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

Architects zero in on three design options for community center

August 20, 2023

(Editor’s note: this article was updated on August 22 to reflect corrections in the square footage of scheme 1 and the three estimated projects costs.)

ICON Architecture presented three design options to the Community Center Building Committee on August 16 and will forward them to the company’s cost estimator to get firmer price tags before the State of the Town charette on September 30.

The proposed square footage for programming and layout sketches can be seen on the indicated page numbers of the August 16 slide deck:

Option 1, the courtyard scheme – page 17 (current estimate: $22.75 million)

- Demolish all three pods and build a new 20,500-square-foot, one-story building
- Total program space: 20,500 square feet
- Incorporates 1,000 square feet for maintenance area (or relocate to main Hartwell building for a cost savings of $850,000)

Option 2, the compact scheme – page 25 (current estimate:$18.7 million)

- Demolish pods A and B; renovate pod C
- 13,400 square feet of new construction in a two-story building and 4,965 square feet of renovation for total program space of 18,365 square feet
- Incorporates 1,000 square feet for either maintenance or activity space (relocate maintenance in main Hartwell building for an additional $300,000)

Option 3, the adaptive reuse scheme – page 33 (current estimate:$12.05 million)

- Renovate pods A and B (9,885 square feet)
- 6,185 square feet of new construction (connectors between pods all three)
- Total program space: 16,000 square feet
- Incorporates 1,000 square feet for either maintenance or activity space (relocate maintenance in main Hartwell building for an additional $300,000)
- Optional: renovate pod C for an additional $3 million

The comparison table on page 11 shows the variables among the three options that center around programming space, the fate of Pod C (e.g., whether LEAP’s space will be renovated or not) and the level of site development. For example, option 3 (unlike the other two) does not include funds for a pedestrian bridge over the stream to the Brooks parking area and a raised Ballfield Road crosswalk, remediation of the former Strat’s playground to allow for a new playground or other use, or restorative landscaping.

At the State of the Town meeting in September, residents will have the chance to review the options in detail, ask questions, and express opinions. A preferred option with a specific dollar amount will be presented for a vote at a Special Town Meeting in November.

News acorns

August 16, 2023

Information session on private jet travel

Mothers Out Front invite everyone to participate in a statewide climate action call to learn about the high environmental cost and low societal benefit of expanding private jet travel on Tuesday, Aug. 22 at from 12-12:45 p.m. The issue is front and center because the state is considering a proposal to enlarge hangar space at Hanscom Field. Register here for this informational meeting. Sponsored by MOF chapters in Acton, Bedford, Concord, East Boston, Lincoln, and Winthrop — members of the Coalition to Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere.

The Lincoln Cultural Council wants to hear from you

The Lincoln Cultural Council (LCC) manages grants supporting arts and culture in and around Lincoln. Members take the opinions and priorities of the residents of Lincoln into consideration when deciding on the grants to be awarded each year. To help inform priorities, they conduct a survey of town residents every three years. These priorities are then listed on the Lincoln section of the Mass Cultural Council’s website for prospective applicants to respond to. Please answer the questions in this very short survey by August 29 to help the Lincoln Cultural Council determine the arts and cultural priorities of Lincoln residents.

Library launches revamped website

The Lincoln Public Library’s redesigned website launched on August 4 offers a simplified navigation menu, dedicated pages for library’s Ongoing Events and Library of Things collection, and better website searching. The library worked with Compete Now to design the new website with a color palette to matches the library’s logo designed by staff member Tory Black.

Lincoln Open-Mic Night returns in September

The Beantown Buckaroos Trio

Lincoln Open-Mic Night (LOMA) returns on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 7–10 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Perform or just come listen to acoustic music and spoken word. Admission is free and refreshments are provided. The featured performers that night are the Beantown Buckaroos Trio, a subset of the full band with Art Schatz on fiddle, Kevin Lynch on guitar, and Neil Helme on bass. They cook up classic western swing and country music with a dash of gumbo. Watch their cover of the Shelton Brothers’ classic, “Just Because.”

For a slot at this monthly event, performers should email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mic day) or (space permitting) sign up at the event. Names of those who are signed up by 7 p.m. will be drawn at random. We have a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups playing acoustic-style. Later this fall at LOMA:

October 10 — Rockwood Taylor
November 14 — Wendy Sobel
December 12 — Geoff Goodhue & Friends

Police log for August 1–12, 2023

August 16, 2023

August 1

Brooks Hill Road (1:28 a.m.) — An officer came upon an unsecured garage door. The homeowner was notified.

