Celebrate. It's fun.

Bowdoinhammer - Week of September 8th to the 14th

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
September 08, 2025

Good Monday to you, Bowdoinhammer.

That was a wild week, huh? (especially Friday)

If you don’t know what I mean, just type “Bowdoinham Maine” into the Google machine and click on the News tab. I blame the full moon.

If you do know what I’m talking about, but don’t want to think about it anymore, you’re in the right place, my friend!

Celebrate Bowdoinham is this weekend, so we’ll start with announcements related to all that fun…

Celebrate Bowdoinham Stuff:

👆 Here’s the link to all of the events you need to know about: https://www.bowdoinham.com/event/celebrate-bowdoinham-2025

🚧 The Town Office has announced that Mailly Waterfront Park will be closed to vehicle traffic starting on Thursday, September 11th, through Sunday, September 14th, for Celebrate Bowdoinham. Please plan ahead.

👕 To celebrate Bowdoinham’s vibrant community and farming heritage, new merchandise is now available for purchase at the Town Office. This year's T-shirt design tells a special story, inspired by a drawing submitted by Ella Arbour, a student from Bowdoinham Community School. The new merchandise lineup includes T-shirts, beanies, 24-oz travel tumblers, and the collectible Bham Duck. These items are a perfect way for residents to show their support for the town, and supplies are limited. All proceeds help support the Celebrate Bowdoinham event. For more details on the new merchandise, visit: https://www.bowdoinham.com/news/celebrate-bowdoinham-fresh-new-merchandise

👨‍🚒 Please support our local heroes at the Bowdoinham Fire & Rescue Association! They’re raffling off a Blackstone 36” griddle, complete with a 6-piece professional griddle kit and protective cover. Every ticket you purchase for $5 (or five for $20) goes directly toward helping our dedicated firefighters and EMS responders acquire new equipment to better serve our community. You can purchase tickets from a firefighter or EMS responder you know, or visit their booth at Celebrate Bowdoinham. The lucky winner will be drawn on October 13th, so be sure to get your tickets and show your support!

🖼️ The Merrymeeting Arts Center's 3rd Annual Art for Everyone Online Auction is officially underway! Bidding started Sunday and runs until Monday, September 15th at 8:00 PM. This is a fantastic opportunity to find a unique piece of art while supporting a great cause. You can even get an in-person peek of the gallery exhibit during Celebrate Bowdoinham on Saturday, September 13th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Don't miss your chance to win! Visit the auction site at https://go.rallyup.com/artforeveryone or text 'artforeveryone' to 33100.

🏆 Gad-Zukes! It's Zucchini Race time! Get your car revved up at the Race Car Assembly workshop at Merrymeeting Arts Studio on September 11th from 4-6 pm. If you already have your zucchini, come and assemble and decorate. We will have some veggies available to decorate and for the spectators at the race on Saturday, September 13th, at the skate park. RSVP to: [email protected] by September 10th to participate in the workshop.

🦆

“The greatness of a culture can be found in its festivals.”

- Siddharth Katragadda

Making the Right Choice: A Guide to Elder Care

Photo by Garrick Hoffman for The Maine Monitor

The topic of finding a good nursing home or assisted living facility for a loved one is something many of us face, and it can feel like a daunting task. Luckily, The Maine Monitor has put together a fantastic, helpful guide to make that process a little less overwhelming.

The article, titled "Our guide to researching nursing homes and assisted living facilities," and written by Rose Lundy, is based on her years of experience as a public health reporter digging through public databases. The guide breaks down the key differences between nursing homes and assisted living facilities, then shows you exactly where to look for important information, such as recent inspection reports, citations, fines, and quality measures. She even points you to a website where you can see if a facility has been flagged for "serious quality issues."

This is a powerful and important resource for our community, helping to ensure that our loved ones are safe and well cared for. It's a must-read for anyone navigating this complicated process.

If you find yourself in a situation with a bad nursing home, you can also reach out to Maine's Public Access Ombudsman. 

