Dear Sun Spots: I am looking for a place to buy Needhams. I always got them in the store but can’t seem to find any now. Is Lou-Rod still open? Could you please tell me where I can get some? – Beatrice Grover, Fayette.

Answer: Unfortunately Lou-Rod Candy is no longer open and their Seavey’s Needhams that were sold in area stores are no longer available. However, handmade coconut Needhams can be purchased locally at the following candy shops: Maine Gourmet Chocolates, 66 4th Street, Auburn, (207) 783-8972, made per order to assure freshness and open by appointment only; Mary’s Candy, 238 Main St., Lewiston, (207) 783-9824; and Sweets and Treats Inc., 550 Center St., Auburn, (207) 783-7993.

You may also may be interested in the following Needham recipe from the Sun Journal archives:

Best Needhams from the “Cooking Downeast” cookbook by Marjorie Standish. Ingredients: ¾ cup mashed potatoes (not seasoned), ½ teaspoon salt, two 1-pound packages confectioners’ sugar, 1 stick margarine, ½ pound flaked coconut, 2 teaspoons vanilla. Method: Pare and cook potatoes to make ¾ cup mashed potatoes (not seasoned). Add salt. Using a double boiler, place margarine in it and melt over boiling water. Add mashed potatoes, confectioners’ sugar, flaked coconut and vanilla. Mix well and turn into a buttered jelly roll pan. Spread evenly. Place in a cool place to harden. When hard, cut into small squares and dip in the following chocolate mixture.

Chocolate dip ingredients: 1 12-ounce package chocolate bits, 4 squares unsweetened chocolate, ½ a cake of paraffin (2½ by 2½ – the same paraffin that is used on top of jam and jelly). Method: Use a double boiler again. Place paraffin in top over boiling water to melt. Then add the two kinds of chocolate. Allow chocolate to melt. Stir well to mix ingredients. A toothpick or cake tester may be used to dip the Needham squares. Hold each square above chocolate mixture after dipping so the squares drain well. Place on waxed paper to harden. Recipes will make 66 good-sized Needhams. Recipe halves easily.

Dear Sun Spots: I’m looking for 125 turkeys to be given out in Christmas food baskets to the needy folks in Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland. As the Salvation Army representative for this area, I have been privileged to work with many generous and dedicated volunteers who have donated and collected food, organized and filled special food baskets, and worked every week to insure that emergency food assistance is available year-round. We have one donor who consistently gives us 100 turkeys every fall, and in past years, these have been enough to do the Thanksgiving baskets and many of the Christmas baskets as well. This year is different though. We have so many more folks in need that the donated turkeys were all used at Thanksgiving, and we have many more requests for the Christmas baskets, which are scheduled to be given out on Monday, Dec. 20. If you or your business is able to donate some turkeys or sell us some at a reduced cost, please call me at your earliest convenience. I can be reached at 998-4243. Thank you for any help you are able to give. If we receive more turkey donations than we need, the extras will be given to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank. – Jack Green, 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 Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to [email protected].