DEAR SUN SPOTS: Each year Safe Voices sponsors the Adopt-a-Family program which allows us to match donors with families in need of assistance during the Christmas season. This year we have more families in need and not enough donors. Help us make this a special holiday for families affected by domestic violence, short on resources and unable to provide gifts for their children, by sponsoring a family. To sign up for the program, please call Kelly Wasson at Safe Voices, (207)795-6744 ext. 210. — Kelly Wasson, Safe Voices.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Can you please publish something in your column about the correct pronunciation of the word coos as it applies to Coos Canyon, Maine and Coos County, NH. Thank you. — Rich, Monmouth.

ANSWER: For those who may not know, Coos Canyon is a section of the Swift River in Byron, Maine. It is a natural gorge and because of the smooth, rocky ledges, is a popular spot for swimming and tubing. It is also well-known as a place to pan for gold. Most people pronounce it as one syllable, as in the sound that a dove makes, when in fact, it is a two-syllable word. The word “coo ” is from the Abenaki word for “pines.” There are many different spellings, some more phonetic than others: koas, cohas, cowasse, etc. In most references, Coös County in New Hampshire includes the two dots, a diaeresis, on the second “o” to signify that it is a two-syllable word.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Minot Community Club is a dedicated group of parents and teachers working to support the academic and extracurricular growth of the students at Minot Consolidated School. We help organize fundraisers and events that give our students and their families the opportunity to connect, learn and have fun.

This December, Community Club is bringing back our Holiday Craft Fair, and we are looking for craft vendors to participate. The fair will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Minot Consolidated School on Shaw Hill Road in Minot. For more information, interested vendors can call (207)266-5033 or email russella3@gmail.com. Thank you. — Minot Community Club Holiday Craft Fair Committee.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: St. Luke’s Church in Wilton will open its yearly coat closet for the rest of the fall and winter beginning the week of Oct. 23. Each year, the church receives gently used dry cleaned jackets, coats and snowsuits from the Salvation Army. The church also welcomes laundered, gently used winter coats, boots, hats, and mitten donations from the community. Those in need of warm jackets and coats may stop in any time the church office is open. If you have a donation, please contact Lisa Lindsay, church secretary, to make arrangements. St. Luke’s is located at 59 High St. on the corner of School and High streets in Wilton. The parking lot and office entrance are behind the church on School Street. It is recommended that you call the church in advance to be sure someone is here to greet you. Please note that larger sizes tend to be in highest demand and will go first. For more information about St. Luke’s go to stlukeswilton.org or call (207)645-2639. — St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Wilton.

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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