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

Food pantry’s expenses are skyrocketing

Among those at the recent GBFB visit to the SVdP food pantry in Lincoln were (left to right) food pantry chair Karen Boyce; Christina Peretti, GBFB’s assistant director of community development; Norma Milligan and Lada Yunga, community investment associates; SVdP President Karen Salvucci; and Kim Mai, assistant chair of the food pantry.

Volunteers at Lincoln’s food pantry recently got a visit from their counterparts from the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), which supplies a substantial portion of the food that gets distributed locally. 

GBFB representatives shared snacks and conversation on October 26 as part of its Apple Cider Donut Tour of some of its 590 food distribution partners in 190 Massachusetts communities. The local food pantry, which is tucked away in a former garage behind St. Joseph’s Church in South Lincoln, is run by volunteers from St. Vincent dePaul Society of Lincoln and Weston (SVdP).

SVdP Lincoln/Weston picks up, sorts, stores, and distributes about 4,000 pounds of food per month from the GBFB in addition to items donated by residents and local farms (with the help of grants from the Lincoln Agricultural Council). The GBFB goods account for roughly 40% of the total distributed by SVdP Lincoln/Weston.

“We rely heavily on donations of food and money, especially for our new ‘healthy food’ section which includes gluten-free, lactose free, low-salt, low-sugar. whole grains, vegetarian, nut-free and organic foods to aggressively address the dietary restrictions for those with hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and circulatory issues as well as individuals who choose vegan and other eating options for their diets,” said SVdP Chair Karen Boyce.

Both the GBFB and SVdP Lincoln/Weston welcome donations of money as well as food. GBFB purchases 70% of the food it distributes and is seeing an overall 15% increase in average food pricing compared to last year, according to its June 2022 quarterly report, which notes that “the demand for food assistance persists at the highest level in our 40-year history.” SVdP buys about half of the food it distributes in Lincoln and Weston and also provides emergency financial aid, which actually comprises the lion’s share in dollar value of the services it provides. Financial help for clients accounted for 42% of its expenses, with another 25% going to food purchases, 11% for gift cards, and 17% for adult continuing education scholarships. Grants and monetary donations that year amounted to about $152,000.

And the cost for that food is increasing at an alarming pace. According to the latest figures for the fiscal year that ended on October 31, 2022, SVdP spent $71,866 on food — just about double the amount it spent the previous year, which in itself was double the amount compared to the year before that ($36,034 vs. $18,182) as recorded in its 2020-21 annual report.

In October 2022 alone, the cost of food purchased from GBFB and retail outlets was $7,904, even after four food drives and drop-off donations. That includes a $2,553 payment to the GBFB. The average monthly payment from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 was $2,155.

Because of high inflation, Thanksgiving will be more difficult than usual for many of SVdP’s clients, and its distributor is unable to supply turkeys this year. As a result, the food pantry is asking for donations of $25 gift cards from grocery stores (preferably Donelan’s) and/or items that will go into “Turkey Tin” food baskets. They expect about 130 families will receive the baskets and gift cards. To find out more and to sign up to donate, click here. Questions? Call 781-899-2611 x4 or email svdplincolnweston@gmail.com.

Real estate company leaves Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall in Lincoln.

Coldwell Banker has closed its office in the Old Town Hall, leaving the venerable building with just a single tenant: the U.S. Post Office.

Stacy Osur, who manages the building for the nonprofit Lincoln Old Town Hall Corporation, said Coldwell Banker left suddenly with no advance notice. The Old Town Hall Exchange shop closed when the pandemic hit and has not reopened. The two agents who worked in Lincoln, Lois Tetreault and Vita Theriault, are now working in the company’s Weston office.

Of greater concern, Osur said, is that some items in the office are missing. “I drove up to the building and it was literally stripped… They’ve taken things that belonged to the building, antique stuff that was hanging on the walls,” as well as rugs and artwork. “It’s pretty shocking.” She finally got hold of someone in Coldwell Banker in New Jersey who was involved in the decision to close the office, “and they pled ignorance.” Osur added that she’s billed the company for the items.

“It didn’t surprise anybody that the office closed. With the [computer] technology we have now, I would go into the physical office maybe once a month,” said Tetreault, whose father ran a real estate business in the same location before it merged with Coldwell Banker. “I’m sure it’s going to be happening more and more with smaller offices.” As to the furnishings, “the company didn’t take anything that didn’t belong to Coldwell Banker as far as I know. Nobody was invited to take it and I have absolutely no idea where it went.” Theriault did not return calls seeking comment.

