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

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Tatlock obituary addendum

The October 11 obituary for Jane French Tatlock was erroneously published without crediting the author: her daughter Dana Tatlock. The original posting has been corrected.

Learn how to get financial help for living in Lincoln

There will be a Bridge the Gap fair offering information on how to get financial help for living in Lincoln sponsored by the Lincoln Foundation and the Lincoln Council on Aging and Human Services on Wednesday, Nov. 2 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Battle Road Farm Meeting House. Get help with heating costs, new appliances, home improvements, special assessments, property taxes, water bills, senior discounts and veterans’ discounts. Meet neighbors and talk to officials from the town and the Lincoln Foundation. Door prizes donated by Codman Community Farms and the Tack Room.

Submit your work for the Lincoln Arts Show

Enter your artwork by November 9 for the Lincoln Arts Show that takes place on Friday, Nov. 11–Sunday, Nov. 13 from noon–5 p.m. at the Pierce House. The show is open to all ages, all creative arts, and all levels of experience; the only requirement is that entrants be affiliated with Lincoln in some way. Stop by to view or purchase local artwork! All ages and media welcome. Meet the artists submitting art to the show on Friday, Nov. 11 from 5–7 p.m. See lincolnma.myrec.com for details or call 781-259-0784.

Lincoln School gets FoMA’s annual Modernism Award

The Friends of Modern Architecture/Lincoln is proud to present its annual Modernism award to the Lincoln School project for revitalizing the vision of Lincoln Modern architects Lawrence B. Anderson and Henry B. Hoover, who designed the original school buildings beginning in the 1940s. According to the citation, “Anderson and Hoover saw the power of Modernism to reimagine how architecture could assist the school community to think and learn in new and inclusive ways. With the generous support of the town, the School Building Committee, project architects and project builders have again reimagined the transformative power of architecture. The project team has realized an ambitious net zero project that centers on teachers and students while preserving Anderson’s and Hoover’s original design intent of creating close connections to nature and using natural light to create calm energy throughout the building.” 

Join FoMA and the Lincoln community to celebrate the revitalization of the Lincoln School at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and school tours on Friday, Oct. 28.

MacLean honored by history group and town

Jack Maclean autographing a copy of his first book, “Lincoln Libraries 1798-1984” in the 1980s.

Town Historian Jack MacLean was recently honored with a proclamation of appreciation by the Select Board after he received the Star Award for “long-term volunteer contributions to public history” from the Massachusetts History Alliance.

MacLean, who was born and raised in Lincoln, began putting more time into researching the town’s history in the early 1980s and eventually became “the authoritative resource for any and all of the many inquiries directed his way about the town’s storied past,” according to the proclamation, which was based on a nomination submitted by the Lincoln Town Archives. He became the official town historian in 2016 and is author of A Rich Harvest: The History, Buildings, and People of Lincoln, Massachusetts.

MacLean giving a talk in Bemis Hall in 2015.

“For almost 40 years, Jack has willingly shared his encyclopedic knowledge of, and thoughtful insights about, local history with all who seek to know and understand,” the documents reads. “Jack reminds us that, every day, the legacy of the past shapes the town we currently inhabit, and can help inform our choices about the kind of community we want to leave to future generations.”

Police log for October 4-10, 2022

October 4

Old Cambridge Turnpike (12:40 p.m.) — An officer took a report of a minor motor vehicle crash involving a car and a garbage truck in the driveway of the residence.

October 5

Mary’s Way (12:33 a.m.) — An officer stopped to check on a Concord police officer who had a vehicle stopped on Mary’s Way at the town line. All was fine.

Sandy Pond Road (12:44 a.m.) — An officer on patrol came across a U-Haul pulled to the side of the road. The officer checked on the party, who was on their way.

Harvest Circle (11:51 a.m.) — A party reported they believed their computer was hacked due to a scam. An officer spoke to the party who had no financial loss. The party was advised to monitor their accounts and credit.

October 6

Juniper Ridge Road (8:43 a.m.) – A party came to the station to report that money was transferred out of their bank account. An officer took a police report and an investigation is ongoing.

South Great Road (1:35 p.m.) — Caller reported a person walking on Route 117 who appeared confused. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the person.

Old Sudbury Road (4:35 p.m.) — Caller reported a problem with the railroad gates. An officer responded and everything appeared to be fine. Keolis was notified and the officer remained on scene until the next train to see that the gates worked properly.

