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

Legal notice: Conservation Commission (109 Trapelo)

CONSERVATION COMMISSION — NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7:30PM in accordance with the MA Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This is in response to the duly filed Notice of Intent by Steven Veninncasa for demolition of an existing house and construction of a new house and accessory structures within the 100-ft Buffer Zone at 109 Trapelo Road (Parcel 150-27-0). Information on how to log onto the virtual public meeting will be included in the LCC Agenda posted on the town’s website at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. More information can be reviewed here.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Legal notice: Planning Board hearing (Civico)

TOWN OF LINCOLN PLANNING BOARD
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR SIGN PERMIT

The Lincoln Planning Board will hold a public hearing at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 via hybrid meeting to review an application for a 20-unit housing development at 109 Page Road, 279, 283, and 295 Cambridge Turnpike — parcels, or parts thereof, 132-25-0, 132-26-0, 132-27-0, and 132-28-0 as shown on the submitted plans. The review will be pursuant to the Zoning Bylaw, Section 12.5.8 Special Permit and Site Plan Review and the General Bylaw, Article XXXII Stormwater Management. The application is available for review on the Town of Lincoln website at www.lincolntown.org/252/Planning. The agenda with the Zoom information and meeting location will be posted to the Town website at lincolntown.org/Calendar.aspx at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. Anyone wishing to be heard may be present at the designated time and place, written comments will also be accepted.

Lynn DeLisi and Gary Taylor, Co-Chairs
Lincoln Planning Board

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Legal notice: Conservation Commission (Battle Road Farm)

LEGAL NOTICE — CONSERVATION COMMISSION

The Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7:05PM in accordance with the MA Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Lincoln Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This is in response to the duly filed Notice of Intent by Debra Daugherty for control of invasive plants within the 100-ft Buffer Zone and wetland resource areas near 29 South Commons at Battle Road Farm (Parcel 103-13-0). Information on how to log onto the virtual public meeting will be included in the LCC Agenda posted on the town’s website at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. More information can be reviewed here.

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

My Turn: Seeking a certain young puzzle fan

(Editor’s note: see “Putting the pieces together for almost a century” published in the Lincoln Squirrel on 

By Stewart Coffin

This message is my attempt to locate a missing person. But first some background.

For many years I have been engaged in the art of designing geometric shapes that come apart, sometimes called puzzles, and crafting them in fine woods. I was participating in a craft show at Rhinebeck, N.Y., in 1973 when a young girl stopped by my display and proceeded to try assembling my Altekruse burr in a clever new way using fourteen pieces rather than the standard twelve. I was so impressed that I later added it to my catalog as Design #57, Plus 2.

That girl’s name was Marjorie Hoffman, but I don’t recall how I happened to know that. I give her credit for that design in my book Geometric Puzzle Design and also on my website (page 61 in AP-ART: The Art That Comes Apart). My hope was that someday a woman would present herself at one of my craft shows and say, “I’m Marjorie.” But now time is running out, and I guess it will never happen.

“Pin-Hole,” before and after.

And now to the present. On April 4 of this year, I was participating in a craft fair at the Pierce House in Lincoln when a girl, about age 10 I would guess and possibly accompanied by a parent, stopped by my display and proceed to try assembling my Pin-Hole puzzle (page 26 in AP-ART: The Art That Comes Apart) in a clever new way with a completely different shape. Again, I was so struck by the scheme that I added a few refinements of my own and included it in my line. If all goes according to plan, a friend of mine will use it as an exchange gift in the annual meeting of the International Puzzle Party, to be held next year in Toronto.

I would like to give that girl credit for coming up with the clever new shape, but who is she? You can reach me at stewcoffin@gmail.com.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnians. 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

Softball league kicks off season

Come to the Opening Day scrimmage for the Lincoln Co-ed Softball League on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00pm at Codman Field (rain date: May 14). Meet the teams and get a little exercise — all levels of experience welcome. If you can’t commit to playing one game a week, you can join the league’s Substitute Pool and play when you can. Just let us know ahead of time via email or in person before registering. Click here to register.

LLCT plant sale on May 16

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust will hold its annual native plant sale on Saturday, May 16 from 11:00am–1:00pm at Lincoln Station (145 Lincoln Road). Click here for a list of native shrubs and perennials that will be available. Cash, check, card, or Venmo payments accepted.

Swap shed volunteers needed

The DPW is looking for friendly volunteers to help keep the transfer station’s Swap Shed running smoothly. This is a great opportunity to support the community, meet new people, and make a positive impact. The Swap Shed depends on volunteers to keep it organized, welcoming, and safe. Volunteer duties include:

  • Organizing and tidying items
  • Helping visitors find and drop off items
  • Ensure items left are clean and appropriate for reuse
  • Keeping the space clean and welcoming

No experience necessary—just a positive attitude and a willingness to help out. For more information or to volunteer, contact DPW Office Manager (donaldsons@lincolnma.gov, 781-259-8999).

