Our Beloved Landmark is Back in Business.

Bowdoinhammer - Week of November 10th to the 16th

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
November 10, 2025

Good Monday to you, Bowdoinhammer!

That was quite an election turnout. Out of 2503 voters, 1270 Bowdoionhammers showed up to the polls in an off-year election. I’m no elections expert, but that seems like good numbers.

Can that happen next year, too? Will it be more? What do you think?

Old Town Hall Comeback

It really is a Thanksgiving miracle!

After years of waiting, the doors of the Old Town Hall are opening once again, and it's looking better than ever. The Town of Bowdoinham will host a Grand Reopening Celebration on Friday, November 14th, from 4 to 7 PM at 11 School Street.

Stop by to tour the beautifully restored building, enjoy light refreshments, and celebrate the return of one of our town's most beloved landmarks.

The Thanksgiving Farmers' Market is still on track to be held there the following week, on November 22nd. 

If that's not a comeback story, nothing is. 

Looks like Bowdoinham's community heart is officially beating again.

This newsletter arrives each week thanks to the generosity of Bowdoinham Community Connections and local readers like you. A lot of time (and coffee!) goes into curating these events; if the Bowdoinhammer brings a smile to your inbox, you can keep it going here: buymeacoffee.com/bowdoinhammer. 

Thanks for reading! ☕

Make Wednesdays Wonderful

Bowdoinham Community School is looking for some knowledgeable community members to teach short electives for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders this winter. No teaching experience required. Just some patience, a big heart, and something fun to share with a bunch of enthusiastic 8 to 11-year-olds. 

  • Dates: Wednesdays, January 7 - February 11

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour per week for 6 weeks

  • Examples: Painting, felting, orienteering, knitting, ice skating, gardening, juggling, or something brand new!

  • Interested? Email Sarah Hopkins at [email protected]

Volunteers complete a simple application and background check through MSAD 75 Human Resources. No additional certifications needed. The background check (including driving record, sexual offender registry, and criminal record) is conducted free of charge, and all findings remain confidential. 

You can visit the MSAD 75 Volunteer page for FAQs and the application link. This process does take time, so they suggest the application be submitted to the school office at least two weeks before the start of your volunteer opportunity. Just so you know, applicants are not notified directly if they are approved; please check with Sarah Hopkins to confirm approval.
If you have a skill, hobby, or passion you could share with curious kids for one hour a week, this is your moment to shine. It's a small commitment that makes a big impression.

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members."

- Coretta Scott King

Maine winters are no joke

Sometimes neighbors need a hand, and the Town of Bowdoinham has two ways to help:

  1. General Assistance - Financial help available through a Maine DHHS partnership for those who qualify.

  2. Heat Assistance Fund - Powered by community donations, this fund steps in when emergencies hit and other aid doesn't fit.

You can use one simple application for both programs: find it at the Town Office or in the green mailbox by the front door, or download it here ➡️ bowdoinham.com/general-assistance

Want to help keep a neighbor warm this winter?

Donations to the Heat Assistance Fund make a real difference.

Until online donations are available, checks can be made payable to Town of Bowdoinham with "General/Heating Assistance Fund" in the memo line. Drop it off at the Town Office or mail it to:

Town of Bowdoinham, c/o General Assistance Administrator, 13 School St., Bowdoinham, ME 04008

Questions? Email [email protected]

Happening This Week:

MONDAY, November 10th

. . .

TUESDAY, November 11th, Veterans Day

. . .

WEDNESDAY, November 12th

  • Bridge, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - NOON. 

  • The Clothes Closet, The house behind the church (7 School St.), 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM. FREE clothes for those in need. All are welcome.

  • Bowdoinham Food Pantry OPEN, Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main St.), 4:00 PM - 6:00 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.

. . .

THURSDAY, November 13th

  • Trash Pick-up Day. You can buy the $3 trash tags at the Town Office and Public Works Facility. Pick-up times vary. 

  • Intermediate Yoga Class with Ann Flannery, second floor of Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM. Designed for those with some yoga experience, but modifications are always offered. $15 payable by cash, check, or Venmo. FMI: [email protected] or (207) 751-9589.

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

  • Cribbage, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 9:30 AM - NOON. 

  • Age-Friendly Bowdoinham Monthly Luncheon, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. 

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

  • MSAD 75 School Board Meeting, Mt. Ararat High School (68 Eagles Way, Topsham), 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM.

. . .

FRIDAY, November 14th

  • 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.

  • Old Town Hall Open House, Old Town Hall (11 School St.), 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Come enjoy light refreshments, tour the newly renovated building and share in our excitement as we reopen this cherished community landmark. All are welcome - please bring your friends and neighbors.

  • Bowdoinham Rowing End of Season Potluck, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 6:15 PM. Family and friends are welcome to join the potluck. Not yet a member, but interested in joining? You’re welcome to attend.

. . .

SATURDAY, November 15th

  • 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 are accepted inside during these hours, when volunteers are present to store them properly; please note that the building is under electronic surveillance, and leaving materials outside at any other time is considered littering. 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.

  • Trees and Wood-burned Art: The Love of Trees, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. An Exhibition by Evelyn Dean.

  • Musical Celebration & Worship, Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.), 2:00 PM. The Second Baptist Church invites you to join them for a musical celebration and time of worship featuring Voices Rising, a Women's A Capella quartet, as well as the worship team from the Apostolic Faith Ministry of Gardiner. Following this event, they will have a time of fellowship with a potluck Thanksgiving dinner. You will have an opportunity to meet the members of these groups over dinner.  This meal will be in place of their usual third Sunday potluck.

  • Bowdoinham Puzzle Race, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 3:00 PM. Join the fun at the Bowdoinham Public Library's Jigsaw Puzzle Race! Teams of four will compete to finish a 500-piece puzzle for prizes, followed by a cozy chili supper. 

  • Candle Making Workshop with Asia Roberge, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM.

. . .

SUNDAY, November 16th

  • Sunday Service, Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.), 9:30 AM. Potluck after worship.

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

  • Community Swim at the LeRoy Greason Pool (35 Watson Dr., Brunswick), 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM. Free to residents of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, and Topsham. Pre-registration required.

  • Bowdoinham Booked Moms Book Club Special Booksgiving meeting/potluck, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 6:00 PM. They will discuss "The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. FMI: email [email protected].

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Thank You, Bowdoinham!

(A letter to Bowdoinham, from Rebecca Conley)

The families who live on the last stretch of Pratt Road are so grateful that the town voted to approve winter maintenance for our road this year. Your support means safer travel and better access for everyone who calls this part of town home. Thank you for helping keep our community connected!

We look forward to working with the town next year to have the road reevaluated. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who voted and showed support — our humble little road might seem minor in the grand scheme of things, but it means so much to us. 

Thanks so much!

Rebecca Conley

Happening Soon:

🗣️  Another important MSAD 75 Master Plan Community Forum is happening Monday, November 17, from 6-7 PM at the Mt. Ararat High School Forum (and on Zoom for those joining from home: https://zoom.us/j/92293782305). This is a chance for residents, business owners, and anyone with a stake in our schools to share thoughts on future plans, including potential building changes and district priorities. The feedback gathered will help shape the final plan, so if you've got ideas or just want to listen, your presence matters. You can also submit questions and comments through the form if you can't make it in person.

.   .   .

📖 The Loose Ladies Book Club will discuss “Memorial Days: a Memoir” by Geraldine Brooks, November 20th. In the wake of devastating loss, Geraldine Brooks seeks solace on a windswept Australian island, where silence and sea become her companions. Memorial Days is a tender meditation on love, mourning, and the rituals that help us begin again. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or your favorite local bookseller.

.   .   . 

🎶 Merrymeeting Music House Concerts will feature Triton at Merrymeeting Hall on Saturday, November 22nd! Click here to get on the mailing list, so you don’t miss your RSVP link. Hailing from Vermont and Québec, Triton creates an orchestral blend of Old World sounds that defy every stereotype of their instruments. Their performances move seamlessly from Breton dance tunes to Scottish hornpipes, always with passion, precision, and a touch of storytelling. This is going to be a wonderful night of tunes, starting with an optional potluck at 5:30 PM, followed by music at 7:00 PM. A suggested $20 contribution goes entirely to the artists who make this magic happen! To keep this series going, they are also seeking concert sponsors to cover the hall rental and people interested in hosting musicians for a night. RSVPs are required, so keep an eye on your email for the link! 

. . .

The Thanksgiving Farmers' Market is back! On Friday, November 22nd, from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Bowdoinham's beloved market returns to the Old Town Hall, freshly restored and ready to welcome neighbors again. Whether you're hunting for fresh veggies, homemade pies, or last-minute gifts, this is your one-stop shop before the holiday. After years of waiting, gathering under the Town Hall roof again feels like something to be thankful for all on its own. Come hungry, come curious, and come celebrate the heart of Bowdoinham once again.

.   .   .

❄️  Scissors, paper, and a sprinkle of holiday spirit-that's all you need to kick off the season! The Merrymeeting Arts Center is hosting a Snowflake Making Workshop on Sunday, November 23, from 1-3 PM. Admission is by donation, and everyone is welcome to join in the fun as they create decorations for the upcoming Holiday Festival. If you run a local business, they want you too! To feature some of the community-made snowflakes in your windows, email [email protected] and help spread a little winter magic around town. 

.   .   .

🥧 Bowdoinham's Annual Pie Sale is back, and this year it's being hosted by the Bowdoinham Church of the Nazarene! Proceeds will be shared between the Fire Department and the Church's Compassionate Ministries Fund. The sale happens at the Fire Department on Tuesday, November 25th, starting at 8:00 AM and running until 7:00 PM (or until the pies run out!). Pie makers, this is your moment to shine! Donations of pies, ingredients, or even a little volunteer time are needed to make the sale a success. To get involved, contact Natausha Naylor at (207) 751-4014 (call or text) or email [email protected]. Donations of ingredients can be dropped off or picked up by arrangement. Details on pie drop-offs will be announced soon. It's a Bowdoinham tradition worth keeping around-so bake, buy, and be part of it!

That’s all I have this time, folks.

With town events like this, it’s hard not to have the best week ever.

Be good to yourself.

Love,

Rodney

❤️