Airport Road (3:50 p.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding fraudulent banking activity.

Old Sudbury Road (5:26 p.m.) — A motorist struck a deer while traveling on Old Sudbury Road. The vehicle sustained minor damage. The DPW was called to remove the deceased animal.

Weston Road (6:23 p.m.) — A resident reported being the victim of an unemployment benefits scam.

Drumlin Farm (9:19 p.m.) — A motorist needed automotive assistance while parked at Drumlin Farm. A family member was on the way to help.

August 2

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (3:09 a.m.) —An individual operating a motorcycle in excess of 120mph passed an officer conducting a traffic assignment. The motorcycle failed to stop for the officer. Area towns and the Massachusetts State Police were notified.

Tower Road (1:02 a.m.) — An officer responded to a residence for a breaking and entering. It appears as though nothing was removed from the residence. The investigation is ongoing.

Lincoln Road (5:07 p.m.) — A 911 caller reported a minor motor vehicle crash on Lincoln Road. The parties were able to exchange information and drive from the scene.

August 3

Lincoln Road (5:00 p.m.) — An officer assisted the Waltham Police and Massachusetts State Police with the creation of a forensic sketch.

Ridge Road (5:09 p.m.) — An officer responded to a residence for the report of a dog barking.

Robbins Road, Hanscom AFB (6:12 p.m.) — An officer responded to Hanscom Air Force Base to assist a resident with a fraud incident.

Lexington Road (7:55 p.m.) — Officers responded to a residence for a dispute involving two males. One of the individuals was transported to the hospital via family members. After an investigation was conducted and both parties were interviewed, a criminal complaint for assault and battery was filed against one of the males (as of August 16, the complaint hearing had not taken place so the person’s name is not yet public).

Wells Road (4:10 p.m.) — An officer delivered court paperwork to an individual.

August 4

South Great Road (3:56 p.m.) — A resident reported their dog was missing. A short time later, a resident from an adjacent street located the dog and notified the owner.

Sunnyside Lane (4:15 p.m.) — A resident returned home and found a deceased raccoon on their property. They were given the number for Animal Control.

Wells Road (5:35 p.m.) — A resident requested to speak to an officer regarding an ongoing matter.

North Great Road (8:58 p.m.) — A motorist called to report an injured deer on the side of the road. The deer was severely injured and was put down by a responding officer.

August 5

Tower Road (6:42 a.m.) — A resident called to report suspicious activity in the area of the gas pipe installation on Tower Road. The individuals were contractors with the company performing the installation.

Windingwood Lane (10:12 a.m.) — A caller requested to speak with an officer regarding fraudulent bank activity.

Concord Road (3:38 p.m.) — An officer issued a parking citation to an illegally parked vehicle.

Garland Road (4:05 p.m.) — A caller requested to speak with an officer regarding fraudulent bank activity.

Freedom Circle, Hanscom AFB (4:31 p.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer regarding an unauthorized sale of an item occurring in Florida. The caller was advised to contact the law enforcement agency where the sale was made.

Conant Road (4:46 p.m.) — An officer responded to the residence and spoke with an individual about an issue with their vehicle.

Concord Road (6:44 p.m.) — Police and fire units responded to a one-vehicle crash. The operator reported swerved to avoid a collision with a deer, struck a utility pole, and had to be towed from the scene.

Silver Birch Lane (8:16 p.m.) — A resident reported a neighbor’s dog was continuously barking. An officer responded and monitored the area for approximately 20 minutes. No noise was detected.

August 6

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (4:44 p.m.) — The Fire Department helped a resident get into their residence.

August 7

Winter Street (10:00 p.m.) — Officers assisted Waltham Police with contacting an individual regarding an incident occurring in Waltham.

Tower Road (12:00 p.m.) — A resident reported that a friendly dog had followed them home. The Animal Control Officer was notified and the dog and owner were reunited shortly thereafter.

August 8

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (7:56 a.m.) — A caller reported that a vehicle had left the roadway and gone into the woods. The Lincoln Fire Department and Massachusetts State Police responded.

