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

News acorns

Christmas tree pickup

The L-S girls’ basketball team and the L-S Class of 2006 will hold a Christmas tree pickup fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 6. Cost is $20 per tree ($10 for seniors). Click here for more information and to sign up.

Library-sponsored events coming up

Drop-in tech help
Thursdays from 1-3 p.m., library reference room
The library offer tech help drop-in hours on Thursdays. Bring your devices, charging cables, and any passwords you might need to address your tech issues.

Tech talk: email filtering
Tuesday, Jan. 9 from 2-3 p.m., Bemis Hall
Do you receive lots of junk email and other messages? This session will discuss how to filter, sort, and search through your email more efficiently. We will also address how to unsubscribe from many email-generating services to free up your inbox.

Zion Rodman

LOMA featuring Zion Rodman
Tuesday, Jan. 9 from 7-10 p.m., Tarbell Room
Rodman is the featured performer at the next monthly Lincoln open-mike night. His vocals are suave in the genres of folk-rock and indie-pop, and his award-winning songs tend to be meaningful, soulful and hard-hitting. His engaging style is immediately apparent in the video “Everybody That You Know.” Register here if you’d like to perform. 

Music and movement with Kat Chapman
Wednesday, Jan. 10 from 10:30-11:30 a.m., Tarbell Room
Kat Chapman has taught music to young children and is a singer-songwriter, performer, music educator and parent. All ages welcome; no registration necessary. 

Film: “Young@Heart”
Thursday, Jan. 18 from 6-8 p.m., Tarbell Room
See the final weeks of rehearsal for the Young at Heart chorus based in Northampton, Mass., whose average age is 81 and many of whom must overcome health adversities to participate. Their music is unexpected, going against the stereotype of their age group, performing songs that range from James Brown to Coldplay. Sign up here for the Lincoln Library Film Society mailing list.

Cookie swap
Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 6-7 p.m., Tarbell Room
Do you have a favorite cookie? Bring your cookies and your recipe to share! There will be taste testing and hot cocoa. Best for ages 10+.

Madhubani/Mithila painting
Thursday, Jan. 25 from 6:30-8 p.m., Tarbell Room
Join award-winning artist and educator Sunanda Sahay as she talks and demonstrates Madhubani, or Mithila painting, a 2,500-year-old folk and traditional style of art from Bihar, North India. Make your own art inspired by her works. No experience needed. Registration is required; click here to register (registration opens on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 9 a.m.).

“We Move Together” 
Saturday, Jan. 27 from 2-3 p.m., Tarbell Room
Join us for movement, puppetry and fun as we journey to the bottom of the sea with Little Uprisings and the Gottabees, who will explore the book Swimmy by Leo Lionni, a classic tale for young children about the power of organizing. Best for ages 4-7. 

Documentaries on the Holy Land problem

This month, the GRALTA Foundation will screen two documentaries related to the “Holy Land problem.” Each will be shown twice:

  • Sunday afternoons at the Lincoln Public Library on January 7 and 21 at 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday evenings at Bemis Hall on January 10 and 24 at 7:30 p.m.

“’Til Kingdom Come,” a film by Jewish-Israeli director Maya Zinshtein, illuminates the passion and power of Christian Zionism to influence U.S. foreign policy. Julia Bacha’s “Naila and the Uprising” focuses on the important role that women played in creating and guiding the protests and civil disobedience that comprised the 1987–1993 First Intifada. That long campaign led to the famed Oslo Accords, which were supposed to be the first step in establishing a separate Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Please let us know if you plan to attend and on which day so we can plan for enough chairs by emailing steve.low@gordianconcepts.com.

Office hours with Rep. Gentile

State Rep. Carmine Gentile (D-13th Middlesex) will hold virtual office hours on Friday, Jan. 22. Meetings will take place via Microsoft Teams video call from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Sign up for a 20-minute time slot by emailing Rep. Gentile’s legislative aide, Ravi Simon, at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov. Constituents signing up for a meeting must provide their full name, address, phone number, email, and their discussion topic. Please provide all necessary details in describing the topic of discussion so Rep. Gentile may prepare for the meeting.

Can new fission/fusion technologies help fight climate change?

Many experts believe that next-generation nuclear technologies could be an important option in our transition to a clean-energy future. Others are wary, expressing concerns about ongoing safety and waste disposal challenges. Join MetroWest Climate Solutions on Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. for a Zoom webinar where David Butz from Eco-Nuclear Solutions and Aina Lagor from Energy for the Common Good will provide an overview of the latest nuclear technologies and their prospects for helping us transition to a “low or no” carbon society and economy. Moderator Ross Trimby qualified as a reactor plant operator and then served on a nuclear sub for three years. Click here to register.

Ed Begley Jr. speaks about his memoir

Ed Begley Jr. will talk about his book, To the Temple of Tranquility… And Step On It! on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 7–8 p.m. in a free online event sponsored by the Walden Woods Project. An audience Q&A will follow the conversation. Begley, a star of “St. Elsewhere” and many films, is equally well known for his environmental activism. He is also the author of Ed Begley Jr.’s Guide to Sustainable Living: Learning to Conserve Resources and Manage an Eco-Conscious Life and Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life. Click here to learn more and register.

