In the March 5 edition of News Acorns, an incorrect date was given for the FoMA/Lincoln event on the revitalization of Lincoln’s Modern school. The event will take place on Thursday, March 16 from 6:30–8 p.m. in the school’s Learning Commons.
Heather Hill dies at age 99
Heather Hill
Heather Davidson Hill of Bedford, a former 45-year resident of Lincoln, died on February 27 at the age of 99. She was the beloved wife for 62 years of the late Craig C. Hill, who died in 2019.
Born in Alberta, Canada, Heather and her late sister Patricia were raised by their widowed mother during the era of the Dust Bowl in Saskatchewan. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Radcliffe’s Management Training School. Prior to her marriage, she was director of personnel at New England Deaconess Hospital. Over the years, she also served on the board of directors of the deCordova Museum, as a gallery guide at the MFA, and as the coordinator of the Lincoln Public Schools Elective Program.
Hill was a world traveler and veteran book club member, but happiest when entertaining and being entertained by her expansive circle of friends in Lincoln and beyond. She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Hill and husband Kevin of Lincoln; son Matthew Hill and wife Lisa of Conway; son Tom and wife Emmanuelle of Costa Rica; grandchildren Malcolm, Vix, Hannah, Hardy, Montgomery and Calvin; and her niece and nephew, Laurel and Robert Gillespie. Family members will gather privately for Heather’s burial service at Lincoln Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in her online guestbook, visit www.deefuneralhome.com.
News acorns
March 6 AIDE discussion open to all
The First Parish in Lincoln is opening up its “reflection” sessions on the school-sponsored 21-Day Challenge on Anti Racism, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (AIDE) to anyone in Lincoln who would like to attend. On Monday, March 6 at 7 p.m. on Zoom with Becca Fasciano (one of the Lincoln School teachers who designed the program) and Ken Hurd will lead a discussion on topics including microaggressions, institutional racism, wealth and education disparities, and our inequitable justice system. Click here for more information in the challenge and reading materials on these topics, and click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 366258).
Informational meeting on zoning proposals
The Planning Board will hold an information session on Wednesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. three proposed amendments to the zoning bylaw that will be voted on at the March 25 Annual Town Meeting. At issue are rules regarding land use restrictions for cluster housing (Article 25), accessory apartments (Article 26), and wireless equipment (Article 28).
FoMA event on revitalization of Lincoln’s Modern school
The Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln invites you to a presentation, panel discussion, and reception celebrating the revitalization of the Lincoln School on Thursday, March 16 from 6:30–8 p.m. in the school’s Learning Commons. Lincoln Modern architects Lawrence B. Anderson and Henry B. Hoover, who designed the original school buildings beginning in the 1940s, saw the power of Modernism to reimagine how architecture could assist the school community to think and learn in new and inclusive ways. With the generous support of the town, the School Building Committee and the project architects have again reimagined the transformative power of architecture. The project team has realized an ambitious, first-in-the-state net-zero renovation that centers on teachers and students while preserving Anderson’s and Hoover’s original design intent of creating close connections to nature and using natural light to create calm energy throughout the building.
“Sip, Talk, Learn” storytelling event
Adults are invited to the First Parish in Lincoln to share three-minute stories on Sunday, March 19 from 4–5:30 p.m. in the Stearns Room (rear of white church). Past stories have touched on adventures, passions, hobbies, unknown siblings and more. Telling a story in three minutes is a challenge but it makes for a fun event with about 12-15 speakers. We will have a fire going and if you’d like to bring a beverage to share, we will provide nibbles. We welcome you even if you just want to listen. Please email tuckerwsmith@gmail.com to sign up to tell your story or if you have any questions.
