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

News acorns

Meet Lincoln’s new state reps

Lincoln’s voting precincts (click to enlarge).

Come meet Lincoln’s new state Representatives,  Carmine Gentile (Precinct 1, west Lincoln) and Alice Peisch (Precinct 2, east Lincoln), on Saturday, Jan. 21 in Bemis Hall. For many years, Rep. Tom Stanley was Lincoln’s representative, but in the recent redistricting, Lincoln was split into two districts along its voting precinct line. Get acquainted with them personally, hear their perspectives on important issues and policies, and ask questions. The event starts at 2:30 p.m. with refreshments and conversation, and the meeting starts promptly at 3 p.m. Hosted by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee but open to all, regardless of party affiliation.

Movie night: “Sing 2”

The First Parish in Lincoln is hosting a movie night with pizza and popcorn on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Settle in at the Stone Church starting at 4:30 p.m. and watch “Sing 2” starting at 5 p.m. There’ll be an intermission at 5:45 for pizza followed by the rest of the movie with popcorn. Refreshments and cheese board for adults, with vegan and gluten free options for all.  The event and food are free. Please RSVP here so we have an accurate count.

Donate items for families escaping abuse

Each year the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable (DVR) sponsors a Valentine’s Day Gift Drive to help make the day brighter for families who are not safe in their own homes. The families reside in shelters and transitional housing programs of three area domestic violence organizations: REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence. The DVR gives each family member a bag of age-appropriate gifts to let families know they’re supported in their decision to leave an abusive situation.

Suggested donations include gift cards for CVS, Target, Market Basket, gas, etc. For older kids and adults, full-size bath products, socks, cosmetics, nail polish, hair products, journals, gloves/mittens, boxed candy, wash cloths, underwear and scarves are welcome. Examples of items for children include playing cards, educational materials, small toys, small stuffed animals, Matchbox cars, underwear, socks and candy (no books, crayons, pencils, or markers, please). Due to Covid 19 and the flu, we will not be inviting donors to join us in assembling the gift bags, but donations may be left in the collection basket at Sudbury Wine and Spirits (Rugged Bear Plaza Road, 410 Boston Post Rd., Sudbury) stating on January 20 until February 3. Questions? Email info@dvrt.org.

Lincoln native Cai Emmons passes away

Author Cai Emmons, a Lincoln native (L-S Class of 1969) who spoke at the library in 2018, passed away on January 2 at age 71 less than two years after being diagnosed with ALS. Read about her life in this Oregonian article and in her blog.

My Turn: School Committee member Adam Hogue seeks reelection

By Adam Hogue

I write to you today to announce that I am seeking re-election for another term on the Lincoln School Committee. It has been a pleasure to serve this great town for the last five years in this capacity and I hope to continue my work on the School Committee for another term.

The last few years have been challenging for our kids and for our town; however, the School Committee has navigated these challenges with a focus on what is best for our kids. I am proud to say that I fought to keep our schools open for full in-person learning when almost every neighboring district shifted to hybrid or remote learning only. I have been, and continue to be, an advocate for a data-focused approach to our academic standards to ensure that our children have the skills and knowledge for tomorrow. I have focused on budgets that reflect our values while also being prudent with our tax dollars.

Over the last few years, I have had conversations with many of you in town about our schools and I continue to be open, transparent, and accessible. I respectfully ask for your support and vote on March 27th.

Adam M. Hogue
978-828-6184

“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: Tara Mitchell stepping down from School Committee

By Tara Mitchell

After serving on the LPS School Committee for the past six years, I have made the decision not seek a third term. It has been an honor to serve and I am grateful for all I have learned about public school administration and the needs of students and teachers, and I continue to be impressed with the dedication of the school’s faculty, staff, and administration. During my tenure on the School Committee, we have set aspirational strategic goals, funded professional development to work towards more collaborative teaching practices, deeper learning, and AIDE [access, inclusion, diversity, and equity], constructed new learning spaces at Hanscom and Lincoln, updated policies, and navigated a global pandemic.

I believe the district has laid a strong foundation for future success and it is ready to start the next chapter. Newly elected committee members will have the opportunity to welcome a new superintendent, determine the next steps in becoming an antiracist district, and work to ensure the vision for our state-of-the-art schools comes to fruition as faculty strive to provide engaging learning experiences for all.

