Dear Sun Spots: Could Sun Spots please find out if Hodgman’s Frozen Custard Stand in New Gloucester is open any weekend in December? Years ago they were, but I’m not certain if they still are. Thanks for all the information in this column. – S. Chadwick, No Town.

Answer: Are you and other fans of Hodgman’s Frozen Custard in for a treat.

Sun Spots had the pleasure of speaking with Donna Langlois, granddaughter of Hyacinth Hodgman who started the business. The stand is now run by the family: Langlois, her mother and father, Joyce and Ken, as well as brother Scott. It is at 1108 Lewiston Road, Route 100, New Gloucester, 926-3553.

Langlois says they will be open Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Langlois says the stand sells ‘quarts only’ at this time. No cones. No sundaes. She advises you get there on Saturday because there may not be any left Sunday. Flavors available will be vanilla, chocolate, black raspberry and pumpkin.

Langlois shared the story of this stand’s beginnings. The year was 1946, and a train track once ran where Route 100 is now. Her grandmother Hyacinth Hodgman had rooms that people could stay in at the time. One particular time a lady arrived with a custard machine in tow. She didn’t want it and offered it to Hyacinth Hodgman, who took it and put it out where the stand now sits. Langlois says things just went ‘boom!’ The lines grew and her grandmother was only selling vanilla cones. Customers can now choose from around 20 flavors, including recent additions of raspberry truffle or pistachio or another family creation. The flavorings are all natural. Last year, the family paid $189 per gallon for pure vanilla. It’s worth it, Langlois says, because the lines keep forming and customers continue to return. The stand is open from Mother’s Day to Labor Day, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. In fact, Langlois admits that the family needs the time to rest! And who knows, they’re likely in the midst of creating some new recipes!

Dear Sun Spots: I’m responding to No Name, No Town who wrote into the Nov. 3 column looking for CDs from the July CMMC hypnotherapy clinic I attended. I have bought those at the total price of $35. They are still in mint condition. If interested, please call 786-0073 in the afternoons to make arrangements to get them. – Brian Simion, Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: I would like to know of some shoe repair stores around the Lewiston area. Thank you. – No Name, Lewiston.

Answer: As you may recall from the Oct. 24 column, your options are Tom Finn Shoe Repair at 623-8491, Water Street, Augusta. Paul’s Shoe Shop at 22 Cumberland St., Westbrook, ME 04092, e-mail [email protected], 854-4338. They are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Shoe Renu on Maine Street (Fort Andross) in Brunswick, 725-8557, is another. They are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also repair leather coats and replace zippers, as well as repair shoes and regular footwear.

• Readers seeking to contact Rohman Clockworks should please note they are located at 350 Minot Ave., in Auburn, 784-1211. Sun Spots apologizes for including their former address in previous columns. Rohman’s repairs antique and modern clocks, including cuckoo clocks and grandfather clocks.



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