DEAR SUN SPOTS: I have a small “kitchen” fire extinguisher whose charge has expired. How do I dispose of it? I do not want to put it in the regular trash or in the recycling bin until I know that that is where it belongs. Can you find out what to do with an outdated fire extinguisher? Thanks. — Lucy via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots already knew the answer to this question thanks to nearly burning down her home in the winter of 2013 (she improperly disposed of a smoldering log that was too big for the wood stove).

You can take your fire extinguisher to one of the two places below. Some types of extinguishers can be “recharged,” but others are made to be disposable. Firesafe recycled Sun Spots’ extinguishers for her.

* AAA Fire Extinguisher, 328 Rodman Road, Auburn, 784-8306

* Firesafe Equipment Co., 159 First Flight Drive, Auburn, 784-7525

DEAR SUN SPOTS: First, let me say thank you for your column and all the answers to questions you provide.

My question is that on two different days recently there were full-page ads in the Sun Journal regarding a mug from Dunkin’ Donuts for senior citizens to use for coffee fill-ups for 62 cents. It stated you had to go in personally with your ID to get the mug for 2015. (This was not the Community Mug with free coffee on Sundays.)

Anyway, I told my parents, who are on a limited income, and they went to get one and were told that it was not from Dunkin’ that they get them and they weren’t aware that they even had anything like that.

Can you tell me how we would get one of these and what Dunkin’ Donuts they are accepted at, etc.? Thank you so much. I greatly appreciate your help.

P.S. I love this idea to give seniors, especially those on fixed income, a break. A big thank-you to whoever sponsored this program. — No Name via email

ANSWER: Sun Spots inquired with the Sun Journal advertising department, which sent her a copy of the ad.

It turns out there were a couple of caveats in the ad that some readers didn’t notice.

The first is that not all locations honored the ad. Those that did included:

AUBURN: 800 Minot Ave., 7 Riverside Drive, 791 Kittyhawk, 100 Mt. Auburn Ave., 360 Center St.

LEWISTON: 590 Main St., 828 Lisbon St., 1124 Lisbon St., 1930 Lisbon St., 741 Sabattus St., 319 Main St.

LISBON FALLS: 583 Lisbon Road

OXFORD: 1240 Main St., 479 Main St.

POLAND: 1385 Maine St.

SABATTUS: 148 Sabattus Road

SOUTH PARIS: 169 Main St.

TURNER: 10 Brody Way

The second issue is that holders of 2014 mugs were first in line, with any leftover 2015 mugs then being offered to new customers. This is what the ad said:

“Bring in your 2014 mug to get your free 2015 mug on Friday, January 2nd; Saturday, January 3rd; or Sunday, January 4th between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon at any of the following participating Dunkin’ Donuts:*”

The asterisk indicated while supplies last. Unfortunately, the time has passed for this deal, so Sun Spots is afraid your parents are out of luck for now. Perhaps there will be other deals.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m looking for archived Edward Little and Bates sports information between 1932 and 1947. I assume it is in hard copy only. Is there a process and/or contact I need to reach to gain access? Thank you. — Jay Thompson, jt850@comcast.net

ANSWER: Sun Spots assumes Jay means stories written about those topics. If so, he is in luck, as those archives are available online, thanks to Google.

During the time period he is researching, there were two daily papers: the Lewiston Evening Journal and the Daily Sun. They merged in 1988 and became the Sun Journal.

The archives for the Sun Journal after 1988 are at http://tinyurl.com/mmblsow

The Daily Sun archives, which begin in the 1890s, are at http://tinyurl.com/334ehgd

The Lewiston Evening Journal, which begins in the 1860s, is at http://tinyurl.com/2v2uu7x

Information about printing from the archives appeared in a previous Sun Spots’ column, http://tinyurl.com/3ufnme3 (“Google archive printing possible, not easy”).

There may be a charge to access some archives; it depends on the time period sought.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the Jan. 3 query, pickled pigs feet are available at Smedberg’s Crystal Spring Farm at 1408 Main St. (Route 26) in Oxford. — Gayle Smedberg, smedbergsfarm@gmail.com, 207-743-6723

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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