DEAR SUN SPOTS: I plan on having a garage sale in Lewiston in May. Do I need a permit and how do I put an ad in the paper. Thanks. — D.B., No Town.

ANSWER: In the city of Lewiston, the fee for a garage sale permit is $10.

The city of Lewiston has garage sale information on its website at: http://www.lewistonmaine.gov/index.aspx?nid=263.

Guidelines for Garage Sales
Garage sales are sales of personal property on residential premises.

Permit Fee
The fee for a garage sale permit is $10.

Rules

• There is a fine of up to $1,000 for not obtaining a proper permit.
• In the event that the sale needs to be rescheduled due to circumstances beyond your control please contact this office as soon as possible at (207) 513-3124.
• The garage sale cannot be longer than three consecutive days.
• No more than two permits are allowed per household in any one calendar year.
• No rain dates are allowed after the start of sale.
• One sign is allowed, not more than four square feet in size, on the premises where the sale is being held.
• The posting of signs on telephone poles, posts, trees, and in the street right of way is prohibited.

“Auburn officials mull changes to garage sale permitting” by Douglas McIntire was published in the Sun Journal, April 7. Read it here: https://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2015/04/07/auburn-officials-mull-changes-garage-sale-permitting/1681707

To place a garage sale ad in the Sun Journal, you can either call 207-783-2281 or visit the customer service desk at 104 Park St., in Lewiston. Garage sale ads must be pre-paid and must run for at least two days, Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday. The deadline for submitting a garage sale ad is Wednesday at 10 a.m.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I just moved into the area. Are there any other daytime senior beano besides Lewiston Senior anywhere? Thank you. — P.L., No Town.

ANSWER: Sun Spots thinks you wrote “beano” but maybe you wrote “beans.” Just a reminder to those who mail in handwritten query letters: please write legibly. Beano was an early name for bingo which came about because the game was played with dried beans instead of tokens. To answer your question, there are several bingo venues in Lewiston that host the game at various times of day and on various days. You can call these places to find one that is convenient to your schedule:

* Pleasant Street Bingo Hall 475 Pleasant St., Lewiston 207-777-1394

* Lewiston Elks Bingo 1675 Lisbon St., Lewiston 207-784-4801

* Disabled American Veterans Bingo, 855 Lisbon St., Lewiston, 207-784-0244

SUN SPOTS: A few years ago we made out our will at a lawyer’s office. We now need to add to it which would not be more than two lines which is going to cost us $359. Is it legal to make out our own will and have it notarized and witnessed by two people? If so, where could we get the forms? Thanks for all your help. — No Name, No Town.

ANSWER: The state of Maine “cannot provide legal advice or interpretation of Maine law to the public. If you need legal advice, please consult a qualified attorney. Forms for executing a statutory will shall be provided at all Probate Courts for a cost equivalent to the reasonable cost of printing and storing the forms. A statutory will shall be deemed to be valid if the blanks are filled in with a typewriter or in the handwriting of the person making the will. Failure to complete or mark through any section or part of a section in the statutory will shall not invalidate the entire will. Failure to sign any section or part of a section in the statutory will requiring a signature shall only invalidate the part not signed, except as specifically provided in paragraph 2.4.” You can read more about Maine’s probate code, intestate succession and wills, here: http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-A/title18-Asec2-514.html

SUN SPOTS: Other than for electrical cords, to curl them up so as to neaten them, maybe arts/crafts people know a use for toilet-tissue cardboard tubes? Thank you. — Anonymous.

ANSWER: Sun Spots knows that you can spread them with peanut butter and roll them in bird seed and put them in the trees or feeders for birds. They can also be used as seed starter containers. If you cut a toilet paper roll the long way you can place it over rolls of gift wrap so they don’t unravel. There are many sites that share multiple uses for empty toilet paper rolls. Try this one: http://theverybesttop10.com/things-to-do-with-toilet-paper-rolls/

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