Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Thursday, December 4, 2014
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western maine holiday
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 4, 2014
Holidays in Maine downtowns By Sharon Bouchard Feature Writer
RIVER VALLEY AREA Breakfast with Santa Bre a k f a st w it h S a nt a , a fundraiser for Dirigo High School Class of 2017, will take place from 8-10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7 in the Region 9 cafeteria, 377 River Rd., Mexico. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee. Cost is $3 per ticket. Tickets available at Dirigo Elementar y School, Dirigo High School and Region 9. Bring your cameras. Photo opportunities available. All children may visit with Santa and will receive a small gift from him. Festival of Wreaths in Canton C a n t o n Vo l u n t e e r F i r e
Department Auxiliar y will be host i ng t hei r se c ond annual Festival of Wreaths from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 6-7. Ticket cost is six for $5 or $1 each. Consider donating a wreath of your choice/theme to be included in their raffle. Contact an auxiliary member for details. Visit the Canton Fire Department on any of the display dates to view the wreaths and purchase tickets for a chance to win one or more w reat hs (depending on t he luck of t he draw). V i sit Fac ebook at C V F D Auxiliary to contact them or see photos from last year’s festival. Proceeds are used to supplement t he tow n’s fire department budget and disaster relief to fire victims.
display their Home Made For The Holidays wares from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Christmas in the Valley Craft Fair at Mountain Valley High School. For more information, call 207-3921285.
Home Made For The Holidays in Rumford
Children’s Christmas Celebration in Dixfield
T he Ru m ford Un ited Met hod i st C hu rch w i l l
Festival of Trees show Rumford Per forming A rts Committee will hold its sixth annual Festival of Trees show on Saturday, Dec. 13 in the Rumford Falls Auditorium. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 6 :30 p.m. Applicat ions for those who would like to sponsor a tree are available to be picked up at the town hall. Lighted spots are limited. For questions, call 207-418-9067.
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Family Children’s Christmas Celebration will take place from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. For ages up to fifth grade, there will be a special gift d raw i ng, for wh ich each child can receive a ticket by bringing a canned good to donate to the local food pantry. Santa will arrive at 2 p.m. Craft fair in Andover T h e A n d o v e r F i r e m e n’s Associat ion is putt ing on a craft fair on Dec. 6 at The A ndover Fire Station. For more information, call 207392-1140.
OXFORD COUNTY Norway’s Main Street, one of the longest walking Main Streets in Western Maine, has undergone many ups and downs throughout its history. T h e g r e a t f i r e o f 18 9 3 dest royed most of t he businesses and devastated t h e l o c a l e c o n o m y. A lot of ha rd work a nd t he devotion and determination of bu s i ne s s p e ople a nd residents alike brought Main Street back to its former glory. Throughout most of the 20th century the downtown area was t he hea rt of Nor way. During t he Christ mas season, the colored lights strung across the street, the warm glow from all the retails stores that stayed open in the evening and the sounds of holiday music created a scenic and festive shopping district. T hen ca me t he shoppi ng malls and box stores enticing shoppers away from Main Street. Small retail merchants couldn’t compete and many had to close. Du r i ng t he late 1900s and early 2000, Main Street looked deserted with the exception of a few determined merchants. O nc e a g a i n, h a rd w ork ,
Sharon Bouchard photo
Cathy Murphy, Lively Accents devotion and determination is bringing Main Street back w ith a hea lthy heart. The r enov at e d O p er a Hou s e prov ides some shoppi ng options, but other areas of Main Street are blossoming as well. Lively Accents, at 310 Main Street, has a vast inventory of handcra f ted jewelr y of tourmaline and other Maine stones and sea glass. Owner/ op e r a t or C a t h y Mu r ph y de s ig n s a nd c r e at e s a l l the jewelry and shares her k nowledge w it h jewel r ymaking classes. “I’ve just celebrated my first year here on Main Street,” said Murphy. “And it has been a pretty good year.” Gi f t cer t i f icates a nd layaways are available as well as prices to fit every budget. For Ch r ist ma s, L ively Accents allows people to fill out a wish list that husband or whomever ca n consult to assist in t heir holiday shopping.
