DEAR SUN SPOTS: There is a steel gate between Hevey Street and Maine Family Credit Union and behind Holy Family Church that is opened all winter but is closed all summer (except weekends).

Is there any way they can keep it open all the time? When turning from Genest Street onto Sabattus Street we take our lives in our hands. Most vehicles are 10 to 20 mph over the speed limit.

When the gate is opened, the residents from the area can go down through the one-way road and will have a directional light to get on Sabattus Street.

This is so much safer. I hope you can help us. Thanks. — Rick via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots got an answer for this question from Msgr. Marc B. Caron of the Prince of Peace Parish:

“During the week, students served by Spurwink Services, located in the former Holy Family school building, use the parking lot and field behind Holy Family Church for recreation periods.

“The parish has an obligation to provide as safe an environment as possible for them. Closing the gate during those periods is one way to make their access to the field and lot safer.

“The access road behind Holy Family Church is owned and maintained by Prince of Peace Parish and is not a public road.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We are in the midst of a plague of political survey calls from groups such as Maine Political Surveys. The folks that call refuse to stop contacting our household despite repeated requests to do so. They are even asking for family members that haven’t lived here for years, if ever.

“We get multiple calls a day. It’s to the point that we are considering keeping a scorecard and giving our votes to the candidates/parties that call the least. We definitely hate the sound of our phone ringing by now.

“Do you know of any way to stop the calls? We are willing to contact the lobby groups directly, since telling the reps that call us to stop calling isn’t working. We would maybe feel a little better if we knew for sure that our political candidates were putting Mainers to work making the calls, but we’d still like to be able to put a stop to it without having to change our number or disconnect our phone.

We know it’s only going to get worse as elections get closer. Thank you so much for all that you do! — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots just dealt with this topic at length (June 25; sunjournal.com/news/sun-spots/2014/06/25/telemarketers-unlikely-go-away/1553251), specifically the upcoming political season.

She knows of no way to avoid political and charitable request calls, which are allowed under the Do Not Call regulations. You can change your number, possibly going with unlisted (and guard it with your life), or switch to cellphone only, which is what Sun Spots did.

Neither of those is a guarantee, but they should help for a while. Eventually the massive move toward cellphone-only households may result in a push to open them to all calls as well.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: You have been very helpful in the past and I hope you will be able to help me now. I have tried three different Wal-Mart stores for the address to their main store. I know it is in Arkansas but do not know the town or address. Every time I called one of the stores I got cut off. Thank you in advance. — No Name via email

ANSWER: By main store, Sun Spots assumes you mean the corporate headquarters? (If not, write back with clarification.)

The headquarters are at 702 SW 8th St., Bentonville, Arkansas 72716-8611, but Sun Spots does not recommend mail as an approach. Fear of anthrax or other terrorism has greatly reduced the effectiveness of traditional letters, which may just get tossed. Plus, you are unlikely to get an answer. Companies no longer like paying for postage or for teams of secretaries to type up personal responses. At best, you’ll get a form letter thanking you for being a customer.

The Wal-Mart website recommends email or calling: “Email customer service (https://corporate.walmart.com/contact-us/store-corporate-feedback) or call 1-800-WALMART (925-6278) to send a comment or ask a question about your local store or our corporate headquarters.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: For the man seeking a replacement mattress for his cot but who did not have a computer to order online (June 26), the Fabric Warehouse, Auburn, carries foam of any thickness and size. Have someone make a large pillowslip for a cover, and he will have what he is looking for. — 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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