Time to Celebrate Bowdoinham!

Bowdoinhammer - Week of September 11th to the 17th

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
September 10, 2023

Hello Bowdoinhammer,

This heat has me wondering if summer is really over. Someone, somewhere must have put their air-conditioner away and Mother Nature was all like “Haha, check this out…” and then hit us with the 90° weather again.

If Mother Nature was good to you, and you have an over abundance of veggies (or you just want to donate to a worthy cause), The Merrymeeting Gleaners is a program at MCHPP. It is primarily focused on harvesting excess produce from commercial farms for the food bank, but on September 16th they are organizing a harvest/donation event for local gardens. They are hoping to hear from community members with vegetable gardens who would like to participate.

In other news, David Whittlesey sent out an announcement that a "group of young folks" are bringing live music to Bowdoinham, much in the spirit of what David and Regine used to do at their house when they lived in Bowdoinham. I reached out for more information and this is what they told me:

“Merrymeeting Music is not an entity, for profit or otherwise. And it is not an organization, although it is striving to be just organized enough to bring people together 7-10 times per year around wonderful music and food at Merrymeeting Hall in Bowdoinham. As many of you know, David and Regine Whittlesey hosted house concerts in Bowdoinham for over 12 years before moving down the road to Brunswick. The music was wonderful and complex and varied, but the formula was simple: invite world class musicians to play in a warm space before an appreciative crowd in exchange for a place to stay, a Bowdoinham potluck, and all the money attendees placed in a passed tin box. Merrymeeting Music plans to use this model for as long as it works out for all involved, with two changes - the house is now Merrymeeting Hall, formerly Merrymeeting Grange 258 which was purchased and lovingly brought back to life by the Bowdoinham Historical Society, and the hosts will be a rotating group of Bowdoinham residents.”

I'll be sure to post more info as I get it. You can probably get on their list if you email them at [email protected].

The Bowdoinnhammer Postcard project is an ongoing community art project. If you would like to be involved, make/buy a postcard and put your sentiment/story/poem about Bowdoinham on it and mail it to PO Box 181, Bowdoinham, ME. 04008. Once we get enough of them, we'll have a gallery exhibit at Merrymeeting Arts Center.

Here’s what else is going on this week in our lovely little town…

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Monday, September 11th

  • 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.

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Tuesday, September 12th

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Wednesday, September 13th

  • Bridge Club for Experienced Players, Hosted by Age Friendly Bowdoinham at the Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.) 9:30am to Noon. FMI: Kathy Joyce, 666-5575.

  • 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.

  • Solid Waste Committee Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 6pm.

  • 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.

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Thursday, September 14th 

  • The Boat Launch at the Mailly Waterfront Park will be closed for Celebrate Bowdoinham.

  • 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.

  • 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. FMI: Theresa Turgeon at 891-9386.

  • Age-Friendly Bowdoinham Luncheon with speaker Jennifer Stonebraker of the Bowdoinham Food Pantry at the Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.) 11:30am to 3:30pm. FMI: Jason Lamoreau at [email protected] or (207) 666-5531. 

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

  • Knitting Group at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 4pm to 5:30pm.

  • MSAD 75 School Board Meeting at Mt. Ararat High School (68 Eagles Way, Topsham) 6:30pm to 9pm.

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Friday, September 15th, CELEBRATE BOWDOINHAM

  • The Boat Launch at the Mailly Waterfront Park will be closed for Celebrate Bowdoinham.

  • Pie Contest Drop Off at the Food Pantry (9 Main St.) 3:30pm. Pie Judging Begins 5pm.

  • Chicken Run at the Bowdoinham Community School (23 Cemetery Rd.) 1-mile Fun Run 5:30pm. 5K 6pm. All proceeds from this event support the Bowdoinham Community School.

  • Project Gymnasium Gazebo Gathering at the Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 6pm.

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Saturday, September 16th, CELEBRATE BOWDOINHAM

  • The Boat Launch at the Mailly Waterfront Park will be closed for Celebrate Bowdoinham.

  • The Bowdoinham FREE Gift Shop is open 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. CLOSED for Celebrate Bowdoinham

  • The Bowdoinham Farmers' Market at the Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 8:30am to Noon. FMI: [email protected].

  • Line Dancing at the Farmers Market (1 Main St.) 9am to 10am.

  • 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. No classes during Celebrate Bowdoinham

  • The Great Garden Glean: 9am-1pm. Help combat food insecurity by opening your vegetable garden to the Merrymeeting Gleaners! Open to all gardens within 30 mins of MCHPP in Brunswick. No garden is too small! Contact David Baecher at [email protected] for more information or to add your garden to the route.

  • Merryreading Book Store OPEN at Merrymeeting Hall (Basement entrance around back, 27 Main St.) 9am to 4pm.

  • PARADE. 10AM. Route: Fire Station (57 Post Rd.) to Main Street; to River Road; to Ridge Road; to Cemetery Road; to Center Street; back to the Fire Station.

  • Within Wood exhibit featuring artists David Maguire and Evelyn Dean at the Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.) 10am to 1pm.

  • Open Exhibit at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 10am to 3pm.

  • Open Art Gallery at the Cathance River Art Gallery (18 Main St.) 10am to 4pm.

  • Citizen of the Year Award announced at Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 11am.

  • Zucchini Races at Matthew Townsend Parker Memorial Skatepark (6 Main St.) 11:15am. Zucchini will need to be fitted with or mounted on the wheels of your choice, and decorated (or not) in any way you wish. There will be prizes awarded for fastest zucchinis and best decorated zucchinis. Register by 11AM on Saturday, September 16, at the skatepark.

  • Merrymeeting Trail Bike Ride, meet by RR tracks at Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 1pm to 3pm.

  • Lobster Crate Races at Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 1:30pm.

  • Mr. Drew & His Animals Too! at Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 2:30pm to 3:30pm.

  • Cornhole Tournament to benefit Bowdoinham Recreation at the Rec Fields (corner of Cemetery Rd. and Ridge Rd.) starts at 3pm. $40 registration per team. 1st and 2nd place trophies awarded. Register at BowdoinhamRec.com.

  • KenDucky Derby Race at Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 3:30pm. Pick your winner early at the Bowdoinham Town Office. $5 each or 5 for $20. 1st place is $400, and Last Place is $100. All proceeds will help cover the cost of the celebration.

  • FIREWORKS! at Mailly Waterfront Park (1 Main St.) 8pm.

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Sunday, September 17th

  • The Boat Launch at the Mailly Waterfront Park will be closed for Celebrate Bowdoinham.

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

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

  • Harpswell Community Swim at the Greason Pool, Bowdoin College (35 Watson Drive, Brunswick) 4:30 to 5:30pm. Open and FREE to all MSAD 75 Residents. Pre-Registration and proof of Medical Insurance is required. Limited to 75 people per session. FMI: (207) 833-5771 or [email protected].

(Some events cancel or change, and others are added last minute. For an extended, up-to-date list go to Bowdoinhammer.com)

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Know someone who is Bowdoinham-curious? Share this email with them and tell them to subscribe to the newsletter. They’ll probably want to be your best friend.

And that’s about it from us. We hope your Ducky wins on Saturday, or at the very least, comes in last.

Love

Rodney