Dear Sun Spots: I would like to know where I can get a copy of the Farmers’ Almanac. I also have greeting cards to give away to the lady who asked for them. I can be reached at (207) 783-2324. Thanks for all your information. – No Name, Lewiston.

Answer: You can purchase the Farmers’ Almanac at the following Maine stores: Associated Grocers, Barnes & Noble, Big Apple, CVS, Dollar General, Food City, Hannaford, Jack Eckerd, Mr. Paperback, Paris Farmers Union, Shaw’s, Wal-Mart, Waldenbooks and Walgreens.

In addition, you might be interested in noting the Farmers’ Almanac is published by Geiger right here in Lewiston. The Farmers’ Almanac is recognized worldwide and can be found throughout the United States and Canada. With this ever increasing popularity, the Farmers’ Almanac and its editors, Peter Geiger and Sandi Duncan, receive extensive national media coverage each year, which includes newspaper, magazine, radio, television networks and the Internet.

It was founded by David Young and publisher Jacob Mann in 1818. Young was editor until the time of his death in 1852. Unfortunately, he left no one to carry on his work. But, an astronomer named Samuel Hart Wright did become his successor. Wright supplied all calculations for various almanacs until his passing in 1875. His son, Berlin Hart Wright, took over as calculator through the early 1930s as Geiger Bros., then located in Newark, N.J., acquired the Almanac Publishing Co.

Berlin was helped in his declining years by his son-in-law, Roland E. Hart, who calculated the astronomy, and weather forecasts until he forwarded those duties to Harry Buie. Buie did the calculating and the weather prophesying until his death in 1981. Kenneth Franklin, a master scientist and astronomer with the Hayden Planetarium in New York City was then chosen as his successor until his departure from the almanac.

Since then, the Farmers’ Almanac has become more guarded with its famous weather predicting formula and created “Caleb Weatherbee,” a pseudonym that is given to all past, present, and future almanac weather forecasters.

Perhaps you and other readers will enjoy the following, originally published in the 1967 Farmers’ Almanac on How Children Should Act With Their Parents In Public: • Always call them “Mother” and “Father,” or “Dad”

• Always introduce people to your mother. No matter how important the other person is, begin: “Mother, I’d like you to know…”

• When your parents introduce you to their friends, make them proud. Stand up for an introduction, and acknowledge it with the friend’s name: “How do you do, Mrs. Carter.” Don’t sit down, while either your mother or Mrs. Carter is still standing.

• If your parents’ friends ask questions, even though they seem a little foolish, answer. Never say, “I dunno” or just giggle. Admittedly, “You’ve grown so, haven’t you?” is silly; but it becomes sensible conversation if you answer, “Yes, I’m nearly 2 inches taller than I was last year.”

• If your dad tells a story involving you and gets some of the facts wrong; let it go. Setting him straight in front of an audience just sounds quarrelsome and childish.

• Let your mother precede you into a train or bus, or down a theater aisle. In these places, walk ahead of your father.

• Treat your mother like a lady and your father like a gentleman, and you can’t help impressing the world with your own charm and poise.

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].