DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Auburn/Lewiston Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine is planning a summer program to teach the children to fish.

We are in need of fishing poles and hope your readers can help us out.

We would be especially grateful for some kid-sized poles in decent shape, as well as full-sized poles, reels, hooks, etc.

Please call me to make arrangements. — Andie Hannon, 782-2446, 333-8881

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am seeking the write-up about a woman in Auburn who had a rare penny with a strawberry leaf or branch on it. It was worth quite a lot. This was probably seven or more years ago.

I meant to cut it out, but forgot. Could you publish the article in Sun Spots? — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots found that nugget published in a Reporter’s Notebook column Sept. 21, 2004:

AUBURN — When the woman walked through his store’s door, her hands cradling a collection of one-cent pieces, Dan Cunliffe Sr. said he barely batted an eye. When he learned there were some prized large-cent coins among them, he thought he should probably take a look.

“I had my doubts,” he said Monday. “I had seen copies of coins before,” and he feared the woman unknowingly might be holding a few such bogus slugs.

Then he got a good look at one, a 1793 coin nearly the size of today’s half dollar. He could see the trefoil sprig adorning the coin, just above the date, that gave the cent its unique “strawberry leaf” name.

“As soon as I looked at it, I knew it was real,” Cunliffe said.

So were the other 200 or so coins in the collection. Many are scarce. None, though, could hold a candle to the “strawberry leaf.” It’s “such an incredible rarity,” he said. “It’s like the Holy Grail of coins.”

Numismatists know of only three or four others in existence today.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I know you have posted this request before, but I didn’t need it then. I do now. Please list the hairdressers who will go to people’s homes. Thank you. — Jan McDonald, [email protected]

ANSWER: Sun Spots has two in her Rolodex, but watch the column because others may write in to offer their services.

* Hair at Home, Lynn Eberhard, 782-1271, 754-9805 (cell)

* Renee Bosse, 577-7507

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have an Ace Tone organ with basic features free to anyone who would like one. Please call 784-4278 or 784-1957. — No Name, Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: This is in response to a reader’s question about a Paris Hill garden tour (June 12).

Although no garden tour is planned for Paris this summer, the McLaughlin Garden is planning a garden tour after a hiatus of couple of year.

This year’s tour is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 29, and is titled “The Gardens of Sun and Shade.” It features five beautiful private gardens in Norway at their peak of summer color.

Advance tickets may be obtained at the McLaughlin Garden for $12. Tickets the day of the tour will be $15. More details will be available in a few weeks. — No Name via email

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