In a March 26 letter to the editor headlined “Town Meeting matters,” the signature was inadvertently omitted. The letter, which was written by Sara Mattes, has been corrected.
Letter to the editor: Support Minuteman agreement
To the editor:
This Saturday at Town Meeting, there will be some discussion about a Revised Regional Agreement for the Minuteman Regional High School. Minuteman really needs a new school, but before this can happen, they need the Revised Regional Agreement to be passed by all communities in the district involved.
I can assure you that Dr. Edward Bouquillon, superintendent of Minuteman, has spent an incredible amount of time (his own time) and an incredible amount of meetings to come up with the best outcome for this school and the best agreement possible. I trust his work 100 percent. This school provides incredible education and is extremely valuable for our communities. Please do not let down the other communities and the school’s opportunity to be improved.
Even though this should be supported through state and federal funds, it is not going to happen tomorrow, and maybe it is never going to happen. We can’t take this as an excuse to turn our heads away. I strongly feel that it is our responsibility and our commitment to help this school at a time they need it most, meaning now. Lincoln is an “in-district” town for Minuteman High school; it can’t just take advantage of it when needed and then not help when the school needs financial support. Lincoln is one of the richest towns in the district, and I would feel very ashamed as a Lincolnite if this Revised Regional Agreement did not pass because of Lincoln.
The Lincoln Public Schools and Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School each had their turns to rebuild and improve; now it is Minuteman Regional High School’s overdue turn. Let’s give them our support. It is a good and honorable use of your tax money.
Sincerely,
Tania Dessain
62 Conant Rd.
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. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
Letter to the editor on Minuteman revised agreement
To the editor:
Minuteman High School, which provides career and technical education to Lincoln students, has proposed a revised regional agreement as a warrant article for the March 29 town meeting at the Brooks Auditorium. For this new regional agreement to come into effect, it must be approved by a majority at the town meetings of every member town. It is important that stakeholders such as yourselves be aware and informed about the new Agreement so that you and your community can make informed decisions about it. To that end, informational material about the new agreement can be found here along with a seven-minute video explaining the agreement.
Minuteman is a vital resource to the community. Providing a rigorous and relevant curriculum that prepares students for both college and careers is only the first part of our role in Lincoln. We provide education for post-graduate students who seek additional training in order to achieve career readiness. We offer community education programs that enrich the lives of the young and old with new learning opportunities. Our students are involved in community projects across our district. Our restaurant and other service-oriented shops welcome visitors for excellent and affordable service.
In order to continue offering this excellent education and these other services, Minuteman must adapt. One way that we are attempting to achieve this change is by amending the current regional agreement, which will allow the district to move on from a regional agreement that no longer serves the best interests of our students. In brief, the revised agreement makes the following changes:
- Annual assessments based on a four-year rolling average.
- Capital cost allocation formula incorporates ability to pay along with a four-year rolling average of enrollment.
- Minuteman School Committee voting will be weighted, with 50 percent of a member’s vote based on a four-year rolling average.
- Minuteman School Committee can negotiate a transition period with potential new member communities.
- Members may withdraw unless disapproved by a majority of remaining member town meetings.
- Contributions to capital costs by non-members are applied to reduce capital assessments to members.
- Authorization for new debt must first be pursued through the unanimous approval of member town meetings before proceeding to a district-wide election.
- Amendments to the regional agreement may be initiated by a 3/4 vote of the School Committee.
These changes are the result of years of work by the administration of Minuteman High School, the Minuteman School Committee, subcommittees and task forces made up of local stakeholders, and local government representatives. The revised agreement reflects the input of every member community and represents a hard-earned compromise between these communities.
The article will be heard at Lincoln Town Meeting, which begins at 9:30 a.m. on March 29 at the Brooks Auditorium. Please take some time to review the linked materials or watch the video and express your opinion at town meeting this Saturday.
Sincerely,
Edward Bouquillon, Minuteman High School Superintendent-Director
10 Mill St., Lincoln
Brendan Dutch, Minuteman High School Communications Coordinator
Plymouth, Mass.
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. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
Care Dimensions reworking hospice proposal
Architect’s drawing of the proposed hospice building and parking (click to enlarge).
By Alice Waugh
Faced with negative reactions from the Zoning Board of Appeals and residents, Care Dimensions plans to rework its proposal for a hospice facility on Winter Street.
[Read more…] about Care Dimensions reworking hospice proposal
Letter to the editor: Health effects of air traffic
Editor’s note: The Conservation Commission continued its hearing on Jet Aviation’s Hanscom Field proposal to April 2.
To the editor:
Approving the Hanscom airport expansion plans at this time is concerning, not only because of wetlands considerations, but because a critical examination of the potential human health impacts does not appear to have been conducted. As director of a nonprofit organization, Quiet Communities, and chair of the Lincoln Leaf Blower Study Committee, I have had the opportunity to examine the adverse health impacts of related noise and air pollution.
