DEAR SUN SPOTS: Since Lewiston no longer has spring cleanup I was wondering if Sun Spots has the names of someone who picks up items such as old TVs, printers, vacuums, etc.

I would also like to know if there are any scheduled meetings in the area to help those who are totally confused about the Affordable Care Act. Thank you. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots does not have a recommendation list for trash pickup. Anyone who is interested in this task should let her know.

As for the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare), the Sun Journal has been running a five-part series on the topic. Part three appeared Monday.

With the series appears the following list of contacts for where to get more information or assistance. Some of the community assistance groups surely will hold meetings but perhaps not until October. Please let Sun Spots know when and if. Meanwhile, you can call:

— Health insurance marketplace hotline: 1-800-318-2596 for individuals or 1-800-706-7893 for small businesses

— “Navigators” — federally designated ACA helpers — are available through Western Maine Community Action (available starting Oct. 1). Among the regional agencies acting as navigators statewide are:

* Kennebec Valley Community Action, 1-800-542-8227

* Opportunity Alliance (Cumberland County), 1-877-429-6884

* Western Maine Community Action, 1-800-645-9636

— Consumers for Affordable Health Care, Maine’s designated consumer assistance program under the ACA: 1-800-965-7476

— Maine Bureau of Insurance: 1-800-300-5000

— Maine Community Health Options: 402-3330

— Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield: 1-800-585-0099 (individual)

Or visit:

The official ACA site: www.healthcare.gov

Maine Bureau of Insurance: www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/ACA_Index.html

Western Maine Community Action: www.wmca.org

Maine Health Access Foundation (coming soon): www.enroll207.org

Maine Community Health Options: www.maineoptions.org

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield: www.anthem.com

Kaiser Family Foundation’s subsidy calculator: www.kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/

Federal poverty level guide: www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm#guidelines

Consumers for Affordable Healthcare video explanation of Maine’s health insurance marketplace: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioc6DrsJcCo

You can review the entire series about the ACA online at sunjournal.com/aca101.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for your valuable service. Would you please print again the list of companies who convert VHS tapes to DVD? J&A Entertainment has moved to Florida.

I’m hoping for someone who is as reasonable in pricing, as I have many tapes. You mentioned Via-Vision out of Lewiston, but are there others? Thanks so much for any help. — Christine Hoyt, cdayhoyt@yahoo.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots has the following names in her Rolodex. As usual, please let her know of any changes or updates.

* Stanley Howard, abramaudio09@yahoo.com, www.abramaudio.com, 678-2770 or 860-0841, recording studio in Salem: transferring LP records and cassette tapes to CD

* Richard Rau, 225-5222: transfers of music from LP to CD, transfers of audiocassette tapes and of reel-to-reel tapes to CD

* Larry, minntate@yahoo.com, 784-224: LPs changed to CDs

* Al Ibarguen, Wilton, nascar810@earthlink.net, 645-4250: transfers LP albums to CD for $4 per album, also VHS and camcorder tapes to DVDs

* Francis Gagnon, Via-Vision, 18 College St., Lewiston, 783-2550, www.viavisionproductions.com; transfers old videos, 8-mm to DVDs

* Bruce Mitchell, 12 Webb Ave., Wilton, byinbyan@myfairpoint.net, 645-2674

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am a senior at St. Dominic Academy and am working hard to raise funds for the annual Mission to Mississippi trip this spring, to serve in Mound Bayou, Miss., one of the poorest places in the U.S.

I am looking for anyone willing to donate bottles and cans, as the trip requires a lot of fundraising. You can donate the bottles or cans you have directly to the account I have set up at Roopers on Sabattus Street in Lewiston, referencing the name Mission to Mississippi Therriault when you drop them off.

If you need them picked up, I can be reached at 207-933-3511 or tom.therriault13@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance for your support! — Thomas Therriault

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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