Dear Sun Spots: St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center has openings for emergency entrance concierge and gift shop volunteers.

Patients needing assistance upon arrival and departure via the hospital’s emergency entrance benefit from the one-on-one care from volunteers. So much so that more volunteers are needed. Volunteer concierge services include greeting and meeting patients upon arrival, providing wheelchair and information assistance and parking a patient’s vehicle when necessary. This service is offered to patients Monday-Friday. We need both men and women volunteers for the afternoon, 12-4 p.m. shifts. Qualifications include a sincere desire to help others, and a valid driver’s license.

St. Mary’s Gift Shop is also seeking volunteers for morning, afternoon and evening shifts to provide cashier services. While no retail experience is necessary, volunteers should enjoy working with the public and appreciate and understand good customer service.

Training for all volunteer services is readily available. Benefits include meal privileges, recognition events, health program, gift shop discounts and educational programs. Those interested in knowing more about these volunteer opportunities and others should contact Joyce Paradis, Director of Sisters of Charity Health System Volunteer Services at (207) 777-8369. – Joyce Paradis, Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: Do you or any reader know where dried balsam can be purchased? I need some to finish making pine scented pillows. Thanks for your help. – Sharon Huston, Lisbon Falls.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you should visit Paine Products Inc., formerly Paine Incense, on Kittyhawk Drive in Auburn, (207) 782-0931. They are open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday’s from 9 a.m. to noon. They are located next to UPS in the Auburn Industrial Park. You may also want to try Ivy Cottage, (207) 782-7976, or Emily’s Cards & Maine Gifts at (207) 782-7800.

Another option is Maine Goodies, P.O. Box 288, Albion, ME 04910, (207) 437-2052, or toll free at (866)385-6238 or via e-mail at info@mainegoodies.com. The company sells it at $8.25 under five pounds, or at $7.25 for five pounds or more.



Dear Sun Spots: We have in storage a bale of clean, woolen remnants for use in making hooked rugs. This bale, 250 pounds-plus, with some boxes of the same material is available. If interested, please contact (207) 998-4766. – G.T., Poland.

Dear Sun Spots: I read in Sun Spots that Dennis T. Willette of Lewiston was looking for a recipe for homemade corned beef. This recipe was given to me by a meat cutter.

Corned Beef Ingredients: 4 quarts of water, 4 cups of pickling salt, potato, 1/2 cup sugar. Method: Fill a pot with 4 quarts of water. Add the salt and stir until well mixed or until potato floats in the water. Add sugar. Add the beef and leave for three to fours days. – Helen H., South Paris.

Dear Sun Spots: Will the person who bought the Wooden Cut Out jigsaw puzzle at the sale in Auburn Sat. Aug. 16 please call (207) 784-4679. I have Ohio, which was left behind. I don’t want some child learning about a United States that is missing an important part! – No Name, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: I am looking for pieces to add to my Pleasant Hill Christmas Village. These pieces were offered through Home Interior but have been discontinued. If any of your readers have pieces that they are interested in selling, please call me at 225-3886 after 6 p.m. – No Name, No Town.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Inform Us section under Press Release.

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