ANSWER: In 2003 voters passed a statewide referendum to allow the track to install slot machines, but local voters in both Scarborough, and later Saco and Westbrook (where Scarborough Downs had proposed alternate sites) rejected the proposal, according to track officials.

Then, in 2011, an effort to create a racino near Scarborough Downs failed in a statewide referendum by a vote of 215,115 to 176,718.

In 2013, LD 1111 — which would have allowed Scarborough Downs to create a racino — was briefly considered by the Legislature before being tabled to the following legislative session.

In February 2014, after a public hearing and several work sessions, the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs voted to pass the bill with amendments that would have required Scarborough Downs to build a hotel, an entertainment complex and a new track before it could turn on one slot machine.

The House and Senate took no action on the bill, and it died for lack of a vote.

As a result, Scarborough Downs is not permitted to operate slot machines.

However, state law requires that a portion of the funds from slot machines at the Bangor Casino be shared with Scarborough Downs for its harness racing operations, a requirement that dates back to the Bangor site’s original status as a racino.

For more information about Scarborough Downs, call 207-883-4331.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In reference to the inquiry about fairy festivals, there is a Fairy House Walk with more than 150 houses in Peru. Take a  left on Green Woods Road, from Rt. 108, coming from the Auburn area, about 3-1/2 miles, near Worthley Pond. It is open to the public every day until mid September. People are invited to add houses, decorations, etc. We ask that people sign the guest book at the end of the walk. Call 207-562-7050 for more information. Thank you. — Mary Pulsifer.

HI SUN SPOTS: I have a special request of your readers. My wife is 82 years old and has rheumatoid arthritis,and has to have an infusion every six weeks for pain. To top it off, she fell on ice in January and broke her left arm. Our bedroom is on an upper level but she needs to use both arms to climb the stairs to pull herself up. We had to move her downstairs to sleep on a pull-out couch.

She went for a checkup yesterday, and the doctor said her arm is not healing very fast and they may have to operate; we will know in four weeks. We would like to put in a chairlift to help with the stairs, but they are out of our budget range. We are wondering if one of your readers might have one that has been discontinued, that we could purchase at an affordable price. Thank you. Email joebideau2@yahoo.com or call 207-946-5754.

DEAR READERS: In response to the query from Artios Books for Stephen King’s contact information because the store owner believed he had an original manuscript that the author had said was missing at one time, Sun Journal reporter Mark Laflamme contacted King’s spokeswoman Marsha DeFillipo who stated that the manuscript that turned up at the book store on Turner Street in Auburn is a printed copy of documents that had been made available on King’s website. The scanned document of “The Cannibals” manuscript included King’s handwritten edits.

Use the QR code to go to Sun Spots online for additional information and links. 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 be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com, tweeted @SJ_SunSpots or posted on the Sun Spots facebook page at facebook.com/SunJournalSunSpots. This column can also be read online at sunjournal.com/sunspots. We’ve joined Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/sj_sunspots.

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