Re: [LincolnTalk] Unfortunate USPS practice

2024-08-05 Thread Pastor Allen
 I've been told that it's FedEx Ground that is horrendously bad - and this matches my experience.  The FedEx corporation, up until recently, used subcontractors for that part of their business.  They are currently restructuring that part of their business, given it's awful track record.Fedex overnight is an entirely separate operation, using FedEx employees, and has a much better track record.Even so, I always tell vendors that if they ate shipping something to us, they should avoid FedEx at all costs.-Allen Vander Meulen Sent from my iPhoneOn Aug 4, 2024, at 16:59, Sara Mattes  wrote:FedEx is the worst!Packages are left everywhere except the covered front porch… esp if it’s raining then left where that are guaranteed to get soaked.Avoid mail order if it uses FedEx!Sent from my iPhoneOn Aug 4, 2024, at 1:59 PM, Gmail  wrote:I’ve actually had this happen with FedEx packages left inside my mailbox about 4 times.  FedEx knows they are not supposed to leave packages inside the mailbox.  I have complained each time and filed a missing package report.  In all cases the package got returned to fed ex and eventually redelivered 1-3 weeks later.It’s annoying for sure but it’s really fed ex who are at fault.  MariannaOn Aug 4, 2024, at 9:18 AM, Laura Glynn  wrote:Thank you Katie!I have countless packages delivered, many are left  in my mail box by delivery persons other than uspsNothing has gone astray My mailman always delivers usps packages to my doorThey are amazingI think there must  have been a big miscommunication or misunderstanding behind your problemsLaura GlynnTower RoadOn Sat, Aug 3, 2024 at 8:08 PM Lido Bigelow  wrote:I’m glad to hear you were able to get your package back. 

Did you ever think that the USPS carrier thought it was out going mail? I cannot imagine they look at packages left in mailboxes to see if the package belongs to you. If the carrier “stole” your mail I do not believe they would have brought it to the post office. 

You are one house on your carriers route. Until you have done their job let’s show some respect. Stating that your USPS carrier stole your mail is a serious allegation.


Katie
One kind word can change someone's day!

> On Aug 3, 2024, at 6:35 PM, Nicholas Ribush  wrote:
> 
> 
> Dear All,
> 
> I had a package delivered by a courier service and they made the mistake of leaving it in our mailbox. They even took a photo of it as proof (see below). But they didn't notify me of the delivery. So a week later when I went online to see what was going on I found that it had been delivered, à la aforementioned photo. Obviously I hadn't seen it in our mailbox.
> 
> We've had a couple of other issues with our mailman's pedantry, and I don't know if it was the same one here, but remembering that only USPS is supposed to leave stuff in mailboxes, I wondered if he had seen it there when doing his delivery and confiscated it, perhaps in a righteous fit of pique.
> 
> So, after a bit of unfruitful back and forth with the Lincoln PO counter staff, I asked if it was possible that the mailman had indeed confiscated it and, as a kind of trophy, taken it back to home base. And sure enough, in some kind of black hole tub in the back, there it was. Of course, they were not going to tell me. I guess eventually it would have been returned to sender (in China) or destroyed or...who knows what?
> 
> All this to say, if you did not receive your courier-delivered package yet you're given photographic evidence that it was delivered, see if it was put into your mailbox and stolen by the PO!
> 
> n.
> 
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] seeking advice on invisible electric fences for dogs

2024-07-12 Thread Pastor Allen
We used an installer that has since been bought up by Invisible Fence 
(InvisibleFence.com).  They were easy to work with, and have provided good 
support both before and since they were acquired by the parent company.

We are considering using GPS collars ourselves, which Invisible Fence now 
offers.  we had tried GPS technology when it first came out, and found it 
clumsy and awkward. The latest versions seem to have rectified most of those 
issues.

-Allen Vander Meulen 
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 12, 2024, at 08:22, bslay...@comcast.net wrote:
> 
> 
> My son and his family are moving from Austin to Boston with two dogs.  In 
> Texas they have a  yard with a fence.  They are moving into a house  without 
> one.   If you have used or are using an invisible electric fence, have you 
> found it effective in keeping  lively dogs from such activities as chasing a 
> squirrel across the street?   Is there a company that installs invisible 
> electric fences that you recommend?  Your comments, both positive and 
> negative, will be welcome and will help them make a decision about using this 
> form of fencing.   It is challenging to sort through the promotional material 
> on line.  Thanks.  Barbara
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Re: [LincolnTalk] (no subject)

2023-12-18 Thread Pastor Allen
Thank you Faye, that was a fascinating article.

Lincoln's own 4H Fife & Drum Corps was very involved (and visible ) in the 
250th Tea Party Anniversary events on Saturday. ...You'll see them a lot more 
during the many other 250th celebrations and observances to be held over the 
next couple of years!

-Allen Vander Meulen 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 18, 2023, at 08:52, Faye Speert  wrote:
> 
> Another Lincoln connection:
> 
> The Boston Globe - Museum workers in awe over Tea Party-era documents
> https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=7d0477a5-5a47-4eeb-9bad-f726a5e894ec
> 
> Sent from my iPad
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Ruth Ann Hendrickson Supports Option C

2023-11-29 Thread Pastor Allen
Ruth Ann is absolutely correct, and I 100% agree with her logic and endorsement 
of option C.

I also think it important to emphasize and expand upon the concerns she raises 
about "Option E," and the town meeting process in general.

Those who invest in large projects are not looking to run a substantial risk of 
losing the major upfront investments and commitments they must make in any 
project before it gets to the point of final approval.  That's reasonable: we 
would not ask our friends or neighbors to throw a pile of their money and years 
of effort on the table and risk it all on a roll of the dice, and we would be 
resentful if they asked it of us.

In general, the need for a Town Meeting approval - no matter what town - is 
seen as a roll of the dice with a high risk of failure at the last minute. 
Further, Lincoln's history in that regard does not inspire confidence. 

And so, with plenty of other nearby towns competing for those same investments, 
investors and developers have no need to ever put Lincoln on their shortlist of 
possible project opportunities. This will become even more true as more and 
more communities conform to the HCA.

Developers look for an approval process that they see as fair and predictable. 
(And it's that perception that counts, not our convictions to the contrary.)  
They look for assurance that if they play by the rules, they will have a 
reasonably good chance of success.  What the rules are is not as important as 
that they are predictable and stable. 

So, the onus is upon us to craft a set of rules and processes to guide their 
efforts, so that their project meets the town's expectations and needs. It is 
in everyone's best interest to put those guard rails in at the front end of the 
approval process, rather than having them burst upon the scene at the last 
minute.

