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Property Taxes & Ballots: What’s Coming Our Way

Bowdoinhammer - Week of September 29th to October 5th

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
September 29, 2025

Happy Monday, Bowdoinhammer.

Remember back in March when I told you to look into filing tax exemptions? Well, it's about to pay off, my friend. The mil rate increased slightly, but if you filed a homestead exemption, your taxes may be lower.

Tax commitments have been updated and are available on the town’s website. The bills will be mailed out next week, so keep your peepers peeled for yours. 

Reading the Bowdoinhammer can sometimes save you money.

Speaking of town business…

Election Day will be Tuesday, November 4th, at Bowdoinham Community School.

Here’s what you can expect to vote on in November.

Bowdoinham QUESTION: “Shall the Town vote to authorize the Select Board to conduct winter maintenance for the 2025-2026 winter season on a 0.19-mile section of Pratt Road that is currently discontinued?” Click here to read more about it (PDF). Scroll a little further down this newsletter to read a letter from residents on Pratt Road.

The State’s referendum questions are: 

QUESTION 1: “Do you want to change Maine election laws to eliminate two days of absentee voting, prohibit requests for absentee ballots by phone or family members, end ongoing absentee voter status for seniors and people with disabilities, ban prepaid postage on absentee ballot return envelopes, limit the number of drop boxes, require voters to show certain photo ID before voting, and make other changes to our elections?”

QUESTION 2: “Do you want to allow courts to temporarily prohibit a person from having dangerous weapons if law enforcement, family, or household members show that the person poses a significant danger of causing physical injury to themselves or others?”

To read up on these questions, you can check out “Citizens’ Guide to the 2025 Maine Referendum Election” on the state’s website. Also, “Here are the big questions that will appear on Maine’s November ballot” by AnnMarie Hilton at Maine Morning Star.

The Bowdoinhammer is a free public service, fueled by a passion for our community and coffee.  ☕

If you enjoy reading this newsletter and want to help support it, you can buy me a cup of coffee by visiting https://buymeacoffee.com/bowdoinhammer.

Your donations, big or small, help keep this newsletter going and are greatly appreciated. 

Thank you! 

Stretch, breathe, and maybe laugh a little

Yoga with Ann Flannery is back!

Starting Thursday, October 2nd, join her Intermediate Yoga class weekly from 8 to 9:30 AM on the second floor of Merrymeeting Hall.

With over two decades of teaching experience under her belt, Ann blends Kripalu tradition with influences from Iyengar and Anusara, creating a compassionate and welcoming space for growth - and a little fun.

It's $15 per class. Drop in on any Thursday.

For more info, email [email protected] or call  (207) 751-9589. 🧘‍♀️

ANOTHER Bulky Waste Day? 💪 

On Saturday, Oct. 4th, Bowdoinham Community Connections is organizing another Bulky Waste Volunteer Day to help neighbors who can’t manage on their own. Volunteers with trucks are especially needed, and even a couple of hours makes a huge difference. Call Jason at (207) 666-3101 to pitch in!

Doing a cleanout of your own? Here’s what you need to know:

Bowdoinham Fall Bulky Waste Day
📅 Saturday, October 4th, 2025
🕗 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Public Works Facility, 121 Pond Road

The following items will be accepted that day for a fee:

Box spring/Mattress each Piece:

  • Twin $5

  • Full $8

  • Queen $10

  • King $15

Carpet: $2/foot, priced at the lesser of the sizes. (i.e., 5’x8’ = $10)

Furniture: 

  • Chair $5

  • Chair - recliner $10

  • Couch - small $10

  • Couch - large $14

  • Couch - recliner $15

  • Couch - pull out $15

Construction Debris, including sheetrock and insulation:

  • 1/4 yard $40

  • 1/2 yard $80

Happening This Week:

MONDAY, September 29th 

  • 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, 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, a tongue drum, and voice. Bring a mat, pillow, and/or blanket. Free of charge, but donations gratefully accepted. FMI: [email protected]. Visit Ground Well Counseling to sign up for their newsletter and get notifications of other events.

. . .

TUESDAY, September 30th

  • Bowdoinham Community Connections LiHEAP assistance, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. This fall, Bowdoinham Community Connections will offer in-person support to help residents prepare for upcoming changes to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to apply for Real IDs. To make an appointment, call (207) 666-3101.

  • 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.

. . .

WEDNESDAY, October 1st

  • 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.

  • The Clothes Closet, The house behind the church (7 School St.), 2:30 PM - 5:00 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. For all residents of Bowdoinham and Bowdoin. Building community with food. NO income verification. FMI: (207) 751-7779. Shop there first.

  • 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, October 2nd

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

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

. . .

FRIDAY, October 3rd

  • Bowdoinham Community Connections LiHEAP assistance, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. This fall, Bowdoinham Community Connections will offer in-person support to help residents prepare for upcoming changes to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to apply for Real IDs. To make an appointment, call (207) 666-3101.

