DEAR SUN SPOTS: SHAREcenter in Auburn is a nonprofit organization that takes materials that would be thrown away and provides them to our members to use in their programs or classrooms.

We are looking for clean baby-food jars with lids. We also could use small plastic containers with lids that could be used for storing small amounts of paint. We would also like old wallpaper books. Finally, if there is a paint business that no longer needs the papers that show the colors of paint samples, we could definitely put those to good use.

Our members repurpose all kinds of items that people or businesses think of as trash, but we look at as treasures. Small wood pieces become math counters, buttons are used for sorting, boxes are used for storing all kinds of school supplies, material becomes part of a sewing project for the after-school program, and fuzzy felt pieces are put into a sensory table. Even office supplies that you no longer use are going to be used by our members.

If you can help us with our requests or have items that you want to recycle instead of throwing away, please call us at 333-6671 or email us at sharecenter@auburnschl.edu. To learn more about our work, you can even visit our facebook page at auburnsharecenter. — Pat Pelliccia

DEAR SUN SPOTS: What is the best way to transfer old slides to the computer or CD? — Janet Adams, jma8@roadrunner.com

ANSWER: You can buy equipment and do it yourself at home, but Sun Spots’ experience with that was not positive, albeit that was about 10 years go.

Alternatively, you can pay someone else to do it for you. Locally, the only place Sun Spots knows of is Photo Finish in the Auburn Mall, 550 Center St., Auburn, 783-3354.

Mr. Sun Spots tried several online services and finally ended up selecting Scan Café (www.scancafe.com) for his slides. But of course you must mail them out, which makes some people nervous.

Conversion is not cheap, so you will want to weed out duplicates, out-of-focus shots, etc.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for answering my question about the need for a life insurance policy to be cashed in if you ask for general assistance from your town (Feb. 15). Your column is a great help and a real asset for the newspaper. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: Sun Spots is pleased to have helped!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Members of the Edward Little High School Class of 1964 are planning a reunion to be held at Martindale on July 26 starting at 5 p.m. Invitations for this 50th reunion are to be sent out soon with further details.

Any classmate whose address, telephone number or email has changed since 2009, please contact me. — Sharon McGilvery, 207 782-0089, sharon.mcgilvery@yahoo.com, 128 Monroe St., Auburn, ME 04210

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to Christine Swain who was looking for the book “Loch” by Paul Zindel for her students: I always check Betterworldbooks.com when looking for hard-to-find books. It is an interesting site, selling both used and new books, with free shipping. The core of the business is supporting literacy initiatives worldwide. The book Ms. Swain is looking for is available at this website. — Lynn Berube, anananagram@live.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The lady asking about the book “Loch” by Zindel can find it on the Blue Cloud Books website (www.bluecloudbooks.com), cheap and with free shipping. I have done business with them, and they are great. — No Name via email

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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