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

Meeting for current and would-be solar homeowners

greeningLincoln’s Green Energy Technology Committee is hosting a meeting for solar homeowners, and those who are considering solar, at the Hartwell multipurpose room this Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. Participants in the SolarizeMass program will be on hand discuss their experiences with the various phases of the process, from assessment to design, contracting and installation, along with solar coach Jennie Morris. Lincoln residents have worked with a variety of different solar installers, and all who have “gone solar” are encouraged to attend.

Town office building to have June 22 ribbon-cutting

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The Lincoln Town Office Building

The renovated Town Office Building will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m.

Over the past 17 months, the historical 16,000-square-foot building at 16 Lincoln Road has been gutted down to the framing (see the Lincoln Squirrel, December 6, 2012) while town staff have operated out of the Hartwell pods. The renovated building will feature two new stairwells and an elevator as well as energy-efficient wiring, heating and cooling, and lighting design to meet LEED silver certification. The basement level has been designed as office space so there will be three full floors of office and meeting space for staff and residents.

Design work was done by Donham & Sweeney Architects and the builder is Colantonio Construction.

New phone directories sent out by Friends of the Lincoln Library

Julie Brogan, Ray Shepard, Kate Dahmen and Bryn Gingrich of the Friends of the Lincoln Library stuff phone directories in envelopes for mailing.

Julie Brogan, Ray Shepard, Kate Dahmen and Bryn Gingrich of the Friends of the Lincoln Library stuff phone directories in envelopes for mailing.

Every household in Lincoln will soon receive a free copy of the 2013 edition of the spiral-bound town telephone directory, courtesy of the Friends of the Lincoln Library.

Advertisers listed in the directory’s yellow pages are generally local and known around town. The FOLL are grateful to the businesses in the directory and encourage residents to support them.

A new feature of the 2011 edition is the “pink pages” section that lists organizations and resources that enhance the health and well-being of the Lincoln community. This has been continued in the 2013 edition. The pink pages are sponsored by the town’s Healthy Communities Assessment and Planning Project (download report here) under a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The Friends of the Lincoln Library raises money through telephone directory ads, monthly book sales, dues and other means to support the Lincoln Public Library’s adult and children’s programs, museum passes, and library furnishings and equipment.

Additional copies of the directory may be purchased at the library or the Old Town Hall Exchange.

Company says no trees were removed unnecessarily

By Alice Waugh

The president of the company in charge of tree removal for the Route 2 project said on May 31 that no trees were removed unnecessarily and that his workers cut down only those they were asked to remove.

Lincoln residents near the highway construction site, especially in the Brooks Road vicinity, have complained about what they say is excessive tree removal among other issues related to the work, and the Board of Selectman has named a Route 2 Oversight Committee to gather more information (see related story).

[Read more…] about Company says no trees were removed unnecessarily

Town forms Route 2 oversight panel in response to complaints

treestump-smBy Alice Waugh

Lincoln has formed a new Route 2 Oversight Committee to coordinate the town’s actions in response to problems arising from the Route 2 construction project.

Residents who live near the construction areas have complained repeatedly to the Board of Selectmen and Lincoln police about issues including alleged traffic violations by construction equipment, disruptive night work and the visual impact of tree-cutting near the highway. At the May 23 selectmen’s meeting, a coalition called the Brooks Road Abutters Group (BRAG) presented selectmen last week with a memo containing photos and a demand that BRAG and the town be “compensated for the unnecessary removal of these trees with additional replacement trees over and above those shown on the contract drawings, with species, size and location determined by the abutters.”

[Read more…] about Town forms Route 2 oversight panel in response to complaints

Last Open Mike night of the year is June 10

guitarEnjoy the music of Ryan Fitzsimmons and even take the mike yourself at LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) on Monday, June 10 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Fitzsimmons has performed solo at the Newport Folk Festival, Club Passim, and Johnny D’s. This is a great opportunity to hear Ryan in a small informal venue.

LOMA is a monthly event of acoustic music and spoken word. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon on the day of the event for a slot (advance registration is encouraged). Names of performers will be drawn at random from those who are signed up by 7:15 p.m.

There will be no LOMA in July or August. Upcoming featured artists (click on the names for music samples and more info):