My Turn: A path forward for retail at the mall under Option C

By Benjamin Shiller

Option C has emerged as the winning choice for rezoning for the Housing Choice Act. Although the discussion may have seemed divisive, I truly believe that our goals for the town are aligned.

The Planning Board has already made great strides in a short time towards drafting the bylaws. However, the time left is extremely limited. If we all work together, we can fine-tune bylaws that protect retail at the mall and benefit residents, the environment, and walkability. The mall is the only area zoned for retail in the station area under our Housing Choice Act proposal) Thus, our only chance for retail is through the mall’s redevelopment. More retail increases walkability and reduces fossil fuel usage.

Here are some concerns I think we should consider at the upcoming January 5 Planning Board meeting.

  1. Retail space and residential affordability are not compatible: At their December 12 meeting, Planning Board members discussed what percentage of square footage at the mall should be required to be retail rather than residential. While town residents benefit from retail space, strict requirements may make redevelopment unprofitable, and several members believe we need to substantially reduce retail space from current levels to make the mall redevelopment viable. I suggest we encourage developers to use profits from market-rate units in the mall to subsidize larger retail spaces. The mall is not the place to build a large number of “affordable” apartments. Fortunately, Option C provides numerous locations outside of the mall to build a variety of housing options for a variety of budgets.
  2. Ground-level and second-floor retail are both appealing: The Planning Board seems to prefer retail on the ground level — which I agree with — but this is not yet set in stone. Retail space on the ground level is more appealing to retail establishments such as restaurants, grocery stores, and banks. The second floor may be appealing as office space, as in the current mall.
  3. Retail parking is vital: One parking space for retail allows multiple customers to come and shop there at different times of day; one retail parking spot = multiple customers. However, if retail parking spaces are displaced by resident parking spaces, retail customers will go elsewhere, putting our retail in a more precarious position than currently. Moreover, the Housing Choice Act does not allow us to require any spaces for retail parking, and there is limited land for buildings and parking. This is not a problem with a simple solution.
  4. Parking during construction: Our retail is allegedly in a fragile state. Can it survive if parking spots for customers are temporarily (or permanently) removed during construction? Let’s craft a plan that makes clear where customers can park and how trucks full of groceries can reach the offloading bay during construction.

We can do hard things. And we can do them quickly as long as we all work together. This is arguably the biggest change in Lincoln in last 50 years. Let’s make sure we do this right!

Shiller is a member of Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives, a citizens’ group that advocated for other rezoning alternatives prior to the December 2 Special Town Meeting. 

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Police log for December 15–22, 2023

December 15

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (4:55 a.m.) — A caller reported a downed tree and deceased deer on Route 2 East. MassDOT and the state police were notified.

Lincoln Gas and Auto, South Great Road (12:20 p.m.) — An officer spoke to an individual regarding an ongoing issue.

Tower Road (12:30 p.m.) — An officer performed a well-being check.

Wells Road (1:12 p.m.) — A party came to the station to speak with an officer regarding possible bank fraud.

December 16

Boyce Farm Road (11:57 a.m.) — A resident reported a strong odor of natural gas inside the residence. The Fire Department vented the structure. National Grid was notified and gas service to the residence was shut off as a precaution.

Ryan Estate (1:04 p.m.) — A caller spoke to an officer regarding an ongoing issue.

Greenridge Lane (7:04 p.m.) — A neighboring agency requested assistance with notification to a resident.

December 17

Wells Road (1:52 a.m.) — Officers responded to a residence to speak to the occupants regarding an ongoing issue.

Tower Field Lane (11:22 a.m.) — A caller reported seeing an injured coyote near their home. The animal eventually made its way into a wooded area.

Trapelo Road (2:29 p.m.) — A delivery van was reported to be on fire. The Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

December 18

Police received reports of wires and/or branches down (multiple calls for the same street in some cases) starting at 5:05 a.m. on Codman Road, Greenridge Lane, Lincoln Road, Weston Road, Hillside Road, South Great Road, Tower Road, Lexington Road, Trapelo Road, Beaver Pond Road, Huckleberry Hill, Baker Bridge Road, Concord Road, Bedford Road, Laurel Drive, Old County Road, and Mill Street throughout the day and night into Monday morning. There were further reports on December 19 on Sandy Pond Road and Concord Road.

North Great Road (6:41 a.m.) — A vehicle struck a deer but was able to be driven from the scene.

Hillside Road (7:11 p.m.) — Due to an extended power outage, police performed a well-being check.

December 19

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (3:29 p.m.) — Due to an extended power outage, police performed a well-being check.

Old Conant Road (6:12 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing several individuals walking down the roadway with flashlights. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate them.

Silver Birch Lane (7:55 p.m. and 8:50 p.m.) — A caller reported their neighbor’s dog was intermittently barking. An officer checked the area for approximately 15 minutes and detected no noise.

Ballfield Road (9:14 p.m.) — School staff reported seeing a dirt bike being operated on the school campus. The area was checked but the dirt bike was gone on arrival.

