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We've got heaps of snow and plunging temperatures so it must be time for that most-important of Western Maine holidays, without which December can never truly be complete: Chester Greenwood Day.

The inventor of the earmuffs, Greenwood "liberated unwilling fireside huddlers so that they could enjoy our invigorating winter sports." He will be celebrated in his hometown of Farmington with the 48th iteration of his holiday this Saturday.

Speaking as a regular attendee, there are three traditions for the eclectic parade that launches the day's festivities: everyone wears earmuffs, it will be blisteringly cold and everyone will be smiling.

If you haven't already, be sure to sign up for The Maine Monitor's newest newsletter, "The Health Monitor," which launched this week. Every other week, Monitor Senior Healthcare Reporter Rose Lundy will bring you an original story and a roundup of the latest healthcare news from around the state. Sign up here.

And lastly... we're hiring! Check out the jobs posted:

Board approves final packaging rules

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection has finalized rules intended to reduce the amount of packaging waste produced in the state while boosting municipal recycling infrastructure and shifting costs onto companies and packaging producers.

Read this story by Kate Cough.

While The Maine Monitor does not place its content behind paywalls, some newsrooms we link to in this newsletter may. 

ICYMI from The Monitor: Citing reimbursement shortfalls, two of the three agencies in the state that pair people with in-home nursing care are no longer accepting new clients under the Section 96 MaineCare program. | The Maine Monitor

Republican challenger Austin Theriault ended a recount in the 2nd Congressional District race, conceding to Democratic incumbent Rep. Jared Golden. | Associated Press

The Paris Select Board will discuss the possibility of not moving ahead with a proposed legal complaint against MSAD 17 after the school district's board indicated it had submitted an application for a state-funded construction project in West Paris. | Advertiser Democrat

The Farmington Select Board discussed a cost of living adjustment for town employees and approved a date for the annual town meeting on March 24. | Livermore Falls Advertiser

The Planning Board in the town of Fairfield has approved the application for a 10,500 square foot retail store on Route 139. | Morning Sentinel

The Board of Selectmen in Hebron intends to develop a proposal to create a town administrator position, possibly for a town meeting vote in March. | Advertiser Democrat

More than 200 teachers surveyed statewide revealed concerns about rising costs and other issues. | Maine Public

Andover is looking into hiring a town manager and assistant town manager and eliminating a number of other positions. | Rumford Falls Times

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The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization that produces investigative journalism. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.