massdems.org/get-involved/elections for a complete list of all Democratic candidates.

To keep Massachusetts moving forward vote for these Progressive Democratic candidates on November 4.

Sincerely,

Gary Davis
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.

News acorns

acorn
Halloween activities for kids at the library

Movies & Muffins — Friday, Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
Watch Halloween-themed short films based on the beloved children’s books Fletcher and the Falling Leaves and Dem Bones, and the “Little Bear’s Moonlight Serenade”TV episode. For ages 2 and up.

Oogly Googly Halloween Puppet Show — Monday, Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.
Come hear a Halloween story and then make a shadow puppet. Puppeteer Faye Dupras will work with participants and their puppets in a fun shadow puppet activity. Recommended for ages 3-8. Registration required.

“Not Too Scary” Stories and Crafts — Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m.
Halloween stories for kids age 3-5 with Amy and Jane. Wear your costumes if you dare! Drop-in.

Candlelight vigil for victims of domestic violence

At an October 29 candlelight vigil in Lincoln to commemorate victims of domestic violence, District Attorney Marian Ryan will give a keynote address on the collateral impact of domestic violence on children who witness violence and on our communities.

The Domestic Violence Services Network will host its annual candlelight vigil (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month) on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at Bemis Hall in Lincoln,  to commemorate the victims who lost their lives to domestic violence in the past year. Candles will be lit in reverence of those lives lost to domestic violence, and an honor guard from Hanscom Air Force Base will join in the ceremony.

While the vigil is a solemn occasion, it is also a night of hope. By publicly standing together, we show the victims in our communities that we believe their stories and support their journeys. A gathering with light refreshments will follow. For more information about DVSN’s Candlelight Vigil, please call 978-318-3421.

evensongEvensong at St. Anne’s on November 2

St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church is hosting a service of choral evensong on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. All are welcome. Evensong is the most particularly Anglican service in all of Christian worship. Originating from the monastic hours, it consists of the distinctive parts of the ancient office of Vespers and Compline. During the last century, Evensong has emerged as a liturgy of rare and mystical beauty. For more information, visit www.stanneslincoln.org or call 781-259-8834.

 

 Lecture on “The Codmans and the Great War”

Come to a lecture about “The Codmans and the Great War” on Sunday, Nov. 2 at the Codman House (34 Codman Rd.) at 1 p.m. After war was declared in Europe in 1914, New England families like the Codmans, who had strong ties to France, felt reverberations. When war broke out, oldest brother and architect Ogden Codman Jr. was at his chateau outside of Paris. While he and his staff made a daring, last-minute escape to the United States, his friend and co-author Edith Wharton remained in Europe to assist the war effort. In Lincoln, the Codman siblings threw themselves into home front activities like knitting and canning. Dramatic letters from family and friends in Europe serving as ambulance drivers, nurses, aid workers, and soldiers kept the family abreast of news from the front lines. Drawn from material in Historic New England’s archives, this illustrated talk focuses on the First World War experience of the Codmans and their community.

The lecture takes place in the Carriage House followed by an optional tour of the Codman House museum. Tickets are $10 for Historic New England members and $15 for nonmembers. Registration is required. Please call 781-259-8098 for more information. Click here to purchase tickets online.

Conservation Commission seeks volunteers

The Lincoln Conservation Commission (ConsComm) seeks volunteers to serve on the seven-member commission. There is at least one immediate opening. Commissioner appointments are made by the Board of Selectmen for a three-year term unless the appointment is to fill out a previous commissioner’s term. The time commitment includes an evening meeting every third Wednesday as well as site visits, which are often held on the same day as the meeting and are typically held on weekday mornings. You may also be asked to participate in a subcommittee or serve as a liaison to another board or commission.

The ConsComm’s work is diverse, but much of it is focused on wetlands permitting and open space management. Those with professional skills in reading and understanding construction plans are especially desirable so a background in fields such as engineering, construction, architecture and surveying is helpful. Also those with legal experience would help round out the current group of commissioners.

If you’re interested, please submit the town’s online volunteer application form and submit it to the Board of Selectmen’s office or the Conservation Department. Attendance at ConsComm meetings is helpful for any interested applicant’ the schedule is also available on the commission’s website.

Buy a Thanksgiving pie for a good cause

Order a gourmet Thanksgiving apple, pumpkin, pecan or chocolate pie and help fund enrichment grants for teachers at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Purchase pies for $18 each from the Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury (FELS).

