DEAR SUN SPOTS: Years ago, in the 1940s and 1950s, there was a nice Chinese restaurant on Lisbon Street in Lewiston. It was on the second floor of a commercial building and, I believe, near Main Street.

What was the name of this restaurant? Try as we might, we can’t seem to remember it. Can you help? — D.R.B., Rumford

ANSWER: Are you sure it couldn’t have been on Park Street? The Nanking restaurant, called the Nanking Hotel, was at 16-18 Park St. for many years.

It offered “authentic Cantonese Chinese cuisine at its best,” seven days a week, according to ads from the 1960s in the Lewiston newspapers. It also offered American food.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Since the beginning of summer all we hear at night are fireworks going off in our neighborhood. It starts some nights around 7 and goes to after 10 p.m.

The Fourth of July is over and gone, but the fireworks go on. If you don’t know the sound is coming, it scares you to death.

What I would like to know is what is the city code about this problem? Thank you for all you do. — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: For more details on this topic, Sun Spots turned to city reporter Scott Taylor, who said, according to Lewiston city ordinances, people should not be shooting off fireworks in No Name’s downtown neighborhood at any time.

When the state legalized the sale of fireworks, it allowed individual communities to limit them further. In Lewiston there is no sale of fireworks allowed, and they cannot be discharged at all, even on the Fourth, in the downtown, although there is an exception for the outskirts of the city for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4 and from 10 p.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1.

Unfortunately, many residents are ignoring these rules. Now that they can just pop over to nearby towns and buy fireworks, instead of having to schlep all the way to New Hampshire, the temptation to shoot them off is great.

The only thing you can do is call the police when you hear the fireworks and hope that the miscreants are caught in the act. This is a long shot, and Sun Spots sympathizes with your plight. She finds the noise most annoying and doesn’t even go to fireworks shows on the Fourth.

Perhaps once the initial excitement over fireworks fades, people will cease and desist. Or winter rain and snow will put a damper on their enthusiasm.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do you or anyone know what happened to the outdoor flea market next to the race track on Route 26 in Oxford? We were so happy to have a place to sell yard sale stuff. They seemed to have a very good turnout; then all of a sudden they just disappeared. No one seems to know why.

Second, does anyone have an eight-track tape player in good working condition they no longer want? A friend has lots of eight-tracks, but nothing to play them on. Thanks for all your help. — No Name, Norway

ANSWER: Sun Spots doesn’t know about the flea market, but readers undoubtedly will.

As for eight-track players, they are available on eBay, as well as whatever readers might have to offer.

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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