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

New boardwalk eases travel behind school

boardwalk montageA brand-new boardwalk through the wetlands behind Codman Pool is open for business—one of several bridge/boardwalk projects to come.

The boardwalk between Sandy Pond  Road and the Lincoln School campus—which opened in time for the Fourth (actually Fifth) of July fireworks—is the first to be funded by a state grant that Lincoln Land Manager Dave McKinnon applied for. It’s a year-round walkway that will accommodate walkers and families with strollers at all times of the year as well as a skiable trail in winter. Visitors can now park at the schools and walk to the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, or if they’re more ambitious, all the way around Flint’s Pond.

Conservation Commission staff, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust summer interns and volunteers pitched in to do the construction work.

The Rizzo family, which lives just to the east of the trail, has been generous in allowing their property to be used as an emergency evacuation route from the schools, but this has meant that casual walkers often use their private land, said Peter von Mertens, co-chair of the Conservation Commission. Town officials hope the new boardwalk will become the sole public access.

Photos courtesy Peter von Mertens

News acorns

 

acornSelf-defense class for teenage girls

A free self-defense class for teenage girls will be offered by the Lincoln Police Department on August 9 and 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This class is especially geared to high school seniors and college students. On the first day, participants will go over basic safety and then learn both verbal and physical basic self-defense tactics and moves such as strikes, punches, and kicks. On the second day, an officer in full pads simulates attacks, and participants “fight” with the ultimate goal of escaping. The class is modeled on a successful class for adults (see the Lincoln Squirrel, Jan. 13, 2014). For more information, or to sign up, please contact Jena Salon at  jenasalon@gmail.com or 215-514-5963.

Library children’s room reopens; programs this week

The Children’s Room of the Lincoln Public Library is open again after four months in a temporary space across the hall. The move was necessitated by a fire sprinkler installation project. The Children’s Room is all spruced up and we even have some new toys, courtesy of the Friends of the Lincoln Library.

On Tuesday, July 29, children ages 3-5 are invited to a Stories and Crafts workshop at 11 a.m. Michael LaFosse will lead an origami workshop on Wednesday, July 30 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for grades K-2 and 4:30-5:30 p.m. for grade 3 and up. Sign up in advance for any of these events by calling 781-259-8465. Programs sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

deCordova offers Poetic Ceramics workshop

Munch on snacks and sip wine together at this workshop on Thursday, July 31 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. as you create your own clay garden sculpture.With exhibiting artist Bruce Barry as your guide and deCordova’s current exhibitions as your inspiration, do some creative writing, put that writing in clay, and add your ceramic tablet to a communal poetry garden of stepping stones in the Sculpture Park. No ceramic experience is necessary. Snacks and drinks provided. Cost is $40, or $30 for members. Click here to register.

Letter to the editor: Support Berwick for governor

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To the editor:

Don Berwick, Democratic candidate for Massachusetts governor, sets bold goals:

  • Single-payer health care
  • An education system that gives every student the opportunity to succeed
  • Bold renewable energy and environmental standards
  • Jobs and an economy that gives everyone the chance to thrive
  • An end to child poverty and chronic homelessness
  • No casinos
  • Grassroots supportive progressive movement

But every politician says he/she will accomplish miracles if elected to office—why do I believe Don can do it? First, Berwick is committed to meeting his goals. He boasts that he can accomplish all of them in 10 years—all of them. Second, as a pediatrician, executive and leader, Don has mastered the skills to deliver what he promises:

  • MD from Harvard Medical School
  • Pediatrician, Boston’s Children’s Hospital and Harvard Community Health Plan
  • Founder, nonprofit Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), 1991:
    • IHI’s current annual budget is $40 million, staff of 150
    • IHI projects have saved hundreds of thousands of lives nationally and internationally
    • knighted by Queen Elizabeth for making British health care more efficient, 2005
  • Administrator of U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2010:
    • $800 billion budget, staff of over 5,500
    • implemented important provisions of Affordable Care Act
  • Only candidate for governor to state that he opposes casinos

Third, Don Berwick sees Massachusetts as a beacon to lead our nation to the progressive ideals of justice, equality and compassion. The Commonwealth is the first state that committed to health care as a human right, that said you can marry whom you love, that built an enviable energy system, and that now has the most sane gun laws in the country.

Grassroots supportive progressive movement: Don needs us. He is calling for a grassroots movement to spread out across our state to educate Massachusetts voters about Don Berwick and his progressive agenda. Help our Lincoln grassroots team hand-address, note and stamp preprinted postcards to voters identified by the Berwick campaign office. Please contact Peggy Schmertzler at alpegs@verizon.net or 781-259-0465.

Sincerely,

Peggy Schmertzler
142 Chestnut Circle

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: Strat’s playground coming down

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(Editor’s note: for background, see the Lincoln Squirrel, June 18, 2014.)

