Susan Hall Mygatt took these photos and video of Lincoln’s July 4 parade before the rains came.
Lewis hired as assistant superintendent for Lincoln schools
Torrance Lewis
Torrance Lewis, who has been principal of the Baker (K-8) School in Brookline since 2019, will become Assistant Superintendent of the Lincoln Public School District beginning July 15 after the School Committee approved the appointment recommended by incoming Superintendent Parry Graham on June 29.
Lewis has more than 23 years of experience in middle-level learning, elementary education, K-8 schools, and educational leadership. He was an assistant principal in both Belmont and Nantucket public schools, and he has been a teacher and program coordinator in multiple schools in Massachusetts, Georgia, and Brazil (where he had the opportunity to work directly with military families).
“Torrance’s references described him over and over as a strategic and creative thinker; as someone who builds relationships with students, staff, and families; as someone who is visible both in schools and in the community; and as someone who is committed to AIDE work,” Graham said in a July 5 communication.
Lewis was one of three finalists for the job (the others were Laryssa Doherty, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Engagement in the Malden Public Schools, and Sara Hosmer, a K-5 principal in the Randolph Public Schools). He will succeed Assistant Superintendent Jessica Rose, who left for a role as education senior program officer at the Barr Foundation.
Police log for June 23–July 4, 2023
June 23
Wells Road (12:45 p.m.) — Court paperwork was served in hand.
Old Cambridge Turnpike (2:24 p.m.) — Police responded to a residence for a neighbor/tenant dispute. No action was taken.
Lincoln Road (9:15 p.m.) — Hanscom Air Force Base called to alert Lincoln police about their fireworks show.
North Great Road (10:54 pm.) — A motorist reported seeing an individual walking on the side of Route 2A who looked to be in distress. The area was checked but no one was observed matching the description provided.
June 24
Minute Man Visitor center parking lot (1:57 a.m.) — Two vehicles were observed occupied in the Minuteman Visitor Center parking lot. The operators were advised and were soon on their way.
Bedford Road (2:13 a.m.) — An officer observed a vehicle in the driveway with its hazard lights activated. The officer spoke to the residents regarding the vehicle.
Concord Road (7:57 a.m. — Police received notification of a one-vehicle crash at the Walden Pond boat ramp. Massachusetts State Police took control of the incident.
Trapelo Road (9:23 a.m.) — A resident reported that their vehicle had been stolen from their driveway sometime after 7:30 p.m. the night before. An investigation is ongoing.
Trapelo Road (10:47 p.m.) — A caller reported a possible illegally parked vehicle. The vehicle had been parked on an adjacent property by a resident.
Winter Street (7:48 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing a possible motorcycle crash on Winter Street. An officer checked the area but did not see a crash.
Wells Road (7:50 p.m.) — An individual spoke to an officer regarding possible digital harassment.
June 25
Lincoln Police Department (4:13 p.m.) — A cyclist reported being passed within the 4-foot passing distance on Codman Road. The cyclist spoke to an officer, who attempted to locate the vehicle.
Old Cambridge Turnpike (4:15 p.m.) — An officer spoke to an individual regarding a tenant/landlord dispute.
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (11:37 p.m.) — A motorist reported being broken down on the side of Route 2. Massachusetts State Police were notified.
June 26
Nothing of note.
June 27
Wells Road (10:14 a.m.) — An individual spoke to an officer regarding a possible restraining order.
Bypass Road (1:49 p.m.) — A two-car crash occurred when a vehicle exited the driveway of a residence heading west and was struck from behind by a vehicle traveling west. The second vehicle required a tow from the scene. The operator was issued a citation for failing to yield.
Wells Road (1:18 p.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding a possible fraudulent employment scheme.
Wells Road (3:36 p.m.) — An attempt was made to serve court paperwork.
Bedford Road (5:21 p.m.) — An individual came to the police station to report a male bleeding from the head. The Fire Department checked on the individual, who refused medical attention.