December 20

Trapelo Road (7:43 a.m.) — An officer responded for a minor two-vehicle crash and assisted both operators with exchanging pertinent information. Both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

South Great Road (9:25 a.m.) — Post office staff report a package had been stolen from a residence. An officer responded.

Deerhaven Road (9:27 a.m.) — A postal employee reported seeing a suspicious vehicle. An officer responded but was unable to locate the vehicle in question.

Giles Road (12:01 p.m.) — A resident reported seeing a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road. An officer responded but the vehicle was gone.

Bowles Terrace (5:22 p.m.) — A delivery driver called in to request a well-being check. An officer responded and determined there was no issue at the residence.

Todd Pond Road (8:48 p.m.) — A caller reported utility vehicles idling in close proximity to their home. The utility vehicles were performing tree work.

Horseshoe Lane (10:39 p.m.) — A caller reported a suspicious vehicle parked at the end of their driveway that might have been a contracted delivery vehicle. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the vehicle.

December 21

Minuteman Technical High School (3:27 p.m.) — A staff member requested to speak with an officer.

Bedford Road (7:28 p.m.) — A caller requested a well-being check on a neighbor.

December 22

Lincoln Road (11:40 a.m.) — A motorist reported the railroad gates on Lincoln Road went down, then back up without a train passing by. An officer responded and the gates appeared to be working properly. Keolis was notified.

South Great Road (2:29 p.m.) — MBTA police reported that a male was observed walking on the tracks by the Route 117 crossing. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the person.

South Great Road (7:13 p.m.) — A caller reported the Route 117 railroad gates were malfunctioning. An officer responded to the area to monitor. Keolis was notified.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (10:59 p.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding a past incident.

Mill Street (3:04 a.m.) — An officer provided a courtesy transport to an individual trying to return to their residence.

Public education, forum planned in wake of STM voting difficulties

In the wake of the excruciatingly lengthy voting process for two of the issues at the December 2 Special Town Meeting, the Select Board will distribute general information on the process in advance of a public forum to gauge the town’s appetite for changes.

The time-consuming task of counting paper ballots for the community center and Housing Choice Act issues led several residents afterwards to suggest using electronic “clickers” to vote. Many also said that the many hours required for all presentations, discussion, and voting at all Town Meetings are excessive and unfair to those who can’t come in person for the entire meeting.

Part of the public education process is explaining what Lincolnites alone can and cannot do. Among the “cannots”: changing Lincoln’s Town Meeting rules to allow remote voting, or to have the votes happen at different times than the presentations and public comment period. Both of those prohibitions are based on state law and would require an act of the legislature to change.

“It’s never going to be “walk in, vote, walk out,” Select Board member Kim Bodnar observed at the board’s December 18 meeting, which was also attended by Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden.

The separate issue of speeding along the voting is more feasible. A number of towns distribute electronic clickers to Town Meeting attendees so votes can be recorded and tallied in very little time. However, that would mean that voting would be anonymous rather than public, where people can see how their fellow residents are voting when they stand up or raise a hand. 

“Even something as simple as that turns into a multifaceted discussion,” board member Jim Hutchinson said. He also noted that there is no money in the current fiscal year’s budget to purchase clickers in time for the March 2024 Annual Town Meeting. “We’re not actually going to need them in March,” since the votes will all be simple yes-or-no, he added.

The biggest problem on December 2 was the time it took to tally the votes on the community center and Housing Choice Act, because they involved several rounds of multiple-choice voting via paper ballot. The HCA vote was originally going to be on a single option formulated by the Housing Choice Act Working group, but a late-breaking demand for other options that would not concentrate multifamily housing in the South Lincoln area led to expansion of the vote.

“We do things differently from other towns. It’s very unusual to give voters multiple choices,” Hutchinson noted. Lincoln first used the method at a Special Town Meeting in June 2018 to select a design option for the school project. In discussions with colleagues from other towns, Town Administrator Tim Higgins said Lincoln seems to be unique in this respect. “It’s unheard of to add that step to the process,” he said.

Higgins noted that Lincoln has made efforts over the years to streamline Town Meetings, including expanding use of the consent calendar (where several noncontroversial items are voted on as a bloc if nobody objects), having presentations online and recorded in advance of Town Meetings, tightening up the town budget presentation, creating the State of the Town meeting about 20 years ago, and even talking about moving Town Meeting to two or weeknights.

A 2015 report by the Town Meeting Advisory Committee in Weston contained many of the same recommendations that Lincoln has adopted in recent year, Higgins said. That committee also noted that the town had approved a change in guidelines for running Town Meetings, switching from Robert’s Rules of Order (first published in 1876) to Town Meeting Time: A Handbook of Parliamentary Law, a handbook of parliamentary law called that focuses especially on the operation of  town meetings by the Massachusetts Moderators Association (published in 1962 and revised twice since then).

To get a better sense of the town on major issues, conducting official online polls using technology to make sure voters are qualified and vote only once is another option to explore, Hutchinson said. But no decisions can be made until officials get a broader sense of what the majority would like to see from a public forum or committee.

Alongside with the complaints about the recent vote were other expressions of support for the current format, imperfect though it may be, the board noted. “We want to hear whether residents want Town Meeting changed or not,” Bodnar said.

