Dear Sun Spots: Most modular or mobile homes are manufactured with electric heat but nothing is ever mentioned about using electric heat. Would you please find out the following information. If a five-room home has each thermostat set at 70 degrees continuously for one month, approximately what would the CMP bill cost (excluding the regular electric bill)? Everyone assumes electric heat is expensive, but is it really? Oil and kerosene are so high for a gallon, maybe electric heat would be just as good. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: According to a customer representative from Central Maine Power, in order for them to calculate the cost to run electric heat, they need to know how many 4-foot units of baseboard heat are in your home. Once you determine that, visit their Web site, www.cmpco.com, and click on the site map at the bottom of the page. Then select the “home energy calculator” at the bottom of that page. Here you can plug in the information you gathered and the system will calculate the cost to run the electric heat. Visit your local library for Internet access if you don’t have it at home or contact a CMP customer representative at 1-800-750-4000, who may be able to help you use the energy calculator.

Dear Sun Spots: My daughter and I went shopping at Marden’s in Lewiston at around 12:30 or 1 p.m. I found a small black handbag in the basket of a motorcart. I looked inside and found almost $100. I then went to the service desk with the intention of giving them my name and cell phone number. Inside the bag was also a driver’s license, I never had a chance to look at it because the girl at the desk grabbed it, then she grabbed the handbag out of my hands and refused to give it back. I wanted to make sure the owner received her bag. I am hoping that she reads this article and goes to Marden’s to see if it is still there. If she needs to talk to me my cell phone number is 577-0009. – G. Louise Barre, Augusta.

Answer: Sun Spots spoke with the Marden’s security department who assured us that the bag was returned to its rightful owner. They also told us that the owner was extremely grateful that her money was still in the handbag. Sun Spots is sure she appreciates your honesty!

Dear Sun Spots: I would like everyone to know that we have very kind and thoughtful young people living in our community. One Sunday afternoon in early October I went for a walk. I was on Chestnut Street in Auburn and I fell. I was having a hard time getting up. A young boy around the age of 10 or 12 years of age came running to my aid. I was really impressed by this young boy. I do wish I had asked him to call my husband to pick me up as I did fracture my ankle, and I walked home. Also two other ladies that were in the park came and asked if I needed help. I was very impressed by these caring folks in Auburn. Thank you all very much. Please keep up the kindness. – Joyce, Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: I am writing to you to say hello from the smallest state in the Union, Rhode Island. I am a seventh grade student at Goff Junior High School in Pawtucket, R.I. For my geography class we are working on a semesterlong project in which we are responsible for creating an oral, written and poster project on a particular U.S. state. I chose to do my report on Maine. Could you please publish this letter in your paper so that your readers could help on my project? My teacher explained that firsthand information from citizens of our chosen state would be much more helpful than information we gathered in books and off the Internet. If your readers would send me some information, pictures or tourist information, it would help me so much with my project. Your readers could send the information right to me at school. Thank you for your help with my report and project. Send information to: Aldo Amaral, seventh-grader Goff Junior High School, Mr. Gilmore’s period #3 Class, 974 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02861. – Aldo Amaral, Rhode Island.

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.