Opportunities for Heroes in This Newsletter

Happy Monday, Bowdoinhammers!

I was reading some heavy stuff about Social Capital this week and discovered a few things about the benefits of a strong community…

1. Studies consistently show that communities with strong social capital (the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular society, enabling that society to function effectively) tend to fare better in disasters.

2. When people feel empowered to help themselves and each other, disaster recovery is often faster and more effective.

3. Resilience isn't just about physical infrastructure; it also involves social, economic, and organizational factors.

If you’re of the mind that things aren’t going great in this country, it seems like the only logical solution is to build your Social Capital.

It’s good for you.

It’s good for the local economy.

It’s good for your community.

Strong communities don't just happen without heroes who step up and volunteer.

Let’s get it in gear with this week’s Newsletter highlights:

1. A free Alexa-Echo training class for people 55 and older is proposed, but enough people need to sign up to make it happen.

2. The Food Pantry needs hams (the protein, not colorful characters telling dad jokes).

3. The Town Office will be closed on Monday because of electrical work.

4. Tuesday is the day for fans of the Merrymeeting Trail to hold their breaths and cross their fingers.

5. Loose Ladies Book Group is hosting a special event with Gary Lawless on Thursday.

6. Saturday is Bulky Waste Day for Bowdoinham. Volunteers are still needed for the Bowdoinham Estates Bulky Waste Day event. Be a hero.

7. If you’re into sunrises and worship, Easter Sunday will be off the chain.

Keep scrolling for more info about these and other events.

Our neighbors need us! 

Bowdoinham Community Connections is still seeking volunteers (and at least two pickup trucks!) for Bulky Waste Day at Bowdoinham Estates (April 19th). They need enough people to help move items from Prebble Rd. to Pond Rd. (8 AM - 2 PM).

If you can't spare the whole day, even a few hours of your time is greatly appreciated! If you've got a strong back, gloves, and a heart for helping, please sign up! 

Donations are also appreciated. 

Contact Jason Lamareau at 207-666-3101 or email [email protected] to be a hero.

Can You Help Bring Hams to Easter Tables?

Easter's just around the corner, and the Bowdoinham Food Pantry has a special request for the community! They're hoping to provide hams to families at their April 16th Distribution, and that's where you come in.

It's a familiar story: When the pantry asks for help, Bowdoinham always steps up with generosity and kindness. And it truly makes a difference, helping to bring a little extra joy to our neighbors during the holiday. So, thank you in advance for considering!

Here's what the pantry needs:

• They're specifically looking for Shank or Butt portion hams (any size is welcome!).

• These hams will be included in the food distribution on Wednesday, April 16th.

• Please drop off your ham donations at the Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main Street) on Wednesday between 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM.

To help you out, Hannaford currently has Shank Portion Ham on sale for 79¢ per pound.

Thank you, as always, for your incredible support and for building community with food!

“Alexa! How the heck do I use you?”

Bowdoinhammers may be able to participate in a FREE training session focused on maximizing the potential of the Alexa-Echo Dot virtual personal assistant.

If there is sufficient interest, participants who pre-register may even be able to take an Alexa-Echo Dot home with them.

This hands-on training opportunity has limited slots available for individuals aged 55 and older. The session will cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Setting up your Echo Dot

• Using voice commands

• Controlling smart home devices

• Accessing music, news, and podcasts

• Creating routines and alarms

• A Q&A session

To pre-register and express interest in this potential event, individuals should call Jason at 666-3101 or email [email protected].

To effectively use an Alexa, participants would need to have:

• Internet access

• An Amazon account and password (have this handy at the session)

• A smartphone or tablet (participants would be asked to bring their device to the session)

Merrymeeting Trail Bill to be considered on Tuesday

The Transportation Committee has scheduled its work session on LD 29, the Merrymeeting Trail bill, for Tuesday afternoon, April 15th. During this session, the committee will review information from the public hearing and vote on whether to advance the bill to the full Legislature.

Supporters are encouraged to contact members of the Transportation Committee via email, urging them to vote "Ought to Pass" on LD 29. To help, please:

• Email members of the Transportation Committee.

• Let them know where you live.

• Explain why you support the Merrymeeting Trail.

• Ask them to vote "Ought to Pass" on LD 29.

• Direct them to this fact sheet for further information.