The office space is now being renovated and updated in preparation for offering it to one or more new tenants. “The idea is to keep that building vibrant and going, and we need the income to pay for snow plowing and gardening and stuff like that,” Osur said. She added that she hopes to get Community Preservation Act funds for a fire suppression system and seek permission to install electric car chargers in the rear. Meanwhile, Lincoln resident Kate Dahmen confirmed that she’s hoping to reopen a shop in the building but declined to provide further details until plans have progressed further.

The Old Town Hall is now in its third location. It was built in 1848 close to the current location of Bemis Hall “for all Political, Temperance, Antislavery & Peace Meetings and Lecturers for Lyceum, and Singing Schools, for Picnics, Fairs and Sabbath School celebrations and for all Literary & Scientific Lecturers,” according to the building’s website. It was moved down the hill closer to the First Parish Church in 1884 and then to its current location in 1918. At various time it housed Lincoln’s first high school and the public library. Later tenants included a general store and gas station, a law office, and a small publisher.

The Storrows built New England’s first bomb shelter in Lincoln

By Sara Mattes

“Did you know…?” that Lincoln had the first bomb shelter in New England and possibly the first in the United States?

The Storrows’ bomb shelter was so newsworthy in 1940 that the Wide World photo service circulated this photo nationally. It even appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The bomb shelter under construction in 1940 on the Lincoln estate of James and Helen Storrow (now the Carroll School). The entrance in the foreground is still visible from Baker Bridge Road.

The puzzle is: Why did the Storrows think they needed a bomb shelter? Granted, Europe had been at war for over a year, and the United States had started drafting young men into the military. But the U.S. was not yet at war, and the attack on Pearl Harbor was more than a year away. Did Helen and James Storrow really think that Hitler would send bombers across the Atlantic just to attack their home in Lincoln? Tell us what you know about the Storrows’ bomb shelter and help us fill out the story.

Are you curious about other people or places in Lincoln’s history?  Tell us your question, and we will try to respond with another “Did You Know…?” Send your suggestions to president@lincolnhistoricalsociety.org.

“Lincoln’s History” is an occasional column by members of the Lincoln Historical Society.

News acorns

Free Covid-19 test kits available

Once again, the town has a supply of free iHealth antigen rapid test kits for residents who are symptomatic or have been in close contact with Covid-19. Supplies are limited to one box (two tests) per person in your household. Test kits can be picked up Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. in the Select Board Office in Town Hall or the Council On Aging and Human Services Office in Bemis Hall. Test kits may also be picked up seven days per week, 24 hours a day at the Public Safety Building dispatch window. These kits currently expire in January, but expiration dates are being continually reevaluated. Each box has a barcode for you to scan and receive updated expiration information.

CCF offers sessions on sheet mulching and cooking

Codman Community Farms is offering a hands-on workshop on Gardening for a Changing Climate: Sheet Mulching on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 2–4 p.m. in the market garden. This workshop is free but registration is required; click here to register. The fall Gardening for a Changing Climate workshops are part of the Healthy Soils Series, a collaboration among the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, Lincoln Common Ground, and Codman Community Farms. The farm is also offering classes on cooking turkey (Saturday, Nov. 5) and pumpkin ravioli (Wednesday, Nov. 9), and Sugar Shack Storytime for kids on Wednesdays from 4:15–5 p.m. through November 30. Click here to see all events at the farm.

Coat drive through November 14

The Town of Lincoln’s Staff Culture, Recognition, Unity, and Fun Initiative is sponsoring a winter coat drive from October 31 through November 14. Please bring new or gently used coats and jackets of any size to the donation bins located at Town Hall and the Public Safety Building during that time. Lapel Cleaners in Concord has generously offered to clean the donations at no charge. Donations will benefit  On The Rise and Reach MA.

The Great Pumpkin Smash is coming

Mothers Out Front is sponsoring the Great Pumpkin Smash at Codman Community Farms on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Every year in the U.S., an estimated 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are carted away to landfills or incinerators where they produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Green your Halloween by bringing your pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, and decorative gourds to this family-friendly event, smash your Halloween creations, and recycle them into the soil by feeding them to the Codman Farm pigs. Please remove any stickers, paint, candles, or other decorations. Suggested donation of $1/pumpkin to benefit  CCF. Click here to register.