Storey Drive (11:00 p.m.) — Police responded to the area for the report of possible gunshots. The area was checked but nothing was found.
June 28
Aspen Circle (11:06 a.m.) — A resident came to the station to speak to an officer regarding a possible harassment incident.
Scott Circle, Hanscom AFB (3:21 p.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding an unemployment fraud.
Lincoln Cemetery, Lexington Road (4:11 p.m.) — Officers responded to the cemetery for two individuals arguing. Officers spoke to both parties who went on their way.
221 Southfield Road, Concord (6:56 p.m.) — The fire department responded to the town of Concord on a mutual-aid request for a lightning strike. The Lincoln Fire Department was cleared a short time after.
Old Sudbury Road (9:16 p.m.) — A caller reported a vehicle off to the side of the road with its hazard lights activated. An officer located the vehicle. The operator reported they did not feel well and had pulled over for a brief period.
June 29
Sandy Pond Road (11:04 a.m.) — The Water Department alerted the police to a makeshift shelter on conservation land near Flint’s Pond. The area was unoccupied.
June 30
Oak Knoll Road (1:54 a.m.) — An officer noticed an open garage door. The homeowner was notified.
Trapelo Road (4:18 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a female carrying a musket in the area of Town Hall. An officer located the female and confirmed they were a member of the Lincoln Minutemen preparing for Fourth of July events.
July 1
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (3:19 a.m.) — An officer was flagged down and alerted to a crash on Route 2 in Concord. Massachusetts State Police were notified.
Oriole Landing (8:53 am.) — An officer responded for a dispute between residents and their dogs. A report was filed and the Animal Control Officer was notified.
Old Sudbury Road (9:26 a.m.) — A resident called to report a bat was discovered sleeping on their couch. The resident was advised to seal the room, open windows, and await further instruction from the Animal Control Officer.
Wells Road (2:16 p.m.) — A caller reported vandalism to their motor vehicle. An officer responded and took a report.
Lincoln Road (4:54 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Upland Field Road. A vehicle had stopped to turn left when it was struck from behind by a motorcycle. The operator of the vehicle was uninjured; the operator of the motorcycle was transported to Lahey Hospital. The motorcycle sustained severe damage and was towed form the scene.
South Great Road (10:14 p.m.) — A resident captured what they believed to be fireworks on their Ring camera near the Concord town line. An officer checked the area but nothing was found.
July 2
Nothing of note.
July 3
Trapelo Road (5:37 p.m.) — A two-vehicle crash was reported at the intersection of Trapelo Road and Old County Road. A truck was traveling east on Trapelo Road when a vehicle failed to yield as it was traveling south on Old County Road. As the vehicle crossed in front of the truck’s path, the truck collided with the vehicle. Both vehicles were heavily damaged. The operator of the vehicle struck by the truck was cited for failing to yield and transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (10:41 p.m.) — Lincoln police and fire units responded for a two-vehicle crash. State Police were notified.
July 4
Ryan Estate, Lincoln Road (11:00 a.m.) — A well-being check was requested for a resident. The resident was not home at the time.
North Great Road (5:07 p.m.) — A third-party caller reported a road rage incident between two motorists. The area was checked but no involved vehicles were located. Massachusetts State Police were notified.
Airport Road (6:09 p.m.) — Electrical service to the area was disabled when a tree took out power lines and caused a transformer to explode near the Visitor Center. Eversource and Minute Man National Park were notified.
