Dear Sun Spots: Catherine Merrow, an art intern, needs your help!

Merrow is finalizing plans for historical exhibits, which include artifacts, representing several local figures and companies of significance to this area. Conference rooms at Franklin Memorial Hospital include the Crosby Room, named after famed fisherwoman “Fly Rod” Crosby; the Allen Room, named after local poet and writer Elizabeth Akers Allen; and the Forster Room, named after the Forster Manufacturing Company. Also of interest are photos or books by or about Ben Franklin, for whom the Ben Franklin Education Center is named. Catherine is searching for the following artifacts:

An old Franklin stove.

Any old photos, advertisements, newspaper articles or products from the Forster Manufacturing Co.

A Wheeler rod, circa 1900.

Fishing creel (hole in the center of the creel), circa 1900.

Copies of the letters or poems of Elizabeth Akers Allen.

Turn of the century items of interest and newspaper articles (including “The Woodline” the employee newsletter from the 1970s) from Forster Manufacturing.

Bifocal spectacles, circa 1775-1800

Any information/photos of Charles Forster

Old flies that would have been used in the 1890s in Maine that would be relevant to Fly Rod Crosby

If you or anyone in your family has any sort of artifact associated with one of these projects, please contact Catherine at: 779-2103. – Catherine Merrow, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center will be surrounded with a kaleidoscope of colors, smells and sounds at our annual Fall Festival on Sat., Oct 22. We are expecting an exciting day with highlights such as the farmers’ scoot, bean dinner, barn dance, doughnut eating contest, kids’ activities, scarecrow decorating, Norlands educational programs, cider pressing, hayrides, food vendors and a Civil War encampment with the 3rd Maine Regiment.

There will also be activities that require involvement from the community such as the apple pie baking contest. We urge anyone out there with a favorite recipe to enter. In addition, there will be a chance for folks to show off their best carved pumpkin in our jack-o-lantern contest.

We are also seeking non-electric, traditional musicians to provide entertainment throughout the day.

Please contact the Norlands for more information or to enter the pie baking contest (207) 897-4366.

We hope you will join us for a day of food, fun and history! Don’t miss it. Admission is $1 per person. Many activities are free, although some are for a small fee. Thank you, Sun Spots! – Fall Festival Planning Committee, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Norway.

Dear Sun Spots: You have helped me in the past and I hope you can help again. I would like to know how to go about purchasing Rick Charette CDs? Thanks in advance for any information you can provide. – No Name, Lewiston.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, most of Rick’s music is available at many stores such as Borders, Barnes & Noble or online at www.amazon.com. Alternatively, you can order direct by phone at 1-800-486-0967. If you and other fans are also interested, according to his Web site, www.pinepoint.com/rick, you can also contact Rick Charette via e-mail at [email protected].

You may also be interested in noting Charette, a lifelong resident of Maine, graduated from the University of Southern Maine with degrees in music education and English. Elementary teachers across the country use his music in their classrooms to enhance and facilitate their language arts programs. Charette travels throughout the United States and Canada, performing at schools and concert halls. His music has been featured on Peter Pan and Walt Disney Records and been cited in Entertainment Weekly and Billboard magazines. His 10th album, “King Kong Chair,” was released in 2004.

• Those wishing to help volunteer as part of Maine Literacy Month, with Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin, should please call 753-1772 for more information. An incorrect phone number was provided for Tuesday’s column.

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].