Movie night: “Luca”
The First Parish in Lincoln will host a movie night on Wednesday, March 22 at 5 p.m. in the stone church with pizza and popcorn to watch “Luca.” There will be refreshments and cheese boards for adults plus gluten-free options. Please click here to RSVP so we have an accurate count for all our nibbles. All are welcome and encouraged to attend (we’ll have gluten free options as well). If you would like to make a suggested donation of $10 per family to help cover food costs, click the link at the bottom of the RSVP form, select Youth Programs, and enter “Movie Night 3/22” in the notes field. Donations of flashlights and batteries for Syria are also welcome.
Learn about a 100-year-old Codman Estate mystery
Codman Estate researcher and lead guide Camille Arbogast will present “A Tale of Two Chauffeurs: True Crime in the Age of Early Motoring” on Wednesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. One morning in June 1914 the Codman family awoke at their country estate in Lincoln to discover their prized new Peerless motorcar — as well as their chauffeur — were missing. This mystery, full of colorful characters and misadventures at the edge of the law, winds its way from the Lincoln station to Rutland, Vt., with detours across New England. Click here to register.
Event on the Beatles
All are welcome at “A Cultural and Historical Reflection of the 1960s through the Music of the Beatles” on Friday, March 31 at 1 p.m.in Bemis Hall. This performance combines live music by the Beatles tribute band 4EverFab with presenter and band founder Fran Hart. Event supported in part by a grant from the Lincoln Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by th Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Library now accepts Venmo for used books
Have you ever wanted to buy a book or puzzle from the Friends of the Lincoln Library sale carts but didn’t have cash or a check with you? Venmo payments are now accepted at the carts, along with cash and checks. Sales benefit the Friends of the Lincoln Library, which pays for all events and programs for children and adults, museum passes, special equipment (such as the items in the new “Library of Things”), and other services that enrich patrons’ experience.
Indoor exhibit space at deCordova to close for at least two years
The deCordova Museum side entrance (image courtesy of the Trustees of Reservations)
The Trustees of Reservations announced in a statement that it will suspend indoor exhibitions at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum for two to three years beginning in mid-March. The sculpture park will remain open and no other facilities, programs, events, or operations at the deCordova will be affected.
The temporary indoor closure will allow The Trustees to upgrade the museum’s HVAC and climate control systems to ensure that the exhibition spaces meet museum industry’s stringent standards. During this time, curatorial and other Trustees staff will engage in focused and intensive planning for future exhibitions, programs, and educational offerings that explore the intersection of art, nature, and climate. They will also continue to bring new commissions, acquisitions, and exhibitions to the sculpture park.
The indoor exhibition program will be suspended on March 12 at the conclusion of its current exhibitions, New Formations, Downstream, and Carolina Caycedo: Apparitions/Apariciones.
The Trustees became custodians of deCordova after a 2019 integration. In 2022, they began a planning process for the renewal of deCordova’s accreditation and to assess and fund upgrades to the museum facilities. As the assessment and recommendations from that process were being finalized, concerns about the consistency of climate controls in the main building emerged, and The Trustees concluded that the temporary suspension of indoor exhibitions was warranted.
“While we will miss welcoming the public to indoor exhibitions during this time, the temporary suspension will allow us to fast-track important improvements and focus our creative energies on developing the exciting vision for art and nature that initially brought our two organizations together,” said Nicie Panetta, Trustees interim president and CEO.
“We have a hugely ambitious program for the sculpture park and for exhibitions across the state of Massachusetts. We believe doing this necessary work in the galleries will ensure our ability to deliver an exciting and comprehensive vision centered around artists engaging with the environment for generations to come,” said Jessica May, deCordova’s vice president for art and exhibitions and artistic director.
Art programming at deCordova will feature a more robust outdoor exhibition schedule, and the property will continue to host lectures, concerts, dining, summer camp, weddings and other event rentals, and other public and community engagement activities. The decision also will have no impact on the Lincoln Nursery School, which operates on deCordova grounds.