Airport Road (8:03 a.m.) — Hanscom Air Force Base Law Enforcement contacted the Lincoln Police for an individual attempting to gain access to the base with an active arrest warrant. Francis Cloutier, 24, of Townsend was arrested on an outstanding warrant issued by Leominster District Court. He was booked and transported to Concord District Court.

Mill Street (10:41 a.m.) — A resident reported water in their basement. The Fire Department responded.

Beaver Pond Road (11:29 a.m.) — A resident reported a fraud incident involving their cell phone. An officer spoke to the resident and completed a report.

Birchwood Lane (2:06 p.m. and 4:48 p.m.) — An officer attempted to serve court paperwork and was successful on the second attempt.

Sandy Pond Road (7:23 p.m.) — Several individuals were advised not to fish at Sandy Pond before being sent on their way.

Wells Road (8:38 p.m.) — Officers responded to a residence to assist the occupants with a civil matter.

August 9

Mount Misery parking lot (2:55 a.m.) — An officer came upon an occupied vehicle in the lot. The operator was sleeping before continuing on their way.

Concord Road (12:30 p.m.) — Officers responded to Concord Road for a two-vehicle crash. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Ridge Road (3:30 p.m.) — A resident reported water in their basement. The Fire Department responded to assist.

Southfield Circle, Concord (5:15 p.m.) — The Lincoln Fire Department responded to the town of Concord for a mutual aid response.

Trapelo Road (5:22 p.m.) — A caller reported a woman walking on the side of the road who appeared in distress. Officers responded to the area but were unable to locate anyone.

August 10

Hanscom Drive (9:31 a.m.) — Hanscom Air Force Base Law Enforcement contacted Lincoln police for an individual attempting to gain access to the base with an active arrest warrant. Tyler Barlow, 26, from Worcester was arrested on an outstanding warrant. He was booked and transported to Concord District Court.

North Great Road (10:36 a.m.) — A minor two-vehicle crash. One of the vehicles required a tow due to leaking fluids.

Round Hill Road (6:06 p.m.) — A resident reported seeing a dog run across their lawn. The resident was given the phone number for Animal Control.

August 11

Paul Revere lot, North Great Road (1:32 a.m.) — An officer checked on an unoccupied motor vehicle.

Sandy Pond Road (8:12 a.m.) — An officer responded to Sandy Pond Road for an illegally parked motor vehicle. The officer was then diverted to a crash call and the vehicle was gone once the officer returned.

North Great Road (8:20 a.m.) — A three-vehicle crash was reported at the intersection of Route 2A and Hanscom Drive. Police and fire units responded. A vehicle was turning left onto Hanscom Drive and failed to yield to a westbound vehicle. The subsequent crash caused one of the vehicles to strike a third vehicle. All occupants were transported to area hospitals for injuries sustained in the crash. The operator of the vehicle turning left was issued a written warning for failing to yield.

Wells Road (4:03 p.m.) — An officer was called to the commuter lot to check on a vehicle.

MMNHP Visitor Center parking lot, North Great Road (9:03 p.m.) — An officer checked on an occupied vehicle. The operator was advised the lot was closed and was sent on their way.

August 12

Moccasin Hill (10:36 a.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer about an ongoing incident.

Lincoln Road (2:39 p.m.) — A cyclist fell from their bicycle and suffered a knee injury. They were transported to the hospital via the Lincoln ambulance.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (6:16 p.m.) — Lincoln police assisted Massachusetts State Police with an incident on the off-ramp from I-95 in Lexington.

Longtime publication Lincoln Review is now on line

August 15, 2023

Here’s what the Lincoln Review looks like online. You can make the pages larger with the plus and minus buttons at the bottom right. The broken-square button lets you toggle back and forth from full screen to partial screen. Use the arrow keys on your computer to turn the pages. Click image to enlarge or click here to go directly to the online Lincoln Review. The first issue starts on page 6 of 752.

The Lincoln Review ceased publication in 2019 after more than 40 years — but now all of its back issues are available on the web where anyone can search and browse them.

The Lincoln Review was founded in 1977 by Ruth Hapgood, Nancy Bower, and Margaret Marsh “to provide residents and friends of the town of Lincoln with a small magazine or newsletter which will contain material of informational, educational, and literary interest.” Among its goals: “to bring back the history of the town to public awareness,” “to further literary ends by publishing good writing and by reviewing books; and in general, to provide a generally available means of public communication to further the cultural life of the town.”

