Summer is here and everything is green — or almost everything. Several recent examples of gray Lincoln wildlife display excellent camouflage abilities:
A chameleon-like gray tree frog. (Photo by Rosamond DeLori)
A barred owl who is apparently puzzled by his more colorfully conspicuous fellow birds. (Photo by Alex Benik)
A gray cow seen recently in the field alongside Route 117 near the railroad tracks. OK, it isn’t camouflaged, but it’s still outstanding in its field. (Photo by Alice Waugh)
The Lincoln Planning Department is seeking a recent high school graduate or college student for an administrative assistant summer internship. You will work directly under the Assistant Director of Planning and Land Use on office and tourism projects. We are looking for a motivated and creative thinker. Graphic design skills are a plus but not required. Pay is $20/hour for 16 hours per week. Expected schedule is Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m. but we can be flexible for the right candidate. The anticipated start date for this position is July 5 with an end date of August 25. The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 30. Please email curtinj@lincolntown.org with your resume/background and a brief statement of why you’re interested in the position
From July 5 through September 2, town departments located in Town Hall will not be open for business on Fridays. All offices will be open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m.–5 p.m. Departments that are subject to this change in hours of operation include: Select Board’s Office, Tax Collection, Town Clerk, Cemeteries, Finance & Accounting, Conservation, Building, Planning, Zoning, and Assessors. In the event of an emergency requiring the immediate attention of one of the above offices, please notify the Lincoln Police Department at 781 259-8113.
The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is seeking volunteer park ambassadors to help support the myriad offerings hosted by deCordova including snowshoe tours, nature tours, curator and artist conversations, special talks, screenings, and other events. Volunteers will collaborate with staff to provide our visitors a fun and educational experience. Volunteers must be at least 18, and a background check may be required. Click here to learn more and sign up for one day or as many as you like. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:
The Agricultural Commission is offering funding to Lincoln growers who can supply fresh produce for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston (SVdP) food pantry.
The commission is offering a limited number of grants ranging from several hundred dollars to over $1,000 to qualified Lincoln growers. Grant recipients in the Farm to Food Pantry Program must deliver (or have their products ready for pickup) to the Lincoln food pantry early on at least one day on Wednesday morning, or the Tuesday preceding for nonperishable items.
Applications are due by Monday, June 27. If you would like to participate, contact Ari Kurtz at arikurtz60@gmail.com. Specify the type of crops you wish to grow, quantities, and expected delivery dates.
The food pantry also recently received $3,000 as part of the Sudbury Foundation’s 2022 round of grants to 31 area nonprofits totaling $374,595. Another grant recipient: the Lincoln-based Food Project, which received $15,000 to redesign its website.
Summer is particularly challenging for food-insecure families with children at home. The food pantry especially welcome donations of Cheerios or Honey Nut Cheerios (which are versatile since they’re gluten-free) and salad dressings of all kinds, including oil and vinegar, since they can source the necessary produce. Other items that are always in demand: canned solid white tuna in water, Chocolate Ensure, and pasta sauce.
The food pantry serves neighbors who live, work, or attend school in Lincoln or Weston and are in need of food or emergency assistance, regardless of their religious affiliation or background. It’s located behind St. Joseph Church at 142 Lincoln Rd. in Lincoln.
The Lincoln Post Office has had to close for periods of time during the day due to lack of staff, and it’s unclear when the problem will be resolved.
“We’re just so short-staffed,” said Lincoln Postmaster Gerald Dichiara, who started his position in Lincoln about two months ago. The South Lincoln location is supposed to have two full-time clerks, a part-time clerk, five mail carriers, and three assistants to cover absences. Right now, however, there’s only full-time clerk Liz Kenney and one assistant, and one of the mail carriers is retiring soon, he said. Sometimes he works the window himself, but when he can’t, he has to post a hand-written notice on the post office doors informing customers that the office is temporarily closed.
Dichiara works with post offices in Concord and Acton to move staff around as needed, juggling days off and lunch breaks. Complicating the matter is that the post office must remain open for passport appointments. There are usually about half a dozen total on weekdays, but on Saturday mornings, “we’re swamped with them,” he said.
Changing the post office’s official operating hours (for example, by closing for lunch every day) is apparently not possible either. “There’s nothing I can do about changing the hours on the window. You have to go through a chain of command to have that done,” Dichiara said.
Lincoln is not alone; many post offices all over the country are short-handed due to Covid-19, staff turnover and other issues. Dichiara said that Lincoln just went through two rounds of advertising positions internally and had no applicants. Three other external candidates were offered jobs, but two never showed up for orientation and one didn’t pass a background check.
