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

My Turn: Community center is an investment in the town just like the school

By Lis Herbert

I am hoping that you already have plans to attend Town Meeting this Wednesday night at 7 p.m. to vote YES to advance a decade of work to build a Community Center for Lincoln. If you don’t, I hope I can convince you to come.

Four years ago, many of us poured a lot of energy into ensuring that a new school would finally be built in Lincoln. If you attended those forums and meetings, and read the discussions online, you will likely remember that a significant number of older Lincolnites agreed to support the school building project in exchange — in some cases quite explicitly — for future support for the community center when it became clear that both would not be approved and built at the same time.

They said, basically, we will invest in the future of education in Lincoln, in a building that we may never step foot in, apart from Town Meeting, if you promise to make a smaller investment in an intergenerational community center that you will surely, at some point in your lifetime, and hopefully with some frequency, enjoy.

Communities that invest in public infrastructure, especially people-focused infrastructure, are stronger, more resilient, happier places to live. And there is no better example of the power of collective investment, energy and ideas than what has taken shape on the school campus. If you haven’t been to see it, I would encourage you to at least walk the perimeter during a school day, and see how transformative it is, how happy the kids and their teachers are, and how proud we should all be that this is where the children of Lincoln get to learn, and that we have invested in this, together.

There are, to be sure, organizations in town that bring people together at different times of the year for specific events — and yet these are, if we are being honest, few and far between. They’re not casual, easy things to pull off, they aren’t spontaneous, you can’t always simply stop by, on a whim.

This is an important vote, for a comparatively small amount of money, that will allow the work of the committee to move forward. This is not a vote to borrow $25 million, or a vote to approve a tax increase. This is a vote to advance the process, for $325,000.

Years of inaction on the school taught us that if we vote to kick the can down the road, even for a couple of years, we should take that $325,000, and probably a lot more, and just light it on fire. I don’t think there is anything we can be more sure of, with respect to the numbers. Voting no also means waiting a long time before we have something concrete to vote on again, and a decade of work and community outreach will evaporate. The Council on Aging will be stuck at Bemis Hall, the Hartwell pods will continue to deteriorate, and we will be back at square one.

I have faith in the committee: they are taxpayers who have paid for and invested in the school themselves, and who want the best for the town. They know, as well as you and I do, that if their proposal is unpalatable it will be voted down. Please let’s give them a chance.

“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.

Electricity rates to go up for everyone

Electricity rates will rise for everyone in the coming year, but the hike will be a bit more modest for Lincoln Green Energy Choice (GEC) customers, even those enrolled in the program’s “100% Green” option.

Because of the war in Ukraine and other global factors, “there will be a significant increase in electricity bills in January whether or not you’re in program, but green electricity costs will hold steady,” Paul Shorb, chair of the Lincoln Green Energy Committee, said at the second State of the Town meeting on November 15.

Earlier this month, Eversource announced that its residential rate for the first six months of 2023 will be 25.649 cents per kilowatt hour — a jump of 30% over the 17.871¢/kWh for the current six-month period. Before that announcement, Lincoln GEC signed a new one-year contract, setting 2023 prices for its three program tiers — all of which are lower than the coming Eversource rate. The new GEC rates will be 21.206¢/kWh for Basic, 22.316¢/kWh for Standard Green, and 24.018¢/kWh for 100% Green.

Eversource adjusts its rates twice a year, while the GEC’s rates will be fixed for all of 2023, so it’s unclear what the price differential will be for the second half of the year. However, for those who sign up for the Lincoln program for the first time, there’s no risk.

“People are free to drop out of our program at any time, such as if the relevant Eversource rate then drops below ours,” Shorb told the Lincoln Squirrel. “I don’t think Eversource has beaten us on rates yet, but it could happen. Even if it does happen sometimes, we hope people will stay in our program, recognizing how much it reduces their personal contribution to the climate crisis that is now in progress.”

The GEC program tiers are priced according to the proportion of clean energy they provide. The state already requires that at least 20% of a utility’s energy supply come from renewable sources. Lincoln Basic adds another 2% to that, Lincoln Standard Green adds another 20% for 47%, and Lincoln 100% Green customers get all of their power from renewables.

Shorb noted in a November 27 LincolnTalk post that some have asked why a spike in fossil fuel prices would affect even the 100% Green option, which is based entirely on wind power. “That’s a great question with an interesting answer that I will unpack in a separate post,” he said.