Over the years, the Lincoln Review published thousands of news stories, artwork, poetry, historical articles, letters to the editor, and more. It was supported by advertising and subscriptions and was also sold at the Old Town Hall Exchange and Donelan’s. The last editors were longtime Lincoln residents Betty and Harold Smith.

After Harold’s death in 2019, Betty handed over the Lincoln Review’s reins to Lincoln Squirrel editor Alice Waugh, who reinvented it in digital-only form as the Lincoln Chipmunk with the help of donations and a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council — but also wondered if there was a way to digitize the back issues stored at the Lincoln Public Library. Barbara Myles, then the library’s director, submitted a request in 2021 to Digital Commonwealth, a free service that scans documents and images that are important to Massachusetts cultural heritage and uploads them to the web.

There was a backlog due to technical issues and the pandemic, but Myles learned in February 2023 that Digital Commonwealth was back in full swing. After being told that the Lincoln Public Library would “move up the list significantly” if someone brought the issues to the Boston Public Library rather than waiting for pickup, Myles did so in March. Then came the day in July that Melissa Roderick, who recently succeeded Myles as library director, got word that the job was done.

The online collection of Lincoln Reviews can be viewed at archive.org/details/lincolnreview14linc. The link is also on the library’s website under Archives & Local History >> Research the Collection (scroll down to “Online Collections”). The library still has the paper issues as well, though you’ll need an appointment to access them.

In the early years, the publication had copy typed on a manual typewriter and hand-made ads. The first issue in March 1977 opens with piece by Conservation Commission member Bob Lemire (still a Lincoln resident) about Lincoln’s open space plan (other founding members who are still with us include Janet Boynton, Beverly Eckhardt, and Rhoda Taschiaglou). Later in the issue are pieces by people running for town office and the upcoming Annual Town Meeting, which would feature a measure asking residents to buy the town’s first ambulance. In contrast to ambulances of the time that resembled station wagons, “the vehicle would have to be one of those big van-type machines.”

Also in that issue: ads for Lincoln institutions like Doherty’s and the Clark Gallery as well as bygone businesses such as the Broken Bridle Leather Shop on Lewis Street, the Richardson Drug Company in the long red building in next to the railroad tracks, the Country Squire restaurant in the gray building directly across the tracks, and the Inside-Outside Home Decorating Studio (an early mall tenant).

The Lincoln Chipmunk publishes writing and artwork by anyone with a Lincoln connection. The next deadline is September 1; click here for submission details.

My Turn: Community Center Building Committee ponders problems

August 14, 2023

By Lynne Smith

The agenda for the August 9 Community Center Building Committee working group was to be a discussion of the State of the Town presentation on September 30. However, the issues that have occupied the committee from the very beginning superseded that discussion: What is a community center for Lincoln? Is it a new/improved facility that hosts the Council on Aging and Human Services (COA&HS) and the Parks and Recreation Department (PRD)? Must it also accommodate Lincoln school needs — and pay for them as well?

CCBC members are grappling with how to add a facility that houses COA&HS to the Hartwell campus, which already hosts the PRD, LEAP (the after-school program), the school maintenance workshop, and the Magic Garden preschool (in the Hartwell Building) and its playground. The busy campus was selected as the site for a new home for the COA&HS and a renovated PRD in 2018. School program needs, traffic issues, and green space concerns continue to overwhelm site and cost considerations.

It is now the middle of August and it is hard to make sense of where the committee stands. Residents will get a chance to look at a variety of options at the State of the Town meeting on September 30 and to vote on options at three different cost points on December 13.

The elephant in the room is the cost — and the taxpayer impact — of the new building. The cost for the 2018 design was estimated at $25 million in 2022. As specified in the Special Town Meeting vote in November 2022, the CCBC is charged to deliver three options with costs up to 50%, up to 75%, and up to 100% of $25 million. ICON Architecture has estimated that the total cost for the 2018 design is now $30 million, which means that all these options are even more constrained. Select Board member Kim Bodnar pointed out that costs are likely to increase during the building process and that requirements will need to be “value engineered” out, as happened frequently during construction of the $94+ million Lincoln school. There is no stipulation in the November vote for an increase in price.

