As a grandparent, I love to have younger children around. Keeps you alive and invigorated.
I personally think the mixing possibilities in the planned community center are spot on. I don’t feel the need to relitigate the purpose and program for the community center that we spent years planning as a community. Trump and tariffs and life gave us an approximately 10% overrun. This is not the end of the world. We have community funds available to make it whole that are designed for such contingencies. Let’s fund it and get it built. Economists remind us that in the long run we are all dead. I’d like to see this center and use it while alive. Regards, SRK Steven R. Kanner, MD Lincoln, MA From: Lincoln <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Sasha Golden Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 5:36 PM To: Isla A.R <[email protected]> Cc: Lincoln Talk <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Please Vote NO on the Community Center Proposal Isla-- Your statement about seniors somehow being upset by children, not being able to handle noise, etc., etc. is both ageist and unsupported by evidence. Having the COA and LEAP together -- whether in the same building or adjacent to each other -- would be a great opportunity. Numerous studies have examined the mutual benefits of integrating elders into early childhood education programs. Where properly structured, the children and elders build positive relationships. The little ones benefit from additional attention and support in the classroom, while the elders get psycho-social stimulation (also known as preventing loneliness) and can model appropriate behavior for the little ones. Facilities nearby with integrated education programs include Whitney Place in Natick and Newbridge on the Charles (campus shared with the K-8th Rashi School). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8994098/ https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_power_of_proximity_co_locating_childcare_and_eldercare_programs https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-intergenerational-relationships-support-sel Also, do you think the teens who might come to the Center will be much quieter? On Tue, Jun 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM Isla A.R <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Dear Lincoln Talk, I’m writing in response to the recent emails shared on this topic. I hope this message offers a respectful perspective from another side of the conversation and that it will be approved and posted by the moderators. I ask you please to vote NO on the proposed community center project - not only because of the cost, but because of the impact it could have on the LEAP program and our town’s children. LEAP and a Senior Center Should Not Share the Same Space (on a daily basis) While I have the deepest respect and honor for our senior residents, placing a children’s program in the same building as a senior center is not beneficial to either group. Just imagine the daily scene: young children full of energy, running around, playing freely. This is exactly what a joyful, healthy childhood should look like. However, this level of activity may be overwhelming and even frustrating for some seniors. Conversely, LEAP staff and children may feel constrained, having to “tone things down” to accommodate the quiet needs of elderly participants. It would no longer be a child-centered space, and this shift could negatively impact both sides. I truly wish these two populations could thrive together in the same space, but experience has shown that this is not a sustainable solution for daily, long-term use. Safety and Environment Matter The current LEAP setting - peacefully nestled away from traffic and surrounded by nature - offers a secure, developmentally appropriate space for young children. Adding a community center shared with adults, a busy parking lot, and regular town activity introduces safety concerns and disrupts the calm, nurturing environment these children rely on. There Is a Simple, Practical Solution Instead of relocating and then rebuilding LEAP as part of the community center, why not renovate the existing pods over the summer? This preserves everything that already works so well and is beloved by families and staff, without compromising safety or learning. A Community Center Can and Should Be Built Elsewhere I fully support creating a community center, just not on school grounds. Let’s keep this area dedicated to our children’s education and well-being. We can explore other locations that better serve the broader community without negatively impacting either population. I know these points have been discussed in the past, but I believe this is an opportunity to take a fresh look and get a ‘second opinion’ before moving forward. LEAP is a thriving and popular program that continues to grow each year. One of its greatest strengths is the beautiful, spacious environment it currently enjoys - designed to meet the expanding needs of its students. I’m not sure the proposed new plan preserves that same open layout and generous space, which has been such a vital part of the program’s success. Please help protect our youngest learners by voting NO on this proposal. Thank you. -- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. -- Sasha Golden
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
