We toot our own horns around here

Bowdoinhammer - Week of October 13th to the 19th

Author

Rodney Kloberdans
October 13, 2025

It’s a new week, Bowdoinhammer!

I’m excited to share it with you. Thank you for lending me your eyeballs for a few minutes.

Age-Friendly Bowdoinham is being recognized as a 2025 Beacon Community by AARP Maine. This is the highest honor a community can receive for its age-friendly work in the state.

Senator Denise Tepler and Representative Sally Cluchey received the good word from Noël Bonam, the Maine State Director for AARP. The award celebrates towns that are making big progress with age-friendly initiatives.  The ceremony will take place on Friday, October 24, at Wolfe's Neck Center in Freeport.

Bowdoinhammer sends out a big congratulations to Age-Friendly Bowdoinham for this achievement. 

It's a real honor for our community.

The Bowdoinhammer runs on coffee, late nights, and a whole lot of neighborly love. 

If you enjoy it each week, consider fueling the Bowdoinhammer with a little donation: buymeacoffee.com/bowdoinhammer

Every little bit helps. 

Thank you!

Meet the Candidate: Shelley Hooper for Select Board

Shelley Hooper is running as a write-in candidate for Select Board this November and wanted to share a message with the community. If you're also running, please email [email protected] so Bowdoinhammer can help introduce you to our neighbors.

My name is Shelley Hooper, and I'm running as a write-in candidate for the Select Board in Bowdoinham. This is my new forever home as of 2023. Originally from the Farmington area, I've lived in many different communities in Maine, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey as a performing arts technician, organic farmer, and EMT.  I currently work in a public elementary school in a neighboring town. Bowdoinham is a town like no other, and I'd like to help keep it the wonderful place we all love.  I offer a diverse skill set and experience from many professional, non profit and civic boards and committees. I'm confident that I can help continue the excellent work being done by our Town with an eye on financial committee business, public safety, budgets, zoning, and all other concerns as they arise.

While chatting with local business and neighbors I was made aware of the open Board positions after the cut off date for getting on the ballot, so my apologies for the inconvenience of having to write-in my name on election day.  Voters, I would love to hear and represent your concerns and priorities and help with the mechanisms that get it done at the Town level.  My goal is to rise above anything that would divide us, overcome obstacles that would limit us, and efficiently conduct town business with transparency and fairness.  I appreciate the warm welcome, encouragement and hopefully support at the polls. 

Thank you in advance!

Sincerely and with enthusiasm,

Shelley Hooper

Happening This Week:

MONDAY, October 13th, Indigenous Peoples' Day

. . .

TUESDAY, October 14th

  • Bowdoinham Community Connections LiHEAP assistance, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. This fall, Bowdoinham Community Connections will offer in-person support to help residents prepare for upcoming changes to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to apply for Real IDs. To make an appointment, call (207) 666-3101.

  • 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.

  • Merrymeeting Dance Alinement FREE Line Dancing Lessons, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM. Kick up your heels with the Merrymeeting Dance Alinement! No partner, no pressure, just fun, fitness, and community rhythm. All ages and skill levels welcome. Contact George Oliver for more info: [email protected]

  • 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, October 15th

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

  • Artist Talk - Ruthanne Harrison, Merrymeeting Arts Center Gallery (9 Main St.), 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM. MAC & Merrymeeting Adult Education combine efforts to feature this year’s Artist in Residence, featuring the work of Ruthanne Harrison.

. . .

THURSDAY, October 16th

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

  • Intermediate Yoga Class with Ann Flannery, second floor of Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM. Designed for those with some yoga experience, but modifications are always offered. $15 payable by cash, check, or Venmo. FMI: [email protected] or (207) 751-9589.

  • 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.

  • Loose Ladies Book Club, Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.), 1:00 PM. They’ll discuss the book “The Road to Dalton” by Shannon Bowring. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library (207) 666-8405, or your favorite local bookseller.

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

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

. . .

FRIDAY, October 17th

  • Bowdoinham Community Connections LiHEAP assistance, Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.), NOON - 2:00 PM. This fall, Bowdoinham Community Connections will offer in-person support to help residents prepare for upcoming changes to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to apply for Real IDs. To make an appointment, call (207) 666-3101..

  • Bowdoinham Property Tax Q&A, Acker’s Acers Disc Golf (205 Dingley Rd.), 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. A question and answer session with two members of the selectboard and one school board member regarding budgets, mil rate, valuations, and commitments.

. . .

SATURDAY, October 18th

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • The Art of Indigo with Elizabeth Davis, Merrymeeting Arts Center Studio (9 Main St.), 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM. Open to all skill levels, this hands-on session lets you create several unique, hand-dyed textiles to take home. All materials are included, and you'll also get tips on proper aftercare for your pieces. Suggested $40 registration required.

. . .

SUNDAY, October 19th

Events may change or be canceled without notice.

Fedcap Maine Warns: Avoid This EBT App Scam

A quick heads-up from the Fedcap Maine team:

There's a fake EBT app going around called "EBT edge - food stamps" (Green background). It appears official, but it's not the genuine one, and it attempts to charge users $4.99 per month or $60 upfront.

The real app you want is "ebtEDGE" (no spaces, black background, totally free) from the State's trusted vendor, Fidelity Information Services LLC (FIS).

