DEAR SUN SPOTS: Would the person who took the Wizard of Oz characters from my July 6-7 sale on Stearns Hill Road in South Paris please return them, no questions asked. Put them in the mailbox if you want. They are no good without the playset. —Betsy DeWitt, 674-2410

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Maybe you can give me an answer to this question. As I rode down East Avenue onto Lisbon Street, I noticed all kinds of empty stores just wasting away.

Why can’t we get nice shopping stores such as the Christmas Tree Shop, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, Reny’s, A.C. Moore Crafts and Marshall’s, or like in Florida, Belle’s or Ross?

All the shopping stores, like Kmart, Walmart, Penney’s, are in Auburn. Why is this? Why not anything in Lewiston? We wouldn’t have to go out of town to these stores and would save money on gas. It sure would be nice!

I’m sure there are many others out there who agree with me. What do you think on this? — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots is sure plenty of people agree with you, including local politicians and businessmen, and that they are doing what they can to make your dream come true.

There are a number of factors determining what stores locate where, including:

* Population density. Big chains have complicated formulas to determine where they will put stores, including how many people are in a region, how much money those people have,  and what other stores are already in town and where they are located.

* Established shopping centers. Stores often cluster together to take advantage of the already established shopping traffic, as in Auburn. Business owners may also see Lewiston-Auburn as one region and consider it covered by the stores in Auburn, just across the bridge.

* Taxes. Some towns offer property and business tax breaks to lure stores to particular locations. Sun Spots does not know if Auburn did that, but some towns in Maine have.

* Neighborhoods. It takes courage to open a store on a street in a struggling neighborhood, and chain stores are not noted for taking those kinds of risks. Some local businesses have been revitalizing Lisbon Street. You might want to encourage their efforts by giving them your business.

There are undoubtedly other reasons Sun Spots has overlooked.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to Chris in Auburn’s Aug. 8 question about layaways or for other interested readers, my designer cribbage boards in Canton make a great gift for the holidays.

Layaways are welcome and are to be picked up no later than Dec. 21.

We have a great collection of ready-made boards or your idea could be my next design. Custom-made boards take seven to 14 days to complete. 

Thank you and keep up the good work. I read Sun Spots daily. — Michael Brown, Canton, 357-1217

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The person looking for round toothpicks should call me. I have three boxes of 250 each, never opened. — Norway, 743-0555

ANSWER: He was actually looking for flat toothpicks. But maybe that’s what you meant and you just wrote “round”?

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the man looking for flat toothpicks (Aug. 15), he did not specify wood. Doctor’s and Dentek are flat, but they are plastic. — Daily Reader, Jay

DEAR SUN SPOTS: A while back you wrote about Staples Rewards and the changes in the recycling benefit. Would you please provide again the phone number or where I need to contact? I did not write it down. I gave them all my cartridges and would like to get the reward. My time runs out soon. I read your column every day. — No Name, Mexico

ANSWER: Sun Spots is sorry, but what that column said is that she had no luck in helping the reader get his rewards. Last spring Staples changed its rules. Here is what it says on the website:

“Staples Rewards members can recycle and earn rewards on up to 10 ink and toner cartridges per month. Plus and Premier members can recycle and earn rewards on up to 20 per month. You’ll receive $2 back in Staples Rewards per cartridge as long as you’ve spent at least $30 in ink and toner purchases at Staples over the previous 180 days. This $30 minimum purchase requirement does not include taxes or shipping charges paid and is based on amount paid after any coupons. Ink Recycling Rewards are issued monthly, separately from your other benefits. Limit one Staples Rewards account per person or at any mailing address. Additional accounts will be canceled.”

If you did not make that purchase within the 180 days, you won’t get your rewards. Sun Spots has run into a brick wall from both local and corporate personnel. Also, if your rewards expire, they won’t be reissued.

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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