We’d like to toot our own horn for a minute.

A good Monday to you dear Bowdoinhammer,

Whoever ordered all this snow for Christmas must have ordered it from one of those ads on Facebook because it’s LATE. Better late than never though. We hope the snowmobile and snowman enthusiasts are taking advantage of it!

Social media platforms have their place, but they’re no substitute for the kind of community building that face-to-face experiences have. Bowdoinhammer is a project that started in June of 2022 with the creation of Bowdoinhammer.com, a website made specifically for the residents of Bowdoinham to seek out opportunities to connect through community events.

According to the analytics, traffic was slow when we started. By the end of 2022, we were lucky if we had 10 people look at it in a month. Now we have almost 20 new views a week. We started the newsletter in July of 2023 with tiny but eager audience of 15 people. As of today, we have 117 subscribers with an opening rate of 80% (20-40% is considered good according to the marketing wizards on the internets). Not bad for a passion project by some locals! TOOT TOOT! 🎺

Here’s what’s happening this week:

MONDAY, JANUARY 8TH

• 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.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9TH

• Storytime for Preschoolers and their Grown-ups with Miss Kate at the Bowdoinham Public Library (13a School St.) 10am.

• Recycling Drop-off at the Public Works Facility (121 Pond Rd.) Noon to 6pm.

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

• Merrymeeting Dance Alinement's Open Studio Time at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 5:30pm to 7:30pm. FMI: call George Oliver (207) 666-3589.

• Select Board Meeting in the Kendall Room at the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 6:30pm. Town Hall Streams link.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10TH

• Bridge players can enjoy weekly game play at the Bowdoinham Fire Station (57 Post Rd.) 9:30am to 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.

• 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.

• Silver Striders Walking Club in the Bowdoinham Community School gymnasium (23 Cemetery Rd.) 4:30 to 7pm. Please be sure to bring clean shoes to wear when inside the school!

• Pickleball in the Bowdoinham Community School gymnasium (23 Cemetery Rd.) 4:30 to 8pm. This is open to adults of any age and ability. The group has friendly games with mixed levels of competition. New to Pickleball and want to learn? Stop by and check it out!

• Solid Waste Committee Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 6pm to 7:30pm.

• 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.

• Friends of Merrymeeting Bay present "Archaeology from Swamps & Caves" featuring Dr. Becca Peixotto, field archaeologist. Starts at 7pm. Pre-registration required. FMI: call (207) 666-3372 or email [email protected].

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11TH

• 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.

• Intermediate Yoga Class with Ann Flannery at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 8am to 9:30am. $15. FMI: [email protected].

• 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.

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

• Finance Advisory Committee Meeting in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 3pm.

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12TH

• Nothing really.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13TH

• 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.

• 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.

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

• Jessie Dowling Library Talk hosted by the Bowdoinham Public Library in the Kendall Room of the John C. Coombs Municipal Building (13 School St.) 3pm to 4:30pm. Zoom link available at BowdoinhamLibrary.org.

• Farm Dinner: French Inspired – American Comfort at Dandelion Spring Farm (961 Ridge Rd.) 4:30pm to 8pm. $125.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14TH

• Bowdoinham Community Brunch at Merrymeeting Hall (27 Main St.) 10am to 12:30pm. Come out and join your neighbors for breakfast, fellowship, and conversation.

• Bowdoinham Second Baptist (1 Church St.) Sunday Service 10am.

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

As of the publication of this email, these events are current. Some events may cancel or change without notice. Check out Bowdoinhammer.com for an up-to-date list of events.

Spread the word, send us emails when you have public events, and tag us in Bowdoinham happenings you see online. It all adds up and sure puts the community in this community project!

Love

Rodney and Tessa

❤️