To support another good cause in addition to FELS, you can also donate a pie to the Lincoln or Sudbury fire and police staff, the L-S Senior Dinner, a food pantry or an L-S teacher. FELS will arrange delivery — just indicate your choice on the form if you’re paying by check, or in the “special instructions to seller” area if you’re using a charge card or Paypal. (If you do not fill in anything under “instructions to vendor,” we will e-mail you to ask your preference.) Go to the FELS website to order pies online via credit card or download a paper form to pay by check. Pie orders must be received by Friday, Nov. 10 and will be available for pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Half of your order is tax deductible.

See musical theater gala with Council on Aging

Revel in holiday joy as you experience over two hours of enchanting Christmas cheer at the Reagle Music Theater’s Holiday Gala on Sunday, Dec. 7.  You’ll enjoy a breathtaking spectacle including a full orchestra and 150 talented performers featuring Yuletide songs and pageants of the Parade of Wooden Soldiers, Santa’s Workshop, a Victorian Christmas and more.

The Council on Aging bus will leave the Lincoln Mall at 3:15 p.m. on December 7 and return about 7 p.m. The cost, including transportation, is $36 per person. Remember to bring some cash for ice cream and drinks that will be served at intermission. Lincoln seniors and their caregivers, family members and friends who may be visiting (with permission from the trip leader) are welcome.

To reserve your place, send a check made out to “FLCOA Trips” to Claire Mount, 123 Tower Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 by Wednesday, Nov. 19. Please include your name, address, email (if available) and phone number on your check. Questions? Call Claire at 781-259-8695.

Moo is the fairest of them all? (Lincoln through the lens, 10/19/14)

Here is the cow.

“Mary Belize,” a cow owned by Ken Bassett, admires herself in a truck mirror at Codman Community Farms while snacking on some hay. According to photographer Hannah Stevenson, the cow, who is about 13 years old and “runs the show, alpha cow style,” was named after Bassett’s wife Mary Helen Lorenz and was born while Ken was in Belize.

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing it to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. If your photo is published, you’ll receive credit in the Squirrel. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and names of any people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln Through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Letter to the editor: support a multigenerational community center

letter

To the editor:

My parents moved their young family to Lincoln in 1948. Growing up, I was always impressed by how much my parents gave back to the community, and how much the Lincoln community gave to our family. I remember my Dad very clearly saying how important it is to pay it both forward and backwards. Even in late middle age, after their kids had long flown the nest, he and my mother were generous supporters of the schools, the library and other important town initiatives.

As our town looks forward to making funding decisions, I am concerned that some folk are becoming polarized. Young parents perhaps think there is little need for a community center, while some seniors are less interested in funding the schools and young kids. I think it is a mistake to divide ourselves like this. In order to be a thriving robust community, we need to look after all the various members of our town.

At a recent community center meeting, several people stated that we really don’t need a community center, since we already have a great community. While I agree that we have a wonderful town, I strongly feel we need a community center that embraces both the Council on Aging and Parks and Recreation. I am concerned that if we create a separate COA, we will in fact isolate the older folk in town.

Some folks are concerned that children might run over frail seniors, but if children are adequately monitored that would not be a problem. Children and seniors coexist well at Donelan’s, the library and church settings. By thinking creatively, we can meet the needs of all. Why not build a building with separate entrances for young and old, and at the same time have mixed/joint spaces? By sharing space, we can build connections between young and old. In this modern age, so many kids and grandparents are separated by great distances. Many little kids never see grownups older than their parents. There are so many opportunities for multigenerational activities — including some of the opportunities listed below…

  • Computer classes
  • Cooking
  • Dressmaking
  • Conversational language classes
  • Woodwork – toys and furniture
  • Music
  • Tutoring/ literacy opportunities
  • Drama, plays and improv classes
  • Dancing
  • Arts and crafts
  • Leatherwork and pottery
  • Gardening
  • Creative writing and poetry classes
  • And much more

These joint activities would allow for teaching opportunities for both students and seniors. Are there any seniors out there ready for a hip-hop class?

In conclusion, I encourage everyone to attend the State of the Town Meeting on Saturday, Nov. 15 starting at 9:30 in the Brooks School Auditorium to learn more.

Sincerely,

Sally Kindleberger
14 North Commons

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.

DPW reports on environmentally friendly initiatives

greenBelow is an edited version of “Green Happenings,” a newsletter written by Chris Bibbo, superintendent of the Lincoln Department of Public Works.

Town departments such as Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and the Town Administrator’s Office to continue to work with the various town boards and committees on numerous environmentally friendly  projects, procedures and initiatives. Below are some recent developments.

