DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m looking for contact information regarding the former Bates Fabrics Inc. organization in order to verify a 1984 life insurance benefit. Can you help? — Denis Mailhot, dmailhot2@roadrunner.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots contacted Maine’s Bureau of Insurance and received the following response:

“The Bureau of Insurance may be able to help if we know who the insurance company is. If the person doesn’t know, places to look include the deceased person’s paperwork or files (if they kept records like that). They can also contact friends or co-workers of the deceased who might also have had the same insurance, or they might know who issued the policy.

“The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also gives a list of ways to locate lost life insurance policies.

“Please let me know if the bureau can be of any assistance. With the information above, Mr. Mailhot can contact the bureau at 800-300-5000, and we can help him in his search. — Katie Dunton”

Attached to the e-mail Katie sent was a PDF document with further suggestions. Sun Spots will forward that e-mail to Mr. Mailhot.

In the meantime, perhaps someone else who worked at Bates Fabrics may be able to provide the name of the insurance company.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I believe there was an article in your column about a place in Norway to take sneakers for recycling, probably about three weeks ago or so. They would grind them for pavement for athletic fields. I would like to know where that place is, if it does exist. Please e-mail me and let me know. I enjoy reading your column. Thank you. — Rick Jones, rvjones@megalink.net

ANSWER: Sun Spots didn’t have anything about that in her column.

She did discover that Nike has a program to recycle old shoes. They can be dropped off at their factory stores in Freeport or Kittery, or mailed to the Nike Recycling Center, c/o Reuse-a-Shoe, 26755 SW 95th Ave., Wilsonville, OR 97070.

For more information and details on this program, visit www.nikereuseashoe.com. Dress shoes, flip-flops, shoes with metal in them or wet shoes are not accepted. They will take any brand, not just Nikes.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Lewiston Seniors still have two tickets for the musical comedy in Ogunquit on Wednesday, Aug. 25. I can also get a few more if I need to.

The bus will leave from Meadowview around 8:30 a.m.; we will stop at a mall in Wells, which has a Reny’s store; then go to eat at Congdon’s Family Restaurant and Bakery before attending “Spamalot” at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

This is a very pleasant trip. Call me at 786-2305 or e-mail me for more information. — Bert Dutil, badutil1@yahoo.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In reading all these wonderful stories about class rings being found, I am hoping to be blessed with maybe mine getting found.

It is a Lewiston High School 1972 woman’s ring with the initials SLD engraved inside. I am from a family of six and know my parents could not afford it at the time. But somehow they found a way to get if for me at graduation. I lost it a few years later. It meant a great deal to me.

If anyone has happened to find it, I would appreciate it if you could let me know. — Susan Lemay, suzy0401@aol.com, 946-7105

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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