To the editor:

After careful review and consideration, the Parks and Recreation Department is sad announce the permanent closure and removal of the Strat’s Playground on Ballfield Road.

In April 2014, the department authorized a safety inspection of the Playground. The resulting report cited a number of ADA violations and hazards ranging from minor infractions to major safety concerns that may result in death or permanent injury.

In addition to the hazards cited in the inspection, other deficiencies exist.  Most notably, the playground is constructed of pressure treated lumber, which contains a pesticide that requires the entire playground be sealed every few years at significant cost. Additionally, Strat’s design is suitable for children ages 5-12, but since it is adjacent to two preschools it sees limited use and is no longer a good fit for its location. And lastly, with the changing nature of safety codes and the limited lifespan of wood products, this playground has become prohibitively expensive to maintain. Taking this all into account, it became apparent that there would be no way to address these deficiencies in a way that is fiscally or programmatically responsible.

These deficiencies do not reflect a lack of quality in the playground, but rather the inevitable effect of time. Strat’s was a state-of-the-art facility when it was installed in 1989 and has served as a well-loved community centerpiece and memorial to the late Michael Stratton.

The playground will be removed in the next few weeks and the Parks and Recreation Committee now plans to spend some time considering alternative uses for the space. We invite interested parties to join the process by contacting our office at 781-259-0784. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Daniel Pereira
Parks and Recreation Director

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

schoolSBAC interviews design firms

The School Building Advisory Committee interviewed four design-firm candidates on July 14 and 15. The committee expects to select one of the firms later this month to define renovation solutions for the Lincoln School and prepare cost estimates for a range of possible projects (see the Lincoln Squirrel, June 19 2014).

The four firms interviewed by the SBAC are Schwartz/Silver Architects of Boston, HMFH Architects of Cambridge, Design Partnership of Cambridge, and Dore & Whittier Architects of Newburyport and South Burlington, Vt.

Traveling tidepool visits library on July 16

Do you know what a sea star eats or how snails move? Come explore and interact with local tidepool animals while learning basic biology and anatomy when the New England Aquarium’s Traveling Tidepool comes to the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, July 16. Advance signup at one of the times below is required; call 781-259-8465.

  • PreK to grade 1 — 9:30-10:15 a.m.
  • PreK to grade 1 — 10:30-11:15 a.m.
  •  Grade 2 and up — 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

Antique Auto Show is this Sunday

The annual auto show at the Codman Estate on Sunday, July 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. draws more than 200 classic and antique autos, trucks and motorcycles from all over New England and includes entertainment by the New Liberty Jazz Band, museum tours, a raffle, and food concessions. Rain or shine.

Free to Historic New England members and children under 12, $5 for nonmembers, $10 registration fee for vehicles (passengers are free). Please call 617-994-5900, ext. 5514 for more information. Purchase tickets at www.historicnewengland.org

Bemis Hall to unveil improvements at grand opening

Everyone is invited to a grand opening of the front entrance, parking lot and crosswalk of Bemis Hall on Thursday, July 24 at 11:45 a.m. Recently, the front entrance has been improved to make it both more attractive and convenient, the parking lot has been reconstructed, and a new crosswalk with flashing pedestrian lights on Bedford Road has been installed for safety. Many town departments and committees, local organizations, and residents have worked together to implement these projects. A brief ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by refreshments inside Bemis Hall.

Second date for Concord River cruise added

What better way to spend a relaxing summer afternoon than winding down the Concord River on a luncheon cruise? The Council on Aging is hosting a cruise on Monday, August 18 in addition to the previously announced date of Monday, August 11.

The cruise lasts an hour and 15 minute and includes lunch, sunshine, and glorious memories. You’ll leave the Lincoln Mall at 10:30 a.m. and venture by Doherty’s bus to the South Bridge boathouse, where you’ll board a boat and begin your cruise. You will enjoy a lunch of chicken salad, tuna salad, sliced turkey, ham and cheese, or vegetarian salad sandwich,  fruit, dessert, and lemonade or iced tea while you cruise. The bus will arrive back at the Lincoln Mall at about 1 p.m.

The cost is $28 per person, payable by a check made out to FLCOA/Trips and sent to Donna Rizzo, 22 Blackburnian Road, Lincoln MA 01773. Please enclose your phone number and email address and indicate your choice of sandwich when you send your check. Sign up now, as there is a limit of 20. Reservations must be made by August 4 and are non-refundable. Questions? Call Donna at 781-257-5050.

Letter to the editor: Great 5th of July!

letter

To the editor:

Even though there could not be 4th of July road race or parade in Lincoln this year, the Celebrations crew, public safety, Parks & Recreation and DPW were all ready to go. The 5th of July band and fireworks were terrific as usual, and I wanted to acknowledge the effort that town staff and volunteers invested in making it safe and successful.