Did you know…

…that Lincoln has been known as “Nip Town” and its “birth” came after 20 years of hard labor? What we now know as the town of Lincoln was formed from parts of Concord, Lexington, and Weston, all nipped off to create a new town. Read more here on the Lincoln Historical Society website.

Fundraiser at Farrington Nature Linc

Farrington Nature Linc’s annual June Bug fundraiser is on Saturday, June 6 from 5:00–8:30pm. Come hear about our summer programs, enjoy live music and food, and raise a glass in support. All proceeds support Nature Linc’s mission to connect youth with nature. This event is adults-only, and tickets can be purchased here.

Juneteenth celebration

The METCO Coordinating Committee will bring people together to honor freedom, reflect on history, and celebrate community at the annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 6 from 1:00-4:00pm at Codman Field. The gathering will feature food, music, student performances, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to learn and connect. If you’d like to request a vendor table, please complete this form by Friday, May 15.

L-S Friends of Music seek members

The L-S Friends of Music are seeking new volunteers and will have an information session at their upcoming annual meeting on Tuesday, June 9 at 7:00pm in L-S Conference Room A.

Each year, LSFOM contributes anywhere from $5,000–$20,000 to enrich the Music Department at L-S in the form of subsidized field trips, scholarships for private music instruction, piano tunings, new musical instruments, and more. In 2025 they even helped fund a new lighting system in the L-S auditorium, But continued operation depends on the next generation of music parents (especially those with current eighth-, ninth- and tenth graders) getting more involved. State law requires registered nonprofits to maintain a minimum number of volunteers and board members. To this end, they are recruiting the following:

  • Concessions committee co-chair
  • Fundraising committee co-chair
  • Secretary co-chair
  • Treasurer co-chair
  • Co-President
  • General Board Member

Questions? Email lsfriendsofmusic@gmail.com.

Gropius House bathroom competition announces a winner

The current Gropius House “restroom” next to the visitors’ center (top), and a drawing of “One Bathroom After Another.” (Photos courtesy Historic New England)

“One Bathroom After Another” is the winning entry in the Historic New England design competition to “reimagine the visitor experience of Gropius House” by adding an accessible permanent public restroom close to the visitors’ center.

Since it became open to the public 45 years ago, the only restroom for Gropius House visitors has been a porta-potty. The new structure will address that need and will “also play a critical role in creating a sense of arrival for visitors to the site and framing the viewshed to the main house,” HNE said in a release.

The winning proposal by architectural designer Isabel Strauss was selected from more than 280 submissions received from 40 countries across six continents. Nearly a quarter of entries came from outside Europe and North America. “Strauss’ proposal introduces a twin volume that echoes the form of the existing garage, while differentiating it through material and orientation, to create a clear, yet contextually sensitive, addition to the site,” the release says.

“My design starts with what is already here, rather than imposing a completely new aesthetic, and draws on vernacular materials and reinterprets them through a contemporary lens. This project, in the spirit of the Bauhaus, uses common materials in new ways to create something that feels both of its time and as though it could have always been here,” Strauss said.

Strauss is assistant professor of architecture at Smith College. Previously, she was a curatorial contractor at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where she assisted in collecting and exhibition projects related to architecture and design.

“Isabel Strauss’s proposal stood out as both deeply thoughtful and emotional — a quiet approach grounded in her nuanced reading of the site’s iconography, and one that also proved to be among the most buildable,” said Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of Historic New England.

The other shortlisted teams include AUYON BACHAR, based in Los Angeles; Payette (Boston); Tomas Sachanowicz and Monika Puchala (Szczecin, Poland); and Mohsen Laei (Tehran, Iran). AUYON BACHAR reimagined the existing garage as a contemporary welcome center with an integrated restroom addition and distinctive glass block façade, while Payette conceived the restroom as a precise architectural instrument within the landscape, contrasting planar and curved geometries to guide arrival and movement. Sachanowicz and Puchala proposed a restrained intervention that extends the site’s existing stone wall to enclose the restroom. Laei’s proposal offered a compact, efficient design focused on functional performance, with a strong connection to the surrounding environment.

Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus and one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, designed the home in 1938 as his family residence while teaching at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Conceived as both a living space and a teaching tool, Gropius House exemplifies Bauhaus principles of functional design while responding to the surrounding New England landscape. In 1979, Gropius’s wife Ise donated the property — complete with its original furnishings, artwork, and personal belongings — to Historic New England. The house opened to the public in 1984 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2000. Today, it is among the most visited sites under Historic New England’s stewardship.