L ively Accent s is open Monday to Thursday a nd Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. You can find them on Facebook, at w w w.livelyaccents.com and by calling 207-743-0360. Across the street at 329 Main, t he Green Mach i ne Bi ke Shop of fers h ig h-qua l it y bikes for a ll abilities a nd ages and repair services for any make of bicycle. In spite of the name, fans of winter will find a nice selection of alpine and telemark skis and accessor ies ; t hey a lso do stone-grind ski tunes. “We do year round rentals,” sa id ow ner Joh n Ha r vey. “And, new this year just in time for Christmas is the Fat Bike with over-sized tires that can go in the snow.” Another interesting gift idea is the “Be Cool Trainer” -- a bicycle training simulator on which people can go online
Downtowns
page 8 ‰
western maine holiday
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 4, 2014
How to save on high-tech gifts By MetroCreative Gadgets are among the most popular gifts come the holiday season. In 2013, CreditDonkey.com surveyed shoppers to determine what they planned to give during the holidays, and electronics were second only to gift cards among the most popular gifts to give.
Unwrapping the latest tablet or a big-screen television can be exciting, but electronics can be expensive. Those who plan to give their loved ones the latest gadgetry should be happy to learn there are ways to do so that don't require breaking the bank. Scale back. Oftentimes people are buying more computer or data than they actually need. For example, when buying computers, it's tempting to go for those that boast the most memory, but that extra memory is only useful to those people who truly need it. A less expensive model that suits your loved one's genuine needs will make for an impressive and more practical gift. Determine necessity. Some gadgets are more a desire than a necessity. Decide if a particular device will be an asset to your loved one or just another trendy item that soon will be gathering dust. Look for devices that your loved one will make the most of. If the purchase is not warranted, save your money and look for something else. Consider refurbished items. Don't shy away from refurbished items, as the discounts can be steep. Refurbished items are often just items that were returned to the store because they're not needed or because the item was malfunctioning. Returned items are factor y-tested and then repackaged. Opt for refurbished items that carry a manufacturer-backed warranty for greater peace of mind. Consider open box items. Just because packaging is dented or torn does not mean the merchandise inside is damaged. Purchasing a product that's not inside a pristine box can sometimes yield a 10 to 15 percent discount at retailers that offer open-box specials. Just verify that all cords, manuals and other accessories are inside the box before leaving the store.
Shoppers can employ several strategies to save money on gadgets this holiday season. mean last year's phone, video game console or computer is any less effective than the updated version. Models from previous years likely won't be much different from the latest models, but they do figure to be considerably less expensive. Look for coupon codes. When researching products, search for coupon codes for desired electronics and retailers. Web-based retailers may post coupon codes that add up to significant savings. Just ensure that the total cost after taxes and shipping fees are calculated makes the purchase worth your while. Skip the warranty. Extended warranties often cost more money than potential repairs. In addition, after a few year's time, your loved one may be looking to upgrade his or her gadget anyway, making the extended warranty an unnecessary expense. Gadgets make for popular yet expensive holiday gifts. But holiday shoppers can save money on electronics by employing a few savings strategies.
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T he b el l s a r e r i n g i n g , s i g n a l i n g t h e s t a r t of a not her holiday season, and the itch to decorate is setting in. You could buy all new decorations, but what's the point with all of the stuff in your attic. Wouldn't you rat her cut some corners with the decorations and put w hate ver you s ave toward your gift budget? You can do a lot with a little. Here's how.
décor, less can be more. To save on costs, restrict you r decor at i ng to t he rooms you use the most. Think about all of the areas guests would frequent if you were to have a party a nd foc u s you r ef for t s there. Go sparingly in the kitchen and bathrooms to avoid interfering with the business that takes place there. You don't want to have maneuver around a lot of garland to whip up a batch of cookies or brush your teeth.
Use what you have
Shop at home
P u l l out t h e b ox e s of de c or at ion s f r om y ou r attic, unpack them, spread everything out on the floor and select a theme from what's there. See a lot of vintage decorations? How about a retro theme? See a lot red and gold? How about a red and gold theme? See a lot of reindeer? How about a reindeer theme? Once you have a theme in mind, you can set aside the items that will bring it to life.
L o ok to c a r r y out t he theme in the rooms of your choice with the items you have on hand. Use what you set aside earlier and supplement it with items you find around the house. If you are going for a rustic theme, for example, grab some pinecones from your yard, spray paint them gold and stack a few of them with some ornaments in a bowl on t he f ireplace mantel. At t ach some r ibbon to
Remember less is more
Budget
When it comes to holiday
page 4 ‰
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Sixty-three percent of respondents cited their intentions to give electronics, while the survey also found that 76 percent of people planned to request electronics as holiday gifts. Gadgets figure to be popular gifts again this holiday season.
