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

Property sales in May 2023

8C North Commons — Shanshan Yue to Aditi Agashe and Radhakrishnan Srinivasan for $445,000 (May 30)

82 Virginia Rd. #A102 — Anne Coyle to Harold Posgate for $216,706 (May 31)

47 Deerhaven Rd. — Thomas Griggs Jr. to Clary Realty Trust for $1,100,000 (May 1)

24 Sandy Pond Rd. — Geoffrey Hargreaves Heald to Douglas A. Melton Trust and Gail A. O’Keefe Trust for $1,950,000 (May 31)

58 Weston Rd. — Joachim Fruebis Trust to Vincent Roche 2004 Trust for $3,250,000 (May 1)

139 South Great Rd. — Lawrence B. Cohen Trust to Ethan Litman and Cara Sunberg for $1,007,000 (May 8)

140 Lincoln Rd. #115 — Mary S. Cancian Trust to Kathleen Stewart for $418,000 (May 8)

136 Weston Rd. — Jude McColgan to 126 Weston Rd. Nominee Trust for $2,480,000 (May 31)

194 Lincoln Rd. — Umar Ashad to Benjamin Shiller and Laurie Gray for $1,920,000 (May 16)

300 South Great Rd. — Daniel A. Nelson to Robert Haslinger and Rheinila Fernandes for $1,764,750 (May 11)

Daniel C. Boynton, 1934–2023

Dan Boynton

Daniel Chase Boynton, 89, a visionary leader, compassionate advocate, and founder of Bay Cove Human Services, passed away on July 17 due to complications from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Dan’s entrepreneurial spirit, impact on the community, and pioneering work in the field of mental health services for underserved populations will long be remembered.

Born on July 2, 1934 in Providence, R.I., Dan’s path was not predetermined; rather, it found him along the way. While his passion for audio technology led him to establish Audio Lab and become a pioneer in the home stereo business, it was his empathy, compassion, and deep-rooted belief that “there are no throwaway people” that ultimately guided him toward a greater purpose.

After selling Audio Lab in 1973, Dan spent two years as owner and publisher of the Provincetown Advocate, where he transformed the newspaper’s mission by giving voice to the LGBTQ community and the emerging feminist movement. He recognized Provincetown as a haven for the LGBTQ community during a crucial time when gay rights uprisings were sweeping across the nation.

In 1975, Dan’s life took a defining turn. Having survived his own childhood trauma and recognizing the unmet needs of individuals facing post-traumatic, mental health and substance abuse, Dan founded Bay Cove Human Services, a nonprofit organization committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to those most in need. Dan’s tireless efforts to break down barriers, reduce stigma, and promote inclusivity propelled the organization from a single program in Dorchester to dozens of programs serving thousands across the greater Boston area.

Dan and his wife Janet have been members of the Lincoln community since 1976. He was an active and committed member of the First Parish in Lincoln, where he served as chair of the Parish Committee and co-chair of the Social Concerns Committee. He was also a founding member of FPL’s community garden, providing fresh produce for local food programs.

Dan’s work at Bay Cove inspired Tucker Smith, a fellow parishioner at FPL, to establish “Fifty Families,” a heartwarming initiative that gathers hundreds of Christmas gifts each year for underserved children in Bay Cove’s Early Intervention program.

Dan is survived by his loving wife Janet and their children Carol, Wendy, Peter, and David; his twin brother Dick, and older brother Hal. He was also the proud grandfather of Rowan, Greg, Will, John, Lindsey, and Sage. His family was a constant source of love and support throughout his life and shares his passion for making a positive impact on the world.

A memorial service to honor Dan Boynton’s life and achievements will be held at First Parish in September. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to CurePSP (psp.org) or Bay Cove Human Services (www.baycovehumanservices.org). Dan donated his brain tissue to Mayo Clinic’s CurePSP research, ensuring that his legacy of helping others would extend beyond his lifetime.

John A. Pike passes away at age 92

John A. Pike

John A. Pike of Lincoln passed away on July 19, 2023 at the age of 92. The cause of death was complications from Parkinson’s disease.