Farmland available for licensing

The Conservation Commission is currently accepting proposals from persons, farms, or organizations for licensing municipal conservation land for agricultural purposes. The two parcels available for licensing for the 2023-2027 farm licensing period are as follows:

  • A 3.5-acre parcel at Umbrello Field (270 South Great Rd., parcel ID 179 32 0))
  • A 3.0-acre parcel at Mt. Misery Fields (60 South Great Rd., parcel ID 159 20 0))

Those interested in applying for these fields should contact the Conservation Department to get detailed Request for Proposals packets. Join Conservation staff for a site visit at both parcels on Wednesday, Nov. 16 (see packets for more details). Proposals must be received no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5.

Movie: “The Great Beauty”

Join the Lincoln Library Film Society in the Tarbell Room on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. for “The Great Beauty” (2013) directed by Paolo Sorrentino. In Italian with English subtitles. It’s a Fellini-esque tale of decadence and lost love featuring sensuous cinematography, a lush score, and an award-winning performance by Toni Servillo.

Service on Wednesday for Colin Smith, 1933–2022

Colin Smith

A memorial service will be held at the First Parish in Lincoln on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m. for longtime Lincoln resident Colin Louis Melville Smith, who died on October 20. Remote viewers can watch the livestream here. 

Colin was born just before midnight in Burnley, England on December 30, 1933. Since his twin sister Pat was born a few minutes after midnight, they always had different birthdays. He was fond of telling the story about when his young father heard news of the delivery and asked the obstetrician, “Is it a girl or a boy?” The puzzling answer was: “Both.”

Colin grew up biking long distances along the stone-walled lanes of Lancashire, and he was proud that he always used to run the whole length of his paper route. Since he was skilled at drawing, the idea of studying architecture appealed to him. His father thought he should find his first job and contribute to the family upkeep. Colin defied his father by obtaining a scholarship to the Architectural Association in London. 

After completing his studies at the AA, he applied for a scholarship to the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He said it was the only university he had heard of in the U.S. and he thought it would be fun to visit America. It came as a shock that he had to study quite hard. He was kept busy at the Cambridge home of Charlie and Barbara Rockwells where he lived, helped with baby baths in the evening, and formed a life-long friendship. His touring plans had to be put off until the next summer when he and his friend Walter Thomson traveled across the U.S. in an old wood-paneled station wagon. They made it out to California and picked peaches in Modesto where it was 110 degrees in the shade. The local newspaper, the Modesto Bee, learned about them and sent a reporter out. Their picture behind crates of Del Monte peaches appeared on the front page of the Newspaper with the headline: “Harvard graduates help with peach harvest.”

When Colin’s Graduate School of Design professor Walter Gropius started a new firm, The Architects Collaborative, he hired his best students, including Colin, who commented that it was exciting to be in charge of a whole project. He said that if he had stayed in London he probably would have been designing bathrooms for a society architect. When Ben Thompson left TAC in 1966 to form his own firm, he, like Gropius, took with him his prized employees and again, Colin was one. 

In 1969 Colin and a small group went on their own to form ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge. Their work at TAC and BTA gave them a foundation as respected and capable architects and enabled them to begin a firm that is still flourishing in its 53rd year.

Their first major project was the Kennedy School of Government in which Colin played a major role. Colin went on to be the partner in charge of school and university projects at Buckingham, Browne and Nichols, Tufts, Syracuse, New York University, Russell Sage, UMC, Pappajohn Business School at the University of Iowa, and University of Missouri. He also was involved in projects for Digital Equipment, Lotus, and a historic renovation in Philadelphia for Design Research. Colin was a steady hand guiding the firm. His charm, grace, and good humor, served with a British accent, were appealing to everyone.

Colin was an active member of the Boston Society of Architects and was named a Fellow by the American Institute of Architects. He was appointed to the Massachusetts Designer Selection Board, whose responsibility was to appoint talented architects for major state projects.

Colin was married to Diana Dennison in 1970. They lived in Lincoln with their two children, Adrian and Isabel. Colin loved Lincoln and participated in Lincoln’s community life at many levels. He chaired the Lincoln Historic District Commission for over 20 years. He was also responsible for facilities at the First Parish Church in Lincoln, where he joked that when a lightbulb needed changing, he would receive a call. He saved the church’s leaning steeple from falling into the sanctuary with a major rebuild project in the mid-1980s. He would climb the scaffolding every morning to check on the work before he left for his office.

