DEAR SUN SPOTS: In regard to No Name in Farmington who was looking for information on Medicare: Besides the Web resource site, Medicare.gov, seniors and folks with disabilities can call their local Area Agency on Aging for one-on-one Medicare counseling.

These agencies provide free State Health Insurance Assistance Partnership counseling. They will explain the various Medicare options and assist in identifying and enrolling clients into a Medicare D drug plan that meets their specific needs.

They are also an excellent resource for determining eligibility into state and federal programs, which can pay for Medicare premiums, co-pays and deductibles and significantly reduce the cost of medications. These programs are known as the Medicare Savings Program, Low-Income Subsidy and MaineRx Drugs for the Elderly.

SeniorsPlus, at 8 Falcon Road, Lewiston, is your local Area Agency on Aging, servicing Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties. They can be reached at 795-4010. Thank you for all the great work you do. — Roland Bussiere, Medicare/SHIP specialist

ANSWER: Thank you for writing in and sharing this important information. Your agency is a great resource for seniors trying to find their way through Medicare, especially if they don’t have online access.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In answer to the person looking for shoe repair, Morin Shoe Store, 171 Main St., Berlin N.H., 603-752-4810, does extremely good work at very reasonable prices. — L. Burge via e-mail

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Is there anyone in the local area who can take an old LP album and put it on a CD for me? I have many old records I’d love to have on CD. And is there anyone in the area who buys old albums that are in excellent conditions in their original jackets? — Paula LaRoche via e-mail

ANSWER: The name Sun Spots had for the LP transfer did not respond to a phone call, so Sun Spots is hoping someone else will let her know they offer that service. As for selling your albums, there are a few outlets:

• Enterprise Records, 613A Congress St., Portland, 773-7672. Please leave a message on their answering machine.

• The Record Connection, 254 Main St., Waterville, 873-1798. They are open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Bill O’Neill’s House of Rock ‘n’ Roll, 840 US Route 1, Saco, 283-1966. He is selective about what he buys.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have really enjoyed the crossword puzzles these last three weeks. I am the one who wrote in wanting the more difficult ones that make you think and are somewhat a challenge. Hopefully they will continue. I have talked with many friends, and they too like the recent puzzles. Thank you for listening to your readers. — Jeanne Huston, Lisbon Falls

DEAR SUN SPOTS: As chairwoman of the American Cancer Society’s daffodil days campaign for 2010, I want to thank the people of River Valley and Bethel for their continued support and generosity.

More than $600,000 was raised by our North Oxford unit, and we continue to please consumers with the addition of another Boyd’s bear “Birthdays R. Hope.”

Special thanks go to my wonderful area organizers and their sales volunteers: Bethel, Caroline Gould; Rumford-Mexico: Lorraine Nadeau and Judy Broomhall; and Andover, Ruby Kulpa. Bizz Carignan and Ray Broomhall do a super delivery job, and we do appreciate being able to use the room at the Mexico fire station for our wrapping. Thanks, guys!

All those who gave of their time to help wrap, sell or deliver are appreciated. Thanks for another great year. — Evelyn Bodemer

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Does anyone know of a farm in Oxford County that gives pony rides on location for children’s birthday parties? — Ali, Veritas6669@yahoo.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots does not know of any, but it sure sounds like a great party.

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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