As with all town boards, each person contributes so much of themselves and their expertise and it is the variety of perspectives that brings a balance to the committee and fosters healthy growth and decision making. I encourage those interested in the future of our schools to get involved in some way. We have an amazing town and a strong school system, and it is up to us to keep it thriving. While it can be a lot of work, you will learn so much about our schools, grow relationships with dedicated people, and have an opportunity to shape the future of education in our town. I am proud of the work that has been done and am excited for what is to come.

Tara Mitchell
67 Sandy Pond Rd.

“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.

Correction

New information has been received since the January 8 publication of “Deadlines coming up to file for local election, citizen’s petitions.” All three seats on the Water Commission are open rather than two, as incumbent Steve Gladstone was appointed to fill a vacancy. Also, there are two seats open on the Housing Commission rather than one due to the recent resignation of Rakesh Karmacharya. The original post has been updated with the status of incumbents known as of January 9.

My Turn: Praise for “quality of civic life”

By Steve Kropper

I’ve lived in Lincoln for three years, and after “recovering” from ten years as committee chair, member and elected Town Meeting member in Lexington, I was ready to tackle the exigencies of public service in
Lincoln. After 30 years as a proprietor at Cambridge’s Mt. Auburn Cemetery, serving on Lincoln’s Cemetery Commission seemed like a good entry position for me. Of course the power, visibility, and fat pension were the real draw to that position 🙂 I called incumbent Cemetery Commissioner Manley Boyce to ask about his plans. He described his desire to be reelected and to lay groundwork for cemetery expansion.  Seeing this competent incumbent intended to continue serving, I decided not to run.

I report this only because I see and respect the quality of civic life in Lincoln, and in observing discourse in the town, I got a sense of how well we behave with each other.

Steve Kropper
60 Weston Rd.
kropper@skunkworksfund.com

“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: Rob Stringer running for re-election to Parks & Rec

By Rob Stringer

It is with great enthusiasm that I’m announcing my plans to re-run for a seat on the Parks and Recreation Committee for a three year term in March.

Over the past three years I’ve been able to meet and get to know many Lincoln residents through the Parks and Recreation Committee. During my tenure we hired a new director, Jessica Downing, and worked through how to manage programming and events with the onset and continuation of the pandemic. I’m pleased to report our enrollment numbers today are back to pre-pandemic levels. The town ice rink has been a particular joy to work on and see the community enjoy (as of today, the rink is full and on its way to freezing, assuming the weather stays cold enough!).

For those I’ve not yet met, my family and I moved to Lincoln six years ago and love it here. Our two boys (11th grader at L-S and an 8th grader at the Lincoln School) have played baseball, soccer, and basketball through the various leagues in town and continue to make good friends and good memories. My wife Tris and I play in the adult co-ed softball league and have loved getting to know a wider network of adults here in town. Many mornings you can find us walking or jogging the roads or trails throughout Lincoln with our dog, Gaia. You may also have seen some of my art in the Lincoln Art Show put on by the Parks and Recreation Department every fall.

Alongside Parks and Recreation, I am an at-large member and co-chair of IDEA (the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee). I feel there are synergies to being on both committees to ensure that Lincoln is a welcoming, fun and engaging place for everyone. As an avid supporter of our school district’s participation in the METCO program and a member of the METCO Coordinating Committee, I love how our Parks and Recreation programming helps bring the entire Lincoln School community together through our wonderful Summer Camp offerings and other after-school programs.

As past co-chair of the Lincoln Parent Teacher Organization (LPTO) I’ve been able to better get to know the Lincoln Schools and some of the needs of parents with school-aged children. It’s my goal to use that experience to help the Parks and Recreation Department continue to provide programming that serves this community well. Lastly, I volunteer regularly with the Council on Aging and Human Services’ Friday lunch program, and have greatly enjoyed meeting and getting to know those who both serve and attend.

I have deeply enjoyed working as part of the Parks and Recreation Committee to date and hope to continue the work we’ve been doing to provide the greater Lincoln community with activities and programs that enable us to learn, grow and laugh together.  I hope you will please consider voting for me on March 27th for the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Rob Stringer
Todd Pond Road
617-359-9831
urbanvineyard@gmail.com

“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.

Deadlines coming up to file for local election, citizen’s petitions

Residents interested in running for local office in the March 29 town election are now free to pull nomination papers, and the deadline for doing so is Wednesday, Feb. 1. The deadline to file those papers with the requisite 33 resident signatures is Friday, Feb. 3. Citizens’ petitions for the Annual Town Meeting two days before the election must be filed by the end of this month.

As of January 6, two incumbents have publicly stated that they are not running for reelection: Jonathan Dwyer (Select Board) and Michelle Barnes (Water Commission). School Building Committee vice chair Kim Bodnar has announced her candidacy for Select Board.