More than 10% of Lincoln households have enrolled in the 100% Green option, and program customers have collectively saved more than $1 million since its inception, Shorb noted at the SOTT meeting.

Town meeting proposals

To further the goal of weaning the town from nonrenewable energy sources, the Green Energy Committee will propose two measures at the Annual Town Meeting in March. The first will ask voters to approve adoption of the new Specialized Municipal Opt-in Code released by the Department of Energy Resources in September that includes net-zero building performance standards and is designed to help the state meet its goal of 50% greenhouse gas emissions reduction from the 1990 baseline levels by 2030. The code is a third option beyond the basic code and the optional “stretch code” that’s already been adopted by most Massachusetts cities and towns.

The second measure will ask Lincolnites to go even further by asking for the state’s permission to ban fossil fuel hookups in new construction or major renovation projects. The home rule petition, if approved, will let Lincoln apply to join a pilot program as one of 10 Massachusetts municipalities to institute this requirement. Only cities and towns who’ve met the state’s 10% affordable housing target can qualify, and the requirements won’t apply to health care facilities and science labs, as explained by WBUR.

If approved, the new town bylaw will still allow standby generators that run on fossil fuels to be used in case of power failures, Shorb said.

Proposed zoning changes will come up for votes in March

Lincolnites will have a chance to vote on two bylaw changes — one to South Lincoln commercial zoning and the other to accessory apartment rules — at the annual Town Meeting in March. The Planning Board presented the proposals on the second night of Lincoln’s State of the Town meeting on November 15. 

Surveys have shown “overwhelming support for enhancing commercial viability” in the South Lincoln village area, and the 2009 long-range plan called for a “vibrant” village center, “but we don’t think anyone would use the word vibrant to describe the area,” Planning Board Chair Robert Domnitz said. The Housing Choice Act will also require the town to allow denser housing within half a mile of the train station. And while residents and the board support mixed-use development, the current zoning rules make that difficult. Developers have been “discouraged by the complex procedures laid out in our zoning bylaw,” he said.

The village area currently includes two business zones: B1 (the mall plus a few properties south of Lincoln Road) and B2 (an area west of the tracks stretching from Doherty’s Garage to the Department of Public Works), but they have different emphases. B1 allows retail and professional business by right, but not residences. B2 allows single-family and limited multifamily housing by right, but most new business uses require a special permit from the Planning Board and a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Even then, the permit must be renewed periodically and can’t be transferred to a new owner when the property is sold.

The Planning Board is considering two options: dropping the special permit requirement for uses in the B2 zone that are allowed by right in B1, or somehow merging the two zones  to “create a more holistic vision of a village center,” Domnitz said. The overarching goal is to encourage mixed use with a higher residential density while preserving the character of the village center area.

A broader proposal to rezone the village area stirred up strong opposition in 2019, especially from residents living in condos and apartments on Ridge Road. In contrast this time, zoning in all the nearby residential areas “are outside the scope of our effort,” Domnitz said.

Accessory apartments

The second proposed zoning change would encourage more accessory apartments by streamlining the need for property owners to get approval from both the Planning Board of the ZBA if the proposed accessory apartment is part of the main dwelling. The building inspector would be empowered to approve any construction after ensuring plans conform to the existing rules on proportional size of the apartment, having a separate entrance and dedicated parking space, etc.

If the apartment is to be a separate building on the property, the applicant would still have to get a permit from the ZBA but can bypass the Planning Board. Owners could charge rent but could not “condo-ize” the accessory apartment; it would have to remain legally part of the primary residence.

Voters approved a previous set of changes to accessory apartment rules by razor-thin margins in 2021.

The goal for both measures is to “streamline regulations and procedures that provide no benefit to the town and needlessly burden property owners, Domnitz said.

My Turn: Lincoln Station or nothing at all

By John Carr

The proposed community center at Hartwell is an attempt to move even more school expenses outside of the school budget. The so-called “community center” is largely a Parks and Recreation facility with the stated goal of serving schools. It mixes facilities explicitly meant for the school with facilities that, underused, can be annexed by the school. The voters put a cap on school costs in 2018 and the town should respect us by respecting it.

If we’re talking about a “community” center, why are we putting it where there is no community around it? If the (former) Council on Aging wants space for the aging, why put it where no aging people live? We might as well rent some office space just over the town line in Waltham. Once you have to get in the car anyway it’s not much more effort to go to another town.