  • Opening Reception: Artist in Residence Exhibit - Ruthanne Harrison, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. MAC & Merrymeeting Adult Education combine efforts to feature this year’s Artist in Residence, featuring the work of Ruthanne Harrison.

. . .

SATURDAY, October 4th

  • Recycling Drop-off AND Fall Bulky Waste Day, 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 help reduce waste. Contributions are accepted inside, and returnable beverage containers may be dropped off in the window near the road at any time.

  • 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.

  • Artist in Residence Exhibit - Ruthanne Harrison, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. MAC & Merrymeeting Adult Education combine efforts to feature this year’s Artist in Residence, featuring the work of Ruthanne Harrison

  • Raku and Surface Design: Live Demos and Pottery Sale, Turning Arts Studio (182 Ridge Rd.), 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. From flaming raku firings to beautifully decorated surfaces, Zachary and Janna will show you just how dramatic and playful clay can be. Get hands-on, enjoy the show, and maybe take home a pot of your own!

  • Merrymeeting Music House Concerts presents: Greg Boardman, Elsie Gawler, and Steve Muise Trio, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), Potluck (optional) 5:30 PM. Showtime 7:00 PM. There will be a $20 suggested cash donation (100% goes to the artist). Please RSVP. If you would like a heads-up before their other concerts, sign up for their newsletter.

. . .

SUNDAY, October 5th

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

A letter to Bowdoinhammers from the Conley Family of Pratt Road

To Our Neighbors and Fellow Bowdoinham Residents,

This November, voters will decide whether to continue winter maintenance on the last 0.19 miles of Pratt Road, where five families live.

For over a decade, the town has plowed and sanded this section, keeping it safe and accessible during Maine winters. Many residents may not know that this portion was technically discontinued back in 1978 but since 2014, the town has consistently maintained it just like the rest of Pratt Road.

Last March, a vote was held to stop winter maintenance without notifying the affected residents, leaving us no chance to share how critical this service is for our families including children and elderly neighbors who depend on safe access year-round.

We are asking for your support this November to restore full-town-road status and keep all of Pratt Road maintained. Importantly, this does not add new costs to the town, it simply continues what has already been done for years.

Please vote to keep Pratt Road maintained. Your support means so much to the families who call this road home. 

With gratitude,

Your neighbors on Pratt Road

(The Conley Family)

Happening Soon:

🧑‍🚒  Support our local heroes at the Bowdoinham Fire & Rescue Association! They’re raffling off a Blackstone 36” griddle, complete with a 6-piece professional griddle kit and protective cover. Every ticket you purchase for $5 (or five for $20) goes directly toward helping our dedicated firefighters and EMS responders acquire new equipment to better serve your community. You can purchase tickets from a firefighter or EMS responder you know. The lucky winner will be drawn on October 13th, so be sure to get your tickets and show your support!

. . .

📖 The Loose Ladies Book Club will discuss “The Road to Dalton” by Shannon Bowring, October 16th. In 1990, the lives of several residents in a small Maine town are quietly intertwined, each facing personal struggles from hidden abuse to secret love. This "measured, wise, and beautiful" novel explores their journeys with honesty and compassion, ultimately revealing what it means to find endurance in the world. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or your favorite local bookseller.

. . .

🧵 The Merrymeeting Arts Center invites you to The Art of Indigo, a natural dyeing workshop led by artist Elizabeth Davis. Join them on Saturday, October 18th, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. For $40, you'll explore the history and science of Indigo, learn how to make a dye vat, and try dyeing techniques like Shibori and clamping. Open to all skill levels, this hands-on session lets you create several unique, hand-dyed textiles to take home. All materials are included, and you'll also get tips on proper aftercare for your pieces. Registration for this and MAC’s other events is online at MerrymeetingArtsCenter.org.

. . .

🧛‍♀️ Trunk-or-Treat is back at Mailly Waterfront Park on Saturday, Oct. 25, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Admission is simple: bring a non-perishable item or a small donation. Your generosity helps fill shelves at the Bowdoinham Food Pantry and supports the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. Big thanks to Ancorum Credit Union for sponsoring this spooktacular night. Sweet treats, spooky vibes, good causes!  🦇 🎃

. . .

📚 The Bowdoinham Booked Moms have chosen "The Mother Next Door" by Tara Laskowski as their book for Wednesday, October 29th. On Ivy Woods Drive, the picture-perfect Halloween block party hides more than pumpkins and candy - it hides the truth. When old secrets collide with new threats, the neighborhood moms discover just how far they'll go to protect their families. Want to meet other Bowdoinham moms and enjoy a good book and conversation (with other adults)? Join them at Merrymeeting Hall on the last Wednesday of each month for laughter and connection. For more info, email [email protected].

. . .

🎶 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! 

. . .

🥧 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!

I hope you have the best week ever.

Be good to yourself.

Love,

Rodney

❤️