“The people who are objecting to something are often louder than those who are satisfied with things,” Holden said.

News acorns

Holiday services at First Parish

Winter Solstice Service
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m., outside FPL sanctuary, 4 Bedford Rd. (across from library)
First Parish in Lincoln welcomes you to celebrate the longest night of the year at our annual Solstice Service, featuring the return of our traditional Abbots Bromley Horn Dance! Bundle up and join us around the fire as we honor the darkness and await the light in community. With special guest musician John Tyson on recorder.

Christmas Eve services
Sunday, Dec. 24 in the sanctuary, 4 Bedford Rd. (across from library)

  • 4 p.m. — A service for all ages, especially families with younger children. Lessons and carols, and a short message. Service led by Rev. Nate Klug and Director of Religious Exploration Lora Venesy.
  • 8 p.m.— Candlelight service featuring the First Parish choir, special music, and lessons and carols. Service led by Sarah Klockowski.
  • 10 p.m.— Candlelight service featuring the First Parish choir, special music, and lessons and carols. Service led by Rev. Nate Klug.

Solstice stargazing, family hikes at deCordova

On Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22 from 5-7 p.m., bring beauty and light to the darkest days of winter and watch the last rays of sunset disappear into the night sky as you explore the deCordova Sculpture Park and learn about the season’s celestial bodies with the Aldrich Astronomical Society amateur astronomy club. Take part in self-guided activities for all ages, or join one of our museum guides for a lantern tour. Bring a flashlight or lantern. Click for Thursday or Friday tickets ($24 for Trustees members, $30 for nonmembers).

On Sunday, Dec. 31 from 11 a.m.–noon, outdoor instructor Kate Hamm will lead all-ages, all-levels hikes for families. Celebrate the New Year surrounded by the inspiring creativity of art and beauty of nature. Click here to purchase tickets.

LincFam hosts early New Year celebration

LincFam will ring in the New Year on Saturday, Dec. 30 from 3-5 p.m. with music, a photo booth, snacks, and a special craft in collaboration with beehive ART at the First Parish stone church. Free for LincFam members, $10/child for nonmembers (maximum $20/family). Click here to RSVP. Pay at the door or via Venmo to @LincFam. Questions? Email info@lincfam.org.

Police log for November 30 – December 14

November 30

Lincoln Road (9:34 a.m.) — A motorist struck a stone wall and utility pole. The vehicle was towed from the scene; the operator was uninjured.

Lincoln Road (1:50 p.m.) — A resident called to report their personal information being compromised via an online scam.

Silver Birch Lane (2:46 p.m.) — A caller reported a dog intermittently barking for several hours. They were advised to contact Animal Control.

South Great Road (4:44 p.m.) — A motorist struck a deer in the town of Weston but had stopped to assess the damage in Lincoln. Weston Police handled the incident.

December 1

Weston Road (2:57 p.m.) — An individual came to the station to report being a victim of a possible scam.

Wells Road (4:10 p.m.) — The Fire Department responded for a fire alarm activation. The alarm was due to cooking smoke.

Brooks Hill Road (8:11 p.m.) — A caller reported their water meter was leaking. The Water Department was notified.

December 2

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (2:14 a.m.) — A vehicle was pulled over for speeding on Route 2. The operator, Julie Jaworski, 47, of Bolton was subsequently arrested for operating under the influence of liquor. She was booked, then bailed and ordered to appear at Concord District Court on December 4.

Lexington Road (4:03 a.m.) — A 911 caller reported two people arguing in a vehicle on Route 2. Massachusetts State Police were able to stop the vehicle and check on the well-being of all occupants.

North Great Road (10:25 a.m.) — A caller reported seeing a vehicle strike a sign on Route 2A by Bedford Road. Police responded to the scene and located the operator and occupants. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Todd Pond Road (11:09 a.m.) — A caller reported their dog was missing. Animal Control was notified.

Lincoln School (5:27 p.m.) — A caller reported that they could not find their vehicle. The vehicle was located moments later.

Red Rail Farm (6:31 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing a dog barking in the woods. Animal Control was notified.

December 3

Bedford Road (2:15 a.m.) — While on patrol, an officer observed a white male ducking behind a fence as they approached. The area was checked but the individual was not located.

Mount Misery parking lot (10:04 a.m.) — An officer responded for a vehicle that had been involved in a crash the previous evening. The operator was issued a citation for leaving the scene of a property damage crash.

Ridge Road (10:48 p.m.) — A caller requested a well-being check on their neighbor. The neighbor was at work and was fine.

December 4

Hemlock Circle (4:33 p.m.) — Officers were able to make contact with a party who had not been heard from for a brief period.

Brooks Road (11:30 p.m.) — A caller reported their dog had left the residence. Animal Control was notified.

December 5

Mill Street (2:09 a.m.) — A caller reported a suspicious motor vehicle parked on the side of the road. The vehicle was picking up a person and were on their way shortly.

Blackburnian Road (1:00 p.m.) — A caller reported a possible suspicious vehicle near their property. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the vehicle.