>(Editor’s note: This account was posted on the LincolnTalk listserv on June 15 and is reprinted with permission, though she asked that we not use her name.)
The Lincoln resident (right) who donated her car to Second Chance Cars with Marine veteran John Thomas, who was the recipient after voc-tech students fixed up the vehicle.
“In January I donated my 2006 Subaru Forester to Second Chance Cars, a Concord nonprofit organization that matches car donations with in-need recipients who are looking for cars to be able to get to work.
“After my donated car was checked out by a second chance mechanic, it traveled to Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School in Wakefield, where the mechanics class instructor and students thoroughly went over the car, looking for anything to fix or adjust. Then it went to the body shop students who spent months learning how to fix and paint the many dents I had put on it over the 15 years I owned it.
“I’m happy to report that last Friday I attended the car award ceremony for my vehicle and got to meet the person who received my car — a young Marine veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who was spending a grueling four hours a day using public transportation to get to and from his job on a fishing boat in Gloucester. Now he will be able to get there on his own in just over an hour.”
Second Chance Cars made a short video introducing the teachers and students who worked on the car, as well as a visibly moved John Thomas (the ex-marine) and the car donor, who revealed that she came from a long line of Detroit auto workers. She added that she’s a big fan of vocational schools (“I would have loved to have done this!”) and was happy her car could go to a “real person” who needed it. “I like to recycle and I think there’s no reason you should sell a car for parts,” she said.
Students then pulled the cover off the car to reveal a like-new vehicle with all the dents removed. “I want it back!” the donor joked.
June 6Bedford Road (8:23 am.) — A caller asked officers check a sign that was posted at the five-way intersection in Lincoln Center. Officers checked the area and discovered no issues with the posted signs.
Goose Pond Road (2:25 p.m.) — An attempt was made to serve court paperwork.
Laurel Drive (4:24 p.m.) — A resident wanted to speak to an officer regarding a possible scam.
Goose Pond Road (5:27 p.m.) — Service of court paperwork was made.
Care Dimensions Hospice House (10:25 p.m.) — Caller reported loud noises, believed to be gunshots. It was later confirmed to be fireworks set off in the Winter Street area.
Lexington Road (10:25 a.m.) — Officers assisted with a civil matter.
Bedford Road (4:33 p.m.) — Minor motor vehicle crash (no injuries).
Wells Road (8:09 p.m.) — Officers were called to Wells Road to assist two residents.
Autumn Lane (11:20 a.m.) — A caller reported two unknown vehicles on Autumn Lane. The vehicles were gone when officers arrived.
Weston Road (4:11 p.m.) — A caller registered a complaint about vehicles parking on both sides of Weston Road in the area of the Pierce House.
Minuteman NHP Visitor Center (6:30 p.m.) — A caller wanted to speak to an officer regarding a past incident.
Wells Road (9:15 p.m.) — A well-being check was requested. Lincoln police officers were responding to a separate incident so Concord police handled. Everyone was fine.
Long Meadow Road (10:39 a.m.) — An officer was asked to perform a motor vehicle VIN verification.
Wells Road (1:37 p.m.) — Officers responded at the request of Concord District Court.
Weston Road (8:50 a.m.) — A caller reported excessive noise coming from the Pierce House. An officer responded and found the noise levels were suitable at that time.
Silver Hill Road (9:58 p.m.) — A caller reported that a family member was overdue. Officers were able to make contact with the family member and confirmed that they were OK.
Route 2 Gas (2:31 a.m.) — Officer checked on a vehicle that was parked at Tracey’s gas station. The motorist continued on their way a short time later.
Sandy Pond Road (2:08 p.m.) — A caller reported several people fishing at Flint’s Pond. Officers responded but were unable to locate anyone fishing.
Weston Road (5:38 p.m.) — A resident reported a possible scam.
South Great Road (8:29 p.m.) — Police and fire personnel handled a one-vehicle rollover crash was reported. The road was closed for approximately tow hours until the vehicle could be removed. Click here for details.
Concord Road (9:55 p.m.) — Items were discarded on the side of the road. The DPW was contacted to remove them.
Treble Cove Road, Billerica (11:12 a.m.) — A prisoner was transported from the Lincoln Police Department to the Middlesex House of Correction.