Many will point to Oriole Landing as an example of how town meeting can work. I 
was involved in that entire process from our first meeting with them through to 
the groundbreaking of the completed project. It needs to be pointed out that it 
was Civico's first exposure to the town meeting process, and they have already 
said they would never willingly do so again.

So, as long as the current Town Meeting approval process is in place, we will 
rarely, if ever, be approached by developers - whether we actively try to 
recruit them or not. and even if we are approached, there is little chance they 
will stick with us through the entire approval process.

Lincoln will not only never have a seat at the table when such projects are in 
their formative stages, we likely won't even know the table exists.

Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 28, 2023, at 21:02, Ruth Ann Hendrickson  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> I support new and more affordable housing in Lincoln, and I’d like to see 
> most of it in the area of the train station and the Lincoln Mall. I will 
> therefore be supporting option C at the Special Town Meeting on December 2.
> 1) Options C is the best hope for retaining the retail businesses at the 
> Mall. I remember when the roof caved in, and Donelan’s was out of business 
> for over a year. We missed them terribly. If we even needed a pint of cream, 
> we had to go out of town. Retail is struggling all over the country, but I 
> notice that West Concord, (population 7,003 per Census data: ACS 2021) which 
> developed a large apartment complex near the Nashoba Brook a few years ago, 
> has managed to retain real retail, not just banks and restaurants. I am 
> hoping that with enough new housing in the mall area, we also could have a 
> thriving retail center.
> 2) History shows that adding new housing enriches the Town. Change is always 
> worrisome. When Farrah pond village near where I live was proposed, the 
> neighbors were violently against it because of traffic. The traffic has not 
> materialized, and Farrar Pond Village has turned out to be a wonderful place 
> for Lincoln people to retire. Recently, because of the cost of housing, it 
> has also attracted families with children to the extent that they have built 
> a playground. When the town developed Lincoln Woods, people were aghast; much 
> denser than Farrar Pond Village and right there in the middle of town. And 
> yet I know someone who works at Donelan’s who is able to live there, and a 
> friend of mine, who has MS, is also able to live there to be near her mother. 
> This complex has definitely given living options to Lincoln people who needed 
> it. The proposed new housing would again add housing for our children and 
> those who work here.
> 3) Our Agricultural Heritage is safe. Remember, 40% of the Lincoln is 
> permanently in conservation. 40%! Those fields will continue to be farmed by 
> local farmers. Codman farm belongs to the town and will also remain in 
> perpetuity. The trails we love to walk will always be there. Adding some 
> higher density housing near the train station will not affect that.
> 4) Do no

Re: [LincolnTalk] the Rural Land Foundation and the Housing Choice Act

2023-11-02 Thread Pastor Allen
Bijoy,First, there was a Housing Trust vote to approve that Loan.  I was there for it.  I do not remember if you were on the Housing Trust at that time, but you were certainly made aware of those discussions and that vote, as all Housing Commission and HOWG members were.  The record of that vote can also be found in the minutes from one of the Housing Trust meetings from that time.Second, a wide variety of mechanisms were considered before structuring that $1 Million payment to Civico as a loan - a process that, as I recall, entailed several HOWG and Housing Trust meetings, and close coordination with Town Counsel to ensure that this disbursement would achieve the goal of permanently ensuring the town got those 60 units on the SHI, as well as making sure they could never come off unless the town explicitly approved it - even if ownership changed or there was a bankruptcy.An interest free "loan", immediately due and payable only if the units came off the SHI, was deemed the best method of accomplishing that goal.-Allen Vander MeulenSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 2, 2023, at 15:47, Bijoy Misra  wrote:Friends,I was part of the Housing Commission and the Housing Choice Committee (like one we have now).We were given an impression that CIVICO was doing a favor by allowing themselves to work inLincoln.  They were a small company and needed capital.  One million was granted without vote,possibly RLF had a link to CIVICO. It was said that the money was a loan.  School, parking, access,landscaping and preservation issues were raised later.  I was stunned when Hong Kong style development was proposed on behalf of South Lincoln Improvement Committee the followingyear. .Nobody has taken responsibility for the maneuver so far.  Accountability is required in communication and for the town meetings..Why do we give volunteer time to be loose and casual?I urge all the new activists to populate the Committee.  Do insist even if there would be efforts to ignore you.Best regards,Bijoy Misra On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 12:10 PM Karla Gravis  wrote:Civico's analysis for Oriole Landing included 25% affordable units so their IRR calculation already includes the reduced rent for those apartments.From the document I linked to, Civico expected a 16.6% return on their Oriole Landing investment in year 10, above what was expected at the time. Instead, they got a much higher IRR (potentially $12M profit on a $20M investment) in only 4 years. Did they know they were going to get this much? Probably not. BUT having realized such a profit increase, this same developer is telling us that they refuse to go through town meeting again. The HCAWG is accommodating by including the mall rezoning through HCA, which would allow Civico to skip the town meeting process and build "by right". In more recent times, we are seeing other towns like Winchester negotiate with developers through town meeting. Winchester was able to get Civico to add more parking, even more affordable units, and at an even more affordable rate (60% of AMI as opposed to 80% of AMI that Oriole Landing has). They were able to include sustainability and climate change requirements. Civico is paying the town $1.5M. They were only able to get to this new proposal because the first one failed at town meeting.Yet Lincoln would be choosing to forgo our town meeting process so that Civico can push ahead with the project? We severely curtail our ability to influence and ask for concessions by doing so.-- Forwarded message -From: Rich Rosenbaum Date: Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 11:05Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] the Rural Land Foundation and the Housing Choice ActTo: CC: Lincoln Talk When calculating the cost to the developer for affordable units, shouldn't it also include the present value of the reduction of rental income below market rates?‪On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 10:17 AM ‫ٍSarah Postlethwait‬‎  wrote:‬ Your math is flawed…The town already required 15% affordable housing units, or 9 total units at Oriole landing. (See photo below from Oriole Landing’s analysis)This means that the town paid $1 million dollars to secure 6 additional units- not 10, as you stated.Thats $166,667 a unit. I understand that the town has worked hard to maintain well above 10% affordable housing- which is why I don’t understand the desire to rezone every developable acre of south Lincoln at 10% affordability. Even with an additional $2 million in our Affordable Housing Trust to bribe developers, that will only secure 12 additional units if Oriole Landing is an indicator of what Civico is expecting per unit. The RLF is proposing up to 100 additional units. 10 are required to be affordable under HCAAn additional 5 units (15% total) will cost $833kAnd additional 15 units (25% total) will cost $2.5 million And that’s assuming they haven’t raised their affordable housing bribe expectations since 2018. This is why the HCA rezoning should be 

