Dear Sun Spots: We are in need of donated new baby quilts or afghans and new infant clothing for Welcome Baby Bags we distribute to first-time parents here in the Franklin County area.

The bags include information on local resources, community support and first-time parenting tips. The program, Growing Healthy Families, offers about 75 of these bags annually to local families.

We also have a clothing exchange with gently worn clothing for children’s sizes birth to 4T. Some items we are currently in need of include: winter boots, snow pants, snow suits and jackets. We are also looking for any children’s furniture such as cribs, dressers and changing tables, that anyone is willing to donate for families.

If you are interested in donating any of the items, please contact Janice Crandall at (207) 778-6960.

The Franklin County Children’s Task Force is a non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of Franklin County area children. We are located at 113 Church St., Farmington, ME 04938. – Janice Crandall, Farmington.

Dear Sun Spots: I have some puzzles that I am going to be giving away. Most of them have 1,000 pieces; a few have more. All of the pieces are present. If there are any organizations or nursing homes that are interested in having a few puzzles, I will gladly give them to you. Please just call (207) 777-1820. – No Name, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: I am looking for the recipe for sweet potato pie. I have looked through all my cookbooks and asked around, and no one seems to have one. I would appreciate any help. – Elise G., No Town.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, perhaps you and other column readers might enjoy the recipe featured in the Aug. 12, 2004, Sun Spots column:

Sweet potato pear chiffon pie, courtesy of Arundel Meadows Inn, Kennebunk. Makes one pie.

Ingredients: 4 eggs; ¼ cup melted butter; ¼ cup maple syrup; 2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes (4 medium); 3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and mashed; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon nutmeg; 1/8 teaspoon cloves; 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice; 1 cup light cream; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 large pre-made graham cracker pie crust. Method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Separate eggs and set aside. Beat butter and maple syrup. Beat in sweet potatoes, egg yolks and pears. Add salt, spices, lime juice and cream. Beat whites; add sugar until whites form glossy peaks. Add ¼ of whites to potato-pear mixture, then quickly fold in balance of egg whites. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and continue baking for 50 to 60 minutes or until set. Serve chilled with whipped cream.

* To the reader, seeking information on the flags around town: Sun Jounal chief photographer Russ Dillingham tracked down the person putting up the flags in the treetops on the Veterans Bridge in Lewiston. According to Dillingham, this gentleman who wishes to remain anonymous, puts up an Army flag in honor of his uncle who fought at Iwo Jima in WWII. The newest, has a firefighter’s ax at the top and is in honor of longtime Lewiston firefighter Roland Levesque, who recently died.

Dear Sun Spots: The Vermont County Store has 4711 cologne for men. It was in a 2005 Christmas catalogue. It’s not in every catalog, but one I received last week had it. They can be reached at P.O. Box 6998, Rutland, VT 05702-0285, or via their Web site at www.vermontcountrystore.com. – No Name, No Town.

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