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

Services on Sept. 30 for for Eleanor Brennan, 1924-2023

Eleanor Brennan

There will be visiting hours on Friday, Sept. 29 and a funeral on Saturday, Sept. 30 for Eleanor Ann Brennan, 99, who passed away on September 20 at her home in Lincoln surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late William Lawrence Brennan, who died in 2015.

Ellie, as she was known, was born in Waltham on July 6, 1924. She was the daughter of the late Antonetta (Gonnelli) and Nunzio Bicchieri. She was one of 14 children born into an Italian-American family. Ellie grew up on a large farm in Waltham where she and her siblings lived an idyllic life.
 
Eleanor met the love of her life, Bill, at the Bancroft – Walker shoe company in Waltham in 1950. Their love for one another culminated in their marriage on August 19, 1956. Their children Billy and LeeAnn were their pride and joy.
 
Ellie loved all people, which is evidenced by her life long volunteerism. She was a member of St. Joseph Church in Lincoln since 1956. She taught CCD in the 1960s and later was a member of St. Joseph’s Guild, the altar guild and was a lector for many years.
 
She also organized social outreach programs in her community and delivered food and clothing to homeless shelters, substance abuse centers, and to the sick and those in need. Ellie was a member of the Emerson Hospital Auxiliary from the 1960s into the 1980s. She was also a member of the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee for many years as well as being co-chairperson during the early 1970s.
 
Ellie’s gorgeous gardens were an extremely important part of her life. Anytime during the day and oftentimes into the early hours of the evening, Ellie could be found in her yard planting, digging, landscaping, moving rocks, building ponds and anything else she could do to beautify her yard.
 
Ellie loved everyone and invited all to her home to enjoy her beautiful gardens and gourmet dinners. She and Bill loved to entertain, hosting many dinner parties as well as holiday gatherings at their home.
 
The true light of Ellie’s life, though, was her grandson, William. They were like two peas in a pod. They would take trips to Codman Farm, go shopping and decorate the house for the holidays together, take walks together, and just sit around the house talking with one another.
 
Eleanor was an amazing wife, the best mother any two children could ask for, an adoring grandmother, and an all-around wonderful human being. She will be missed by all who knew her.
 
She was the devoted mother to William Brennan, Jr. of Lincoln, LeeAnn Brennan Moalli and her husband Robert Moalli Jr. of Bolton, and loving and doting grandmother to William Robert Moalli of Bolton. Eleanor is also survived by her sisters, Ann Schandelmayer of Plantation, Fla., Josephine Carlson of Needham, Elsie Beausoleil and her husband Paul of Marlborough, Louise Ferla of Boonton, N.J., and brother Ralph Bicchieri and his wife Carol of South Yarmouth, as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
 
Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Friday, Sept. 29 from 5–7 p.m. at Dee Funeral Home (27 Bedford St., Concord). Her funeral will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 9 a.m. from the Dee Funeral Home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church in Lincoln. Burial will follow at Lincoln Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
 
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. For Ellie’s online guestbook, please click here.

The art of fine produce (Lincoln Through the Lens)

Hannan Healthy Foods owner Mohammed Hannan in front of the recently installed mural on his farm shed on Route 117. Artist Robin Taliesin from Raven Creative donated her time to create the mural, with materials covered by donations. For $25, donors had your name or a dedication to someone painted in small print on one of the plants or veggies in the mural (and there are still some spots left!).

A closeup showing some of the donors’ names inscribed on the veggies.

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“Practicing Self-Compassion as a Parent”

Talk with other parents about “Practicing Self-Compassion as a Parent,” part of the First Parish in Lincoln’s “Conversations on Tap” series, on Monday, Sept. 25 from 7:30–9 p.m. in the Tack Room. Led by Rev. Kit Novotny, FLP co-minister, will explore the practice of self-compassion (based on the work of Dr. Kristin Neff and others) as a strategy for parenting with empathy over perfectionism, gently shifting from shame and stress spirals toward cultivating a kind, supportive inner voice. We’ll also explore how self-compassion can be a tool we pass onto our children. Open to the wider community – all spiritual backgrounds (and none) very welcome.