South Great Road (5:38 p.m.) — Multiple callers reported a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Lincoln Road and South Great Road. A vehicle traveling north attempted to turn west onto South Great Road when they struck a vehicle traveling south on Lincoln Road. None of the occupants were injured. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

December 6

Hanscom Drive (6:48 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces called for assistance with a party who had an active arrest warrant. The occupant fled the area prior to Lincoln officers arriving on scene. The areas was checked but the vehicle was not found.

Mount Misery parking lot (4:04 p.m.) — Police responded to the parking lot to help two motorists exchange paperwork after a minor motor vehicle crash.

Hillside Road (4:32 p.m.) — A caller reported an overdue cyclist who returned while speaking with an officer.

Trapelo Road, Waltham (4:37 p.m.) — Waltham Police called to report one of their cruisers was stolen after striking and killing Officer Paul Tracey and National Grid Worker Roderick Jackson on Totten Pond Road. Officers responded to the town line in case the vehicle entered Lincoln. Peter Simon, 54, of Woodsville, N.H., was subsequently arrested.

December 7

Old Sudbury Road (6:34 a.m.) — A caller reported the railroad crossing gates were stuck in the down position. The MBTA and Keolis were notified and a technician was en route.

South Great Road (4:42 p.m.) — A caller reported that the railroad gates appeared to be malfunctioning. An officer responded to the Route 117 crossing and observed that the gates appeared to be functioning properly.

Russett Court (8:54 p.m.) — A receptionist from The Commons called to report a suspicious motor vehicle in the lot. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the vehicle.

December 8

Concord Road (12:49 a.m. and 7:46 a.m.) — A caller reported a possible scam involving chimney repair.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (7:47 a.m.) — A 911 caller reported a three-vehicle crash on Route 2. Massachusetts State Police responded and handled the crash.

Conant Road (2:07 p.m.) — Officers responded to a residence for a reported house break. The incident and investigation are ongoing.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (4:24 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a male walking on the Jersey barriers separating the travel lanes of Route 2. Lincoln police and Massachusetts State Police were notified. The area was checked but the individual was not located.

December 9

South Great Road (2:32 p.m.) — A caller reported their residence was burglarized. An investigation is ongoing.

Woodcock Lane (3:54 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a sick raccoon in their yard. The animal was dispatched by responding officers.

Lincoln Road (6:28 p.m.) — A motorist reported striking a deer on Lincoln Road. There appeared to be no damage to the vehicle and the deer was nowhere to be found.

December 10

Sandy Pond Road (1:30 p.m.) — A caller reported a strange encounter with an individual in the woods.

Mill Street (10:21 p.m.) — A caller reported suspicious persons on their property. The individuals were later determined to be Eversource employees.

Weston Road (10:24 p.m.) — An overly protective Apple watch automatically notified 911 of a nonexistent medical emergency. Responding units were cancelled prior to arrival.

Bedford Road (10:44 p.m.) — An officer observed the street signs above the flower pot at Five Corners had fallen due to wind. The DPW was notified.

December 11

Tower Road (10:07 a.m.) — Police responded to a residence for a well-being check.

Codman Community Farms (1:45 p.m.) — An officer was notified that a previously noted alleged thief had been seen on the property again. Staff were able to identify and contact the suspect, who returned to pay for the items (see “Farm store thief busted after being caught on camera — twice“).

South Great Road (2:27 p.m.) — Concord police asked Lincoln officers to be on the lookout for a blue Tesla involved in an incident in the town of Concord.

South Great Road (5:31 pm.) — Concord police called to notify they had stopped the vehicle in question that they had previously requested assistance in locating.

Bedford Lane (4:56 p.m.) — A caller reported a suspicious vehicle that had been parked unattended for some time. A short time later, the vehicle’s operator returned and left the area.

Wells Road (7:20 p.m.) — Officers responded to a residence and assisted the occupants with a civil matter.

December 12

Wells Road (12:41 a.m.) — Police responded to a residence for a noise complaint.

Lincoln Road (1:06 a.m.) — A caller reported a parked mail truck with malfunctioning headlights. An officer responded and confirmed that the headlights were malfunctioning.

Silver Birch Lane (9:46 p.m.) — A caller reported that a neighbor’s dog was intermittently barking over a period of time. Animal Control was notified.

December 13

Donelan’s Supermarket (2:25 a.m.) — An officer had an encounter with an individual looking for assistance in getting to Waltham.

December 14

Everett Street, Concord (8:40 a.m.) — Lincoln police assisted Concord police in locating a female. Concord ultimately located the individual in question.

Farm store thief busted after being caught on camera — twice

Security camera images of the thief on his November 28 visit to the farm store (click image to enlarge).

A brazen thief who was twice caught on camera stealing food from the Codman Community Farms store — once when farmer Pete Lowy was in the room with him — was caught by police and banned from the store for life.

