Dear Sun Spots: I have 24 different state quarters in my collection. The last one I got was Iowa. Am I up-to-date? When will the next one become available? – Coin Collector, No Town.

Answer: There are 30 different state quarters in circulation. The first state quarters, which were released in 1999, are Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut. They were followed by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire and Virginia in 2000; New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont and Kentucky in 2001; Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana and Mississippi in 2002; Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri and Arkansas in 2003; and Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin, in 2004.

The rest are scheduled as follows: California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas and West Virginia in 2005; Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota in 2006; Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah in 2007; and Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii in 2008.

You can find more information, including the release dates for the quarters already in circulation, at the U.S. Mint’s Web site, www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/, click on the “50 State Quarters Program.”

The Mint’s 50 State Quarters Program is a 10-year program that releases a new state quarter approximately every 10 weeks. The state quarters are released in the order the states were admitted into the Union. The program represents the first change to the quarter since the bicentennial quarter was released in 1975.

The Maine quarter has a rendition of Pemaquid Point Light atop a granite coast and a schooner at sea. It’s the 23rd quarter of the 50, released June 2, 2003, since Maine was the 23rd state admitted into the Union, with a statehood date of March 15, 1820.

• Would the Sun Spots writer inquiring about the legitimacy of the Montreal mail-order drug company please contact the column. Thank you.

Dear Sun Spots: My stepfather is in the 152nd Maintenance Company in the U.S. Army National Guard and has recently received his activation orders. He will be leaving Jan. 18 for Texas and by Jan. 28 he believes he will be in Iraq. He would like to purchase a laptop so he can use the laptop in his room and avoid the large clusters of men at the public computers. Can you recommend a good laptop? We have several constraints and don’t have much money to work with so my mom will have to make payments for it. Are there certain laptops we should avoid that possibly have a tendency to overheat? Are there laptops that can handle getting sandy? I can be reached at (207) 777-7133. – Jaric Fontaine, Auburn.

Answer: Sun Spots welcomes responses from readers who may be familiar with the laptop requirements needed for soldiers stationed in Iraq or who may have a compatible computer available for the writer. Sun Spots salutes your stepfather for his service to our country and wishes him the utmost safety and well-being.

Dear Sun Spots: I have two portable typewriters that need ribbons and that anyone can have for a small fee. You can reach me at (207) 782-8927. If I’m not home, leave me a message and I’ll get back to you. – Marcie, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: For the one who is looking for an electric typewriter. I have a good Sharp I am willing to sell. It’s like new. I can be reached at (207) 897-5508. – Beatrice Grover, Kents Hill.

Dear Sun Spots: For the writer looking for an electric typewriter. I’m guilty of going computerized just after I bought a Smith Corona electric typewriter, which I’m willing to sell. It’s complete with a 10,000-word dictionary and memory, and it has the extra font wheel and the original owner’s manual. It was a $300 machine. You can reach me at (207) 375-8676.- Mike Cyr, Sabattus.

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