Dear Sun Spots: I would like to start a support group for parents with autistic children or adults in the Auburn/Lewiston area. Meetings will be once a month at the Creative Work Systems at 229 Lisbon St., Lewiston. A time has not been set. Please call 344-9177 for more information. – Peter Kovacs, No Town.

Answer: You and other parents might also like to check out the Autism Society of Maine, 72B Main St., Winthrop, ME 04364, (800) 273-5200 and online at www.asmonline.org. You might also be interested in the following events being held here in Maine. For a more in-depth list, check out the Web site:

• May 4, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Successful Strategies Working with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, presented by Deborah Lipsky, M.A., at the Holiday Inn Portland West, 81 Riverside St., Portland. FMI: www.pesi.com. The program will be repeated from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at Four Points Sheraton Bangor Airport, 308 Godfrey Blvd., Bangor.

• May 18-19, (no time listed) – The Whole Child: The S.A.N.E. System of Pediatric Assessment and Treatment, Ann Buckley-Reen, OTR, Freeport. FMI: 846-8643 or www.transdis.com.

In addition, you may also be interested in G.E.A.R., which consists of the Autism Society of Maine, Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, the Maine Parent Federation and NAMI Maine. The groups share resources, coordinate services and reach out to families of children in Maine who have special needs. Find them online at www.gearparentnetwork.homestead.com/AreaSupport.html or by phone at (800) 264-9224.

Once your group is up and running and a meeting date set, please feel free to contact the Sun Journal customer service office to see if your meeting information can be posted in the community announcements section of the paper.

Dear Sun Spots: I have a yellow porcelain-topped kitchen table that is from the 1930s. The surface is slightly discolored with ink from reading the newspaper on it all these years. Do you know what can be used to clean the surface, without damaging it? Thanks. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Hopefully some readers out there will have some hints to share with you.

Dear Sun Spots: I have a genealogy question: Does anyone know if Wilmot and Mehitible or Rich Gammon of Hebron in the 1880s had two daughters, Martha S., who married Jonathan Lowell, and Harriet, who married William Lowell? Any information would be greatly appreciated. – Louis S., Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: The Fairbanks School Neighborhood Association has been trying to rebuild the historic 1800s school that burned down in 1998. Again, we are appealing to your readers to donate items for our annual plant and yard sale at the school grounds, Route 4, two miles north of downtown Farmington.

We continue to have other fundraising projects and a capital campaign to finish the project of rebuilding. Monetary donations are greatly appreciated. We are a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. For more information or for pick up items call Patty at 778-4272 or Cindy at 778-3808. Thanks to all your column readers for their continued support! – No Name, Farmington.



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