Good Goats!

Bowdoinhammer - Week of July 28th to August 3rd

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
July 28, 2025

What’s up, Bowdoinhammer?

I came up with a new idea for Open Farm & Studio Day: Traveling animal farm.

Farmers bring their animals to your house. I don’t know exactly how this will work, but I think there’s something of an idea there.

It came to me (literally) on Wednesday when my neighbor’s goats came over for a visit.

Honey and Ivy

They were on a neighborhood walkabout. Don’t worry. They made it safely home.

Let’s get on with it, shall we?

New Challenges For Our Food Pantry

Our Bowdoinham Food Pantry has shared an important update on new operating challenges.

They've discovered a significant gap in their ability to provide frozen meat, as recent federal policy changes and a decrease in supplier donations mean their key source is no longer available.

This creates a new financial hurdle, potentially requiring them to purchase meat.

To rally around this vital local resource, any additional financial support from the community would be deeply appreciated right now.

Remember, shelf-stable donations are also gratefully accepted at the Bowdoinham Post Office (any time) or at the Pantry on Wednesdays (12-4 PM).

Let's continue to show our support for the Pantry, which relies almost entirely on our community to feed friends and neighbors in Bowdoinham and Bowdoin.

"No one has ever become poor by giving."

- Anne Frank

There's always something to keep us on our toes, isn't there? 

I recently encountered a crafty scam, receiving a text from "Maine DMV" about unpaid traffic citations. The initial confusion ("When did I get a ticket?!") quickly turned to suspicion upon seeing an undeniable fake link. 

I deleted the message, but the story didn't end there! A wider “scam-paign” was confirmed by posts on Reddit and a public statement from the Secretary of State in early June. 

The Secretary's statement highlights crucial points to keep in mind: 

  1. Official government agencies rarely use text for serious matters, preferring mail. 

  2. If a message seems questionable, always verify its truthfulness by contacting the official source directly (using a number you look up yourself!). 

  3. It's vital never to click on a link or provide identifying/financial information in response to unsolicited calls or texts. 

  4. If they push for urgency, waving threats of quick consequences, it's almost certainly a scam. 

Be aware, and don't click on links from unsolicited messages.

Happening in Bowdoinham THIS week:

MONDAY, July 28th

TUESDAY, July 29th

  • 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.

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School Tennis Court (23 Cemetery Rd.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

WEDNESDAY, July 30th

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

  • 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 Booked Moms Book Club Meeting, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 7:00 PM. This fun, no-fee club was created as a stress-free space for moms with a Bowdoinham connection to unwind, connect, and make friends through reading and discussion. FMI: email [email protected].

THURSDAY, July 31st

  • 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 hosted by Age Friendly Bowdoinham, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - NOON. Hosted by Age Friendly Bowdoinham.

  • Tie Dye Workshop, Bowdoinham Public Library (13a School St.), 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Sign up by calling (207) 666-8405, emailing [email protected], or visiting the library.

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

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

FRIDAY, August 1st

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

SATURDAY, August 2nd

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

  • 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. 

  • Summer Ceramic Shop, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 8:00 AM - NOON. The MAC Gallery will be hosting a ceramics shop, showcasing the work of six local potters, for 6 weeks during the Farmer’s Market. Stop by before or after you shop! You just might need a bowl to eat all that salad you just bought!

  • Open Pottery Studio, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. $10 Suggested donation. The maximum capacity is 10 pottery enthusiasts.

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

SUNDAY, August 3rd

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Coming Soon to a Bowdoinham Near You:

🚴 The 4th annual Le Tour de Bowdoinham Food Pantry Charity Ride on Saturday, August 16, starts at 9:00 AM from the Bowdoinham Food Pantry at Mailly Waterfront Park. This beautiful ride features routes of 10, 24, and 34 miles through charming rolling hills, lush farmland, and along the tranquil Merrymeeting Bay, all to support our local Food Pantry. You can look forward to enjoying comfortable rest stops, exciting raffle prizes like gift cards to the Bowdoinham Farmers' Market and Woods & Waters Gear Exchange, and special discounts at Three Robbers Pub after the ride. Feel free to pre-register at BikeReg.com, and parking is conveniently available across from the Bowdoinham Country Store or at Bowdoinham Community School. If you want to get in on the volunteer action, email Yvette Meunier at [email protected] or call (207) 666-3096.

. . .

🎸 The Bluesberry Fest is happening on Sunday, August 17th, from 12 PM to 5 PM, at 555 Browns Point Rd. This sounds like the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon, with live blues music from Blue Steel Express (playing 1-4 PM), delicious eats from the L/A Taco food truck (serving 12-4 PM), outdoor games for all ages, and, of course, plenty of blueberry picking! Admission is $10 per person, $5 for kids aged 2-14, and free for those under 2. Your ticket even includes a pint of U-Pick blueberries and access to all the fantastic music. Tickets will be available on-site the day of the event.

. . .

📗 The Loose Ladies Book Group will discuss "The Queens of Crime" by Marie Benedict on Thursday, August 21st, a thrilling story about five legendary women crime writers, including Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie, who form a secret society in 1930s London to solve a real-life, perplexing murder. Inspired by a true event, the novel follows their investigation as they use their literary skills to unpuzzle a mystery with high-level connections, discovering their collective strength. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or your favorite local bookseller.

. . .

🎟️ Enter to win a weekend (October 3-5, 2025) at the lovely Upper House cottage!  Tickets are just $20 each and could give you a chance to win a $700 value prize of a two-night stay on the Phippsburg peninsula in this charming cottage. Get your tickets at Bowdoinham Public Library, from now until we draw for the winner at Celebrate Bowdoinham on September 13th.  Don't miss your chance to win this great getaway!

. . .

🎡 Bowdoinham's biggest party of the year, Celebrate Bowdoinham, is hitting Mailly Waterfront Park on Saturday, September 13th (rain date Sept 14th)! This annual festival at Mailly Waterfront Park is a joyful way to honor our town's history and connections, with this year's theme highlighting "Farming in Bowdoinham." The day will be packed with a vibrant parade (featuring a $250 prize for the best float!), tasty food, live music, and plenty of games and activities for kids, including the popular KenDUCKY Derby. To ensure the spectacular fireworks display can light up the night, organizers are seeking sponsorships, as costs have increased. Local businesses, artists, and nonprofits are invited to join the parade or become a sponsor by August 1st to connect with hundreds of visitors. All forms and details are available at Bowdoinham.com/event/celebrate-bowdoinham-2025.

I hope you have the best week ever.

Take care of yourself and be good to someone you don’t know.

Love,

Rodney

❤️

see ya later :)