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western maine holiday
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 4, 2014
Gift exchange dos and don'ts By MetroCreative Chanuka h, Christmas and New Yea r's Eve a re r ig ht a rou nd t he c or ner. T h at mea ns neig hborhoods, buildings and stores will soon be awash in holiday splendor. S oc ia l s che du le s w i l l be f ull, a nd men a nd women e v e r y w h e r e w i l l s hu f f l e to complete t hei r hol iday shopping.
more about having fun and exchanging a little something w it h f r iend s a nd f a m i l y members t ha n wa l k ing away with amazing prizes. Establish a spending limit so everyone receives a gift of roughly the same value and no one feels slighted or left out.
Grab bags are a staple of this season of g iv ing, a nd t he following are a few dos and don'ts to ensure participation in gift exchanges is fun and friendly for all involved.
DON'T exceed the spending limit. It can be tempting to spend more to make your gift appear more impressive. But overspend i ng defeat s t he purpose of the gift exchange. G r a b b a g s t y pic a l l y a r e anonymous, so being overly generous will not win you any style points.
DO set a gift amount limit. Hol iday g rab bags a re
DO make it a game. Tossing gifts in a bag only to have
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others reach in and grab one is certainly effective. But the concept can be even more fun if you make a game out of it. Try passing wrapped gifts around in a circle to a holiday song. When the music stops, the gift you are holding is the one you open. Experiment with your own variations to ma ke gift exchanges more fun. DON'T let anyone see the gift you bring. The idea is to keep things as secretive as possible so as not to sway the selection of presents. DO ensure your gift is unisex. Unless you know specifically that only men or women will be open i ng t he present s, select items that will appeal to both genders. Food, gift cards, music, or home staples make great grab bag gifts. DON'T forget to consider ages as well. Gift exchanges
Budget from page 3
whatever pinecones are left
Gift exchanges in the form of grab bags, auctions, swaps, and other games make for fun additions to holiday festivities. They also can be a part of any family or friends gathering to add excitement and entertainment to the occasion. may include both children a nd adu lts, so i nclude gifts that appeal to all ages when necessar y. W hen the exchange has ended, allow participants to swap gifts if they want to. DO expect some grab bag gifts to be gag gifts. Such gifts are entertaining and may make
and hang them on your tree. Remove your pla id t hrow from the back of the sofa, wrap it around the base of your Christ mas t ree, a nd
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up the majority of the grab bag gifts. Keep your sense of humor and you're likely to enjoy grab bags a lot more. DON'T regift items to use as grab bag picks. Should the person who gave you the gift participate in the grab bag, he or she can trace that gift back to you and may be offended.
DO make sure ever yone is aware that there will be a grab bag gift exchange, as there needs to be an equal number of g if ts to pa r t icipa nts so everyone gets a treat. Hosts may want to have a few extra wrapped gifts around just in case someone forgets to bring their contribution.
voila, your theme is all set.
Look for bargains
Get crafty
Occasionally you may have to buy something new. Shop around for the best deals. C he c k out c on s i g n ment shops and flea markets. Look for sales and coupons. Take advantage of whatever offers are available to keep costs low.
You may discover you still need somet h i ng i n spite of a l l of t he reusing a nd repurposing. Before you go out and buy it, try making it first. Need a new wreath? St r i n g s om e or n a m e nt s together and add a bow and ha nger. Ne e d some ne w stockings? Make some from scraps of fabr ic a nd felt. Need some new garland? Try strands of ribbon or strings of popcorn and cranberries.
Follow t hese cost-cutt ing strategies, and you're sure to save a bund le on your holiday decorating, perhaps even enough for a gift for you. Wouldn't that be nice?
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western maine holiday
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 4, 2014
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Holiday crafting:
Be inspired by traditions from around the world By Family Features Bring the joy and celebration of holiday traditions from around the world to your home this season.
By Johnny Marks You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen, Comet, and Cupid, and Donder and Blitzen But do you recall The most famous reindeer of all... Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer Had a very shiny nose And if you ever saw ityou would even say it glows All of the other reindeer
From t he qua i nt custom of placi ng ha nd-pa i nted l u m i n a r i e s i n w i nd o w s throughout Ireland, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has created this craft project to share with your loved ones. It's so simple, the whole family can lend a hand. For more crafting inspiration, project guides and supplies, v isit www.joann.com.
