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

News acorns – 1/7/15

January 8, 2015

See videos of First Day in Lincoln

Intrepid Lincoln photographer/videographer Harold McAleer has posted some videos of First Day in Lincoln on January 1. Have a look at some of the socializing and see Rob Loud belting out Auld Lang Syne. You can see other videos by Harold on his YouTube channel.

SBAC’s final public forum is Jan. 13; COA preview on Jan. 9

The School Building Advisory Committee will present a draft of architectural consultant Dore and Whittier’s final report with cost estimates for a Lincoln School project at its fourth and final public forum on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 7-9 p.m. in Reed Gym. At the third public forum on December 2, 76 percent of residents expressed a preference for Option 3, which calls for a comprehensive package of facilities and educational upgrades costing $54.7 million to $58.8 million.

Residents, especially those who are unable to come to the January 13 meeting, are also invited to a meeting on Friday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. at Bemis Hall. This meeting at the COA is an opportunity to get a preview of the final report and to continue the discussion about renovation pathways and the decisions the Town will need to make to move a project forward.

Obituaries

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 2 p.m. in the First Parish Church in Lincoln for Eleanor Locke Donaldson, who died on November 6 at the age of 100. She held numerous positions with the church and was active in the Lincoln Garden Club and the Lincoln Bell Ringers.

Maraget F. Chisholm also passed away on December 28 at the age of 94. She was a Lincoln native and worked for many years at a phone company in town.

Snowshoe tours at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is offering guided snowshoe tours of the sculpture park led by a trained instructor on five dates between January 17 and March 10, with alternate dates for each occasion in case of too little or too much snow. Click here to register and pay (tickets range from $10 to $20 and snowshoe rentals are $12).

Gray creatures (Lincoln through the lens, 1/8/15)

January 7, 2015

Wildlife enjoy the wreath-shaped seed feeder at the McAleers' house. —Photo by Harold McAleer

Wildlife enjoy the wreath-shaped seed feeder as seen through the window at the McAleers’ house. —Photo by Harold McAleer

Readers may submit photos for consideration for Lincoln Through the Lens by emailing them to news@lincolnsquirrrel.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: Domnitz running for reelection to Planning Board

January 7, 2015

To the editor:

My thanks to the editor of the Lincoln Squirrel for reminding all of us that it’s time to throw our proverbial hats in the ring and volunteer for town boards and committees. I’m pleased to announce that I will be running (again!) for reelection to the Planning Board. I have appreciated the town’s support of my candidacy for the past 12 years, and with your support I will continue working to preserve what we love about our town.

We benefit in Lincoln from the farsighted, altruistic actions of residents who placed large tracts of land in conservation and knowingly gave up opportunity for personal gain by adopting large-lot zoning and development controls. We are all stewards of this precious legacy.

There are major projects and initiatives before the town at this time: the K-8 school building project, the Community Center, the Route 2 project, modifications to The Commons (formerly “The Groves”) campus, construction of a new Minuteman Regional High School building within Lincoln, and the Planning Board’s upcoming proposal to unify zoning at Lincoln Station to provide an expanded range of options for revitalization. I’d like to continue working with my dedicated, creative colleagues on the Planning Board as we assist the town through these changes.

I’d be happy to discuss with you any ideas or concerns that you may have. Please feel free to call me at 781-259-1080.

Sincerely,

Bob Domnitz
21 Mill St., Lincoln

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

Tuesday forum to discuss proposed leaf-blower rules

January 6, 2015

The Leaf Blower Study Committee (LBSC) will host a public forum tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 6) to present a draft version of leaf blower regulations begin considered for adoption at Town Meeting in March. Tonight’s meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Town Office Building.

Since it was created by Town Meeting vote in 2013, the LBSC has been studying the health effects of gas-powered leaf blowers on public and private property, potential alternatives to their use, and what other cities and towns have done to restrict their use. The group surveyed Lincoln residents last year on their experiences and opinions about leaf blowers.

Before presenting a finalized proposal for new town regulations to a vote at Town Meeting on March 28, the LBSC is seeking public feedback on its draft, which is summarized below. The goal of the regulations is to reduce noise and air pollution (emissions and dust) and contribute to better public health and quality of life and to the health of the environment while also being simple and clear, easily enforceable, and not unduly restrictive to homeowners or the town.

Proposed regulations on use of gas-powered leaf blowers

From October 1 to May 14, anyone may use a leaf blower on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, private residents may use leaf blowers on Sundays and holidays from 1-5 p.m.
From May 15 to September 30, any use of leaf blowers would be permitted only to address public safety issues and for severe weather cleanup, with possible occasional one-time exemptions for aesthetic cleanup by municipal/commercial users.
Users of leaf blowers must abide by the following restrictions at all times:
- No blowing onto adjacent properties
- No creating dust clouds
- No blowing onto people or pets
- No blowing into storm drains
- No blowing onto streets or gutters, except municipal preparations for street cleaning
Enforcement is by Lincoln Police Department. Fines: $100 for the first infraction, $200 for the second infraction, $300 for subsequent infractions.

