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

My Turn: New website offers appealing options for compliance with the Housing Choice Act

By Lynne Smith

The Housing Choice Act (HCA) asks Massachusetts communities with public transit in the greater Boston area to rezone parts of their town to allow “by right” development of multifamily housing if they want to remain eligible for three state grant programs. “By right” means that the developer of the property would not have to go to Town Meeting to permit the development. The HCA Working Group (HCAWG) is currently developing rezoning options for Lincoln.

Using the models provided by the state for HCA compliance and building on the work of the HCAWG, a group calling themselves Lincoln Residents for Housing Alternatives has developed a range of new options that have real merit. They have included these options in an informative website that describes Lincoln’s particular parcels and suggests how rezoning might be accomplished without disturbing the character of the town.

The website offers a clear explanation of the compliance rules and the complex models used to develop the options. These simplified explanations in laymen’s terms helped me understand how we might rezone for maximum benefit to the town. The maps make clear how we can maintain our local and rural character by dispersing development as we have always done. In fact, 40% of Lincoln’s housing is already in multifamily developments scattered throughout the town. Over the last 60 years, this approach, requiring Town Meeting approval, has provided many units of housing requiring 15-25% affordability without increasing traffic or sacrificing conservation land.

The charts and spreadsheets in the website also make clear how we can:

  • Avoid allocating a greater number of developable units than required for compliance. We must rezone for a minimum but care must be taken not to accidentally permit a maximum.
  • Develop a greater percentage of affordable units by not making the RLF/Lincoln Station proposal “by right,” as HCA only allows us to require 10% affordable.
  • Preserve wildlife corridors and minimize traffic by carefully situating the rezoned areas in parcels that are already developed.

The website also explains the HCA compliance issues in easy-to-understand language and provides links to the relevant Massachusetts law. It describes the process Lincoln has followed to get to this point and spells out the future timelines. It also raises questions that the HCA Working Group may need further study to answer.

At the State of the Town meeting on September 30, the Working Group gave a polished and convincing description of Option C that concentrated all development near Lincoln Station. Since then, I have thought more about the impact of hundreds of new units at this small, busy area. Many others have raised critical questions about this option and the HCAWG has responded by adding three new options (D1, D2, and D3).

This new effort by the Lincoln Residents for Alternative Housing further expands the options available to meet compliance. Discussion and debate are at the heart of the “Lincoln Way” and we benefit by the skills and dedication of volunteers.

I urge everyone in Lincoln to study this new website, review the HCAWG information, and register here to attend one of the HCA meetings offered on November 8 at 8 a.m. in person or 7 p.m. virtually.

“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.

News acorns

Talk on opposition to private jets

Lincoln resident Alex Chatfield of Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere will speak at an open meeting of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. in Bemis Hall (coffee and sign-in start at 9:45 a.m.). HE will share the latest information on the proposal to build more private jet hangars at Hanscom Field, the implications for Climate Change, progress to date and next steps. There will be ample time for questions and answers and a short video of the October 2 State House rally.

Event looks at racial equity in maternal health

The First Parish in Lincoln’s Racial Justice Advocates invite residents to “Food for Thought” on Wednesday, Nov. 8. They will serve a simple supper at 5:30 p.m. in the parish house followed by a presentation and discussion on “­Challenges and Hopes for Racial Equity in Maternal Health Care: What’s Happening in Boston.” The speaker will be Mariane McPherson, co-chair of the Neighborhood Birth Center board and is a Senior Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Roxbury. Reservations appreciated for dinner and required for childcare. Suggested donation: $10. Click here to RSVP.

Local organizations get grants

The Sudbury Foundation has awarded 31 Racial Equity and Inclusion Grants of up to $5,000 apiece (total:$149,600) to a number of organizations including Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School/Family Engagement Initiative and the Lincoln-based Massachusetts Audubon Society and The Food Project. Over the past four years, the foundation has made 107 grants totaling over $440,000 to local nonprofits.

Educational pavilion planned for Codman Community Farms

An architect’s drawing of the side view of the pavilion.

Codman Community Farms plans to build an open-air educational pavilion as a precursor to a future project to install a fire suppression system in the main barn.

