Mistakes, smiles, and other musings

Happy Monday to you Bowdoinhammer,

Last week, I said that the Bowdoinham Selfie contest would end in a few short weeks, not realizing that I originally said it would end at NOON on the 16th. Since I said that, and since we don’t have the contest page up yet, I think it’s only fair that we extend the selfie deadline to NOON on Sunday, March 23rd (this coming Sunday).

It’s only fair.

I should really pay attention to calendars.

For those of you who are new, I’m holding a Bowdoinhammiest Selfie contest. The rules are:

1. You have to be a Bowdoinhammer to enter.

2. The picture needs to be taken IN Bowdoinham.

3. One picture per Bowdoinhammer.

4. It has to be submitted by NOON on Sunday, March 16th March 23rd.

We will eventually send out a link to a survey with all the selfies, and we’ll see what other Bowdoinhammers think. The winner will receive 5 Bowdoinham Trash Tickets.

Now let’s see this week’s highlights:

1. Monday is St. Patrick’s Day, but please don’t go around saying you’re Irish if you’re not. I don’t think the Three Robbers Pub cares about your nationality, they just need to see your ID.

2. Dance your fool head off with Merrymeeting Dance Alinement on Tuesday Night.

3. Wednesday night is a good night for a potluck supper and finding out more about the Bowdoinham Snowbirds Club.

4. There are still some spots open for Watercolor For Beginners on Thursday. You can also check out the Loose Ladies Book Club discussion about the Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay. Call the library to see what books are available, 666-8405.

5. Bowdoinham Community Connections will be having open office hours on Friday as per usual. If you need help with “life stuff”, check them out.

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

Bowdoinham in the NEWS

Bowdoinham has launched Bowdoinham Community Connections, a pilot program through Gov. Janet Mills' Cabinet on Aging, to help older residents stay in their homes while staying connected. Led by local volunteers with backgrounds in nursing, therapy, and counseling, the program provides one-on-one support for seniors facing complex challenges. It partners with groups like Rides in Neighbors Cars, the Handy Brigade, and the Food Pantry to strengthen community support. State Rep. Sally Cluchey, who helped recruit volunteers, says the program has already helped many re-engage with the community. Bowdoinham Community Connections also supports the return of The Bowdoinhammer newsletter, ensuring residents stay informed as the program grows.

Read the full story by Paul Bagnall of the Times Record: Bowdoinham volunteers join effort to help seniors stay home (there may be a paywall).

Bowdoinham’s Jerry Dauphinee will compete in the Elks National Hoop Shoot in Chicago next month, representing the Brunswick area. After sinking 24 out of 25 shots, he won the New England Regional Finals and is now ranked among the top 12 in the U.S. Jerry thanked the community for its support and encouragement on his journey.

Read the full story in the Times Record: Bowdoinham boy heads to National Hoop Shoot competition.

In other NEWS

MaineHousing's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is moving to a waitlist on March 28, 2025, due to high demand and nearly exhausted funds. With over 29,000 households helped and $17.2 million distributed, the program is transitioning to ensure those who applied early receive benefits. Applications will still be accepted, but processing depends on remaining funds after those already in the pipeline are served. The program closes May 30, 2025, or sooner if funds run out. Households facing immediate heating crises can still seek emergency assistance through ECIP or other programs, and are encouraged to contact their local community action agency or dial 2-1-1.

See Maine Housing’s full press release: Maine's Home Energy Assistance Program (Heap) Moves To Waiting List Starting March 28

Stuff that’s good to know…

The American Red Cross will install a FREE smoke detector in your home if you need one. Working smoke detectors are vital, cutting your risk of dying in a fire by half. The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign not only provides detectors but also ensures proper installation and helps with fire escape planning. Schedule your free installation by clicking here or calling 1-800-464-6692 (Option 4).

Ever wonder if you're getting the best bang for your buck on medical procedures? There's a super handy website called CompareMaine.org that lets you peek behind the curtain! You can see the average cost of tons of medical stuff – from routine check-ups to more complex procedures. Think of it as a sneak peek into what insurance companies pay, giving you a sense of what things generally cost. Plus, you can even see how different hospitals rate on quality! ⭐️ It's like a consumer report for your health!

You have a gorgeous smile that makes people happy the instant they see it. Everyone says so. 😁 

What kind of shenanigans are we getting into this week?

St. Patrick's Day

• 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, March 18th

• Merrymeeting Dance Alinement, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day Party! For more information, or to be added to their Newsletter, email George Oliver at [email protected].

Wednesday, March 19th

• 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. 

• Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School Gym (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.

• 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 Snowbirds Club meeting at the Bowdoinham Fire Department (57 Post Rd.) 7:00 PM. Potluck starts at 6:30 PM. Everyone is welcome!

Thursday, March 20th 

• Watercolor for Beginners, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 9:30 AM - NOON. $160. 8 classes (through May 8th). Learn watercolor basics step-by-step, from painting skies to full landscapes. Each class includes demos, friendly critiques, and new techniques. Workbook ($25 or DIY print) and materials required (list provided upon registration).

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

• Loose Ladies Book Group, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM. They’ll be discussing Edna St. Vincent Millay. The three books they will be sourcing are The Selected Poetry of Edna St Vincent Millay, Edna St. Vincent Millay: Selected Poems, and Savage beauty: the life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, by Nancy Milford. 

Friday, March 21st

• Bowdoinham Community Connections Office hours, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), Noon - 2:00 PM. Pop in to see what the BCC is about! Know someone who needs assistance? Click here. Bowdoinham Community Connections is a project of the Governor’s Cabinet on Aging.

Saturday, March 22nd

• 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 reduce waste. Contributions are accepted inside and returnable beverage containers may be dropped off in the window near the road at any time.

• 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. 

Sunday, March 23rd

• 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. 

• FREE swimming, LeRoy Greason Pool (Bowdoin College, 35 Watson Dr, Brunswick), 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM. For ALL ages and residents of MSAD 75. Runs January 12th through April 6th.

Events may change or cancel without notice.

Next Week: Town Office getting electrical work done, Goats in the Road Trivia, Select Board meeting, Guilt-Free book club meeting, and The Obscure exhibit.

That’s it from here, folks!

If you happen to see a Bowdoinhammer without a smile, give them one of yours.

Love,

Rodney

❤️