DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am a server at the the Village Inn Restaurant in Auburn. On Oct. 12, I waited on an elderly woman and her daughter. The woman left behind a veterans state coin (for lack of a better name).

On one side it says “Maine Women Veterans — A Heritage of Service.” On the other side it says “Honoring Women Veterans — From a Grateful State” and has the state emblem on it.

I was afraid to just leave it at the front desk, in case the woman did not realize where she lost it. If she would contact the restaurant (782-7796), I can leave it there for her.

Or if she wants to contact Sun Spots, I can make arrangements to get it to her.

Thank you for your help and all you do! — Shannon, bewtful@gmail.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Does the same person own Mac’s Grill and Fish Bones? Or did they at one time?

Why hasn’t anyone put a sandwich shop or lunch counter in Bates Mill No. 3 or No. 7? With the amount of employees the tenants at those buildings have, I would think this would be a gold mine for someone like Subway, Sam’s Italians or Amato’s.

Right now, Davinici’s, Lewiston House of Pizza and Fish Bones are the only options within walking distance for lunch for the employees at the Bates Mills. There are no food vendors located inside of those mills. Is it due to zoning laws or is someone just not aware of this missed opportunity? Thank you. — D.H. via email

ANSWER: According to the man who answered the phone at Mac’s Grill, it and Fish Bones had the same owners until March, when Mac’s was sold to someone else.

As for putting restaurants in Bates Mill, Sun Spots spoke to Dave in the city of Lewiston planning office. He said there are no special limits for restaurants. They would simply need to meet the building code requirements like any other business.

Sun Spots doesn’t have an explanation for the lack of eateries, but there is a high failure rate for restaurants, and the recession has made it worse.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for a supplier for hard cardboard tubes 1 5/8 inches in diameter. The post office and shippers here do not have that size. Thanks for the column! — Sheila, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots responded to your question on Sept. 14. She was unable to find what you seek. She found a large supply at staplesindustrial.com, but they go from 1.5 to 2 inches, with no 1.75. She also found an online post from May 2011 from someone seeking the same thing, and they had no responses. Perhaps you can pad the 2-inch tubes?

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Like so many people, your column is the first thing I read every morning. It starts my days, and I’m hoping you can help me out.

For another year, the Great Falls Balloon Festival has come and gone. This great event always leaves us with some great memories. After looking the 2012 balloon festival special section brochure, what a surprise to see that there was a special section brochure for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995.

I am wondering if anyone out there may still have these, and if so, would they be willing to part with them? I would be very interested as I have all the other years, but the first three years are missing. I did call the Sun Journal but had no luck on being able to get them.

I have another favor to ask concerning the specialty balloons. There used to be a man who sold photos of the balloons at the festival, but I haven’t seen him at the festival for the last couple of years. I can’t recall his name.

Does anyone have photos of the specialty balloons for the following years that I could purchase for a reasonable price?

* 2006, the Little Bee’s Lilly and Joey balloon

* 2007, the Birthday Cake and the Beagle Maximus balloons

* 2008, Oggy, the Big Green Guy and Pandy the Panda

* 2010, Jack-in-the-Box balloon

* 2012, Arky Boat, Stinky the Skunk and Gus the Guppy

Any information would be much appreciated. — No Name, No Town

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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