Colin loved to read and pursued his many interests by delving into all the books he could find on a subject. Books on British History and royalty, 18th-century English furniture and silver, Chinese porcelain, art history and the vagaries of the art market, French wine, the climbers of Mount Everest, and the Romanov family still fill up the family bookshelves.

Always interested in meeting new people and seeing new places, Colin had an international outlook that was unusual in his generation. He camped out under the stars inside the Parthenon in the 1950s, and he and Diana visited Hong Kong, Bali, Thailand, India, Nepal, Iran, Peru, Israel and Egypt, among many places. His close friends spanned many cultures and countries, from India to Switzerland to Iran and the U.K. as well as the U.S.

He is survived by his wife, Diana Smith; his children, Adrian Smith and Isabel Smith Margulies; two grandchildren, Alexia Margulies and Julia Margulies; his twin sister Pat Stephenson; his brother Gordon Smith; and an adored cousin, Linda Ramsden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Colin Smith to the First Parish in Lincoln (14 Bedford Rd., Lincoln, MA  01773).

Police log for October 11–22, 2022

October 11

Tower Road (10:13 a.m.) — Report of gates being stuck down at the railroad crossing. An officer responded and reported workers were already on scene working on the gates.

Lincoln Road (11:24 a.m.) — Report of gates being stuck down at the railroad crossing. An officer responded and reported workers were already on scene working on the gates.

South Great Road (11:53 a.m.) — Report of gates being stuck down at the railroad crossing. An officer responded and reported workers were already on scene working on the gates.

October 12

Lincoln Road (12:36 p.m.) — One-car crash involving a utility pole. Officers and Fire Department responded. One person transported to Lahey Clinic; vehicle towed.

Ent Road, Hanscom AFB (3:36 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station reporting their being harassed by someone living in Georgia. An officer took a report of the incident.

Pierce House (3:55 p.m.) — Report of two people acting suspiciously inside a car in the parking lot. An officer responded and sent them on their way.

Gerard’s Farm Stand, Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (4:48 p.m.) — A worker reported that someone attempted to steal an item from the farm stand. The suspect was no longer on scene. An officer responded and took a report; investigation ongoing.

Old Cambridge Turnpike (4:54 p.m.) — A party came into the station to report a civil matter. An officer spoke to the parties, gave them their legal options and documented the matter.

Hampshire Road, Wayland (5:08 p.m.) — Wayland Fire Department requested the ambulance for a medical. Fire Department responded and transported the party to a local hospital.

Lincoln Road (7:27 p.m.) — One-car crash near Macintosh Lane involving a utility pole. One person was transported to Lahey Clinic; vehicle towed.

October 13

Weston Road (4:19 a.m.) — Party reported someone ringing their doorbell. Officers responded and checked the area; nothing found.

Silver Birch Lane (12:06 p.m.) — Party reported receiving a couple of phone calls from numbers they didn’t recognize (they didn’t answer the phone).

October 14

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (12:42 a.m.) — Caller reported that someone struck the guardrail on Route 2. The call transferred to State Police in Concord. An officer checked the area but found no sign of the vehicle.

Deerhaven Road (11:55 p.m.) — State Police reported that a plane flying into Logan had a laser flashed at it. Coordinates report it’s coming from an address on Deerhaven Rd. Officers checked the area with State Police but were unable to locate.

October 15

Teddy Bear Club, Concord Road (7:49 a.m.) — Report of leaf blowers working. An officer responded and spoke to the company.

Lincoln Road (9:07 p.m.) — A Conservation Department ranger reported that a vehicle was obstructing the Scarecrow 5K Race. Officer checked the area. The ranger reported that the owner of the vehicle moved the car.

Beaver Pond Road (3:28 p.m.) — Party requested a well-being check. Officer responded and no one was home. Officers made contact later at the residence; everything was fine.

South Brook Road (9:24 p.m.) — Caller report hearing fireworks in the area. Officers checked but were unable to locate the source.

October 16

Concord Road (1:21 p.m.) — Accident involving a car and bicyclist near Baker Bridge Road. Officers responded along with the Fire Department. The cyclist was transported to Lahey Clinic with minor injuries.

Pierce House (3:19 p.m.) — Complaint received about cars parked at the entrance. No hazard found.

Tower Road (4:06 p.m.) — Report of an outside odor of gas. Fire Department checked but was unable to locate any leaks.

Weston Road (4:26 p.m.) — Report of vehicles impeding traffic. Officer checked and found there was no hazard.

Old Sudbury Road (6:40 p.m.) — Caller reported a dog running in the road. Officer checked the area but didn’t find the dog.

