At the request of author Lynne Smith, the second paragraph of her April 18 “My Turn” piece (“My Turn: CCBC architects tackle forum topics and site analysis“) has been amended to include a specific piece of information she is seeking.
News acorns
LLCT plant sale
The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust sale of plants and plant kits is going on through April. Perennials are sourced from Bagley Pond Perennials, and shrubs and trees from Bigelow’s Nursery and New England Wetland Plants. All species are native, straight species and are pesticide-free. A small fee has been incorporated into our prices to help us defray delivery costs and cover some of the plantings we will add to conservation land. All sales are pre-order and pick up is on Friday, May 19 in Lincoln. You can also donate a plant to support planting efforts at LLCT’s pollinator gardens throughout town. Click here to learn more.
Get ready to pull invasive garlic mustard
It’s neighborhood garlic mustard pull season through June 9, and the Conservation Department and the LLCT are offering paper bags and volunteer group workdays on conservation land. Pick up bags (courtesy of the Lincoln Garden Club) on Wednesday, April 26 from 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 6 from 9 a.m.–noon at the transfer station, or at the Conservation Department and LLCT offices when they’re open. Bring filled bags to the DPW yard on Lewis Street and dispose of them in the designated area. Volunteer work days will be Wednesday, May 10 and Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m.–noon (the second date is also a pollinator planting day. Click here for more information and registration.
Don’t forget to complete the community center survey
Your responses on the Values Survey for the Community Center Building Committee will help the committee to understand the priorities of Lincoln residents as it develops plans for a community center. The deadline is Friday, April 21.
Sculpture Park events on April 22
The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum will host an Earth Day Environmental Sculptures Tour on Saturday, April 22 from 1–2 p.m. focusing on the intersection between art and nature in the park. Each tour is a lively conversation about artists, art-making processes, materials, and deCordova’s rich history. Ask about your favorite sculpture, new acquisition, or the history of campus. Capacity is limited; click here to purchase tickets in advance.
Also on April 22, there will be two sessions on “Spring Floral Sculptures: Workshop with Derby Farms” from 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 1–2:30 pm. Learn how to arrange flowers in three-dimensional, sculptural ways using early spring garden flowers. Click here to register.
Heat Pumps 201
Do you need a new air conditioner? Do you no longer want fossil fuels in the house? Come to “Heat Pumps 201,” the fifth in Lincoln Green Energy’s Getting to Zero series, on Thursday, April 27 at noon. Rob Basnett from Basnett Plumbing will discuss on myths, design issues, and operating recommendations. Register here for the Zoom meeting, which will be recorded. In “Heat Pumps 101” from February 2022, Michael gave an introduction to heat pumps and Brian Pelton from Net Zero HVAC answersed questions. Bob Zogg from the Heat Smart Alliance also gave this presentation last May.
Register for spring T-ball
Parents of PreK and kindergarteners are invited to register their child for T-ball organized by Lincoln’s Travis Roland and Chris Andrysiak. The goal is to teach kids the basic fundamentals of baseball, teamwork, and having fun. Parents are welcome to assist during practice. Opening Day is Saturday, April 29 and the season will run until June 17. They play at Codman Field next to the town pool on Saturdays from 10:15–11:45 a.m. Players will need their own glove but should not bring a bat (they’ll receive a team shirt and hat. For more information, email Roland at travisroland89@yahoo.com.
“Under Milk Wood” performances
WordsMove Theater will present staged readings of “Under Milk Wood: A Play for Voices” by Dylan Thomas directed by Mary Crowe on the following dates:
- Wednesday, May 3 at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library
- Friday, May 5 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall
- Wednesday, May 10 at the Concord Public Library (129 Main St., Concord).
The 1943 play (originally written for radio) is a celebration of life in a small Welsh fishing village, at once moving, hilariously funny, sometimes bawdy and always wildly poetic. Special thanks to Friends of the Lincoln Library for supporting this production. The cast includes Lincolnites Ben Dubrovsky and Sally Kindleberger as well as Crowe. WordsMove Theater was founded in 1993 dedicated to performing poetry and plays by Dylan Thomas in schools, libraries, and arts centers and was recently revived by Crowe, who is also a professional jazz and cabaret singer.