Property sales in April 2023
140 Lincoln Rd. #111 — Correia Family Limited Partnership to Elizabeth Szekely for $575,000 (April 29)
38 Lincoln Rd. — Matthew Cummings to Thomas and Hayley Wilcox for $1,623,000 (April 28)
110 Concord Rd. — Frank Forti to MDEpaula LLC for $780,000 (April 21)
80 Trapelo Rd. — Anthony Buendia to Kevin Kingman and Abigail Wattley for $2,447,500 (April 14)
21 Blackburnian Rd. — Mary Williamson to Mario Chiuccariello and the 21 Blackburnian Rd. Nominee Trust for $2,400,000 (April 14)
My Turn: CCBC offers revised site plans but no cost estimates
By Lynne Smith
Editor’s note: the CCBC’s next regular meetings (Zoom only) are scheduled for July 26 and August 16 at 7:30 p.m. See the CCBC home page for Zoom links.
At the June 28 Community Center Building Committee meeting, ICON offered three new site plans that differed significantly from the earlier plans — the parking was located in front of the main building, not behind it. This major change delighted many of us who were concerned about the loss of the green space if the parking lot were placed behind the building. While no cost estimates are available yet, project manager Mark McKivitz suggested that this new plan might reduce the cost of the site work, which had been estimated at $3.5 million for all earlier plans. McKivitz noted that the cost estimate for the new plans would take about three weeks to develop.
The committee offered additional data for Council on Aging event attendance, though several people at the meeting complained that the numbers seemed inflated to justify larger spaces and thus a larger building. Committee member Alison Taunton-Rigby voiced concerns about the building size and said she will continue to study the issue over the summer months. Dennis Picker pointed out that almost 2,000 square feet was earmarked for reception areas, lobbies, waiting spaces and offices occupied only part-time. In contrast, committee member Dilla Tingley noted that she thinks we need to build space for future use as the Lincoln population ages. She also said that other towns that built new community centers experienced a sharp increase in attendance. These are complex issues and it was good to hear them openly addressed by the committee members as well as residents at the meeting.
Despite these concerns, the committee voted to “accept” rather than “approve” the attendance numbers for ICON’s continued work during the summer. If these numbers are used, the building space required for COA&HS, PRD, LEAP, and maintenance appears to be a total of 20,000 square feet — some in renovated buildings and some in new construction. With costs per square foot at about $1,100, the building size is of serious concern.
All in all, the new site plans show that the architects and the committee members are listening to the public. Personally, I want to see a plan that comes in at or below the 50% option, which is about $12.5 million. I think a plan at that cost level will pass at the town vote. I fear that the higher levels will fail. ICON has their work for the summer cut out for them.
CCBC will hold one meeting in July and one meeting in August with ICON. These meetings will set the stage for more detailed plans for the September 30 State of the Town meeting. I urge everyone to attend the July and August meetings and sign up for emails from CCBC here.
“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
Get outdoors during RiverFest Summer 2023
RiverFest is the annual celebration of the federally protected Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic Rivers, with six weeks of guided paddles, interpretive walks, art installations, and kids’ activities from July 1 to August 13. Events will be hosted on and along the rivers highlighting the historic, recreational, scenic, and ecological values of our rivers. Click here for a full list of activities.
Meet and eat at The Food Project
The Food Project invites everyone to its annual Farm Lunch on Wednesday, July 12 at the intersection of Baker Bridge Road and Route 126. Learn informally about TFP’s mission and programming, including through conversations with teenage members of Root Crew, professional farmers, and regional directors. Arrive by noon for a walking tour of the farm. A complimentary buffet lunch including vegetarian options featuring items from the farm will be provided at 12:30 p.m. as everyone gathers at picnic tables or under the pavilion. While philanthropic support of The Food Project is always welcomed, there is no expectation of a donation associated with these community building events. Due to limited capacity, RSVP is required; email jsoto@thefoodproject.org.
Rubik’s cube workshops
Always wanted to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube? Now’s your chance! Learn about “speed cubing” and how to solve a 3×3 cube at workshops hosted by the Lincoln Public Library on Mondays, July 10, 17, and 24 from 6–8 p.m. Best for ages 8+. Participants are encouraged to sign up for all three sessions. Registration required as space is limited; email dshaver@minlib.net to register. Made possible by the Friends of the Lincoln Library.
