DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thanks for all your research and responses. Why are they packaging sugar in a 4-pound bag instead of the usual 5-pound bag? It seems to take up about the same volume in my 5-pound sugar tin. Are my hummingbirds suffering for more food for the difference because I measure it by the cup? — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots can’t explain why your sugar tin is still filling up, but as to your hummingbirds, if you are still measuring your sugar the same way (one cup of sugar to four cups of water), your hummers should be fine. (Be sure to keep your feeders mold free.) A pound is always a pound, so you are getting less sugar in each bag. Products sold by volume are a little less clear-cut.

Changing the size of packages is one way that manufacturers are dealing with the higher prices of commodities. Because customers are so price sensitive, they are reducing the quantity rather than raising the price. Perhaps you’ve noticed that most “half-gallons” of ice cream are now 1.5 quarts instead of two?

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have a chime clock that I brought home from Germany and have lost the key necessary to wind it up. Are there any clock repairman in the area? Thank you. — Celene Brooke-Boulet, cboulet@gwi.net

ANSWER: Sun Spots has a few options in her Rolodex, including Harry Hepburn III of Harrison (583-2821) Rohman Clockworks at 350 Minot Ave., Auburn (784-1211) and Leroy Blauvelt of Porter Road, Dixfield (562 8955). Catherine Raynor of Morin’s Fine furniture, 782-7511, www.morinsfinefurniture.com, also wrote to Sun Spots offering to help customers find vendors for clocks such as yours.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: It is that time of year again; school is about to start. Many of us are stocking up on school supplies and snacks for our children. This is also the best time of year to help out schools by passing in Box Tops for Education.

During the back-to-school kickoff many products have double box tops. For every box top collected it gives us 10, and they add up very quickly. That money helps our school pay for field trips, special events and teacher requests.

They get collected all year-round so don’t stop collecting once the school kickoff has ended. We are asking anyone who would like to donate their box tops to mail them to Lisbon Community School, Attn: Pamela Shane, 33 Mill St., Lisbon, ME 04250.

Thank you for your help! — Pamela Shane, Pamela.Shane@McKesson.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Does anyone have photos of older homes in Turner? The Turner Historical Museum is putting together a new pictorial to update our “Turner In Review,” which was published at the time of our bicentennial.

Thank you so much if you are able to provide any photos pertaining to Turner and/or information about them that you would like to donate or that we could possibly copy. We are concentrating on homes 50 years or older this time.

You may contact Elvera at 225-3865 or call the museum at 225-2629. We are open Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon on the top floor of the old Leavitt Institute building in Turner Center. — Elvera Pardi, efpardi@megalink.net

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Farwell School PTA is holding its 42nd annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 16 at Farwell School. We have a goal of raising more than $10,000 this year.

We would like to invite local crafters to rent a craft table in the craft fair area of the festival. This is great exposure for your crafts and a perfect opportunity to sell for the upcoming holidays. Tables are $30 and $15 for an additional table.

For more information please email me at farwellpumpkinfestival@gmail.com. — Heather Bucklin, Farwell School Pumpkin Festival Committee

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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