A graduate of Williams College and Harvard Law School, John chose to devote many years of service to Belmont Hill School, which held a special place in his heart from the days when he attended with Dixon, his younger brother, great friend, and hockey teammate.

Following his retirement from Ropes & Gray after 36 years as a corporate and real estate lawyer, he worked with the Conservation Law Foundation on issues of the environment and public interest until his health prevented him from continuing with his work.

An avid hockey fan, particularly of the Boston Bruins, and a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, he exemplified dignity, integrity, and fortitude, and, while gracious and respectful, he was a man who did not shrink from whatever responsibilities and challenges life presented. John was comfortable in the corporate world but happiest when he was splitting wood and driving his tractor on some project around his family property in Randolph, Vt., or enjoying fun and games with his family, particularly his grandchildren.

He reluctantly leaves behind his beloved wife and constant companion of 65 years, Polly, his five children, his 10 grandchildren, and many friends and admirers, all of whom will cherish memories of his calm demeanor, sage advice, dry sense of humor, possibly his mischievous side, and definitely his hands, which were warm and strong to the end.

A private service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in John’s online guestbook, please click here.

House and car break-ins seen in Lincoln and other towns

A July 9 house break-in and burglary on Davison Drive appears to be part of a regional pattern, according to Lincoln police, who also noted an uptick of car break-ins and thefts.

“The region has seen a significant number of house breaks where the victims are of an Indian or Asian descent. This trend is not just being seen in Massachusetts, but all over the country,” Lincoln police said in a statement. “The burglars are focusing on jewelry and cash inside the home. These groups appear to be very well organized. This is Lincoln’s first of this nature, however several area towns have experienced them in Weston, Wellesley, Natick, Easton, North Attleboro, and Hopkinton. The losses in these house breaks have been significant. We urge residents to use their burglar alarms and video surveillance systems, let their neighbors know that they’re going to be away, and report any suspicious activity. We continue to be in contact with local, state, and federal partners regarding the investigation.”

Police also received reports on the morning of July 13 that the cars of residents on Concord Road and Bedford Road had been broken into and gone through. The cars were all unlocked, though nothing was stolen from them.

“The area has seen an uptick in cars getting broken into which are unlocked. If the keys are found to be inside, the thieves are stealing the cars,” Lincoln police said. “Concord had two cars stolen the same night of our car breaks, and we had a car stolen a couple weeks ago [on Trapelo Road on the night of June 23]. We remind residents to lock their cars and report any suspicious activity.”

Police log for July 5–13, 2023

July 5

Huckleberry Hill (9:43 a.m.) — A home health care agency called seeking a well-being check on a resident who wasn’t answering the door. They called back to cancel as they made contact with the resident.

Bypass Road (3:01 p.m.) — A caller requested assistance with an owl in their yard. Resident was referred to Drumlin Farm.

July 6

Lincoln Road (2:30 p.m.) — A caller reported three dogs inside a vehicle and was concerned. An officer responded and spoke to the owner. The dogs were fine.

Baker Bridge Road (8:18 p.m.) — A caller reported a party waving a stick at cars on Baker Bridge Road near Sandy Pond Rd. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate anyone.

July 7

Ridge Road (9:12 a.m.) — A caller requested a well-being check on a resident who they couldn’t get in touch with. An officer responded everything was fine.

Old Cambridge Turnpike (10:03 a.m.) — A caller requested an officer to assist with a civil matter. An officer responded and assisted the residents.

Old Concord Road (11:14 a.m.) — A resident called reported a vehicle parked blocking a fire hydrant. An officer responded and the vehicle was towed.

Wells Road (12:50 p.m.) — Officers responded to a well-being check on a resident. Everything was fine.

Harvest Circle (1:04 p.m.) — Staff members called reported a missing person. Officers investigated and located the resident, who was in the hospital.

Trapelo Road (1:18 p.m.) — An officer located people fishing in the reservoir. They were moved along.

South Commons (3:35 p.m.) — A person came to the station to report that over the past two years, their cars have been scratched and damaged while in the lot. An officer documented the incident.

Hanscom Air Force Base (5:30 p.m.) — A resident turned in ammunition to be destroyed.

July 8

Stratford Way (7:26 a.m.) — A resident called requested a site check of their home. An officer checked the residence and everything was fine.

