DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m looking for places to buy farm-fresh, free-range eggs in the Auburn area year-round. Can you help me out? — Sharon, Auburn.

ANSWER: There are many farms in the Auburn area that produce free-range chicken eggs and there are a few markets at which to buy these eggs year-round:

* 3 Season Farm Market, 9 Third St. in Auburn, offers fresh produce, eggs and meat from Valley View Farm and other local farms. They are open year-round, Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;

* Axis Natural Foods, 120 Center St. in Auburn, carries local and organic produce and other grocery items, including local eggs. They are open year-round, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and

* Forage Market, 180 Lisbon St. in Lewiston, carries many local items, including eggs from Springworks Farm in Lisbon. Hours are are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Do you know how long WMTW 8 ABC is going to be off the the air? I have DISH TV, and they have been off a long time. What is the problem and whose fault is it? What happens to the employees at channel 8? — Walter, Chesterville.

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ANSWER: Since March 3, Hearst Television’s stations, including Maine’s WMTW ABC affiliate on channel 8, have been unavailable to DISH customers. Similar to the negotiations that affected DirecTV customers in January (tinyurl.com/l6x5xql), until DISH Network and Hearst Television reach a new carriage agreement, DISH will not air the station to its customers.

DISH Network has been less public about their negotiations while Hearst has posted a public FAQ document for DISH customers, available at www.hearst.com/broadcasting. In that document, Hearst says that it doesn’t “point fingers” but it “takes two parties to reach an agreement” and “we can’t predict how long this impasse will last.”

Channel 8 employees should not be affected however, because WMTW can still be seen over the air, on cable or through other satellite providers.

DEAR SUNSPOTS: Our 19th Annual Letters for Literacy Scrabble Fest will take place on April 23 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at The Carriage House in Lewiston. Scrabble fans, ages 10 to 100, are invited to play Scrabble with a twist, as four-person teams collaborating over the same letter tray, compete against other teams of four in three thirty-minute rounds. Depending on skill level, players can register in the more relaxed Social or competitive Pro division. All participants collect pledges to benefit Literacy Volunteers.

This is an afternoon of fun, refreshments and fabulous prizes and all to help provide adult literacy services in Androscoggin County. Form your own team or sign up as an individual and we will find a team for you. Call 207-333-4785 or email scrabble@literacyvolunteersandro.org. Details and forms are also at our website, www.literacyvolunteersandro.org. Thank you! — Tahlia Chamberlain, Auburn.

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 pinterest.com/sj_sunspots.


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