One site considered by the 2015 community center report is not in the middle of nowhere: the commuter rail parking lot. The report tried to steer voters away from this location by bundling an underground parking garage to make it more expensive.

Everything changed in 2020. Commuter rail as a transport mode died of Covid. The town-owned parking lot is nearly empty. We can put a building on half of it and nobody will be inconvenienced. We don’t need to replace any lost parking spaces, much less build an expensive underground facility.

As well as now being the cheapest of the six options studied, the Lincoln Station site also has the advantage of being

  • Near shops, so people can combine shopping or dining with community center activities
  • Near Codman farm
  • Near aging people that the Council on Aging is meant to serve

As a more ambitious project we could include affordable apartments to help meet our housing goals. This part could be paid for by CPA funds.

If the town votes for further study, it should limit the options to Lincoln Station and put a hard cap on the cost estimate. And if the cheerleaders for a school annex argue that Lincoln Station is not an option because Saturn is retrograde or some such, then the town should just say “no” to the whole white elephant.

“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.

Police log for November 14–21, 2022

November 14

Codman Community Farms (1:58 p.m.) — Codman Farm reported a party went into the farm store and took food without paying. An officer followed up and identified the involved party. The party returned and paid for the items.

Tower Road (5:06 p.m.) — Resident called to report that their son was supposed to be on the way home in an Uber and they can’t track them. An officer contacted the resident, who was then able to contact the son.

South Great Road (5:59 p.m.) — Concord police reported a vehicle now in their town was involved in a crash in Lincoln on Route 117 involving a deer. An officer responded and took a report. No sign of the deer in the roadway.

Liberty Lane (7:07 p.m.) — A party came to the station requesting civil fingerprints.

November 15

Old Sudbury Road (3:15 a.m.) — Caller reported the railroad gates were stuck down. An officer responded; crews were working and the gates were back up.

November 16

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (7:58 a.m.) — Caller reported being involved in a crash on Route 2 near Lexington Road. State police were on the scene handling.

Old Sudbury Road (8:29 a.m.) — Caller reported that someone struck a Black Lives Matters sign that was in front of their house along the roadway the previous night.

Old Sudbury Road (2:24 p.m.) — A Wayland resident reported that the railroad gates were stuck down at Old Sudbury Road. An officer responded to the area; the gates were up.

South Great Road (2:4 p.m.) — Caller reported their dog was missing in the area of Route 117 and Old Sudbury Road. Animal Control was notified.

North Great Road (4:38 p.m.) — Caller reported a wounded deer on the side of the road. An officer checked but was unable to locate it.

Mary’s Way (6:15 p.m.) — Report of a vehicle pulled to the side of the road, possibly broken down. An officer checked; the party was OK and on their way.

Bypass Road (6:56 p.m.) — Report of an injured deer near the Concord town line. An officer located the deer and dispatched it. MassDOT was notified to remove the carcass.

Trapelo Road (10:02 p.m.) — Caller requested a well-being check on the resident. An officer responded and everything was fine. The resident advised to contact the reporting party.

November 17

Lexington Road (7:18 a.m.) — Caller reported a dog showed up on their property. Animal Control was notified.

Harvest Circle (12:02 p.m.) — A staff member at The Commons called to report that a confused party walked into the facility. An officer responded and spoke to a family member and made arrangements for the person to get a ride to the family member’s house.

November 18

Wells Road (10:36 p.m.) — A party came to station reporting their daughter was missing. While in the station, the daughter called; everything was fine.

November 19

Lincoln Road (4:40 p.m.) — A person brought a purse into the station that they’d found. The owner was contacted and came to pick it up.

November 20

Virginia Road (5:04 p.m.) — Caller reported that their dog was missing. Animal Control was notified.

Silver Birch Lane (7:51 p.m.) — Caller reported that their neighbor’s dog was barking. An officer responded and everything was quiet.

North Great Road (8:29 p.m.) — Lexington police called requesting a check along Route 2A for a missing person with dementia. They later called back when the person was located.

November 21

Silver Hill Road (8:02 p.m.) — Caller reported they found a dog along the side of the road. An officer responded and the owner was notified to pick up the dog.

Morningside Lane (8:48 a.m.) — Caller wanted to speak to an officer regarding losing their driver’s license. An officer spoke to them and took a report.

