Dear Sun Spots: I was wondering how one would go about getting the president to sign a birthday card for my dad? He will be 90 on March 12. – No Name, Minot.

Answer: Contact The Greetings Office, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500.

Please note the following guidelines:

• The White House will send greetings to U.S. citizens only, for special occasions as outlined below.

• Your request must be received six weeks in advance of the event date. The office makes every effort to honor requests, but cannot guarantee a greeting if this guideline is not met. (Greetings are generally not sent after the event date, except for wedding congratulations and newborn acknowledgments.)

• Anniversary greetings are extended only to couples celebrating at least their 50th wedding anniversary (and subsequent ones).

• Birthday greetings will be sent only to people 80 years of age and older.

• A limited number of special occasions other than birthdays and anniversaries exist for which the Greetings Office will send recognition. These include events such as:

Wedding (send your request after the event).

Baby’s birth (must be born during the George W. Bush administration; send request after baby’s birth).

Eagle Scout Award.

Girl Scout Gold Award.

Bar/bat mitzvah or equivalent occasion.

• Please include the following in your request: name and home address of honoree(s), form of address (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., Miss, etc.), exact date of occasion (month, day, year), age (birthdays) or number of years of marriage, your name and daytime phone number. For wedding (include couple’s married names and current or new address). Baby’s birth (include baby’s date of birth, and full names and address of baby and parents).

• In most cases, greetings will be mailed from the White House approximately 10 days prior to the event.

Dear Sun Spots: Help! Would anyone have the first clue in the Regis and Kelly van giveaway contest? Thanks very much. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, Sun Spots believes you are seeking the following: 1-17-05 Rapids, 1-18-05 Dude and 1-19-05 Sharks.

Dear Sun Spots: I am in need of old greeting cards of any sorts. I use them them for scrapbooking/and to make homemade cards. If any reader has any old cards they are willing to get rid of, and can send them to me for scrapbooking, it would be greatly appreciated and they would be put to good use. Thank you very much. – L.C., Auburn.

Dear Sun Spot Readers: It’s that time of year when new calendars are hung and olds ones discarded, I am looking for cat calendars to rescue from the recycle bin. Leave a message and I can make arrangements to pick them up in the Lewiston/Auburn area. Thank you. I can be reached at (207) 786-0478. – J.S.P. Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: The person who’s looking for knitted leg warmers: You can order them at The Vermont Country Store, (802) 363-8470. They have them in tan or black. I have a pair, and they are nice and warm. They cost $14.95, postage $7.95 for a total of $22.90. – M.B., Rumford.

Dear Sun Spots: Does anyone have a pattern for a 50th anniversary doily or one to be framed? I have misplaced mine that I have used for years. Thank you. I can be reached at 1523 Bear River Road, Newry, ME 04261. – Karlene Bachelder, Newry.

This column 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). 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].