October 7

South Great Road (12:31 a.m.) — Caller requested a well-being check on a family member. Officers went to the house and made contact with the resident; everything was fine.

Moccasin Hill (12:07 p.m.) — Caller asked for an officer to respond while having an issue with a contractor. An officer responded and helped keep the peace. The matter was civil in nature.

Lincoln Road (12:32 p.m.) — Minor motor vehicle crash in the parking lot of Donelan’s. An officer responded and took a report.

Short Hill Road (8:01 p.m.) — Dig Safe called to ask the Water Department respond for an emergency marking of the water line in the area.

Drumlin Farm (8:36 p.m.) — Police noticed a person walking on Route 117; the officer stopped and gave them a ride to Nine-Acre Corner in Concord.

South Great Road (8:42 p.m.) — Report of a vehicle pulled to the side of the roadway with its hazard lights on. An officer checked but the vehicle was gone on arrival.

Oak Knoll Road (10:23 p.m.) — Caller reported a vehicle pulled off to the side of the road. An officer checked but the vehicle was gone on arrival.

October 8

Hartwell Lot, North Great Road (2:26 p.m.) — A party reported locking their keys in their vehicle. There was no one in the car on police arrival. A National Park ranger was notified to handle.

Bedford Road (5:18 p.m.) — One-car crash involving a tree. An officer responded along with the Fire Department. No injuries; vehicle towed.

Pierce House (8:04 p.m.) — A party called to report loud music coming from an event. An officer responded and did not find that the music volume was unreasonable.

October 9

Tower Road (8:10 a.m.) — Caller reported the railroad gates were stuck down. An officer responded and found that the gates were up. Keolis was notified and an officer spoke to a Keolis worker who was at the Route 117 crossing regarding the report.

Summer Street, Maynard (12:57 p.m.) — Fire Department requested an engine to cover their station as they had a fire in town.

October 10

Hartwell Lot, North Great Road (1:16 a.m.) — An officer checked on a vehicle parked in the lot. The officer spoke to the parties; everything was fine and they were advised that the park was closed.

South Great Road (6:52 a.m.) — Caller reported hearing gunshots near the pond on Route 117. An officer checked the area but found nothing.

Langley Road, Hanscom AFB ( 3:50 p.m.) — A party came to the station wanting to speak to an officer regarding a matter in another jurisdiction. They were advised that the matter was civil in nature and were given their legal options.

New staffer and a promotion at deCordova

The Trustees of Reservations recently announced a new face and a promotion involving the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Tess Lukey, who will be based at the deCordova and the Fruitlands Museum, is The Trustees of Reservations’ first-ever Associate Curator of Native American Art, and Sarah Montross has been promoted from Senior Curator to Chief Curator, The Trustees.

Tess Lukey

Lukey, an Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal member and lifelong New Englander, will develop exhibitions and research initiatives related to The Trustees’ Indigenous art collections.

“We are entering a new period in the history of this organization with Tess’s arrival as Associate Curator of Native American Art. We are eager to learn from her, to work with her, and to support her as she develops new partnerships with Native artists and communities throughout North America,” said Jessica May, Managing Director of Art and Exhibitions and Artistic Director at deCordova. “The stories of community and connection that Tess is poised to tell are so important for our organization and our culture.”

“Whether it’s collecting new Native American artists or reinterpreting existing works, my goal is to help expand the narratives, examine stereotypes, and confront biases around Native American art,” she said. “This is a critical and unique inflection point for museums and I’m grateful organizations like The Trustees are hiring Native American staff members to more fully tell Indigenous stories.”

Lukey has worked for the Museum of Fine Arts and the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston, and the John Sommers Gallery in Albuquerque, N.M.  bachelor’s degree in ceramics and art history from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and a master’s degree in Native American art history with a minor in museum studies from the University of New Mexico. In her spare time, she is a traditional potter and basket weaver practicing the techniques of her own Indigenous community. She currently lives in Sutton, Mass., the ancestral home of the Nipmuc Nation, with her partners and children.