Wells Road (6:50 p.m.) — A resident called to report someone had sprayed soda on their car time overnight. An officer responded and documented the incident.

July 9

Codman Community Farms (7:18 a.m.) — Police received a report that a sheep was in walking in the roadway. The farmer was contacted and handled the matter.

Ridge Road (10:21 a.m.) — A person came to the station to see if anyone had been complaining about their dog barking at the complex.

Conant Road (11:59 a.m.) — A resident reported that their dog had been bitten by a coyote in their yard. Animal Control was contacted.

South Great Road (1:25 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a coyote near the Weston town line. Animal Control was contacted.

Davison Drive (1:41 p.m.) — A resident reported that their residence was burglarized while they were away. Officers responded and an investigation is ongoing.

Lexington Road, Concord (1:49 p.m.) — Lincoln firefighters assisted the Concord Fire Department at a shed fire in their town.

Baker Bridge Road (3:37 p.m.) — An officer addressed cars parked in the No Parking zone.

Concord Road (4:36 p.m.) — Concord police requested assistance in locating a person involved with several fires in their town. Lincoln officer checked the area but were unable to locate them. The person was later located out of town.

Lexington Road (7:52 p.m.) — A resident reported that individuals knocked on her door and then ran from the area. The juveniles were later identified and their parents were spoken to about the behavior.

July 10

Codman Road (4:33 p.m.) — A caller said they thought they were being followed by a car carrier. While on the phone, the caller reported the vehicle turned off onto a side road and everything was fine.

July 11

Oak Meadow Road (3:07 p.m.) — Concord police requested assistance in locating a person who may have been involved in a minor crash in their town. An officer responded and the person was not at the Lincoln residence.

Sandy Pond Road (6:51 p.m.) — An officer checked on someone fishing at the pump house. The person was advised not to fish and sent on their way.

July 12

Lexington Road (11:55 a.m.) — A caller reported discarded Amazon boxes along the side of the roadway. An officer located the boxes, which had been there for a significant amount of time.

Indian Camp Lane (12:30 p.m.) — Police and fire personnel responded for a well-being check. Officers made contact with the party and everything was fine.

Lincoln Road (1:06 p.m.) — The Fire Department assisted a resident with a house lockout.

Colonial Place, Hanscom AFB (2:10 p.m.) — An officer took a fraud report. It was later determined to have happened out of state.

Wells Road (5:05 p.m.) — A person asked an officer to stand by while retrieving items from a residence.

Weston Road (5:51 p.m.) — A caller reported that a vehicle struck a deer along Weston Road. Officers checked the area but the car and deer were gone on arrival.

July 13

Concord Road (8:49 a.m.) — A resident report that their unlocked car was broken into overnight and gone through. No items were stolen.

Bedford Road (9:35 a.m.) — A resident reported that three of their cars were broken into overnight. Nothing was stolen from the cars; all were unlocked.

Old Concord Road (9:32 a.m.) — A resident reported that someone damaged their generator. The damage was found during a service call. An officer responded and took a report.

Ryan Estate (10:08 a.m.) — A resident called to report that someone backed into a lamp post on the property and then left. An officer responded and was able to make contact with the driver, who will handle the matter with the property owner.

Tower Road (12:32 p.m.) — A resident called to complain that a landscaper was parked at their property and refused to leave. An officer responded and spoke to the landscaper, who agreed to move the vehicle.

Old Sudbury Road (3:11 p.m.) — A resident dropped off some ammunition at the station to be destroyed.

News acorns

Summer concerts at Codman Pool

The Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring summer concerts at the Codman Pool on five Wednesday evenings:

Film screening: “Cold War”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “Cold War” (2018) on Thursday, July 20 at 6 p.m. Set against the background of the Cold War in the 1950s in Poland, Berlin, Yugoslavia and Paris, the film directed by Pawel Pawlikowski (88 minutes in Polish with English subtitles) depicts an impossible love story in impossible times.