October 17

Meadowdam Road (12:27 p.m.) — Caller reported workers knocked on their door saying they had a gas leak and felt it was suspicious. An officer responded; National Grid workers were in fact fixing a leak.

October 18

Tower Road (12:58 p.m.) — Court paperwork was served to the resident.

Concord Road (1:16 p.m.) — State Police reported that a possibly intoxicated juvenile walked away from Walden Pond. Officers responded to the area. State Police located the party on Route 126 and contacted with parent.

Silver Hill Road (2:32 p.m.) — Report of cars impeding traffic. An officer checked but found no hazard.

Sandy Pond Road (3:48 p.m.) — Report of a garbage truck leaking hydraulic fluid. Clean Harbors responded to clean up the roadway.

Moccasin Hill (7:01 p.m.) — A resident reported a suspicious vehicle in the area they saw while out for a run. The driver stopped several times to talk, which the resident thought was suspicious. An officer spoke to the reporting party and documented the incident.

October 19

Old Sudbury Road (7:31 a.m.) — Report that the gates were stuck down. An officer responded and the gates were up.

Silver Hill Road (1:44 p.m.) — Caller reported cars parked on the roadway were causing a hazard. An officer responded and several cars were moved.

Airport Road (2:09 p.m.) — A caller from out of state asked an officer to speak to a resident regarding a civil matter. An officer spoke to both parties involved.

Stratford Way (3:32 p.m.) — Caller reported they smelled smoke inside the home. The Fire Department responded and found it was coming from an air handler.

October 20

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (6:45 p.m.) — Report of multiple vehicles hitting a deer near Lexington Road. One vehicle was towed. State Police handled.

Concord Road (10:09 a.m.) — Caller reported that a vehicle was in the driveway that doesn’t belong there. An officer checked; no vehicle was found in the driveway and everything appeared secure.

Hillside Road (4:18 p.m.) — Party reported being defrauded. An officer took a report; investigation ongoing.

Moccasin Hill (6:42 p.m.) — Party reported seeing a suspicious vehicle while out for a run and wanted the matter documented.

October 21

Ent Road, Hanscom AFB (1:32 p.m.) — Bedford police requested a well-being check on a party at a residence. An officer went to the residence with Hanscom Security Forces and no one was home.

Old Winter Street (3:49 p.m.) — A party came to the station to report they were bitten by a dog a couple of days previously. An officer took a report and Animal Control is handling.

Lincoln Road (3:24 p.m.) — A party turned in a cell phone they found.

Old Bedford Road (5:30 p.m.) — Hanscom Security reported that a vehicle was parked near gates to the airport. An officer responded and found that the vehicle was not impeding traffic.

October 22

Old County Road (8:45 a.m.) — Cambridge Water Department staff reported finding a firearm at the reservoir. An officer took possession of the firearm and placed it into evidence.

Wells Road, Lincoln (9:14 a.m.) — Caller reported a suspicious person walking around the complex. The person was believed to be a painter.

Silver Hill Road (3:22 p.m.) — Party reported checks had been stolen. Investigation is ongoing.

Concord Road (7:27 p.m.) — A cyclist looking for directions to Cambridge flagged down an officer.

Codman Road (8:45 p.m.) — Caitlin Parkinson, 40, of Lowell was arrested for OUI–liquor, second offense after a report of erratic operation. She was later bailed to appear in Concord District Court.

Old Sudbury Road (2:28 a.m.) — Caller reported that a party drove onto the railroad tracks. One vehicle was towed from the scene.

Sandy Pond Road (3:39 p.m.) — Minor crash at Five Corners; no injuries. Officer assisted the parties in exchanging paperwork.

Property sales in August 2022

248 Lincoln Rd. — Badri Raghavan Trust to Adam McDermott and Melissa Deck for $1,450,000 (August 25)

167 Lexington Rd. — Sylvia A. Lafauci Trust to Constitution Properties LLC for $975,000 (August 10)

281 South Great Rd. — Elizabeth Cherniack to Savanna Brewer and Rishi Paramar for $685,000 (August 8)

7 Oak Meadow Rd. — Maria Ansin to Vandana Palreddy for $1,697,000 (August 5)

54 Bedford Rd. — Rand Alexander to Jeanna Simeone and Heather Quadir for $2,160,000 (August 3)

140 Lincoln Rd. — Frances Doyle to Judith Curtin for $480,000 (August 3)

8-3 Ridge Rd. — Julianne Etcheverry to Daniel Abate for $455,000 (August 1)