My Turn: CCBC architects tackle forum topics and site analysis
By Lynne Smith
At the CCBC regular meeting on April 12, Mark McKevitz, ICON Architecture project manager, listed the topics raised at the April 4 community forum. The list was daunting and it was good to know that residents’ concerns were heard. I congratulate the CCBC for announcing that more community forums will occur in April, May, and June. This is a brave move in our famously opinionated town! While misunderstandings sometimes arise, the forums create an opportunity for our voices to be heard on this important topic — one that will affect our community and our tax bill for years to come.
Ned Collier, ICON lead architect, said they would release the results of the recent CCBC survey at the April 25 community meeting. CCBC Chair Sarah Chester said they would also provide the programming matrix many of us have been asking for — specifically, I am interested in a list of programs that must be housed in a community center and cannot be housed in existing spaces. (Editor’s note: The CCBC website includes a Draft Programming Matrix listing space wants and needs for various uses, as well as a Decentralized Programming Matrix showing where various programs are currently held.)
Hartwell campus — At the April 12 meeting, Collier spent over an hour describing the Hartwell campus space using mapping overlays to show the perennial stream, gradations of land, impermeable paving, traffic patterns, and the footprint of the existing buildings, (the pods). ICON will refine this preliminary analysis in the next two months in order to generate cost estimates of site preparation for a new or renovated building.
The pods are heavily used for after-school programs and adult fitness classes. These Parks & Recreation Department programs will need to continue at Hartwell. The challenge is how to include the Council on Aging & Human Services into the space. It seems clear that a new or renovated building is needed. What is not clear is how big a structure is required and how the increased traffic flow and complexity will be resolved. A serious traffic analysis is needed to accommodate seniors and children arriving at similar times.
Use of existing spaces — Many residents do not want to duplicate existing spaces with brand-new ones. It is my understanding that ICON has already reviewed the Hartwell Pods and Bemis Hall for their suitability for COA&HS and PRD programs. ICON will soon visit the Pierce House, and resident Dennis Picker suggested that the Lincoln Public Library be visited. I did not hear that there were any plans for visiting space at Lincoln Station.
As ICON reviews existing spaces, I fear they are looking for problems but I hope they will also look for solutions. The architects should be able to provide insight into how difficult or costly solutions might be. For example, if the Pierce House could be used during the winter months to host indoor COA activities, what would it take to make the area suitable for these activities? Similarly, if Bemis Hall were used for art classes on the main floor and dance and music on the second floor, what modifications would be needed?
April 25 community forum — I urge everyone to attend this upcoming meeting and hope CCBC will issue the programming matrix in advance. I believe the committee is trying to address our concerns. Now is the time to ask questions and voice opinions.
- Click here to see previous Lincoln Squirrel posts about the community center.
“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.
Property sales in February 2023
My Turn: How to determine if outside burning is safe
By Lincoln Fire Chief Brian J. Young
Unfortunately, due to lack of precipitation and high temperatures, we did not allow open burning last week. The state does not allow open burning after May 1 so we are nearing the deadline. We are optimistic that we will get some rain early this week and conditions will improve before the end of the burning season.
The district has already had a lot of brush fires recently, but we also want to do our best to allow residents to use the spring window to burn. To clarify the decision-making process, I wanted to share our criteria for good burning conditions.
There are two considerations we look at: fire weather and air quality. Fire weather is a combination of humidity, wind, and temperature. We have two different scales for this, the Haines index (1-6), and the state fire danger scale (1-5 Smokey the Bear sign) put out by DCR. When a high Haines index combines with high wind, we do not allow burning.
The second factor, air quality, is given to us by the Massachusetts DEP. Although the local towns can decide if burning is allowed during marginally poor fire weather, we cannot allow burning when the DEP issues a poor air quality alert.
One of the most dangerous conditions is high wind. Wind will not only increase the size of the fire but also push it to unburnt dry sources. Last week in Weston, windblown embers from a house fire sparked a brush fire that moved almost 200 feet downwind before fire crews could contain it. The wind is not always consistent throughout the day, so a day that predicts gusts of over 20 mph will be dangerous for outside burning.
Red flag warnings may be issued by the state, a red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. Any fires that start may spread rapidly and become difficult to extinguish.
I am optimistic we will have good conditions this week, but we often have poor fire weather in April due to dead vegetation and high winds. Please remember in the future that February and March are the safest months to burn.