The three-season pavilion will serve as an educational space for workshops, classes, demonstrations, and small gatherings. The farm, which recently created a new staff position to grow its educational and community outreach, has hosted dozens of schools and corporate groups, and volunteers. Some of those events have included demonstrations to teach farming techniques to Boston-based nonprofit farming organizations and others.

“Teaching agriculture may start with a class discussion or a demonstration before heading to the fields. Thus, agriculture work takes place in the fields and in the classroom,” the farm board wrote in a narrative describing the project.

A map showing the location of the educational pavilion (click image to enlarge).

The one-story, 20-by-40-foot educational pavilion will go on the site of the maple sugar shack, which will be relocated to another location on the farm. It won’t house animals or equipment but it will have a commercial-grade pizza oven for events using Codman ingredients. “It could be used after a canning class when participants could pick their own tomatoes, peppers and onions, and create a pizza of their own making,” according to the narrative. A deck on the north side will offer views of grazing livestock as well as additional gathering space.

“I think it’s a great addition and supports a very important function of Codman,” Planning Board member Ephraim Flint said when the board approved the project on October 24. The plan has also gotten the OK from the Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, and Select Board and just needs a building permit to start construction. CCF is funding the project in full.

Over the years, CCF has hosted gatherings in the main barn, but this can’t continue — the town building inspector and fire chief have told them they can’t have any more activities in that space without a fire suppression system, CCF farmer Pete Lowy told the Select Board on October 30. The farm has a preliminary design for the system, which involves building a small heated room in addition to sprinkler plumbing and could cost anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000, he said.

CCF will ask voters at Town Meeting in March to help pay for the fire suppression system, though who will pay how much is yet to be determined; Select Board members noted that Community Preservation Act funds helped pay for the farm’s recent driveway project at the farm, but the sprinkler system is a code-mandated improvement in a public building, so there’s an argument for the town contributing a portion of the cost.

News acorns

“Protect Yourself from Fraud and Identity Theft”

Fight back against scammers who have reportedly stolen over $500,000 from Lincoln residents in 2023 alone “Protect Yourself from Fraud & Identity Theft”on Friday, Nov. 3 at 12:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Knowledge is power. This talk looks into how scammers think and how to safeguard against identity theft, and offers first hand accounts from those victimized. Presented by former Lincoln resident Alice Diamond, volunteer with AARP Fraud Watch Helpline and the AARP Mass Speakers Bureau.

Classical piano concert

Pianist Sebastian Castillo performs a program of classical masterpieces on Friday, Nov. 3 from 7–8:30 p.m. in Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Kirshner Auditorium. He will play “Fantasia and Fugue in A minor” (BWV 904) by Bach, Sonata No. 26 in E♭ major, “Les Adieux” by Beethoven, and Piano Sonata in B minor (S.178) by Liszt. Tickets at the door are $5 for students, $10 for adults. All proceeds will help replenish the L-S Friends of Music general fund, which supports the L-S Music Department.

Fauré’s “Requiem” at St. Anne’s

On Sunday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m., the St. Anne’s choir will perform Fauré’s “Requiem” at St. Anne’s in-the-Fields Church. This dramatic and moving choral work, beloved by listeners and singers alike, will be offered in remembrance of all those we love but see no longer. The choir, with soloists soprano Meghan Zuver and baritone Greg Mancusi-Ungaro, will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra and organist Frederick A. MacArthur, all under the direction of Jay Lane. 

Hydrology talk on Nov. 14

Dr. Martin Briggs will speak about Lincoln’s watersheds, drinking supply sources including private wells, and how all the sources and uses of water in Lincoln interrelate and impact both the water supply and the ecosystems supported by water systems as part of Lincoln’s Hydrology Speaker Series on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 7–8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Briggs works for the U.S. Geological Survey on a wide range of hydrological issues resulting from climate and hydrogeological terrain. Sponsored by the Water Commission, the Conservation Commission, the Agricultural Commission, and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID: 847 6287 6266; passcode: 269586).

Lincoln police get state grant

The Lincoln Police Department received $19,549 as part of the state’s Municipal Road Safety Grant Program. The programs funds things like digital speed signs, pedestrian and bicyclist safety initiatives, and public outreach campaigns intended to educate community members and youth about roadway safety. The grant money awarded will purchase two speed signs and funds for traffic enforcement campaigns including Click it or Ticket, texting & hands-free enforcement, and OUI and speeding enforcement, the department said.

