Dear Sun Spots: The Great Falls Model Railroad Club of Auburn and Lewiston is sponsoring a “Come rain or shine” yard sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, at the new club location, 144 Mill St. in New Auburn, across the street from the Barker Mill. Funds from the yard sale will help with renovations of the building. The 85 members of the club have donated a wide variety of items for the club’s first yard sale.

The nonprofit club has been active in the community for many years with displays at libraries, schools, nursing homes and public events such as the Balloon Festival and Santa’s arrival in Lewiston-Auburn. At the club’s annual train show at the Auburn Middle School on the first Saturday of November, the Auburn Music Association earns money from refreshments. Through Auburn Adult Education, the club offers a model railroading class twice a year.

Train Time, the club sponsored television program, is seen on Great Falls Television and on Time-Warner cable. DVD and VHS tapes of many of the shows will be available. – Paul Lodge, Minot.

Dear Sun Spots: You have answered questions for me before, and I found the answers helpful. Is it true that a person over 70 years old no longer needs to pay taxes on earnings, if they still work and get a small income from their work? Thank you. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Dennis Doiron, director of Income Tax Division for the state of Maine tells us that retirees and persons over age 70 have to declare earnings and are subject to tax like any other Maine taxpayer. They may have exemptions and other deductions, but they have to report their earnings no matter what age.

He notes that if a person is collecting a pension in Maine, they receive a deduction of $6,000. Also, a low income credit applies to individuals who earn $2,000 in taxable income or less per year. They do not have pay taxes on those earnings. This applies to everyone, regardless of age.

Dear Sun Spots: My 6-year-old twin granddaughter was recently diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, which is now at a stage IV metastatic cancer. At the present time, she is being treated aggressively with chemotherapy and soon will be receiving radiation therapy for a growing tumor.

I am asking for all those who can and are willing to light a candle of hope and love at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Bartlett Street in Lewiston or Holy Family Church on Sabattus Street in Lewiston. A $1 donation is required. Please send cards or messages of love, hope and encouragement to Ellie Shoal Potvin c/o Tim & Amy Potvin, 14325 Ballantyne Lake Road, Apt. 1123, Charlotte, NC 28277. Many, many thanks. – Bonita Potvin, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: Thank you for all your wonderful help. Can you please help me again? A couple of weeks ago, I picked up several cross stitch magazines at a yard sale, one of which was “Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection Publications – Cross Stitch for all Seasons” (2002). Is it still being published? If so, how often? Seasonal? Many thanks. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: The Better Homes and Garden Creative Collections are still being published. They offer scrapbook, quilting and holiday collections. The next publications slated for newsstands are: “Scrapbooks etc.,” on sale July 22; “American Patchwork & Quilting,” on sale Aug. 5; and “Holiday Crafts 2008,” on sale Aug. 5.

New editions about scrapbooks will be published monthly through June 2009 (excluding November and February); quilting titles monthly through June 2009 (excluding January) and new holiday titles will be available late August and late September.

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.