DEAR SUN SPOTS: To the person looking for someone to fix a small lamp (Nov. 8 Sun Spots), I brought my mother-in-law’s vintage Hummel “Apple Tree boy and girl” lamps to be re-wired at Lighting Concepts at 1033 Sabattus St. in Lewiston. The wiring had been cut because it had frayed with age and sparked when they were plugged in, which was scary, but my mother-in-law still wanted to enjoy the lamps so they stayed unlit on her dresser for years. After she died, I wanted to display and use the matching lamps because they’re so lovely.

The folks at Lighting Concepts understood how sentimental the lamps were to me, and took great care with them and fixed them very quickly at a very reasonable price. I think of my mother-in-law whenever I turn them on! Their phone number is 888-753-8620.

— Judy, Auburn

ANSWER: Thank you for sharing this sweet story and the information!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Members of the Mission Committee of the Second Congregational Church, UCC, of Norway are asking the community to join in a long tradition of gathering mittens and hats for school children and to also participate in a new tradition of filling Advent boxes.

For over 50 years, a small group of dedicated members and friends have knit mittens and hats for us. These items decorate the sanctuary’s Mabel Brown Christmas tree during December then are distributed to the Paris and Rowe schools in early January. This year, due to illness and injury, there aren’t as many knitters as in the past.

Mabel Brown, a graduate of Bates College Class of 1915, longtime resident of Winter Street, tireless community volunteer and beloved Sunday school teacher at the Second Congregational Church began the mitten tradition many years ago because she saw children arriving at school over the winter without mittens and hats. For years, she knit mittens for the local children. Now the knitters of the Second Congregational Church, UCC, celebrate her legacy of kindness by knitting and decorating the sanctuary Christmas tree with the mittens and hats. Those who don’t knit can purchase hats and mittens at local stores and craft fairs to help fill the tree. After Christmas, the knitted items are distributed to local schools.

Advent boxes are also a Mission Committee tradition. As children, many of us received Advent calendars. To expand the church’s efforts to provide food to local people in need, the Mission Committee has designed an Advent calendar which requests a common food or household item be placed in a box each day during Advent, Dec. 1-25. The filled boxes are returned to the church by Jan. 6 and the items are distributed to the middle and high schools and local food pantry.

You may drop mittens and hats off in the collection box outside the ramp door of the Second Congregational Church at 205 Main St. There are also collection boxes at Fiber and Vine at 402 Main St. and Happi Chicks Bake Shop at 434 Main St.

Advent calendars and boxes to fill for the food pantries will be available outside the church ramp door and at Happi Chicks after Nov. 18. For more information, please contact the church office at 207-743-2290.

— Kate, Norway

ANSWER: Wonderful! May everyone who participates be thoroughly blessed by this collective endeavor!

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