In my opinion, the only option that will pass a town vote in December is the 50% one with a cost of up to $12.5 million. The committee should start with that as a budget, the way most homeowners do, and ask ICON to develop the best possible outcome. The committee could then rely on town staff and volunteers to inventory existing town-owned spaces that could host programs that don’t fit on the Hartwell campus, as called for in the Special Town Meeting vote. Some spaces might need upgrades, which would lead to reasonable expenses to keep town buildings in good repair.

CCBC member Alison Taunton-Rigby, with help from other volunteers, revisited the community centers in towns similar to Lincoln. She presented interesting findings regarding cost, size, and usage data. While she did not draw conclusions, she gave committee members a lot to think about. In addition to this information, it would be useful to know the impact on tax bills for those communities.

Jonathan Dwyer pointed out that Dennis Picker, an interested and informed resident, delivered a detailed analysis of how COA&HS and PRD activities could be accommodated in existing town spaces. I hope the Committee will explore this analysis given the need to reduce the cost and the space required on the Hartwell campus.

CCB Chair Sarah Chester ended the long meeting by reminding members of the continuing schedule of meetings every other week until December 13. She is committed to keeping residents updated through monthly public forums. This is a good idea and I hope residents take full advantage of these meetings to make an informed decision and express opinions. The State of the Town presentation on September 30 should help everyone understand the possibilities for a new community center. The next public forum is Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 7:30 p.m. You can join here.

For interested residents, I recommend the Summary Report of the 2010 Facilities Coordinating Committee. The report documented an excellent effort by town staff and volunteers to survey town spaces and match them to town activities. In boldface type, the report concludes: “Building new space incurs a high total cost of ownership (construction, maintenance and staffing, heating/cooling, etc.). We believe that the Town’s best opportunity is to improve quality, accessibility and awareness of existing spaces.”

Editor’s addendum: In response to an August 14 question from the Lincoln Squirrel about the role of the working group and its meeting format, CCBC Chair Sarah Chester said, “The whole CCBC participated in the working meetings held on August 2 and 9. They were public meetings, with agendas posted, called to conduct a deep discussion of the site schemes, the tradeoffs needed for each of the cost options, and preliminary planning for the [State of the Town] at the end of September. As working meetings, to ensure that committee members could have a continuous conversation, visitors were welcome to observe but were not invited to speak.”

“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.

My Turn: Connecting rural India to Walden Pond through healthcare research and cultural development

August 13, 2023

By Sonali Das

In 2014, my grandmother flew halfway around the world to get from her home, a small Assamese silk village in northeast India known as Sualkuchi, to my home in Lincoln, a small town in Massachusetts. It was her first time stepping outside the world of temples and chador mekhelas she had known all her life. Yet, despite never traveling far, she had heard about our town many times over the years.

Lincoln, as most people know, is home to Walden Pond, which homed the renowned transcendentalist philosopher, Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau was inspired by Hinduism in his approach to live simply and with an open and inquiring mind, saying, “Whenever I have read any part of the Vedas, I have felt that some unearthly and unknown light illuminated me.” In turn, many Hindus, including Gandhi, were inspired by his determination to live life simply and with peaceful, strong conviction. My grandfather, Krishna Ram Das, was one of them and had always wanted to visit Thoreau’s sacred pond. He even composed a poem, “I am a Tree,” and recited it in a seminar held on Thoreau in 1965.

My grandfather died of lung cancer in 1994. Twenty years later, in 2014, my grandmother sprinkled pink petals into the waters of Walden Pond (see photo gallery below) to inaugurate the Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, a research laboratory dedicated to fighting the medical cancer that killed him as well as the impending societal and environmental cancers that threaten us all.

My grandfather planted the initial seedlings of the Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health. A weaver, philosopher, poet, and the father of nine children, he lived in a humble home with earnings even more so. And yet, his dreams filled the walls of his small house, his ideas formed the lines of his complex poetry, and his hands fought to revive an organization called the Krishna Samaj, founded by his grandfather back in 1920 to protect local weavers from Britain’s textile aggression. Krishna Ram Das wanted to transform it into a cooperative movement among the weavers’ community.

My dad, Bikul Das, one of eight siblings, grew up in the same small village as his father. A budding philosopher, poet, silk businessman, and dreamer, he worked with his dad during his childhood in the family’s Muga silk business. Muga, known for its golden threads and extreme durability, is a culturally significant silk native to the state of Assam. Making grafts for his father and networking with traders in his village, my dad grew up wanting to be a politician. Instead, he went to medical school, became a doctor, traveled to Bhutan, and a couple stories later, wounded up as a stem cell/cancer scientist working with the University of Toronto, Stanford University, and the Harvard-affiliated Forsyth Institute.

