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

Joint meeting on hospice this Thursday

Colored Site Plan .pdf

A sketch of the latest site plan for the Care Dimensions hospice facility (click to enlarge).

Two Lincoln land-use groups will continue their review of a proposal for an 18-bed hospice facility on Winter Street at a joint meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Office Building.

Care Dimensions of Danvers originally proposed a 42,400-square-foot facility straddling the Lincoln/Waltham town line but scaled it back last spring after residents and town officials said it was too big (see the Lincoln Squirrel, March 26, 2014). The nonprofit company later submitted a scaled-down 27,600-square-foot plan with 64 parking spots rather than the original 89. On Thursday, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board will hear the latest information, including a report from a peer review consultant who has been reviewing drainage plans and other engineering issues.

The Planning Board will continue its public hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 23 to review lighting and landscaping and “clean up any other site details,” said Director of Planning and Land Use Chris Reilly. The ZBA will probably close its hearing on October 2 and may vote on the proposal that night.

Just plain nuts (Lincoln through the lens, 9/16/14)

Alice Waugh, editor of the Lincoln Squirrel, gets ready to spread the word at the September 10 PTO picnic about how the Squirrel keeps residents abreast of Lincoln news. (9/13/14)

Alice Waugh, editor of the Lincoln Squirrel, gets ready to spread the word at the September 10 PTO picnic about how the Squirrel keeps residents abreast of Lincoln news. (9/13/14)

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.

Conservation events scheduled

LLCTThe Lincoln Land Conservation Trust has scheduled the following events in September and October.

Fall Plant Walk
Thursday, September 18 at 10 a.m.
As a follow-up to her spring plant walk, local botany enthusiast Ellen Meadors will lead a walk to observe and talk about the wonderful native flowers that bloom as fall approaches. Dress for the weather. Please park and meet at the horse riding ring off of Weston Road near the intersection of Silver Hill Road and Weston Road. This is a free program.

Early Fall Foliage Ramble: Stonehedge Road to Weston Town Forest
Saturday, October 4 from 10 a.m. to noon (meet near the mailbox at 49 Stonehedge Road)
Join Michele Grzenda, local naturalist and Weston’s Conservation Agent, on an early fall foliage walk through Lincoln and Weston conservation land. Participants should be prepared to walk approximately 3 miles over uneven terrain and dress for the weather. Due to limited parking, group size is limited to 20. RSVP required; please click here to sign up or visit lincolnconservation.org.

Living with Black Bears
Monday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., Bemis Hall
Presenter: Laura (Hajduk) Conlee, Black Bear Project Leader, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Spend an evening with MassWildife expert Laura Conlee to learn about black bears. Find out where bears are common, get advice on the best actions to take when you see a bear, and take away some valuable tips on how to be a good neigh-bear!

Scarecrow Classic 5K Walk/Run
Sunday, Oct. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Run, walk or volunteer at the second annual Scarecrow Classic 5K road and trail race starting at the Mall at Lincoln Station. All proceeds go to support the work of the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. Register at www.scarecrowclassic5k.com or call the LLCT at 781-259-9251 for more information.

Letter to the editor: Exploring the need for a community center in Lincoln

letter

Editor’s note: for background information about the community center, see the Lincoln Squirrel, July 31, 2014.

To the editor:

In May, the Board of Selectmen appointed the Community Center Study Committee (CCSC) to evaluate the concept of a new community center for Lincoln. Their charge requires that we evaluate options for the long and short-term facilities needs of the Parks & Recreation Department and Council on Aging. That evaluation will include what succeeds and what fails with respect to their current locations. Many towns recognize the value of a facility serving both populations and as a central gathering place for all residents. Our goal is to make this evaluative process comprehensive, open and transparent.

On Wednesday, October 8 from 6-9 p.m., we will hold a town-wide planning charrette at Hartwell School Pod B. Everyone is encouraged to attend and participate. Refreshments will be served. You can attend for the entire evening or come and go as you please. We are seeking residents’ views on what form a community center might take in Lincoln and where it should be located.

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“Lincoln Through the Lens” debuts

Today the Lincoln Squirrel is pleased to introduce a new feature called “Lincoln Through the Lens.” Readers may submit photos for consideration; if your photo is published, you’ll receive credit. Photos must be taken in Lincoln and include the date, location, and any names of people who are identifiable in the photo. Previously published photos can be viewed on the Lincoln through the Lens page of the Lincoln Squirrel.