LLCT annual meeting on Oct. 3

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anne’s-in-the-Fields Church. After LLCT’s business meeting, science and conservation educator Gwyn Loud will give a presentation on her observations of 50 years of changing landscapes, flora, and fauna in Lincoln. Weaving together anecdotes gathered from her own experiences and those of her network of wildlife observers, she will impress us with Lincoln’s biodiversity and remind us why conservation matters.

Scarecrow Classic 5K coming up

The 11th annual Scarecrow Classic 5K kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 9:30 a.m. at Lincoln Station. This community road and trail run, which supports LLCT’s conservation mission, wind through scenic fields and forests, ending the morning with a cider donut. This year, LLCT is hosting magician Cedric Purcell to entertain guests before the awards ceremony. LLCT strongly encourages pre-registration by October 1 to guarantee participants get their desired shirt size. Click here for more information and registration. Same-day registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on race day. 

Flu vaccine clinic

The town will hold a flu vaccine clinic for residents and school families (age 9 and up) on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lincoln School’s Reed Gym. Click here to register. All participants must download an Acton Pharmacy Vaccine Administration Record and bring the completed form with them.

deCordova’s “Lincoln” sculpture to depart

Sculptor DeWitt Godfrey’s Lincoln, a large, low-lying horizontal sculpture made of 80 steel cylinders that appear to cascade down the hill, will be de-installed in October and repurposed for future installations at similar sculpture parks and gardens in the United States.

“Lincoln is one of the best examples of site-specific sculpture I can think of, and for me as for so many visitors, its presence such a big part of my experience at deCordova. It’s completely amazing to me that when the curators commissioned that work, it was intended for just a two- or three-year installation,” says Jessica May, deCordova’s artistic director.

Godfrey has said that the concept of the sculpture, which was installed in 2012,  was to mimic the gentle curves of deCordova’s landscape. The sculpture also allows visitors to pass through it to see what is on the other side. The sculpture was created on site and, at more than 150 feet long, is one of the largest ever shown at the Sculpture Park and is Godfrey’s most expansive work to date.

At 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Chief Curator Sarah Montross will present a Spotlight Tour on Lincoln. Spotlight Tours offer a deep dive discussion on a specific sculpture for which the presenter has a strong connection.

FinCom outlines tax implications for community center

If the town borrows $10 million (for example) to build a community center, Lincoln homeowners can expect a property tax increase of $290–$309 per year, or a hike of 1.7–1.8%, according to the Finance Committee.

In a September 18 presentation (14-minute video with slides here; just slides here), FinCom chair Andy Payne outlined what the town can afford to borrow and how various borrowing levels would affect taxes. Current cost estimates for a community center range from $13.73 million to $24.0 million depending on which design option voters approve.

In fiscal 2023, the median tax bill was $17,488 on a median home value of $1,259,900. 

The FinCom figures assume a 30-year fixed bond purchased in early 2025 at an interest rate of 4.0–4.5% (the current municipal rate is 3.94%). Payne noted that some of the debt stabilization fund (currently $5.5 million) could be used to reduce the amount needed to borrow. 

Under the statutory debt limit, the town can borrow up to $40.7 million in addition to its existing debt. By another measure — maximum annual debt service — the borrowing ceiling is about $30 million, he said. Because the annual debt payments (as with fixed-rate home mortgage payments) remain the same for the entire 30-year term of the bond, debt service declines over time as a percentage of the entire town budget, which grows each year due to inflation.

“No one is arguing that we should run up to our debt limit or even close to it — this is just showing the lay of the land,” Payne said.

Other large capital projects on the horizon — though with great uncertainty as to cost and timing — include a road repair project (about $10 million in five to seven years), purchase of more land for the town cemetery (seven figures in about 10 years), a ladder truck for the Fire Department (about $1.5 million in about 10 years), and a new DPW facility in 10-15 years for $15–$20 million.