Re: [LincolnTalk] the Rural Land Foundation and the Housing Choice Act

2023-11-02 Thread Pastor Allen
...That's what I get for calculating something in my head while walking to my car!Even so, building a new affordable apartment from scratch is probably a $500.000 or greater investment at present.  Moving from 238 to 298 units on our SHI at a cost of $16,667 each is still quite a bargain.And, that investment of $1 million bought Lincoln at least 20 to 30 years before we will need to worry again about falling below the minimum 10% SHI, which is the point where 40B developers can build without reference to local zoning restrictions (for the most part).As was stated in town meeting at the time, that two or three decades gives us the breathing room we need to plan for the future without scrambling for immediate solutions.  This is precisely what is going on with the efforts by the HCAWG and the Lincoln Foundation.I might add that if Oriole Landing had fallen through, we would've dropped below 10% on our SHI in 2020, which in turn would have likely opened that property up to becoming a 160 or even 200+ unit apartment complex.  At that point, Lincoln could've done very little to stop or influence such a development.  Some of our neighboring towns have been learning that painful lesson in recent years for themselves.-Allen Vander MeulenSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 2, 2023, at 14:13, ٍSarah Postlethwait  wrote:Allen,Your math is also flawed. $1,000,000 divided by 60 is not $13,333… it’s $16,667My point is if we rezone areas like the mall under the traditional rezoning process, they will be required to have 15% affordable housing already. No money will need to be spent from our limited Affordable Housing Trust to achieve 15%. That alone would save at least $833,000 from the Affordable Trust for those 5 units that would be needed to get up to the 15%. And if we want to make it an even higher percentage then we have almost a million dollars to do so. HCA rezoning is not beneficial to the town so it should be done in the least impactful way to comply with the HCA, and if the town or a developer wants to peruse further rezoning it should be done through the traditional town meeting process. Sarah Postlethwait On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 1:50 PM Pastor Allen <pastorall...@gmail.com> wrote:One must remember that if a development has 25% or greater apartments that are "Affordable", then the entire community counts towards the SHI.  So, by moving Oriole Landing from 9 (15%) to 15 (25%) affordable units, we increased the official SHI in Lincoln by 60 units - at a cost of roughly $13,333 per unit.  That's quite a good return on that investment.-Allen Vander MeulenSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 2, 2023, at 11:04, Margaret Olson <s...@margaretolson.com> wrote:Argh! Not enough coffee! At Oriole Landing 6 additional units is correct and each additional unit for a qualified person to live in cost $166K not 100K.  ‪On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 10:17 AM ‫ٍSarah Postlethwait‬‎ <sa...@bayhas.com> wrote:‬ Your math is flawed…The town already required 15% affordable housing units, or 9 total units at Oriole landing. (See photo below from Oriole Landing’s analysis)This means that the town paid $1 million dollars to secure 6 additional units- not 10, as you stated.Thats $166,667 a unit. I understand that the town has worked hard to maintain well above 10% affordable housing- which is why I don’t understand the desire to rezone every developable acre of south Lincoln at 10% affordability. Even with an additional $2 million in our Affordable Housing Trust to bribe developers, that will only secure 12 additional units if Oriole Landing is an indicator of what Civico is expecting per unit. The RLF is proposing up to 100 additional units. 10 are required to be affordable under HCAAn additional 5 units (15% total) will cost $833kAnd additional 15 units (25% total) will cost $2.5 million And that’s assuming they haven’t raised their affordable housing bribe expectations since 2018. This is why the HCA rezoning should be done in the least impactful way possible, and rezoning things like the mall and other likely to be redeveloped areas should be done through the traditional process that already requires 15% affordable housing. That will save almost a million dollars from the Affordable Housing trust per every 100 units built. Sarah PostlethwaitOn Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 9:49 AM Margaret Olson <s...@margaretolson.com> wrote:Here's a bit more background on the Oriole Landing affordable units:There are 15 affordable units out of a total of 60 units, or 25%With 25% affordable, all 60 units count towards our SHI (the state's affordable housing index)Our zoning requires 15% affordableAt a cost of $1 million the town obtained 10 additional affordable units for qualifying people to live in at a cost of 100K each, with 60 affordable units counting towards our SHI at a cost of $16K per unit. At the time this was negotiated the town was paying an average of $250K for each affordable unit for qualifying people to

