DEAR SUN SPOTS: Why can’t I find Chromax anymore at the drug store? It is used for blood sugar.

Can you tell me how I can get my neighbor’s birthday on the Willard Scott Show, Channel 6 NBC? She’ll be 100 years old soon.

Is a prescription required for Cortisone cream?

Why did Campbell Brown quit on CNN? What is she planning to do now? — B.B., Bethel

ANSWER: Chromax is one of the brand names for the food supplement chromium, which can be found in brewer’s yeast, calf liver, American cheese and wheat germ, as well as many other foods, according to drugs.com. At the same site it also said that there is not sufficient evidence to prove that chromium helps regulate blood sugar, although at cvs.com it said that it might help with weight loss. This latter article provided some very useful information that you might want to read (http://tinyurl.com/38awxd8). Ask your library to print it out for you.

As for finding it in stores, Sun Spots didn’t find any evidence online that it is being discontinued, and it is available at Wal-Mart in Auburn for $9.97. It also shows it as available in Walgreens. Did you ask the manager at your drugstore if they moved it?

The information on Willard Scott birthdays can be found at http://tinyurl.com/yarzxoh:

“To submit a birthday request, please gather the following materials and information. (Your submission will not be considered unless all details are included.) Please submit photo and information six weeks prior to the birthday. Birthdays are generally selected two weeks before the airdate.”

It says you’ll need to include: a sharp, medium-size, recent photo of your loved one (it can be cropped) that does not have to be returned, name of celebrant (include pronunciation if necessary), date of birth, celebrant’s current mailing address, contact name and phone number (someone who can easily be reached), and interests, hobbies, secrets of longevity, vocation or anything our audience might like to know about this amazing person.

Send the information and photo to Willard Scott Birthdays, “Today Show,” NBC News, 4001 Nebraska Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016, or e-mail [email protected]

The posting ends with this caveat: “Please note that Willard gets many more requests than he can fulfill on the air. If your celebrant is chosen, the contact person will receive a call from the office to confirm the date the birthday announcement will air. If the contact person does not get a call, that means your celebrant was not selected. However, if all contact information was included in the submission, they will receive a very nice congratulatory letter from Willard!”

Cortisone creams are sold both by prescription and over the counter, depending on the strength of the steroids in them. You can buy 1 percent hydrocortisone without a prescription. For something stronger, you’ll need to ask your doctor.

Campbell Brown said she asked to be let out of her contract with CNN because her ratings against Bill O’Reilly on Fox and Keith Olbermann on MSNBC were poor. Brown said she has no immediate plans but is open to other opportunities. She has also two young children, who will undoubtedly enjoy seeing more of their mom.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: This is in response to [email protected] who wrote to you about canning green beans. It is very important to follow all the instructions when canning. Green beans are a low-acid vegetable, which is why they must be processed using a pressure canner.

Bacteria such as botulism can grow in low-acid conditions, and the food ingested could cause illness or even death. I realize that the green beans will not be firm after pressure canning for 20 minutes, but these processing times are necessary for killing the bacteria that may be present.

Perhaps the writer should try using beans that are a little more mature and thus a bit larger when canning next time. — Joanne Libby, Freeport

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].