Morris dancers coming to Lincoln
The American Traveling Morrice brings the Morris dance (an English country tradition with roots in medieval street theater) to a new geographical region each summer. The dancers, with small bells strapped to their legs, leap through complex figures accompanied by the music of the accordion, fiddle, or the ancient pipe and tabor. They will appear twice in Lincoln on Monday, July 24: at the deCordova Sculpture Park at 3:15 p.m. and in South Lincoln behind Donelan’s at 5:30 p.m. They will also appear that week in Sudbury, Concord, Maynard and other area towns; click here for the full schedule.
Lincolnites are awarded diplomas
- Christopher Harrison received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Hamilton College on May 21.
- Iris Sodowick received a Bachelors of Arts degree in psychological science from Hobart and William Smith Colleges on Sunday, May 21. Sodowick, the daughter of Adam C. Sodowick, studied abroad in Galway, Ireland while at HWS.
Committee seeks new at-large member
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, which works to improve safety for walkers and bikers in Lincoln, is looking for a new at-large member. Current BPAC work includes:
- Implementing and maintaining the Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan
- Advising on infrastructure work such as Complete Streets, DPW and MassDOT projects
- Organizing biking and walking education events such as Walk/Bike/Roll to School and the e-bike demo
- Conducting outreach around Massachusetts laws as they pertain to biking and walking
The BPAC meets monthly, generally on the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Members also attend other town meetings as interested and available, including Transportation Coalition, Roadway & Traffic Committee, walk/bike events, and project-specific meetings. Click here for more information.
My Turn: Food pantry needs help with non-food items
By Karen Boyce
Summer is here and our donations, both monetary and grocery, are down. We have had to take a hard look at what we offer our clients and cut back on some areas. We are limiting dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper and laundry detergent and are focusing solely on providing protein foods, dairy, and fresh vegetables to our many clients. Local farmers are donating produce and eggs to us through the Lincoln Agriculture Commission. We are so thankful!
Please, at this very tentative time of year, consider making a donation to us. You can send a check to us at St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lincoln and Weston, PO Box 324, Lincoln, MA. You might add on the check that it is for the food pantry.
Would you rather donate a product? Costco is having a sale on paper towels! We also need small laundry detergent and small bottles of dish soap — toilet paper, too. You can leave the donations on the porch of the St. Joseph house, right beside the food pantry at 142 Lincoln Road (rear) in the blue bins. Even one bottle of dish soap helps us out. And as always, salad dressings, mayonnaise, and cereals are things we just cannot keep on the shelves. They are on sale everywhere. Thank you for your generosity. Happy Fourth of July!
Karen Boyce is chair of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lincoln and Weston food pantry.
“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.
Homer Eckhardt passes away at age 98
Homer Eckhardt
Homer David Eckhardt, 98, of Lincoln died peacefully in his sleep on June 26, 2023. He was the loving husband for 54 years of Beverly Hillmann Eckhardt, with whom he had recently moved to the Residence at Paine Estate in Wayland.
Homer was born in Rochester, N.Y., and attended public schools. A lifelong engineer by profession as well as by temperament, he entered the Class of 1945 at the MIT but interrupted his studies to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He completed his Bachelor of Science at MIT, where he was also awarded a Master of Science in aeronautics and astronautics in 1948. He continued his work for two years at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory.
After work opportunities took him to Minneapolis, Minn., and Binghamton, N.Y., Homer returned to Massachusetts, where he lived for the rest of his life. He was a founding member of Brown’s Wood in Lincoln, where he moved with his late first wife, Mary Grinnell, and their first two daughters into a beautiful modern house surrounded by trees. He maintained an active interest in his neighborhood association, town affairs, and the public school system.