Re: [LincolnTalk] the Rural Land Foundation and the Housing Choice Act

2023-11-02 Thread Pastor Allen
One must remember that if a development has 25% or greater apartments that are "Affordable", then the entire community counts towards the SHI.  So, by moving Oriole Landing from 9 (15%) to 15 (25%) affordable units, we increased the official SHI in Lincoln by 60 units - at a cost of roughly $13,333 per unit.  That's quite a good return on that investment.-Allen Vander MeulenSent from my iPhoneOn Nov 2, 2023, at 11:04, Margaret Olson  wrote:Argh! Not enough coffee! At Oriole Landing 6 additional units is correct and each additional unit for a qualified person to live in cost $166K not 100K.  ‪On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 10:17 AM ‫ٍSarah Postlethwait‬‎  wrote:‬ Your math is flawed…The town already required 15% affordable housing units, or 9 total units at Oriole landing. (See photo below from Oriole Landing’s analysis)This means that the town paid $1 million dollars to secure 6 additional units- not 10, as you stated.Thats $166,667 a unit. I understand that the town has worked hard to maintain well above 10% affordable housing- which is why I don’t understand the desire to rezone every developable acre of south Lincoln at 10% affordability. Even with an additional $2 million in our Affordable Housing Trust to bribe developers, that will only secure 12 additional units if Oriole Landing is an indicator of what Civico is expecting per unit. The RLF is proposing up to 100 additional units. 10 are required to be affordable under HCAAn additional 5 units (15% total) will cost $833kAnd additional 15 units (25% total) will cost $2.5 million And that’s assuming they haven’t raised their affordable housing bribe expectations since 2018. This is why the HCA rezoning should be done in the least impactful way possible, and rezoning things like the mall and other likely to be redeveloped areas should be done through the traditional process that already requires 15% affordable housing. That will save almost a million dollars from the Affordable Housing trust per every 100 units built. Sarah PostlethwaitOn Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 9:49 AM Margaret Olson  wrote:Here's a bit more background on the Oriole Landing affordable units:There are 15 affordable units out of a total of 60 units, or 25%With 25% affordable, all 60 units count towards our SHI (the state's affordable housing index)Our zoning requires 15% affordableAt a cost of $1 million the town obtained 10 additional affordable units for qualifying people to live in at a cost of 100K each, with 60 affordable units counting towards our SHI at a cost of $16K per unit. At the time this was negotiated the town was paying an average of $250K for each affordable unit for qualifying people to live in.By keeping our SHI above 10% we are not subject to "40B" developments: 40B is the state law that allows developers to ignore town zoning density restrictions for multi-family buildings. The town has historically worked very hard to maintain an SHI above 10%. We are currently over 12%. MargaretOn Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 9:27 AM Benjamin Shiller  wrote:After posting, additional data was very quickly brought to my attention.  Apparently, even without a 1 million dollar forgivable loan, the rate of return on the investment was anticipated to be 14%.  That seems very high, and was the expected return on investment at that time.  Yes, home prices went up, increasing their profits. But that does not change the fact that it would certainly appear that the $1 million forgiveable loan seems unnecessary.  I now join the call for more transparency and citizen involvement in future negotiations.  On Thu, Nov 2, 2023 at 8:54 AM Benjamin Shiller  wrote:The stated numbers in earlier messages in this thread suggest that Civico earned about $8-$12 million in profits from Oriole Landing.  If true, it still does not necessarily imply that we were ripped off as a town. It might have been that we needed to provide the $1 million forgivable loan to make it such that the *expected* profits at that time were high enough to build.  First, the profits need to be as high as the developer could have earned elsewhere. Second, there’s an ex-ante ex-post problem.  After building, real estate prices in Massachusetts increased dramatically, implying that the profits that they ultimately earned may be much higher than the profits that would have been reasonably anticipated.  All that said, it’s still good basic economic practice to get many developers to make competing bids. >From Civico’s own documentation (link below), they estimated the total development cost per condo was $351K (including acquisition costs). This means that it would have cost them ~$21M to complete the 60-unit development. Considering the $1M loan and the sale price of $32M, Civico made ~$12M in only 4 years on a $20M investment, in addition to any rents collected. 60% return on assets seems pretty profitable to me. This doesn’t even include the benefit they would have got

Re: [LincolnTalk] the Rural land foundation and the Housing Choice Act

2023-11-01 Thread Pastor Allen
Ruth Ann and Margaret are absolutely right (aside from Ruth Ann accidentally 
converting 15 units to 15% in her comments below).

I was deeply involved those discussions at the time.  That $1M "loan" was 
intended to ensure that those 15 affordable units would remain affordable in 
perpetuity, regardless of ownership changes - including bankruptcy.  It 
accomplished exactly what it was designed to do.  I believe the only way we'd 
"lose" those units is if the town opts to release the lien on the property - 
i.e., it will be the town's decision, not the owner's.

That loan also made the project financially viable for CIVICO, as viability was 
no longer assured after the many other concessions they made in their 
negotiations with the town.

All this is a matter of public record, and (in addition to the published 
minutes) I believe might also be available in videos of some of those meetings: 
made for broadcast on the community cable channels, and available on the town 
website.

-Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 1, 2023, at 20:20, RAandBOB  wrote:
> 
> 
> Scott, I think your nasty tone is completely uncalled for. I did read your 
> post and this is what the final sentence said:
> 
> . Let's remember we gave Civico a $1M no-interest loan for the 15 affordable 
> apartments in Oriole Landing, and they turned around and sold the building 
> for $32M. Like someone else has said on this thread, it is indeed troubling.
> 
> It may not be what you meant, but this statement could lead someone to 
> believe that it’s troubling because the 15% affordable housing disappeared 
> with the sale. Margaret is just clarifying that point in a very reasonable 
> tone.
> 
> Ruth Ann
> (She, her, hers)
> 
>>> On Nov 1, 2023, at 7:01 PM, Scott Clary  wrote:
>>> 
>> . Let's remember we gave Civico a $1M no-interest loan for the 15 affordable 
>> apartments in Oriole Landing, and they turned around and sold the building 
>> for $32M. Like someone else has said on this thread, it is indeed troubling.
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Re: [LincolnTalk] CCBC FAQ's - with additional links

2023-10-02 Thread Pastor Allen
Andy is correct.  And, the town has no jurisdiction over most of what happens 
at Hanscom. We therefore should not include that area or its residents in 
metrics that influence town policy,  projects, and performance measures.

-Allen Vander Meulen

> On Oct 2, 2023, at 10:05, Andrew Payne  wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Karla G. wrote:
> 
>> Below are two examples for Concord and Harvard, as proof that the CCBC used 
>> the ACS numbers and not the town census numbers in their benchmarking.
>> 
> The issue that is very unique to Lincoln when trying to use that US Census 
> ACS data:  figuring out the non-Hanscom population.  
> 
> Anyone making cross-town comparisons should keep that in mind.
> 
> One 
> let's-complicate-things-by-putting-Hanscom-AFB-base-housing-within-our-small-town's-town-limits
>  resident's view,
> 
> -andy
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[LincolnTalk] Fiber Optic Technician?

2023-10-01 Thread Pastor Allen
We have a barn that is quite a distance from our house. Several years ago, to 
facilitate both WiFi and a security system, we ran a fiber optic cable from the 
house to the barn.

There's something wrong with that link now: being an old computer geek, I have 
determined it is probably a bad fiber optic cable strand, or perhaps one of the 
converters at each end.  But, I don't have the skills or tools to actually 
isolate and fix the problem.

Can anyone recommend a decent network technician with knowledge of fiber optic 
cabling?

