DEAR SUN SPOTS: After seeing the Sept. 17 letter, I thought your readers would like to know that a nonprofit organization called Catalog Choice offers a free online registration to opt out of unwanted advertising mail and even phone books.

ecomaine (also a nonprofit organization) sponsors an easy and direct connection for its 43 owner and affiliated communities at www.ecomaine.org, but anyone, from anywhere, can register by visiting the general site at www.catalogchoice.org.

By stopping unwanted mail, you are saving natural resources and reducing waste that costs your municipality time and money to manage. — Shelley Dunn, dunn@ecomaine.org

ANSWER: Sun Spots plans to make use of the website ASAP!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I think in the past you have had the name of a person or persons who could transfer VHS to CD. I need to have this done. Could you help?

Sun Spots is the bright spot for the day. Thanks! — Janice, Turner

ANSWER: Transferring to a CD would be impractical because of size limitations, but you could transfer to a DVD. DVDs look nearly identical, but they have a much larger capacity.

We think of DVDs as being used for video, but they can also be used for sound and data.

Readers might also be interested to know that you can typically play a music or audiobook CD in your DVD player but not vice versa.

After her most recent query on this topic (Nov. 1), Sun Spots had readers write in with suggestions for at-home transfers, but they were confusing the media that can be used for audio with that of video.

Few people have the skills and equipment to transfer video at home. Sun Spots knows of two providers of video transfer services. Read on for their names and contact information.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Recently someone wanted to know of someone who transfers VCR tapes to DVD. Unfortunately, my husband took the newspapers to the dump before I had a chance to cut out the column. Thank you — Helen Marsh, marsh3609@roadrunner.com

ANSWER: You can read that column (and other previous Sun Spots columns) online at sunjournal.com. The column you seek, Nov. 1, is at http://tinyurl.com/c4huvao

In response to that column, Sun Spots also got the following response from one of the service providers.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thanks to Rosemary for her Nov. 1 inquiry in regard to transferring her videos to DVD. That same day we ran an ad in the Sun Journal on Page C11. It includes our current sale plus a free DVD!

We have been preserving family films and videos since 1989. Transferring your videos to DVD will make it easier to view and prevent any further degradation of quality. We can place up to two hours of video onto one DVD. For example, if you have two tapes which are an hour each, we can transfer both videos onto one DVD.

We look forward to meeting you and answering any questions. — Francis Gagnon, www.ViaVisionProductions.com, 877-384-3367

ANSWER: Via Vision is at 18 College St., Lewiston, and can be reached at 783-2550 as well as the toll-free number above.

Another provider is Asher Wilson, J&A Entertainment, at 565 Vernon St., Bethel, ME 04217, www.jamusical.webs.com, asher.wilson@live.com, 890-6059, Asher will pick up and deliver (he does charge mileage).

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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