DEAR SUN SPOTS: I can’t find any information on the Heathwood Dance Hall, which existed in the 1950s or ’60s in Lisbon. Where would be the best place to start researching its history? — Edouard Plourde, 782-0194, eplourde@bates.edu

ANSWER: Sun Spots usually starts with your Bates colleague, Doug Hodgkin of the Androscoggin Historical Society. You can e-mail him at dhodgkin@bates.edu. Or you can visit the society’s office Wednesday through Friday, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. (The office is staffed by volunteers on Friday, so it may close early.) You can call 784-0586 or 786-2129 to make sure someone is there to assist you.

Sun Spots will also undoubtedly get a slew of letters with fond remembrances.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: On Page A12 of the Nov. 21 newspaper, there was an AP article about the U.N. giving climate talks a second try. The first sentence claims the world warmed 120,000 years ago, and, in a matter of a few decades swamped the Cancun coastline with a 7-foot rise.

Is this possible? What preceded the “sudden” rise in water levels? Did it rain for 1,000 days or years, or did ice suddenly melt? It just couldn’t happen in that short stretch, but people believe what they read. There were no industrial gases to pollute the atmosphere as we know it today.

Please explain or tell me where to write. Thank you. — Barbara Shapiro, bandmshaps@myfairpoint.net

ANSWER: The problem with much of what is written or broadcast about climate change is the influence of politics and especially economics. For example, insurance companies, which have seen their weather-related losses jump, are in favor of taking action on climate change, whereas petroleum companies, which might see their profits threatened by any action on climate change, express doubt about the topic.

Sun Spots believes that you must go to the scientists for the real facts. One book she recommends is “Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change” by Elizabeth Kolbert. Kolbert went around the world to sites where various scientists were carrying out research on climate change and presents that information in a fairly understandable way.

The Lewiston Public Library has her book in both hardcover and on audio disc, and there are other copies in the Minerva system as well.

Sun Spots also tries to keep up on more recent scientific discoveries through journals like Science and Nature.

One thing that stuck with Sun Spots after reading Kolbert’s book was the fact that while we think of our weather as changeable, it is actually remarkably stable. For many millennia Earth’s climate was extremely unstable, with wide swings from ice age to warming, and it has only been in relatively recent times that the planet’s climate settled down to become so hospitable for humans.

Most of the scientists Kolbert spoke to are extremely alarmed about their findings and “running around with their hair on fire” because they think action needs to be taken and politicians are not responding quickly enough.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you and all the people that wrote in with information on the Evergreen ski area. It was so sad to see the lodge with the glasses still on the shelves, a newspaper still on the bar and even ashtrays on the tables. It’s interesting for me to come from another state to hear why the demise of something like that. Thanks again. — Judy Baird, JPBaird@roadrunner.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I appreciate that you put in the great information about Evergreen Valley, including my bit. It looks like in the rewrite one little (but big for Maine) correction should be made. At www.nelsap.org you will find information on more than 75 Maine defunct ski areas and more than 500 defunct New England ski areas, not 75 in New England. Ski areas were everywhere! Thanks so much. — Megan Roberts, Farmington

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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