Happening This Week:

MONDAY, September 8th

  • Open Pottery Studio, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. $10 suggested donation. The maximum capacity is 10 pottery enthusiasts.

  • Community Sound Bath, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Spend an hour resting and recalibrating with a gentle sound bath featuring Himalayan singing bowls, tongue drum, and voice. Bring a mat, pillow, and/or blanket. Free of charge but donations gratefully accepted. FMI: [email protected]. Visit Ground Well Counseling to sign up for their newsletter and get notifications of other events.

TUESDAY, September 9th

  • Bowdoinham Community Connections LiHEAP assistance, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. This fall, Bowdoinham Community Connections will be offering in-person support to help residents prepare for upcoming changes to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to apply for Real IDs. To make an appointment, call (207) 666-3101.

  • Recycling Drop-off, Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.), NOON - 6:00 PM.

  • Merryreading Book Store OPEN, Merrymeeting Hall Basement (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

  • Select Board Meeting, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 6:00 PM. Townhall Streams link. For a list of other town meetings, visit the town's calendar.

WEDNESDAY, September 10th

  • Bridge, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - NOON. FMI: Judy Gray, 666-3025. The group welcomes all players. Current players range from high-scoring duplicate players to seniors who played in college and newbies who have taken a class.

  • Bowdoinham Food Pantry OPEN, Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main St.), 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. For all residents of Bowdoinham and Bowdoin. Building community with food. NO income verification. FMI: (207) 751-7779. Shop there first.

  • Open Pottery Studio, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. $10 suggested donation. The maximum capacity is 10 pottery enthusiasts.

  • Bowdoinham Democrats Sign Making Party, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Help the Bowdoinham Dems get ready for the Celebrate Bowdoinham parade and their booth down at the waterfront. It's a fantastic opportunity to lend a hand, get to know some neighbors, and have some fun!

THURSDAY, September 11th

  • Trash Pick-up Day. You can buy the $3 trash tags at the Town Office and Public Works Facility. Pick-up times vary. 

  • Recycling Drop-off, Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

  • Cribbage, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 9:30 AM - NOON. Hosted by Age Friendly Bowdoinham.

  • Age-Friendly Bowdoinham Monthly Luncheon, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. 

  • Merryreading Book Store OPEN, Merrymeeting Hall Basement (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

  • MSAD 75 School Board Meeting, Mt. Ararat High School (68 Eagles Way, Topsham), 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM.

FRIDAY, September 12th, 

  • Celebrate Bowdoinham Evening Kickoff. For a list of events, visit https://www.bowdoinham.com/event/celebrate-bowdoinham-2025

  • Bowdoinham Community Connections LiHEAP assistance, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), NOON - 2:00 PM. This fall, Bowdoinham Community Connections will be offering in-person support to help residents prepare for upcoming changes to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to apply for Real IDs. To make an appointment, call (207) 666-3101.

SATURDAY, September 13th

  • Celebrate Bowdoinham All DAY!! For a list of events, visit https://www.bowdoinham.com/event/celebrate-bowdoinham-2025

  • Recycling Drop-off, Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. CLOSED for Celebrate Bowdoinham

  • Visit/Volunteer/Donate/Shop at the Bowdoinham Gift Shop, Recycling Barn (243 Post Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Clean and FREE curated household items, clothes, and toys are available. Donations and volunteers are welcome to support this community resource and help reduce waste. Contributions are accepted inside, and returnable beverage containers may be dropped off in the window near the road at any time.

  • Bowdoinham Farmers' Market, Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 8:30 AM - NOON. 

  • Merryreading Book Store OPEN, Merrymeeting Hall Basement (27 Main St.), 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

SUNDAY, September 14th

  • Sunday Service, Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.), 9:30 AM. 

  • Sunday School/Service, Bowdoinham Church of the Nazarene (7 School St.), 10:00 AM, Service 11:00 AM. 