Sarah Montross

Montross has successfully organized numerous exhibitions, publications, and outdoor commissions at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum over the past seven years. Notable exhibition projects include Jeffrey Gibson: INFINITE INDIGENOUS QUEER LOVE (2021); Visionary New England; and co-curating the New England Triennial (formerly Biennial) in 2016, 2018 and 2021. She has also activated deCordova’s outdoor sculpture program with loans and new commissions. She’s currently organizing an exhibition and outdoor commission with the artist Hugh Hayden that will open in April 2023.

As Chief Curator, Montross will continue to shape the exhibition and sculpture park program at deCordova while also broadening her oversight of and collaborations with the exhibitions team and guest curators for projects at Fruitlands and across the state.

Jane French Tatlock, 1940–2022

Jane Tatlock

By Dana Tatlock

Jane French Tatlock of Lincoln passed away at home on October 3, 2022 surrounded by her family and beloved pets.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Oct. 20, 1940 (10-20-40), a date she was exceedingly proud of, Jane was the third daughter of Charles French and Jeanette Shepard French. Living in what was then the boonies of Pepper Pike, Ohio, Jane attended Laurel School, where her report cards often suggested that while she appeared indifferent to classwork and proper behavior, she delighted in socializing and general mischief. One of her great childhood loves was her home away from home: Aloha Camp in Fairlee, Vt. There, Jane made lifelong friends and proudly achieved the rank of Admiral for her canoeing prowess.

Her move to Providence, R.I., to attend Pembroke College began her life on the East Coast, where she met her future husband, Richard (Dick) Tatlock, in physics Lab.

One could always expect the unexpected with Jane. During the early years of their marriage, Jane and Dick zipped around Cambridge on their vintage Ariel motorcycle with Bentley the cat poking his head out of the Bucknell Bullet sidecar. This theme continued after the young couple moved to Lincoln, where Jane got around town on a green Honda 125 with Wolseley the Jack Russell riding behind in a milk crate, ears flapping. Jane rarely missed an opportunity to push the envelope. In the ’70s, seeing a notice in the Boston Globe for a newly formed women’s ice hockey team, Jane bought hockey skates, taught herself to use them, and joined the Mother Puckers, a team ultimately recognized by the U.S. Women’s Team as paving the way for women’s hockey.

Jane instilled in her children Hugh, Dana and Alexander the love of adventure that she and Dick shared. Lead the kids down whitewater rapids in kayaks? You betcha, despite later admitting she had no idea of the real danger. Extended hiking and camping trips in the White Mountains? Of course. Meanwhile, Jane and Dick embarked annually on weeklong trips in their classic Boston Whaler, cruising the Erie Canal, St. Lawrence Seaway, and Hudson River north towards Montreal or south towards Manhattan. Until recently, she and her friends could be found walking the woods of Lincoln or on their weekly bike rides into Boston, one-way streets be damned.

Jane was a connector and a giver. Once settled in Lincoln, she developed a lovely and close circle of friends, and enthusiastically scooped up new people into her life. When her children were young, Jane helped create the Lincoln Day Camp. She jumped in as a coach for Lincoln Youth Soccer, despite originally knowing nothing about the game. She later worked with the Council on Aging, organizing traditional field trips to museums and untraditional but edifying tours of assorted, random factories.

Devoted to the First Parish Church, a community she loved, Jane dedicated years to gathering and editing the weekly Parish News. Through the church, Jane discovered one of her greatest loves: handbells. The Lincoln Handbell Ringers became not just a source of lovely music but a family to her, as they shared their music at the church, in the community, and at numerous festivals with very good food.

Jane was a cornerstone of her family. She and her French sisters, Mary and Peggy, fondly known as the “Big Three,” were leading lights for their descendants. Jane presided over extended family Thanksgivings and long summers in Mattapoisett, and whenever she was asked, “Should we do this?” or ”Can so-and-so join?” Jane’s unhesitating answer was always an emphatic, “Yes.” 

Jane is survived by her husband Dick, her children Hugh and Dana, her grandchildren Ella, Ben, Freddie, and Toby, her sister Peggy, and all of her loving nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. She is missed by so many but her joyous and adventurous spirit will live on forever in our hearts and memories.

A memorial service will be held on February 18, 2023 in Lincoln. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jane’s name may be made to The Precious Project.

Officials mull revised Housing Choice Act guidelines

Lincoln now has a clearer idea of what it will have to do if it wants to comply with a state law that requires towns with public transportation stops to allow a significant amount of multifamily housing.