Dr. Bikul Das discovered altruism on a microbiological level, and thus became a pioneer in the research field of stem cell altruism. Years later, he studied COVID-19’s relationship to stem cells and dormant TB reactivation. Interestingly, his core scientific findings stemmed from the philosophical ideas discussed in the Krishna Samaj. Thus, in 2010, he officially setup KaviKrishna Laboratory, now located at the Indian Institute of Technology at Guwahati, as a continuation of the Krishna Samaj. The Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, set up in 2014, is its sister laboratory located at UMass-Lowell. Both the Thoreau Lab for Global Health and KaviKrishna Lab look to engage scientists and graduate students excited about cancer, stem cells altruism, and related research.

As a high school graduate with a gap year ahead, I decided to explore this complex story further. My journey took me on an expedition to Sualkuchi, (Here is a beautiful video two of my Indian cousins made of my experience in Assam), where I spent five months working with graduate students to develop a Medical Humanities program centered around KaviKrishna’s rural medical oncology clinic.

As a high school graduate (Lincoln-Sudbury Class of 2022) with a gap year ahead, I decided to explore this complex story further. My journey took me on an expedition to Sualkuchi, where I spent five months working with graduate students to develop a Medical Humanities program centered around KaviKrishna’s rural medical oncology clinic. Here’s a video that two of my Indian cousins made of my experience in Assam, and another video of a talk I gave about the program itself.

Through the work, I was immersed in a dynamic experience awash with interactions of people from every level of society, festivals rich with song and color, visits to cancer patients, and broken Assamese conversations. I came to understand KaviKrishna’s ultimate purpose: to uplift the culture and society of the weavers and artisans living in Sualkuchi and greater Kamrup (also in northeast India) through grassroots project-based initiatives and hardcore academic research. Through its Medical Humanities program, the Thoreau Laboratory aims to bring these research efforts, inspired by the weaving community, to the globe.

Currently, as an intern at both the Thoreau Lab for Global Health and KaviKrishna Lab, I am editing my dad’s book on “Recovering the Spirit of Jiva Upakara Tantra” that will illuminate the intricacies of this evolving research story. My experience working in these two organizations has given me an incredible window into the power of interdisciplinary research and its relevance in a time riddled with individual, environmental, and societal cancers. I have already introduced two Lincoln residents (Prerna Karmacharya and Alexander Payne) to the organization in their week-long visit to Assam. As I begin my undergraduate journey at Bowdoin College, I hope to continue to help develop the Medical Humanities program and bring its ideas to the liberal arts community.

If you’re inspired by my story, the Thoreau Laboratory is currently looking for high school and college students interested in developing their own projects related to biology, philosophy, sociology, etc. with a focus on stem cell work, altruism, and Hindu philosophy/education as a part of the Medical Humanities program. It is also looking for volunteers interested in developing a digital public relation project for KaviKrishna/Thoreau Lab through its YouTube and social media accounts. All participants will get a certificate from the lab following a successful completion of an agreed-upon project. Interested students can also join our weekly philosophical meetings co-led by Simon Karty to discuss the philosophy of Thoreau, Gandhi, science, and healthcare.

KaviKrishna and Thoreau Lab would love to hear from you! Find us at www.kavikrishnalab.org or www.thoreaulab.org, or email sonalisdas14@gmail.com or bdas@thoreaulab.org.

Lincoln resident Sonali Das will start her studies at Bowdoin College next month.

News acorns

August 6, 2023

Officers Nicholas Facciolo and Seth Gordon at Town Hall.

New Lincoln police officers sworn in

Officers Nicholas Facciolo and Seth Gordon were recently sworn in as the newest members of the Lincoln Police Department after graduating from the Lynnfield Police Academy. Facciolo has worked for the department as a dispatcher and Gordon pursued a career in law enforcement after working in the nonprofit corporate world. They both have degrees in criminal justice (Facciolo from Merrimack College and Gordon from Rivier University). They succeed Officers Peter Roach and Joseph Pellegrini, who took positions in other towns.