My Turn: Thanks for participating in Brain Games 2022

By Brianna and Bryan Doo

On behalf of our family, I want to thank all of you who joined us or donated remotely for our Brain Games 2022 fundraiser. We would also like to thank the generosity of the Flint family for donating half of their pumpkin and hayride sales on Sunday (join them this weekend for more pumpkin picking!). Lincoln Real Estate Team and Earth+Kin (both local Lincoln companies) sponsored the cornhole tournament and kids’ activities. We are grateful for the Pierce House for hosting the day, it could not have been a more beautiful location to gather together!

The gift of community and your support is invaluable to our family. When our daughter received the diagnosis of an incurable brain disease at age four, we felt helpless. Not being able to physically do something to help holds so many emotions. We took on fundraising so we could do something, and friends who wanted to help could join us.

As we mentioned at the event, 100% of our fundraisers have subsidized Dr. Ed Smith’s research. Our 2019 event went toward advancing a new surgical procedure, which she later needed, twice. Our 2021 event fully funded research which discovered only the second gene sequence the disease mutation can be found. Our children’s genetic testing will further benefit from the finding. You have each played a part in making this research happen, which in the end, has helped our daughter. Our family does not take any bit of this for granted.

Thank you for showing up, supporting, donating, sponsoring, spreading the word, inviting friends, and enjoying the day with us. We hope you had fun & were able to enjoy the community gathering as we did. Save the date for next year: October 15, 2023!

“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

Early voting begins Saturday

Early voting in person for the November election will begin on Saturday, Oct. 22 and will continue through Friday, Nov. 4 in the Donaldson Room at Town Hall.  Please see the schedule below.

  • Saturday, Oct. 22 to Friday, Oct. 28 — 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 29 — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. (last day to register to vote)
  • Monday, Oct. 31 to Wednesday, Nov. 2 — 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 3 — 8:30 a.m.­–7 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 4 — 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Vote-by-mail applications will be processed until Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. If you wish to vote by mail, please complete this application and return it to the Town Clerk’s office. Completed ballots should be returned by Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. Ballots will also be accepted up until Saturday, Nov. 12 if postmarked by November 8.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. The polls are open from 7 a.m.–8 p.m. at the Reed Gym on Ballfield Road (back near the pool).

Transcendentalist Running & Cycling Club

All are welcome to an outing of the Transcendentalist Running & Cycling Club led by Rev. Nate Klug of the First Parish in Lincoln on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 8–9 a.m. Runners and cyclists of all ages and abilities are invited to join Nate for an hour of exercise, spirituality, and community. We’ll meet outside the church across from the library, stretch and say hello, and then hear a short passage of inspiration from one of the Transcendentalists. Then we’ll take off on a short run or bike ride through Lincoln. One person will lead the run, another person will lead the bike ride. After 40 minutes, we’ll meet back at the church to drink lemonade and reflect on what came up for us during our exercise.

Lincoln Nursery School open house

Join Lincoln Nursery School for their upcoming Enrollment Open House on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9–11 a.m. (the school is on the grounds of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum). LNS’s Reggio-inspired program is influenced and inspired by the outdoor environment. Nature’s slower pace mirrors a child’s inclination to observe, make connections, and form new thoughts to understand their world. The LNS community promotes the exploration, celebration, and inclusion of all people. To learn more about tuition, financial assistance, and the enrollment process, call 781-259-8866 or enrollment@lincolnnurseryschool.org. Follow LNS on Instagram @lincolnnurseryschool or visit www.lincolnnurseryschool.org.

Sophie Freud

Celebration of the life of Sophie Freud

All are invited to a celebration of the life of Sophie Freud on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. in the Hassenfeld Conference Center at Brandeis University (parking in H lot, a short walk across the street). This will be a time for Sophie’s family, friends, colleagues, and students to get together, share memories, and talk about her impact on our lives. Please RSVP with your name, yes or no, and how many people in your party to Andrea Freud Loewenstein at lillychatte@gmail.com (put “Sophie” in the subject line). For more information, call 347-228-0647. Freud, a longtime Lincoln resident, died on June 3 at age 97.