“This is absolutely the most debated and controversial slide in the entire presentation. There are items on this list that will never happen and other items not on this list that will come into play,” Payne said. “The point is that FinCom and the Capital Planning Committee and town staff are very mindful of the town’s other possible capital needs.”

The Community Center Building Committee will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. to finalize its presentation at the September 30 State of the Town meeting (Zoom link here).

Police log for Sept. 8–17, 2023

September 8

As a result of the severe thunderstorm with high winds in the area in mid-afternoon on September 8, police received calls about power failures in several locations, as well as branches or trees down on Lincoln Road, Bedford Road, Beaver Pond Road, South Great Road, North Great Road, and Baker Bridge Road.

Hanscom Drive (9:24 a.m.) — A caller reported their dog was missing near Route 2A. A National Park ranger located the dog a short time later.

Baker Bridge Road (3:07 p.m.) — A motorist came to the police station to report a tree limb had fallen on their vehicle.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:39 p.m.) — Multiple callers reported a two-vehicle crash on Route 2. No injuries were reported. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Bedford Road (7:12 p.m.) — An officer was dispatched to the intersection of Bedford Road and Route 2 because the “Road Closed” sign had fallen. An officer replaced the sign.

September 9

Shawmut Terrace, Framingham (1:11 p.m.) — A Lincoln Fire Department member of the District 14 Dive Team was called to respond to the city of Framingham.

Winter Street (8:01 p.m.) — Officers checked the area for reported fireworks. Nothing was found.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (2:29 a.m.) — The Lincoln ambulance responded to the town of Concord for a motor vehicle crash.

September 10

Sunnyside Lane (6:51 p.m.) — A resident came to the police station to speak with an officer regarding social media posts.

Huckleberry Hill (9:00 p.m.) — A resident reported two unknown men had approached their home. The men were later identified as employees of a food delivery service.

September 11

Harvest Circle (7:58 a.m.) — A caller reported a missing item that was later discovered and returned to the original owner.

Tower Road (10:48 a.m.) — An officer made contact with a resident on behalf of the Concord Police Department.

Lincoln Road train crossing (3:47 p.m.) — A caller reported malfunctioning railroad crossing gates at the Lincoln Road crossing. Keolis workers were on scene performing maintenance. The MBTA was also notified.

Route 2 Gas, Cambridge Turnpike (10:02 p.m.) — Officers checked on an unoccupied vehicle on the parking lot adjacent to Tracey’s Gas Station.

Concord Road (10:12 p.m.) — A caller reported a person was at Marconi’s Auto after business hours. The party was dropping off their vehicle for repair.

September 12

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (3:17 p.m.) — A caller reported a two-vehicle crash with no injuries. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Weston Road (4:05 p.m.) — A cyclist was stopped for a stop sign violation. They were advised and sent on their way.

Beaver Pond Road (4:05 p.m.) — Police received a report of multiple individuals fishing in the area. Police made contact with the individuals and advised them that fishing was not allowed.

Masonic Temple, Lincoln Road (6:38 p.m.) — Police received a report of a tree leaning precariously over power lines. The Department of Public Works was notified.

Aspen Circle (7:13 p.m.) — A well-being check was performed on a resident.

Baker Farm Road (7:50 p.m.) — A fire alarm was activated due to cooking smoke inside the residence.

September 13

Weston Road (11:58 a.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding an unauthorized credit card being opened in their name.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:09 p.m.) — Lincoln police and fire responded along with the Massachusetts State Police to a one-vehicle crash. The operator of the vehicle was transported to Emerson Hospital via the Lincoln ambulance.

September 14

Forester Road (8:16 a.m.) — A person came to the station to speak with an officer regarding a possible fraud incident.

Weston Road (2:15 p.m.) — The Fire Department responded to the Pierce House for a report of an odor of natural gas by the roadside. National Grid was notified.

Trapelo Road (5:59 p.m.) — A young cyclist was advised to safely operate their bike on the right side of the roadway.

September 15

North Great Road (1:45 a.m.) — An officer checked on an unoccupied vehicle parked at the Paul Revere lot.

Tower Road (4:30 a.m.) — A caller reported a possible disturbance in their water pressure. They were advised to follow up with the Water Department during business hours.

