What was the point of the 1944 film Meet Me In St. Louis?

Happy Hanukkah Bowdoinhammer,

We’re big fans of family traditions because it’s something to look forward to and darn it, it just makes us happy. Whether you say, “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Holidays,” or “Happy Hanukkah” (starting this week), there is plenty to celebrate. What traditions make YOU happy?

One of our holiday traditions that the kids tolerate (and sometimes enjoy) is watching ALL of the Christmas movies we’ve collected over the years (so far we have 12). Even though Rodney would argue that it’s not a Christmas movie, Tessa insisted on watching Meet Me In St. Louis this weekend. It’s responsible for some down-right bangers of the time (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Trolly Song) but it has a meandering storyline that only family tradition and childhood memories can overcome.

Despite not being able to follow the plot, the film is saved when the theme revealed at the end is loving the splendor and magic in your own back yard. There is plenty of magic here in Bowdoinham, and we have some bangers of our own. Speaking of which, don’t miss the Free Christmas Concert featuring the musical talents of Bowdoinham's own Ryan Sweet at Bowdoinham Second Baptist Church.

Help out a fellow Bowdoinhammer this Holiday Season by picking out a gift tag from the Giving Tree at either Bowdoinham Town Office, Three Robbers Pub, or Bowdoinham Country Store. Return the unwrapped gift with the tag to the Town Office by December 17th

Here’s what’s kicking up this week:

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4TH

• Family Holiday Goodies Bake-Off at the Bowdoinham Town Office (13 School St.) 8:30am to 4pm. Drop off a plate of your favorite family holiday goodies with the recipe at the Town Office during business hours. Staff will pick their 3 favorite recipes. Winners will receive a $10 Hannaford gift card and have their family recipe printed in the next town newsletter.

• Open Pottery Studio at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.) 6pm to 8pm. Max capacity is 10 people and it is first come first served. $10 suggested donation.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5TH

• Family Holiday Goodies Bake-Off at the Bowdoinham Town Office (13 School St.) 8:30am to 4pm. Drop off a plate of your favorite family holiday goodies with the recipe at the Town Office during business hours. Staff will pick their 3 favorite recipes. Winners will receive a $10 Hannaford gift card and have their family recipe printed in the next town newsletter.

• Storytime for Preschoolers and their Grown-ups with Miss Kate at the Bowdoinham Public Library (13a School St.) 10am.

• Recycling Drop-off at the Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.) Noon to 6pm.

• Merryreading Book Store OPEN at Merrymeeting Hall (Basement entrance around back, 27 Main St.) 1pm to 5pm.

• Merrymeeting Dance Alinement's weekly line dancing at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 5:30pm to 7:30pm. FMI: call George Oliver (207) 666-3589.

• Community Development Advisory Committee in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 6:30pm to 8pm. Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 816 5936 6146, Passcode: 199506.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH

• Family Holiday Goodies Bake-Off at the Bowdoinham Town Office (13 School St.) 11am to 6pm. Drop off a plate of your favorite family holiday goodies with the recipe at the Town Office during business hours. Staff will pick their 3 favorite recipes. Winners will receive a $10 Hannaford gift card and have their family recipe printed in the next town newsletter.

• Bridge players can enjoy weekly game play at the Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.) 9:30am to 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.

• All are welcome at The Clothes Closet at the house behind Bowdoinham Nazarene Church (7 School St.) 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Taking donations of clean clothes in good condition.

• In-person shopping for ALL Bowdoin and Bowdoinham residents at the Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main St.) 4pm to 6pm.

• Silver Striders Walking Club in the Bowdoinham Community School gymnasium (23 Cemetery Rd.) 4:30 to 7pm. Please be sure to bring clean shoes to wear when inside the school!

• Pickleball in the Bowdoinham Community School gymnasium (23 Cemetery Rd.) 4:30 to 8pm. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition. New to Pickleball and want to learn? Stop by and check it out!

• Open Pottery Studio at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.) 6pm to 8pm. Max capacity is 10 people and it is first come first served. $10 suggested donation.

• Housing Committee Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 6pm to 8pm.

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7TH "A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"
HANUKKAH (BEGINS AT SUNSET)

• Trash Pick-up Day. Pick-up times vary. Trash tags are $3 each and can be purchased at the Town Office and The Bowdoinham Country Store.

• Intermediate Yoga Class with Ann Flannery at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 8am to 9:30am. $15. FMI: [email protected].

• Recycling Drop-off at the Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.) 8am to 4pm.

• Cribbage hosted by Age Friendly Bowdoinham at the Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.) 9:30am to Noon.

• Merryreading Book Store OPEN at Merrymeeting Hall (Basement entrance around back, 27 Main St.) 1pm to 5pm.

• Cemetery Advisory Committee Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 4pm.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8TH
HANUKKAH

• Breaking Bread in Bowdoinham: a Bowdoinham Food Pantry Pop-Up Cafe in the community space adjacent to Watersong Music (9 Main St.) 8am to 10am. Featuring Counterpoint Croissants and Wicked Joe organic coffee.

• Bowdoinham Guild of Artisans Show & Sale at Cathance River Gallery (18 Main St.) & Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 6pm to 8pm.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9TH
HANUKKAH

• The Bowdoinham FREE Gift Shop is open at the Bowdoinham Recycling Barn (243 Post Rd.) 8am to 4pm.

• Recycling Drop-off at the Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.) 8am to 4pm.

• Open Pottery Studio at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.) 9am to 11am. Max capacity is 10 people and it is first come first served. $10 suggested donation.

• Merryreading Book Store OPEN at Merrymeeting Hall (Basement entrance around back, 27 Main St.) 9am to 4pm.

• Bowdoinham Guild of Artisans Show & Sale at Cathance River Gallery (18 Main St.) & Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 10am to 3pm.

• Holiday Art Fair at the Merrymeeing Arts Center GALLERY (9 Main St.) 10am to 3pm. A variety of art will be on display and for sale from local artists.

• The Bowdoinham Community School Craft Fair will be at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 10am to 3pm.

• Winter Wonderland Kids night out at Merrymeeting Arts Center (9 Main St.) 4pm to 7pm. Drop off your kiddos for dinner (Pizza) and some winter themed crafts and games! $30 suggested donation.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
HANUKKAH

• Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.) Sunday Service 10am.

• Bowdoinham Church of the Nazarene (7 school St.) Sunday School 10am, Service 11am.

• Holiday Art Fair at the Merrymeeing Arts Center GALLERY (9 Main St.) 10am to 3pm. A variety of art will be on display and for sale from local artists.

• Free Christmas Concert featuring the musical talents of Bowdoinham's own Ryan Sweet at Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.) 4pm. They will be collecting food for the Bowdoinham Food Pantry and a goodwill offering will be taken to benefit Bowdoinham’s Home Heating Fund. Light refreshments will be served following the concert.

As of the publication of this email, these events are current. Some events may cancel or change without notice. Check out Bowdoinhammer.com for an up-to-date list of events.

Reminder: A sure-fire way to get us gabbing about your event in this newsletter is to electronic-mail it to [email protected].

See you next week.

Love

Rodney & Tessa

❤️