Take THAT!
Sally Kindleberger pummels a well-upholstered Lincoln Police Officer Ian Spencer during a workshop on self-defense given by the police at the Council on Aging in late August. The popular classes have been offered periodically since late last year (see The Lincoln Squirrel, Jan. 13, 2014). —Photos by Harold McAleer

Sally Kindleberger pummels a well-upholstered Lincoln Police Officer Ian Spencer during a workshop on self-defense given by the police at the Council on Aging in late August. The popular classes have been offered periodically since late last year (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Jan. 13, 2014), and new classes will begin on October 28.  —Photos by Harold McAleer

 

News acorns – 9/14/14

schoolPublic forum on school project this week

The School Building Advisory Committee will hold the first of four public forums on Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 7-9 p.m. in the Smith gym as part of the planning process for Lincoln School renovations and/or additions (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Sept. 8, 2014). The forums will be iterative in nature, beginning with a discussion of cost estimates of renovation components and moving through the development of a range of solutions.

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More on election (and a correction)

correction-smAccording to the Boston Globe’s town-by-town map of the September 10 primary results, Lincoln was one of only five mainland towns east of Worcester where the majority voted for Don Berwick for governor. The other four were Concord, Carlisle, Upton and Wellfleet. The only other towns east of Worcester that went for Berwick were West Tisbury, Chilmar, Aquinnah (all on Martha’s Vineyard), and the densely populated town of Gosnold, which comprises the Elizabeth Islands including Cuttyhunk. Berwick won 40 percent of the Gosnold vote, while 30 percent each went for Coakley and Grossman. That’s four, three and three votes respectively.

In the Lincoln Squirrel story about the September 10 primary election, several figures in the state-wide percentage column were transposed. The errors have been fixed in the original post.

News acorns – 9/10/14

acorn
Codman Community Farm dinner and harvest fair on Sept. 20-21

Spend a beautiful evening at Codman Community Farm on Saturday, Sept. 20 beginning at 5 p.m. and enjoy a dinner catered by Blue Ribbon Barbecue and dessert pies by Verrill Farms. This is a great way to enjoy and support Lincoln’s own community farm. Tickets are on sale now and need to be purchased in advance. Buy tickets online or call 781-259-0456.

On Sunday, Sept. 21 from 1-4 p.m., come to Codman’s old-fashioned country fair with food, games, family contests, and a rooster run. Admission is $5 at the door, and tickets to play and eat are available at the fair. Adult volunteers to help on the day of the fair are most appreciated. Take a shift or lend a hand in any way you can. Call the farm at 781-259-0456 or email info@codmanfarm.org.

Garden Club tea

All Lincoln residents are invited to a Lincoln Garden Club tea on Monday, September 29 at 11 a.m. at the home of Janet Ganson at 55 Baker Bridge Rd. Come learn about the Lincoln Garden Club and its activities and meet some members. Please RSVP to Susan Seeley (781-259-0841) or Ann Parke (781-259-0276), or email membership@lincolngardenclub.org.

Obituary

William King, 82 (August 28)

Get a benefits checkup with the COA

Would you like to know what government programs you might be eligible for that you might be missing? Call the Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 to make an appointment to come down and have a benefits checkup courtesy of BenefitsCheckUp.org. You can fill out a form at home, and then bring it in so that one of the COA staff can enter it into a special program developed by the National Council on Aging. You’ll then learn which among the nearly 200 programs covered by BenefitsCheckUp you may qualify for. Programs include Social Security, Alzheimer’s programs, caregiver and respite services, education and employment programs, help with housing and foreclosures, pension assistance, Medicare and other health insurance, health care and dental services, programs for those with disabilities, transportation programs and more.

Apply for a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council

Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 5.18.20 AMThe Lincoln Cultural Council is accepting applications for grants for the coming year. The deadline for applying is Oct. 15, 2014. For information on Lincoln grant guidelines and application forms, see the MCC’s page for Lincoln.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) distributes funds to local and regional cultural councils including the LCC, who then re-grant funds to arts, humanities, and interpretive science projects in their own communities. This year, the Lincoln council will distribute a total of $4,300.

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