Dear Sun Spots: I am the Box Tops for Education coordinator for Turner Elementary School. We are collecting box tops to help raise money for our school. The box tops are found on many products, such as General Mills cereals, Green Giant vegetables, Trix yogurt and Gogurt, and Pillsbury, Betty Crocker and El Paso products. The goal for the school is $1,000 in box tops. If you have some box tops that you can donate, please mail them to 5 Brookfield Estates, Turner, ME 04282 or phone me at 754-8170. Thank you. – Laurie Labbe, Turner.

Dear Sun Spots: I just happen to be making these socks for my grandchildren. Hopefully the following pattern will help the reader seeking the pattern for spiral socks. – B. Witham, New Gloucester.

Spiral socks. Pattern/direc-tions: 4 ounces of 4-ply yarn, No. 4 double-pointed needles, gauge: 6 rows = 5 inches. Children = 36 stitches (40, 44), Adults = 48 stitches (52, 56). Ribbing – K1, P1. Children’s 2″ (2″, 2½”). Adults 2½” ( 2½”, 3).

Pattern: Rows 1, 2, 3 – K2, P2; Rows 4, 5, 6 – P1 * K2, P2. Repeat from * ending with P1.

Rows 7, 8, 9 – P2, K2.

Rows 10, 11, 12 – K1 * P2, K2. Repeat from * ending with K1. Repeat 12 rows until pattern sock is: Children’s 10″ (12″, 14″), Adult’s 16 (18″, 20″).

Shape the toe: Work Round 1, just knit; Round 2 – * slip 1, K1, PSSO, K2 together, then knit. Children’s 14 (16, 18), Adult’s 20 (22, 24). Repeat from * to end of round.

Work last 2 rounds until remaining stitches: Children’s 8 (12, 14), Adult’s 16 (18, 20). Close toe with darning needle.

Dear Sun Spots: I am hoping you can help me find out about the times that L.L. Bean traveled to the Boston sportsman’s show and set up his exhibit. I believe the show was held every winter in the mechanics building, which was torn down in 1959 to make way for the Prudential Center. I understand Bean used to set up a very large exhibit that came to unofficially represent Maine, more or less, and that the Maine publicity bureau was disappointed when he stopped going. I am especially interested in finding out which years he went there. I think it was during the Depression. – No name, Lewiston.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you might consider contacting Michael Lord at the Androscoggin Historical Society. He can be reached at 2 Turner St., Auburn, 784-0586. The office is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Friday.

Dear Sun Spots: I have several boxes of LP albums that I am looking to get an appraisal on what they are worth. I am interested in selling them, but have no idea what they are worth. I have looked in the phone book to no avail. l was told that there is someone locally who periodically puts an advertisement in the paper, but I have yet to see it.

Is there anyone out there who appraises albums and would be willing to help me out? I can be reached at 786-0797. – A. Faunce, Lewiston.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you might want to consider contacting Enterprise Records, 613A Congress St., Portland, 773-7672 or the Record Connection, 252 Main St., Waterville, 873-1798. They sell records, CDs and books and will be happy to give you an idea of their worth.

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 or e-mailed to sunspots@ sunjournal.com

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