Windingwood Lane (10:54 a.m.) — A party came to the station regarding a civil matter with a contractor.

Bank of America, Lincoln Road — Report of an odor of gas. Fire Department responded and vented the area. A burner was left on at the restaurant, causing the odor.

South Great Road (12:36 p.m.) — Caller reported the railroad gates were malfunctioning. An officer responded; the gates were up.

My Turn: Green Energy Committee introduces “Climate Minute”

By Michael Moodie

(Editor’s note: This is an expanded version of a piece that appeared in a LincolnTalk email on November 15.)

The Lincoln Green Energy Committee (GEC) works to help residents and others reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through energy conservation and the use of appliances and vehicles powered by renewable electricity. Periodically, the GEC will issue a “Climate Minute,” a short message explaining and encouraging efforts to reduce emissions. Below is our first.

Climate Minute #1 – getting to zero

To reduce emissions from our homes (ultimately to zero), we need to conserve energy and move from fossil fuels to electric systems. Current Massachusetts and federal incentives help reduce the up-front cost of this change. Getting your home to zero emissions has three main components: (1) insulate, (2) electrify, and (3) obtain electricity from renewable sources.

  1. Insulate — Tighten up the thermal envelope of your home by sealing openings, increasing insulation, and improving windows. See the MassSave site for details on rebates and loans for air sealing and insulation and for windows.
    • 75%–100% rebates on air sealing and approved insulation. A Lincoln resident had cellulose insulation blown into exterior walls at a total cost of about $3,000; after rebates she paid only $750.
    • $75 off each triple-pane window replacing a single-pane one.
    • $25,000 “HEAT” loans at 0% interest for 7 years for approved insulation and for triple-pane windows replacing single panes.

Federal incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) include up to $1,200 in upfront discounts and $1,600 in tax credits for such work, depending on income. Tax credits reset each year for up to ten years. This calculator will estimate the IRA incentives available to you.

  1. Electrify — Convert from fossil fuels to electric power for the major systems in your home: heating/cooling, water heating, vehicles, cooking and clothes drying. Significant financial incentives will ease the transition. HEAT loans help cover the cost of heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.

IRA incentives again include significant upfront discounts and 30% tax credits for all of the systems listed above. A family of two with $160,000 in income would qualify for over $34,000 in incentives. Consult the calculator mentioned above for more details.

“Electrify Everything in Your Home” is a free, accessible, and informative guide to thinking about and planning for this transition. This guide helps you preview the process of replacing systems and planning the transition, with an emissions-free home at the end. The authors of this book estimate that moving three systems to renewable electricity would eliminate 85% of your house/vehicle emissions (50% for cars, 25% for heating/cooling, and 10% for water heating).

Here are some links to information about heat pumps and electric vehicles on the GEC’s website:

  1. Obtain electricity from renewable sources — Finally, you’ll need to obtain 100% renewable electricity, such as through Lincoln Green Energy Choice.

“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

L-S alumni soccer game

The Lincoln-Sudbury alumni soccer game will be held on Saturday, Nov. 26 at noon. It’s a casual game for alumni from any era. RSVP on this Facebook page. Questions? Email Tim Mangini at tim_mangini@wgbh.org.

String and voice concert

“Celebrating Collaborations: Sings and Strings” with Music Street will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Music Street Artistic Director Diana Katzenberg Braun celebrates her work as a collaborative pianist in a concert with award-winning Boston musicians Li-Mei Liang (violin), Alan Toda-Ambaras (cello), Hannah Meloy (soprano), and David Mather (baritone). Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

Learn about the history of nutcrackers

“Nutcrackers: A Colorful History” will take place via Zoom on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. You may never have given those funny painted statues much thought, but the history of nutcrackers involves the development of tools from the Stone Age to the Industrial Age. Led by art historian Mary Woodward, who serves as a guide at several Historic New England properties. Register for the Zoom link here. This virtual event is hosted by the Tewksbury Public Library, in collaboration with several Massachusetts libraries. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Library.

Help families affected by abuse

Each year the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable sponsors a family for the holidays. Families in shelter for the holidays face a sad and difficult time as they are separated from family and friends and are hiding from their abusers. Sponsoring a family can be a wonderful way to help as a family or organization. Three local agencies offer services and programs for families affected by domestic violence. Holiday drives start early so agencies have time to process donations. In some cases, gift cards are being collected so families can shop and wrap their presents. For more information about how to help, please contact:

My Turn: Looking for a community center

By Sally Kindleberger

It has been ten years since the idea for a Lincoln community center was launched. Over this decade, many committees have met, large community meetings have discussed ideas and town meetings were presented with potential plans. Folks at the COA and the Lincoln Select Board have patiently promoted this idea. When it became evident that the Lincoln School needed to be rebuilt, the community center was put on hold.