Lincoln was one of dozens of Massachusetts towns designated by the ​​Housing Choice Act (HCA) as an “MBTA community” by virtue of its commuter rail stop. The draft guidelines released earlier this year by the Department of Housing and Community Development would have required Lincoln to allow 750 units of multifamily housing within half a mile of the train station (15 units per acre over 50 acres) without requiring a special permit or zoning variance or amendment. Site plan review based on general design guidelines, traffic circulation, and screening would be allowed as long as those conditions do not make it “infeasible or impractical to proceed.”

As hoped, the revised guidelines allow some flexibility for towns that don’t have 50 acres of buildable land within the prescribed radius because of wetlands, obstructing physical features, or issues with water supply or Title V septic regulations. Based on that, Lincoln now has 42 or 43 acres of land that are subject to the rules, Paula Vaughn-MacKenzie said in a presentation to the Select Board and Planning Board last week.

A somewhat complicated formula under the new guidelines indicates that Lincoln would be required to allow either 692 or 563 units in one or more multifamily zones, depending on whether or not the Hanscom housing units are counted (an as-yet-unanswered question). The state is allowing MBTA communities to split the multifamily zone into two parcels, so part of the district could be in another part of town such as North Lincoln which already has denser housing (though at least 20% of the acreage must be within the half-mile MBTA radius). 

Other details:

  • A municipality may establish sub-districts with different density requirements and limitations provided the district as a whole meets the requirement.
  • Any development must comply with Title V septic and the state Wetlands Protection Act even if compliance means the development will be less dense than 15 units per acre.
  • Developers must provide water and septic treatment for any approved units. 
  • There may not be any age restrictions or limitations on the size of units, the number and size of bedrooms, or the number of occupants in a unit.

If the town eventually does not comply with the HCA, it will lose eligibility for three categories of state grant programs including MassWorks, a major infrastructure program that has provided million of dollars  to other area towns in recent years. Lincoln has never applied for money from this program, “but it is an amazing source of funding,” Vaughn-MacKenzie said. “That is something to be taken pretty seriously.” Among the possible future Lincoln targets for MassWords grants: stormwater improvements, Ballfield Road septic improvements (if needed) in support of a community center, water main replacements, and MBTA station upgrades.

More ominously, a town’s compliance with the HCA may “inform funding decisions” for other state sources, she added. Lincoln received about $570,000 in various types of state funding in 2021. The law will “have a significant impact on the town, whether we choose to comply or not,” Planning Board member Margaret Olson noted last winter.

The town must submit an action plan and timelines by Jan. 31, 2023 and be ready to apply for final compliance (e.g., with new zoning rules drawn up and ready for a town vote) by Dec. 31, 2024. A working group with members from relevant boards will be created to meet the first deadline and chart the process going forward.

Lincoln has already had many discussions about allowing dense housing and mixed-use development in South Lincoln, “and this is looking not inconsistent with what the town has already talked about,” Olson said last week. “It isn’t as onerous as it sounds. We don’t have to produce housing, just zoning.”

The town won’t need to rezone single-family neighborhoods to do this, but instead focus on areas that already have multifamily zoning, she added. “I don’t think we need to panic. I don’t know exactly what it is yet, but there is a path.”

News acorns

Flu, Covid-19 vaccination clinics

The town is sponsoring two free vaccination clinics starting next week. Residents who want a Covid-19 vaccination may opt for the new bivalent booster or any of the previous vaccines.

  • Flu vaccination clinic — Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 1:00–3:45 p.m., Reed Gym, Lincoln School. Register here.
  • COVID vaccination clinic — Friday, Nov. 4 from 3–7 p.m. Reed Gym, Lincoln School. Register here.

“Get to Know Your Neighborhood Birds with Mass Audubon”

Test out your observation skills with live birds, study their adaptations, and discuss why they look and act the way they do on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 1–2 p.m. in the Lincoln Public Library’s Tarbell Room. You’ll leave this exploration with a nature journal we will begin together, and a sharper eye for what makes our local birds so unique. Intended for families and caregivers with young children. No registration necessary. Mass Audubon and the Mass Cultural Council are funding this event. Questions? Call the library at 781-259-8465 x4.