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lit candles in windows. Let this quaint holiday custom add warmth and joy to your home. Glass containers with handpainted designs and flameless candles look welcoming in windows or on a table. Supplies and Tools: • Black marker • White computer paper • Computer and printer • Provided templates • Scissors • Square and rectangular glass containers • Tape • Enamel paint: red, green and white • Flat brush • Detail brush • Flameless or wax candles Create templates using a black marker to draw snowf lakes a nd ot her decorat ive holiday mot ifs on paper. V i s i t w w w. j o a n n . c o m /
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luminarytemplate to print out additional templates. Cut the templates to fit inside the desired glass containers.
deer, etc. It may take several coats of paint to attain desired c over a ge. L et pa i nt d r y between coats.
Tape templates securely to the inside of glass container with design facing out. This will act as a guide when painting.
When finished, let the painted d e s i g n d r y c o m p l e t e l y. Remove templates from the inside of containers. Fill the conta i ner w it h f la meless or wax candles to display. Note: If using wax candles, do not leave burning candles unattended.
Using enamel paint colors, paint over template designs on g la ss su r face. Create snow f la kes, t rees, words,
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western maine holiday
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 4, 2014
Is it really a deal? By MetroCreative
appliance, holiday shoppers should ensure the item's recipient will not be subject to a considerable fee if he or she decides to return the gift.
Things to consider before buying this holiday season Few holiday shoppers can resist a great deal. Whether it's heavily discounted merchandise on Black Friday or lastminute sales for shoppers who procrastinate, there are deals to be had from the start of the holiday season until its unofficial end sometime around New Year's Day. But not all deals are what they seem. Many a shopper has swiped their card on a gift for a loved one only to find out later they overspent or didn't read the fine print and subjected themselves or their friends and family members to potentially costly fees. The following are a handful of things shoppers should consider before making any purchases this holiday season.
Restocking fees As thoughtful as holiday gifts may be, many are ultimately returned. Recipients may already have similar items at home or find a particular gift does not suit their personal styles. Because returns are so common, shoppers should read the fine print before buying gifts to ensure their purchases are not subject to restocking fees if they must be returned. Restocking fees can apply to any product, but they are most often applied to electronics. A restocking fee is a charge the person returning the gift must repay upon bringing the gift back to the store or mailing it back to the warehouse. Restocking fees often apply to items that are not returned in their original factory-sealed box, and these fees can be exorbitant, sometimes as much as 20 percent of the cost of the product. So before buying that big-ticket television or
Extended warranties Many items come with manufacturer warranties that cover damaged items for a predetermined period of time. But many shoppers want to go the extra mile and buy extended warranties that protect the products for longer periods of time. While that's good in theory, studies from Consumer Reports have shown that products rarely break within the time period covered by extended warranties, meaning shoppers are simply buying a false sense of security they're unlikely to ever use. When considering an extended warranty, first research the product you want to buy by reading customer reviews of the product on popular sites such as Amazon.com. Such sites can offer valuable insight with regard to how reliable products are. If multiple reviewers note that a given product has never given them a reason to reconsider their purchase, then you likely don't need an extended warranty. If you still want the extra protection, read the fine print of the extended warranty so you know just what it does and does not cover.
Return policies Because so many gifts are returned once the holidays have come and gone, it's important to understand a retailer's return policy before buying a gift for a friend or family member. Instore purchases may be subject to different return policies than items bought online, which may need to be returned via the mail, a potentially costly expense for the gift's recipient
MS photo
Resisting a holiday deal can be difficult. But shoppers should first read the fine print before making any purchases so they can rest easy knowing they made the best decision possible. depending on the size of the gift. Try to shop only at stores with f lexible, consumer-friendly return policies so your friend or family member does not have to jump through hoops just to return the gift.
