DEAR SUN SPOTS: Somebody told me that the price of all hard liquor in Maine is the same, no matter where you buy it. That seems incredible. Is it true? — No Name, Leeds

ANSWER: The answer to this question surprised Sun Spots, who didn’t expect it to be true. 

Gregg Mineo, director of the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages & Lottery Operations, responded by email that:

“Yes, it is correct. The shelf price for each specific distilled spirits item is the same across all agency liquor stores in the state of Maine.”

For those who want to check out prices — and look for sales! — visit www.maine.gov/dafs/bablo/alcohol_bev/index.shtml.

Incidentally, wine and beer are regulated differently. Prices do vary.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: There seem to have been probably millions of dollars spent converting/creating truck/bus weigh stations all over the Northeast. I have yet to drive by when any of them have been open.

Why is that? Granted some of my travels are weekends and holidays, but on daytime school vacation trips to New York or Pennsylvania I still have not seen a single one open and operating.

Are they strictly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekday operations? Why do we need them?

The one in Pittsfield took out a very helpful rest area on the northbound side of I-95, as did the one just north of Augusta on the southbound side. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots got answers to your questions from a few different sources. 

Stephen McCausland, public information officer for the Maine State Police, emailed that weigh stations “are primarily built to allow state police to safely inspect the big rigs, off the traveled highways. There are a number around the state and none of them are staffed full time, but provide troopers and motor carrier inspectors a safe location to do the inspections when they are in the area.”

An employee at the Maine Department of Transportation noted that “weigh stations are not just weigh stations but a safety stop for truckers. This gives the police an opportunity to check log books and any safety violations that be on these trucks, plus what the load is they are trucking. Not only that, heavy trucks can cause more damage to the road than what it was designed for so that’s why there are weight limits and a mechanism to check those weight limits.”

As for the conversion of the two rest stops, at Wikimapia it says that the rest stop north of Augusta “was a traffic rest stop until ca. 2008, when it was converted into a truck weigh station and closed to the general public shortly before the new rest area was opened south of Augusta in West Gardiner (near the intersection of I-95 and I-295). As late as the mid-2000s, the Maine Department of Transportation operated rest stops in both directions on I-95 between Augusta and Waterville; they now offer neither.”

Considering the large number of places to stop, eat, get gas and use the restroom in Augusta, this stop probably was no longer necessary. Twenty years ago Augusta was pretty much asleep after 8 p.m. That is no longer true. Same with Waterville.

Sun Spots is not familiar with the Pittsfield area, but Google shows a Walmart Supercenter just up the highway in Newport, so maybe similar dynamics are working there as well.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: L/A Arts is actively looking for persons interested in growing its arts agency with new board and committee members.

The 41-year-old organization is in the midst of a transformation and is looking for help from energized individuals across all sectors of our community who believe in the value of the arts for Lewiston and Auburn.

The organization is the proud sponsor of the following events and programs: L/A Arts (laarts.org), Art Walk Lewiston Auburn (www.artwalklewistonauburn.com), Arts & Culture Lewiston Auburn (www.artsandculturela.org) and Arts in Education (in local schools, http://laarts.org/?page_id=25).

If you would like to become part of our vibrant group of strong board members, please contact me. — Judy Vardamis, board chairwoman, [email protected].

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 [email protected].