They Grow Up So Fast

Bowdoinhammer - Week of August 25th to the 31st

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
August 25, 2025

Happy Monday, Bowdoinhammer.

Tessa and I dropped our daughter off at college this weekend.

We are so proud/happy/excited/heartbroken over our youngest child’s big step that we didn’t notice it’s the end of August already!

“They grow up fast” is probably the oldest of all clichés. I’ve heard it hundreds of times from my family when the kids were little, but what they didn’t tell me was that when I’m finally old enough to understand it, it will suddenly rip my heart out.

What the heck.

In this newsletter..

  1. Need Real ID and LiHEAP application help? BCC’s got you.

  2. MAC has a new Basic Photography class for the aspiring shutterbugs out there.

  3. The Select Board meets on Tuesday.

  4. The Bowdoinham Booked Moms Book Club meets on Wednesday.

  5. They haven’t had one in a couple of months, but on Thursday, the Planning Board might have a meeting.

  6. Stringtide will play the last Summer Concert Supper on Sunday.

Keep scrolling for more info about these and other events.

Bowdoinham Community Connections is stepping up to help our neighbors apply for heating assistance.

Due to federal funding cuts, local community action partnerships like Midcoast Community Action can no longer offer in-person LIHEAP appointments, but BCC volunteers are stepping up.

New citizenship requirements will make the application process more complicated. While you do not need a Real ID to qualify for heating assistance, having one will help streamline access to many federal and state programs, including LIHEAP.

To support our community, BCC will be offering FREE appointments to help gather the necessary documents for Real ID, schedule BMV visits, and prepare for LIHEAP applications.

  • What: FREE help with LIHEAP and Real ID applications.

  • Where: The Bowdoinham Fire Station.

  • When: Appointments are available in September and October on Tuesdays (9:30-11:30 AM) and Fridays (12:00-2:00 PM).

  • To get started: Call (207) 666-3101 to make an appointment. They're here to help you navigate this process.

If you received LIHEAP benefits last year, you should receive a postcard with a scheduled phone interview. Bowdoinham Community Connections can help you prepare for that call or assist you in completing the online application.

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots. The other, wings.”

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Get Out of Auto Mode: New Photography Class at MAC

For those who want to get the most out of their digital camera, the Merrymeeting Arts Center is offering a new "Introduction to Digital Photography" class with professional photographer Leah Haraden.

Designed for beginners, the course will take place on September 27th from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM for a fee of $40.

It will cover fundamental photography principles, including a clear explanation of camera settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, as well as techniques for composition and natural lighting.

The class is a mix of in-class demonstrations and hands-on exercises, allowing participants to build a solid foundation in photography and gain confidence in their skills.

The class is open to adults and teens, who are asked to bring their own camera.

Happening This Week:

MONDAY, August 25th 

  • 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.

TUESDAY, August 26th 

  • 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.

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School Tennis Court (23 Cemetery Rd.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

  • Select Board Meeting, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 6:00 PM. Townhall Streams link. For a list of other town meetings, visit the town's calendar.

WEDNESDAY, August 27th

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Bowdoinham Booked Moms Book Club Meeting, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 7:00 PM. They will be discussing “The Wedding People” by Alison Espach. This fun, no-fee club was created as a stress-free space for moms with a Bowdoinham connection to unwind, connect, and make friends through reading and discussion. FMI: email [email protected].

THURSDAY, August 28th

  • Trash Pick-up Day. You can buy the $3 trash tags at the Town Office and Public Works Facility. Pick-up times vary. 

  • 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.

  • Pickleball, Bowdoinham Community School TENNIS COURT (23 Cemetery Rd.), 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Weather permitting. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition.

  • Planning Board Meeting, Kendall Room, John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.), 6:30 PM - 10:00 PM. Townhall Streams link. For a list of other town meetings, visit the town's calendar.

  • Guilt-Free Book Group, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Have you ever wanted to join a book discussion group but have cold feet or commitment issues? Worry no more. This Book Group lets you read whatever your heart desires (theme-related or not). They just wanna hear about it. Call the library (666-8405) to find out about this month's literary adventure, and ditch the guilt.

FRIDAY, August 29th

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

SATURDAY, August 30th

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

SUNDAY, August 31st

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Say What?

We love hearing from you, Bowdoinham! This newsletter is driven by your feedback and community spirit.

If you have any upcoming events, calls for volunteers, or just want to share a kind word, please send an email to [email protected].

Your input helps make this a better resource for everyone.

Happening Soon:

🏃 Lace up those running shoes and get your game face on for this year’s Chicken Run. The Bowdoinham Community School 5k Chicken Run and Kids’ 1-Mile Fun Run is happening Friday, September 12th, at 5:30 pm. As always, this is sure to be one of the most fun community events of the year! They’ll have cool t-shirts, great music, free pizza, and wonderful farmers’ market boxes for the winners. Registration through our website is open until Thursday, September 11th, 6:00 PM. Just visit https://runinarace.com/BowdoinhamCommunitySchool/. In-person registration starts at 4:30 pm on race day. All proceeds benefit the Bowdoinham Community School. See you there!

. . .

🎟️ Enter to win a weekend (October 3-5, 2025) at the lovely Upper House cottage!  Tickets are just $20 each and could give you a chance to win a $700 value prize of a two-night stay on the Phippsburg peninsula in this charming cottage. Get your tickets at Bowdoinham Public Library, from now until we draw for the winner at Celebrate Bowdoinham on September 13th.  Don't miss your chance to win this great getaway!

. . .

🎉 Bowdoinham's biggest party of the year, Celebrate Bowdoinham, is hitting Mailly Waterfront Park on Saturday, September 13th (rain date Sept 14th)! This annual festival at Mailly Waterfront Park is a joyful way to honor our town's history and connections, with this year's theme highlighting "Farming in Bowdoinham." The day will be packed with a vibrant parade (featuring a $250 prize for the best float!), tasty food, live music, and plenty of games and activities for kids, including the popular KenDUCKY Derby. All details are available at Bowdoinham.com/event/celebrate-bowdoinham-2025.

. . .

📖 The Loose Ladies Book Club will discuss “This Tender Land” by William Kent Krueger on Thursday, September 18th, an en­thralling, bighearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or your favorite local bookseller.

. . .

📚 Using their patented, super-complex method of selecting books, the Bowdoinham Booked Moms have chosen “A Flicker in the Dark” by Stacy Willingham as their book for Wednesday, September 24th. When Chloe Davis was twelve, her small Louisiana town was rocked by the disappearance of six teenage girls, a case that ended with her father's arrest as a serial killer, leaving her and her family to grapple with the shocking aftermath. Bowdoinham Booked Moms is a stress-free space for local moms to unwind, connect, and make friends through reading and discussion. They’ll meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Merrymeeting Hall. This fun, no-fee club is for moms with a Bowdoinham connection, aiming for an enjoyable time every month! For more info, email [email protected].

If you have any tears this week, Bowdoinhammer, I hope they’re tears of joy and laughter.

Be good to yourself.

Love,

Rodney

❤️

They grow up so fast.