The flu sucks. I don't recommend it.

Hey Bowdoinhammers,

Flu season is making the rounds, so now’s a great time to grab an extra bottle of your favorite hand sanitizer and maybe give folks a little extra elbow room.

Thanks to Covid, we’re all pretty much germ-fighting pros by now—so just stick with what works for you and stay safe out there.

It really knocked me on my can for the better part of the week, and I have to say, it wasn’t as fun as everyone says it is.

I was able to battle the brain-fog to bring you this newsletter.

So here we go…

Here are this week’s highlights:

1. The search is on for Bowdoinham’s next Boston Post Cane recipient—an honor given to the town’s most seasoned resident! If you know who holds the title, reach out to Town Clerk Tina Magno at [email protected] or stop by the office. And hey, being the oldest isn’t so bad—you get respect, wisdom, and possibly the best stories in town. Plus, you get a fancy cane!

2. Tuesday is Fat Tuesday. You can celebrate accordingly by cutting a rug with the Merrymeeting Dane Alinement crew at their Mardi Gras themed dance party!

3. Friday is the perfect day to explore community resources or even lend a hand to those who need guidance. Either way, swing by the Bowdoinham Community Connections table at the fire station—whether you need help or just want to say hi!

4. Midcoast CA$H will be helping folks with their taxes at the fire station on Saturday. Low-income households may qualify for Maine Sales Tax and Property Tax Fairness Credits—even if they have little to no income. Homeowners and renters can apply; a federal return isn’t required to file for Maine credits. Not sure if you qualify? Stop by, and they’ll help!

5. Merrymeeting Music House Concerts is pulling out all the stops this Saturday night with the incredible Samuel James as their guest! His talent is off the charts, and this is one show you won’t want to miss.

6. Daylight Saving starts on Sunday.

There’s more information about these and other events below, so keep scrolling.

Ready, Set, Puzzle!

The Bowdoinham Public Library is hosting its first-ever Jigsaw Puzzle Race, turning the town’s love for puzzling into a fun, fast-paced competition! With the library’s growing (and all-donated) puzzle collection gaining popularity, it’s the perfect time to launch this exciting new event.

The Jigsaw Puzzle Races will take place on Saturday, March 15th, from 3–5 PM at Merrymeeting Hall. Teams of 3–4 players will race to complete the same 300-piece puzzle, competing for ultimate bragging rights. There will be other prizes (more about that at a later date), but you’re really in it for the bragging rights, right?

All ages are welcome, and if there’s enough participation, age categories will be created to keep things fair. A $20 registration fee per team will help offset event costs.

Interested teams can sign up by calling 666-8405 or emailing the library at [email protected]—but spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged!

It’s time to put those puzzle skills to the test and see who can piece it all together the fastest! 🏆

Are you feeling lost in the maze of Maine services?

The Maine Access Navigator is here to throw you a lifeline! This website is like a treasure map to programs for older Mainers, those with disabilities, and all you amazing caregivers. Just answer a few questions, and it'll spit out a list of resources tailored just for you.

Want to find help with staying healthy, living independently, connecting with your community, or managing your money? This site's got you covered.

And guess what? If you're scratching your head trying to figure it all out, your friendly neighborhood Bowdoinham Community Connections crew is ready to lend a hand! They'll help you navigate the site and find exactly what you need.

Check it out and spread the word! ➡️ https://me.accessgov.com/oads/Forms/Page/me-access-navigator/self-screening/1

Here’s the week we’re gonna have:

Monday, March 3rd

• 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.

Fat Tuesday, March 4th

• Merrymeeting Dance Alinement, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM. Mardi Gras party! For more information, or to be added to their Newsletter, email George Oliver at [email protected].

Ash Wednesday, March 5th

• 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.

• 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.

• Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School Gym (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.

• 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, March 6th

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

Friday, March 7th

• 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.

Saturday, March 8th

• 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 reduce waste. Contributions are accepted inside and 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.

• File your taxes for FREE with Midcoast CA$H, Bowdoinham Fire Department (57 Post Rd.), 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. By appointment only. Households earning up to $67,000 annually can likely receive free tax preparation by an IRS-certified volunteer tax preparer.

• Merrymeeting Music House Concerts presents: Samuel James, 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, shoot an email to [email protected] and say something like “Bowdoinhammer said that as long as I'm house-broken, get along with other humans, and ask nicely, you would put me on your newsletter list”.

Sunday, March 9th

• Roll your clocks forward by one hour at 2:00 AM in observance of Daylight Saving Time. If you don’t, your garden wont get as much sunlight as everyone else’s, right?

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

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

• FREE swimming, LeRoy Greason Pool (Bowdoin College, 35 Watson Dr, Brunswick), 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM. For ALL ages and residents of MSAD 75. Runs January 12th through April 6th.

(These events may change or cancel without notice)

Next Week: Goats in the Road Trivia, Celebrate Bowdoinham Planning Meeting, Age-Friendly Luncheon, Red Cross Blood Drive, Art Workshop for the kiddos, and Jigsaw Puzzle Races.

That’s all I have for you this week, my friends.

Oh, wait! Don’t forget to send me your Bowdoinhammiest Selfie! Winner gets 5 trash tickets. Can you afford not to?

See y’all next week.

Love,

Rodney

❤️