It's a Library kind of week

Bowdoinhammer - Week of June 24th to the 30th

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
June 24, 2024

Hello again, Bowdoinhammer.

This week, we’re going to try a little something new. This is what the pros call “TL;DR”. We’re going to start the newsletter with Highlights…

  1. The Beginning Pottery class at Merrymeeting Arts Center, which was to start on Monday (and be held on Mondays until August 5th) has been canceled. Also, Art Camp with Katie Hudak is happening and kicks off this week (Monday - Friday), for K-2nd grade little ones.

  2. There’s a Select Board meeting on Tuesday. We think it starts at 6:30 because that’s what the town’s event calendar said, and nobody has said otherwise.

  3. The Guilt-Free Book Club is meeting on Wednesday this week instead of Thursday. Same place and time.

  4. On Thursday, the Town Office will have extended hours. Be sure to get your business done, because…

  5. The Town Office will be closed on Friday to process the Fiscal Year End. Also, don’t miss the The Longest Day® Bowdoinham Read-a-Thon at the Bowdoinham Public Library.

  6. Saturday is Robert Browne Hall Day. The Governor said so.

  7. “Cilantro” will be playing the first Sunday Concert Series at Mailly Park on Sunday (food provided by the Bowdoinham Public Library). Cross your fingers that it doesn’t get canceled like “Leopard Girls” did. As of the writing of this newsletter, there’s a 30% chance of PM showers in the ‘ham.

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

Do your eyeball stretches and put your read-a-thon shoes on. Kate Cutco has organized a charity Read-a-Thon for Friday to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

Kate explains it best:

You know I'm passionate about the fight against Alzheimer's disease and about reading. That's why on Friday, June 28 I'm organizing The Longest Day® Bowdoinham Read-a-Thon to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association. Will you join me?

Why Alzheimer's?

I have lost two special people to Alzheimer's disease. My friend John Hickey died in April 2023 and my Mother-in-law in March 2024. John was a gifted educator, runner, softball player and a voracious reader - fiction, non-fiction, kid's books- everything. Every day. My mother-in-law, Barbara Cutko was also a teacher and school social worker who understood the power of reading. She worked tirelessly to remove barriers in education and housing.

The Longest Day is the day with the most light — the summer solstice. (Our event is the following week). The Alzheimer's Association calls on everyone to fight Alzheimer's disease by raising funds and awareness for care, support and research.

Would you like to join me and be a reader? You can sign up to read for half an hour on June 28th, or support me with a donation...or both! If you sign up to read during the library's open hours that day (2pm-6pm) please read aloud here at the library. If you sign up to read before 2 or after 6, you can read wherever you'd like. By joining me as we read on The Longest Day, we can stand up to the darkness of Alzheimer's.

Go to THIS PAGE and sign up to be a reader during the Longest Day. Its a simple Google Doc and you write your name to indicate when you want to read.

A donation is optional, but would mean so much to me and to all those affected by the disease. Donate here on this page or bring a check or cash to the library. The Alzheimer's Association is a 501c3 non-profit and your donation to them is tax-deductible.

In honor of Barbara and John, and on behalf of more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers — I thank you.

Kate

Bowdoinhammer is brought to you by West Maquoit Vinegar Works

Summertime is the best time to use their Wild Blueberry Vinegar to make blueberry cucumber gazpacho.

It's as fun to eat as it is to say. GAZPACHO!

Supporting a local business is good for everyone.

Here’s what’s happening in the ‘ham this week…

MONDAY, JUNE 24TH

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 1, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101.

  • Beginning Pottery Class with Janna DeWan, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), Section 1: 9:00 AM - NOON, Section 2: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM. CANCELED

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition. WEATHER PERMITTING.

  • 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.

TUESDAY, JUNE 25TH
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH

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

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 1, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101.

  • Bridge players can enjoy weekly gameplay at the 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.

  • The Bowdoinham Food Pantry is open to ALL residents of Bowdoinham and Bowdoin at the Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main St.) 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Building community, with food. NO income verification. FMI: (207) 751-7779. Shop there first.

  • Tennis - "Bowdoinham Specials", Bowdoinham Community School tennis court (23 Cemetery Rd.), 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. WEATHER PERMITTING.

  • Solid Waste Committee Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM.

  • Emergency Medical Services Committee meeting, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM.

  • 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.

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

  • Guilt-Free Book Group, Bowdoinham Public Library (13a School St.), 7:00 PM. This was moved up from Thursday so that folks can attend Lisa Wesel’s screening of “Invisible” on Thursday.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH

  • Extended Town Office Hours today, 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

  • 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 PM - 4:00 PM.

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 1, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101.

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

  • Planning Board Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 6:00 PM.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH

  • The Town Office will be closed.

  • The Longest Day® Bowdoinham Read-a-Thon (to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association), Bowdoinham Public Library (13a School St.) 6:30 AM - 10:00 PM.

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

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 1, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH

Composer Robert Browne Hall, a Bowdoinham native, is celebrated in Maine on the last Saturday of June by proclamation by the Governor.

  • Bowdoinham FREE Gift Shop OPEN, Bowdoinham Recycling Barn (243 Post Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00P PM.

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

  • 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.

  • Storytime for Preschoolers and their Grown-ups with Miss Kate, Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 10:00 AM.

SUNDAY, JUNE 30TH

  • 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.

  • Summer Concert Supper with "Cilantro" playing at the gazebo in Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 5:00 PM. The Bowdoinham Library will serve chili, cornbread, coleslaw, and dessert. Gluten-free options will be available. Enjoy a delicious meal for $12, with a “To-go” option available. The music starts at 6:00 PM.

We like to be as accurate as we can with the information we have here in this newsletter, but stuff happens and sometimes things get the axe. There were 3 cancelations last week, right after we published the newsletter.

Check out Bowdoinhammer.com for an up-to-date-as-we-can list of events.

Libraries are the thin red line between civilization and barbarism.

Here we are. You’ve made it through another Bowdoinhammer Newsletter.

You deserve to treat yourself today.

Go ahead.

Love,

Rodney & Tessa

❤️