Here's where to find it safely:

If you or someone you know uses EBT, please spread the word. This scam app is sneaky, but it can be stopped if people stay informed.

Happening Soon:

🐾 Midcoast Humane is bringing its Low-Cost Wellness Clinic to the Bowdoinham Town Office on Tuesday, October 22, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (final sign-up at 12:30 PM)! This first-come, first-served clinic offers affordable veterinary services to keep your pets healthy and happy - including dewormer ($5), rabies, distemper, or bordetella vaccines ($25 each), microchips ($35), lepto vaccines ($35), Lyme vaccines ($40), heartworm and feline triple tests ($45 each), and flea and tick treatments (priced by size and species). Each visit includes a vet exam with any service purchase. Cats must be in carriers, and dogs must be on leashes. Please bring your pet's vaccination records if you have them. Limited to four pets per client. Mark your calendar and show up early to give your furry friends the care they deserve!

.   .   .

🎃 Trunk-or-Treat is back at Mailly Waterfront Park on Saturday, Oct. 25, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Admission is simple: bring a non-perishable item or a small donation. Your generosity helps fill shelves at the Bowdoinham Food Pantry and supports the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger. Big thanks to Ancorum Credit Union for sponsoring this spooktacular night. Sweet treats, spooky vibes, good causes! 

.   .   .

📚 The Bowdoinham Booked Moms have chosen "The Mother Next Door" by Tara Laskowski as their book for Wednesday, October 29th. On Ivy Woods Drive, the picture-perfect Halloween block party hides more than pumpkins and candy - it hides the truth. When old secrets collide with new threats, the neighborhood moms discover just how far they'll go to protect their families. Want to meet other Bowdoinham moms and enjoy a good book and conversation (with other adults)? Join them at Merrymeeting Hall on the last Wednesday of each month for laughter and connection. For more info, email [email protected].

.   .   .

🗳️  Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 4th, at the Bowdoinham Community School. Voting isn't just about politics; it's about shaping the community we live in every day. On the local ballot, residents will decide whether the town should continue to take on winter maintenance of a short section of Pratt Road. Statewide, voters will weigh in on two significant referendum questions: one proposing changes to Maine's election laws, and another addressing whether courts can temporarily restrict access to firearms in cases of demonstrated risk to public safety. Every vote matters, especially when it comes to decisions that directly impact our town and state.

.   .   .

📖 The Loose Ladies Book Club will discuss “Memorial Days: a Memoir” by Geraldine Brooks, November 20th. In the wake of devastating loss, Geraldine Brooks seeks solace on a windswept Australian island, where silence and sea become her companions. Memorial Days is a tender meditation on love, mourning, and the rituals that help us begin again. Get your copy at Bowdoinham Public Library or your favorite local bookseller.

. . .

🧩  The Bowdoinham Public Library is bringing back its popular Puzzle Race on Saturday, November 15, at Merrymeeting Hall. Following the first race's smashing success, the library responded to the community's call to make it a proper fundraiser. The entry fee is now a tidy $20 per person for teams of four, with prizes for the winners and a well-deserved chili and cornbread supper afterward. For the younger puzzlers (15 and under), a special 300-piece puzzle race is available for a team fee of $20. Space is limited, so grab your sharpest puzzlers and register soon by emailing [email protected] or calling (207) 666-8405.

.   .   .

🎶 Merrymeeting Music House Concerts will feature Triton at Merrymeeting Hall on Saturday, November 22nd! Click here to get on the mailing list, so you don’t miss your RSVP link. Hailing from Vermont and Québec, Triton creates an orchestral blend of Old World sounds that defy every stereotype of their instruments. Their performances move seamlessly from Breton dance tunes to Scottish hornpipes, always with passion, precision, and a touch of storytelling. This is going to be a wonderful night of tunes, starting with an optional potluck at 5:30 PM, followed by music at 7:00 PM. A suggested $20 contribution goes entirely to the artists who make this magic happen! To keep this series going, they are also seeking concert sponsors to cover the hall rental and people interested in hosting musicians for a night. RSVPs are required, so keep an eye on your email for the link! 

.   .   .

🥧 Bowdoinham's Annual Pie Sale is back, and this year it's being hosted by the Bowdoinham Church of the Nazarene! Proceeds will be shared between the Fire Department and the Church's Compassionate Ministries Fund. The sale happens at the Fire Department on Tuesday, November 25th, starting at 8:00 AM and running until 7:00 PM (or until the pies run out!). Pie makers, this is your moment to shine! Donations of pies, ingredients, or even a little volunteer time are needed to make the sale a success. To get involved, contact Natausha Naylor at (207) 751-4014 (call or text) or email [email protected]. Donations of ingredients can be dropped off or picked up by arrangement. Details on pie drop-offs will be announced soon. It's a Bowdoinham tradition worth keeping around-so bake, buy, and be part of it!

“Real discipline doesn’t need an audience. It doesn’t need a uniform. It doesn’t even need to be loud. It is the quiet, unrelenting refusal to be mastered by comfort.”

⁃ Josh Hughes, Under The Crooked Tree

There you have it, Bowdoinhammer. Go forth and be community-minded.

Love,

Rodney

❤️