DEAR SUN SPOTS: Our Catholic Charities Maine SEARCH program (Seek Elderly Alone, Renew Courage and Hope) relies almost entirely on the help of volunteers to provide our friendly visiting, telephone reassurance and other services to lonely isolated seniors and those with disabilities throughout Androscoggin County.

We currently have nine clients on our waiting list, from Lewiston, Auburn, Minot and Mechanic Falls who are quite lonely and would love to receive friendly visits from a caring volunteer. Many of them are seniors who live alone and have no transportation, so they need help with getting to their appointments or picking up their groceries. Since many of them are lonely, a friendly visit each week helps to lift their spirits and helps them feel less isolated.

We provide training and ongoing support for our volunteers. If you have two to four hours a week to give and would like to become a volunteer with us, please call me at 784-0157. Thank you again for your help in supporting our program in the community. — Wendy Russell, program director, Catholic Charities Maine SEARCH

DEAR SUN SPOTS: It has been several years since I have written with a request for our local readers. I am looking for arts, crafts and nature items (e.g., rocks, shells, pine cones, etc.) to use for a local preschool, Scouts and family campgrounds.

I am also looking for aquariums of any size and shape to house fish or to make terrariums to house plants and small animals for educational purposes. These will be used to benefit various classrooms and organizations in our region.

Finally (whew!), does any reader have the small, clear turtle trays that had a ramp to an island with a palm tree in the center? You could get them at Grants, Kings or Kresge’s in the late 1960s or early 1970s. You may leave a message on my home phone, day or night, at 777-0020. Thank you very much! — Drew Desjardins, Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am preparing the summer 2010 exhibit, titled “Remembering Grandmother and Grandfather,” for the Finnish Heritage House (www.finnheritage.org). The summer’s tribute to the Finnish families who settled in Midcoast Maine will include memories of the blueberry business, saunas, Finnish-American music, the granite industry, poultry farming and life in the Finnish-American community.

If you have any photos of your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents that could be included in this exhibit, as well as any memories of the topics listed above, please contact me. I will make laser copies of your photos and return them to you promptly. I hope to make this exhibit the best yet, and with your help I am certain that it will be.

The exhibit will be displayed at the Finnish Heritage House on Route 131 (River Road) in South Thomaston from June 19 until the middle of October. — Steven Gifford, 4 Park Ave. West., Brewer, ME 04412, 989-1971, maskali2@hotmail.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I read your column daily. If there are readers in the area who have older waltz sheet music that they no longer use, I would appreciate a call at 585-2207. I have five grandchildren who either play or are taking lessons on the violin, as well as myself. I will negotiate with any callers. There are several old waltzes I am interested in. Thanks. — Dave, Weld

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The 45th class reunion of Edward Little High School is being held on Oct. 2 at Martindale Country Club in Auburn. We have 25 classmates we cannot find. They are Maureen Bedwell Terrasl, Doris Bolduc Drake, Mae Evrard, Edward Fontaine, Ralph Green, Linda Lachance Sohad, Anita Landry Celentana, Vicki Smaha Green, Gleason Sturtevant, Kathleen Withers Roy, Sharon Crawford, Steve Flectenstein, Gary Gould, Edward Jalbert, Mary Ann Lachance, June Laroche Pache, Lawrence Leighton, Dale Littlefield Sherburne, Cora Pelletier Merrill, Linda Tempesta, Andrea White Newton, Janice Boston Grant, Richard Daigle, David Gatchell and Judy harkins Hebert.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of these people, please call me at 225-2391. — Violet Goodwin, snowdew@megalink.net

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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