DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m a volunteer with Rebuilding Together Lewiston-Auburn and am wondering if you could help us with finding homes to work on for this year.

RTLA is a nonprofit organization supported entirely by contributions of time, labor, material and money. We are dedicated to repairing homes of those who, due to financial hardship, age and/or disability, cannot do the work themselves. Skilled and unskilled volunteers alongside able-bodied members of the recipient’s family and friends complete the repairs at no cost to the homeowner.

The work is conducted on one weekend a year. This year that weekend is May 1-2.

Applications can be found at Re/Max River Cities, 195 Center St., Auburn. Please see Rachel at the front desk or call her at 783-7300. — Todd, RTLA volunteer

DEAR SUN SPOTS: After having been advised there was no such place as Pine, Oxford, Maine, I did some further research and found that is a transcription error on ancestry.com. The 1880 census apparently transcribed Peru as Pine. The person I was researching was listed as living in Peru in every year except 1880 when the listing read Pine, so the mystery seems to be solved. Hopefully this will help other researchers out there. — Ex-Mainer

DEAR SUN SPOTS: If Charmaine who was looking for a front-hook bra will either send me her address or call, I will send her a catalog that has the item that she needs. She might also try Wal-Mart. They sell Playtex, and they have front-hook ones. The also have Just My Size, but I don’t know if they have any front hook ones. She can call me at 836 2802 or write to me at 183 Kings Highway, Mason Township, ME 04217-7219. — Ramona Grover

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for your column. It helps a lot of people. For the person inquiring about the state quarters and presidential dollar coins , we were able to get what we needed at Republic Jewelry on Center Street. As far as prices, we found them to be very reasonable. You pay for one coin — not a roll. Also, they have the new U.S.A. quarter maps that include the territories. Hope this helps. — Susan, Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m writing response to Julie Therrien, who was looking for a premade scrapbook. If she has Internet access, she can look at the Web site www.etsy.com. They have many handmade items, and she could type in the search bar “premade scrapbook,” and I am sure she will find some. Most of them that I have seen are for baby’s firsts, but I am certain if she finds someone who makes them, she can request birth through 18 years one, and they will gladly make one. Most Etsyers are glad to make special requests. — Beth, Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress collects, preserves and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

The stories, which are firsthand accounts of U.S. veterans from World Wars I and II, the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars and the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, can be told through tape-recorded or videotaped personal accounts, photographs, drawings, scrapbooks, personal diaries, letters, postcards, e-mail, written memoirs, etc.

In addition, those U.S. citizen civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts (such as war industry and USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories.

If you are interested or know someone who would be interested in participating in this project, you can request a paper copy of the “Project Kit” by calling 1-888-371-5848 (allow two to four weeks for delivery) or by sending an e-mail to vohp@loc.gov. You can also access the Project Kit online at: www.loc.gov/vets/kit.html.

This is also a good project for Eagle Scout candidates. — P. Rand via e-mail

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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