Leaf Blower Study Group / “green” equipment

The town’s Leaf Blower Study Group, which has been working with the DPW and Parks and Recreation to reduce air and noise pollution caused by equipment such as leaf blowers, trimmers and mowers, now has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LincolnLBSC. The page is a great way to learn more about leaf blower issues and stay up to date with developments. It also provides a dynamic and collaborative place to communicate ideas among participants and others who have linked to the page. Materials and links on the page currently include the group’s Town Meeting presentation, a humorous New Yorker piece on leaf blowers, and a list of green contractors serving Lincoln, among others.

You can subscribe to the page by “liking” it (note that in Facebook jargon, “like” does not necessarily mean that you approve; it just means that you are following the topic.) Please suggest to any of your Facebook friends who might be interested to “like” our page as well. Also, please suggest any resources you think we should know about, and feel free to comment on any of the postings.

There’s also a wealth of information about leaf blowers on the Leaf Blower Study Group’s page on the town website, including numerous research links and videos on the noise and air pollution that this equipment causes and how it can be mitigated. In addition to loud noise, this equipment can produce more than its share of air pollution, both through the inefficient burning of fuel and the particulates that become airborne.

The DPW has recently purchased a noise-reduced backpack blower and will soon be purchasing an electric mower as a trial prototype. Other innovations such as solar charging stations are also being considered. The group is also actively investigating the possibility of noise and usage policies or regulations to help mitigate the impact of this equipment. Regulations and experiences from some surrounding communities are being reviewed for possible introduction in Lincoln.

The DPW, located at 30 Lewis Street, maintains a supply of free lawn rakes for residents. Using a rake instead of a gas-powered blower provides good exercise and is less harmful to the environment.

Cemetery

The Lincoln Cemetery Commission and Town Clerk along with the DPW recently held a preliminary conceptual meeting to discuss the possible construction of a storage shed for cemetery maintenance equipment at the Lexington Road Cemetery. The group will be working on the design and siting of the new shed, which will incorporate many green features including a possible solar array and will house green equipment such as electric mowers and trimmers. Minuteman Technical High School students may participate in construction.

Leaching catch basins

The DPW has installed the remainder of the leaching catch basins on Laurel Drive and Moccasin Hill Road. These catch basins are designed with a sump that allows for the periodical cleaning of sand, dirt and other debris from the basin. The drain runoff from rain and snow enters the basins and then percolates into the surrounding soil. This percolation is a more normal, environmentally friendly process for drain runoff management. The process avoids a direct and concentrated discharge of runoff into the surrounding environment.

Transfer station/Recycling Committee

The transfer station continues to see healthy recycling rates, although I believe we could do better. Currently, over 39 percent of material that’s brought to the station is recycled. Please remember to recycle and encourage your neighbors and friends to do the same. In the past decade or so, recycling technology has advanced. Fully 100 percent of what is put into the recycling bins gets recycled. From reports I have seen, recycling vendors would like more supply. There are informational kiosks at the various recycling stations; please pick up a copy to see how the materials get recycled.

Also, please remember to be courteous to the transfer station attendants on duty. They are simply doing their job by checking for access stickers and banned materials. All the solid waste generated from Lincoln gets hauled to a tipping floor. Once on the tipping floor, banned material can be identified. Lincoln could be fined or have its solid waste permit revoked if quantities of banned materials are found in the waste stream. Examples of banned materials include:

  • Building and construction debris
  • Tires
  • Hazardous materials
  • Organic material
  • Explosives

For a full listing of banned materials or for any other transfer station related matters, please call the DPW office at 781-259-8999. For more information, visit the Recycling Committee web page.

Snow and ice control

The DPW is in the process of purchasing a brine pre-treatment system for roadway snow and ice control. The equipment will be used to apply a salt solution to the major roads in town shortly before to a storm event. The goal is to prevent ice and snow buildup and reduce the amount of both sand and salt put into the environment. For more information, see the DPW’s winter safety tips and its snow and ice removal policy.

LED streetlights

The process of converting the town’s incandescent, sodium and mercury lights to LED lights is on track and should get underway shortly. The Town Administrator’s Office and the DPW are in the process of reviewing contract terms with a lighting innovation firm for the conversion.

Converting the streetlights to LEDs will save considerably on power usage and cost. These lights will also provide a better quality light and the light output can be designed so that more light is directed to the road. This will be consistent with the desired “Dark Skies” goals. The LED streetlights will also be equipped with light deflectors that will redirect light so it won’t shine back into residences.