“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: Concerns at community center forum are deeply flawed
By Bob Apsler
I urge the Community Center Building Committee not to be swayed by the dominant concerns expressed at the April 4 open mic meeting. Those concerns are (1) a desire for a community center within walking distance of a revitalized commercial center, (2) a request for a distributed services model of programs utilizing spaces throughout Lincoln, and (3) a plea for minimizing costs of a community center.
Before dealing with each concern, I must highlight [Assistant Town Administrator] Dan Pereira’s response to the general issue of representativeness of views about the community center. Decisions in Lincoln are made by residents who choose to be informed and vote. There will always be disagreements, and there will always be vocal dissent, such as we heard during the meeting. The decision to build a community center and to locate it on the Ballfield Road campus evolved over many years through participation of hundreds of residents during numerous meetings. Those decisions were not arbitrary but followed extensive data gathering, data analysis, and discussion. Do not be misled by those insisting on disregarding those decisions.
Desire for a community center within walking distance of a revitalized commercial center
Two myths undergird this desire.
First, the Lincoln Mall, like malls across the country, struggles and exists despite dire financial prospects. Vacancies abound at malls as they search for repurposing as housing, warehouses, etc. Fortunately, Donelan’s, Something Special, the Tack Room, and Twisted Tree remain, but even their future is uncertain. What evidence suggests that a revitalized commercial district in Lincoln will buck the national trend? Even if so, how many more years will it take to realize that dream?
Second, how far will Lincoln seniors walk to access a community center? I suggest you attend various Council on Aging functions at Bemis Hall, such as the Lincoln Academy. Observe how many attendees rely on the elevator. Watch them ascend and descend the stairs. Watch them enter and exit spaces. Then estimate how far most will walk to reach a community center. Use that estimate to draw a circle on a map of Lincoln centered in the Lincoln Mall showing the number of residents living within walking distance. What percentage does this number of walking-distance residents constitute of all Lincoln residents? Conclusion: the vast majority of Lincoln residents reside beyond walking distance and will rely on transportation for reaching the community center. This conclusion holds for all other potential locations. In short, “walking distance” should not be considered in locating the community center.
Request for a distributed services model of programs utilizing spaces throughout Lincoln
Even though this option has been discussed extensively and rejected decisively, assume that a financial analysis shows an advantage of distributing COA services around Lincoln versus a centralized community center. Imagine COA&HS programs taking place at many locations, thereby reducing interactions among participants in different programs. Lincoln residents want a center for their community. They have repeatedly voiced their desire for a gathering place where they can meet others. A distributed services model also creates a nightmare for staff with the need to juggle schedules according to availability of space in several locations and requires substantial effort in moving equipment and supplies in and out of shared spaces.
Plea for minimizing costs of a community center
Lincoln attributes that contribute to high real estate taxes include two-acre zoning, large expanses of conservation land, and a minimal commercial presence. Several options exist for lowering our taxes, including eliminating lot size and building height restrictions, and rezoning large tracts of conservation land to allow light industry. These options would change Lincoln’s character and will not be endorsed by residents. Therefore, we are stuck with high taxes in order to retain the desirable Lincoln characteristics.
The issue becomes one of finding ways to assist those who want to remain in Lincoln but cannot afford the tax payments. Downsizing helps only a few due to scarce availability of smaller, less expensive homes. While subsidies have been mentioned often, using one’s housing equity might also be an option. Reverse mortgages and home equity loans would allow cash-poor residents to pay their share of taxes and remain in Lincoln.
Lincoln residents want and are willing to pay for improving their community. Residents recently approved $94,000,000 for renovating the school and even added further allocations. They will support a community center.
“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.
Stringer redefines “colorblind” in art focusing on race
By Maureen Belt
Rob Stringer works on his art at the Tack Room.
Lincoln resident Rob Stringer has dabbled in art his whole life, even taking art classes to round out his college study of religion and philosophy, but it wasn’t until May 25, 2020 that he used its power to take on racism.
“The day George Floyd died — when he was murdered — I knew I had to do something,” he said.
What that “something” would be did not come to him right away. He had a delicate act to balance. The country was already deeply divided politically and racially, and he wanted his actions to provoke positive reflections of current events, not to be discarded as virtual signaling.