“Theology on Tap,” blessing of the animals

Join Nate Klug, co-minister of the First Parish in Lincoln, for a beer or soda at the monthly “Theology on Tap” discussion on Friday, Oct. 28 from 4:30–6 p.m. at the Tack Room. The month’s topic: “What is a saint?” Just in time for Halloween (All Hallows Eve) and All Saints/All Souls Day, we’ll review some of the wildly various notions of sainthood that different religions have put forward over time. What did Martin Luther mean when he said that everyone was “equally saint and sinner”? Who do you think of as a saint in your life – and why? No sainthood required to join the discussion, just a thirsty spirit!

For the animal lovers among us, drop by for a short and sweet, family-friendly “Blessing of the Animals” pet blessing service with co-minister Kit Novotny on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. The service will be held outside on the front lawn near the rainbow chairs, with guitar.

Author talk on “Silent Spring Revolution”

The Walden Woods Project is hosting “Silent Spring Revolution: A Conversation with Douglas Brinkley” on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. In his newest book, New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed historian Douglas Brinkley chronicles the rise of environmental activism during the 1960s. Join us to learn more about Silent Spring Revolution and Brinkley’s discoveries during the writing process. There will be a live audience Q&A. Register here. This event is sponsored by the Walden Woods Project, Concord Festival of Authors, and RESTORE: The North Woods.

Fall Fest is October 30

On Sunday, Oct. 30 from noon–3 p.m. in Pierce Park, the Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the second annual Fall Fest with games, food, beer, hayrides, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. Also featured will be Trunk or Treat, where families, groups and organizations can decorate their vehicle trunk and and pass out goodies. Trunk or Treat setup starts at 10:30 a.m. and runs from 12–1:30 p.m. The registration deadline for Trunk or Treat is October 24. To attend Fall Fest, buy tickets online in advance ($10) or at the door ($15).

Click here to register your car for Trunk or Treat or buy tickets to Fall Fest. Questions? Email Jessica Downing at jdowning@lincnet.org.

Offer ideas for walking, cycling, driving, and public transit improvements

The Town of Lincoln is in the process of preparing a new five-year Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. Complete Streets is a state-funded grant program to help municipalities improve their streets to accommodate users of all ages and abilities, whether driving, cycling, or walking.  Each municipality is allowed up to $400,000 through a four-year rolling period. Lincoln is using an online platform called Wikimapping to gather feedback on where in town you’d like to see improvements for all methods of getting around, including public transit, by October 31. Click here to share your thoughts about transportation issues and opportunities. There will be a public forum on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link (passcode: 783032).

Blues concert with Toni Lynn Washington

All are invited to a free concert by renowned Boston-area blues vocalist Toni Lynn Washington on Friday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. in Bemis Hall. Washington has won the Boston Blues Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, had seven Blues Music Award nominations, and released five CDs. This event is generously sponsored by Margo Cooper in celebration of her mother Ronna Cooper’s life.

Police log for Sept. 27–Oct. 3, 2022

September 27

Mill Street Extension (10:35 am.) — Caller reported receiving a suspicious email regarding an expiring anti-virus account. In following up on the matter, it was determined to be a scam email. There was no financial loss to the caller.

Weston Road (4:29 p.m.) — Caller reported an odor of natural gas coming from their stove. The Fire Department responded and metered the residence with no readings found.

September 28

Nothing of note.

September 29

Nothing of note.

September 30

Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:07 a.m.) — Hubbardston police were looking for a party having a mental health crisis in a vehicle, possibly in the Acton area on Route 2. Officers remained in the area. Hubbardston later updated area departments that the party was in the Haverhill area.

Todd Pond Road (9:48 a.m.) — A contractor reported striking a small gas line. The Fire Department responded and National Grid was contacted. The Fire Department remained on scene until National Grid arrived.

Oak Meadow Road (10:03 a.m.) — Caller reported their son was bitten by a dog. Officers responded to the area and made contact with the owner. Animal Control was also contacted and is handling the matter with the owner.

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (11:52 a.m.) — Lexington police were looking for a party involved in an assault and battery in their town. An officer located the party on Old Cambridge Turnpike near Route 2. Lexington police arrived on scene to handle the matter.

Bypass Road (4:19 p.m.) — Two-car motor vehicle crash, no injuries. One vehicle was towed from the scene.

