The start of 2010 offers the residents of Bowdoinham two very different opportunities for civic engagement by casting votes:

one to fill an unexpired term on the Board of Selectmen and another to select photos that you believe best represent Bowdoinham and what you love about Bowdoinham.

Item 1: On Tuesday, February 2nd from 10 am – 8 pm at the Coombs Municipal Building, cast your vote to fill the unexpired term of Selectman. Two candidates are on the ballot: Dan Billings and Doug Tourtelotte. The term, formally held by Steve Ciembroniewicz, runs until June 2011. Absentee ballots are available at the town office. If you have any questions, please contact Town Clerk Pam Ross at 666-5531.

Item 2: From now through January 27th, visit Bowdoinham’s website at www.bowdoinham.com and choose your three favorite Bowdoinham photos that you think best represent what you love about Bowdoinham. The final choices will be entered into the Orton Family Foundation’s Heart and Soul photo contest which was created to celebrate, nurture and revive community heart and soul – Stay tuned because if we are chosen as a finalist by the Orton Family Foundation, we’ll be instructing you to vote for Bowdoinham’s photo! This is just a fun way to celebrate Bowdoinham and share with the rest of the country what is so special about living in this small town that we call home!

Item 3: Speaking of what makes Bowdoinham so special…….the EMS Department is comprised of 9 volunteer men and women who are on call 24 hours every day to respond to the emergency needs of our residents. These dedicated volunteers respond to emergencies before an ambulance is able to arrive at the scene. This month we recognize three of the volunteers: Michael Davis, Dawna Bowlin and Terri Herard who just completed their EMT Basic Class. This class requires over 170 hours of classroom and hands-on training along with a written test and a practical test. Congratulations - volunteers like you help make up the heart and soul of Bowdoinham!

Item 4: EMS Director Ann Davis would like to remind everyone to please have your mailboxes or homes clearly numbered and visible from the road for emergency personnel. And, though it is often difficult in the winter months, please keep your driveway clear. This will enable the emergency personnel (EMS or Fire) to respond quicker to your calls for help.

Item 5: Once again, the residents of Bowdoinham have shown their true giving nature – 37 Bowdoinham children received a MUCH happier Christmas this year thanks to the efforts of Bowdoinham residents through the Giving Tree located at the Town Landing Restaurant. Also, the Electa Chapter #2 Order of the Eastern Star filled 23 Christmas stockings for our families. The staff at FHC also sponsored two families with lots of toys and goodies. It is very special to see the smiles on the families when they pick up their packages!! Thank you to all of you who gave and a special thank you to Town Clerk Pam Ross who organized the entire Giving Tree program!!

Item 6: The Fire Department would like to remind residents of the importance of having a fire evacuation plan particularly during the winter months. Should a fire occur, do you have an evacuation plan? Does this plan take into account the need to evacuate to a warm place until the Fire Department arrives? Is their a secondary means of egress and is it clear of snow? Do you have blankets in your car? These same blankets can be used to keep you warm should your car breakdown on the side of the road. Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm? Please take a few minutes to review your evacuation plan and make sure that all of your family members know what to do in case of a fire.

Item 7: More fire prevention tips – Woodstove safety - DO NOT burn garbage in your woodstove and please maintain a 36” clearance from any combustible material. For more on woodstove safety, go to www.efficiencymaine.com

Item 8: Though it may be winter, thanks to Bowdoinham Recreation you may swim FREE at the Bowdoin College Swimming Pool on Sunday afternoons from 4:30-5:30 pm beginning January 17th through the end of April (with the exception of March 7 & 14). All you need to do is bring proof of insurance with you when you first go and for each time after you just sign in at pool side!

Item 9: Village Seniors activities continue through the winter months; come join in on the fun! On January 14th there will be a noon lunch at the Bowdoinham Estates on Preble Road– rumor is that it will be a Boiled Dinner with a game of Bingo to follow. On January 21st, Valentine Day cards will be made with resident “expert” Tricia Dau from 10-11:30 am (location to be determined). Also on January 21, there will be a lunch at the Second Baptist Church – social hour at 11 am and lunch will be served at 11:45 am. After lunch, Bowdoinham Health Officer Rebecca Miller will demonstrate “Go Bags”. If you have a “Go Bag”, please bring it with you to help demonstrate.

Item 10: Snowmobile Trail Maps are available at the town office for a $3 donation– the maps were made courtesy of the snowmobile club, The Snowbirds and are a great resource for snowmobile enthusiasts, x-country skiers, and snow-shoers!

Item 11: DOG LICENSES – You must license your dog by January 29th or you will have to pay a $15.00 late fee in addition to the regular licensing fee. Proof of rabies vaccination is needed.

Item 12: Ice Rink – New hockey goals for the rink have been purchased. As you may know, the public ice rink is located next to the Recreation Fields. Along with this purchase, cooperation from skaters is needed: once you are done using the goals, please drag them off the ice before you leave. If they are left on the ice, melting occurs around the base causing them to freeze in the ice; this becomes a safety issue if someone falls and slides into the goal posts.

Item 13: Sidewalks – Town Planner Nicole Briand reports that a Request for Qualifications for Consultant Services for the design and engineering of the proposed sidewalk project has been completed. The request has been posted on the Town’s website and on the Department of Transportation’s website with a February 5th deadline for firms to submit their proposals. Once the proposals are reviewed, three firms will be chosen for interviews. This is for the design and engineering phase only. The construction of the sidewalks is not scheduled to begin (at the earliest) until the spring of 2011.

Lastly, since I am such a sports fan and particularly a football fan during this time of the year: Go Patriots!!

Kathy Durgin-Leighton
Town Manager