DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for the helpful information you provide. I read about the money invested by the YMCA to assist various groups but wonder when the building will be made handicap accessible.

I have been unable to use the building due to my physical limitations. I thought that a tax-exempt facility that qualifies for funding from the United Way had to provide services to all individuals, not just people in good health.

I’m aware there is a door that leads to the pool, but it’s still impossible to access the first floor. Or if one enters through the third floor, again stairs have to be taken to use the machines on the first floor.

There is also only one handicapped parking space, which is usually taken. I just hope that changes will be made that comply with the rights of the handicapped. Thank you. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots contacted Brian J. DuBois, executive director of the Auburn-Lewiston YMCA, for an answer to your question. His responses, which follows, outlines the difficulties in retrofitting the current Y. Instead, the organization is working toward a new building. Readers with questions or suggestions may contact him at 795-4095, [email protected].

“The silver lining around the accessibility issue, admittedly one of the major challenges for the YMCA, is that the board of directors has committed to leading a community effort to support the building of a new YMCA facility in the coming years. These plans address many issues, but none more important than access to our facility.

“Unfortunately, the layout of our building is one that reflects the architecture of the time it was built (1922), which is grossly substandard when it comes to accessibility. As an example of the architecture of the time, we currently have an undersized pool and gymnasium in our current 50,000-square-foot facility.

“Our new facility will likely include an eight-lane, 25-yard pool and a regulation-sized basketball court with suspended walking track, among other attractive features. Even with these expansions, the new facility will only require approximately 54,000 square feet. This is an indication that our current YMCA does not only include many stairwells, but the design is an extremely inefficient use of all space, only compounding the issue of accessibility.

“Rehabbing the building to include an elevator or some other seemingly viable solution has been met with significant challenges due to the design of the facility, making the average solution exponentially more expensive.

“We have been able to serve many individuals with physical limitations, however, and our YMCA staff is dedicated to quality customer service. Many people have called ahead to make arrangements for accessibility, and some have been quite creative, depending on the specific physical limitations.

“Perhaps a Sun Spots’ reader has a viable solution that we have not yet considered or may be willing to fund such an endeavor. For now, our goal is to gain support from the community for a new YMCA, and our hope is that we garner patience regarding accessibility through this process.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Lewiston Elks Lodge 371 is having a pig roast on June 19 from 4 to 11 p.m. The band Five Face North will be playing after dinner, and there will be games.

Tickets are on sale for $12. The Lewiston Elks Lodge would like to invite the community to join them for some summer fun. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, please contact the Lewiston Elks Lodge at 784-4801. Thank you. — Karen Staples 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 [email protected].