Laurel Drive (10:44 a.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding a possible larceny.

Old Cambridge Turnpike (2:00 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a person on their property who abruptly left when confronted. A follow-up was conducted and the individual was identified.

Tower Road (3:00 p.m.) — An officer spoke to residents regarding a possible dispute with a neighbor.

September 16

Tower Road (4:17 p.m.) — A resident had an item returned to them.

Huckleberry Hill (9:02 p.m.) — Officers responded to a Huckleberry Hill residence for a report that someone had knocked on their rear sliding door. The homeowner also saw an individual on their security camera who appeared to be hiding their face with a hooded sweatshirt. When the homeowner came to the slider, no one was there. The region has seen an uptick in home break-ins. Police remind residents to use their security systems and cameras, and please report any suspicious activity immediately. The incident is currently being investigated.

September 17

Hartwell lot, North Great Road (12:51 a.m.) — An officer spoke to occupants of a vehicle and advised them that the lot closes at sundown.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:28 a.m.) — An officer performed a check on a possible disabled motor vehicle. The vehicle was involved in a single-car crash. Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Blackburnian Road (11:47 a.m.) — A resident reported a possible water main rupture. The Water Department was notified.

Trapelo Road (5:53 p.m.) — An individual was advised that fishing was not allowed at the Cambridge Reservoir.

My Turn: Lincoln has a Climate Action Plan – now what?

By Lynne Smith

For the past year, Lincoln staff and residents have worked to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan. A Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant, provided through the state’s Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, funded the project.

Over 100 residents participated in workshops, focus groups, and committee meetings to make sure the plan included input from as many members of the community as possible. At most of these sessions, people were eager to meet the challenge of our changing climate, but many said they are not always sure how to do so. The plan prioritizes goals and strategies that will help the town and individuals take action.

A Climate Action Plan is a big deal. In fact, Lincoln’s plan is about 77 pages filled with informative charts, graphs, goals, and strategies. But the plan is only a first step in the process toward its stated overarching goal of “reducing greenhouse gas emission while also advancing community resilience in equitable and sustainable ways.”

Specifically, the plan organizes strategies into the following six planning areas: energy, mobility, built environment, working lands and natural resources, social resilience and education, and water and solid waste management. For each of these areas, three to four “priority strategies” were identified through an evaluation and prioritization exercise. For each strategy, the plan describes the implementation lead, next steps, how it improves equity, potential co-benefits, implementation partners, funding sources, and measures of success.

Priority strategies are not necessarily ones that will be completed first or are the most important, as this exercise only provided a high-level assessment of how beneficial the strategy could be to the community and environment. Any strategies can be tackled when possible (Lincoln is already making progress toward many of them) and this exercise can be performed periodically to update considerations based on new data, changes in conditions, opportunities, and constraints.

Now that Lincoln has a Climate Action Plan, the town is better prepared to apply for more federal and state funding to implement goals and strategies. To access these funds, professional town staff will need to apply for grants and manage their implementation. With limited staff ability and town funding, many of the strategies laid out in the plan will need the community’s help.

At the State of the Town meeting on September 30, Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Curtin will explain more about the plan and the next steps toward implementation. Residents will be able to provide essential input on how we can move forward to achieve our climate goals. Green Energy Committee members will be on hand to talk with residents about how to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their fossil fuel emissions.

To review the Climate Action Plan before the September 30 State of the Town meeting, click here. We look forward to seeing you there!

Lynne Smith is a member of the Green Energy Committee’s Climate Action Lincoln Subcommittee.

“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.

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Jazz concert this week

All are invited to a jazz concert with local musicians organized by Nick Ribush of Lincoln’s Traditional Jazz Band on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 1–3 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

Film: “The Day He Arrives”

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “The Day He Arrives” on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. Longing and regret, artistic frustration and new hope, self-revelation and self-loathing arise from loopy coincidences, tough reunions, and urban street poetry in this delicate romantic comedy, from 2011, by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo (in Korean with English subtitles).