News acorns – 1/6/15

January 6, 2015

Codman meat CSA starts this week

Codman Community Farms is starting its next six-month session of its meat CSA (community-supported agriculture). Each $600 share includes six monthly pickups of Codman Farm-raised organic, grass-fed beef and pork with various cuts and ground meats totaling 5 lbs. of pork and 5 lbs. of beef (members also have the option of a no-beef, all-pork share. Pickups are on the first Thursday evening of each month (January to June) from 5-7 p.m. in the Codman barn at 58 Codman Rd. Due to the New Year holiday, the first pickup is Thursday, Jan. 8.

Call 781-259-0456 or email info@codmanfarm.org if you have questions or would like to sign up, or click on this registration and payment link. You can also use the link to make a one-time purchase of 10 lbs. of beef and pork for $120 with pickup by arrangement.

Spots still available in women’s self-defense class

There are still spaces available in two free self-defense sessions for women run by the Lincoln Police Department in January and February. Each session will be two nights for three hours each night. On the first night, participants will talk about general safety and then begin practicing physical self-defense moves like strikes, blocks, kicks, and knee strikes. On the second night, an officer suit up in a padded suit will “attack” participants, who will use moves to escape. This part of the course is intense but empowering.

Session A: January 15 and 20 — 6:30-9:30 p.m., Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department (Hartwell pods)
Session B: February 3 and 10 — 6:30-9:30 p.m., Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department (Hartwell pods)

If you have any questions or want to sign up, please contact Jena Salon at 215-514-5963 or jenasalon@gmail.com. The classes are free and are funded by Domestic Violence Services Network and the Codman Trust.

Ballot machine for disabled voters to be demonstrated

On Friday, Jan. 16, Town Clerk Susan Brooks will demonstrate the town’s AutoMark voting machines, which are ballot marking devices designed to enable voters with disabilities to cast their ballots independently. The machines are deployed in all 1,700 Massachusetts polling places. The Friday demonstration at 10 a.m. at the Council on Aging in Bemis Hall will feature two of Lincoln’s most dedicated voters, Kitty Stein and Nancy Pimental.

Democratic Town Committee hosts open house for new members

The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee will hold its next meeting, which includes a new-member open house, on Saturday, Jan. 17 from 12:30–3 p.m. in the Pierce House. All Lincoln Democrats who are interested in progressive policy and advocacy, conversations with candidates and office holders, interesting discussion, and community service are invited and welcome to attend any of the group’s meetings.

On the agenda:

State Sen. Michael Barrett will discuss his proposal for a state carbon tax
Lincoln attorney Peter Pease will lead a discussion regarding corporations, money in campaigns, and the First Amendment
A representative of the national organization Move to Amend will discuss their initiative to pass a resolution in the Massachusetts legislature encouraging Congress to amend the Constitution to affirm that rights protected by the Constitution are the rights of human beings only, not corporations, and that Congress and the states may place limits on political contributions and spending.

Parking is available in the lot behind the Pierce House. Light refreshments will be served. For more information and to RSVP, email Gary Davis at garyddavis04@gmail.com.

Library reopens; water damage being evaluated

January 5, 2015

By Alice Waugh

The Lincoln Public Library has reopened after a New Year’s Day leak caused water damage, but the reference section will remain closed until inspections and repairs can take place.

The problem was apparently caused by a faulty sprinkler head in the turret room next to the main entrance, said Barbara Myles, the library’s director. There was no water above the ceiling, indicating that the pipe itself did not break.

The library’s new fire suppression system contacts the Lincoln Fire Department whenever a sprinkler or smoke alarm goes off, and firefighters responded quickly and turned off the water, but not before it flooded the holiday materials in the turret room and the floor in the adjacent reference section. The ground-floor reference books and computers were not damaged, “but it looks like we may lose that carpet,” Myles said. The power to that area has also been shut off because water leaked through floor outlets and into the staff lunch room below the turret room through lighting fixtures. Some of the books and movies in the basement, though undamaged, are inaccessible to the public because they are in an area that’s been closed off, though staff can retrieve titles if asked, she said.

Library staff were doing an inventory on Monday to determine the exact extent of damage and working with a flood service firm and the town’s insurance carrier to “dry things out, salavage what we can and replace what we need to replace,” Myles said.

“We were lucky,” she added. “If the leak had been in the children’s room ceiling, we would have lost a lot more.”

Visit the library’s website for periodic updates.

Library sustains water damage, hopes to reopen Monday

January 3, 2015

Carpet dryers were the sole occupants on Saturday in the library’s turret room after a broken pipe caused water damage.

