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

News acorns – 1/6/15

acorn
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

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

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

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

water tapBy 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.

Microsoft Word - water fees.docx

Spotlight on CCF volunteer Savannah Snell

Snell-sm

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

bemisFrom 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

Ice etching (Lincoln through the lens, 12/30/14)

Winter light and reflections make this river ice and bare plants look more like an etching than a photograph. –Photo by Harold McAleer

Winter light and reflections make this river ice and bare plants look more like an etching than a photograph. –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.

News acorns – 12/29/14

acornTown seeks candidates for boards and commissions

Looking for a rewarding if occasionally vexing way to feel more connected? Willing to undertake new challenges? Unafraid to speak up? Then run for local office! The annual Town Election will take place on Monday, March 30. Nomination papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office starting Friday, Jan. 2 and must be returned no later than Monday, Feb. 9. The following offices will appear on the March ballot: Board of Selectmen (three years), Board of Assessors (three years), K-8 School Committee (two seats for three years each), Water Commissioner (three years), Board of Health (one seat for three years), Cemetery Commission (three years), Planning Board (one seat for three years), Commissioner of Trust Funds (three years), deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park Trustee (four years), Housing Commission (three years), Parks and Recreation Committee (three years), Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee (two seats for three years each), Trustees of Bemis (one seat for three years). For additional information, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607.

Seminar on campaign rules for local candidates

The Town Clerk’s Office will host a seminar with an overview of the rules for disclosing campaign activity on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. Jason Tait, Director of Communications and Public Education for the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), will also address the proper use of town resources for a political purpose—for example, is it legal to use a town’s robo-call system to advocate for a Town Meeting warrant article?

The seminar lasts about one hour and is open to candidates and the public. For inquiries or to reserve a seat, please call the Town Clerk’s Office at 781-259-2607.

Coming up at the library

Starting next week, these regular children’s programs will resume at the Lincoln Public Library: Ed Morgan Singalong (January 2), Preschool Stories (January 6), Lego Club (January 7), Book Group for grades 4-6 (January 8), and Lapsit Storytime (January 15). Check the library web page for kids’ programs for times and other information.

Coming up for adults (all events are at the library unless otherwise noted):

  • The Lincoln Film Society kicks off “JaNOIRary—Film Noir All Month Long” on Tuesdays, Jan. 6 and 13 at 7 p.m. For more information,  call 781-259-8465 or email Lincolnlibraryfilmsociety@gmail.com to sign up for the mailing list.
  • Friday Morning Book Group (Friday, Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m.) will discuss Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. Copies in various formats available at the front desk two weeks prior to the meeting. Coffee and refreshments.
  • Art gallery reception for oil painter Kathleen Manley (Sunday, Jan. 11 from 2-4 p.m.)
  • Lincoln Open Mike Acoustic (Monday, Jan. 12 from 7-10 p.m.) featuring the band Outrageous Fortune. Performers are asked to sign up in advance by emailing loma3re@gmail.com.
  • Write Stuff (Friday, Jan. 14 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall) — a writing group for sharing and discussion with a moderator to improve writing skills.
  • Classic Jazz (Friday, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.) featuring Dean Smith, Tickling the Ivories.

Lincoln’s Moritz to appear as soloist with L-S Civic Orchestra

Michael Moritz rehearses the Mozart piano concerto.

Mike Moritz rehearses Mozart Concerto #23 with the LSCO on stage at L-S.

Lincoln resident Michael Moritz is usually a clarinetist with the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra (LSCO)—but on January 11, he’ll man the keyboard as soloist in a Mozart piano concerto.

The concert at the high school opens the LSCO’s 42nd season. Managing Director William Nicholson conducts the orchestra, which will play the Peer Gynt Suite for Orchestra #1 by Edvard Grieg, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #2 in C minor (“Little Russian”). Moritz will be the soloist for Mozart’s Piano Concerto #23 in A major.

Moritz has played piano since early childhood and studied with John Buttrick while he was pursuing his B.S. in mathematics at MIT. He appeared as soloist with the MIT Concert Band under the direction of John Corley, performing the Concerto for Piano and Winds by Igor Stravinski. He has also studied with Yasuo Watanabe and Theodore Lettvin of the New England Conservatory.

Moritz and his wife Kathy have lived in Lincoln for 22 years and raised four children, all of whom graduated from L-S between 2006 and 2011: Amanda, Megan and Manu, and Istvan. He joined the LSCO as a clarinetist in 2004 to play alongside his flutist daughter Amanda.

“Before Mike approached me to play the Mozart 23rd, I hadn’t realized how gifted a pianist he was,” Nicholson said. “He has been a great contributor in the clarinet section of the orchestra for ten years now, and during every rehearsal break, he races over to the piano to play Chopin and Brahms, so we knew he was dedicated and passionate about the piano. In the spring, we traditionally feature graduating student members in concerto performances, but it’s exciting to use the winter concert to showcase the unique artistry of our adult members.”

“I took up clarinet in my 30s when my piano was in storage while Kathy and I were remodeling our place in Cambridge,”Moritz said. “She knew I was going nuts not playing music, and my mother told her I had played clarinet as a kid, but stopped before high school. So I came home from work one day to find a Buffet clarinet and a BU graduate student, my new teacher, waiting for me.

“It was a revelation playing a melody instrument,” Moritz continued. “A piano is a percussion instrument—you hit strings with hammers and the sound decays as soon as it begins. The legendary Myra Hess talked about creating the ‘illusion’ of the singing tone. But the clarinet, and all the other wind and string instruments, can sustain its sound, making crescendo and decrescendo on any note and truly making a singing tone. I believe playing each instrument has made me better at the other.”

Admission to the January 11 concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., is a suggested donation of $10. Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School is located at 390 Lincoln Rd in Sudbury.

Letter to the editor: PTO thanks Community Partners

letter

To the editor:

On behalf of the Lincoln PTO, I’d like to extend our deepest thanks to our PTO Community Partners whose contributions have helped make possible our many enrichment activities at the Lincoln School in 2014-15. These activities include visits to the school by poets, dancers and puppeteers, as well as science, nature and engineering workshops, historical reenactments and more (see the “What We Do” page on the Lincoln PTO website). Our Community Partners include:

Our children’s education is richer because of the help these Community Partners provide, so I hope you’ll join me in thanking them for another great year at the Lincoln School.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Bodnar, Lincoln PTO Chair/President

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.