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western maine holiday
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 4, 2014
7
Effectively manage your credit this holiday season By MetroCreative
S
pend i ng is s y nony mou s w it h the holiday season. A c c or d i n g t o t he U.S. Census Monthly Retail Trade Su r ve y, spend i ng rose throughout the holiday s e a s o n i n 2 013 , w h e n consumers spent more than $300 billion in the month of December alone. If spending and the holiday season go hand-in-hand, so, too, does January and t he f i n a nc i a l h a ngov er t hat results from hav ing spent so much in November a nd D e c emb er. Ma ny consumers find themselves in considerable debt come t h e n e w y e a r, h a v i n g decided to put many of their holiday purchases on plastic when the season was in full swing. But just because t he holidays a re a season of spending does not mean the first months of the new year need to be an exercise in extricating yourself from debt. T he fol low i ng a re a few ways shoppers can ef fect ively ma nage t heir credit this holiday season. Don't use credit just to earn bonuses. One way to fa ll into significant debt is to justif y your use of credit ca rds a s a g reat way to earn miles, points or cashback bonuses. While such rewards can be appealing, if you're a f ra id t hat you will overspend this holiday season if you put everything on plastic, then don't do so just so you ca n ea r n bonuses. Credit cards should only be used when you have enough money to pay off a balance in its entirety before you incur
any interest charges. Those rewards might be tempting, but they're not as valuable if you overspend and end up paying substantial interest charges. Avoid retailer credit cards. Retailer credit cards also entice shoppers with deals. W hen pu rcha si ng item s in-store, customers often are asked if they would like to earn a percentage off of their purchase by signing up for a retailer credit card. Such discounts may fa l l any where between 10 and 20 percent, a deal that many men and women may find too tempting to resist. However, reta i ler cred it c a rd s of ten c ome w it h much h ig her i nterest rates than standard credit ca rds. Un less you k now you can pay off the balance immediately, decline the offer to sign up for a retailer credit card, opting instead to pay for your items with cash or a preexisting card that carries a much lower interest rate.
multiple cards when making holiday purchases is a great way to lose track of how much you have spent. Even though the Internet makes it easy to check balances on all of your cards multiple times per day, managing credit is still easier if you only need to log in to a single account to monitor your holiday spending. Make a daily effort to monitor that spending, as it's free to view your ba lance online and such monitoring can greatly reduce the likelihood that you will overspend.
but such a mistake also has a more long-term effect, as your credit score suf fers anytime you exceed your limit.
Don't exceed your credit limit. One of t he biggest yet most preventable mistakes consumers make come the holiday season is exceeding their credit limits. Exceeding your credit limit not only means you will have a rough month of January when the bills come due,
Some cards hold variable interest rates, which means the interest charged back in June may be far lower than the interest you will be charged in January. Before using a ny of your credit cards, determine which one holds t he lowest interest rate and use that one when making holiday purchases.
Know your interest rates. Thoug h it's best to on ly use a credit card when you k now you ca n repay t he balance in full when the bill arrives, some consumers simply must carry a balance. In such insta nces, k now the interest rate held by a particular card before you swipe that card to make a purchase.
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Though spending might be synonymous with the holiday season, consumers need not accept credit card debt as a harsh reality of January. Taking steps to manage credit effectively when holiday shopping can make January a more enjoyable time of year.
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western maine holiday
Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Thursday, December 4, 2014
Downtown from page 2
and ride or compete w ith others from the comfort of home. Bikes and skis can be put on lay away and gift certificates are also available. “P e o p l e c a n c h e c k o u r Facebook page for upcoming events and holiday specials,” sa id A ngela Ha r ve y, c oowner with her husband. Winter hours are Wednesday a nd Thursday f rom 10 :30 a . m .-5 p. m . a nd F r id a y 10 : 3 0 a . m .- 6 p . m . a n d S a t u r d a y 10 : 3 0 a . m .- 3 p.m. The website is w w w. greenmachinebikeshop.com and telephone 207-739-2324. R i g ht ne x t do or a t 3 3 3 Main is the Great Kingdom Emporium. A mother-anddaug hter tea m of Glor ia Jean Mulcahy and Lisa-Jean Veyera, who have created, in their words, an “Almost magical, clearly whimsical” store environment of handpainted furniture, decorative pi l low s, v i nt a ge fabr ic s, col lect ibles a nd some antiques. “We buy unloved furniture and make it loveable again,” said Veyera. “This store is what we have always dreamed of for the two of us,” added her mother. For t he hol id ay s e a s on, Mulcahy has made a variety of whimsical and beautiful Ch r ist ma s stock i ngs a nd Ve yer a ha s made a n ice a ssor t ment of f u n a nd interest ing Chr ist mas ornaments. Shoppers ca n buy g i f t c er t i f ic at e s or do a l a y away at the Great Kingdom Emporium. Store hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Check their Facebook page for Sunday hours or call 207-570-9899. A l it t le fa r t her up Ma i n Street shoppers can satisfy
Submitted photo
Chester Greenwood Day a sweet tooth at Jennicakes Bake Shop at 434 Main Street where they will be tempted by the delicious variety of cupcakes and other pastries. “We make everything from scratch a nd ba ke it r ig ht here,” said Jennifer Billings, owner and head baker. A s wel l a s cupca kes a nd pastries, chicken, turkey and pork pies are available on Thursdays and homebaked Jac ob’s C at t le Be a n s on Saturday. There is the soup of t he d a y s e r v e d w it h homemade bread that can be consu med t here or to go. Custom ca kes for a l l occasions can be ordered. Jen n ic a ke Ba ke Shop i s taking orders for Christmas pies, wh ich i nclude pork pie made f rom a French Canadian recipe, pecan pie made without corn syrup for a healthier alternative and traditional fruit pies. Jennicakes also does catering and will do office Christmas parties with dessert platters and other savory goodies.
