DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for printing the letter about crows and pigeons robbing bird feeders. Until this year I was only confronted with squirrels. Crows emptied two feeders in one day. I hesitate to fill them again. Before the crows I had many beautiful songbirds, including a cardinal father and mother who returned year after year. I have a tiny chipmunk, which spends time in my flower beds and eats birdseed from the cement near a feeder. He scurries away when I approach the swing nearby.

I write also with a question: I have a concrete driveway, which developed several cracks. I paid a contractor I found in the yellow pages $500 to repair the cracks. They are all back again. He didn’t seal them. He says there’s no guarantee that they won’t return; also, that he can’t seal the cracks only.

I need to pay him $500 more to redo and seal the cracks. That would mean $1,000. Would it be possible for you to find out from another reputable concrete expert about repairing cracks in a concrete driveway? This contractor said my driveway was not well done in the first place. Any advice you can give would be appreciated. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots spoke with Tim Boucher of Maine Concrete & Landscaping, 375-4968, about the cracks in your driveway. He does not recommend patching them again, as they will return. Patching doesn’t get rid of the cracks — it just covers them up. They are still there, so the minute there is any pressure on the concrete the cracks will reappear.

He said that many cracks are cosmetic, rather than structural, and can be ignored. Hairline cracks are no risk. However, if the concrete starts cracking and separating more deeply, then water and ice will get in and may cause more serious structural damage. Unlevel concrete will also be a tripping hazard, so be careful.

Once the damage reaches the structural level and there are problems with daily use, then you may want to think about redoing the driveway. Tim said he does his driveways in sections so if there is a problem it’s easier to repair.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the person who wanted to know where to get Green Mountain potatoes: Fedco seed company has them and many other varieties. Write, e-mail or call for a seed catalog (as they have many others available): Fedco Seeds, P.O. Box 520, Waterville, ME 04903-0520, www.fedcoseeds.com or 873-7333. No orders are taken over the phone. — No Name, No Town

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Trinity Catholic parent Mark Chizmar was injured in a work accident. He will be unable to work for several months, and his family could use our support. With the help of the Knights of Columbus, we are holding a spaghetti supper to benefit him. The supper will be Friday, Oct. 23, at Holy Cross Church from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children. Please join us in helping the Chizmar family. Tickets may be purchased at the door. Thank you for your help. — Sonia Long, No Town

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you to all of our regular customers for the business this summer. The Bartlett Memorial Methodist Church Parish House Thrift Shop in North Jay will be open Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, and will be closing for the winter then. Do come in and take advantage of our specials. Thank you again. — Judy Lane, No Town

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We love Sun Spots and read it everyday. Maybe someone can help me. I care for an 80-year-old man whose only pleasure is his record player, and it stopped working. Is it possible to repair it? It’s very old, bought in Bradley’s years ago. Any other system would not be good for him. My phone number is 353-5257. Thank you. — Theresa Paul, Lisbon

ANSWER: There are many older model record players for sale on eBay. Perhaps you could find one similar to the one being used now?

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). Please include your phone number. 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 e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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