Food pantry, Lovelane awarded grants

Two Lincoln organizations have received grants from the Sudbury Foundation in its second round of granting for 2023. The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry received $3,000 while the Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program was awarded $10,640 for a pilot program with the Klarman Eating Disorders Center at McLean Hospital. The foundation awarded a total of $887,829 to 42 organizations in this round. In 2022 it distributed $1.78 million in grants and scholarships to students and organizations in Sudbury, organizations in communities surrounding Sudbury focused on children, youth and families, and Massachusetts organizations engaged in farm and local food initiatives. 

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee and the Select Boards of Lincoln and Sudbury announce a vacancy for the position of School Committee member. Anyone interested in applying should complete submit the attached LSSC application to Donna Cakert, District Clerk at donna_cakert@lsrhs.net or schoolcom@lsrhs.net. The application deadline is Friday, Aug. 4 at 4 p.m.

Obituaries

Evelyn Harris

Evelyn Harris

Evelyn B. Harris of Old Sudbury Road passed away on July 10, 2023 at the age of 94. Evelyn had resided in Lincoln since 1963 and was known to many Lincoln residents as a pianist, piano teacher, bee-keeper, and nature lover. Interment will be private, with a memorial celebration to be announced later this year. Evelyn is survived by her son David Harris and his wife Amy, both Lincoln residents; her son Glenn Harris and his wife Vicky of Vienna, Va.; and four grandchildren.

Milton Davis

There will be a celebration of the life of Milton Davis, who died on June 11, 2023 at age 86, on Sunday, July 16 from 3–5 p.m. at The Commons in Lincoln. Click here to read his obituary on legacy.com.

E. Laurie Tolman

Dr. E. Laurie Tolman passed away on June 24 at the age of 88. Click here to read his obituary on legacy.com.

The Lincoln Squirrel publishes complete obituaries and photos that are provided by funeral homes for a fee. Others are located on legacy.com or provided directly by families.

New zoning option includes more South Lincoln land

Option 7 for rezoning Lincoln to comply with the Housing Choice Act. Not shown is a fifth subdistrict encompassing the Lincoln North office park. (Click image to enlarge).

To comply with the Housing Choice Act, town officials are considering a new multifamily zoning district in addition to those that were previously examined after consultants refocused on the village center in response to feedback at two public forums on June 16 and June 20.

The HCA requires Lincoln to approve new zoning that would allow at least 15 multifamily housing units per acre and a total of 635 units on a total of 42 acres. The final district can include several subdistricts in various locations as long as several requirements are met (i.e., one of the subdistricts must account for at least half of the district’s total land area, 20% of the land must be within half a mile of the commuter rail station, all the land targeted must be developable, and existing properties may not be divided into more than one new zone). 

Five initial subdistricts were presented on June 6. Two combinations of those subdistricts met all state requirements. Both included several South Lincoln parcels around the intersection of the railroad tracks and Lincoln Road. One of them also included a 39-acre Battle Road Farm/Lincoln North/MinuteMan parcel, while the other included a 37-acre Commons of Lincoln/Oriole Landing segment instead.

Two new options discussed at the Housing Choice Act Working Group meeting on June 30 (video here) include subdistricts of various shapes in the South Lincoln village area as well as some land in North Lincoln. One variation, Option 6, probably isn’t viable because it’s uncomfortably close to the minimum HCA requirements around wetlands and other exclusions. “This is sort of a precarious version, threading the needle a little too much,” said Zoë Mueller, an urban planner with consulting firm Utile.

Option 7, which Utile is recommending to the town, includes:

  • Lincoln Woods, which now has 125 units but would be allowed to have up to 159.
  • A Lincoln Road subdistrict encompassing both sides of Lewis Street east to Ryan Estate and 136 Lincoln Rd., including the first rectangular Ridge Road condo building but not the “flying nuns”.
  • A Codman Road subdistrict bounded by Codman Road to the west, Lincoln Road to the north, the railroad tracks to the east, and 108 Codman Rd. to the south. The DPW site is inside that subdistrict but can’t be included in the housing calculation.
  • The Lincoln North office park property, but not Battle Road Farm or other parcels in the area.

None of the proposals that have been discussed include the Lincoln Mall because the HCA says that towns can’t require multifamily housing in commercial districts. In a separate plan, the town hopes to redevelop the mall in partnership with Civico Inc. to as a three-story building with businesses on the ground floor and residences on the two floors above. That rezoning proposal, which may also end up including the Doherty’s Garage property, will require separate voter approval at Town Meeting.