As a single woman, I took a deep breath and decided to support the school’s efforts, even if it meant delaying the community center. Growing up, I was taught the importance of paying it forward — to always support the younger generation that follows. With the school project, my taxes went up along with other homeowners in town, and though I have never had kids, I was more than willing to support the schools.

The schools are completed and finally, it is time to make the dream of a Lincoln community center come through. I have listened to and read about the concerns and questions of folks in town. Some of them are as follows…

Why do we need a new building?

One only has to enter Bemis Hall to recognize how it no longer serves the needs of a growing and aging population. There aren’t enough private spaces to provide adequate room for counseling or socializing. The air quality in the basement is poor, therefore making large meetings unhealthy. Parking is very limited and it is perilous to cross or back out onto Bedford Road.

What does the Council on Aging and Human Services do? Why is it important?

The role of the COA&HS has always been a great boon to the town, but before I retired, I had no idea what it did. Next time the COA&HS newsletter shows up in your mailbox, take a moment to read it before you toss it into the recycling bin. I think you will be surprised by the plethora of activities that occur. Classes, groups, lectures, plays, films, and trips provide education and entertainment. Outreach across the community is extended to those in need. Among these services are individual therapy, groups which problem-solve, fuel assistance, housing needs, help with water bills and transportation… and the list is always growing.

Why do I need a Council on Aging? I’m not old yet. 

The name Council on Aging can be a real turnoff — a vision of old people nodding off in wheelchairs comes to mind. But our COA&HS is hardly that. The attendees, volunteers, and staff that work at Bemis are energetic and enthusiastic participants. Merging the Recreation Department with the COA&HS into a community center will help to remove old negative connotations and stereotypes.

That is why we need a community center that spans all ages. With careful planning of space and programs, a community center can meet many needs. I would love to see new intergenerational programming evolve. Older adults could perhaps mentor middle schoolers. Perhaps “grand-friends” could forge relationships with little kids. Tutoring and/or game nights could happen and yoga classes with all ages would help to build relationships across the community. Building on the school grounds will make it easier for these connections to develop.

How can we afford a new building?

There are many wealthy folks in town who could perhaps afford to help fund it. Creative thinkers can gather and find ways to lower taxes through private donations. Let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.

In closing, much work and planning have been devoted to this worthy vision. We aren’t starting from scratch. As a town, we are creative and thoughtful. Let’s figure out a way to make the community center happen. I have visited several community centers in the surrounding areas, and many are exciting vibrant places while some are small and drab. We need a community center which reflects the vibrant and creative nature of our town —  a place that is welcoming to all — a place where wonderful creativity happens.

“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.

Police log for Nov. 7–13, 2022

November 7

Lincoln train station (9:24 a.m.) — A person walked into the station to report that the railroad gates went down and then went back up without a train passing through. Moments later, the gates came down again and then a train passed through the crossing. The party was informed that Keolis has workers on the rail which is causing the gates to come down when there isn’t a train passing through.

South Great Road (11:30 a.m.) — Report of a two-car crash at Route 126. One person was transported to Lahey Clinic and vehicles were towed from the scene.

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (4:18 p.m.) — State police requested an ambulance for a crash. Fire Department responded and the patient refused transport.

November 8

North Great Road (6:24 a.m.) — Caller reported hitting a deer. No injuries; the vehicle was able to be driven from the scene.

Red Maple Lane (7:52 a.m.) — Caller reported someone dumped building/concrete material along the side of the road. An officer responded and contacted the DPW.

November 9

Wells Road (9:26 a.m.) — A party called requesting a well-being check on a resident. An officer responded and the involved party asked the Fire Department to transport the person to Emerson Hospital.

Baker Bridge Road (11:48 a.m.) — Caller reported someone going door to door stating they were checking the gas meter. An officer responded and checked the area but was unable to locate the person.

Old County Road (1:53 p.m.) — Eversource and Verizon were contacted regarding a tree on the wires on Old County Road.

