Here comes the best Summer of the year.

Hello, dear Bowdoinhammer.

Today is Memorial Day. The unofficial start of Summer, yes, but also a day to remember service members who have died in service to our country. This is truly a national day of mourning.

Let us take a moment to remember their courage and dedication, and to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy because of their sacrifice. Today, we honor their memory and recognize the profound impact of their service on our nation's history and future. No matter what your politics are, it’s good to reflect on the service to an idea greater than oneself.

Here’s this week’s highlights…

1. With school ending, Pickleball will be held outside at the tennis court or basketball court. Also, the schedule has changed to Mondays 5-8 PM, Wednesdays 9 AM - Noon, and Fridays 9 AM - Noon.

2. Monday is Memorial Day, so don’t be surprised if most things are closed. The Town Office, Schools, and Merrymeeting Arts Center will for sure NOT be open. The Bowdoinham Country Store WILL be open.

3. The Select Board meeting on Tuesday will start at 5:30 PM instead of 6:30. You can watch it at home on Town Hall Streams, that way you can make some popcorn and get comfy in your jamie-jams like we do.

4. There will be a Solid Waste ordinance workshop on Wednesday. “What is that” you ask? There’s an 8-page PDF document about it, but we don’t want to ruin the surprise.

5. The Town Office will close early on Friday. Later on, the art exhibit “Art in the Age of Fatalism” will open at Merrymeeting Arts Center. These two things are not related.

6. There will be a Town Meeting on Saturday. It’s definitely not a surprise birthday party for Tessa, but it should still be pretty fun—funner than complaining on Facebook. Also, recycling at the Town Depot will open late.

7. Finally, on Sunday, there will be an Open Mic night hosted by Merrymeeting Arts Center. Do you have any jokes, music, poetry, or stories you want to try in front of a very polite audience? This is the place to do it.

There’s some more information about these and other events down below, so keep scrolling.

Marla Blake from the Bowdoinham Public Library has contributed to the Not This Week, But Next Week:

Learning About Devices will be the next computer class at the Bowdoinham Public Library. Devices that connect to the internet have become a part of our everyday life. In this class, you will learn about the wide variety of devices, from the servers that receive, store, and transmit our data, all the way to tablets, smartphones, and wearable devices. The class will be held on June 4th, NOON - 1:00 PM at the Library (in the Kendall Room). Classes are free to Maine residents. One-time enrollment is required from the Digital Equity Center at digitalequitycenter.org - Click on the "Enroll" tab. Pre-registration is required for the class-click on the "Take a Class "tab. Call or stop by the library if you need help. No devices are required; just bring yourself.

Here’s what’s going on in Bowdoinham this week:

MONDAY, MAY 27TH, MEMORIAL DAY

• The Town Office will be closed.

• No School for MSAD 75 Students.

• Open Pottery Studio, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. CLOSED

TUESDAY, MAY 28TH

• Storytime for Preschoolers and their Grown-ups with Miss Kate, Bowdoinham Public Library (13a School St.), 10:00 AM.

• 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.

• Town Hall Committee Meeting, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 4:00 PM.

• Merrymeeting Dance Alinement, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. FMI: call George Oliver (207) 666-3589.

• Knotted Rug Making Workshop with Nan Cumming, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.)' 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
  $25 pre-registration required. Heron fund available. FMI: email [email protected].

• Select Board Meeting, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 5:30 PM.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29TH

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

• 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 at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.) 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. $10 Suggested donation. The maximum capacity is 10 pottery enthusiasts.

• Solid Waste Ordinance public workshop, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM.

• Mid-Week Bible Study and Prayer Gathering at the Second Baptist Church (1 Church St.) 6:30 PM.

THURSDAY, MAY 30TH

• Trash Pick-up Day. Trash tags can be purchased at the Town Office and The Bowdoinham Country Store for $3 each. Pick-up times vary.

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

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

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

FRIDAY, MAY 31ST

• Town Office Closing at 2:00 PM.

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

• Opening Reception for Art in the Age of Fatalism (Part 1): A Jose Rodriguez Jr. Exhibit, Merrymeeting Arts Center GALLERY (9 Main St.), 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

SATURDAY, JUNE 1ST

• Bowdoinham FREE Gift Shop OPEN, Bowdoinham Recycling Barn (243 Post Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00P PM. The Recycling Barn will take source-separated materials for recycling on the first Saturday of the month.

• Town Meeting, Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.), 9:00 AM.

• 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.

• Art in the Age of Fatalism (Part 1): A Jose Rodriguez Jr. Exhibit, Merrymeeting Arts Center GALLERY (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

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

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 2ND

• Sunday Service, Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.), 10:00 AM.

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

• Open Gym, Bowdoinham Community School Gymnasium (23 Cemetery Rd.), 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM. FREE for Bowdoinham residents, sponsored by Bowdoinham Recreation. Get your sweat on and have fun with other Bowdoinhammers!

• Open Mic Night hosted by Merrymeeting Arts Center at the community space adjacent to Watersong Music (9 Main St.) 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

These events may change or cancel without notice. Check out Bowdoinhammer.com for an up-to-date list of events.

Hey. You made it through another Bowdoinhammer newsletter. If you needed a sign that you should treat yourself, this is it.

We’ll see you next week.

Love

Rodney & Tessa

❤️