“I am a cis white male who lives a privileged life,” said Stringer, speaking from his transient office, which on this day was the Tack Room restaurant in Lincoln. “But I wanted to do something, and I kept wondering, ‘What can I do that’s authentic?’ I didn’t want to go to protests and then just go about my daily life. I didn’t want to do anything ephemeral. I kept asking myself, ‘What can I do? What can I do?’”
The answer was in his art.
Until George Floyd’s death, drawing was the medium Stringer relied on for expression. But the horrors surrounding George Floyd — whose brutal killing by law enforcement was captured on video and generated a global uprising for racial equity — called for something more dramatic. In an earlier life, Stringer worked in sales, marketing, and product development, so he regularly prepared slide decks using PowerPoint. He subsequently discovered that Google Slides offered broad options in color and shape.
Stringer downloaded another artist’s image of George Floyd, then began overlaying it with colored dots simulating the Ishihara color vision test to create his own portrait. After a bit of trial and error over about five hours, an impactful rounded image of the murder victim appeared, created from various sizes of gray, black and blue dots. The colorblind motif was intentional, as Stringer has red-green colorblindness.
Beneath the portrait, Stringer put Floyd’s dates of birth and death and name in a basic black font. He emailed the digital image to the online printing venue, VistaPrint, which cast it on a 12-inch-by-12-inch canvas. The finished work was so moving that it inspired him to do more. He next used the same formula to portray Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police two months before Floyd.
Stringer’s portrayal of Emmett Till.
Stringer soon completed a series of Black people killed by police including Daniel Prude, Crystal Danielle Ragland, and Rayshard Brooks. He then created images of Blacks killed in hate crimes, which include Treyvon Martin, Martin Luther King Jr., and Emmett Till. From there, Stringer’s work evolved to include Native Americans murdered by law enforcement or from hate crimes. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that though Indigenous people made up 0.8 percent of the population from 1999 to 2011, they made up 1.9 percent of police killings. His First Nations collection includes images of Sitting Bull, Zachary Bear Heels, and a dedication to missing and murdered Indigenous women.
“I am not running out of subjects,” he acknowledged with disappointment. “My hope is that maybe their family members will see the art and that they find that it’s respectful.”
After so many portraits of murder victims, Stringer changed his course to creating images of minorities who inspire. That line includes U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Rosa Parks, and Ruby Bridges. “I’ve been interested in power dynamics and the dynamics of race for a long time,” he said. “And in the back of my head I was feeling guilty that I was not doing more.”
Stringer didn’t create these images (which he describes more as graphic design than fine art) to make money, so he had no plans to market them, but some people who viewed them asked for prints. VistaPrint charges him $20 for the print, so he sells it for $29 and gives the extra $9 to a nonprofit — specifically, the METCO program.
Stringer’s most popular images are of Breonna Taylor and Emmett Till. He is sold out of his prints of Jean McGuire, the first Black woman elected to the Boston School Committee, a founder of the METCO program and at, 92 years old, a living icon of the local educational community.
“It’s affirming to me that I was able to create something that impacts other people,” he said. “It makes me want to continue. These pieces spark conversation and they spark thought and they change people’s minds, and you can’t ask for more than that.”
View Stringer’s online “I See You” gallery here.
Police log for April 3–9, 2023
April 3
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (11:56 a.m.) — A small brush fire was reported near Old County Road. A passing ambulance crew was able to extinguish the fire. The Lincoln Fire Department arrived and continued to douse the area.
Mary’s Way (5:17 p.m.) — A passerby reported that a storm drain cover on Mary’s Way was positioned in the wrong direction, potentially creating a road hazard. The DPW was notified.
Mary’s Way (9:29 p.m.) — A vehicle was repossessed.
April 4
Russett Court (9:31 a.m.) — A fire vehicle struck a parked police vehicle while at the scene of a medical call.
Lincoln Road (10:25 a.m.) — A minor two-vehicle crash occurred at the intersection with Codman Road. The first vehicle was traveling south on Lincoln Road. The second vehicle traveling west on Codman Road and came to a stop but then proceeded through the intersection, striking the southbound vehicle. The operator of the second vehicle was issued a warning for failing to yield right of way at an intersection. There were no injuries reported and both vehicles were driven from the scene.
Indian Camp Lane (1:03 p.m.) — Police and fire units were dispatched to the address for a well-being check and successfully contacted the individual.
Lincoln Road (7:23 p.m.) — A caller reported a fire behind the Masonic Hall. Police confirmed that the fire was confined to a fire pit and was being tended to by several members.