Trapelo Road (4:44 p.m.) — Police received a report of several people fishing in the Cambridge Reservoir. Police made contact with the individuals and advised them it was not allowed.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) of Lincoln and Weston is pleased to announce a scholarship opportunity for Lincoln residents in need and for all our food pantry clients. The scholarships are intended for highly motivated adults who would like to take courses or attend job training to improve their earning capability but cannot afford to do so. They are not intended for young adults heading to college for the first time, nor are they normally awarded for master’s-level work and above.
Scholarships of up to $2,000 are awarded on a rolling basis. The goal of this program is to encourage neighbors to imagine a better future and to work towards making lasting changes and gaining financial stability.
SVdP is grateful for the ongoing support of the trustees of Ogden Codman Trust who are going to fund scholarships for the next three years. They have also awarded grants for financial emergency assistance and a matching grant for the recent SVdP spring concert fundraiser.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston provides financial emergency assistance and scholarships to financially disadvantaged neighbors and operates a food pantry in Lincoln. To apply for a scholarship or inquire about other programs, email SVdPLincolnWeston@gmail.com, call the St. Julia Parish office at 781-899-2611 ext. 4, or visit www.svdplincolnweston.org.
A scene from a Lincoln Co-Ed Softball League game.
Sign up to play softball with the Lincoln Co-Ed Softball League, a “mildly competitive” league dedicated to recreation, sportsmanship, gender equality, and community for players of all skill levels. Registration is $50. Each team will play one or two games per week (games are on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays). Click here for more information and photos of the 2016 season and Lincoln baseball teams from the past, and click here to register.
Farrington Nature Linc invites everyone to their adults-only outdoor summer fundraiser with dinner, drinks, live music, and an auction of outdoor adventures on Saturday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. All funds raised from this event will go toward FNL’s summer youth programs. Purchase individual tickets ($100), tables of four ($350), or tables of 10 ($900). Individual ticket-holders may be seated with others to make a table of four. Click here for details and to buy tickets.
The deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum has announced its 2022 Summer Performance Series that invites viewers to explore ideas of kinship, connection, and ancestry through the performing arts. These themes are also explored by exhibiting visual artists in The New England Triennial and Melvin Edwards: Brighter Days. Each event offers different experiences of cultures, traditions, and familial connections. Some events are in the Dewey Family Hall while others are on Linda’s Lawn. Concerts are on Thursdays at 6 p.m. on June 23; July 7, 14, and 28; August 18; and September 8. Click here for more information and to to buy tickets ($28 or $35 for adults, $12 or $15 for children.
Lincoln firefighters used the jaws of life to free a trapped driver and passenger from a crashed car on Route 117 just east of Farrar Pond on June 11.
The car rolled over and wound up on its side, so firefighters stabilized it with supporting struts and then gained initial access to the people inside through the trunk. They covered the driver with a blanket to protect them from debris while they cut out the windshield, then extricated them and took them by ambulance to Lahey Clinic. The passenger (who had been under the driver) was still trapped, so firefighters again used the jaws of life to open the car’s roof. The patient was then slid out with the help of a backboard and sheet and also taken to Lahey Clinic.
Fire Chief Brian Young said on Tuesday that the accident victims were a man and woman in their 50s or 60s, though he didn’t know their town of residence. Both were conscious when they were extricated but had neck and back injuries. He added that in some cases, posts at the side of the road that are intended to keep cars from flying into the pond or the woods can get bent from the initial impact and act as a ramp, causing the car to roll over.
Photos courtesy of the Lincoln Fire Department’s Facebook page.
The Board of Water Commissioners, in partnership with the Council on Aging & Human Services, has instituted a new water fee waiver program beginning on July 1. Any Lincoln homeowner who meets certain following criteria will be given an annual 100% water base rate waiver or reimbursement. This benefit applies to condo owners even if the water bill is included in the condo fee.
To qualify, the water bill must be for a property that is owner occupied and the owner’s primary residence, and not an irrigation account or in the range of Tier 3 usage (more than 40,000 gallons per quarter.) The homeowner must also be receiving a senior circuit-breaker tax credit on state income taxes, or any one of the following town-administered property tax exemptions:
For more information or to receive this waiver/reimbursement, contact Abigail at the COA&HS (781-259-8811, butta@lincolntown.org). Residents who qualify do not need to file an application or complete additional paperwork to receive the benefit. The Assessor’s Department will share when an address receives a qualifying property tax exemption.
Residents receiving the senior circuit breaker tax credit or those who believe they qualify for the Community Preservation Act Exemption should contact Abigail. Once eligibility is confirmed, the COA&HS will contact the Water Department directly and the waiver will be applied to the resident’s account.