DEAR SUN SPOTS: We have just had our sidewalks moved on East Avenue. This has brought up some questions on parking. Is it still legal to park on the side of the road beyond the white line? We have been told that is a bicycle lane, but there is no notice of that and no sign that says no parking. What do we do? — East Avenue Resident

ANSWER: For an answer, Sun Spots emailed Megan Bates, deputy director of Highway & Open Space at Lewiston Public Works, who turned the question over to Jeffrey Beaule, project engineer for the city. He wrote:

“We narrowed the street about one foot to avoid the poles with the curb, but that is the only change. According to the parking schedule attached, the only places prohibited are within 35 feet of Russell Street and 110 feet northerly of the Montello School entrance.”

Here is the attachment for East Avenue parking information:

Odd-numbered side northeast side beginning at the easterly corner of the intersection of East Avenue and Russell Street and extending northeasterly on East Avenue a distance of 35 feet.

Both sides from Lisbon Street to Russell Street. Odd-numbered side southeast side beginning at the northeast corner of Montello School drive and East Avenue and extending in a northerly direction on East Avenue a distance of 110 feet.

Even-numbered side northwest side beginning at the northerly corner of the intersection of East Avenue and Russell Street and extending northeasterly on East Avenue a distance of 35 feet.

If you have additional questions, call Jeff at 513-3003, ext. 3416.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: For the person looking for a power wheelchair (Nov. 1), if that person is on disability already and has Medicare/Medicaid, she doesn’t need to wait until she is 65. She can get her regular attending physician to write a prescription for a wheelchair.

I personally recommend she call the Scooter Store to get the process started. The Scooter Store will get the process started and is helpful to work with, including working with Medicare/Medicaid and private insurance and taking care of all the paperwork. — No Name via email

ANSWER: In her letter, the writer said she is not on Medicare. She did not say if she had applied to the Social Security Administration to receive Social Security Disability Insurance. If so, she would be eligible for Medicare, after a waiting period.

If she is on SSDI, it may not have occurred to her to ask about Medicare. If she hasn’t applied for SSDI yet, she might want to do so, so thank you for writing. Warning: The application process for SSDI is lengthy.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Kudos to Lewiston Public Works and to the disabled lady thanking them (Nov. 1) for fixing the sidewalk on Bridge Street so she could pass on her scooter.

She said that before the repairs it was virtually impassable by wheelchair/scooter, and she had to go into the road. The repairs were made quickly, so it is now a lot safer for those who use it.

We hear so much negative about Lewiston. I thought it was about time we heard about the good and caring side of those who live and work in Lewiston. So again I give big kudos. — Bruce Grant, brucewendelg@aol.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Advocates for Children, a community-based nonprofit organization, works with hundreds of families, many without basic needs like food and clothing.

During the holiday season we like to offer the community a chance to help us meet some of those basic needs. If you or your company, organization or club would like to adopt a family or donate food gift cards, please call or email me.

We are at 57 Birch St., Suite 204, Lewiston. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity! — Dori Galgovitch, dgalgovitch@advocatesforchildren.net, 783-3990

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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