Dear Sun Spots: Every year at the balloon festival, there is a booth that sells drinks called Lime Rickeys. I can’t remember which group runs it, but the drinks are great, and I look forward to them every year. I looked online for a recipe, but most of the ones that came up were for alcoholic versions. Would the people that run the booth be willing to share their recipe? Thank you Sun Spots! – Tracy, Lewiston.

Answer: Many, many thanks to Emmett Stuart, commander of New Auburn American Legion Post 153, for providing the following response and recipe. The American Legion introduced the Lime Rickey at the Balloon Festival about six years ago. Since then the Rickey has become a “must have” at the Great Falls Balloon Festival.

Make sure to follow the recipe to exact details. Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice; squeeze juice from one whole lime into glass, add about 1½ ounces sugar syrup, fill glass with club soda. For effect, leave one half of squeezed lime on top. NOTE: It is important that the 16-ounce glass is filled with ice or the flavor will be lost. The sugar syrup is made in large volume, 5 pounds sugar dissolved in one gallon of water. You can cut it down to meet individual needs.

Dear Sun Spots: As many of you know, we lost a great deal during our recent devastating fire at Washburn-Norland Living History Center. We lost the historic barn, with many artifacts. We lost all of our farmer’s cottage where we did school programs with the children. We had extensive water damage to the mansion.

We are in the process of sorting through the rubble, as well as cleaning the damage in the mansion from water. We are looking for anyone, or ones, who can donate old or new white sheets, they can be cream or muslin, in 100% cotton. We can pick them up if you can’t drop them off.

Our phone number is 897-4366, leave a message if you can’t reach someone and we will pick them up. Also, cell phone is 779-7278.

Thanks in advance, we have been so blessed with the kindness of so many people during this tragedy. There are many things we need as well as helping hands for various tasks. – Ruthann LeBlanc, Livermore.

Dear Sun Spots: I put an entry in Sun Spots published May 8 about places to metal detect, but noticed I forgot my phone number. It is 515-1819. Thank you. – Sharon, South Paris.

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