• Thank them for their consideration and service.

Contact information for the Transportation Committee members is provided below:

• Sen. Tim Nangle of Cumberland (Chair), [email protected]

• Rep. Lydia Crafts of Newcastle (Chair), [email protected]

• Sen. Brad Farrin of Somerset, [email protected]

• Sen. Teresa Pierce of Cumberland, [email protected]

• Rep. Roger Albert of Madawaska, [email protected]

• Rep. Dan Ankeles of Brunswick, [email protected]

• Rep. Steven Bishop of Bucksport, [email protected]

• Rep. Holly Eaton of Deer Isle, [email protected]

• Rep. Rick Mason of Lisbon, [email protected]

• Rep. Karen Montell of Gardiner, [email protected]

• Rep. Wayne Parry of Arundel, [email protected]

• Rep. Mike Ray of Lincolnville, [email protected]

• Rep. James White of Guilford, [email protected]

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

Monday, April 14th

• The Town Office will be closed all day due to electrical work.  

• Goats in the Road Trivia, Three Robbers Pub (12 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

• 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. 

• Community Sound Bath w/ Ground Well Counseling, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. _Spend an hour resting and recalibrating with a gentle sound bath featuring Himalayan singing bowls, tongue drum, and voice. Bring a mat, pillow, and/or blanket. Free of charge, but donations gratefully accepted. FMI: [email protected].

Tuesday, April 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.

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

Wednesday, April 16th

• 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. 

Thursday, April 17th

• Trash Pick-up Day. Trash tags can be purchased at the Town Office for $3 each. 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.

• Loose Ladies Presents a Talk on Edna St. Vincent Millay, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 12:30 PM. This will be a special event discussing Edna St. Vincent Millay with Gary Lawless of Gulf of Maine Books. 

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

Friday, April 18th

• 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, April 19th, Spring Bulky Waste Day

• Recycling Drop-off AND Spring Bulky Waste Day at the Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.) 8:00 AM - 2:00 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 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.

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

• The Quest for Quiet Paintings by Peter Herley, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Artist Peter Herley will exhibit paintings from his series "The Quest for Quiet" and other larger works, showcasing his lifelong exploration of life's deep and mysterious aspects.

• Spring 5-element and experiential workshop, Peary’s Garden (18 Sadie Ln.), 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM. A 90-minute outdoor workshop led by Jennifer Nuncio, M.Ac., LAc, LCPC, and Ailish Kress, LCPC-C, will explore Spring from a Five-Element Acupuncture perspective, providing tools for the season, and attendees should dress warmly and bring their own chair or mat. Suggested donation: $20-$40, pay what you can.

Sunday, April 20th, Easter 🐇

• Easter Sunrise Service, Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 5:30 AM. Free Easter breakfast to follow at the church. Traditional Easter 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. 

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Here’s what’s coming to Bowdoinham soon:

☀️ Spring Break for MSAD 75 students starts on Monday, April 21st (Patriots’ Day), and ends on Friday, April 25th.

. . .

🎶 The Merrymeeting Music, Genticorum show at Merrymeeting Hall on April 26th is SOLD OUT. Sorry, folks, they’re at capacity. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just forget I said anything, OR you can get on their mailing list so you don’t miss out on another show. Just send an email to [email protected] and say something like, “Would you PLEASE put me on your email list? This Bowdoinhammer guy won’t shut up about you, and I feel like I’m missing out!”

. . .

🌱 The Androscoggin Valley Soil & Water Conservation District is holding its first Annual Native Plant Sale. They offer a variety of Maine native plants for pre-order until April 25th, with pickup (on May 23rd) in Bowdoinham (Mailly Waterfront Park) or Auburn. Find details and pre-order information at https://www.androscogginswcd.org/plant-sale.html.

. . .

🩺 The Living Well for Better Health class is a six-week program (Tuesdays, April 29th - June 3rd at the Bowdoinham Fire Department) that helps people manage chronic health conditions through supportive group discussions. Participants will learn practical tools to improve their daily lives, from handling symptoms to navigating healthcare, all with the backing of national health organizations. If you're interested in gaining these valuable skills and connecting with others, please sign up! For more information, contact Monica Hawk at [email protected].

Dang. Now I kinda want some ham.

Time for Rodney to make a sammich. I’ll see y’all next week.

Love,

Rodney

❤️