27 Huckleberry Hill — Jessica Beck to Ephraim Lessell for $1,465,000 (February 13)
102 Lincoln Rd. — Ephraim Lessell to Brian Depasquale and Kristin Martin for $685,000 (February 28)
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.
My Turn: Smith and Chester trade perspectives on community center
By Lynne Smith
(Editor’s note: See the response to Smith’s piece by CCNC Chair Sarah Chester below.)
At the April 4 Community Center Building Committee (CCBC) community forum, I realized that ICON Architecture has no plans to review alternate spaces for community center activities. ICON’s charge is to develop three options for a building on the Hartwell campus: 50%, 75%, and something approaching 100% of the original $25 million cost. As a result, I propose a study group be created to consider “existing available town space” as intended by the vote taken at the 2022 Special Town Meeting.*
The community forum allowed many of the 100 attendees to air their comments. A few were in favor of a new building on the Hartwell campus. Some wanted an open space for informal gathering. Others liked the proximity for after-school programs for students. Several cited the inadequacy of Bemis Hall and pointed to the 2019 town meeting charrette that favored the Hartwell campus as a location.
But many were opposed to a large new building on the Hartwell campus hosting all programs. Here is my summary of this opposition.
Cost to taxpayers — Jonathan Sheffi, who identified himself as a new resident with a young family, described his inability to persuade friends his age to move to Lincoln because of our housing costs and high taxes. Kate Wolf, a long-time resident of Lincoln, pointed out that her taxes have increased significantly in the last four years and she expressed concerns about adding on more capital projects while Lincoln is still paying off bonds for the new school. Both Wolf and Sheffi recognize that Lincoln has no commercial base to mitigate tax bills but think the town should work to minimize taxes whenever possible. Dennis Picker said that he thought the amendment to the November 2022 motion had actually omitted a 100% option for the project, thus ensuring a lower-cost building. His surprise that ICON will study three options led to a moving conversation with Jonathan Dwyer — a very “Lincoln” moment that grounded all of us as a community.
Need for a viable town center — Three architects (Ken Hurd, Brooks Mostue, and David O’Neil) all argued for siting a community center in the “center of the community” as recommended in the long-term plan developed by the Planning Board several years ago. Others including Joe Robbat also made clear their wish for more development at Lincoln Station where there are many vacant spaces along with important amenities.
Use of existing spaces — Many attendees voiced a desire to explore use of existing spaces before committing to a large new building. In fact, the CCBC passed out a spreadsheet labeled Decentralized Programming Matrix which identified the many programs currently being held in spaces other than Bemis Hall or the Hartwell pods. The spreadsheet made clear which activities could continue in those spaces. I was glad to see this listing of programs for the Council on Aging & Human Services (COA&HS) and Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) held in various places around town: the school gyms, the library, the Pierce House and Pierce Park, local churches, our outdoor trails, and off-site activities. As I said at the meeting and in earlier Lincoln Squirrel articles, I support some investment in these spaces to make them suitable for use in the 21st century.
A study group of community spaces — As a result of the community discussion, I hope that Lincoln and/or the CCBC will form a study group to create a current inventory of existing spaces, match them with identified activities, and recommend modifications that would make these spaces even more useful to town activities. This analysis would ensure that alternative spaces get a full and fair review, as was set forth in the Special Town Meeting vote of 2022. Given the number of residents who attended the April 4 CCBC community forum, I am confident that there are eager volunteers to lead and participate in this important effort.
* Here is the motion that was ultimately approved at the Special Town Meeting on November 30, 2022, with amendments to the original motion indicated in boldface:
“That the town vote to transfer the sum of $325,000 from the town’s Stabilization Fund for the purpose of hiring relevant consultant support services, to potentially include project management, design, engineering and other technical reviews to assist the Community Center Building Committee in developing a range of community center design choices and budgets including options not to exceed 75% and 50% of the current project estimated cost of $25 million for the Hartwell complex, supplemented or not with existing available town space, with the intention of presenting said choices at a fall 2023 Special Town Meeting for a vote on a preferred option; and provided further, that it is anticipated that the preferred option selected by the town will be presented for a funding vote in March of 2025.”
Response from SBCC Chair Sarah Chester:
Thank you, Lynne, for your continued thoughts and suggestions for the community center process.
I am puzzled, however, that you think that CCBC and ICON are not concerned with the locations that the COA&HS and the PRD use around town. As shown in the amended motion from the November 2022 Special Town Meeting, and as architect Ned Collier and I reiterated in the “open mic” meeting on April 4, CCBC is obligated to explore the use of other facilities around town to try to meet our program needs. We gave ICON a tour of the outlying spaces in town the day after ICON signed their contract. We shared with them immediately a document highlighting COA&HS and PRD program locations around town, and this program matrix was mentioned in public meetings multiple times. As COA&HS director Abigail Butt pointed out on April 4, ICON has conducted a deep evaluation of Bemis Hall. Facilities Director Brandon Kelly is working with them to understand the Hartwell campus spaces, and ICON will proceed to the Pierce House shortly. Additional locations will be reviewed after that. ICON needs to understand all of these opportunities if they are to develop three viable program options. A separate study committee would duplicate their work and slow the process.
As Ned described, ICON is working along two tracks: conducting an in-depth analysis of the Hartwell site (traffic, wetlands, etc.) and collecting as much program data as possible. This includes extensive interviews with all stakeholders and evaluating other locations around town. CCBC is conducting a third concurrent track: seeking input from town organizations about the project and from residents via a survey about their individual values. This will also inform ICON’s work.