Police log for October 16–28, 2023

October 16

Sandy Pond Road (3:13 p.m.) — A caller spoke with an officer regarding traffic speeding in the area.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (3:24 p.m.) — Multiple callers report a two-vehicle crash on Route 2 westbound near Tracey’s Gas Station. Massachusetts State Police handled.

Lincoln School (4:47 p.m.) — A motorist called for assistance.

Brooks Hill Road (6:42 p.m.) — A caller reported a vehicle had driven on their lawn. Officers responded and spoke to all parties involved.

Heritage Road, Hanscom AFB (11:10 p.m.) — Lincoln Police Officers assisted Hanscom Air Force Security Forces members with an incident on base.

October 17

Tower Road (11:47 a.m.) — An officer served court paperwork to an individual.

Walden Street, Concord (3:57 p.m.) — The Lincoln ambulance responded to the town of Concord for a mutual aid response.

Tower Road (4:56 p.m.) — A resident of Tower Road called to report a possible natural gas outage. Neuco and National Grid were contacted.

October 18

North Great Road (7:35 a.m.) — A caller reported a possible deceased animal on the side of the road. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the animal.

Oxbow Road (12:03 p.m.) — An officer responded to a residence to assist the homeowner with a non-criminal matter.

Russett Court (1:00 p.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident about a possible fraud incident.

North Great Road (2:55 p.m.) — A vehicle failed to yield the right of way on Hanscom Drive and struck a vehicle traveling west on Route 2A. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. A verbal warning was issued to the operator of the vehicle responsible for the crash.

Weston Road (3:18 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing a strange noise coming from the utility poles by the roadway. An officer checked the area and heard nothing out of the ordinary.

October 19

Brooks Road (2:51 p.m.) — A caller reported possible issues with a propane tank. The Fire Department responded to the scene to assist.

October 20

Mary’s Way (4:58 p.m.) — An attempt to serve court paperwork was unsuccessful.

Donelan’s Supermarket (5:42 p.m.) — An officer assisted staff at Donelan’s Supermarket.

Lincoln Road (9:31 p.m.) — Court paperwork was served in hand to an individual.

Tower Road (10:41 p.m.) — A caller reported a knock at the door and no one was there when answered. Police responded and determined that the incident was a Halloween-related prank.

October 21

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:15 p.m.) — Pro EMS called to report a two-vehicle crash on Route 2 East. Police and fire units responded. Massachusetts State Police handled the booking of the crash.

Bedford Road (5:00 p.m.) — Multiple callers reported wires hanging down by the roadway. Eversource was notified and an officer remained on scene until the roadway was opened.

October 22

Old Sudbury Road (5:34 a.m.) — Officers were called to a vehicle that reportedly drove off the road and ended up in a ditch. The vehicle was towed from the area and the operator was cited for a marked lanes violation and operating a motor vehicle with an expired license.

Tower Road (8:03 a.m.) — A caller reported issues with their utility services. Neuco and National Grid were notified.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (11:56 a.m.) — A caller reported two males attempting to cross Route 2. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the individuals.

Old Concord Road (1:38 p.m.) — A caller reported spotting three sheep behind their home. The owner of the sheep was called and picked up the animals.

Twin Pond Lane (1:44 p.m.) — A caller reported receiving unwanted calls at all hours of the night. An officer assisted the individual with activation of call-blocking features.

Garland Road (9:09 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing a knock at the door but did not see anyone in the area. Officers checked the residence and immediate area but were unable to locate anything out of the ordinary.

Garland Road (9:31 p.m.) — A caller reported their doorbell was rung but no one was at their front door. This incident and the previous are believed to be Halloween-related pranks.

October 23

Ballfield Road (9:16 a.m.) — A caller reported an individual by the clothing donation box acting suspicious. An officer checked on the individual.

October 24

Weston Road (8:46 a.m.) — An individual came to the police station to speak with an officer regarding a civil matter.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (9:34 p.m.) — An officer performed a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle for speed. The operator of the vehicle, Raymond Bailey, 72, of Concord, was arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol. He was bailed and ordered to appear at Concord District Court on October 25.

