DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do you know of any store, school, library, etc., within 50 miles of Lewiston that offers a one-session class in working with Photoshop for PC users? I would like to purchase it as a Christmas gift. Please don’t use my name; he is a faithful Sun Spots’ reader! Thank you. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Computer classes, including those for Photoshop, are offered regularly in adult education classes, but they are more than one session. Sun Spots looked up current offerings at www.lewistonadulted.org and found an eight-week course for $87, but it was already full.

Libraries do sometimes offer computer classes, but Sun Spots has no easy way to search for them.

One option would be to hire someone skilled in the software for a single session at his home.

Readers may also have suggestions.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m looking for the article on the fire back in the 1970s where the farm at 224 Old Greene Road burned down. Can you help me with this? Could you email me a copy? I would appreciate it very much. Thanks. — Therese Montoya, tcmontoya@q.com

ANSWER: There is a Google archive of old Daily Sun and Evening Journal editions that includes the 1970s, but it is not easily searched. You will have to know about when the fire occurred and then look through all the pages.

The Daily Sun is at http://tinyurl.com/334ehgd. The Evening Journal is athttp://tinyurl.com/2v2uu7x.

Even if Sun Spots knew where to find the story, she could not email it to you. Google has it set up so that it cannot be copied or printed easily. (There are ways around this, but you need to be pretty computer savvy; see “Google archive printing possible, not easy,” http://tinyurl.com/3ufnme3.)

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for someone to reproduce a sweater for me. Do you know of any knitters who could do that? — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots doesn’t have anyone in her Rolodex, but surely someone will be interested in taking on this task.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am the director of volunteer services for a hospice company in Auburn. One of my volunteers has been crocheting American flags for our local hospice veterans. We present the flag and a certificate as a thank-you to the veterans for serving our country.

We are in need of donated yarn to help with this. Any red, white or blue yarn would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me to arrange pickups. Thank you. —  Kyla Greenwood, kysue925@hotmail.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots recommends providing a phone number as well as an email for requests. Many readers who might have the items being sought do not use computers.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: This summer I moved to a new apartment and now I am in desperate need to buy new curtains/drapes because my windows let in a lot of cold air and for privacy. I can’t find the traditional ones that require hooks. The only curtains I have been able to find are the ones that require a rod and another set of installing hardware.

Do you or your readers know where I can find the traditional curtains and at a reasonable price? My windows are about 84 or 86 inches long, and I have eight of them. Thank you very much for any help/direction you and or readers can give me. — Belinda, Auburn

ANSWER: There are several types of rods and curtain attachments, and Sun Spots cannot tell from your letter exactly what it is you are looking for. 

If you want something no longer popular, you might try Goodwill, the Salvation Army, other thrift shops or estate sales. Of course, you probably won’t get matching curtains that way.

There are some options online, including eBay and www.curtainshop.com.

Perhaps readers will have suggestions, too.

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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