April 5
Wells Road (12:51 a.m.) — A resident requested assistance after being locked out of their apartment. Police were able to gain entry.
Russett Court (1:50 p.m.) — A Bank of America employee called to report a customer was the possible victim of a scam.
April 6
Lincoln Road (1:14 p.m.) — An officer spoke to a resident regarding some missing items. An investigation is ongoing.
Linway Road (3:31 p.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer regarding a questionable letter they’d received in the mail.
Birches School (4:51 p.m.) — A school employee observed an individual operating a blue dirt bike across the soccer field. A check of the area and side streets was conducted but the dirt bike was not located.
Cambridge Water Department, Trapelo Road (6:52 p.m.) — A motorist reported several individuals fishing in the Cambridge Reservoir. An officer arrived as the individuals were leaving; they were advised that they could not fish at the reservoir.
April 7
North Avenue, Weston (12:47 p.m.) — Lincoln fire and police units responded to a house fire (click here for details).
Wells Road (2:17 p.m.) — A minor motor vehicle crash occurred in the parking lot.
Wells Road (3:13 p.m.) — A minor motor vehicle crash occurred between a moving truck and passenger vehicle. An officer helped the two operators exchange papers.
Russett Court (5:02 p.m.) — An individual reported that one of their car windows was shattered. It was determined that a nearby landscaping company may have inadvertently broken the vehicle’s window during the course of their operations. An officer assisted with an information exchange.
Paul Revere Lot, North Great Road (6:05 p.m.) — A caller reported that their vehicle’s window was broken and several items had been taken from the vehicle.
Beaver Pond Road (7:28 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a fire in the woods that appeared to be growing. Police and fire personnel responded and located a campfire, which they extinguished.
April 8
South Great Road (3:11 p.m.) — Two-vehicle crash. A vehicle had stopped while traveling west on South Great Road waiting to turn south onto Tower Road. A vehicle pulling a trailer in the same direction attempted to pass the first vehicle but ultimately sideswiped the first vehicle. A warning was issued to the second operator for failing to use care when passing. The first vehicle had to be towed from the scene.
South Great Road (3:35 p.m.) — A vehicle struck the raised island by the railroad crossing causing a flat tire. AAA was notified.
Old Sudbury Road (5:27 p.m.) — A resident reported seeing an injured raccoon in their yard. Animal Control was notified.
Sandy Pond Road (5:30 p.m.) — An officer investigating a report of people fishing at Flint’s Pond checked the area but could not locate anyone.
April 9
Codman Community Farms (9:16 a.m.) — An officer responded to Codman Farm for a reported larceny.
Farrar Road (12:14 p.m.) — Wayland Police received a call for a brush fire by the Lincoln town line. Responding units confirmed that the fire was under control and that the residents had a burn permit.
Weston Road (3:28 p.m.) — A caller reported an out-of-control brush fire. The Fire Department arrived and was able to knock down the fire in 20 minutes.
Beaver Pond Road (5:54 p.m.) — The Fire Department was dispatched to a residence for a malfunctioning fire alarm and replaced the batteries of the faulty detector.
Beaver Pond Road (6:29 p.m.) — National Grid was notified of a strong odor of natural gas on Beaver Pond Road.
Wells Road (9:00 p.m.) — An individual reported that a suspicious vehicle had been seen in the area the previous night. They were advised to contact the police should the vehicle return.
News acorns
Meet owls at Farrington Nature Linc
Meet some real owls on Monday, April 17 at 1 p.m. when Farrington Nature Linc hosts naturalist Marcia Wilson from Eyes on Owls. She’ll introduce the audience to owls found in New England and other parts of the world and imitate the owls’ calls herself before bringing out six rehabilitated owls on at a time (each owl has a permanent disability which prevents them from surviving on their own in the wild). There’ll be plenty of time for close-up views, photos, and questions. Click here to register. you can also share a coupon code “SPRING” that will provide a 15% discount.
Walk/Bike/Roll to School Week coming up
The Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that Walk/Bike/Roll to School Week is back. Dust off your saddle, lube your chain, and get ready to help your kids get to school without a car. This year’s event will run from Monday to Friday, May 1–5 and provide opportunities for children who ride the bus to participate, along with all the perks your kids have come to love — bike trains with their friends, daily bracelets, and sweet treats on Friday afternoon. Volunteers are needed; click here to sign up. This year there will also be an e-bike demonstration in conjunction with Wheelworks, the Council on Aging & Human Services, the ;Green Energy Committee, and Mothers Out Front on Wednesday, May 3 at 6 p.m. in the Brooks gym parking lot.