October 25

Paul Revere lot, North Great Road (3:55 a.m.) — An officer discovered a parked and occupied vehicle. The operator was sleeping for a few hours before departing in the morning.

Concord Road and South Great Road (3:24 p.m.) — A caller reported two unattended children by a driveway near the intersection. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate them.

Minuteman Technical High School (3:45 p.m.) — A caller reported a low-flying drone in the area of the high school. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the aircraft.

Airport Road (4:30 p.m.) — An officer provided a courtesy transport for two individuals to the Paul Revere lot.

Lincoln Road (6:19 p.m.) — A resident came to the station to retrieve a lost item.

Route 2 Gas (8:02 p.m.) — A motorist called to report the odor of natural gas by Tracey’s Gas Station. This is an ongoing issue of which both the Fire Department and National Grid are aware.

October 26

Lincoln Road (5:47 p.m.) — Several calls were received for a small black bear in the area of 100 to 140 Lincoln Road. Animal Control was notified.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (10:10 p.m.) — Several calls were received for a three-vehicle crash involving a deer. Massachusetts State Police handled.

October 27

Old Concord Road (12:15 p.m.) — A postal employee reported a vehicle parked at the end of the road. An officer checked on the vehicle.

Lincoln Road (12:58 p.m.) — Several good Samaritans were assisting an individual who had difficulty walking.

Lincoln Road (2:55 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred on Lincoln Road in front of the Old Town Hall. A vehicle had stopped for an individual in the crosswalk when it was struck from behind by another vehicle. There were no injuries reported.

Morningside Lane (8:02 p.m.) — Another Halloween prank was reported at this residence. A doorbell was rung and a bag of candy left behind.

Granville Road (8:30 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing loud shouting, possibly with use of a megaphone, in the area. Officers checked the area and determined the noise originated from Concord-Carlisle High School’s football game.

October 28

Walden Street, Concord (1:42 a.m.) — Police responded for a mutual aid response.

Dunbar Way, Concord (2:04 a.m.) — A Lincoln officer assisted the Concord Police with a mutual aid response.

Baker Bridge Road (4:24 p.m.) — Several illegally parked vehicles were cited.

Concord Road (4:44 p.m.) — An illegally parked vehicle was cited.

Lincoln Police Department (8:20 p.m.) — A cell phone was turned in to the Police Department.

Property sales in August 2023

71 Sandy Pond Rd. — Jamie N. Atkins Trust to Jisuo Jiang and Yangcai Li for $1,598,000 (August 29)

11 Farrar Rd. — Norma Barkamian to Marlen Morgus and Benjamin Bolotin for $1,760,000 (August 23)

73 Old County Rd. — Janna P.Hadley Trust to Dabid Barron and Kristin Budde for $900,000 (August 7)

66 and 70 Davison Dr. — Seventy Plus LLC to Hallie Ransone for $2,180,000 (August 4)

96 Page Rd. — David Kahn to Yaojun Li and Xin Guo for $1,550,000 (August 1)

 

News acorns

Coming up at the deCordova

Halloween in the Morning Mists
Sunday, Oct. 29 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Spend a crisp fall morning with your family in the Sculpture Park and complete a series of gently ghoulish activities designed for preschoolers and toddlers and their caregivers. Explore in the morning mist, create a creepy crawly park creature, and work with educators to explore spiders through a collaborative rope web installation and sculptures inspired by the eight-legged arachnids. Costumes encouraged and all ages welcome. Preregistration is required — click here for details.

Family Yoga
Sunday, Oct. 29 from 10:30-11 a.m.
Practice your pumpkin poses and skeleton stretches. This kid-friendly yoga class weaves a rich balance between the imaginative world of the child with the distinct aspects of yoga practice that support mindfulness, self-regulation, and joy. The instructor comes from the teaching team at On The Mat Yoga in Concord. For ages 3-12 with a caregiver; meet on the third floor of the museum and bring a water bottle and mat. Click here for details and registration.

