DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am a local coordinator for a nonprofit exchange student program. We are looking for host families in the Turner, Yarmouth, Lewiston and Auburn areas to host a high school student for the coming school year.

Our students come from one of 70 countries, have studied English for three-plus years and have passed an English proficiency test. Many of our students are on U.S. Department of State scholarship programs. What a wonderful way to expose someone to ‘real’ American culture!

If you would like more information about our program and hosting, please email me at ileshea1@gmail.com. — Ileshea Stowe, PAX community coordinator

DEAR SUN SPOTS, I just wanted to drop a line regarding the current Staples saga recounted in your column (June 5 and 22): The manager of District 113 (Maine and New Hampshire) is Annette Rodick, and she can be reached at 207-761-5613.

I worked for Staples for a number of years, most recent of which was in the Lewiston store. I was always told as a manager to take care of our customers, and, really, this situation is silly. The managers at the store level had, at least until April 2 of this year, the authority to issue small coupons up to $20 for these types of situations.

Honestly, after recent changes in management, the place has been lacking in top-tier leadership. I would give Annette a call, let her know what’s going on, and I wish you and your readers the best of luck. — No Name via email

ANSWER: It appears to Sun Spots that the management issues run up the ladder. Sun Spots has tried to call Annette at least a dozen times since receiving this tip. In addition to leaving messages, she has called different times of the day and different days of the week, all to no avail. Annette’s recorded voice is all she ever hears.

After this column appears, Sun Spots will send photocopies of it and the two previous columns in the mail, again, to all possible interested parties. She is at a loss to know what else she can do, but she will keep contemplating.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding the June 22 column concerning ink cartridges. If people really want to save a few pesos in today’s economy, the first thing they should do is to toss that ink-guzzling printer into the trash and get one that will use generic cartridges, such as Epson.

Next go online to eBay and purchase a set of aftermarket refillable cartridges and some bottles of generic ink. This will cost you less than a set of genuine cartridges. Then, when the cartridges run low on ink, you simply refill them.

I have been doing this for years without any problems at all. Ink is ink. there are only two kinds, pigment-based and dye-based. Either will work. No company has a top secret formula that they keep locked up in the same vault that holds the recipe for Coca-Cola.

Using generic ink will not void your printer warranty. And when your printer eventually does die, you have saved enough on ink to purchase a new one anyway. Give it a try. — No Name, Minot

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I want to thank the readers for their generosity to Turner Elementary School and Tripp Middle School for sending their Box Tops for Education.

Even though its summer we are still collecting. If you have any Box Tops or Campbell Soup Labels that you would like to donate to our school, please mail them to me at 5 Brookfield Estate, Turner, ME 04282. Thank you! — Laurie Labbe, Box Tops coordinator, laurie.labbe@willis.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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