DEAR SUN SPOTS: You are the best at solving problems. I need your help. Last winter I purchased a coat that is 85 percent wool. Now I need some advice on how to protect it from moths. I know that mothballs are no longer used. Perhaps you or a reader will advise me. Thank you. — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots agrees with you about the unpleasant smell of naphthalene mothballs. Mr. Sun Spots tried using them in a building to get rid of mice. It didn’t work, and the small about asphyxiated him.

As for protecting clothes from moths, one option is an old-fashioned cedar chest. You can still buy them, but they are a bit pricey.

If you don’t have a cedar chest — and aren’t fortunate to have a family member handy enough to build you one — several substitutes are mentioned online.

At answers.yahoo.com, the suggestion is to try one of the following in a cheesecloth bag (be sure the bag doesn’t touch the clothes): bay leaves, cedar shavings, cinnamon sticks, cloves, eucalyptus leaves, lavender, peppercorns, rosemary or wormwood.

At ehow.com, the first suggestion is cedar. You can purchase cedar chips in a craft store or make your own from a cedar block using a plane. If you can’t get cedar chips, dampen an absorbent cloth with cedar essential oil.

Any thin fabric will do for making the bag, such as the cheesecloth mentioned before or muslin.

Other options suggested at ehow include:

* Dried lavender flowers scented with lavender and cedar essential oils.

* Dried rosemary, mint, thyme, American ginseng and cloves combined.

* Dry lemon peels.

There are also commercial alternatives sold in the stores. And readers may have some suggestions.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for the wonderful service you provide. I am hoping you will help me get the message out about a project I feel very strongly about.

Here in rural Maine, where we depend on mutual aid from fire departments and our ambulance service is two towns from us, it is very important that house numbers are visible from the road even if the home is not. Numbering your residence could make the difference between life and death if precious time is used to locate you or your family member.

A first responder’s goal is to render care to the town’s residents and visitors as safely and quickly as they can. Mailboxes should have numbers on both sides, and if you have a post office box instead of a roadside mailbox, a sign with your house numbers should be posted in clear view by the roadside for any emergency responders.

And for giving direction to the 911 operator, have written directions clearly available near the phone. If you live on a road that has a “T,” define if the turn is to the right or the left. We cannot help you if we cannot locate you. This timesaver is true for law enforcement as well. Thank you for your help. — Chaplain Pat Dyer-Haggerty, Otisfield

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I liked Anne McNamara, too, (July 23 letter) and was wondering why she wasn’t around. I googled her and found an entry on Wikipedia stating that she had joined WAVY-TV in Hampton Roads, Va. — Ken Brinnick, cgenera1@maine.rr.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Congregational Church of East Sumner is back with our first Saturday supper. We will have a fish-and-chips and chowder supper on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 5:30 p.m. There will be cream of broccoli chowder and fish chowder and coleslaw. For the kids, there will be red hot dog boats. This is a community supper; donations are gratefully accepted to help with the work of the church. For more information, call Peggy at 388-2074. Thank you. — Cynthia Norton, Sumner ,norton@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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