Full Moon Tour
Sunday, Oct. 29 from 7-8 p.m.
Bring your family and friends to see sculptures transformed by the moonlight in this special after-hours tour. Small group tours with deCordova’s experienced museum guides last 60-75 minutes. Bring a flashlight or lantern. Meet the guide in front of the museum. Click here for details and registration.

Gay Christmas/Halloween Dance Party
Friday, Nov. 3 from 7-10 p.m.
Don’t put your costume away just yet! deCordova is celebrating Halloween with a wild, quirky, outrageous Gay Christmas Dance Party inside the museum for both the LGBTQ+ community and enthusiastic allies. Featuring music by DJ Dayglow, a costume contest with prizes, a cash bar, and spotlight performances by a circus and drag artists. Open to all 21+. Creative and fabulous costumes encouraged, but not required. Click here for details and registration.

Pumpkin Smash at Codman Farms

Join us for a smashing good time at the third annual Great Pumpkin Smash at Codman Community Farms on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. This family-friendly event is all about having fun while also making a positive impact on our planet. Bring your jack-o’-lanterns and decorative gourds to smash and feed to the Codman Farm pigs. Enjoy a Codman Farm breakfast sandwich or scoop of ice cream from Reasons to Be Cheerful and live music with Risa Lavelle and the Honeysteelers. Get tips on how to get started with composting in your home.

Prepare your pumpkins for composting by removing any stickers, candles, and other decorations, and please leave your painted pumpkins at home. Suggested donation of $1 per pumpkin. Want to make this event even greener? Arrive with your pumpkins by bike to receive prizes.

Coming up at the library

“Opera for Everyone” series
Experience three of Giuseppe Verdi’s early operas with Erika Reitshamer. No registration required.

    • “Ernani” — Sunday, Nov.12 from 2-3:30 p.m. (Tarbell Room)
    • “Attila” — Sunday, Nov. 19 from 2-3:30 p.m. (Tarbell Room)

Film: “Le Week-End”
“Le Week-End” (rated R, 2013) with Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan. Presented by the Lincoln Library Film Society on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 6-8 p.m. in the Tarbell Room.

Flower Family Yoga with Tara Rachel
Yoga practice is a way of playing together and exploring movement, relaxation, breath and silence in a fun and creative way. Through story, song, and verse in connection with the season of the year, families learn the practice of yoga in this child-entered class. Register by emailing dleopold@minlib.net.

    • Toddlers and preschoolers — Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10:30-11 a.m.
    • Grades K-2 — Saturday, Nov. 18 from 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

New HCA options would move some allowed units from south to north Lincoln

Editor’s note: this article was amended on October 26 to include mention of the upcoming public forums.

Faced with a torrent of protest over the “Lincoln Station only” option for allowing multifamily housing, town officials discussed three more options that include subdistricts in north Lincoln and fewer units allowed around the train station.

Option C, which officials have already submitted to the state for a compliance check.

The Housing Choice Act (also known as the “3A legislation”) requires Lincoln to allow a total of 635 multifamily housing units at an overall density of 15 units per acre. Twenty percent of that land must be within a half-mile of the train station and at least 50% must be in a single contiguous subdistrict.

Earlier this month, the town submitted Option C comprising four South Lincoln subdistricts to the state for a compliance check to ensure it meets HCA requirements. That option was selected over two earlier proposals that included subdistricts in the areas of either Battle Road Farm or the Lincoln North office building because, at the time, public sentiment at the State of the Town meeting and at public forums over the summer was overwhelmingly in favor of having a single compact area of multifamily housing. 

However, since then, many residents have said on LincolnTalk and elsewhere that they want to minimize the number of units in South Lincoln due to concerns about traffic, environmental impact, and overall congestion. (Archived LincolnTalk posts can be browsed here — login required). As a result, the Housing Choice Act Working Group asked consultant Utile to suggest more options that included North Lincoln after all.

A comparison of the four options now on the table (click image to enlarge).

New options D1 and D2 were presented at a multiboard meeting on October 24. D1 reduces the size and and number of allowed units in the Codman Road subdistrict (indicated in green on Option C) while allowing 94 units around the Lincoln North office building. D2 has the same Codman Road reduction but would allow 242 units in the Battle Road Farm area (up from the current 120). Option D3 removes the Codman Road subdistrict altogether while allowing even denser development than D2 in the Battle Road Farm area.

