DEAR SUN SPOTS: What is the range of salaries for school teachers in Maine public schools? What would be their average income? How many days per year are they required to work? — No Name, Farmington

ANSWER: Sun Spots emailed with David Connerty-Marin, the director of communications with the Maine Department of Education. He said that “teachers in Maine are required to work 180 days by law. In some districts, they work a few days extra – up to five or so.

As for pay, he said the “average salary for classroom teachers was $46,071.08 last school year.”

He said he didn’t have a range available, but he did provide Sun Spots with a website full of statistics for education throughout the state. Visit http://tinyurl.com/4wxs65y to review educational qualifications, certifications, salaries and other data broken down by school or college.

Salaries vary by district, but to get some idea of salary ranges, Sun Spots emailed the superintendent of your school district, Mt. Blue. Michael Cormier offered the following:

“For the 2010-2011 school year, a beginning teacher with a B.S. and no experience starts at $32,000 and after 22 years tops out at $49,250. A beginning teacher with an M.Ed. and no experience starts at $34,000 and after 22 years tops out at $51,250. If a teacher has a M.Ed. plus 30 credit hours, the salary range is $36,000 to $53,250. You can find this information on our web page (www.mtbluersd.org) under District Information, Teacher Contract (the last link). The work year is 180 days. All of this varies across the state.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Since I’m doing a genealogy, I was thrilled to learn about the online digitized Lewiston Sun. Can you tell me how to print out an article: As you can see (the reader enclosed a printout), it comes out quite blank. Thank you. — Pete, Gray

ANSWER: Sun Spots regrets to inform you that you cannot print off the Google archive. If you need a printout, you will have to resort to the microfiche at the library. (The Lewiston Public Library has most of the old editions on file.) The Google archive does make it much easier to find stuff, though; it saves you from going through every spool of microfiche and gives you an exact date to look up.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I, too, am trying to find a reputable person with insurance to check my chimney and flashing in the Rumford area. I’d appreciate any help you can give me with this. — Peggy, [email protected]

ANSWER: Several people have responded to the previous request. Hopefully one of them can help you as well.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am responding to the March 17 request for flashing repair. I do free estimates, and I am fully insured. We have 35 years experience. Reasonable rates. Call anytime! Thanks for your time. — Timothy Presby, Presby Masonry, West Paris, 890-4845, [email protected]

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The person looking for chimney repair can contact me. I will be in the area March 31. — Rick, Ricks Chimney Sweep, 612-2028, [email protected]

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to respond to the person looking for chimney help on March 17. The Village Sweep offers total chimney service. — Steven Fortier, Auburn, 783-2497

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].