  • Community Sound Bath, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM. Spend an hour resting and recalibrating with a gentle sound bath featuring Himalayan singing bowls, a tongue drum, and voice. Bring a mat, pillow, and/or blanket. Free of charge, but donations gratefully accepted. FMI: [email protected]. Visit Ground Well Counseling to sign up for their newsletter and get notifications of other events.

  • Community Swim at the LeRoy Greason Pool (35 Watson Dr., Brunswick), 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Free to residents of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, and Topsham. Pre-registration required.

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Merrymeeting Music House Concerts are Back!

Merrymeeting Music House Concerts is rolling out the red carpet for another season of amazing tunes at Merrymeeting Hall! 

Samuel James at the Merrymeeting Hall back in March

The support over the last two seasons has been so rewarding that many artists are asking to return. 

The new 2025-26 season will once again feature an optional potluck at 5:30 PM, with music starting at 7:00 PM. A $20 suggested contribution goes entirely to the artists. RSVPs are required, so keep an eye on your email for the link! 

If you’re not on their mailing list, simply send an email to [email protected], and say something like “The Bowdoinhammer told me that I don’t have to go to Portland to hear good music if I subscribe to your list.”

To keep this series going, they are also seeking sponsors to cover the hall rental and people interested in hosting musicians for a night.

Happening Soon:

📚 The Loose Ladies Book Club will discuss “This Tender Land” by William Kent Krueger on Thursday, September 18th, an en­thralling, bighearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or your favorite local bookseller.

. . .

🥣 Join Bowdoinham Community Connections for a Soup & Sandwich luncheon on September 22nd in the Bowdoinham Estates dining room. It's a great chance to connect with others and learn about a volunteer-based program that helps residents access community resources. Whether you want to give back or could use a hand yourself, everyone's welcome. Space is limited, so please register by September 12th. To reserve your spot, call Jason Lamoreau at (207) 666-3101.

. . .

📕 Using their patented, super-complex method of selecting books, the Bowdoinham Booked Moms have chosen “A Flicker in the Dark” by Stacy Willingham as their book for Wednesday, September 24th. When Chloe Davis was twelve, her small Louisiana town was rocked by the disappearance of six teenage girls, a case that ended with her father's arrest as a serial killer, leaving her and her family to grapple with the shocking aftermath. Bowdoinham Booked Moms is a stress-free space for local moms to unwind, connect, and make friends through reading and discussion. They’ll meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Merrymeeting Hall. This fun, no-fee club is for moms with a Bowdoinham connection, aiming for an enjoyable time every month! For more info, email [email protected].

. . .

📸 Professional photographer Leah Haraden is hosting an "Introduction to Digital Photography" class on September 27th, from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This is a great opportunity for adults and teens who have always wanted to perfect using their camera! For just $40, she will cover everything from basic camera settings and composition techniques to working with natural light. Through fun, hands-on exercises, participants will develop the skills and confidence to take better photos.

. . .

💪 Following a successful Bulky Waste Day in the spring, Bowdoinham Community Connections (BCC) will once again organize a volunteer effort on October 4th to assist residents with bulky waste removal. This service is intended for community members with mobility challenges or those who lack transportation. BCC is seeking volunteers with trucks and the ability to move heavy items. Residents who need help with removing items or are able to volunteer their time or vehicle are asked to call 207-666-3101 as soon as possible. The goal is to make Bulky Waste Day more accessible and easier for everyone in Bowdoinham.

. . .

🧵 The Merrymeeting Arts Center invites you to "The Art of Indigo," a natural dyeing workshop led by artist Elizabeth Davis. Join them on Saturday, October 18th, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. For $40, you'll explore the history and science of Indigo, learn how to make a dye vat, and try dyeing techniques like Shibori and clamping. Open to all skill levels, this hands-on session lets you create several unique, hand-dyed textiles to take home. All materials are included, and you'll also get tips on proper aftercare for your pieces. Registration is online at MerrymeetingArtsCenter.org.

That’s all I have for you this week.

Have fun and be good. If you can’t be good, be careful.

Love,

Rodney

❤️