This spring and summer, the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard (also owned by the Trustees) opens two exhibitions with textile artist Rachel Hayes. The first, opening March 11, is called Transcending Space and showcases several large, color-block fabric hangings alongside a new body of work that combines dried flower bouquets with patches of vibrant fabric. A new outdoor commission, Rachel Hayes, The Edge of Becoming, opens June 21 and features bright colors that both relate to Shaker textiles found in the museum’s collection and evoke a sense of optimism sought by the site’s Transcendentalist founders.
Police log for February 16–28, 2023
February 16
Horseshoe Lane (11:31 a.m.) — A resident requested assistance from the Fire Department for an outdoor fire that grew out of control. A short time later, the Fire Department response was cancelled after the resident was able to extinguish the fire on their own.
Lincoln Town Hall (12:55 p.m.) — An officer was requested to assist individual who appeared confused. The officer was able to make contact with the individual at their residence. Everything was fine.
Silver Hill Road (3:13 p.m.) — A caller reported a white sedan in the area with an operator who appeared to be looking at packages left at residences. An officer checked the area and was unable to locate the vehicle. The residential packages appeared undisturbed.
Wells Road (5:12 p.m.) — An officer spoke with a resident regarding a property in another jurisdiction.
February 17
Harvest Circle (1:49 p.m.) — A resident spoke to an officer about a potential internet scam.
February 18
North Commons (8:58 a.m.) — Missing person with Alzheimer’s reported and later found in Lexington (click here for details).
Indian Camp Lane (12:28 p.m.) — A well-being check was requested from an out-of-town relative on a resident who had not been heard from for several days. An officer responded to the residence and made contact with the individual.
Meadowbrook Road (5:53 p.m.) — A resident called reporting what looked like an out-of-control outdoor fire. The Fire Department responded and confirmed the outdoor cooking fire was under control.
February 19
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:42 a.m.) — An officer checked on a vehicle stopped on the side of Route 2. The operator was tending to their child in the backseat.
Winter Street (7:05 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing a buzzing sound coming from a fire panel. The Fire Department responded and confirmed a trouble alert with the alarm system.
Lincoln Road (10:25 a.m.) — A resident reported the odor of smoke in the area. The Fire Department responded and confirmed an unauthorized outdoor burn was occurring on Linway Road.
February 20
Wells Road (5:45 p.m.) — A caller reported a possible brush fire behind their residence. The fire was determined to be an outdoor fire pit and the resident was advised to extinguish the fire.
Wells Road (8:16 p.m.) — A caller reported a possible issue with their heating system. The Fire Department responded to assist.
February 21
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound at Bedford Road (7:05 a.m.) — Two-vehicle crash. One occupant was transported to Emerson Hospital with minor injuries.
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (8:35 a.m.) — A 911 caller reported a two-vehicle crash by mile marker 126. The other vehicle involved in the crash did not remain on scene.
February 22
Lincoln Public Library (11:06 a.m.) — Officers were called to deal with an individual who had previously trespassed on the property. Officers escorted the person from the property without incident.
The Commons of Lincoln (6:04 p.m.) — A resident asked to speak to an officer about a possible theft of money. An officer responded and spoke with staff and the resident.
Pierce House (7:15 p.m.) — An officer conducted a well-being check on an individual at the Pierce House. The individual was fine.
South Great Road (10:29 p.m.) — A caller reported a one-car crash near Bowles Terrace. A pickup truck had struck a utility pole after losing control of the vehicle. The passenger of the vehicle was transported to Emerson Hospital with minor injuries.
Virginia Road (11:02 p.m.) — Concord Police requested assistance checking the area of Virginia Road for a vehicle operating erratically. The area was checked but the vehicle was not found.
Lincoln Road (11:24 p.m.) — An officer discovered that the railroad gates on Lincoln Road appeared to be malfunctioning. The officer remained in the area and Keolis was requested to respond.