Lincoln Road (8:44 p.m.) — One-car crash where the car drove on top of a stone wall at the intersection of Lincoln and Codman Roads. No injuries. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

October 1

Cambridge Turnpike westbound (2:52 a.m.) — An officer conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 2. As a result of an investigation, Jaime Lopez-Gaitan, 30, of Fitchburg was arrested for OUI–liquor (third offense), operating after suspension of license, speeding, and marked lane violation. He was later bailed to appear in the Concord District Court

Oak Meadow Road (12:44 p.m.) —  A party called the station wishing to speak to an officer regarding the dog bite incident on September 30.

Lincoln Police Department (3:00 p.m.) —  A party came to the station to report they had lost their wallet in Waltham. Officers advised the party.

Hillside Road (7:26 p.m.) — Caller reported their spouse went out for a walk and was overdue. Officers checked the area. The reporting party called back to report their spouse arrived home.

October 2

Ridge Road (3:10 p.m.) — A walk-in to the station reported being yelled at by an unknown party earlier while walking their dog. An officer took a report.

October 3

Bedford Road (8:52 a.m.) — A party called the station wanting to speak to an officer. An officer spoke to the party and found that the matter was civil in nature. The party was given their legal options.

Greenridge Lane (12:00 p.m.) — A party called to report that someone dumped a tire on the property. An officer responded and the complainant contacted the management company to handle.

Indian Camp Lane  (3:47 p.m.) — Caller requesting a well-being check on a party. An officer responded and everything was fine with the resident, who planned to contact the caller.

Lincoln changes Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day

Columbus Day will hereafter be known as Indigenous People’s Day in Lincoln after the Select Board voted unanimously to change the name of the holiday on town documents, two years after the Lincoln Public Schools did the same thing.

The vote came after discussion and public comment continued from the board’s September 19 meeting. All Lincoln residents who spoke were in favor of the change, though two others at the virtual meeting representing Italian-American organizations argued against it. One of them was John Toto, a Wayland resident and board member of the Italian American Alliance (IAA), who supported a day to celebrate indigenous people but said that such a day already exists: Native American Heritage Day, which falls on the day after Thanksgiving but is not a federal or state holiday. 

Toto argued that Columbus was not guilty of enslaving or murdering the indigenous people he encountered and that those atrocities were committed by Spanish sailors and settler who came after him. “To go after Columbus… we believe is petty and hateful,” Toto said. “Trying to rewrite history the way this proposes is not American and to me it’s scary and smacks of McCarthyism. It truly makes me sad as an Italian-American.”

Brian Patacchiola, a member of Sons and Daughters of Italy and the IAA, said Columbus Day is of “incredible cultural and symbolic significance to the Italian-American community” and urged the board not to support “removing one ethnic group’s holiday at the expense of another.” The charges against Columbus are “flagrant and salacious lies” stemming largely from Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States, which he called “a work of total fiction,” and he cited the work of other scholars including Carol Delaney and Mary Grabar.

But Jessica Packineau and her daughter Evie read from diaries by Columbus’s crew detailing atrocities they committed. 

“It would behoove the Italian-American Society to reconsider their heroes,” Jessica Packineau said. “It’s pretty extraordinary that the entirety of [Italian-American] heritage would hinge on one person… This is an opportunity to shift the focus from the violence and brutality onto the survival, the resilience, the extraordinary myriad of cultures and customs and language and traditions and wealth of diversity that the word Indigenous encompasses — it would be an enormous gift for our community.”

“I’m frankly baffled by [Italian-Americans] hanging their hat” on Columbus,” Kim Jalet said. The holiday was established at a time when Italians were “new immigrants and were being treated poorly. Now they’re assimilated, and there are many ways to acknowledge their culture.” Even if Columbus himself never set foot in what is now the United States, “he played a role in getting the ball rolling” for what was done to Indigenous people in his wake, she added.

As a Select Board member, Jonathan Dwyer said he was a “huge fan of adjusting to circumstances and revisions” and listening to Lincoln residents. “For 88 years it was Columbus Day — for the next 88 years I’d like to see something different.”

Board member Jim Hutchinson said he would have preferred to measure to come to the town as a citizens’ petition but pointed out that Lincoln residents who spoke were unanimously in favor of changing the name of the holiday. 

“It’s really not about Christopher Columbus the man, but about the idea that we are celebrating a moment in time that turned out to be a tipping point of destruction for many people in the country,” board member Jennifer Glass said. “This day has historically told one side of the story and not acknowledged the full experience of our history… This is an opportunity to say ‘let’s think about our history’… and that definitely leaves room” for celebrating Italian-American contributions in other ways.