Garden Club program on native plants

The Lincoln Garden Club welcomes all Lincolnites to a Zoom program on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. Bud Sechler, Ecological Program Director of the Native Plant Trust, will discuss rare plants that can be found in the Boston suburban area, as well as the invasive plants which threaten them. Register online in advance and you’ll receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

GearTicks launch survey for energy project

The Green Gearticks, a Lincoln student robotics team, competes in FLL Lego robotics, and part of this competition is the Innovation Project, which this year is focused on energy. The team’s goal is to help Lincoln residents become more aware of their energy usage with a friendly (anonymous) competition between the various regions of town using a survey. They will share the compiled data and tips that users offer to help lower the town of Lincoln’s energy consumption. Click here to take the short survey.

Kasper is new chair of The Food Project

Carole Kasper

The Food Project, a nationally recognized youth development model that employs teens to work alongside adults and strengthen local food systems, has elected Carole Kasper of Lincoln, as the chair of its 21-member Board of Trustees. Kasper joined the board in 2020. She grew up in a New England family with deep farming roots and been a volunteer in many capacities since moving to Lincoln in 2009. Prior to founding and leading an organization development consulting company, Kasper was a partner and senior consultant in a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm, account manager in an Atlanta-based change management firm, and a professional administrator at two major universities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication science and a Master of Education in multicultural organization development.

Pang receives award from American Society of Reproductive Medicine

Samuel Pang

Lincoln resident Samuel C. Pang, M.D. has been selected by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as the recipient of its 2022 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award for Practicing Physicians. Dr. Pang, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist, is co-director of Third-Party Reproduction at Boston IVF. “I have two children conceived through IVF, so I have experienced both sides of the IVF process, as a physician and as a patient,” he said. “I’m very grateful to have been able to build my family through the same services I provide to my patients and am deeply honored to be recognized by the ASRM with this award.” Dr. Pang has also received 11 consecutive Top Fertility Doctor awards from Boston Magazine.

“Third-party reproduction” refers to the use of eggs, sperm or embryos that have been donated by a third party (donor), or use of a gestational surrogate. Dr. Pang is a pioneer in providing reproductive care to LGBTQIA+ people, who comprise about a third of his patient load.

Lincoln teen and her horse excel in team sport

By Maureen Belt

Leah Drew and Jazzy.

Dressage is the perfect fusion of artistry, aesthetics, and athleticism between horse and rider that dates back to ancient Greece. The goal is for horse and rider to move in harmony while performing complex, rhythmic walking, cantering, and trotting routines within a 20-by-60-meter arena. A panel of judges rates different aspects of each performance from 0 to 10, with 10 being ideal and seldom achieved. 

The rider gives “aids,” or cues to their horse, communicating the next move. Aids are delivered through subtle movements of limbs, hands, feet, seating positions, balance, breathing, and with the exception of competitions, voice. The secret is for the rider to conceal the aids from everyone except the horse, a skill that takes time to perfect. Essentially, dressage is a meticulously choreographed discipline that requires years of commitment. 

It’s this level of commitment that earned Lincoln teen Leah Drew and her Hanoverian gelding Jazz Beat the top spot this summer at the North American Youth Championships, a continent-wide team event. Leah and Jazzy (as she affectionately calls her equine partner) represented Region 8, which included all competitors from New England and New York. 

Weeks later, Leah, 16, and Jazzy, 12, placed a respectable tenth in the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Dressage National Junior Championships for 14- to 18-year-olds. In addition to racking up ribbons, Leah cold-calls sponsors and manages fundraising and social media accounts for both the New England Dressage Association and her region of the U.S. Dressage Federations.

Leah took her first lesson at age 5, though she’s been on horseback since before she was able to walk. Riding is a passion she inherited from her grandmother, Roberta Berry, who owned the Berryfield Farm horse farm on Weston Road. It was at Berryfield Farm in 2019 that Leah first rode Jazzy.

“She loved horses,” Leah said of Roberta. “Neither of my parents are that big into horses, but I am.” Roberta Berry passed away last December and Berryfield Farm was sold this summer. About 18 months ago, Leah and Jazzy began training four days a week with Hope Cooper and Jane Karol at Bear Spot Farm in Concord, where Jazzy lives. 

Three of those four days begin with Jazzy being walked on a loose rein in an arena. As he warms up, he progresses to faster gaits. The team practices new moves required for upcoming competitions before he and Leah tune up their established moves. On the fourth day, which is usually a weekend, Leah and Jazzy walk in the great outdoors, stretching and strengthening muscles with uphill climbs and rides through fields. Getting Jazzy outside the arena is important, Leah said, because it keeps his mind fresh and entertained. 