Artist’s reception at library

An artist’s reception for the latest exhibit at the Lincoln Library, “The Art of the Automobile” photographic series by Steven Edson, will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 16 from 78:30 p.m. Please RSVP to steve@stevenedson.net.

Film: “Open Up to Me”

The Lincoln Library Film Society presents “Open Up to Me” (Finnish with English subtitles) on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. in the Tarbell Room. Maarit, a beautiful woman who used to be a man, becomes estranged from her daughter and family. When she meets Sami, a soccer coach and family man, she thinks her life will be complete.

Submit nature pictures in Mass Audubon photo contest

Mass Audubon’s annual statewide photography contest is back, encouraging shutterbugs of all ages and backgrounds to take their best shots of the Bay State’s natural beauty. Now in its 14th year, the Picture This: Your Great Outdoors competition will run through Saturday, Sept. 30. Subject categories include People in Nature, Birds, Mammals, Other Animals, Landscapes, and Plants and Fungi. Photographs must have been shot in Massachusetts or at Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp in Rindge, N.H., but can have been taken any time prior to or during the 2023 contest period.

One grand prize winner will be awarded a $250 gift card and a chance to be featured in Mass Audubon’s member newsletter, Explore. Eleven category winners will receive $100 gift cards for a Mass Audubon shop, and at least six honorable mentions will win $50 gift cards. Additional honorable mentions may be awarded at the discretion of the judges. For contest information and submission guidelines, go to massaudubon.org/picturethis.

Drumlin Farm food program receives grant

Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary has received a $20,000 grant from Middlesex Savings Bank to support its food donation program. The sanctuary is also a longtime working farm, and since 2020, it has been providing fresh vegetables to groups and communities living with food insecurity. Last year it donated nearly 30,000 pounds of more than 60 types of fruit and vegetables to area organizations. Drumlin Farm’s crop fields also supply produce for its community-supported agriculture program, farmers markets, and restaurants.

The Natick-based Middlesex Savings Bank’s Charitable Foundation has made grants to hundreds of nonprofits that support programs throughout the greater Metro West region, with a focus on at-risk families and individuals and other critical community services. “To grow food, we must pay our farmers, buy seed, supplement the soil, maintain equipment, and do all other tasks, both large and small, related to keeping our farm running. Donor support allows us to redirect a portion of the harvest towards relieving food insecurity,” said Scott McCue, Mass Audubon Director for Metro West wildlife sanctuaries. To support the Food Donation Program, please click here.

Missing cat – now a few sizes smaller – is reunited with family

August 3, 2023

Evena, who was once what you might call well-padded, went on a strict diet and now looks great— but the slenderizing certainly wasn’t intentional.

Evena is a three-year-old calico cat who went missing from her Willarch Road home in mid-May. As an indoor-outdoor cat, she was free to come and go through a window in the basement, but she usually returned each night — until she didn’t, which “wasn’t like her,” owner Melissa Hallowell said.

Hallowell tried to figure out where Evena had gotten to. Maybe she had stowed away in one of road construction vehicles that was being used for repairs on nearby Route 126, or was frightened by their noise and wandered farther off than usual. She made “lost cat” posters and put them up in the neighborhood. A couple of neighbors told her early on that they had seen the cat, but as more time went by, Hallowell began to fear the worst.

“I was 85% sure that a predator had gotten her,” she said.

The family was starting to accept the fact they might never see Evena again. But all that changed one night in late June when a neighbor called to say he’d heard meowing while on a walk earlier in the day and then spotted the cat — sitting behind a window screen of an apparently vacant house on Route 126. He snapped a photo (see below) and sent it to Hallowell, who immediately started trying to track down keys to the house. But that turned out to be unnecessary. When her husband came home that night, he simply walked over to the house, removed the screen, “and she jumped into his arms, she said.

The Hallowells aren’t sure how Evena got into the house or why she couldn’t get out by herself, but they did learn later that it had a leaky bathtub faucet, which apparently gave the cat enough to drink over the five weeks she was missing. No food was to be had, however, but she had enough fat to see her through. Not surprisingly, when she was reunited with her family, “she was half her size,” Hallowell said. “She looked like an adolescent cat again — it was like turning back the clock.”

Aside from the enforced weight loss, Evena (now an indoor-only cat) was none the worse for wear, though her voice was hoarse for about two weeks. Being corralled for a checkup at the vet has also made her somewhat wary — she often now hides in the basement.