The Lincoln Public Library had an unpleasant start to the new year when a broken ceiling pipe or sprinkler head drenched the first-floor “turret room” next to the main entrance.

The water damage was limited to some reference books and Christmas materials on the ground floor, said Lisa Rothenberg, the library’s assistant director. Once it dries, the carpeting on the lower level and ground floor will be disinfected to prevent mold growth, and the walls and insulation will be inspected for moisture and electrical issues. If everything is dry, the library will reopen at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, although the reference section, adult computers and nonfiction will still be off limits, she said.

“Barbara [Myles, the library’s director] has done an incredible job managing the situation, and our custodians Bob Bottino and Bob Lager have also worked really hard to limit the damage and to assist in cleanup,” said Rothenberg.

It was unclear whether the broken pipe was part of the new fire suppression system that was installed over the summer.

The library closure was reminiscent of a similar situation faced by Aka Bistro a year ago, when a broken ceiling pipe caused extensive water damage and forced the restaurant to close for several months.

More frequent bills, new rates for town water in 2015

January 2, 2015

By Alice Waugh

For homes that use town water, it’s a new year with new things to look forward to—including quarterly water bills and new rates to encourage water conservation.

The change in billing frequency from semiannually to quarterly came about because Lincoln has failed to meet its state target limit of 65 gallons per person per day. As a result, the Department of Environmental Protection required the town to come up with a set of measures to try to meet the goal, and one of those measures is more frequent billing to keep closer tabs on usage.

“It’s like when you overspend your budget, you tend to balance your checkbook a little more frequently,” said Water Department Superintendent Greg Woods. The changes were outlined in this letter from the Water Commission that was mailed to residents several weeks ago.

Rates are also going down for homes that use less water. Under the old billing system, those that used up to 48,000 gallons of water every six months were changed $5.07 per thousand gallons. Now, homes that use up to 40,000 gallons per year will be charged only $4.06 per thousand gallons.

However, after that level of usage, the price goes up. Homes that use 40,002 to 80,000 gallons every six months will pay $8.57 per thousand gallons, compared to last year’s rate of $7.79 per thousand gallons for homes using 48,001 to 90,000 gallons every six months. Homes with a separate meter for irrigation water will also be paying 20 percent more for that water (see chart below).

A family of four that meets the target of 65 gallons per capita per day would use about 100,000 gallons per year, according to the Water Department’s latest annual report.

In comparing Lincoln to five neighboring towns, four (including Lincoln) had annual rates between $500 and $600 for a home using 100,000 gallons per year. Wayland was considerably higher at $977. However, Woods cautioned that it’s difficult to make exact comparisons because each town has a different distribution system. For example, Lincoln relies on surface water from Flint’s Pond, while Acton, at four times Lincoln’s population, has a much larger system that relies more on groundwater wells, he explained.

Currently the DEP has no plans to fine residents or towns for exceeding their water usage targets. “All indications are that they will work with communities to get into compliance,” Woods said.

Spotlight on CCF volunteer Savannah Snell

January 2, 2015

Savannah Snell and her porcine pals at Codman Community Farms.

The following item is reprinted from the Codman Community Farms newsletter with permission.

Savannah Snell, a Lincoln resident and senior at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, is a volunteer animal feeder at Codman Community Farms and has been coming in once a week for the last two years. Savannah connected with the farm when she participated in the Farmer’s Helper program through the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department in grade school.

As she got older and would stop by to buy eggs and milk for her family, she realized what a great community resource CCF is. One day she decided to check off the volunteer box on the payment envelope. Office manager Barb Rhines called and farmer Eric Robichaud trained her to work with the animals.

Savannah makes sure all the animals have food and water and has gotten to know them. Opal the Donkey is a favorite and she will spend up to half an hour scratching and playing with Opal. The pigs get to know her too and enjoy having their snoots rubbed. (Note to casual visitors: please don’t try this yourself; a finger through the fence can look like a carrot to a pig!)

At L-S, Savannah started the L-S Aid for Animals club, which raises money for local shelters and whose members volunteer at domestic animal shelters and farm animal rescue organizations. She rides horses and can’t remember a time when she didn’t love animals. Savannah is a great volunteer upon whom the Codman staff and animals depend.

Council on Aging activities in January

December 31, 2014

From drawing to pastel painting with Juliet
January 5 at 10 a.m.
Express your most vibrant self with the brilliant colors of pastels in a new class with Juliet Rago! She will begin with a short introduction to drawing for those who feel they need it. The class will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on January 5, 9, 12, 23 and 26. No experience is necessary. All materials will be furnished. Please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. Limit of six people. The fee is $20.

Lincoln Academy with Deane Ellsworth: “The Magic of the Steam Train Whistle”
January 5 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Jan. 5 at 12:30 to hear Deane Ellsworth discuss “The Magic of the Steam Train Whistle.” 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. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities in January