Join parent and little ones on a walk

LincFam welcomes new and expecting parents to a meetup for families with children under 2 or expecting a child (both parents and children are welcome) on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m. Meet at the commuter parking lot next to Donelan’s to walk the Codman trails. No RSVP required. If you’d like to join the list for information on future events and meetups, click here.

Codman Feast and Fair

Codman Community Farms’ annual Harvest Feast returns with a classic pig roast, bluegrass music from The New Grownups, and fun on the farm on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 5–9 p.m. There will be pulled pork family meals and apple crisp hot out of the Codman kitchen, plates and cutlery, plus a tent over the front pasture, table seating and Solo stoves to keep warm. Bring a picnic blanket, other side dishes your family might like to eat (not potluck), and drinks. Family meals include Codman pasture-raised pork, cornbread and coleslaw, plus apple crisp and vanilla ice cream. Family meals start at $60; click here to order.

Join in the fun with old-fashioned family and children’s games at Codman’s Harvest Fair on Sunday, Oct. 1 from noon–4 p.m. Activities include bingo in the sugar shack, a pie-eating contest, rooster run, lots of games, (mostly) Codman-grown food, music, and more. Children’s admission bracelets are $20, which includes ice cream. Kids under 3 are free. Click here to skip the line and order in advance.

Apply to exhibit art at the library

The Lincoln Public Library is now accepting applications to display work in the art gallery during 2024. Applications are due by Saturday, Sept. 30. To apply, please fill out this online form While online submissions are strongly preferred, you may also download and print a hard copy linked on that web page.

Library offers Brazilian music and haunted history

The Lincoln Public Library presents a music performance for children and families by Sulinha’s Trio on Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 10:30–11:15 a.m. in the Tarbell Room. Originally from Brazil, Sulinha Boucher’s trio plays bossa nova, baiao, and other styles on Brazilian instruments like berimbau and bandolin as well as acoustic guitar and percussion. No registration necessary. For all ages.

In 1991, Spooky World opened in Berlin, Mass., as the first Halloween scream park. The attraction became so popular that it expanded well beyond its original haunted hayride and shaped a generation of New England Halloween lovers. Join David Bertolino, the man who started it all, and Jeff DePaoli, host of “That Halloween Podcast,” to hear how an idea became a Halloween institution in Massachusetts on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 1-2 p.m. via Zoom (click here to register).

Brain Games on Oct. 15

The fifth annual Brain Games cornhole tournament and family fun day on Sunday, Oct. 15 from noon–5 p.m. in Pierce Park. Live music, local beer, magician Ed Popielarczyk, raffle prizes, and the Clover food truck! There is no cost to attend the event. Food and beverages are available for purchase — everything else is simply whatever you would like to donate. Please spread the word, and invite your friends and family.

Brain Games is the Doo family’s annual fundraiser benefiting moyamoya research at Boston Children’s Hospital in honor of the care received by their daughter, who was diagnosed with the rare brain disease moyamoya in June 2019 and has had three surgeries since. Their goal this year is to raise $100,000 to continue funding her surgeon’s research, where 100% of the event’s proceeds go.

Correction

In the September 14 article headlined “Architects, CCBC refine options for community center,” Option 3 for the community center was incorrectly described and a quote from CCBC member Tim Christenfeld was presented slightly out of context. The article has been corrected and also updated with a new penultimate paragraph describing the upcoming State of the Town meeting.

Architects, CCBC refine options for community center

(Editor’s note: This article was updated on September 17.)

Architects and the Community Center Building Committee this week continued to refine the community center options that residents will see at the State of the Town meeting on September 30, ending Wednesday with three main options plus alternates to two of them.

On September 13, ICON Architects offered refinements of the three options they presented on August 16 that will meet the cost limits voted by the town (up to 100%, 75% and 50% of the $25 million estimate from 2022, or $25 million/$18.75 million/$12.5 million). These latest options replace earlier ones with the same names and are based on discussion at the September 13 meeting and a public forum on September 12, plus more detailed figures from their cost estimators. Each new total includes both construction and a 20% add-on for “soft costs” (design, owner’s project manager, furniture and equipment, etc.) Costs are in 2025 dollars.

