DEAR SUN SPOTS: As part of planning for the next exhibit in our “Power of Music” series, Museum L-A is doing some research on speakeasies — establishments where alcohol was sold and consumed during the Prohibition era (1920 to 1933), when the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol was illegal. If you have any information on speakeasies in the Lewiston-Auburn area, please call us at 333-3881 or email info@museumla.org.

Also, at the opening of its next installment of the “Power of Music” exhibit, Museum L-A will be honoring Carroll Poulin as a person who has had a significant influence on the youth of our community. We are asking former students, clients and fellow musicians to let us know who they are so we may invite them to join us for this special evening.

Mr. Poulin, who recently celebrated his 97th birthday, taught generations of youngsters — first out of his home, then at his store, Carroll’s Music Center. He also worked with area schools and their music programs, repaired and refitted instruments and played in several local bands and orchestras throughout his long career. Please call 207-333-3881 or send an email to info@museumla.org with contact information (name, address, telephone number, email address). — Susan Beane, sbeane@museumla.org

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for songs that have the theme where the narrators encounter their younger selves in mirrors and/or dreams and talk to their younger selves with the wisdom they learned when they got older. I know Brad Paisley’s song “Letter To Me” and Pink’s song “Conversations With My 13-Year-Old Self” talk about this, but are there any other songs other than the Brad Paisley and Pink songs that talk about this? — Karen, kstick35@gmail.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots doesn’t know how she’d search for that theme online. Perhaps readers will recall some songs for you.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Would you be able to find out when and where the barbershop groups are having a concert this year? The last time we went it was at the Windham High School.

Also, you might be interested in these responses to a previous column. A quilter friend of mine answered the lady who was looking for someone to make a quilt out of her husband’s T-shirts. My friend has made five of them, so when she called the lady, she went to see her with the pictures of those she had made. She has made the quilt and did a beautiful job.

However, the lady said that she had had about 20 phone calls about the quilt. One woman said that she thought she could make the quilt but never had. Another was just plain nasty; she wanted to know why she would want such a thing made in the first place. The woman was both saddened and shocked by these calls.

All’s well that end’s well, but why would anyone even bother to call if they couldn’t help her? — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots is very sorry that any enquiry to the column generated such negative responses. Sun Spots thinks that some unhappy people take out their frustration on innocent others. She suggests readers respond by saying “thank you for calling” and promptly hanging up.

Sun Spots is happy to hear the quilt turned out well. Perhaps a photo of it could be sent to the column for other readers to see? Sun Spots is curious herself, as her mother used to make them.

As for barbershop groups, Sun Spots is not sure which ones you mean. Last Wednesday, the Sun Journal had a story that said the Back Bay Four would appear with other a capella groups at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Union Hall in Vienna. For more information, call 207-293-2362.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have a collection of National Geographic magazines that I’ve accumulated from about 1960 to the present. I was about to place them in the recycle bin, but before doing so, I was wondering if someone might be interested in acquiring them. I want to give them away to anyone who can put them to good use. — Gerald Lachapelle, 225-2111, glachape@roadrunner.com

ANSWER: It’s unfortunate that the U.S. Postal Service eliminated its slow-boat shipping overseas, because Sun Spots suspects that many African communities would be thrilled to have your magazines. Unfortunately, the cost for shipping is prohibitive. There was a Christian group collecting books for education in Africa, but Sun Spots has not heard from them in a while.

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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