South Great Road (2:56 p.m.) — A party came into the station to report being the victim of a scam involving cryptocurrency. An officer took a report; an investigation is ongoing.

Deerhaven Road (3:29 p.m.) — A party came to the station saying that someone fraudulently wrote out a check out of their bank account. An officer took a report and an investigation is ongoing.

Hanscom Drive (6:07 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle driving around the area without their headlights on. An officer checked the area but was unable to locate.

November 10

Old County Road (6:18 a.m.) — An officer checked on a vehicle pulled to the side of the roadway. The driver said they had AAA responding to tow the car to Concord.

South Great Road (7:18 a.m.) — Party reported striking a deer near the Weston line. Officers responded and found that the crash occurred in Weston; police in that town were notified.

Boyce Farm Road (1:58 p.m.) — Party reported receiving a suspicious call stating they had to pay $10,000 to clear up a warrant. An officer spoke to the party and advised them that it was a scam call (there was no financial loss).

November 12

South Great Road (12:56 a.m.) — Caller reported they heard noises on the railroad tracks and saw lights and were worried that a car was on the railroad tracks. An officer responded and Keolis was notified. The officer reported Keolis had workers on the tracks.

Todd Pond Road (1:51 p.m.) — Caller asked to speak to the Water Department regarding discolored water. The Water Department was advised to contact the party.

Winter Street (4:38 p.m.) — A property owner stopped an officer passing by to report a vehicle pulled into their property. Officer checked on the individual w,ho was asked to leave as they’re on private property. The party left the area.

South Great Road (4:58 p.m.) — The Fire Department from Lincoln and neighboring towns responded to a reported fire at a residence. The fire was in the attic and was caused by a box fan. Route 117 was closed for a period of time and detours were set up.

Bedford Road (7:21 p.m.) — Caller reported two cars parked on the roadway, one facing the wrong way. An officer responded but they were gone on arrival.

November 13

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (12:34 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle pulled into the breakdown lane. The party was OK and went on their way

Codman Road (1:37 p.m.) — Caller reported their dog was missing. The Animal Control Officer was notified.

Lincoln Road (3:56 p.m.) — A party came into the station with questions about bicycle signs on Lincoln Road.

Silver Birch Lane (6:24 p.m.) — Caller reported that their neighbor’s dog was barking. An officer responded and all was quiet.

My Turn: Vote yes to move forward with community center planning

(Editor’s note: this piece appeared in LincolnTalk on November 17 but some figures have been corrected with permission of the writer.)

By Michael Dembowski

The town’s dialogue regarding the proposed community center is engaging, healthy, and vital. However, many of the comments being expressed would be made no matter what the budget — the initial $15.3 million to $16.2 million estimated cost, or the current COVID- and inflation-driven $24.6 million to $26 million. Many townspeople simply don’t want to see additional tax increases, don’t know fully the program needs and current condition of the COA and Parks and Recreation Department, or don’t know of the diligent work of the community center committees dating back to 2012. Many of the suggestions and recommendations being made — whether thinking “out of the box” or being “prudent and cost-conscious” seem to be out of step with the process, uninformed by the work completed to date, or are more direct in wanting to prematurely shut down further town-wide consideration of a community center.

I am surprised at the apparent lack of good faith that those who have been directing this project to date have not thought of (and heard) and evaluated each suggestion offered. Does no one think that the Community Center Committees have not examined Bemis Hall and the Pierce House? Not looked at concurrent uses with the school programs? Not researched relevant program use data and benchmarking from other towns? Not been mindful of costs, budgetary constraints and the community’s reception to property tax increases — especially following the school project?

Voting YES on the next week’s ballot only approves limited monies for the further development of the proposed community center — a process that I would expect would be as transparent and participatory as the school project had been — incorporating the myriad voices and concerns now being expressed while also allowing for the possibility of securing private funds to help offset any future potential tax increase.

We are all privileged to live in this remarkable town — but privilege should prompt responsibility. Lincoln’s uniqueness is inextricably intertwined with its large sized properties, extensive conservation lands, farms and network of trails — all of which are universally appreciated and valued. However, the same lack of population and housing density can make Lincoln an extremely challenging place to live well and thrive in as we age — as we all age.

The community center project embodies a vision that is lost in much of the current dialogue of costs, budgets and potential taxes — one that should be considered in the context of wanting Lincoln to be a community that has the amenities, facilities and services that make it a desirable and more manageable town to live in for all of one’s life.

“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.