A security camera first recorded the unidentified man gathering various items and leaving without paying on November 28. The farm store does not have checkout staff and operates on an honor system whereby customers scan and pay for their items using a credit or debit card or put cash in an envelope through a slot. Lowy wrote about the first incident in a December 2 email to CCF members asking them to be on the lookout for the thief, and then breathlessly related the whole story in a December 15 e-newsletter to CCF members, along with some subtle plugs for the merchandise (scroll down for the latest):

It’s been a couple of weeks since we shared the news of the theft in the farm store. Many, many folks emailed us offering both support and a bit of concern about the way we handled this latest intrigue at the farm. It is never fun to share these complicated matters with the public, but we find it’s important to provide this information when the situation merits. In this case, it did, and as confident as I was about the intention of the theft at the time, some in the public were less inclined. Many offered their theories which were kinder and based on the supposition that we are all good people and no doubt this was an innocent mistake. Alas… I have most unfortunate news for those who thought this kind fellow was experiencing a mere lapse of judgment or perhaps some other more serious medical issue. In the end, we were right and this whole ordeal is about honesty and trust and well, it’s just another interesting Codman farm-life story.

And if you are reading this, you are also part of this story. Because you are part of our community. We are grateful to you all for your interest and your continued support and kindness.

Oh yes, and it’s still all about a dude stealing because he can — and our journey toward making things right. Read on for the conclusion of this winding tale… Kick back and enjoy. Cancel that morning meeting. Refill that cup of hot joe. I have a story for you…

OK, so here goes. As we all know, the original theft occurred on November 28th at 8:40 p.m. We have the camera footage and massive amounts of video showing that our friend did not pay for the items he took from the store. He walked confidently out of the store without any attempt to pay. We were unable to locate him or track his car and license plate so we turned to you, Joe Public, to assist us with finding him. We received lots of feedback and a tip of sorts that someone had indeed seen him in the store another time — but this person did not know him so, the lead was a dead end.

Until one day — December 6 at 1:01 p.m., to be exact — I, me, mwah (Farmer Pete) was just returning to the farm from a three-hour trip bringing some pigs into freezer camp. I was a bit tired from the long drive and was walking home to refill my coffee and sit down for a few minutes to relax. But as I was walking through the parking lot towards the house, I noticed a car pulling into the parking lot. I did a double-take and thought to myself, “Hey, that car kinda looks familiar — it looks like the car that guy was driving that fateful night.” The car had the same profile, brake lights, wheel rims, and so on. As I maintained my gaze at the car and watched the driver’s door slowly open, out came our gray-haired friend in his same blue puffy jacket!

I nearly dropped my empty coffee cup. My stomach turned in knots. Wait, what!? This could not be — I just happened to get back to the farm and happened to be walking in the same direction as the guy whom I had been searching for, and he happened to be getting out of his car right as I was walking by? No way. The gods of petty larceny were shining brightly on me that day! Without a hint of hesitation, I approached him as he walked towards the store. “Excuse me,” I said. He looked down at me (I’m not very tall). I said, “I believe you were here last week and didn’t pay for your items.” (It never pays to be a total jerk; I like the kinder approach to accusing someone of being a thief.) He said, “Oh, really? No problem, I’m happy to pay for the items now.” I also said, “We can also call the police if you like.” And he replied, “Oh no, no need for that.” I then did the smartest thing of all — I said, “OK, before we head into the store, I want to take a photo of your license plate.” And I did.

OK, people, now is not the time to think “See, I told you, it was an honest mistake, Pete… he did mean to pay, he just forgot. You are such a mean guy for thinking he was dishonest!”

My reply would be, “Don’t be naïve — what else would someone who intentionally stole say? Come on! Do you think he would blurt out, ‘Oh dang, busted! I did steal that stuff, and I was gonna steal again just now, but I guess I won’t because you caught me.’” No, what he said is exactly what I would expect him to say. He acted slightly surprised but with a bit of contrition. I asked him to follow me into the store so he could pay for the items, and he did.

Once in the store, I quickly gathered my thoughts and went into the farm kitchen to grab the piece of paper where I previously made the list of all the items he stole. I saw Tillie and said, “He’s here! The guy who stole, he’s here!” She was like, “Wait, what, he’s here?!” The drama, I tell you! Dripping with drama!

I gathered my list [of the items stolen in November] which included the boneless breast (pasture-raised), steak (grass-fed), Side Hill yogurt (whole milk), SAP seltzer (made with local maple syrup), bacon (OMG tasty), and a few other items totaling around $80. While I was running around, our friend decided to do a bit more shopping — he grabbed an empty Side Hill farm yogurt box and moseyed around the store grabbing apples (from Apex orchard), random bulk produce (organic), Brewers Crackers (up-cycled from brewers’ grains), and he even went into the inner farm store to grab a half- gallon of very fresh High-Lawn milk — before coming back out to where I was gathering my info. As I got my sh*t together so he could pay for his last non-purchase, he decided to self-check out for the new items he had gathered into his box. Oh wow, he appeared to know how to use the scanner and system. Shocked, I tell you! I saw him scan the items one by one, then eventually press the button to “pay by check or cash using envelope” — which means you actually are paying by cash or check, and then, most importantly, you deposit the money/envelope into the pay box. That is kinda the point, right? You actually then pay for the items? OK, just checking you understand the system.