Thank you to our police and fire department personnel, DPW employees, Dan Pereira and the rest of the Parks & Rec staff, and Hanscom’s police for being creative, proactive and doing it right.

Thanks to volunteers Aaron “Smiles” Beck, Brent “Señor Sound” Clark, Maggie “Peggy Peg Peg” Dwyer, Michela “Call Me Maybe” Eckhouse (left out of phone tree), Jen “Next Year” Flanagan, “Shoutin’ Sam” Kupperstein, Riley “Tank Top” McCabe, Eileen “The Cape Flier” McCrory, Eve “CUL8R” Montie, Paul “Rooster Booster” Montie, Lyn “Staples” Spaeth (“yeah, I’ve got that”), and Nick Verkler (a.k.a. Nerk Vickler). We had fun. We got it done. It was a great day.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Dwyer
14 Beaver Pond Rd.
Lincoln Parks & Recreation Committee + Celebrations Subcommittee

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.

Rain doesn’t dampen enthusiasm for informal July 4 events

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Carol Lovell, Eliza Jevon, William Jevon and Megan Stride informally ran the July 4 Lincoln road race. Photo by Rob Jevon

Undaunted by the cancellation of most of the town’s July 4 events, some residents are staging their own celebrations in observance of Independence Day.

Among those who decided to complete the road race loop on their own this morning were Carol Lovell, Eliza Jevon and William Jevon, and Megan Stride. “There were just some spontaneous folks that decided to run the course,” said Rob Jevon, Eliza and William’s father.

Another group of parents with young children decided to do a children’s bike parade tomorrow morning (July 5) at 10:00 a.m. around the ballfield on the Lincoln School campus. “Bring your decorated bikes, scooters, strollers, etc. and spread the word,” Lincoln resident DJ Mitchell said in a note sent to the LincolnTalk email list.

The concert, barbecue and fireworks display scheduled for July 4 will take place on July 5. Food from the Firebox in Bedford will be served starting at 7 p.m. and music by Grove Syndicate will begin at 7:30. The pool will be open from 12:30-7 p.m.). Parking in available for $20 per car.

Although the parade was not rescheduled, anyone who created a float and would like to have it photographed for posterity may email Pam Gallup at pamgallup@aol.com.

Kids’ events at library next week

squashNight Owls Storytime — Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m.
Bring your favorite cuddly friend and your favorite adult—wear your PJs! Geared towards children ages 2-5 but the whole family is welcome. Drop-in.

Stories and Crafts — Tuesday, July 8 at 11 a.m.
For ages 3-5. Advance signup required; call 781-259-8465.

Puppet-making Workshop — Wednesday, July 9 at 11 a.m.
This workshop includes reading the story Don’t Squish the Sasquatch, singing songs, and learning how to build and perform your very own puppet. Recommended for ages 3-8. Advance signup required; call 781-259-8465.

Summer Lego Club — Wednesday, July 9 at 4 p.m.
We provide the Legos, you provide the creativity! Age 4  and up. Drop in.

Programs sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library, Inc.

July 4 daytime events cancelled; fireworks on July 5

flagDue to the anticipated tropical storm, the town of Lincoln is cancelling all Fourth of July 4th daytime activities. The road race, children’s bike parade, reading of the Declaration of Independence, main parade, Boy Scout cookout and tennis tournament are all cancelled. The Codman Pool will operate normal hours with standard weather protocols. The evening activities that were scheduled for July 4 starting at 7 p.m., including the concert, BBQ and fireworks display are being postponed to Saturday, July 5. The pool will be open from 12:30-7 p.m.

Because of this last-minute change in plans, the Parks and Recreation Department is in dire need of volunteer manpower to help with parking, money collection and event support on Saturday evening. Please contact Dan Pereira at dpereira@lincnet.org or 781-259-0784 if you can provide any assistance.

Lincoln Dems weigh in on candidates at convention

The Lincoln delegates at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Top row left to right: Peggy Schmertzler, Lorraine Fiore, Barbara Slayter and Peter Pease. Second row: Al Schmertzler, Marcie Black, Mari Haas and John Santa.

The Lincoln delegates at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention. Top row left to right: Peggy Schmertzler, Lorraine Fiore, Barbara Slayter and Peter Pease. Second row: Al Schmertzler, Marcie Black, Mari Haas and John Santa.

Six Lincoln residents attended the State Democratic Convention on June 14, and four of them—Barbara Slayter, Lorraine Fiore, Al Schmertzler and Peggy Schmertzler—wrote this first-hand account with their impressions of the candidates.

[Read more…] about Lincoln Dems weigh in on candidates at convention