DEAR SUN SPOTS: Great work. I love your column. Wish it were longer and could be on Fridays.

Whatever happened to Helios on Center Street in Auburn? That was a great store; hopefully it relocated.

Did Kate Barker of Channel 13 news have her baby? And Maggie Rodriguez on the CBS “Early Show?” I know Kiley Bennett is back from maternity leave, but they never mentioned her baby either. Did I just miss it?

In Jody Goodwin’s plant column on Sunday, she said to wash plants with Murphy Oil Soap for rose beetles. But does that kill them or just send them to another plant to eat?

And lastly, chipmunks are eating all my annuals, so I planted seeds and they even dig these up and eat them. How can I get rid of chipmunks?

Keep up the good work! — Sophia, Auburn

ANSWER: Thank you for your kind words. Sun Spots will answer your questions in the order they appear in your letter.

First, her column is in the paper on Friday. Sunday is the only day it does not appear.

Unfortunately, Helios has closed permanently, a victim of the economy.

Sun Spots got the following response from Kate Barker: “My husband and I are the proud parents of a little boy, Henry. He was born on June 18. He was 8 pounds, 8 ounces. He is healthy and handsome! We are all doing great. I am taking the summer off to spend time with my family, but I will be back to work at WGME in September.”

According to the CBS News website, Co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez and her husband, Michael, have welcomed their second child: Michael Tobin Rodriguez Jr. was born June 13 at 6:20 p.m., weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce. Maggie’s other child, Daniella, is 5.

Kiley Bennett provided the following information: “I gave birth to my second son, Ryan Patrick, in January. He was 8 pounds, 14 ounces (a big boy!). He’s a great baby, and his big brother, Jack, who is about to turn 2, loves to give him lots of hugs. Everyone is happy and healthy and very, very busy.”

For you last two questions, Sun Spots contacted garden guru Jody Goodwin. On the bug remedy for plants:

“Murphy Oil Soap mixed with water is sprayed onto plants for aphids. It will slow down rose chafer beetles and Japanese beetles enough so you can hand pick them for destruction. Like Safe Soap, it only kills soft-bodied insects. It does not kill beetles or hard-bodied insects. She could also get a pesticide made with pyrethrum and apply it strictly according to instructions. This should also be done very early in the morning or late in the day to avoid killing the bees.”

As for chipmunks:

“One of the best solutions I have ever seen to skunk and chipmunk problems came from a very inventive man who lives on the River Road in Greene. He had a similar problem, just with skunks. He bought several dozen mouse traps, set them without bait and placed them liberally around the plants that were being bothered. The skunks would set them off as they attempted to get to the plants, the sound and movement would scare them and they would run instead of eating.

“The other option would be a spray that makes the leaves taste bad. These sprays are available for deer, rabbits, etc. I would think the one for rabbits would be effective against chipmunks. There are several available, and she could check with the Paris Farmers Union or Longfellow’s in Manchester. Both places tend to carry a fairly wide array of such remedies. The spray does not hurt the plants it simply makes them taste bad.”

Sun Spots is not wild about the mousetrap suggestion. The chipmunks or other small creatures could end up with the trap stuck to a tail or leg and limp off to chew it off or to die a slow, painful death.

She has had very good luck with the sprays. Some, as Jody says, affect the taste of the leaves; others mimic the scents of predators or actually bottle them, as in the case of fox or bobcat pee. The one Sun Spots currently uses is called Liquid Fence. Even in the middle of the woods, surrounded by numerous creatures, her plants are safe.

You spray it every few weeks or after a heavy rain. It smells atrocious, so make sure you are upwind! The price may seem a little steep, but the gallon jug she has is in its third summer. Keep it safe from freezing in the winter.

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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