DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have written to you many times. You always have done a great job.

I would like to know who pays for the following articles that are in the Sun Journal regularly. I think many other readers would like to know also. Thank you. — John Kezal, Rumford

ANSWER: John sent Sun Spots the headings from the Androscoggin County Superior Court logs and Place of Worship, which runs weekly on the religion page. She hopes John will be pleased to learn that the Sun Journal provides that information for its readers.

No one sponsors the court logs. The Sun Journal actually pays for them and then for someone to type them when they are provided in hard copy or by fax rather than by email or computer disk.

The same procedure applies to birth announcements, which hospitals mail or fax to the Sun Journal. You will see these features and others in the paper under “Matters of Record.”

Employees compile the church listings as well as the Check It Out calendar (usually on Page B3), Well Done and entertainment listings that run on the back page each Friday. All of these listings are provided by the Sun Journal as a service to its readers.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: My daughter had knee surgery about two yeas ago and has the same problem again. After trying everywhere for help, she finally received a deal with Free Care, which said it would pay for her surgery. 

The initial doctor has refused the surgery as have all the other doctors she called.

She travels from Rumford to Auburn three times a week for one to four hours each time for a job for which she is paid $50 to $60. As parents of this 50-year-old, we pay nearly all her bills, as she has to live with us to survive.

Can you guide us to a surgeon who would help? When home she has to keep her leg up and wrapped just to walk, and it seems just because she doesn’t have children she cannot get any help. Thank you. — No Name, Rumford

ANSWER: Sun Spots is not a medical professional and cannot recommend doctors. She suggests that you might seek guidance with your daughter’s problems from social service agencies. You have a couple of choices. 

The first step is to call United Way’s 211: “2-1-1 Maine is a comprehensive statewide directory of more than 8,000 health and human services available in Maine. The toll free 2-1-1 hotline connects callers to trained call specialists who can help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Finding the answers to health and human services questions and locating resources is as quick and easy as dialing 2-1-1 or visiting www.211maine.org.”

Second, if you live in Androscoggin, Franklin or Oxford counties, you can call Community Concepts. There are two regional offices:

* 240 Bates St., Lewiston, ME 04240, 795-4065

* 17-19 Market Square, P.O. Box 278, South Paris, ME 04281, 743-7716

And a satellite office in Wilton, which also houses Head Start and transportation offices:

* Bass-Wilson Building, 284 Main St., Wilton, ME 04294, 645-9512

Or if all of these are a toll call, please call 800-866-5588.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: You’ve helped me before. Please, I hope for some truffle recipes. Easy would be better. I’m a senior, and my cookbooks are old. Thank you. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: A coupon insert for Hannaford in Sunday’s paper featured several recipes, including one for a chocolate peppermint truffle tart that looked quite good and simple to make.

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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