DEAR SUN SPOTS: When is Southwest Airlines going to start flying into Portland: Thank you. — No name via e-mail

ANSWER: Until the recent news of an upcoming merger between Southwest and AirTran airlines, the chances for flights into Portland would have been slim. Southwest chose Manchester, N.H., over Portland when it first moved into the area, and with the two airports so close together, it probably wouldn’t have made financial sense to operate in both.

But AirTran flies in and out of the Portland Jetport, so after Southwest’s purchase is finalized, it may maintain routes there.

According to a Dec. 15 story in the Portland Press Herald, “Jetport Director Paul Bradbury said that once the acquisition takes place, Southwest will become the busiest carrier in the country and having that network service the jetport is important.”

This will not happen immediately. The story said Southwest’s entry into the Jetport won’t be until the end of next year, about the same time as the anticipated opening of the new terminal currently under construction.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The residents of the South Paris Maine Veterans’ Home are planning for next year’s gardening season. They had a very nice garden last year and wanted to thank those who helped make it such a success.

We hope to make next year’s garden bigger and better. That’s why we are now looking for information on how to grow a super-sized pumpkin. We need to know where seeds may be purchased, how to plant, fertilize and care for this type of pumpkin.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. We hope this will get the residents outdoors and excited to watch the pumpkin grow. — Pat, ppaar@maineveteranshomes.

ANSWER: You might want to start by visiting www.mainepumpkins.com, the site for the Maine Pumpkin Growers Organization. Another site, www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org, offers some easy-to-read instructions on what’s required to grow big pumpkins.

Sun Spots was given some giant seeds a few years ago by a fellow Sun Journal employee and grew an 80-pounder. She has also had good luck with seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Winslow (www.johnnyseeds.com, 1-877-564-6697). Last summer’s corn got rave reviews, so their pumpkin seeds might be worth trying.

Sun Spots suspects readers will also want to help, but please don’t send the seeds to the Sun Journal. Contact Pat or the Maine Veterans’ Home.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The class of 1961 from Leavitt Institute, now Leavitt Area High School in Turner, is planning its 50th class reunion for next summer. We are trying to locate the following people, whom we have lost touch with over the years.

Connie Jean Blanchette: She came from the Lewiston area and had attended St. Dom’s her freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school. While in Turner, she lived with a family named Biggs. They have lost contact with her also.

Joseph Edward Lemay, who went by the nickname of Tim: The last known address was Bangor, but we now think he has since moved to Florida. He came from South Harspwell and lived with Judkin family while attending high school.

Any information on these classmates would be very appreciated. Thank you so much.

Your column is very informative and a real service to many people. Keep up the good work. — Sharon M. Bremner, 164 Schoolhouse Hill Road, Turner, ME 04282, 225-2015, bremnersm@megalink.net

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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