Extensive evidence in the scientific and medical literature indicates that airport noise is a serious public health hazard. Decades of research show that chronic exposure to environmental noise causes sleep disturbance, heart disease, psychological problems, and hearing loss. For example, in a recent study of more than 6 million older people (65+ yrs) living near U.S. airports, Harvard and Boston University Schools of Public Health scientists found that airport noise increases hospitalization risk for heart attack and stroke (BMJ, October 8, 2013). In a February 2014 Environmental Health Perspectives article, University of Michigan scientists call for a U.S. noise policy, estimating tens of millions of Americans are at risk for heart disease and other noise-related adverse effects—with air traffic identified as a major source. In Europe, the World Health Organization’s 2011 Burden of Environmental Noise report documents the extensive loss of healthy life years from environmental noise.
While Jet Aviation claims the new jets are less noisy and more efficient than smaller aircraft, this benefit may be outweighed by the future increase in jet traffic forecasted by Massport.
I urge residents to attend the upcoming meeting on April 2 and ask the Conservation Commission to postpone a decision until the potential adverse health effects of noise/pollution are examined with the help of the Board of Health and/or other environmental health experts.
Sincerely,
Jamie Banks
154 Lincoln Rd.
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. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
Letter to the editor: Town Meeting matters
To the editor:
This coming Saturday, March 29, we will come together to discuss and vote on issues that matter to the future of our town. Town Meeting matters, as these votes decide how we will spend our money and what zoning we will enact to manage change over the coming years. By giving direction to town board and committees, the voters are the ones who have the final say. It is the voters who are ultimately responsible for how our town will proceed on all fronts.
This Town Meeting will take up some very important matters that go beyond the seemingly more pedestrian issues of straightforward annual budgets, the purchase of new police vehicles, or the adjustment of building height calculations. We will have an opportunity to engage in debate that could result in an outcome that reflects the best of Lincoln’s collaborative innovation.
Early in the day, a critical portion of Town Meeting will pick up where we left off at the State of the Town meeting last fall. Two articles hold potential for further developing a pathway suggested at that fall meeting. But the path is filled with potholes that could prevent a positive and creative outcome.
At State of the Town, we had a remarkable coming together of generations—School Committee members, Council on Aging (COA) representatives, Parks and Recreation, and citizens—singing the praise of bringing together, on one campus, programs to serve all ages. There we heard great support for what might become a Lincoln community campus.
To facilitate the creation of the unified campus concept celebrated at the State of the Town, the challenge will be to find a way to discuss the two separate components of this scheme at the same time.
The two components are a School Committee-sponsored article (Article 11) and a Board of Selectmen request of the Capital Planning Committee (one line item of Article 9). Article 11 asks for up to $250,000 to study a range of options for a school building project. Article 9 will ask for (among other items) up to $75,000 to study a variety of sites for programs for the COA and Parks and Recreation, as recommended by the Community Center Feasibility Study report.
At State of the Town, the Community Center Feasibility Committee (CCFC) presented the results of their analysis of programmatic needs and potential sites to deliver programs. Many of the sites are those also mentioned in the Selectmen’s list for further review. The CCFC preliminary analysis found that:
- Bemis Hall has both space limitations and safety concerns that cannot be solved in a way that addresses long-term needs.
- Pierce House was also determined to have serious space constraints, and any relocation to Pierce House would displace the uses currently enjoyed by citizens and many community groups.
- The only South Lincoln site that may be on a wish list might be the DPW site. But communities around us that have built new DPWs have encountered EPA regulations that place a price tag at $15 million and up. And where would we relocate our DPW, if we choose to spend $15 million?
So, if we can build on the enthusiasm for coming together that was expressed at State of the Town, embracing that spirit of collaboration and celebration of community, we might find a way to combine study of school needs, COA needs, and others needs in a unified, holistic manner—to develop a comprehensive way to meet community needs. And we might find that our community is best served when we all study, work and play together, on one campus.
The challenge will be for the leadership of the schools and the Board of Selectmen to create a committee to advance this collaboration. It won’t be easy to craft an innovative charge, and select a committee from the extensive talent pool that is Lincoln. It will need to take a fresh look at how we might proceed. But such approaches are not new to Lincoln. This is the kind of innovation that Lincoln has been know for—look at the creation of South Lincoln Crossing, Lincoln Woods, Battle Road Farm, Codman Community Farm, Codman Pool, and the recent protection of the Van Leer/MacDowell farmland. These initiatives all relied on cross-board collaborations and bold leadership that did not shy from the difficulties in bringing such projects forward.
We did it before. We can do it again. After all, when the ballfield at the center of our community campus was gifted in 1932, it was done with the notion that it would provide a place for all ages to come together and cheer as one.
Yes, there are exciting opportunities and challenges offered by matters before the town this coming Saturday. Be sure and attend. Jump into the discussions. Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Town Meeting matters.
Sincerely,
Sara Mattes
71 Conant Rd.
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. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
Correction
News acorns (and a correction)
Get a free home energy audit and benefit L-S
Schedule a free home energy audit to benefit Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and the environment and potentially save thousands in home energy costs. This is free for homeowners or renters (in fact, there are free energy saving gifts worth $30-$80!). Sign up by March 31 and L-S will get $10-$50 per audit toward environmentally friendly water bottle refilling stations. Higher amounts are available for school for solar and cooling audits. For more more information or to schedule an audit anytime through June, visit the Next Step Living website. If you have questions, call Eleanor Burke, housemaster and Environmental Club advisor, at 978-443-9961 x2453.
