DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the Dec. 20 request from a reader about how she can find a soldier to write to, I have a suggestion. The organization soldiersangels.com will allow you to write to a soldier (they supply the names) after you join by simply filling out a brief questionnaire and agree to abide by a few simple rules.

I have been a member since 2007, and makes me feel so good when a soldier gets a letter from home to brighten up his/her day. I started doing it after my daughter returned from Iraq and told me how sad it was when at mail call there were always those who never got any mail from home. It’s a wonderful group! — Peg Conroy, Rumford, pegconroy@yahoo.com

ANSWER: Thank you so much for sharing this tip. Writers without computers can go to their local library for help signing up. According to the website, you must donate a minimum of $1 to join the group and be verified.

Once you’ve been verified, you can participate in a variety of activities, including Adopt a Soldier. The site offers this caveat:

“Signing up to adopt a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine or Coast Guardsman (they deploy, too!) is simple and takes only a few minutes. It is a commitment to send at least a letter each week and a care package each month throughout the service member’s deployment.”

There are 151 soldiers currently waiting adoption.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: A while ago the Sun Journal had a picture of a Christmas tree made out of lobster traps on Beal Island. I forgot to cut it out before I recycled the paper. Would you find out the date it was printed so I can go in the Norway office and get a copy?

Thanks for all the information you provide. Merry Christmas. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: On Dec. 5 there was a story in the Sun Journal from the Bangor Daily News about Maine towns building lobster trap trees to commemorate Christmas and competing with each other on these unusual trees, but there were no accompanying photos that day.

Sun Spots looked and looked through the page PDFs in the SJ’s archive, but couldn’t find any such photo. Without at least an approximate date, the search is difficult. The problem is that a photo taken by another newspaper might be in the Sun Journal’s printed edition, but wouldn’t necessarily be part of the SJ’s archive or website.

The BDN’s Bill Trotter wrote the story about the tree competition, but Sun Spots doesn’t know if he took the photos with it. There are actually four photos with the story on the BDN website (www.bangordailynews.com). You may be able to buy the one you want from the BDN.

The contact information is Bangor Daily News, 491 Main St., P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402, 800-432-7964, 990-8000.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: For the people looking for traction aids (Dec. 12, 20), they can be purchased at CRM Enterprises. Bob Morin and Frank Curtis are the owners of the company, and you can reach me by calling 650-7860. Thanks. — Bob Morin via email

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The person interested in information on the Dionne quintuplets (Dec. 14) might want to visit their museum in North Bay, Ontario. It contains many artifacts of their early life. Callander, where they were born, was a part of North Bay, which is a very pleasant city to visit on Lake Nipissing and easy to reach on the Trans-Canada Highway. — Ruth Cannon, ruthcannon@roadrunner.com

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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