Break out your green thumb for plant sale
The Lincoln Garden Club will hold its biennial plant sale on Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Station Park (corner of Lincoln Road and Ridge Road). Share plant knowledge, see friends, enjoy snacks, and tour the club’s flagship garden. The plants to be sold come from club members’ gardens, parks they maintain, and generous donors around town. If you have plants to donate, please contact Belinda Gingrich at belinda.gingrich@gmail.com. There will also be garden paraphernalia for sale and even a few handmade bluebird nesting boxes which you could set up right away and maybe catch a second laying.
Also on offer will be native plugs ordered through commercial nurseries: Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake master), Polemonium reptans (Jacob’s ladder), Packera aurea (golden ragwort, available after June 19), and Aquilegia canadensis (eastern red columbine, available on or after May 19). These are very small and will need babying in a pot or well tended garden plot.
Collin Graf
Lincoln’s Graf is a hockey champ
The Quinnipiac University men’s hockey team, which includes sophomore Collin Graf of Lincoln, just won its first NCAA Division I national championship, posting a 3-2 comeback victory in overtime over Minnesota at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Graf shot a goal with just minutes left in regulation to tie the game.
Student is a nationally published author
The Scholastic News page featuring Abdulmalik Opebiyi’s writing (click to enlarge).
Lincoln School fourth-grader Abdulmalik Opebiyi recently became a published author with a wide audience when his opinion piece about whether kids should have gym class every day was included in the “Debate It!” section of nationally circulated Scholastic News in February. “A very unique and exciting opportunity for him!” said his proud teacher, Thomas Nickerson.
Note on unscheduled transfer station closings
The Department of Public Works reminds residents that unscheduled or emergency closings of the transfer station may occasionally be necessary. The DPW makes every effort to keep the station open during normal Wednesday and Saturday hours.
Unscheduled but pre-planned transfer station closings are mostly due to expected major inclement weather events such as winter blizzards and hurricanes. Such closures are determined after careful consideration of the expected weather. The closures are necessary for the safety of transfer station users as well as DPW staff, who are often needed elsewhere in town for storm-related activities such as plowing. Emergency (un-preplanned) closings may happen if a weather event is unexpectedly sudden or severe, such as the March 14 snow storm, or there is another emergency such as a power failure.
Notice of unscheduled pre-planned transfer station closings and emergency closings will be advertised as far in advance as possible on the town website, the transfer station web page, LincolnTalk, and the Lincoln Squirrel. A reverse 911 call will also be made. Public Safety will be notified in the event of an emergency closing. The DPW realizes that closing the transfer station may cause inconvenience for some residents, but safety is their main priority. The transfer station is an open-air facility and heavy activity by users of all ages (many carrying heavy objects) along with vehicular activity in a small area.
My Turn: No transfer station access without stickers after April 28
By Chris Bibbo
Thank you for your participation in the various waste reduction and recycling programs available at the transfer station. We have enjoyed a terrific partnership with Mothers Out Front and a strong group of volunteers who have helped us reinvigorate the swap shed program. In addition, the compost and mattress recycling programs have really taken hold and are well-utilized. Together, we are all doing our part to help the town achieve its zero waste and climate action goals.
We have also appreciated the cooperation of the vast majority of our residents who have obtained transfer station stickers, which help us ensure that the facility is being used exclusively by Lincoln residents. If you have not obtained a yellow sticker, please do so as soon as possible but no later than Friday, April 28 when the sticker program will be strictly enforced. Anyone without a sticker will not be allowed access to the facility.
We have worked to make the process for obtaining stickers as convenient as possible. Stickers may be obtained online at epay.cityhallsystems.com, or in person at the DPW building (30 Lewis St.) Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.–2 p.m. As an additional accommodation, our staff will be present at the transfer station on Saturday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 26 to issue stickers to those who have not taken advantage of other opportunities. Proof of residence and vehicle registration is required. Contact Susan Donaldson at the DPW (781 259-8999) if you have questions. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Chris Bibbo is the superintendent of the Lincoln Department of Public Works.
“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.