February 23
Lincoln Gas and Auto, South Great Road (6:22 a.m.) — The DPW asked an officer to speak to the plow operator responsible for the Lincoln Gas and Auto. The officer contacted the property owner and advised they tell the plow company not to push snow onto Route 117.
Tower Road at Stonehedge Road (10:12 a.m.) — An officer responded to assist at a minor two-vehicle crash.
Round Hill Road (1:53 a.m.) — A resident called saying that a gas-powered light pole had been knocked over by a garbage truck. The Fire Department responded as well as National Grid.
Red Rail Farm (6:2 p.m.) — A well-being check was requested. An officer responded and determined the individual was ok.
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (10:23 p.m.) — The Fire Department responded for mutual aid at a 12-vehicle crash.
February 24
Horseshoe Lane (2:58 a.m.) — A resident called to report a barking dog in the area. The area was checked by a responding officer who heard no dog sounds.
Lincoln Road (7:14 a.m.) — A vehicle traveling on Lincoln Road was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at the stop sign at Codman Road. An occupant of the vehicle on Lincoln Road was subsequently transported to Emerson Hospital via the Lincoln ambulance for minor injuries. The operator of the vehicle travelling on Codman Road was cited for failing to stop at a stop sign.
Old County Road (8:41 a.m.) — One-car crash. The occupant of the vehicle was transported to the police station to make transportation arrangements and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Silver Birch Lane (4:57 p.m.) — A caller reported that a dog had been barking in the area. An officer responded to the scene and asked the owner of the dog to retrieve it from outside when it begins to bark. The Animal Control Officer was aware of the incident.
Lexington Road (11:42 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a vehicle stop in front of a residence and then several individuals got out of the vehicle and ran toward the residence. The caller yelled to the occupants of the vehicle, who appeared to reverse direction and return to the vehicle. The vehicle then fled from the area. Officers conducted a check of the area but were unable to locate it.
February 25
South Great Road (12:56 a.m.) — An officer checked on an occupied parked vehicle at the Mt. Misery parking lot. The operator left the area shortly thereafter.
February 26
Nothing of note.
February 27
Concord Road (6:02 p.m.) — A caller reported seeing a dead deer on the side of the road. An officer responded and confirmed that the deer was dead. The DPW was notified.
Lewis Street (7:51 a.m.) — The deer from the previous call was in fact not yet deceased. The animal was severely injured and needed to be put down. An officer responded to the DPW and dispatched the deer.
South Great Road (5:57 p.m.) — A motorist was traveling on Route 117 eastbound when a deer entered the roadway and struck the vehicle, causing some damage to the front end. The deer died as a result of the collision. The deer was removed to the side of the road and the DPW was notified.
February 28
South Great Road (9:09 a.m.) — For approximately 45 minutes, the railroad gates at Route 117 and at Lincoln Road were malfunctioning. Officers responded to both locations and facilitated traffic through until Keolis arrived and resolved the malfunction.
Lincoln Road (6:36 p.m.) — A caller reported a loose dog in the area of the Town Hall. The Animal Control Officer was notified.
Old County Road (8:09 p.m.) — One-car crash. The operator of the vehicle was transported to the station to make transportation arrangements and the vehicle was towed from the scene.
Property sales in January 2023
32D Indian Camp Lane — James Hogan to Michael Grigelevich and Johannah Ash for $418,500 (January 31)
165 Bedford Rd. — Colleen Fong Trust to Lauren Briere for $763,000 (January 31)
39 Brooks Rd. — Sanjeev Verma to L.A.M.B. Trust for $1,950,000 (January 28)
16 Huckleberry Hill — Stephanie Stankard to Emily Ann Stankard Trust and Sara Lee Stankard Trust for $1,000,000 (January 24)
Eugene M. Darling, Jr. dies at age 98
Eugene Darling Jr.
Eugene M. Darling, Jr., who served for 28 years as an environmental scientist with the federal government, died on February 12, 2023 at the age of 98.
