DEAR SUN SPOTS: A yard sale to benefit A.B. Ricker Library in Poland will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 16, at the library. Tables are available for $5 each. The sale is sponsored by Friends of the Library. Donated items may be left at the library until Saturday. The Friends will have a snack table with hot dogs and soda. Call 998-4390 for more info. — Claire, Poland

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Is there anyone in Sabattus or the surrounding area who could help me read crochet patterns? You can reach me at 375 8887. — Connie, Sabattus

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Take note that I’m not complaining, but I am curious. I live in downtown Lewiston and occasionally hear bells ringing. It is not my imagination; my son hears them, too! Is it coming from City Hall? Is it a teenager’s prank? Is official meaning ever attached to the tolling bells? Could both be true at different times?

Thanks Sun Spots, for all you do for the community, and for whatever you can dig up about this seemingly random phenomenon. — No name, Lewiston

ANSWER: I asked a couple sources I have downtown and the only bells they are aware of are the bells at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul on Ash Street. Let’s help our reader figure this out!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m looking for a grape nut pudding recipe. I cannot find one in my recipe books. — No name, no town

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ANSWER: Here you go! This is the recipe I use from Yankee Magazine. Enjoy!

Grapenut Pudding:

1 cup grapenut cereal, ½ cup sugar, four eggs, one quart scalded milk, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon or cardamom or both, dash of nutmeg, dash of salt.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour scalded milk over cereal and let stand for 5 minutes. Beat eggs, sugar, salt, cinnamon or cardamom and vanilla. Add to milk and grapenuts. Pour into a greased two-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Set in a pan of hot water and bake until a knife inserted 1 inch from the center comes out clean for 45 minutes or longer. Serves 6.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Mainely Saws in Topsham. Bob did a great job with my kitchen knives, scissors and the push mower almost goes by itself! Well worth the drive! — Betty, Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to do a family tree on my mother’s side, but don’t want to get stuck paying too much online. Do you have any suggestions or anyone locally who does it for a hobby? — Linda, Lewiston

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ANSWER: I urge you to contact your public library. Some bigger libraries have access to ancestry.com as well as free genealogy classes and workshops. Check it out! Readers, if anyone is up for helping Linda out, please write in!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: We have lost several businesses in our area lately and last week Mexico One Stop closed its doors without warning. We have several gift cards from them. How do we redeem these? Thanks so much for your help. — No name, Rumford

ANSWER: One Stop’s corporate office phone number is 810-653-9855. Give them a call and ask what to do but I’m thinking you can cash those gift cards in at any One Stop.

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 also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.


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