During his long career, Homer applied his expertise to a range of engineering challenges. For nearly three decades he worked in aeronautical systems controls at RCA Aerospace Systems Division in Burlington. Then, at Rockwell Industries in Hopedale, he designed improvements to increase the speed and reduce the noise of textile manufacturing equipment. At this time he became active in the Acoustical Society of America. His final full-time job at Polaroid was followed by a period of consulting.
Homer was a lifelong learner who enthusiastically shared his knowledge and constructive ways of thinking with colleagues, family and friends alike. During his years as a consultant, he was delighted to also serve as adjunct professor in mechanical engineering at Tufts University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His textbook Kinematic Design of Machines and Mechanisms was published in 1998 to lead his students and other engineers into a deeper understanding of the design of mechanical systems.
Homer supported the arts and loved to design and build things in his basement shop. Furniture and clocks he made could be found throughout his home. He also enjoyed constructing models to demonstrate mathematical and mechanical concepts he was exploring and teaching.
Beginning with hiking and skiing adventures in college, outdoor sports were an activity Homer enjoyed, introducing to his children and sharing with friends and family throughout his life. He particularly enjoyed long-distance bicycling, including riding with the Northeast Bicycle Club in the 1980s. Well into his nineties, he was fondly known by his neighbors for his daily walks up and down the hilly roads of his neighborhood.
Homer was brother to the late Joan E. Cody. He is survived by his wife, Beverly H. Eckhardt; his daughters Margaretha M. Eckhardt of Waltham, Juliana E. Huljack of Stockton, N.J., and Anneliese M.E. Pugh of Alna, Maine; his sons Jason C. Eckhardt of New Bedford, Mass., and Kris G. Eckhardt of Westbrook, Maine; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
A private graveside service will be held for the immediate family at Lincoln Cemetery. At a later date, the family will announce a memorial service to which all are invited. In lieu of flowers, donations in Homer Eckhardt’s memory may be made to one of the following:
MIT Undergraduate Scholarships Fund
P.O. Box 412926
Boston MA 02241-2926
Attention: Memorial Gifts Office
American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry St.
Philadelphia PA 19102
Philadelphia PA 19102
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. To share a memory or to offer a condolence in his online guestbook, please click here.
Town unveils draft Climate Action Plan
The town is kicking off the summer review period of its draft Climate Action Plan at a virtual event on Thursday, June 29 from 7–8 p.m. Residents are invited to learn more about the plan and the strategies to reduce carbon emissions and increase the community’s resilience to climate change impacts (click here to register).
The plan — which was developed by Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use Jennifer Curtin and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council along the lines of other towns’ climate action plans — lists Lincoln’s climate action goals and groups strategies into six categories:
- Energy
- Mobility
- Built environment
- Working land and natural resources
- Water and solid waste
- Social resilience
More than 200 strategy ideas were received from community engagement activities during the spring that included workshops, focus groups and a survey. After public review this summer, the final draft will be submitted to the Select Board for approval in the fall.
When the plan was presented to the Select Board on June 26, board member Kim Bodnar was intrigued by one of the proposed strategies: establishing an “ambassador program” to help residents understand and access grants for weatherization, building energy retrofits, adoption of solar power, battery storage, etc. “Is it like a Geek Squad for green folks?” she asked. “That would be incredibly helpful — sometimes people just don’t know.”
“We heard from folks that they would rather hear [about steps they could take] from their neighbors rather than Mass Save or people who want to sell you things,” Curtin said. The ambassador program “is my #1 focus… it’s really impactful and not an expensive thing for the town to do.”
Board member Jim Hutchinson asked whether the town would need more staffing to carry out various elements of the plan, which will also involve extensive grant application writing. “We’re going to have to give some serious consideration to that when we have a real solid sense of priorities and timeline,” Town Administrator Tim Higgins replied.
“A lot of this stuff is kind of aspirational” and will involve more detailed feasibility studies, cost/benefit analyses and data gathering, Curtin added.