Darling grew up in Wellesley as the son of the late E. Merrill Darling and Barbara T. Darling. After graduating from Wellesley High School in 1943, he served in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. He received an A.B. degree in mathematics from Harvard College in 1948 and an M.S. in meteorology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1953, where he was elected to the Sigma Xi Honor Society.
In the 1950s at the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories in Bedford, he studied the effect of meteorological factors on the performance of weapon systems. In the 1960s, he conducted research on the utilization of meteorological satellite data at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. He later worked on artificial intelligence problems at the NASA Electronics Research Center in Cambridge. In the 1970s, he was chief of the Environmental Technology branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation, a position he held until his retirement in 1980.
Darling served on the Board of Directors of the MIT Club of Boston for 25 years. He was a member of the Massachusetts Orchid Society and a founder of the New England chapter of the Indoor Light Gardening Society of America. He was especially fond of classic jazz and lectured annually at the Lincoln Library classic jazz series. He lived in Lincoln for many years and enjoyed a winter residence in Sarasota, Fla.
He leaves his sister, Patricia D. Andrews of South Bend, Ind., his nephew, Bruce L. Monteith of Ocala, Fla., and his niece, Teri S. Cousino of Berlin, Conn. Burial with U.S. Army military honors at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge will be private.
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord, which provided this obituary. For Darling’s online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
Corrections
- The February 27 articled headlined “Energy-efficiency amendments among zoning proposal at Town Meeting” mischaracterized a proposed amendment to the zoning bylaw on cluster developments. If approved at Town Meeting, the bylaw would be revised to comply with the current statutory language of MGL c.40A, which does not allow a mandate to a specific entity. The proposed bylaw will mirror the current 40A language by having the land subject to a use restriction enforceable by the town or a nonprofit organization whose principal purpose is the conservation of open space (details here).
- Two events listed in the February 27 edition of News Acorns — “Celebrating Celtic history, music, and literature” on March 10 and “The Softer Side of Celtic” on March 17 — included incorrect locations. Both events will take pace in Bemis Hall. The original post and calendar listings have been updated.
News acorns
“Getting to Zero — Upgrading Windows”
The second installment in the Getting to Zero series, “Upgrading Windows,” will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at noon. Lincoln resident Patrik Muzila, president of European Architectural Supply in Acton, will talk about the benefits of upgrading your home’s windows, tax incentives, and what options to look for. Click here to register for the Zoom link.
The series is presented by CFREE, a working group of Lincoln’s Green Energy Committee, to help residents affordably achieve energy-efficient, electrified, comfortable, and healthy homes. They will record the event and posting it to the GEC website for later viewing. Those who register for the lecture will also be sent a link to the video.
Celebrating Celtic history, music, and literature
The Lincoln Public Library will host a program celebrating Celtic history, music, and literature at an in-person event on Friday, March 10 at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Jaimee Leigh will lead a journey through the history of the Celtic harp and share a few tunes and legends from the past. Actor, teacher and lecturer Stephen Collins will perform his one-man show on Irish writers of the 20th century. Made possible by the Council on Aging and Human Services and Friend of Lincoln Library.
Emma Green
“An America Divided”
A virtual program on “An America Divided” with New Yorker staff writer Emma Green will take place on Tuesday, March 13 from 7:30–9 p.m. Green will explore ways that Americans are divided — politically, religiously, economically, and even by community and family. What has caused these ruptures and what are some ways for us to come back together? Click here to register.
“The Softer Side of Celtic”
In “The Softer Side of Celtic” on Friday, March 17 from 1–2:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall, Jeff Snow will combine the music, stories, and history from Scotland, Ireland, and England into a program with singing, laughing, clapping and even a bit of foot stomping. Questions and input from the audience are encouraged and become part of the event. Made possible by the Council on Aging and Human Services and Friend of Lincoln Library.