News acorns

Public forums scheduled on Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan

The Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee is hosting four virtual public forums to review the Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan draft and collect feedback to improve the plan. There will also be a short presentation about the master plan at the State of the Town meeting in November.

The master plan, which was drafted by BPAC in consultation with the Planning Department, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and other town committees and departments, aims to make Lincoln to be more safe, green and accessible for residents and visitors traveling by foot and bike.

The public forums each focus on one region of Lincoln, but the BPAC will review the overall plan at each forum and are happy to discuss any region of town at any meeting if participants desire.

  • Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. — North Lincoln (Route 2 and north). Zoom link.
  • Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. — South Lincoln (Route117 and south). Zoom link.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. — East Lincoln (east of Lincoln Road/Bedford Road, south of Route 2 and north of Route117.) Zoom link.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. — West Lincoln (west of Lincoln Road/Bedford Road, south of Route 2 and north of Route117.) Zoom link.

More information:

Watering restrictions still in effect

With the continued Stage 3 drought, the state requires maintaining water use restrictions. To comply, the Lincoln Water Commission voted unanimously to extend water use restrictions in Lincoln beyond the traditional stop date of September 30. When drought restrictions are ended, a posting will be made on the town website and via other means. Don’t hesitate to contact the Lincoln Water Department if you have any questions (781-259-2669 or lafalamd@lincolntown.org).

During Stage 2 and above, Water Department staff monitors all sprinkler use in town and will stop to remind residents of the restriction policy. A first offence will result in a $100 fine, and subsequent violations will result in a $200 fine. For more information, see this Restrictions, Conservation & Water Use page and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ drought page.

Film screening: “After Life”

The Lincoln Library Film Society will screen “After Life” (1998) directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. If you could choose only one memory to hold on to for eternity, what would it be? In Japanese with English subtitles. Free and open to all.

Walk to benefit SVdP food pantry

Join a walk to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston, which operates the food pantry for the two towns, on Saturday, Oct. 22 at St. Julia Church (374 Boston Post Rd., Weston) along Weston’s rail trail (approximately 2.2 miles). Check-in/same-day registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk at 9:30 a.m., with an ice cream social at 10:30 a.m. Pre-register by October 15 to receive an SVdP gift. Suggested donation: $10 per person/ or $25 per family. Click here to register and/or donate. For more information, email svdplincolnweston@gmail.com.

“Opera for Everyone” series returns

The Friends of the Lincoln Library present their annual “Opera for Everyone” series on three Sundays from 2–3:30 p.m. at the library. Opera lecturer Erika Reitshamer returns to enlighten, inspire and entertain while passing along her vast knowledge of opera and opera lore to Boston’s educational institutions. Her last offering for Lincoln Library was a lecture on “It Takes Two to Duet,” just in time for Valentine’s Day on February 12, 2022.

  • October 23 —Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love”
  • October 30 —  Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”
  • November 6 — Rossini’s “The Italian Girl in Algiers”

Click here for plot details.

Family Halloween activities at deCordova

The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum offers moonlit sculpture-building activities with deCordova faculty, self-guided mysteries to solve with friends and family, and a sweet treat or two along the way on Friday, Oct. 21 and Friday, Oct. 28 at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $35 per family ($28 for member families); click here to select date and buy tickets. For more information, call 781-259-3647.

Pumpkin Palooza for kids at library

The Lincoln Public Library will host Pumpkin Palooza on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10:30 a.m.–noon. Wear your costume and join us on the library lawn for Halloween fun: pumpkin painting, activities, crafts, and more. Drop-in; best for ages 6 and under.

Purple lights highlight domestic violence awareness

Why are those buildings purple? Purple, it is said, is the color of courage, survival, honor, and hope. It is also the color recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month each October. For the past several years, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable, in collaboration with the Lauren Dunne-Astley Memorial Fund and First Parish in Wayland, has chosen to light the towns of Sudbury and Wayland in purple. They have lit numerous faith and public buildings in Sudbury and Wayland and have posted banners and signs in all three communities. The Roundtable invites local businesses and homeowners to join in by adding their own purple lights. Inexpensive 4.5 watt Feit purple LED Electric bulbs are available at Ace Hardware in Wayland and Aubuchon Hardware in Sudbury.