Vandals shut down Valley Pond
Weston police are investigating an incident of vandalism at Valley Pond.  The incident, which involved throwing a bag of trash into the pond, occurred late Tuesday night (6/25).  Because the trash included such items as soiled disposable diapers, the pond has been shut down while the water is tested by an environmental lab. Those tests typically take 24 hours for results to become known.  According to sources, the prime suspects are Weston teens, aided by Lincoln teens. 

The Valley Pond Association runs a private club with beach privileges for Valley Pond, which straddles the Lincoln/Weston line.  There are approximately 350 shareholders, roughly split 50-50 between Lincoln and Weston residents.
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The town has a new new fire chief; Partridge out, Burke in
Town administrator Tim Higgins informed the selectmen at their Monday night meeting (6/24) that Kevin Partridge, the fire chief of Berkley, MA had reconsidered his acceptance of the Lincoln Fire Chief's position and asked that his name be withdrawn from further consideration.  Higgins informed the board that he had subsequently met with John Burke, Sherburn fire chief, and offered him the job, which Burke accepted.  According to sources close to the situation, Partridge cited family considerations related to relocation as the primary factor in his change of mind.
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Dump schedule to change next week; Dirtball's last day on Saturday
July 1st marks the start of the new fiscal year and nowhere will that be more evident than at the transfer station.  Beginning next week the dump will be open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  Also, this Saturday marks the last day of employment for long-time town employee and transfer station manager, Paul Harvey.  Be sure to say good-bye on your trip this week.

CLICK HERE to visit the Recycling Committee's web page for all the latest guidelines and regulations.
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New Bear sighted in Lincoln
According to the Lincoln police log, a motorist reported seeing "a large black bear" crossing Rt. 117 in the vicinity of Drumlin Farm on Wedneday night (6/12) around 8:35 pm.  Lincoln police responded and located the bear, which had climbed a tree near the road.  The environmental police were called.  When they arrived they advised that everyone back away and leave the bear alone. It is presumed that the bear descended at some point, after everyone left, and wandered off.  So don't leave any food outside.
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New gypsy incidents reported
Lincoln police have received reports of two more incidents involving what they believe to be a band of traveling thieves. On Wednesday, June 5th, at approximately 8-830 am, a Hilliard Rd. resident was approached by a 20-30 year-old white female who said she was looking for the meter. When questioned, she yelled something out loud that was unable to be understood.  Police believe that was a code of some sort to warn her partner in crime that this was not a good target to hit. This behavior and code is consistent with the m.o. of this group. They left the area without incident.

On Friday, June 7th, between 7:15-7:30 pm, a babysitter on Sandy Pond Rd. was approached by an older female wearing a dress and a hat she engaged the sitter in conversation about how nice the house was. She asked for a tour of the house. Typically, when this conversation is ongoing the partner  is entering the residence thru the rear of house. Nothing occurred as far as a theft at this residence.

The Lincoln police want to encourage residents to be suspicious and call police to investigate. Although nothing was taken in the above instances, this group has been successful elsewhere and residents may not be aware that  they have been victimized. Residents who make a habit of not locking their doors should check their  jewelry, cash or silverware, particularly in the aforementioned neighborhoods.

Inspector Kennedy is interviewing witnesses and working with neighboring police departments. Weston, Wayland, Belmont,  Andover, Watertown Newton and Wilmington are experiencing the same crimes.
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RLF reports $2.7 million in revenues for 2000
The Rural Land Foundation, owner of the Lincoln Mall and the principal non-government land preservation organization in Lincoln, reported gross rental income for the Mall of $526,799 on its 2000 federal income tax form 990.  After expenses of $243,301, the RLF reported a net income for that property of $283,498. The RLF also reported over $2.3 million in gifts in cash and securities, including funds used to acquire the Drane property on Todd Pond Road, contributing to reported total revenues of $2.7 million.

CLICK HERE to view the RLF's tax return (form 990) for 2000.
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New Fire Chief chosen
The board of selectmen voted to hire Kevin Partridge, the fire chief of Berkley, MA, for the newly created position of Fire Chief in Lincoln.  Partridge replaces Rick Goddard, who had been Deputy Chief of Public Safety until his resignation at the end of last year.
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BIIC to sell 30-acre property next month
Want to buy 30 acres of prime Lincoln real estate?  Well, the BIIC property is for sale to the highest bidder. Sitting between Rt. 2 and Sandy Pond Road near Crosby's Corner, the law firm representing the current owners has set a deadline of June 20th for the property's sale.  Lincoln town officials and the Rural Land Foundation are scrambling to respond to the property's potential sale.

Click on the images below to read the attorney's letter detailing terms of the sale:

          

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N. Lincoln residents petition on Sunnyside Lane property
North Lincoln residents concerned about the fate of the properties at the end of Sunnyside Lane presented the selectmen with a petition signed by 110 residents. Their first priority is to maintain the property as open space.  Town officials have discussed using the property to build affordable housing on.

Click on the image below to read the neighborhood's concerns:

         

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Police officer quits
Officer Robert McCoy has resigned from the Lincoln police force to accept a similar position in the Wayland police department.  McCoy joined the department in August, 1999 as the dedicated traffic officer.  More recently, he had been transferred to regular patrol duty.

Click on the image below to read McCoy's letter of resignation:

    

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CLICK HERE to view images from Lincoln's Memorial Day 2002 observance
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Lincolnite appointed to LS School Committee
Dr. Eric Harris will be joining the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional District School Committee effective June 10.  Dr. Harris replaces departing School Committee member Andy Schwarz.

Dr. Harris is a licensed psychologist as well as an attorney and educator.  He serves as a consultant to the American Psychological Associates Insurance Trust, a faculty member of the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, and legal counsel to the Massachusetts Psychological Association.  Dr. Harris has lived in Lincoln for the past 30 years.