Next chapter…

After I saw him get a receipt, he went and found an envelope and I even saw him put the receipt (around $19) and a $20 bill in the envelope. I was relieved that he planned to pay for these items. He then followed me into the inner store so I could scan in all the items from last time and then he would use his credit card to pay. He was kind enough and followed me. I then scanned all the items while he stood patiently behind me with his box of items sitting on the butcher block table. Once all the items were scanned in, he then came up and inserted his credit card into the terminal and completed the transaction. Easy peasy! I reminded him that we operate an honor store so he needs to pay for all his items from now on; he agreed and then grabbed his box of goodies and swiftly left. Whew, I thought. I caught the guy, he paid, and I warned him not to do it again. No way he would do that again, right? All is good in the world! Let the sun shine! Case closed. Time for a drink!

Oh, well, um, not so fast…

What happens next is truly the stunner. The cherry on top. The icing on the cake. The pièce de résistance (say this last bit with your best French accent).

I walked away from the whole transaction feeling good, but in the back of my head, I had a little kernel of doubt. I could not quite pinpoint this feeling so I just let it pass. Until, until… just the other day, when I went to collect the envelopes from the previous week. We usually do this once a week or so since most folks pay using credit these days and so we have relatively few envelopes to collect. So I went and collected the envelopes from both payboxes and started to tally up the sales, and I noticed something odd. I could not find the envelope that I knew should be there. The $19 from our friend. For sure I saw him put the receipt and money into the envelope. Where could it be? I checked the boxes again, the pile of envelopes… nope, nothing. Not there. What the…?

So what did I do? I went back to the security cameras, and there, voila. I found it. In the video footage, I found myself running around like a nut case getting my list together, his shopping, me talking to him, him self-checking out and putting the money into the envelope. I knew I wasn’t crazy, I did see him pay and put the money in the envelope. But I still didn’t know where that darn envelope went. But then, I did see what happened. I could not believe what I was seeing. As I was scanning items into the system for him to pay, he was waiting behind me… still holding the envelope. Okay, I thought, that’s curious, why is he still holding the envelope? Why didn’t he already put it in the pay box? And then it hit me. He never intended to pay. And then, boom, there it was…

He coyly looked at the cameras, then down, then at the cameras again, and then, slowly, then quickly and smoothly, the envelope moved from one hand to the other. And then? And then? Is your heart sinking? Are you ready for this? Seriously? What did he do? He quickly folded the envelope in half… and stuffed it into his puffy jacket pocket. Yes! You heard me right! Just as he was about to be asked to pay for the items he stole last time… he stole again right behind my back! OMG. Are you freaking out? I was! I still am. When I saw the footage my heart truly sank. I could not believe it. It was — and it is shocking.

This is where I must tell you, and I don’t take pride in saying this: I told you. I was right. I knew it all along. He stole intentionally. And here he is, he stole again. He’s not honest. It was not a mistake. All is not always good in the world. Some people do bad things. But hey, I’m sure he is otherwise a really nice dude. But to us, in this situation, he did something wrong. That’s the fact, Jack.

After feeling totally despondent and informing some other staff at the farm, who were equally shocked and dismayed, I contacted the Lincoln police. It was time to get the police involved and stop this from ever happening again. And God love our Lincoln police officers —especially my go-to police officer, who knows who he is. Love him! He quickly came to the farm and took care of things. He went to our friend’s house in Weston, and long story short, our gray-haired, blue-puffy-jacketed friend will not be visiting the farm again, ever. We hope. He and his family know he was caught in the act, he has paid up, and he has been warned to not visit the farm again. Case closed! (until next time…)

* Epilogue *

What a story, right? Crazy.

We share all of this because it’s true. It’s the life we live here at Codman Farm. We share what we live, the good the bad, and the ugly. It’s exactly these tales that make life on the farm so interesting, each and every day. We work hard, we care about each other, and we care about you and the community. We value deeply the land we manage, the animals in our care, the soils beneath our feet that feed us. And we care about your interactions with us. We trust you, and we hope you trust us. For we are a community farm after all and we need to rely on each other so we can achieve our greatest goals together — eating well, living a healthy life, and sharing good times and bad. We understand sometimes people do dumb things. Folks make mistakes. We get that. We forgive and forget. But honesty is truly the best policy. We hope you agree.

We remain grateful to you, to each other, to our community. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! Onwards!

Click here to watch the video of the second theft. The sequence where he pockets his cash envelope without paying starts at the 1:40 mark. 

Police Chief Kevin Kennedy said on December 15 that when confronted by police, the man paid for all of the stolen items and was not arrested. “He ended up making full restitution and I believe the farmer did not want to pursue it. They were made whole,” he said. If the thief is seen again at the store despite the ban, “we could probably charge him with trespassing,” he added.

The thief (a Weston resident who drives an Acura, according to Lowy) appeared to be unfazed by being caught red-handed. “I told him we had cameras. And he saw me take a photo of his license plate and I told him I was doing so — right in front of him,” Lowy told the Lincoln Squirrel on December 15. “I can’t say why he didn’t pay the second time — probably thought he was smarter than me, I guess. I don’t know why people do this other than they think they can get away with it.  Obviously not a very honest guy.”