Option 7 “very comfortably”  meets state guidelines, Mueller said. “This was a really good outcome, I think, responding to a lot of the feedback that was provided.”

Some of the earlier ideas would have allowed significantly more total units that the HCA requires, so some of the feedback included questions about “whether we could get closer to what our [minimum] target was,” said Select Board member Jennifer Glass. Others wondered why the proposals included so much land around Oriole Landing and North Lincoln. There is an MBTA bus stop in North Lincoln but the train is far more heavily used by commuters and others, which the HCA aims to encourage.

If approved at Town Meeting in March 2024, the rezoning would allow affected property owners to build (or sell to a developer to build) denser housing on their land, but no one would be required to sell. Construction on the site of an existing condominium development would require approval or sale by every condo owner. Any multifamily development would also be constrained by septic and parking requirements.

News acorns

Virtual session on teen anxiety and mental health

Sara Eldridge, LICSW

The Great Meadows Public Health Collaborative (GMPHC) invites parents and caregivers to “Just Talk About It: Anxiety, Leaving High School, and Adolescent Mental Health,” a virtual program about youth mental health focusing on anxiety and young adults, on Wednesday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m. (click here for the Zoom link). Join clinician Sara Eldridge for a dynamic presentation providing a framework to understand and navigate your young adult’s emotional health, the signs and symptoms of the most prevalent mental health concerns, and how to be an effective support as they transition out of high school. A student will also share her experience with anxiety.

The GMPHC was established through two state grants and includes Bedford, Carlisle, Concord, Lincoln, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston. Its goal is to pool resources, increase staff capacity and expertise, attract additional funding, and deliver better health protections, programs, and outcomes. For more information, contact Regional Public Health Nurse Katie Rines at krines@wayland.ma.us.

Rep. Gentile to hold office hours

State Representative Carmine Gentile (D-Sudbury), whose district includes Lincoln’s Precinct 1, will hold in-person office hours on Friday, July 21 and virtual office hours on Thursday, July 27. In-person meetings will take place at the Sudbury Senior Center (40 Fairbank Road, Sudbury) from 10-11:00 a.m. Virtual meetings will take place via Microsoft Teams video call from 11 am.–12:30 p.m. RSVP is required to attend virtually, and is strongly encouraged to attend in person. Sign up for a 20-minute time slot by emailing Rep. Gentile’s legislative aide, Ravi Simon, at ravi.simon@mahouse.gov. 

Tanglewood trip for seniors

Lincoln residents age 60+ are invited to hear a concert at Tanglewood on Sunday, July 30. Before the show, there will be a brunch at Shortstop Bar & Grill in Westfield. The Boston Symphony Orchestra will play Ellen Reid’s When the World as You’ve Known It Doesn’t Exist, Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Prokofiev’s Suite from Romeo and Juliet. The bus leaves the Donelan’s lot at 9 a.m. and returns at approximately 8 p.m. Sponsored by Friends of the LCOA. Tickets are $120; mail checks made out to “FLCOA Trips” to LCOA&HS Trips, c/o Town Offices, 16 Bedford Rd., Lincoln MA. For more information, call Amy Rettig at 781-259-8811 ext. 102.

Share your thoughts on Climate Action Plan

The Town of Lincoln has developed a 2023 Comprehensive Climate Action Plan and is now seeking feedback from residents through an online survey this summer.

The plan unveiled in late June serves as a framework to help guide the town and its community members towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also advancing community resilience in equitable and sustainable ways. An online dashboard provides a summary of the plan and will be used to track the town’s progress towards its climate goals and strategy. 

L-S School Committee chair resigns

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee Chair Heather Cowap has resigned from the committee, according to the July 7 issue of the Sudbury Weekly. The remaining committee members, along with the chairs of the Sudbury and Lincoln Select Boards, are expected to appoint a new member until the next election.

Proudly on parade

Susan Hall Mygatt took these photos and video of Lincoln’s July 4 parade before the rains came.

74-guns
74-truck
74-signs
74-plane

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.