FARMINGTON — Do you have an idea to improve Chester Greenwood’s earmuff design?

The Farmington Downtown Association wants to see it and invites area residents to try their ideas out for an Ear-Muffler Fashion Show and Design Contest planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in Meetinghouse Park.

“Earmuff design is something that most people think is old technology,” Dennis Haszko, who operates a patent office in Farmington, said.  “What’s old is new. We’re reinventing the wheel again.”

The US Patent Office just gave a Baltimore firm a patent for a new “ear warmer” in August of this year.  The patent references many old patents, including Greenwood’s Ear-Muffler patent, he said.

“If folks in Maryland can improve, patent and build a business around a new design of earmuffs, then shouldn’t we be able to do it right here in Maine where we actually have winter and the home of Chester Greenwood?” he said in a release.

Haszko, a judge for the contest along with Sally Rowe, Sarah Maline and Roger Bissalion, encourages residents to “use your imagination and build a better earmuff.”

Any material can be used. Judging is based on creativity, originality of design and ear warming effectiveness. 

Entries judged in three groups: ages 10 and under; ages 11-17 and ages 18 and older. Winners receive donated prizes from area merchants and the top winner in each age group, a one-hour session with Haszko to discuss patents for their design.

Emcee, state Sen. Tom Saviello, is expected to showcase earmuffs furnished by downtown businesses in an Ear-Muffler fashion show held in conjunction with the design contest.

Registrations for the contest can be emailed to: [email protected]. Name, town and age category need to be included or they can stop by Mooseville at 156 Main St. to register.

The 35th annual Chester Greenwood Day parade begins at 11 a.m. from Mallett School, said Marc Relford from the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the annual day.

The parade, whose theme this year is “A Chorus of Carols,” will continue down High Street across South Street and then up Main Street to the courthouse, he said.

Those entering floats should incorporate their favorite holiday song into a creative design, remembering to also include earmuffs, according to information on the chamber website.

There is no preregistration for the parade but participants should be at the Mallett School by 10 a.m. Saturday for judging. Four prizes totaling $800 will be awarded this year.

The chamber will also sponsor its annual Chamber Chili Challenge and the fifth annual Gingerbread House contest. The Polar Bear dip in Clearwater is planned again and area craft sales and entertainment are listed on the website, he said.

More information is available on the chamber website at www.franklincountymaine. org

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