Dear Sun Spots: I would like to know if the areas of Lisbon/Lewiston have woodcarving clubs? If not in these areas, are there any in others? Please contact Betty at (207) 353-4318. Thank you. – Betty Mears, Lisbon.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you might like to check out the Maine Woodcarvers Association at www.mwca.tripod.com, Loyd Clark is the president and can be reached via e-mail at mewoodcarver@yahoo.com.

You might like to check out the following chapters:

• Capital Carvers, Loyd Clark, (207) 445-2688, meets every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. Off Legion Park Road in Windsor.

• Streaked Mountain Wood Carvers meets the second Saturday of the month from 1:30 p.m. until around 3:30 or 4 p.m. at the home of Bob Perry, 80 Gammon Road in Sumner. Perry says members come from all over, including Readfield, Sydney, Oxford, Bethel, Poland, Buckfield, Sumner and more. It is open to all Maine woodcarvers whereever they wish to come from. Contact Bob Perry (207) 388-2472 for more information.

Dear Sun Spots: You are a great help to many people. Sun Spots is the first item I read each morning. I’m looking for an old recipe to make beer bread. I hear it is very tasty and easy. Thank you. – No Name, West Farmington.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you might enjoy the following recipe featured in the Oct. 10, 2001, column:

Beer bread ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 3½ tablespoons sugar, 5 tablespoons baking powder, 1 12-ounce can beer. Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8- by 5-inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and sift well. Add beer and stir gently until flour is moistened. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until golden brown. When you think the bread is baked, gently tip it out of the pan and tap the bottom of the loaf. If it sounds hollow, the beer bread is ready.

You can prepare the recipe as outlined above. You can also add the following choices of spice combinations to the dry ingredients: ¼ teaspoon dill, 1/8 teaspoon thyme and pinch of oregano, or ½ teaspoon rosemary, ½ teaspoon oregano and ½ teaspoon basil, or whatever blend of herbs you prefer.

Dear Sun Spots: Your readers sometimes write in with questions on how to dispose of or recycle certain materials they may have. If anyone is interested in recycling their old cell phones for a good cause, they may do so at University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn campus. USM/L-A in cooperation with the Greater Recycling Alliance is pleased to offer a cell phone recycling/recovery program. USM/L-A will collect and send old and unwanted cell phones and their batteries to The Greater Recycling Alliance. The GRA will reuse these phones for charitable purposes or recycle them in an environmentally friendly manner. USM/L-A will be reimbursed for each phone that it collects. This money will help fund “green” projects for the Lewiston-Auburn campus. Anyone may drop off their old cell phones and batteries in the designated box in the library on the Lewiston campus, at 51 Westminster St., Lewiston. Old cell phones and batteries only please. No power cords, chargers or other accessories. Or, they may be mailed to Dan Philbrick, USM/L-A, 51 Westminster St., Lewiston, ME 04240. For more information please visit http://www.usm.maine.edu/lac/recycle/. Thanks! – Dan Philbrick, Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: We are trying to locate members of the Lisbon High School 1971 graduation class for their 35th reunion. Please e-mail Carol Landry Demers at lisbonclass1971@aol.com for details. The reunion is scheduled for Aug. 19, 2006. – Carol Landry Demers, No Town.

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 sunspots@sunjournal.com.


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