DEAR SUN SPOTS: In reference to the July 13 query in your column, the Social Security Death Index includes the deaths of everyone who had a Social Security number — most deaths since 1960 and a few before then.

You can search by name only. If you have the birth year and state, it is easier to find someone with a common surname.

There are many genealogical sites with links to the SSDI. One free one is http://tinyurl.com/7ea45h8 — awilliam@bates.edu

ANSWER: Sun Spots played around with this website a bit and got good results but found some idiosyncrasies. For example, she put in her uncle’s highly unusual name and got an immediate result.

Then she tried her grandmother, who had a rather common name, and added in a couple of additional details. She tried adding date of birth, state of death, date of death, etc., in various combinations and got nada.

Sun Spots knew Gram should be there, since she was collecting Social Security when she died. So she tried putting in just her name, and the results popped right up, with Gram at the top, although there were several other people with the same name as well. Apparently the search engine prefers fewer details!

But it’s still a useful tool, and Sun Spots is grateful to awilliam for sending the link.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Again this year Lewiston Eagles 618 is holding a motorcycle run to raise supplies and games needed and wanted by our men and women overseas. We are looking for basic items like disposable razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, tampons, etc. No aerosol cans are permitted. Any cash donations will be used to purchase more supplies.

The event is scheduled for Aug. 11, starting with breakfast at 9 a.m. The ride begins at 11 a.m., with departure from Lewiston Eagles and stops at Gardiner, Lisbon Falls and New Auburn, followed by a police escort to the Lewiston Eagles, where there will be a pig roast.

The pig roast is free to the riders and $5 for the public. A live band, 4Play, which is donating its time, will play after the pig roast. There will also be raffles, drawings and shirts for sale. We will also have the pleasure of Ridin’ Steel attending our event.

Cost for the ride is a donation of one item or $5 to support our cause. There will also be a $5 cost to participate in a poker run. Let’s help the ones who fight for our freedom. For any information, contact David Veinott, 440-3465, or me. — Gail Pelletier, 212-2905, gailp101@aol.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots is pleased to publicize this good cause, as well as many others. However, there are rules as to which events can appear in Sun Spots.

In order for an event to be included in the column it must meet two criteria:

It must benefit a nonprofit organization,  and the organizers must be looking for something from the column’s readers, such as asking for donated items, seeking missing people or selling tables at a flea market.

If you sent Sun Spots an event announcement that did not fit those criteria, she forwarded it to Community News for consideration for inclusion on the Connections pages, including the Check It Out calendar. If you want your event in the paper and it doesn’t fit Sun Spots, you can send it directly to those pages at communitynews@sunjournal.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 emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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