Dear Sun Spots: You have been so wonderful and helpful to me answering my questions in the past. I’m hoping you can continue to assist me. Is there an ordinance at Old Orchard Beach that allows you to sleep on the beach at night? – R.B.J., Lewiston.

Answer: Sun Spots spoke with Town Clerk Kim McLaughlin, who says that under the town’s code, sleeping is prohibited on the town beach during the hours of 2 to 5 a.m. She notes sleeping while sunning yourself during the permitted hours is allowed and not subject to a fine.

Code Enforcement Office Ken Shupe recommends you check out campsites in town, of which there are many. He also says you might consider going to the Chamber of Commerce Web site www.oldorchardmaine.com or the town’s site www.oobmaine.com, both of which will have lots of information for you.

Dear Sun Spots: How does one get in contact with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program in the Lewiston-Auburn area? And what is the Web site? – No Name, Auburn.

Answer: You can find The Big Brothers Big Sisters Web site at: www.bbbs.org. Visit their site to learn more about the program and how you can volunteer. You may also contact BBBS of Androscoggin County, 24 Falcon Drive, Auburn, ME 04210, 782-5437, on the Web at www.childhealthcenter.org, or you may e-mail Ron Hood, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor coordinator for Androscoggin County, at ron.hood@childhealthcenter.org.

Some interesting facts from the BBBS Web site state “Bigs and Littles have fun together – and create memories that last a lifetime. We call it ‘Little moments…Big magic.’ Research on our volunteer programs points to the powerful, positive, lasting impact Bigs have on children’s lives. Littles are:

• 52% less likely to skip school

• 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

• more likely to get along with their families and peers”

And a quote from the Web site sums it up with: “Expanding horizons through the power of one-to-one friendships.”

Dear Sun Spots: I look forward to your column every day. Talk about gems in L-A! I wonder if you or your readers would know how to remove a smell in a closet from mothballs. The smell is very strong. Thank you. – Daily Reader, Auburn.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers who may have successfully removed mothball smell from a closet, Sun Spots found the following information from www.ehow.com, a Web site that claims to “How to do just about everything!”

How to remove mothball odors from closets:

Step 1: Remove everything from the closet – including the mothballs. Wear gloves when handling mothballs.

Step 2: Allow clothes to air out completely while you work.

Step 3: Mop the floor of the closet with a solution of one gallon of warm water, ½ cup of white vinegar, and ¼ cup of baking soda.

Step 4: Wipe the other closet surfaces with the same solution.

Step 5: Leave the closet empty and the door open to air out, and/or let a fan blow into the closet.

Step 6: Hang a sachet or pomander in the closet, or use a closet deodorizer.

Step 7: Be sure that all closet surfaces are completely dry before putting anything back in the closet.

Overall tips and warnings:

• To remove odors without clearing out the closet, place activated charcoal or baking soda in a bowl and set it in the closet to absorb odors.

• Or, try spreading newspaper on the closet floor, then sprinkling coffee grounds over the newspaper. Let stand 24 hours and remove.

• Mothballs are a pesticide and should be disposed of at a licensed hazardous waste facility.

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.