More information on the draft Climate Action Plan:
- MAPC summary presentation
- PowerPoint presentation to the Select Board
- Executive summary of the plan
- Full text of the plan
Police log for June 15–22, 2023
June 15
Lincoln Road (1:27 p.m.) — A parking ticket was issued at the commuter lot.
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (8:17 p.m.) — An officer responded for a report of illegal dumping of construction materials on private property.
June 16
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (8:05 a.m.) — An additional report of illegal dumping occurred at another private property location. Lincoln police, the DPW, and the Conservation Department are aware and investigating.
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (7:59 p.m.) — A 911 caller reported a male appearing disoriented by the I-95 overpass on Route 2. State police and Lexington police were notified.
Twin Pond Lane (7:04 pm.) — An individual requested to speak with an officer regarding suspicious phone calls.
Tower Road (10:55 p.m.) —Police and fire personnel responded to a residence for a residential lockout.
June 17
Sandy Pond Road (3:22 p.m.) — A motorist reported a strong odor of natural gas in the area. National Grid was notified. The Fire Department metered the area but no measurable readings of gas were detected.
Autumn Lane (3:42 p.m.) — An individual recovered a loose dog. They were given contact information for Animal Control.
Pierce House (10:25 p.m.) — A resident from Beaver Pond Road called regarding music coming from the Pierce House. An officer responded to the Pierce House; all was quiet upon arrival.
June 18
Between 6:09 p.m. and 10:34 p.m., police received seven alarms from the town well on Tower Road. The Water Department reported that a remote telemetry unit failed, which took out communication with the treatment plant. Staff had to monitor the storage tank level manually overnight and turn on the treatment plant by hand. The event did not affect water quality or availability.
June 19
Trapelo Road (8:58 p.m.) — A number of youths were advised that there was no fishing allowed at the Cambridge Reservoir.
Winter Street (11:07 p.m.) — A minor motor vehicle crash occurred at the hospice house when a vehicle struck another as it was backing out of a parking space. An officer assisted parties with exchanging information.
June 20
Hanscom Drive (7:26 p.m.) — Ever Ferreras, 21, of Lawrence was taken into custody by the Lincoln police after being detained by Hanscom Air Force Security Forces on two outstanding warrants. After booking, he was brought to Concord District Court.
Bedford Road (1:01 p.m.) — Police responded to a residence for a missing child under the age of 12. The child was located shortly after the officers arrived.
June 21
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (9:15 a.m.) — Multiple 911 calls were received for a vehicle fire on Route 2. The Lincoln Fire Department and state police responded.
Hanscom Air Force Base (9:37 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Force notified the Lincoln police of a male recording the outside of the military installation. When approached by Hanscom personnel, the male fled on foot. Police assisted Hanscom with a check of the area but were unable to locate the individual.
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (5:09 p.m.) —Police received a call regarding a male walking on Route 2 near Crosby’s Corner. A short time later, Concord police notified Lincoln police that they were speaking with the individual.
161 Lincoln Road (6:33 p.m.) — Police were called to Country Pizza for an individual causing a scene. Officers responded and were able to de-escalate. The individual was asked to leave after paying for some damaged property.
Pierce House (8:05 p.m.) — An officer responded to the Pierce House to assist a motorist with exchanging information after a minor motor vehicle crash in the parking lot.
June 22
North Great Road (3:14 p.m.) — Several calls were received regarding a garbage truck depositing trash as it made its way west on Route 2A. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate the truck. A Concord police officer later located the trash truck on Route 2.
South Great Road (3:38 p.m.) — A caller reported following a vehicle that was having difficulty maintaining control on South Great Road. The operators stopped and had a confrontation on South Great Road eastbound shortly before the railroad crossing. Officers arrived and determined that the operator in question had struck the mirror of a passing vehicle. The operator was cited for a marked lanes violation and their vehicle was towed from the scene.
Concord Road (5:54 p.m.) — An officer located a disabled motor vehicle near South Great Road. The operator had a co-worker coming to assist and the vehicle posed no hazard.