That's all, folks.

Bowdoinhammer - Week of August 12th to the 11th.

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
August 12, 2024

Dear Bowdoinhammer,

Sadly, this will be the last edition of the Bowdoinhammer newsletter.

There’s about fifty reasons why, but I’m not an “excuses” guy. Just know that Tessa and I have very much enjoyed creating this little project and watching it grow, but schedules have changed and it’s no longer something we will have time to do well.

My grandfather always said that there’s a lesson to be learned in every endeavor. Here’s what we’ve learned about community organizing with this project: (If you’re not a community organizer or a business owner, feel free to skip these five bullet points.)

  1. Our community wants to know what’s happening in the ‘ham. They seek out this information and want to be involved. They will show up to your event if they know about it. The information needs to be accessible and well in advance.

  2. Facebook is horrible. I’m not saying you shouldn’t use it, but you should NOT rely on it. It’s great at connecting you with old and new friends, but you should always remember that the primary function of Facebook is to feed ads to its users. Your event information is buried in other things the algorithm thinks are more important. The best way to use Facebook is to funnel that traffic to your website where you have full control over your information. If Facebook is your website, you’re just shooting yourself in the foot.

  3. So many organizations in town have a website with a calendar or event listings that are underutilized or inaccurate. If you are going to list your organization’s activities: update, update, update.

  4. Letting people know about changes or cancelations to your event is just as important as announcing the event in the first place. If someone is looking for more information about something they heard about, only to find that the information for the event was simply deleted, how likely are they to trust your organization in the future?

  5. Getting people to know about your event is easier if the information is consistent and constant.

We’re not doing the highlights this last time, so we’ll just jump right into what’s happening this week:

Monday, August 12th

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 4, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101. 

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (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. WEATHER PERMITTING. 

  • 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. 

  • Select Board Meeting, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 6:30 PM. The Board's regular meeting has been rescheduled from Tuesday, August 13th to Monday, August 12th.

Tuesday, August 13th

Wednesday, August 14th

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition. WEATHER PERMITTING. 

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 4, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101. 

  • 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. 

  • Bible Study for beginners, The house behind the church (7 School St.), 10:00 AM, and again at 6:00 PM. FMI: (207) 751-6888 or [email protected].

  • Not Your Mother’s Garden Club meeting, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM.

  • The Clothes Closet, The house behind the church (7 School St.), 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM. FREE clothes for those in need.

  • 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. 

  • Tennis - "Bowdoinham Specials", Bowdoinham Community School tennis court (23 Cemetery Rd.), 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. WEATHER PERMITTING. 

  • 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. 

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

Thursday, August 15th

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

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

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 4, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101. 

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

  • Loose Ladies Book Group, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM. The book discussion will be about “Surrender: My Journey from Guerrilla to Grandmother” by Katherine Power (who will be in attendance). 

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

  • Taco Night with Waxwing, Dandelion Spring Farm (961 Ridge Rd.) 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. $5 pre-registration required. Plates $25-$30, Drinks $5-$8.

Friday, August 16th

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition. WEATHER PERMITTING. 

  • Art Camp with Katie Hudak: Session 4, Kindergarten - 2nd grade, at Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. In partnership with Bowdoinham Recreation Dept. and supported by Merrymeeting Arts Center. $225 pre-registration required (Heron Fund available). For more information or to discuss scholarship opportunities, email: [email protected] or call (207) 666-3101. 

Saturday, August 17th

  • Le Tour de Bowdoinham, Bowdoinham Food Pantry (9 Main St.) 9:00 AM.

  • Bowdoinham FREE Gift Shop OPEN, Bowdoinham Recycling Barn (243 Post Rd.), 8:00 AM - 4:00P PM. The Recycling Barn will take source-separated materials for recycling on the first Saturday of the month.

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

  • 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.

  • Storytime for Preschoolers and their Grown-ups with Miss Kate, Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.), 10:00 AM.

  • The Lost Homes of Swan Island: A T. Blen Parker Exhibit, Merrymeeting Arts Center GALLERY (9 Main St.), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

  • Hands-On Collage Workshop with Michael Albert, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), NOON - 3:00 PM. $15. The class will be run as an open house. Come when you want and stay as long as you like. FMI: [email protected] 

Sunday, August 18th

  • Sunday Service, Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.), 10:00 AM. Pot Luck Luncheon following service. 

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

  • Steeple Fundraiser Lunch, Bowdoinham Church of the Nazarene (7 School St.), 12:15 PM - 2:00 PM. Proceeds go toward steeple renovations.

  • Music Concert by pianist Ryan Sweet, Bowdoinham Second Baptist Church (1 Church St.), 4:00 PM.

  • Summer Concert Supper with "Jimmyjo & The Jumbol'ayuhs" playing at the gazebo in Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 5:30 PM. Girlscout Troop 721 will serve food. The music starts at 6:00 PM. 

(These events may change or cancel without notice)

I hold it true, whate'er befall;

I feel it, when I sorrow most;

'Tis better to have loved and lost

Than never to have loved at all.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Once again, it’s been a pleasure interacting with this community.

Thanks for reading.

We’ll see you around.

Love,

Rodney & Tessa

❤️