“This is the value of listening when you walk,” Hallowell said, noting that they may not have rescued the cat in time if their neighbor hadn’t heard meowing and wondered where it was coming from. Hallowell herself had walked by the same house several times, and though she never heard Evena, “I always got a weird feeling of her presence.”

Police Chief Kennedy to retire in December

August 2, 2023

Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy

After more than 30 years with the Lincoln Police Department, Police Chief Kevin Kennedy will retire at the end of the year.

Kennedy informed Town Administrator Tim Higgins of his plans to retire as of December 15 in a letter dated July 10. During his 31 years in the department, he rose through the ranks from patrol officer to juvenile officer, inspector/court officer and lieutenant. In 2014 he was named chief upon the retirement of Kevin Mooney.

Kennedy was an early advocate of Fair and Impartial Policing aimed at reducing implicit bias among officers, and he recently led the Lincoln Police Department through a rigorous independent review process resulting in full accreditation by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, Higgins noted.

“Kevin has provided steady and compassionate leadership of the department,” Higgins said in an email. “Leading by example, he helped instill a service-oriented police culture. He treats all people fairly and expects the same of his department. At a time when confidence in law enforcement around the country has been shaken, Kevin Kennedy has done everything within his power to earn the trust of the people of Lincoln. He will be missed. His Lincoln family wishes him a happy and healthy retirement.”

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the people of Lincoln for 31 years. During my tenure, the Town took a chance on me, and I was afforded so many opportunities which furthered my career and personal growth. It was truly my good fortune to have worked alongside some exceptional people not only internally, but externally as well. Town employees, residents, colleagues on various boards and committees, and other law enforcement agencies all contributed to making me who I am today,” Kennedy wrote in his letter.

“The Lincoln community will always have a special place in my heart, I grew up here. I was welcomed and supported by so many residents as soon as I came to town. That has never wavered. The people are extraordinary, and the essence of the town is amazing. I could not have imagined working anywhere else.”

Police log for July 25–31, 2023

August 2, 2023

July 25

South Great Road (12:55 a.m.) — A caller reported hearing a possible drone in the area. The noise could have been caused by street line painting.

Lincoln Road (10:21 a.m.) — A resident reported seeing a suspicious person on their property. Police confirmed it was Fire Department personnel checking the residence for a reported car fire.

July 26

Mary’s Way (11:41 a.m.) — Police and fire personnel checked the area of Mary’s Way and Route 2 for a reported vehicle fire, but no fire was located.

Mary’s Way (4:26 p.m.) — Lincoln Police assisted an outside agency in an attempt to locate an individual. That person no longer resides in Lincoln.

Old Town Hall Exchange (5:23 p.m.) — Police were called to the post office for a window that was accidentally left open.

July 27

South Great Road (2:25 p.m.) — Police received a report of a deer strike on or near the railroad crossing at Route 117. An officer located the deceased deer approximately 40 yards from the roadway. The MBTA was notified.

July 28

Indian Camp Lane (9:18 a.m.) — An individual spoke with an officer regarding a stolen check.

Tower Field Lane (11:29 a.m.) — The MBTA called to report that the railroad crossing gates on Tower Road were malfunctioning and stuck in the down position. An officer arrived and observed the gates were up and appeared to be working appropriately. The MBTA said Keolis would respond.

Greenridge Lane (12:54 p.m.) — An individual spoke to an officer regarding potential animal abuse. Both the officer and the Animal Control Officer will follow up.

July 29

South Great Road (8:15 a.m.) —Concord Police requested assistance in closing a portion of Route 117. The Road was reopened a short time later.

Lincoln Road (1:58 p.m.) — An officer spoke to two motorists regarding a road rage incident occurring in Lincoln. The operators were advised.

South Great Road (4:47 p.m.) — A resident reported their dog was missing. A short time later, another resident called to report an unknown dog appeared in their yard. The owner and dog were reunited.

Lincoln Road (9:20 p.m.) — An officer checked on a vehicle that was parked behind Doherty’s Garage. The vehicle belonged to an employee.

July 30

Mount Misery parking lot (8:33 p.m.) — A motorist reported seeing a raccoon lying in the roadway. The motorist believed the animal was still alive and had relocated the animal to the wooded area to the side of the road. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the animal.

July 31

Virginia Road (1:00 p.m.) — A resident reported damage to a storage container. An officer responded.