Film: “Loving Highsmith”
The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “Loving Highsmith” (2022) on Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m. Eva Vitija directed this look at the life of celebrated American author Patricia Highsmith based on her diaries and notebooks and the intimate reflections of her lovers, friends and family. Most of Highsmith’s novels, including “Strangers on a Train” and “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” were adapted for the big screen.
Register kids for T-ball
Registration for T-Ball is now open to boys and girls in preK and kindergarten living or going to school in Lincoln. Sessions are on Saturdays from late April to mid-June, 10:15 to 11:45 at the Lincoln Schools. The emphasis is on having fun, making friends, practicing teamwork, and learning throwing, catching, and hitting a baseball. Coaching is provided by parent volunteers. Click here to register (scroll down for Lincoln). Questions? Email Travis Roland at travisroland89@yahoo.com or Chris Andrysiak at chris.andrysiak@gmail.com.
“What We Learn from Our Fathers about Being Parents and Partners”
The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable and REACH Beyond Domestic Violence will present “Watching Dad: What We Learn from Our Fathers about Being Parents and Partners” on Monday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at the Goodnow Library (21 Concord Rd., Sudbury). David Adams, co-founder and co-director of abuser education program Emerge, will be the featured speaker.
The event is inspired by the White Ribbon Campaign, the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end violence against women and girls, and promote gender equity, healthy relationships and a new vision of masculinity. The local men’s group has been meeting monthly since 2019. Click here to register. While the event is free of charge, donations are always appreciated. Click here to donate. For more information, email whiteribbon.dvrt@gmail.com.
Energy-efficiency amendments among zoning proposal at Town Meeting
Five zoning measures — including a more energy-efficient town building code and a rule that would require new buildings and major renovation projects to be fossil fuel free — will be up for votes at the Annual Town Meeting on March 25.
Article 30 will ask Lincoln to adopt the new Specialized Municipal Opt-in Code released by the Department of Energy Resources in September that includes building performance standards designed to help the state meet its goal of 50% greenhouse gas emissions reduction from the 1990 baseline levels by 2030. Adopting the code is optional for Lincoln, which otherwise will be governed by an updated version of the so-called “stretch code” that took effect here in January.
The stretch code requires new buildings to be more energy-efficient and includes incentives — but does not mandate — that they be all-electric. The Specialized Code would go further by increasing those incentives and allowing an effective date about six months sooner. In either case, fossil fuels could still be used if the structure meets even stricter energy efficiency requirements.
Article 31 would build on the Specialized Code but go further by generally removing the option to use fossil fuels. If approved, it would let Lincoln participate in the state’s Fossil Fuel Free Demonstration Program. As such, the town could require all new buildings and major renovations to be fossil fuel free for building permits issued starting January 1, 2024.
The term “fossil fuel free” means that the entire building or condominium unit does not utilize coal, oil, natural gas and similar natural and synthetic hydrocarbons for heating, cooking, gas fireplaces, and other indoor systems after construction is complete. However, backup electric generators and outdoor gas grills that use propane tanks would still be permitted.
- Background information on Articles 30 and 31
- Information sessions March 5 and March 7
Another measure aims to encourage more accessory apartments in Lincoln. Article 26 would allow accessory apartments by right within the principal dwelling unit. It would also streamline the permitting process for an accessory apartment in an accessory structure by no longer requiring the Planning Board to make a recommendation on each application to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 062640).
Other zoning matters on the agenda at Town Meeting:
- The current zoning bylaw requires those proposing a cluster development to give the town and/or the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust interest in land as part of the approval process. An amendment up for a vote would revise the language to a second option: having the land subject to a use restriction enforceable by the town or a nonprofit organization whose principal purpose is the conservation of open space (details here).
- A change to bring the town’s zoning requirements in line with federal law by allowing modifications or additions of wireless equipment that qualify as “eligible facilities requests” (details here).
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on those two proposals on Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 362874)
- Adding 58 Bedford Rd. to the town’s Historic District.