The Water Commission will have two openings in March. Matthew Bio has been appointed to fill the remainder of the term of Ruth Ann Hendrickson, who recently resigned, and he has said he plans to run for a full term. Patrick “Packy” Lawler, who was on the commission from 2013-2019, said on January 5 that he was “90% sure” he would also run for one of the open seats.

The deadline for submitting citizens’ petitions for the March 25 Annual Town Meeting is Monday, Jan. 30 at noon. Citizens who may be considering sponsoring a Town Meeting petition are strongly urged to contact the Town Clerk’s Office (781-259-2607 or foxv@lincolntown.org) for guidance about the process. The office will contact those identified as lead petitioners to ensure coordination to prepare for the discussions and presentations that will occur in advance of Town Meeting.

This table listing the status of some of the incumbents is current as of January 9, 2023:

Board or CommitteeOpenings/termsIncumbent(s)
Board of AssessorsOne (three years)Ellen Meadors
Board of Health
One (three years)Frederick L. Mansfield
Board of SelectmenOne (three years)Jonathan Dwyer (not running again)
Cemetery CommissionOne (three years)Manley Boyce
Commissioners of Trust FundsOne (three years)D. Paul Fitzgerald
Housing CommissionTwo (three years each)Victoria Benalfew (not running again), Rakesh Kharmacharya (recently resigned)
ModeratorOne (three years)Sarah Cannon Holden
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School CommitteeTwo (three years each)Candace Miller
Harold Engstrom
Parks and Recreation CommitteeOne (three years)Robert Stringer
Planning BoardTwo (three years each)Lynn DeLisi, Robert Domnitz
School CommitteeTwo (three years each)Tara Lynn Mitchell (not running again), Adam Hogue
Trustees of BemisOne (three years)Heather Ring
Water CommissionThree (one for three years, one for two years, one for one year)Michelle Barnes (not running again), Matthew Bio (interim, running for full term)
Steve Gladstone (interim, running for full term)

News acorns

Soup-making class at the library

Happy Jars, will lead a cooking class for children aged 10 and up to teach basic cooking skills and simple, nutritious soup recipes at the Lincoln Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 11. Sign up for one of two sessions: 2–3 p.m. or 3:30–4:30 p.m. Space is limited; register by emailing sfeather@minlib.net. Please indicate which session you’d like to attend and whether you have any dietary restrictions.

Participation in superintendent search invited

The Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee’s Superintendent Search Subcommittee will hold a virtual listening session for families and community members on Thursday, Jan. 12 from 6–7:30 p.m. with Glenn Koocher, the group’s  search consultant from the Massachusetts Association for School Committees. The subcommittee also invites residents to complete a brief survey asking that current or future issues that the new superintendent will need to address. The deadline to take the survey is Monday, Jan. 9. Click here for the January 12 Zoom link.

Recycle textiles to help PTO

The Lincoln School has partnered with Bay State Textiles in a program to turn unwanted textiles into revenue for the Lincoln PTO. Schools earn a rebate of $100 per ton. Drop-off bins are located in the Smith and Hartwell parking lots. Bay State Textile accepts all textiles (clothing, footwear, towels, household linens, stained clothing, stuffed animals, footwear and other fabric-based products). Click here for a complete list of acceptable items. As of January 1, it is illegal to throw textiles into the trash in Massachusetts.

FoMA film on Oyler house

The Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln Film Series presents “The Oyler House: Richard Neutra’s Desert Retreat,” a first-run feature film release directed by Michael Dorsey, on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library as part of the 2023 Lincoln Winter Carnival. There will be a reception after the screening.

The Oyler house was designed for Richard Oyler in 1959 by Neutra in Lone Pine, Calif. The design resonates with Lincoln’s Modern architecture, where careful attention to specific site qualities has enabled architects to celebrate and enrich the experience of living with the land in modest homes. The film highlights a place that remains a valuable example of how Modern principles and sensibilities continue to resonate and enrich our lives today.

My Turn: Bodnar is running for Select Board

By Kim Bodnar

It is with much enthusiasm that I announce my candidacy for the Select Board for a three-year term beginning in March.

Reflecting on the past five and a half years as vice chair of the School Building Committee (SBC), I cherish the time I’ve spent building relationships with my fellow committee members and residents in our community. The many conversations I’ve had in our community spaces or just walking the trails together have shaped my understanding of Lincoln’s history and culture, as well as concerns for its future and the challenges ahead. This process has made me a better listener, collaborator and communicator. And it’s the same dedication and commitment to inclusiveness, transparency and thoughtful leadership that have characterized my work on the SBC that I hope to bring to every aspect of my role on the Select Board.