Games Days at the library
The Lincoln Public Library will host two Games Days next month. On Sunday, April 6 from 3-5 p.m., visitors can play Mystery at Hogwarts and Saboteur. Hogwarts melded with the game of Clue yields Mystery at Hogwarts. In Saboteur, you can be a Gringots goblin excavating for treasure. Game Day on Sunday, April 27 from 3-5 p.m. will feature Dragon’s Gold and Fist of Dragon Stones. Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne will also be available to play on both days.
Benefit auction for Magic Garden on April 11
The Magic Garden Children’s Center will offer mailboxes hand-painted by each preschool class at its annual benefit auction on Friday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. Along with the unique child-crafted items, the live and silent auctions will include items for all tastes and budgets: vacation stays, sports tickets, birthday parties, antique furniture and a behind-the-scenes tour with the Lincoln Police. While the auction is open to all and generates significant support for Magic Garden, the evening itself is a festive and fun gathering for the community, including the hundreds of families whose children attended Magic Garden over the past 31 years. Tickets are $60 in advance (purchased by March 28) or $75 at the door. Guests can register online for “A Magical Evening for Magic Garden” or send a check to Magic Garden, P.O. Box 34, Lincoln, MA 01773.
Open mike night on April 14
Heather Pierson will be the featured performer at the next LOMA (Lincoln Open Mike Acoustic) night on Monday, April 14 from 7-10 p.m. in Bemis Hall (temporarily relocated from the Lincoln Public Library).
Pierson is a pianist, multi-genre singer/songwriter and performer and winner of the 2012 New England Songwriting Contest. From poignant folk narratives to New Orleans jazz to Delta-style blues to soul-stirring instrumentals, Heather’s memorable, intimate live performances move seamlessly between styles. Her catalog of seven CDs reflects singular creativity. Her latest CD, The Hard Work of Living, delves into the Americana/folk genre.
The modern folk duo Friction Farm consisting of Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay will also perform a mini-set. On tour from North Carolina, the duo’s moving songs and rich harmonies make a lasting impression. They were named as Kerrville New Folk Finalists and Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists in 2011. Friction Farm has released four CDs, the latest being I Read Your Book.
Rounding out the 2013-13 LOMA season will be Tom Hanlon and Leslie Bryant on May 12 and the Creek River String Band on June 9.
LOMA is a monthly event. Perform or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mike day for a slot. Names of those who are signed up by 7:15 will be drawn at random. We have a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Brad Meyer and Brent Clark ably handle the sound. We expect everyone will have a chance to perform, but in case of overflow, the first 20 performers to sign up will be given priority.
Correction
In a letter to the editor published on March 23, the street address of Margaret Olson was listed incorrectly. It should have said 17 Boyce Farm Road.
Letter to the editor: Braun thanks supporters
To the editor:
The annual Town Election is next Monday, March 31. Please vote! This is our opportunity to elect town officials. We will also vote on the two liquor license petitions that were approved at last year’s Town Meeting (deCordova license and one-day licenses).
Thank you to my supporters who held events at their home to enable me to interact with fellow residents about current town issues. One of the biggest challenges for a Selectman is to have as comprehensive an understanding as possible of residents’ concerns. I am also grateful to those who arranged forums at the Smith Gym, The Commons in Lincoln, the Rural Land Foundation office, and the school’s story room (PTO), as well as a community discussion at the Battle Road Farm Meeting House.
Thanks also to those who have written supportive letters and/or provided me with valuable advice. And a special thanks to Dan Boynton for his sage advice and thoughtful input to the dialogue regarding Route 2.
I would appreciate your support at the election. I would be honored to serve as Selectman for a second term. I am seeking to continue to give back to my community of 54 years by volunteering my experience, full-time commitment, and appreciation of the town’s values.
Sincerely,
Peter Braun
16 Trapelo 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. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.
Letter to the editor: Jay Flanagan supports Cannistraro
To the editor:
I am writing this letter in support of Vin Cannistraro as Selectman. I have worked with Vin on the LSRHS School Council for two years and was impressed by his ability to communicate openly and effectively with a wide range of people and generate fresh ideas. Vin’s contributions to the team were essential in uniting us to create a thoughtful initiative that is being implemented in Sudbury to bring attention to the crucial role that the high school plays in our community. His work on the technology infrastructure and academic supports subcommittees is helping to ensure L-S remains one of the best high schools in the country. His presentations to the faculty at the end of the school year make the teachers feel supported and appreciated for their invaluable impact on our children’s lives.
I also believe that Vin’s substantial experience in construction would be a tremendous benefit to a town with many capital projects desperately searching now for a pathway to success. Vin’s unique combination of education, corporate, and community-based experience will help our great community be even greater, and I encourage you to vote for him on Monday, March 31.
Sincerely,
Jay Flanagan
74 Cambridge Turnpike
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. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published. Letters may be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor.