Those who smelt it...

Bowdoinhammer - Week of January 29th to February 4th.

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
January 29, 2024

Bowdoinhammer, do you like smelt? If you do, I have some great news for you: this upcoming weekend is THE weekend you want to be in Bowdoinham, because we go smelt frickin’ crazy, let me tell ya.

The Ice and Smelt Festival started back in 2012 to the kick off the town’s 250th anniversary celebration. We hear there was a pretty rad Best Beard Contest a certain someone organized. The festival has had it’s bustling and lean years and many hands helping to shape it over time, but it is a uniquely Bowdoinhammy event that we warmly welcome during the cold winter.

Nothing fishy about what’s happening in the ‘ham this week:

MONDAY, JANUARY 29TH

  • 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, JANUARY 30TH

  • 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 Open Studio Time at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 5:30pm to 7:30pm. FMI: call George Oliver (207) 666-3589.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31ST

  • 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!

  • Emergency Medical Services Committee meeting at the Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.) 6pm to 7:30pm. Open to the public.

  • 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.

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST

  • 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.

  • Merrymeeting Food Council and the Bowdoinham Food Pantry are hosting a De-Escalation Training with NAMI at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 10am to Noon. This is free and open to the public. Click here to sign up.

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

  • Finance Advisory Committee Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 3pm.

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, ICE & SMELT FESTIVAL

  • No School for MSAD 75 Students.

  • Opening Night Gala - Ice & Smelt Exhibit: Ode To Ice And Smelt at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.) 6pm to 8pm. Light refreshment provided.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD, ICE & SMELT FESTIVAL

  • The Bowdoinham FREE Gift Shop is open AND Recycling Barn is collecting source-separated material 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.

  • Ice & Smelt Exhibit: Ode To Ice And Smelt at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.) 10am to 2pm.

  • Art & Hot Beverage Warming Station at Cathance River Art Gallery (18 Main St.) 10am to 4pm.

  • Valentine Card Workshop with Dawn Stevens at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.) 2pm to 4pm. The cost for the class is $20 per person, please bring your own glue stick and Scissors.

  • Community Plate: Story Sharing Potluck Supper hosted by the Bowdoinham Public Library at the Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 5:30pm to 9pm.

  • Dance Party and Potluck Supper at Watersong Music (9 Main St.) 6pm. Bring your favorite dish for sharing with friends and neighbors. Crock pots welcome.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, ICE & SMELT FESTIVAL

  • The Bowdoinham Democratic Caucus at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 10am. The Democratic Caucus is open to registered Democrats only. If you're not currently registered, you can register at the door. FMI: [email protected].

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

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

  • 1st Annual Ice & Smelt Festival Cornhole Tournament to benefit Bowdoinham Rec. at the Bowdoinham Community School Gym (23 Cemetery Rd.) Games start at 1pm. $30 per team to register. Cash prizes and trophies awarded!

  • Take-Out Soup Supper to benefit the Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main St.) 4pm to 6pm. Celebrate Ice & Smelt Fest with a to-go quart of homemade soup, chowder, or chili with Counterpoint Bread! By donation.

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.

Once upon a time Tessa’s dad brought home smelt to keep as pets. They didn’t last very long. I suppose fish like that are food, not friends. We hope you all enjoy your smelty activities next weekend and leave the fish for the pan.

Love

Rodney & Tessa

❤️