My family moved to Lincoln over a decade ago. It’s when my daughters were enrolled at preschool at Lincoln Nursery School and kindergarten at the Lincoln School that we first walked the trails behind the deCordova and fell in love with Lincoln’s natural beauty. It’s also when I began to appreciate the town’s commitment to its long-held traditions and core values, and I recognized the need to contribute to that history of stewardship. I chose volunteer opportunities that blended my skills of thoughtful questioning, data analysis and unwavering effort with a strong sense of teamwork. Over the years, those roles have included Lincoln School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) chair, board member for the Friends of the Lincoln Library, lead organizer of a community-wide kickball tournament, and contributor to the citizen’s petition that recently renamed the Board of Selectmen as the Select Board. 

As vice chair of the SBC, I have spent a great deal of time in front of our town’s many boards and committees. These meetings have given me a tremendous respect for the exceptional level of volunteerism as well as a first-hand view into how our town is run and managed by our talented town staff. And as an SBC Outreach subcommittee member, I did everything I could to ensure that residents felt engaged with the decision-making process and informed of progress every step of the way. Our 200+ blog and LincolnTalk posts, videos, the SBC website, multiple mailings and handouts are a testament to the level of transparency we tried to achieve. The skills and expertise gained through a business career in supply chain management, process engineering, and market development have, without a doubt, been an asset throughout my many volunteer roles.

Looking ahead, I am eager to share my experiences and knowledge as a crucial phase of the community center building project begins. It is a humbling process that requires tireless effort but also a tremendous opportunity to listen and learn from a great cross-section of our residents.

The town of Lincoln is also at an interesting crossroads with respect to the recent housing choice legislation for MBTA communities and the need for expanded housing options. It is a conversation that requires full community engagement as we reflect on what we value and decide on what zoning changes we will support. We are also at an inflection point when discussing next steps for the revitalization of Lincoln Station, transportation policy, and the work of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Climate Action Plan, and diversity and equity initiatives, to name a few. Because these initiatives touch every part of our lives, they require broad based discussions from residents including those who serve on our many town boards and committees. I look forward to contributing to these efforts and building consensus for the long term benefit of Lincoln.

Also, in the coming weeks (just when it’s getting really cold again!), you will see me at the transfer station and in front of Donelan’s to meet and hear from you. In addition to those two locations, I’ll look for additional opportunities to meet in person and discuss what’s on your mind. More to come…

Finally, as I announce my candidacy, I would like to express my thanks to Jonathan Dwyer for his many years of service to the community, including his six years on the Select Board, and I respectfully ask for your support at the town election on Monday, March 27th.

Sincerely,

Kim Bodnar
11 Fox Run Road

“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: Dwyer won’t seek reelection to Select Board

By Jonathan Dwyer

I write to announce that I will not be seeking reelection to the Select Board before my term expires in March.

After serving on the board for the past six years, twice as chair, I am ready to step back and make space for others to participate in town leadership. The experience was wonderful, and my “J-Board” colleagues James Craig, Jennifer Glass, and Jim Hutchinson were a joy to work with and learn from.

Getting to know staff, the regulatory complexities and services they uphold, and their responsiveness to ever-changing town needs was a privilege. In particular, I enjoyed working on North Lincoln issues such as the Route 2A repaving project that kept me in regular contact with residents, MassDOT, Minute Man National Historical Park, Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School, and adjacent towns’ Select Board members through the Hanscom Area Towns Committee.

The Capital Planning Committee, community center committees, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and Roadway and Traffic Committee (RTC) have all provided additional opportunities for me to work with talented staff and volunteers to plan, advise, fund, decide, and implement many town infrastructure projects. The collaboration among BPAC and RTC is exceptional, in my opinion. Whether we were discussing changes to an intersection, edge lanes for pedestrian and cyclist safety, curb materials and reveals, a new roadside path at Codman Farm, or the trail-path network and Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan, it would be difficult to tell who was on which committee without roll-call voting.

Moreover, our town’s resident-government partnership, built on trust and common values, is remarkable, and is a key element of Lincoln’s character. Today’s issues are multifaceted and lack easy answers, but the town continues to be in a good state to address them.

I thank all of you for voting me onto this board twice, and thank my wife and daughters for giving me time to serve you. If you haven’t had an opportunity to volunteer on a town board or committee, go for it. It’s important, and a terrific experience.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Dwyer
Beaver Pond Road

“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.