Option 1 ($20.01 million + soft costs = $24.01 million)

  • Demolish all three pods
  • Build a single new building of 19,474 square feet that would include 5,000 square feet exclusively for LEAP, the same as it has now

Option 2 ($15.99 million + soft costs = $19.19 million)

  • Demolish pods A and B
  • Renovate pod C
  • Build either a one-story or two-story community center that’s not attached to pod C. A two-story building would have a more compact footprint and probably some roof overhangs to accommodate enough solar panels. The sizes would be similar (12,672 square feet for two stories or 12,285 for one story) and the price tags would be about the same.

Option 3 ($11.44 million + soft costs = $13.73 million)

  • Demolish pod A
  • Renovate pod B and add 5,485 square feet of new construction to result in a 10,500-square-foot building that’s roughly half new and half renovated
  • Leave pods A and C as they are
    • Alternate #1: Add another 900 square feet to the new building to meet the minimum size recommended by the architects (added cost: $714,000 for a total of $13.2 million).
    • Alternate #2: Include renovation of pod C (added cost: $3.42 million for a total of $15.92 million). If both alternates were accepted, the total cost would be $16.64 million.

In summary, the approximate size of the community center exclusive of LEAP would be:

  • 14,470 square feet for Option 1
  • 12,285 or 12,672 square feet for Option 2
  • 10,500 square feet for Option 3

ICON recommends a community center of at least 13,000 square feet, or 11,400 square feet “at the bare bones end of the spectrum,” said Ned Collier, principal architect. “Just by the numbers, [Option 3] this scheme falls short of our minimal target and does not renovate pod C… and we’ve heard that not renovating LEAP is a show-stopper.”

Renovating all three detached pods without adding more space is also not viable, CCBC member Tim Christenfeld said. “We’ve done really well pushing [the pods] as far as we can for 64 years… The idea that we would bring a proposal to the town for $12 million to move the COA&HS from one suboptimal facility to a different suboptimal facility is just nuts. It’s just pissing the money away if we’re not solving the problems we’re trying to solve.”

There has been some concern in past months about the cost of a much-needed renovation of the LEAP pod and whether it ought to even be considered in the community center construction planning, especially if it’s not physically attached. As one CCBC member said at the September 12 forum, “LEAP is not really our core thing,” but most of those involved assumed that LEAP would be at least renovated regardless of which option is chosen. However, making the LEAP renovation into a separate project would incur additional unnecessary spending for project management, design, and rapidly rising construction costs.

CCBC member Dan Pereira observed that Option 3 plus its alternates “is really another 75% option” in terms of cost. Collier acknowledged that but observed that Option 3 is substantially different from Option 2 in a design sense.

Sara Mattes, a frequent critic of the community center planning process, argued that “the only way it [the measure to design the community center] passed was because it committed to these lower price points. The vote also committed to [the idea that] alternate sites would be fully explored for some activities, and the second piece of the vote has not been fully explored — it’s been summarily dismissed rather than openly discussed.” Studies have shown that Bemis Hall and the Pierce House are not adequate in many ways, and there are ongoing problems with having senior lunches at the First Parish Church. Mattes acknowledged that money would have to be spent to bring Bemis and Pierce up to snuff if a community center isn’t built.

“I feel as if the committee and architects want something more than the 50% option, but I’m worried that the town isn’t going to be very interested in that,” said resident Lynne Smith.

At the State of the Town meeting, each repeating session on the community center will consist of a short presentation, a breakout session, and then a paper survey in which residents can rank their choices (including a “none of the above” option). There will be large drawings of all the options on easels as well as handouts, which will also be available before September 30. 

The Finance Committee will discuss borrowing costs and tax implications as part of its SOTT preparations at its September 18 meeting. “The current estimate is that the median tax bill will increase by approximately $300 per year for every $10 million borrowed,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins said on Thursday.

