Bowie Insider Issue #314

💬 QOD, $10k Homeowner Grants, Shelf Cloud, Back to School Bash, New Bowie Directory, Events and Activities 🗓️, 🤣Meme

Author

Bowie Insider
July 17, 2025

In this issue of the Bowie Insider…

💬 Quote of the Day
📰 Bowie Homeowners Can Receive Up to $10,000 for Repairs Through Rehab Grant Program
📰 Shelf Cloud Stunned Bowie 🫢
📰 Save the Date: Back to School Bash Returns to Bowie
📰 Bowie Insider Prepares to Launch A Comprehensive Business and Community Directory
📰 From Storytime to Bestseller Signings—A Book Fest for All Ages in Bowie This Weekend
🗓️ Events and Activities
🤣 Meme of the Day
📍 Having an Event? Submit it for free
📣 Local Business & Organization Spotlight Apply Here or Nominate one

Quote of the Day

“She was unstoppable, not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.” ~ Beau Taplin

Bowie Homeowners Can Receive Up to $10,000 for Repairs Through Rehab Grant Program

Image Credit: City of Bowie

If you're a homeowner in the City of Bowie, help is available for critical home repairs through the Single Family Housing Rehabilitation Program. This federally funded grant program provides eligible single-family homeowners with up to $10,000 to address health, safety, and energy efficiency concerns in their homes.

The types of repairs covered by the grant include correcting hazardous conditions, repairing or replacing major home systems (such as electrical, plumbing, or HVAC), fixing interior and exterior deficiencies, and making homes more energy-efficient. The program also allows for accessibility upgrades for residents with disabilities, as well as the removal of lead-based paint hazards—an important safety concern in older homes.

The goal of the program is to ensure that residents can maintain safe, livable, and energy-efficient housing without the financial burden of large repair bills. It’s a great opportunity for homeowners who need improvements but may not have the resources to fund them on their own.

To learn more or to apply, visit www.cityofbowie.org/housingrehab. Additional programs are also available at the state level. Visit dhcd.maryland.gov for more information.

The Shelf Cloud That Stunned Bowie

NBC 4 weathermen Chuck Bell reported that the cloud formation that appeared over Bowie last week is a shelf cloud. A shelf cloud is a low, horizontal cloud seen at the front of a storm. It forms when warm air is lifted by cooler air from the storm, creating a dramatic, rolling shape. Though it looks severe, a shelf cloud doesn’t produce tornadoes but often signals strong winds and heavy rain.

A dramatic shelf cloud rolled over Bowie, Maryland, on the evening of July 9, 2025, as a potent line of thunderstorms swept through the region. Captured by local observers—most notably @CamFor44—the formation appeared as a dark, rolling wall of cloud, ominously hovering over the city before unleashing a wave of wind, rain, and electrical activity.

The National Weather Service had already issued flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings for Bowie and neighboring areas, including Prince George’s County. Though no tornadoes touched down, the atmosphere bristled with energy: lightning danced across the sky, heavy rain drenched streets, and powerful gusts rattled trees and power lines.

In the end, the shelf cloud left Bowie residents both awed and relieved—awed by nature’s raw spectacle, relieved that the storm passed without major damage. It was a textbook display of a thunderstorm’s leading edge, and one Bowie won’t soon forget.

Save the Date: Back to School Bash Returns to Bowie on August 16th

Image Credit: City of Bowie

Bowie families are invited to the annual Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Bowie Gymnasium 4100 Northview Drive Bowie. Open to children ages 4 to 10 and their parents, the free event promises a fun-filled afternoon with carnival games, moon bounces, cornhole, a live DJ, and a community resource area. It’s a joyful way to kick off the new school year while connecting with neighbors and local organizations.

Sponsored by Darcars Automotive Group of Bowie, the Bash also includes a school supply giveaway—but donations are still needed to ensure every child is ready. New items can be dropped off at the City Gymnasium 4100 Northview Drive.

Donation needs include: backpacks, pencils, notebooks, crayons, glue sticks, folders, scissors, and markers.

Come for the fun, give what you can, and help set Bowie’s youngest learners up for success!

Bowie Insider Prepares to Launch A Comprehensive Business and Community Directory

The Bowie Insider is gearing up to launch a dynamic new resource - the Bowie Directory. The soon-to-be-released Bowie Directory will be a comprehensive guide to the businesses and organizations that serve the city.

The mission of the Bowie Directory is to help our community easily discover and connect with the services, shops, and community groups that make Bowie unique while strengthening community ties and promoting local commerce. The directory is set to become an essential tool for connection and discovery in Bowie.

The directory will feature a broad range of listing—from small local startups and well-known national brands to civic associations and nonprofits. It’s a one-stop guide for anyone looking to support local commerce or get involved in the community. With this new directory, the Bowie Insider is making it easier than ever to navigate and celebrate everything the city has to offer.

From Storytime to Bestseller Signings—A Book Fest for All Ages in Bowie This Weekend

Image Credit: The Write Women Book Fest 2025

Back for its sixth year, The Write Women Book Fest celebrates women and marginalized voices from July 18–20 at two Bowie venues. The festival’s hallmark event takes place Saturday, July 19 (12–5 p.m.), in the Comfort Inn & Conference Center ballroom (4500 Crain Hwy). With 100+ women authors on site, attendees can browse a lively book fair, attend poetry readings, and meet BookTubers. Ticketed admission ($29–$35) includes access to popular authors like Jane Doe, bestselling novelist of “City Lights,” and Maria Smith, acclaimed poet and memoirist.

The children’s area delights young readers with storytimes—including a Drag Queen session with D’Manda Martini and firefighter readings—alongside crafts, scavenger-hunt freebies, and swag bags.

On Sunday, July 20 (2–4 p.m.), festivities shift to South Bowie Public Library for free author panels and writing workshops. Though open to the public, spaces are limited—registration required.

From lively storytelling to hands-on writing sessions, the fest encourages aspiring writers, fosters community, and showcases diverse talent—all just minutes from home in Bowie. Whether you're building a TBR list or seeking creative inspiration, it’s an enlightening weekend not to be missed.

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