Thanks,

-Allen Vander Meulen

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Re: [LincolnTalk] Roofer with low slope rubber roof experience

2023-09-21 Thread Pastor Allen
I would recommend Maurice Richards: an experienced and skilled roofer, with a skilled team working for him. He has done rubber membrane, custom skylight, and steel roof installations for us - and an excellent job on each. His email address is:  mrich...@outlook.com.-Allen Vander MeulenSent from my iPhoneOn Sep 21, 2023, at 09:16, Robert Hicks  wrote:Looking for recommendations for a roofer with low slope rubber (single ply membrane) roof experience.-- Bob Hicksrchi...@gmail.com
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Re: [LincolnTalk] sealcoating

2023-09-07 Thread Pastor Allen
We've used Weston sealcoating for about 15 years.  The owner, Rob Provenzano, 
has a very experienced and skilled crew, and does a great job.  (Stop on by to 
see the great work they did on our drive, earlier this week!)

https://westonsealcoating.com/
+1 (781) 235-5694

-Allen Vander Meulen
Beaver Pond Rd

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 7, 2023, at 16:49, Steven N. Shapse, Ph.D.  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Can anyone recommend a company for sealcoating driveways? 
> Thanks
> 
> 
> Steven N. Shapse, Ph.D.
> 145 Lincoln Road, P.O. Box 112
> Lincoln, MA 01773
> Tel:   781-259-0283
> Fax:  781-645-1316
> Text: 781-645-1316
> 
> This email, including attachments, contains information that is confidential 
> and may be protected by psychologist-client privilege. If you are not an 
> intended recipient, please delete this email, including any and all 
> attachments and notify my office immediately. The unauthorized use, 
> dissemination, distribution or reproduction of this email or its contents is 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Arborist

2023-08-10 Thread Pastor Allen
Jonathan Bransfield of Bransfield Tree has done a great job for many years, keeping our own Apple and Peach trees healthy.BRANSFIELD TREEbransfieldtree.com-Allen Vandwr MeulenSent from my iPhoneOn Aug 10, 2023, at 17:20, Sonja Johansson  wrote:Hi Davida,Charlotte Trim  is a soils person and treats trees, lawns, etc. She lives in Lincoln.  She has several fruit trees on her own property .  charlottetri...@gmail.comSonja Johansson On Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 2:16 PM dgloew--- via Lincoln  wrote:
Our apple trees are looking terrible.  Any suggestions for an arborist who can help with fruit trees?Davida LoewensteinSent from the all new AOL app for iOS
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Computer Support

2023-04-26 Thread Pastor Allen
Happy to help Gary, just give me a call.

– Allen Vander Meulen
617-909-9516

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 26, 2023, at 10:59, Taylor, Gary  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> Lincoln Techno Community,
> 
> 
> 
> We just had a major computer failure (old Dell), and our other Dell, our 
> iPads and Mac are getting pretty long in the tooth, so we have decided it is 
> probably time to assess and update our home computer systems.  Looking for 
> sound advice on systems, software and recovery of data from a dead computer.  
> Any information on someone reliable would be much appreciated.
> 
> 
> 
> Gary Taylor
> 
> Beaver Pond Rd.
> 
> 259-9569
> 
> **
>  
> IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM THE BRATTLE GROUP: This message, and any attachments, 
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> please notify me immediately by return email and immediately delete the 
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[LincolnTalk] FS: Kids' Climbing Dome

2023-04-25 Thread Pastor Allen
The dome is approximately 11 feet across, and 5 feet high. It is made of UV 
resistant PVC plastic.

Other than a little fading, it is in great condition.

$100 or best offer.  

Due to the size, it will need partial disassembly to transport.

-Allen Vander Meulen
Beaver Pond Rd

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Re: [LincolnTalk] community center

2022-10-27 Thread Pastor Allen
It is also important to remember that at our most recent Town Meeting, the 
Council on Aging was renamed "The Council on Aging & Human Services" in 
recognition of the huge breadth of services it provides to ALL members of the 
community, not just those who are senior citizens.  

Director Abigail Butt and all of her dedicated, creative and hard-working team 
are a phenomenal resource for everyone in Lincoln, and they will be even more 
effective and beneficial in a more appropriate and accessible facility.

-Allen Vander Meulen
Beaver Pond Rd

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 27, 2022, at 19:33, llas902551--- via Lincoln 
>  wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Mr Rosen,
> Thank you for your remarks re: the Community  Center.
> Bemis is used for many things.  Including  but not limited to exercise.  The 
> COA& HS director Abigail Butt, is very involved with obtaining  many many 
> social benefits  for ages 60+. 
> The Bemis Hall is also used for outside events.
> 
> 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Drought suggestions

2022-07-26 Thread Pastor Allen
They won’t be, a few citations from now!

– Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 26, 2022, at 07:36, Heather Ring via Lincoln  
> wrote:
> 
> If you have an irrigation system please check the programming!  On an early 
> morning walk today we were amazed at the number of sprinkler systems running 
> like usual in Lincoln watering lawns. 
> 
> -Heather 
> 
> Heather Ring 
> pronouns: she/her/hers
> 
> 
>>> On Jul 25, 2022, at 20:02, Leslie Turek  wrote:
>>> 
>> 
>> It would make sense to allow the one pool that is shared by many people to 
>> stay in operation in preference to individual pools that only serve a single 
>> family.  (I don't swim so have no interest in this either way, but it just 
>> makes sense to me.)
>> Leslie Turek
>> 
>>> On Mon, Jul 25, 2022 at 7:08 PM Jessica Ko  wrote:
>>> Does this mean that the town pool can’t top off their water as well? 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
> On Jul 25, 2022, at 3:31 PM, Sasha Golden  wrote:
> 
 
 Another almost-native Californian here. 
 
 Mulch. 
 
 Drip irrigation for your most precious trees and shrubs only. 
 
 Xeriscaping -- look for drought-tolerant bedding plants, annuals, and 
 grass replacements. Russell's has a good selection and very helpful 
 people. 
 
 Replace water-hungry grass with a mixture of micro-clover and thyme once 
 fall comes. It will look nice and green and you'll barely need to mow it. 
 The clover will make your soil healthier as well.
 
 If your soil is compacted, aerate it or turn it over and add plenty of 
 compost to help it hold water. 
 
 Perhaps the Water Department and the Garden Club could team up with UMass 
 Extension and/or Russell's to develop handouts or presentations on this 
 important topic.
 
 
 
> On Mon, Jul 25, 2022 at 10:27 AM Staci Montori  
> wrote:
> Hi! Being a native Californian I know the drought protocols so well. 
> First and foremost, super short showers, turning the water off between 
> shampoo, shaving, no brushing teeth in showers, and no baths except if 
> multiple people use it. Have a bucket in the shower to catch water and 
> then use this on favorite suffering plants. Only flush the toilet when 
> absolutely necessary. “If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush 
> it down.” Is a childhood mantra for any one raised there! Always have 
> rain barrels catch every precious precipitation drop. Fill bird baths 
> with water from your rain barrels. Put indoor plants outside during a 
> shower. 
> I really didn’t think I would be doing this again here in New England- 
> the rains have always amazed me here and part of the reason I have put 
> roots down here. 
> Sadly, Climate Emergency is here and now. And we can’t run to any where 
> and hide from it. We need to stop burning fossil fuel for a livable 
> planet! Call Gov. Baker today and get him to sign the Climate Bill on his 
> desk! 
> Warm regards,
> Staci
> 
>> On Mon, Jul 25, 2022 at 10:09 AM RAandBOB  wrote:
>> Please send me ideas you have for getting your plantings through the 
>> drought and conserving indoor water as well. Especially those of you who 
>> have been through droughts before or who have lived in dry climates.
>> 
>> Ruth Ann
>> (She, her, hers)
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 -- 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] bikes and trails

2022-07-11 Thread Pastor Allen
Leslie,

Are used to live next to Fresh Pond in Belmont/Cambridge.  The pond is fenced 
all the way around its perimeter, not to mention tons of poison ivy growing 
inside the fence!

– Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 10, 2022, at 23:16, Leslie Turek  wrote:
> 
> 
> I could be wrong about this, but doesn't Fresh Pond have a fence that 
> prevents dogs from actually getting down into the pond or close to the edge?  
> That might be why they can permit dogs off leash at Fresh Pond. Flints Pond 
> has no such fence, nor would we want one. 
> 
> Leslie Turek 
> 
>> On Sun, Jul 10, 2022 at 11:07 PM Linda McMillan  
>> wrote:
>> It's good to know that the staff from LLCT and the Conservation Commission 
>> see these discussions.
>> 
>> I just learned a very important piece of information I would like to pass 
>> along. In talking with a Water Commissioner in Cambridge, I was told that 
>> Cambridge went through a very similar process of determining the best use of 
>> trails. In particular, they wanted to determine if dogs should continue to 
>> be allowed off leash around Fresh Pond.  After an exhaustive search of the 
>> published literature on the issue of dog waste and its impact on water 
>> quality,  they found no evidence that dog waste had a negative impact on 
>> water quality. Instead, they found it was geese poop that was creating a 
>> problem with water quality.
>> 
>>  In fact, now Fresh Pond is the only place in Cambridge where dogs are 
>> allowed off leash!
>> 
>> I found this information astounding and respectively recommend that the Con 
>> Com, LLCT and the Water Department look into this more thoroughly as it 
>> relates to the proposed rule that dogs must be leashed at all times on all 
>> trails around Flints Pond. 
>> 
>>> On Sat, Jul 9, 2022, 7:38 PM Sara Lupkas  
>>> wrote:
>>> Hello! 
>>> 
>>> Staff from both LLCT and the Conservation Department see these emails. 
>>> 
>>> Sara Lupkas
>>> Stewardship Director 
>>> Lincoln Land Conservation Trust 
>>> 
>>> e. lup...@lincolnconservation.org
>>> p. 781-259-9251 
>>> c. 610-620-3626 
>>> 
> On Jul 9, 2022, at 7:29 PM, Sara Mattes  wrote:
> 
 They should all go to Con Comm staff for public record
 
 Sent from my iPhone
 
>> On Jul 9, 2022, at 5:56 PM, Linda McMillan  
>> wrote:
>> 
> 
> I am wondering if the Conservation Commission Director or staff even see 
> any of these comments unless you send them directly to them via the email 
> on the town's website. Not sure. 
> 
>> On Sat, Jul 9, 2022, 8:09 AM Colleen Katsuki  
>> wrote:
>> 
>> Good points Christopher. 
>> 
>> One thing I think is that we actually need more data.How many bikes are 
>> on which trails ?  I remember the dogs off leash controversy some years 
>> ago and on Mt Misery.  Dogs were allowed off leash only on certain 
>> trails .But what happens is people say or think:" My dog is well 
>> behaved" and they leave the animal off leash, The rules are not well 
>> posted nor are they well observed. I think this could be another issue 
>> here. 
>> 
>> Colleen Katsuki
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> ubject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Bikes on bike paths where they belong?
>> From: Christopher Eliot 
>> Date: 7/7/22, 8:56 AM
>> To: Lincoln Talk 
>> 
>>  I have read many articles about Lincoln trail usage and I am not 
>> strongly in favor or against usage by bikes.
>> 
>> However, given the controversy, a “go slow” approach to changing 
>> regulations seems prudent. Some of the issues are just preferences and 
>> will not change over time, but some are fact based and can be researched 
>> in time.
>> 
>> Overall, it seems like the decision should be made on a case by case 
>> basis taking into account the unique characteristics of each trail, 
>> including importance for each possible user group and local 
>> environmental conditions.
>> I think there are some overall principles that apply to each trail use 
>> decision:
>> 
>> * Safety of all trail users is a priority. This can mean providing a 
>> safe path for bikers to cross busy roads and it can mean doing something 
>> so that elderly walkers are not in fear of bikers.
>> 
>> * Some trails are probably inherently better for some uses than for 
>> other uses. I think there are some terrain features that don’t make good 
>> bike trails; these trails should be kept bike free. Paved rail trails 
>> seem to work well for mixed uses.
>> 
>> * Along some routes bikes can be a practical form of transportation, 
>> especially to schools. Replacing automobile traffic with bicycle usage 
>> has multiple benefits and should be facilitated where possible. Circular 
>> trails are not transportation routes.
>> 
>> * Preservation of nature is a priority. Wild places 

Re: [LincolnTalk] Help with weeding

2022-05-25 Thread Pastor Allen
Hi Mary,

Charlene and Bill do exactly this sort of work for us.  However, we have found 
that getting anyone to do yardwork of any sort, even at $25 an hour, is pretty 
much impossible given the current labor market.

Bill and Charlene can be reached via voice or text at (351) 226-9006. I do not 
have an email address for them. 

-Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 25, 2022, at 08:55, Mary Crowe  wrote:
> 
> 
> Looking for someone to help rid my  sand riding ring of  unwanted grass and 
> weeds  Growth is just getting started so its not hard work - can be done with 
> a hoe or pulling by hand. $15 an hour.
> Mary Crowe (singri...@gmail.com)
> 
> 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] LINCOLN…We Have a Problem ! (not my personal experience)

2022-03-24 Thread Pastor Allen
Sara is right: a lower birth rate and the resulting increasing percentage of 
“Empty Nesters” and retired households in town are the biggest factor in 
declining school enrollment - there are simply far fewer kids here than there 
used to be.  …This trend has been obvious for decades.

The number of students leaving for private schools may be a factor, but I would 
argue is insignificant in light of the general shrinking of the available 
school-aged population.  ( I will agree, though, that the town’s increasing 
average income and home values suggests that more families can afford private 
schools nowadays.)

-Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 24, 2022, at 16:45, Sara Mattes  wrote:
> 
> Mr. Dwyer,
> As someone who advocates the use of good data before we jump to conclusions 
> and answers, that we diagnose accurately before we prescribe, what data have 
> you used to imply large numbers of students are leaving for private schools?
> What have the numbers been over the years, decades?
> Perhaps there are historical trends that might inform this discussion.
> 
> Regards,
> Sara Mattes
> --
> Sara Mattes
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Mar 23, 2022, at 9:11 AM, JAY DWYER  wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Fuat,
>> 
>> “There are lies ,damn lies and statistics”.
>> 
>> I agree that we have to take more than one matrix when evaluating 
>> performance. In addition to the numerical scores I was also shocked by the 
>> number of students leaving to go to private schools. That fact car leaded 
>> what did decline in Lincoln school enrollment over the last 10 years as the 
>> population has grown.
>> 
>> Something is amiss !
>> 
>> People vote with their feet in their pocketbooks when they’re not pleased 
>> with the product.
>> 
>> If you agree with my perspective please vote for Joseph Dwyer for school 
>> committee on March 28.
>> 
>> Thank you,
>> 
>> Jay Dwyer
>> 603.560.1787 c
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Mar 22, 2022, at 4:51 PM, Fuat Koro  wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Bryce, 
>>> 
>>> My observation is when residents question the "goodness" of our education, 
>>> discussions typically get stuck in much the same way you highlighted: 
>>> 
>>> "Typical assessment approaches like test scores and rankings by various 
>>> publications are not good indicators of our education quality. In the 
>>> absence of a yardstick, here are a few personal anecdotes why I think our 
>>> education is good (or bad). "
>>> 
>>> Perhaps this already exists, but as part of their stated role, the School 
>>> Committee should be able to help us understand what our data-driven 
>>> evaluation criteria are. 
>>> 
>>> Regards,
>>> Fuat Koro
>>> 
>>> On Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 1:59 PM Bryce Wells via Lincoln 
>>>  wrote:
 Jay,
 
 I find it concerning that you are prescribing a solution to a (perceived) 
 problem without any background or experience as an educator.  I find it 
 galling that you are using Niche.com as your primary source for the 
 problem, but that's another issue for another time.  My recommendation is 
 that you at least start with the state-mandate proficiency exams and the 
 school's performance therein... btw, I have no idea where LPS ranks.
 
 More homework?  Oh brother.  Have you vetted or discussed this 
 multi-pronged plan with Becky McFall or Sharon Hobbs?  You might want to 
 start there and see WHAT shortfalls they think there MIGHT be and how THEY 
 think they should be solved.  That sort of approach will surely get my 
 attention... and vote.  
 
 Without getting into personal specifics (because as Lincoln Talk's eristic 
 pundit Dennis Liu would remind me, the plural of anecdote is NOT data), 
 both my boys went through LPS and are thriving at LS.  They were well 
 prepared for high school.  Many of their friends are thriving.  Is there 
 room for improvement?  Always.  
 
 Also, personally speaking, they had many friends who went to Fenn or other 
 private schools.  The parents I spoke to about that decision (a deeply 
 personal one) communicated that they wanted their child in a same-sex 
 learning environment or they valued the private education experience or 
 they wanted to provide more avenues for their child outside of LS.  
 
 Thanks for listening.
 
 Bryce
 
 
 On Tue, Mar 22, 2022 at 1:34 PM JAY DWYER  wrote:
> Why ?
> 
> Here are the numbers for K-8 Lincoln Schools from : niche.com
> 
> 
> 59% proficient in math
> 61% proficient in english 
> 
> What grade do you get with 61% on a report card?
> 
> You get an F for failure.
> 
> We spent $13 million a year for our schools and this is what we get.
> 
> People with the ability to pay $40,000 a year take their kids out of 
> Lincoln schools and put them in private schools like Fenn.
> You know many families that have done this.
> 
> We are not traditionally rigorous in te

[LincolnTalk] Endorsing Steven Gladstone and Margaret Olson for Planning Board

2022-03-23 Thread Pastor Allen
(Previously posted in the Lincoln Squirrel.)

In my 14 years as a resident of Lincoln, I have come to deeply appreciate 
Lincoln’s long tradition of being proactive in anticipating and adapting to 
change. We as a town have often taken advantage of new opportunities long 
before other towns seem to even be aware such opportunities exist. In my mind, 
this (and the often drawn out and tedious but necessary consensus-building that 
goes with it) is part of the often extolled, sometimes derided, but never 
concretely defined “Lincoln Way.”

We have long shown ourselves to be a town determined to address problems before 
they become crises. We spend a great deal of time and effort discussing and 
wrestling with the challenges presented by the changing world around us. We are 
often recognized (and emulated) for providing direction and leadership in the 
face of change. I see all of these qualities active in the recent WIDE and IDEA 
initiatives to encourage diversity and inclusion; in SLPAC’s work to revitalize 
the Lincoln Station area; and in our decades-long efforts to balance and 
strengthen our often competing goals of historic preservation, the conservation 
of our open space, and the preservation and promotion of affordable housing.

I am often amazed (but no longer surprised) at the deep bench of professional 
skill and experience that many or most past and present members of our town’s 
boards, commissions and committees bring to the table in this work. I am also 
impressed with how humble most of these folks are: their focus is on serving 
the best interests of the town as best they can — not self-promotion.

In my opinion, Margaret Olson and Steve Gladstone exemplify all of this. They 
have proven to be creative, and hardworking guardians of our town’s best 
interests and “the Lincoln way” through their presence on the Planning Board: 
working hard to find a viable path forward in the face of ever changing and 
often competing economic, environmental, political, cultural, and legislative 
agendas. They are both good listeners, hard and reliable workers, and their 
professional backgrounds provide valuable points of view and skills in support 
of this work.

Both were important contributors in the successful development, vetting, and 
town meeting approval of Oriole Landing; in the development and ongoing work of 
SLPAC; in simplifying our planning and permitting processes; in making our 
zoning laws fairer and easier to understand and implement; and in promoting 
affordable and safe housing for all of Lincoln’s residents. Neither of them are 
“flashy” or eager to grab the spotlight, but the results of their work benefit 
us every day.

Steve and Margaret are respected and valued members of the Planning Board and 
are important allies in the complex challenge of promoting and supporting 
increased diversity, inclusion, and equity within Lincoln. Please join me on 
March 28 in voting to allow them to continue doing so.

Sincerely,

Allen Vander Meulen-- 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Question about contested 2022 Lincoln races

2022-03-18 Thread Pastor Allen
As a former (and unsuccessful) candidate in a contested race for an open seat 
here in town, my opinion is that any challenger has to make a strong case as to 
why they should replace the incumbent.  If that case is not made, then there 
really is no reason to displace the incumbent.  And (frankly) it also strongly 
implies they should not be replaced.

- Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 18, 2022, at 08:31, Michelle Barnes via Lincoln 
>  wrote:
> 
> Dear LincolnTalk, 
> 
> I’m wondering whether the candidates challenging incumbents in the two 2022 
> town elections, or anyone else for that matter, might be able to shed any 
> light on why they’ve entered the race? From the candidate forum I did not get 
> a strong sense of that. (Rightly so, in order to keep the discussion civil, 
> the parameters around the evening would’ve made that conversation difficult. 
> The moderators, Carol Casper and Rob Stringer, did a truly superb job of 
> pulling that evening together and moderating it, and I’m so very grateful to 
> all the candidates for putting their hat into the vital ring of public 
> service. We are so lucky to have so many super talented, capable, caring and 
> committed people in our community,  wow!) 
> 
> Our daughter will be entering the eighth grade this fall, so I am 
> particularly interested in (and mystified by) the LSRH school committee race. 
> From the candidates forum, on the face of it at least, stated objectives and 
> values were reasonably similar across the incumbents and those challenging 
> the incumbents although styles were clearly very different (for both 
> contested races). This leaves me wondering what I am missing? If you’d like 
> to, or are at least willing to, discuss this with me privately, please email 
> me back and I’ll give you my personal contact information so that we can 
> discuss it by phone or meet for coffee at the Twisted Tree or whatever is 
> most comfortable and convenient for you. It might be good for all of us to 
> learn the answer to this question directly from the candidates challenging 
> incumbents though. 
> 
> Thank you very much, 
> Michelle Barnes 
> S. Great Rd.
> 
> -- 
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> 
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[LincolnTalk] Fwd: Rental property in Sudbury available

2022-01-31 Thread Pastor Allen
There have been a number of inquiries here recently from folks looking to find 
an apartment or home to rent.  

Memorial Congregational church in Sudberry is looking for a tenant for their 
former parsonage near the church. Details and contact information are below.

– Allen Vander Meulen

Begin forwarded message:

> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Old Parsonage for Rent
> 32 Concord Road, Sudbury
> 
> 
> Charming, sun filled three bedroom,1 1/2 bath home for rent. Prime location 
> across the street from the Goodnow Library, near Route 20. Off street 
> parking, appliances included. Monthly rent is $2,300 (not including 
> utilities). Available for rent late March/early April.
> 
> If you know of someone who may be interested, please forward this 
> announcement!
> 
> For information contact:
> Ed Hawkins at 978-460-1290
> or
> Jill Baker at 508-561-4905.
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  ‌   ‌
> Memorial Congregational Church | 26 Concord Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776
> 
>  
> Try email marketing for free today!
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[LincolnTalk] FS: extra large dog crate

2021-10-22 Thread Pastor Allen
For sale: extra large dog crate, 48×30×32 inches; one door.  Brand new and 
still in box, never opened. Originally purchased for $90, willing to sell for 
$50 or best offer.

Proceeds will be donated to an animal shelter or animal rescue organization.

Link to product description here:
https://www.chewy.com/frisco-heavy-duty-fold-carry-single/dp/137159

-Allen Vander Meulen
pastorall...@gmail.com


Sent from my iPhone-- 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Redistricting

2021-10-17 Thread Pastor Allen
Buck is absolutely correct: Tom Stanley has been an excellent advocate on 
Lincoln’s behalf.  We can only hope that whoever replaces him is half as good 
and diligent as he has been for us.

Allen Vander Meulen
Chair, Lincoln Housing Commission

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 15, 2021, at 07:59, Buckner Creel  wrote:
> 
> 
> Actually, Rep Tom Stanley has been extraordinarily supportive of Lincoln 
> interests.  
> 
> Tom is a very accomplished politician who is respected by his fellow 
> legislators.  His chief of staff has a well-developed relationship with our 
> Town leaders, His constituency support structure is very well developed and 
> responsive to individual concerns.  He is very effective at shepherding our 
> annual citizen petitions and other actions through the legislative process.  
> He has personally responded to Lincoln concerns and requests for help with 
> various Commonwealth agencies, and has helped us work through a number of 
> issues affecting our area.  He has successfully passed Lincoln-specific 
> legislation  which has provided funding to help resolve some issues.
> 
> Others in the Town government share these observations.  I could go on and 
> on, but I submit that losing Tom Stanley as our representative is not a good 
> thing.  It remains to be seen if Lincoln will receive the same level of 
> excellent support from the new district structure.
> 
> regards,
> 
> Buck
> ==
>   Buckner M. Creel
>   Lincoln School Project Manager
>   Lincoln Public Schools
>   ==
> Message: 11
> Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2021 10:07:22 -0400
> From: Bob Kupperstein 
> To: Sasha Golden 
> Cc: Sara Mattes , Lincoln Talk
> 
> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] We are about to get redistricted? again?
> maybe? probably
> Message-ID:
> 
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> Our current House Rep is Stanley, who represents Waltham and Lincoln.
> While I don't have any particular issue with Rep. Stanley, if an issue came
> up that split Lincoln with Waltham, I don't think there's any doubt whose
> interests he would advocate for.
> 
> I think our town interests have more in common with other rural-suburban
> towns.  I don't think our culture actually aligns very well with Weston and
> Wellesley and I think we have less in common with the  W's than they do
> with each other, but I think the proposed district is better for us than
> the current one at least.
> 
> -Bob 
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Re: [LincolnTalk] Transponder tape

2021-10-01 Thread Pastor Allen
You can order them straight from the state’s DMV website. As I recall they are 
quite cheap.

-Allen Vander Meulen

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 30, 2021, at 14:44, Dennis Liu  wrote:
> 
> Kristine, one can be surprised at the reusability of those little super
> Velcro strips.  I've successfully peeled them off and applied them to a new
> car, with no ill-effect.  Worth giving it a shot?  If unsuccessful, I have a
> spare pair, so you're welcome to swing by Lexington Rd to pick them up if
> you'd like.
> 
> HTH,
> 
> --Dennis
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Lincoln  On Behalf Of Kristine Barker
> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2021 11:25 AM
> To: Lincoln Talk 
> Subject: [LincolnTalk] Transponder tape
> 
> Hello,
> 
> Does anyone have two of those sticky strips used to hold an EZ pass
> transponder to the windshield with which they could part? 
> 
> Thanks,
> Kristine 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> -- 
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> 
> 
> -- 
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