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Life celebrations for Evelyn Harris, Toby Frost

Evelyn Harris

Toby Frost

Please join Glenn and David Harris as they celebrate the life of their mother Evelyn Harris on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. A reception will follow. If you would like to speak at the service to share a memory of Evelyn, please email glennh.email@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Evelyn’s memory to Mass Audubon (288 South Great Rd., Lincoln MA 01773).

A celebration of the life of October (Toby) Frost will be held on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at the Pierce House followed by a reception. Those who knew Toby are welcome to join us.

Evening at Gropius

During this evening slide show and house tour on Friday, Sept. 15 from 7-9 p.m. at the Gropius House (68 Baker Bridge Rd.), see how Walter Gropius’s innovative lighting scheme comes to life at night. Gropius, founder of the German design school the Bauhaus, was one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century. His 1938 home highlights the clean lines of Modernist design. Light refreshments are individual “nibbles” picnic bags. Advance tickets required ($65 for Historic New England members, $75 for nonmembers). Please call 781-259-8098 for more information. Note: the Gropius House is not handicapped-accessible.

“How and Why to Talk to Young Kids About Race”

Join a free public workshop on Monday, Sept. 18 from 7-8:15 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Library on “How & Why to Talk to Young Kids About Race” offered by Story Starters. Designed for caregivers and educators, this workshop will explain the research about how racial bias develops in children from a young age, and provide evidence-based strategies adults can use to disrupt that bias and develop children’s antiracist values. Click here to register.

“Leave the Leaves”

This fall, it couldn’t be easier to support pollinators, provide overwinter shelter for amphibians, nurture the soil, improve water retention, and drawdown carbon. Join us on the first day of fall for “Leave the Leaves: A Zoom Introduction & Conversation on Soil & Climate Benefits” by Lincoln soil microbial ecologist Dr. Rachel Neurath to learn about the benefits of leaving the leaves on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. And save the date for the Lincoln Garden Club’s public meeting on November 7. Kathy Connolly will give a presentation entitled “Leave the Leaves, Save the Stems.” Organized by Lincoln Common Ground and the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust in collaboration with the Lincoln Garden Club and Codman Community Farms. Click here to register.

Kid/caregiver discussion groups about banned books

Celebrate the freedom to read with a conversation between young people and their caregivers at two discussion groups during Banned Books Week at the Lincoln Public Library. On Monday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m., children’s librarian Debbie Leopold will facilitate a talk for kids age 4+ about Answers in the Pages by David Levithan. Email dleopold@minlib.net to register. Lincoln author Ray Shepard (A Long Time Coming) will host a session with middle schoolers and caregivers on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. to talk about Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. Email sfeather@minlib.net to register.

Submit work to the Lincoln Arts Show

Calling all artists, photographers, potters, jewelers, wood workers, and crafters of all materials! Join us for the 2023 Lincoln Arts (and Crafts) Show on Friday to Sunday, Nov. 17-19 from noon–5 p.m. and an opening reception on Friday, Nov. 17 from 5–7 p.m. at the Pierce House. As always, this open show is for all ages, all creative arts, and all abilities — and student entries are free! We’ve seen 350 attendees at the show each of the past couple of years, so this year we’ll be opening up the second floor to additional displays. Click here for details and registration. Questions? Email Sarah Chester at schester636@gmail.com.

Lecture on Avis and Bernard DeVoto

Author Nate Schweber at the DeVoto Memorial Cedar Grove in Idaho’s Clearwater National Forest.

Award-winning author Nate Schweber brings to life the story of two remarkable environmental warriors and former Lincoln residents Avis and Bernard DeVoto in the next Bemis Free Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Bemis Hall. The DeVotos’ decades-long battle to protect public lands and save our National Park system is chronicled in Schweber’s latest book, This America of Ours: Bernard and Avis DeVoto and the Forgotten Fight to Save the Wild. Lecture immediately followed by book sales and signing with the author. Hosted by the Bemis Free Lecture Series with Friends of Minute Man National Park, Lincoln Historical Society, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, and Walden Woods Project.

Limited seating; click here for reservations. The event will also be available via livestream and will remain available on the Bemis Free Lecture Series website.