ICON updates the committee and the community on this work at each of our public meetings. They also will be presenting their work and seeking further feedback at our next public forum on April 25. This process is all to help them formulate the variety of price options specified in our charge.
This response is more detailed than your letter needed, but I want to assure you and other readers that the CCBC is closely following its instructions from the Special Town Meeting and, with the skilled assistance of ICON Architecture, is proceeding along the complex and tight schedule.
Sarah Chester
Chair, Community Center Building Committee
P.S. The next CCBC meeting will be held Wednesday, April 12 at 7 p.m. in the Donaldson Room, Town Hall, hybrid format (see agenda 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
Water Commission speaker series kicks off April 12
(Image by brgfx on Freepik)
The Water Commission, in collaboration with the Conservation Commission, Agricultural Commission and the Land Conservation Trust, is sponsoring the Lincoln’s Hydrology Speaker Series with the first speaker presentation on Wednesday, April 12 from 7–8:30 p.m., when Dr. Max Rome, Stormwater Program Manager with the Charles River Watershed Association will present via Zoom. Come learn about what happens in Lincoln’s watershed (flooding, nutrient pollution, drought and groundwater), drinking supply sources (including private wells), and how all the sources and uses of water in Lincoln interrelate and impact both the water supply and the ecosystems supported by water systems. Click here for the Zoom link.
Future speakers in the series will include Martin Briggs of the U.S. Geological Survey in September) and Dr. Chi Ho Sham, immediate past president of the American Water Works Association, in December.
Film: “Monsieur Lazhar”
The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “Monsieur Lazhar” in the Tarbell Room on Thursday, April 20 at 6 p.m. At a Montréal grade school, an Algerian immigrant is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom. While helping his students deal with their grief, his own recent loss is revealed. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. In French with English subtitles (94 minutes).
Wine and beer tasting to benefit domestic violence victims
The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable invites the public to a free wine and beer tasting to support its annual Shower for Shelters on Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m. at Spirits of Maynard (4 Digital Way, Suite 3, Maynard). There will be light refreshments provided by the Roundtable and a short presentation by a survivor. Please bring a new, unwrapped housewarming gift to the event. These donations will be collected and given to the clients of Reach Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence.
Requested items include bedding (twin-size sheets, pillowcases, blankets, comforters, and pillows), crib sheets, bath towels and face cloths, unscented cleaning products and laundry detergent, laundry baskets, kitchen utensils, flatware, dishes, drinking glasses, and small kitchen appliances. Supermarket and departments store gift cards are also welcome.
Sign up for Hazardous Waste Collection Day
This year’s first regional Hazardous Waste Collection Day at the Minuteman Hazardous Products Facility (60 Hartwell Ave., Lexington) will take place on Saturday, April 22 from 9 am.–2 p.m. Advance signup is required. Click here for information on what materials will and won’t be accepted. and click here to sign up.
Barbara Myles retirement celebration
Lincoln Public Library Director Barbara Myles is retiring from the library after nearly 20 years of service and all are invited to her retirement party on Friday, April 28 from 3–5 p.m. Come celebrate Barbara’s time at the library and wish her well with whatever she chooses to do next.
Celebration of the life of Judith Balogh
All are invited to a celebration of the life of Lincoln resident Judith Györgypály Balogh on Sunday, April 30 from 2:30–4:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. Balogh, a retired pediatric psychiatrist, died in October 2022 at the age of 92. In honor of her insatiable love of books and stories, attendees are invited to bring words, photographs, books, or souvenirs to share memories. Please RSVP to charlottebalogh@gmail.com or 978-496-6656.
Join the L-S Community Sing
The annual L-S Community Sing in May is when community members, parents, alumni, and friends are welcome to join in a performance of John Rutter’s “Gloria” with choir, soloists, brass octet and percussion. The L-S Chamber Singers will be singing “The Road Home” and will invite any Chamber Singers alumni to come up and sing with. Masks will be optional for singers.
The L-S Music Department has scores and practice files for the music and text — please email Choral Director Michael Bunting at michael_bunting@lsrhs.net. The dress rehearsal is Monday, May 15 at 7 pm. in the L-S auditorium and the Community Sing concert is Thursday, May 18. Call for singers is at 6:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
Firefighters from Lincoln and other towns help at Weston fire
Firefighters from Lincoln and several other area towns responded to an April 7 house fire in Weston that caused extensive damage and also a brush fire nearby.
The house at 479 North Ave. is at the corner of Route 117 and Lincoln Street, a stone’s throw from where the latter turns into Weston Road in Lincoln. Route 117 eastbound was closed at Tower Road in Lincoln for some time, and drivers heading south on Weston Road had to turn around.
No one was inside when firefighters arrived at around 12:40 p.m., according to Lincoln Fire Chief Brian Young. The fire apparently started in some mulch close to the house and strong winds pushed the fire under the porch, into the eaves of the deck, and eventually into the rafters of the house, which then caught the large attic space on fire. Windblown embers also started a brush fire on the other side of Lincoln Street, he said.
The scene was crowded for hours with emergency vehicles and firefighters from Waltham, Newton, Wayland, Wellesley, Sudbury, Lexington, Needham, and Framingham, according to the Weston Fire Department’s Facebook page. The fire reached four alarms; each alarm is a request for three fire engines and a ladder truck, and each engine has four firefighters, resulting in a total of 64 firefighters, Young said. They spent several hours exposing ceilings and walls to access where the fire was burning up in the attic so it could be fully extinguished.
Aerial shots were captured by a helicopter from WHDH-TV (7 News Boston). The house was valued at $2.16 million, according to Zillow.