Dear Sun Spots: Whatever happened to the Creative Photographic Art Center of Maine which used to be located in the Bates Mill? I know that at some point they were moving to new space (this was a few years ago), but now they seem to have disappeared. What was their Web site now seems to advertise Chevrolet trucks. Where did they go? Thanks. – Michael Dupuis, No Town.

Answer: According to business writer Carol Coultas’ Jan. 14, 2004, article, the center closed the previous December. At the time the center was $32,000 in arrears on its rent payments and owed the city of Lewiston $148,000 for a business development loan issued in 1994. According to Coultas’ article, the center also owed the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council payments on a $130,000 loan. The majority of classes were transferred to L-A College, with one class being offered at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, and the University of Maine at Augusta offering a two-year degree in photography.

Dear Sun Spots: Who were the actors on the show the Little House on the Prairie? Are any of them still alive? Can you buy a DVD of the program? Thanks for the help. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Unfortunately the cast list is much too lengthy to go through and track down for you. The series ran from Sept. 11, 1974, to March 21, 1983, for a total of 183 episodes! You might want to check a library with Internet access to try and locate all the actors yourself. In the meantime, you might consider checking out www.timvp.com for a more in-depth listing and to help you in your search for current updates on each of the actors.

The cast included the late Michael Landon, who died of pancreatic cancer on July 1, 1991, as Charles Ingalls, Karen Grassle as his wife, Caroline Ingalls, Melissa Gilbert as their daughter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Melissa Sue Anderson as their daughter, Mary Ingalls Kendall and Lindsay Greenbush and Sidney Greenbush as their youngest child, Carrie Ingalls. Other actors included Karl Swenson as Lars Hanson, Richard Bull as Nels Oleson, Katherine MacGregor as Harriet Oleson, Alison Arngrim as Nellie Oleson Dalton and Jonathan Gilbert as Willie Oleson. Swenson died Oct. 8, 1978, at the age of 70.

To order some boxed sets of DVDs check out www.imavision.com which lists several from seasons one through nine and earlier, as well as www.timvp.com/lilhouse.html.

Dear Sun Spots: One thing your Dec. 27 article didn’t mention was that before sleigh’s could travel, huge rollers pulled by a team of horses were used to pack down the snow first. – K.B., Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: I am looking for a Royal Alpha 2001 typewriter in good working order. I will pay a reasonable price for it. I can be reached at 225-3340. Thank you. – Barbara J. Longway, No Town.

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