DEAR SUN SPOTS: I believe I read a story in the Sun Journal in the past, not sure if it was in Sun Spots or not, but I would like to read the story once again. It was explaining the meaning of so many people in the area having stars on their homes. Recently we had out-of-state visitors and couldn’t tell them the meaning. Is there a way to get this story e-mailed to me? Thank you. — Nancy Dalessandro, stenan76@hotmail.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots has never heard of such a thing and couldn’t find anything in the Sun Journal archives. She did some googling and came across the following at wiki.answers.com (http://tinyurl.com/32o5whv), which she has edited down for space and relevance:

“I’ve been out data collecting homes this year (2009) and have noticed many homes with ‘decorative’ stars on them. They are five-point stars and dimensional. I’ve asked around and no one seems to know if there is any significance to them other than mere decorations.

“Here are some of the answers I’ve found on the Internet:

“1. The star has a military significance

“2. Purely decorative with no significance

“3. Signifies a Christian home

“4. In Pennsylvania, denotes something about German-Amish tradition

“5. In Texas, shows pride in one’s state

“6. A pagan home celebrating winter solstice

“7. Barn stars — supposedly marks or covers the ends of beams in a barn

“So apparently there is no singular purpose for this very distinct star. It’s not like there is a wide variance in the star. I have seen smaller ones and sometimes the star is blue, but the vast majority are rust reddish brown in color and appear identical as if from the same manufacturer.

“A picture of decorative stars is at http://tinyurl.com/334hsyq

“www.americantinstar.com states many reasons people display these stars on their homes and the significance of the different colors.”

Perhaps the stars are just another fad, such as the plastic bracelets young people wear with users adopting their own meanings, but Sun Spots is willing to report other options if readers want to weigh in.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Twice in a month’s time, I need Sun Spots! We had a yard sale at 386 East Ave.

The person who bought the Bose left behind the remote, and the man who got the juicer is missing a major part that is still here with us.

Call 784-7199 to arrange to get your missing pieces. Thanks so much. — Gloria Moreau, gloriavmoreau@msn.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Recently I was parked at the Ricker Park on East Avenue to walk my dogs. I leaned over into the steering wheel to remove a rock from my shoe. A lady stopped her car, ran up to my car and inquired, “Are you OK?”

Now there is evidence that kindness is alive and well in our wonderful state of Maine — despite all the bad things we are reading! May she always be blessed! — Carol via e-mail

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Congregational Church of East Sumner is saying a sad good-bye to the Rev. Nancy Kennedy and her son Nicholas on Aug. 1. Pastor Nancy has lovingly served the congregation and community for 3 1/2 years, but has taken a job closer to her home and Nicholas’ school. The community is invited to share in her last service at 9 a.m. Refreshments will be served. — Cynthia Norton, Sumner

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