DEAR SUN SPOTS: I read your July 5th piece about the Pleasant Street/Hill Sanitarium. I think the area around Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary was used as well. — Johanna, South Portland

ANSWER: Thank you for sharing this information! I checked out the Androscoggin County Nature Preserves website you forwarded. This 372-acre property was once a farm belonging to the Thorne family. Over the years it has been a sheep and dairy farm, a tuberculosis sanatorium, the source for Highland Spring Bottled Water Co., and a recreation and research center for Bates College. The hill was once called Thorne Hill, named for Elder Benjamin Thorne, an early settler of Lewiston. Dr. Alfred Anthony of Lewiston donated the first portion of this property to be used as a model bird sanctuary, founded by the Stanton Bird Sanctuary in 1921 and renamed Thorncrag Hill. In 1994 the Michaud Farm was added. Now one of New England’s largest bird sanctuaries, it is accessible from Highland Spring Road, off Sabattus Street in Lewiston.

If anyone has more information on this topic, by all means, chime in!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We at Bolster Heights Assisted Living Facility would like to know if any readers have badminton sets they no longer need. We would like to have a couple for outdoor activities this summer. Also, a few years ago there was a water balloon that popped when a timer went off. Maybe someone has one of these they no longer use or could let us know where we could purchase one. Thank you so much for all you do for us. — Debbie Purcell, Bolster Heights Residential Care, Auburn Maine, 207-784-1364 ext. 119

ANSWER: I’m a fan of badminton myself. There’s nothing quite like giving that birdie a good smack, and it’s great exercise! As far as the water balloon game goes, there is one called “Splash Fun Water Bomb” that can be found on Amazon for $14.00. If any of our readers have seen one of these games in local stores and would like to donate one to Bolster Heights, you may also want to grab one for yourself! Looks like a great way to have some laughs and cool off on a hot summer day.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: If anyone has any extra day lilies, hosta, or perennials they are willing to give away, I would be happy to come and dig them up. Please call me at 241-7090. — Julien, Auburn

DEAR SUN SPOTS: This is in response to the letter that appeared on July 7 about organizing photos. Through its media lab or computer lab, Auburn Public Library has a number of ways to assist customers in organizing their photos. You may bring in original photos to be scanned or a thumb drive with your photos already digitized. These digitization services are free, but there is a charge for printing copies. Please call our reference desk at 333-6640, ext. 4 for more information or to make an appointment for assistance. — Mamie Anthoine Ney, director, Auburn Public Library

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