Dear Sun Spots: I am looking for anyone with information regarding the history of the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary who would be willing to share this with me for a college class I’m taking. In particular, I would love to obtain information about Highland Bottling Spring, the sheep and dairy farm, or the tuberculosis sanitorium. If you have any information to share, or are willing to do an interview with a few students, please contact me at 782-5861 or e-mail to christine.a.doucette@maine.edu. Thank you. I’ll look forward to your responses. – Christine Doucette, Lewiston.

Dear Sun Spots: A few years ago I gathered material for a program on covered bridges. I no longer have any use for it. It consists of a world guide to covered bridges (1989); a printout of all the covered bridges in central New Hampshire; a list of all the covered bridge Web sites; the report on covered bridges; postcards, news, pictures and more. It’s free. I may be reached at 645-2490. – No Name, Wilton.

Dear Sun Spots: I am looking for a back issue of Family Circle dated Jan. 6, 1998. In particular, I am looking for the “Purr-fect” afghan pattern/instructions on pages 106 and 124. The afghan is pictured on the cover of the magazine. If anyone has this, they can please reach me at 562-4989. Thank you for providing this service. – N. Farrar, Dixfield, ME.


Dear Sun Spots: You have helped me in the past, and I hope you can again. I am looking for light blue and light green variegated crochet cotton No. 10. I would like to purchase it within a 25-mile radius. I make doilies for gifts. Thank you in advance for your help. I may be reached at 583-9183. – Arlene Merrill, Harrison.

Dear Sun Spots: I have a 1955 top-of-the-line Singer cabinet sewing machine in good condition with all attachments and a stool. I would like to donate it to a nonprofit organization. I may be reached at 783-3850 at any time of the day. Thank you. – Normand R. Berube, Lewiston.


Dear Sun Spots: For the person looking for craft fairs (Sun Spots inquiry Feb. 12): In addition to Lois Taylor there is the United Maine Craftsmen Inc., 16 Old Lewiston Road, No. 2, Manchester, 621-2818, www.unitedmainecraftsmen.com.

We are crafters ourselves, Berts’ Awesome Stuff, so we are familiar with the fairs. There are also two publications that we are aware of: The 2007 Craftah Craft Fair Directory in Pittsfield, at 487-6236, www.craftah.com., as well as the Chickadee Hill Collection of Craft Fairs in Alton, N.H., online at www.chickadee-hill.com. We attend many craft fairs ourselves to sell our product. Hopefully, this will assist your readers. – Chriss Hayden, Berts’ Awesome Stuff, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: I recently moved and have a full-size sofa bed that I have no room for. I would like to give it away to anyone who is willing to pick it up. I would like to help a struggling college student or a family in need. It’s in fairly good condition and came in very handy as an extra bed. I may be reached at 784-5827. – R.L., Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: You admit you’re not a sports fan, but I still can’t imagine where you got the idea in your Saturday column that baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play Major League Baseball, was a member of the Boston Red Sox. Nothing could be further from the truth. Robinson was brought to the majors by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 and played his entire career for that team. The Sox, sad to say, were the last big league club to integrate, which proved to be a significant factor in their dismal performance through much of the 1950s and ’60s. Cheers. – Al Diamon, Carrabassett Valley.

Answer:
Many thanks to Al for his catch. He is correct. Sun Spots erred here and apologizes for the error. Reader Jeffrey Grover also noted the mistake. According to www.npr.org, Pumpsie Green was the first African American to play for the Boston Red Sox. He joined the team in 1959, a dozen years after Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers!

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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