Since it concentrates multifamily housing near the train station, Option C (with a total of 639 permitted units, four more than the minimum) hews the closest to the town goal of revitalizing South Lincoln with businesses and housing and is “most aligned with the spirit of the 3A legislation,” said Director of Town Planning and Land Use Paula Vaughn-Mackenzie. Options D1, D2, and D3 call for multifamily unit totals of 636, 784, and 749 units respectively.

Battle Road Farm

Options D2 and D3 would require the town to allow more multifamily housing around Battle Road Farm — “but the likelihood of anything being built there is pretty close to zero,” Vaughn-Mackenzie said. This is because Battle Road Farm comprises individually owned condos and shared common space, so any developer would need every owner to sell or approve of new construction there. As a practical matter, therefore, Options D2 and D3 don’t include Battle Road Farm as a realistic area for new housing and thus serve as a workaround to reduce the total number of units that can ultimately be built in Lincoln.

“I actually think it’s a negative because it signals we’re just checking a box and we don’t want significant housing added to town,” said Rachel Drew, a member of HCAWG and the Housing Commission. “I’m worried that the state will see it that way —  not adhering to the intentions of the HCA.”

While there’s no telling yet how state housing officials would feel about those two options, they realize that towns will add 3A subdistricts in areas that already have multifamily housing, Vaughn-MacKenzie said. “There are different perspectives in town on what compliance should look like… and I think options we’ve presented have run that gamut.”

In an effort to comply with the spirit of the law, the town and Utile initially considered subdistricts in other areas in town that already have multifamily housing. They were discarded because there is no public transportation near any of them, while there are MBTA bus stops at Hanscom Field and Hanscom Drive that are accessible from Battle Road Farm and Lincoln North.

“While bus service at Battle Road Farm may not be great, at least it is something that exists. You can’t make that argument for Farrar Pond Village, Oriole Landing, or The Commons,” Select Board member Jennifer Glass said.

Some residents are also worried that more development in South Lincoln will interfere with a wildlife corridor, but Conservation Director Michelle Grzenda said this isn’t an issue. More South Lincoln development “is not going to dramatically impact wildlife corridors and habitat,” she said. If the town was looking to allow housing on a “big forested patch,” it would be concerning, but putting units in an area that already has numerous businesses and housing “I think is smart planning.”

Resident input

HCAWG will host two public forums on Wednesday, Nov. 8:

 At the Special Town Meeting on December 2, there will be a nonbinding paper ballot “sense of the town” vote by residents on which of the four current options they prefer (and “none of the above” will also be a choice). The Annual Town Meeting in March will include a vote on the preferred option for final submission to the state. Cities and towns have until December 2024 to have HCA-compliant multifamily zoning in place.

My Turn: How would you use a community center?

By Ellen Meyer Shorb

A friend asked me the other day, “Do you really think you will use the community center?” Absolutely, I said. Another friend leaned in to the conversation and said, “If we don’t build a community center, I may not stay in Lincoln.” The first friend said, “Tell me, how do you think you would use the center?”

Well, I said, I imagine that… since I work from home a lot and particularly when I retire, I will have a routine where I work out in the mornings at the center, in a class or on my own. After my workout, I stop by the lobby for a cup of coffee. While there, I sign up to read to second graders on Tuesday after my workout. And in my afternoon watercolor class at the center, I find myself sitting next to the second grader that I read to!

I imagine that… every Fourth of July I attend a fundraiser at the center, enjoy a barbecue and wine, see my friends, and then mosey over to the fireworks with my blanket and friends I bumped into.

I imagine that… if we’d had a center 17 years ago when we moved in during August with four kids ages 7 to 15, our realtor would have mentioned that the center has welcome ambassadors, one at Parks and Rec and one at the Council on Aging. And that I would have found out about the pool, Valley Pond, membership to the deCordova, and made my first friend through an ambassador.

I’m curious — what do you imagine? Why are you interested in a community center? 

Shorb is submitting this piece as a personal note, although she is a member of the Finance Committee and the Community Center Building Committee. You can contact her at meyershorb@gmail.com.

“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.