The submissions were reviewed by a jury including Antoine Picon (Harvard Graduate School of Design), Nader Tehrani (NADAAA), Philip Kennicott (the Washington Post), Suzanne Stephens (Architectural Record) and Tanja Hwang (Museum of Modern Art).

“Historic New England is committed to building a permanent public restroom at Gropius House in the coming years, with timing dependent on funding,” the release said. The organization also plans to present the finalists’ designs in a public exhibition. The five finalist proposals will ultimately become part of the organization’s permanent archives, and Historic New England is also exploring opportunities for publication.

Legal notice: Historic District Commission (19 Brooks Rd)

LEGAL NOTICE — HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

The Historic District Commission will hold a virtual online public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, to consider the application of Brian and Kimberly Jalet, 19 Brooks Rd., M/P 112-34-0 to rebuild a garage and add an apartment above. Anyone wishing to be heard on this matter should be present at the designated time and place.

Time: May 12, 2026 7:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting   (Meeting ID: 983 9661 4379, Password: 167620)

Note that legal notices often must be posted twice by law. For previous legal notices and details on how to submit a legal notice to the Lincoln Squirrel, click here.

Cereal boxes go tumbling down at school to benefit food pantry

Lincoln School students with some of the cereal boxes they collected. (Photo courtesy Patti Caira)

Hundreds of boxes cascaded down in an exciting sequence in the third year of Cereal Dominoes at the Lincoln School recently.

Earlier in the year, students in grades K-4 learned about food insecurity through the book Maddi’s Fridge. This spring, they collected and brought in 480 boxes of cold cereal (a new record) to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry of Lincoln and Weston after teachers put out the call and even created a QR code so parents could order cereal and have it shipped directly to the food pantry.

The cereal boxes ready to topple. (Photo courtesy Patti Caira)

Teachers piled up the boxes in classrooms and the kids used their math skills by adding up how many boxes were being collected by each class. On the big day (with help from some parents), teacher Nicole McDonagh coordinated the task of lining up the hundreds of boxes in a circuitous route in the gym. Scattered among them were several giant-size display boxes that substitute teacher Patti Caira borrowed from Market Basket.

As the kids watched, the first box was tipped over, and down they all went (see video). The kids cheered excitedly, and at least one of then shouted, “That’s the box I donated!” according to kindergarten teacher Rachel Goldner.

Caira, who also volunteers at the food pantry, got the idea to bring the event to Lincoln after seeing something similar on TV several years ago. She tracked down the two teachers from Michigan who appeared on the program and reached out to them for advice.

Teachers Patty Caira, Rachel Goldner, and Nicole McDonagh in front of the cereal box dominoes. (Photo courtesy Patti Caira)

“It’s made such a difference at the food pantry. They’re now set through fall for cereal,” Caira said, noting that clients’ children don’t get meals at school over summer break, “and a bowl of cereal is a treat for breakfast and lunch.”

This is not the first public project the school has organized. One group did a coin drive to raise $414 for the World Wildlife Fund. “You should have seen the bank when we came in with all those coins,” said Principal Sarah Collmer.

Other efforts such as composting and donating unopened prepackaged food such as applesauce container to Food Link have been a great success — cafeteria trash went from 22 barrels to just two barrels over a period of time, said McDonagh, who is also one of the school’s Green Team leads.

Old Town Hall Corp. to hold annual meeting

The Old Town Hall in the 1960s, complete with gas pumps.

The Lincoln Old Town Hall Corp. will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, May 20, at 7:00pm in the meeting room on the building’s second floor. The meeting is open to the public.

At the meeting, the executive board will discuss finances, accomplishments over the past two years, executive board elections, ways to make it more apparent that they are not affiliated with the town of Lincoln, and long-range projects.
 
The organization’s mission is to maintain and preserve the Old Town Hall, which in on the National and Massachusetts Registers of Historic Places and celebrated its 175th anniversary two years ago. It rents space to the Little General Store, the post office, and four other tenants on the second floor. As part of her agreement, Little General Store owner Lis Herbert also manages the Old Town Hall Exchange, which sells artisanal crafts and antiques consigned to the Exchange to benefit both consignor and the Old Town Hall.
 
The Lincoln Old Town Hall Corp. executive board members are Richard McQuaid (president), Libby Maynard (clerk), Margaret Harding (treasurer), Herbert, and Jane O’Rourke. Questions? Email corp@lincolnoldtownhall.org.

Property sales in February 2026

28 Blueberry Lane — Joel S. Greenberger to Raz and Shani Davidyan for $1,885,000 (February 2)

88 Winter St. — Jeffrey S. Bennett to Dirk Gevers and Geraldine Paulus for $2,350,000 (February 5)

2 Tracey’s Corner — 2 Tracey’s Corner LLC to Michael and Luana McLagan for $732,000 (February 13)