was only 15 years old when he designed the first pair of ear protectors out of wire, beaver fur, and cloth. At the age of 19, he acquired a U.S. patent. By age 28, t he C he s t e r G r e e nw o o d & C ompa ny f ac tor y w a s produc i ng a nd sh ippi ng cha mpion ea r protectors world w ide. I n 1936, t he company had its biggest year producing 400,000 pairs of earmuffs. The annua l Chester Greenwood Day is hosted by t he Fr a n k l i n C ou nt y Chamber of Commerce and takes place the first Saturday i n D e c e m b e r, b r i n g i n g t housa nds to t he a rea to watch and/or participate in the hour-long parade. Cash prizes are awarded for floats entered in the parade. This yea r’s t heme is “Hol iday Movies” and earmuffs must be worn on pa r t icipat ing floats.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Sample the chili in Meetinghouse Park after the parade, and warm up from the inside out as you enjoy the annual Chili Challenge. Or head to Bangor Savings Bank on Main Street to view the wonderful gingerbread houses that many have spent hours creating in the annual Gingerbread House Contest. Those who attend may also enjoy a tasty piece of cake in honor of Chester Greenwood.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, Chester Greenwood Day, our annual celebration of Farmington resident Chester Greenwood, the inventor of earmuffs will ta ke place w it h a holiday movies theme. Greenwood
As you stroll t hrough t he downtown area, you’ll see folks of all ages having great fun while shopping, enjoying food f rom t he wonder f u l eateries, or viewing the trees at the Rotary Club’s Festival
Store hours are Monday thru Fr iday 7 a.m.-6 p.m. a nd Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m. You can find them on Facebook or call 207-739-2138 to place or de r s a nd t o s c he du le catering.
Sharon Bouchard photo
Lisa-Jean Veyera and Gloria Jean Mulcahy of Great Kingdom Emporium
Sharon Bouchard photo
John and Angela Harvey of Green Machine Bike Shop of Trees event at the historic North Church. You may even run into one of Greenwood’s fa mi ly members as ma ny make the trek to Farmington each year to participate in t he parade and v isit w it h relatives who still live locally. Musicians and carolers from Mt. Blue High School and the University of Maine at Fa r m i ng ton w i l l l i ne t he streets and corners sharing beautiful songs and carols for passersby.
i n v o l v e d i n t h i s y e a r ’s Chester Greenwood Day, including parade registration forms, Chili and Gingerbread contest ent r y for m s a nd more!
Visit the Chamber website to lea r n how to become
S a t u r d a y, D e c . 1 3 - Santa Loop in Dow ntow n
Other events taking place on Saturday, Dec. 6, include a Gingerbread House Display at Bangor Savings, a Chili Contest in t he Ga zebo at Meetinghouse Park, and a Polar Bear Dip in Clearwater Lake at 3 p.m.
Farmington. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free horse d raw n wagon r ide s to a rea dow ntow n busi nesses for ch i ld ren’s events. Visit Sa nta at t he Homestead Bakery (photos available for a sma ll fee). Mr. Claus will be available from 10 a.m - 1 p.m at the Hom e s t e a d t o l i s t e n t o children’s requests, and for photo opportunities. Keep up with all the downtown events by l i k i ng t hei r Facebook page at facebook .com/ downtownfarmingtonME.