I can't wait until there's a Yard Sale at the Town Hall

Hi there, Bowdoinhammer

There’s not a lot to say this week, other than the Town Hall looks like it’s coming along nicely.

I guess I kinda miss it. How about you?

Let’s get into it…

Highlights in this Newsletter:

1. Bowdoinham's Epic Yard Sale Day!

2. The Town Hall is almost done.

3. The Loose Ladies Book Group meets on Thursday.

4. The Bowdoinham Public Library will host a stuffed animal sleepover on Friday night.

5. Merrymeeting Arts Center continues its Summer Ceramic Shop on Saturday, during the Farmers’ Market.

6. Novel Jazz will play the Summer Concert Supper on Sunday.

Keep scrolling for more info about these and other events.

Treasure Hunters, Assemble!

Get those walking shoes ready and your eagle eyes peeled because it's almost time for the Bowdoinham Yard Sale Day! This is happening on Saturday, July 26th, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with a rain date of July 27th.

This will be a trinket hunting expedition across more than 35 addresses all over town, offering up everything from forgotten gems to must-have doohickeys!

Now, for a few key things to keep in mind as you embark on this grand adventure: 

1. This event is NOT sponsored by the Town of Bowdoinham or any organization. 

2. While most sales will be open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, individual sellers may have slightly different start and end times. 

3. Each seller is solely responsible for ensuring traffic safety and proper parking at their property. 

4. When parking, please be extremely careful not to block traffic, especially since some of these locations are on roads with a 50 mph speed limit. 

5. If you need a restroom break, public facilities can be found at Mailly Waterfront Park and also at the Exit 43 Quik Stop in Richmond (at the top of Ridge Rd.). 

A special edition of the Bowdoinhammer newsletter will be hitting your inbox on Wednesday, July 23rd, packed with all the addresses of sellers that signed up! So keep an eye out and feel free to share it with your Yard Sale-loving friends and relatives. 

For more information, email Jennifer Molloy at [email protected] 

Happy hunting, Bowdoinham!

Bowdoinham in the News

Our cherished historic Bowdoinham Town Hall is nearing the finish line of its renovation!

Expected to wrap up by September, this massive undertaking has cost just over $1 million (but still below the $1.4 million estimate). Thanks to Central Maine Power TIF funds, this 1823 building has received a complete overhaul, including a brand-new foundation, fresh flooring, a snazzy new roof and siding, and even a modern heat pump system, all while keeping its original look.

Once complete, our refreshed Town Hall will reopen for public use, ready to host everything from community gatherings to dazzling art galleries. Get ready to fall in love with it all over again!

Read the full story “Bowdoinham Town Hall renovations expected to wrap up by summer’s end” by Paul Bagnall of the Times Record (there’s a paywall).

Happening in Bowdoinham THIS week:

MONDAY, July 14th

• 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.

TUESDAY, July 15th

• 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 all ages and abilities. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

WEDNESDAY, July 16th

• 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.

THURSDAY, July 17th

• 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.

• Loose Ladies Book Group, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM. They'll discuss "The Night in Question" by Susan Fletcher. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or your favorite local bookseller.

• 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, July 18th

• 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.

• 4th Annual Stuffie Sleepover, Bowdoinham Public Library (13a School St.) 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Hey, kids! Drop off your stuffie at the library between 2 and 6.  Kate and her volunteers will entertain them all evening and OVERNIGHT! Pre-registration required.

SATURDAY, July 19th

• 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.

• Summer Ceramic Shop, Merrymeeting Arts Center GALLERY (9 Main St.), 8:00 AM - NOON. The MAC Gallery will host a ceramics shop, showcasing the work of six local potters, for six 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!

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

• 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.

• “Late Bloomer” exhibition, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. MAC presents "Late Bloomer," a retrospective exhibit by Maine artist Rachel Ingrid Robbins, a former writer who explores themes of growth, transformation, and creative resilience through tactile pastel and mixed media. Her dreamlike narratives, tracing an evolution from written to visual storytelling, feature vibrant colors and mystical beings, marking a personal and creative shift.

SUNDAY, July 20th

• 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. 

• Summer Concert Supper with “Novel Jazz” playing at the gazebo in Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The Bowdoinham Rowing Club will be serving food. 

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Coming Soon to a Bowdoinham Near You:

📷 Professional photographer Leah Haraden is running another Kids’ Summer Photography Camp, for ages 12-15, on July 22nd & 24th (1:00-3:30 PM) for just $30. They'll learn photography basics, composition, and lighting through hands-on fun, with the opportunity to have their work displayed in a September exhibition! All they need is a camera (even a cell phone!), plus a $10 printing fee for a professionally printed photo. Let your teen see the world through their own unique lens!

. . .

🎸 On Friday, July 25th, starting at 6:00 PM, Watersong Music is setting the stage for a delightful night of folk and Nashville-style melodies. The incredibly talented Harpeth River Band - featuring Lynne, Jim, and Daniel Deming on guitar and violin - will be gracing us with their music, joined by our very own local gem, Aiden Fiori, on bass. It sounds like the perfect recipe for a relaxing acoustic evening. No reservations required! Just bring a covered dish or some snacks to share with friends, and settle in for some fantastic music.

. . .

🌽 Open Farm & Studio Day is happening on Sunday, July 27th! This is a full-on celebration of Bowdoinham's farming and creative communities, and you definitely won't want to miss it. From 9 AM to 5 PM, you can wander through local farms, check out live demos, shop for artisan goods, snag some farm-fresh eats, explore nurseries overflowing with beautiful flowers, and discover all sorts of pop-up markets. Then, as the afternoon rolls into evening, head over to Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) from 4 PM to 7 PM for a fantastic Food Pantry Benefit BBQ. While you're chowing down (between 4-6 PM), you can groove to the live music of Rough Sawn, playing acoustic folk, Americana, and classic country tunes until 7 PM. To plan your adventure, keep an eye out for the 2025 Event Guide (PDF download), and on the day itself, just follow the bright red signs all through town. It's the perfect way to experience the best of Bowdoinham!

. . .

🚴‍♀️ The 4th Annual Le Tour de Bowdoinham Food Pantry Charity Ride is pedaling our way on Saturday, August 16th, and they're looking for volunteers! Whether you're a cheering type, snack master, finish line greeter, course marshal, or chalk artist, shifts are super flexible (1.5 to 3 hours). Businesses, you can be a superhero too: sponsorships (cash, raffle goodies, or discounts) get your logo on the new jersey, posters, website, and social media. Get in on the action by emailing Yvette Meunier at [email protected] or calling (207) 666-3096. Let's make this ride the best yet! 

. . .

📖 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 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.

That’s all I have for you this week, Bowdoinhammer.

I’ll see you next week.

Until then, be good to yourself.

Love,

Rodney

❤️