To get ready for podium appearances, Leah’s day begins with strength training in the predawn hours four to six days a week. Like all elite athletes, she values the importance of being in shape. “I really noticed it’s helped me a lot,” she said of her weight-lifting regime. “I’m stronger and healthier. I eat well and I drink a lot of water. Before I began working out, I wasn’t strong. I could not sit deep in the saddle, and my legs would be flopping around so my aids weren’t effective.” 

The connection between Jazzy and Leah was not immediate. “Sometimes it takes a long time for the rider and horse to connect,” she said. “Jazzy and I have been riding together on and off for three years. It took a while and now our partnership is very solid. I know all the things he’s trying to tell me. But there are some people and horses that match really well only a month before competition.” 

Leah says her strength training and her increasing experience and confidence have helped solidify the partnership with Jazzy. Their first ride together, she said, was difficult and she doubted they would reach full potential. A week before their first show, they began riding seriously and it paid off. Leah and Jazzy had two good rides, and their scores continue to improve. 

The word “dressage” (pronounced “dress-AZH”) comes from the French and means “training.” Literally, dressage means the art of riding and training a horse in a manner that develops obedience, flexibility and balance while maintaining a calm and attentive disposition. The U.S. Equestrian Federation serves as the national governing body and the Fédération Equestre Internationale in Switzerland is the world headquarters. 

Leah’s favorite part of dressage is the subtlety of the aids between her and the horses she rides. Each horse has an interesting and unique personality and challenges. For example, Jazzy is an exceptionally tall and a long horse. For context, most horses stand between 15 and 17 hands, or around five feet eight inches from ground to shoulder. Jazzy is 18 hands (six feet) and weighs 1,800 to 1,900 pounds — and he’s also a high-energy horse. 

“It makes compacted movements more difficult,” Leah said, because Jazzy needs to compact his body and pay very close attention to her aids. On the flip side, Jazzy’s size gives them an edge in the big movements required in competitions. 

Leah credits her teammates, who are among her closest friends, and her trainer Hope’s sense of humor with helping to settle any nerves that rise before competitions. She also sticks to a routine of having a light breakfast, then listening to high-energy rock and roll. Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” is a favorite. She then goes over her routine on foot in the barn before focusing on Jazzy, helping him relax. Then Leah simply trusts. She trusts that she and Jazzy have put in all the work they need and that they will perform their best. 

Competing is one thing but getting to and from a competition is another, since dressage competitions are held all over the country. Wellington, Fla., is a frequent destination for Leah and Jazzy. The horse leaves first in a trailer with other show horses driven by Mark Choper, owner of Fairway Horse Transport. Leah packs his gear ahead of time and is usually in class at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School when Jazzy begins his journey. After school, Leah hops in the family car and they drive to the show.

Leah said she feels fortunate to be surrounded by such a supportive family — her father Jonathan, mother Rachel, and younger brother Aaron, as well as grandparents and uncles. If everyone can’t make the trip — which is often the case — Leah can always count on at least one parent being at her side. Rachel, despite not being too much into horses, calls herself the “human groom.”

“She makes sure everyone has food and water, and that we have a good place to go for dinner,” Leah said.

Leah plans to continue dressage through college and has an eye on international and Olympic competitions. Meanwhile, she maintains a strong GPA at L-S, where she’s a junior. Top grades are part of the deal she made with her parents when they agreed to back her serious commitment to dressage. 

While competing in New England, Leah treats show days as absences, but when she’s in Florida, she works with a tutoring company. “Before I leave, my teachers give me information on what the class will be learning while I’m gone, and it’s up to me and Palm Beach International Academy to stay on top of the workload,” she said. 

Besides being a champion in dressage, Leah is a champion for it. “I would recommend that anyone who wants to and can, to go into dressage. It’s a really, really beautiful sport and you meet some of the coolest people through it,” she said.

Her ambition has already given her at least one valuable life skill. “I have more patience,” she said. “It’s really hard work, but I’ve learned that if I keep at something, that it will come eventually. And dressage has definitely made me super mature because it’s a lot of work, and it’s a lot of responsibility to take care of a horse.”

Last weekend, Leah and Jazzy performed at Mt. Holyoke College at the New England Dressage Association’s symposium featuring British dressage rider and five-time Olympian Carl Hester. Leah, who was the youngest performer at this event, was selected as a demo rider from a pool of more than 100 applicants (all other participants are adult professional riders). The pair will also compete for the first time at the Young Rider level at a future Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Florida.