Property sales in October 2023

150 Lincoln Rd. — Prince Teabo to Wombat Real Estate Invest LLC for $801,000 (October 31)

25B South Commons — Brett Cramp to Merna Sorial and Marcus Luke for $272,000 (October 31)

13 Oak Meadow Rd. — Debra Peattie to Christopher Hallett and Cara Slaby for $1,400,000 (October 28)

172 Bedford Rd. — Debra Orr Trust to Michael Sonier Revocable Trust for $1,499,000 (October 27)

10 Hiddenwood Path — Edward F. Koehler Trust to Wonho and Youngsheen Jhe for $790,000 (October 19)

11A South Commons — Marisa Gregg to Judith Wong for $551,000 (October 18)

2 Concord Rd. — Andrew H. David Trust to Walden Woods Project for $1,300,000 (October 17)

20R Indian Camp Lane — Gary Davis Trust to Abbie Paley and Jatinder Gill for $700,000 (October 16)

19 Conant Rd. — Nancy M. Harris Trust to Dudley Hollow LLC for $1,355,000 (October 10)

91 Weston Rd. — 91 Weston Rd. Realty Trust to 91 Weston Rd. Realty LLC for $1,775,000 (October 5)

39 Old Sudbury Rd. — David R.W. Harris Trust to Manley B. Boyce II Trust and Karen K. Boyce Trust for $850,000 (October 2)

Remembering the Destruction of the Tea 250 years ago

By the Lincoln250 Planning Committee

In May 1773, the British Parliament passed the widely unpopular Tea Act, and in December that same year, nearly 100 patriots dumped an entire shipment of East India Company tea into the Boston Harbor.

Four days after the Destruction of the Tea and again a week later, Lincoln’s Town Meeting took up a request from Boston leaders for the town’s support. The town’s own Committee of Correspondence drafted a reply, and Town Meeting members deliberated over the draft text. They were cautious about endorsing the destruction of private property, but they nevertheless approved a stirring response: “We cannot therefor but Commend the Spirited behaviour of the town of Boston in Endeavouring to prevent the sale of the East India Company’s teas by Endeavouring to perswade the Consigners to Resign their office or any other Lawfull means.” In addition, Lincoln residents resolved neither to purchase nor use tea so long as there was a duty on it, and to “hold and esteem such as Do use such tea Enemies to their Country.” 1

On December 16, 2023, Boston will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Destruction of the Tea (the “Boston Tea Party” phrase was coined in the 1830s). On this day at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, 46 tons of tea (valued at £9,659 — roughly $2 million today) was dumped over the sides of three British ships. Britain retaliated by passing the Coercive Acts, which were meant to end the rebellion in New England, but the opposite happened. Within months the “shot heard around the world” rang out in Concord. This marked the beginning of the American Revolution.

To learn more about the history of the Boston Tea Party or see upcoming events to celebrate the 250th, please click on the links below:

Thank you to the Lincoln Library for recently hosting two events to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party! To learn more about Lincoln250 or watch for upcoming events in or around Lincoln to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the historic battles of Lexington and Concord, see the Lincoln250 website.
 
1 MacLean, John C. (1987). A Rich Harvest: The History, Buildings, and People of Lincoln, Massachusetts (Lincoln Historical Society).

My Turn: A fond farewell to an extraordinary partner

By Jacquelin Apsler

On December 15, 2023, Chief Kevin Kennedy will retire from Lincoln’s Police Department — a public servant greatly admired by his peers, deeply respected by his constituents, and very much cherished by his colleagues and friends. The phrase “he will be missed” doesn’t capture the extraordinary loss of his leadership.

As a resident of Lincoln, I have known Chief Kennedy nearly 30 years since he was a young pup new to Lincoln and policing, but always mature, focused, and clear-sighted from the beginning. Students who knew him as a Juvenile Officer recall him as “leading by example,” “a silent hero who takes good care of the community without any fanfare,”and  a professional who modeled community policing long before it became a prominent tenet in the policing world.

Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy

For the past 18 years, I have had the honor of working alongside Chief Kennedy as a partner in our never-ending fight against domestic violence. As a strong proponent of community and police partnerships, he has supported every aspect of DVSN’s work to the very best of his ability and to the extent resources would allow.

For over a year, while our advocate office at the Bedford Police Department is being renovated, the Lincoln police have welcomed us into their building, generously sharing their one meeting room with us, and embracing our staff and volunteer advocates with tremendous kindness and thoughtfulness. The department’s core values of “integrity, mutual respect, and problem-solving through cooperation and collaboration” have been on display every minute of every day. We are extremely grateful to Chief Kennedy, the dispatchers, and the officers and staff for sharing their space with us and for their exceptional embodiment of respect and kindness.

Additionally, Chief Kennedy is a man of many amazing and varied talents — master provider of burgers, chips, beverages, and cookies for numerous community cookouts; renowned expert on juvenile law; dedicated teacher; enthusiastic mentor; diligent lawyer; masterful cabinet maker; avid skier; a very quick wit; a devoted family man; and an extraordinary public servant — truly the best of the best. I am deeply honored to call him friend and wish him much satisfaction and fulfillment in his retirement.

He most definitely will be missed.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.