DEAR SUN SPOTS: Second Congregational Church, UCC, 205 Main St. in Norway is hosting another Thrift Shop & Indoor Yard Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 24.

We have received many donations over the past few months, but can always use more items. If you have anything you’d like to donate, please bring it to the barn. We accept furniture, vintage items, lots of children’s items, good household items, books and more, but we don’t accept baby furniture, strollers and car seats.

We require face masks and limit the number of people allowed into our space at any one time, just as we did at our sales last summer and fall. These smaller sales are replacing the big annual August yard sale. We look forward to seeing you. — Pam, moderator, Second Congregational Church, UCC, Norway

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Hartford Heritage Society will hold a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the J & O Irish Museum on Main Street in Hartford. All plants are from local gardens. Perennials are $3 each; shrubs, raspberries, lilacs, etc. are $5 each.  We will also have a raffle table with garden-related items.

We are asking all our friends and neighbors to please donate any of their extra plants they may have as they clean their gardens this spring. Plants can be left at the museum the day before the sale, the morning of, or please call Rosie at 597-2270 or Doreen at 224-7147 if you would like them picked up.

Thank you all for your past participation and we hope to see you on May 8.

We know that people read Sun Spots first and hope that you can help get the word out about our upcoming sale.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I was at an arboretum recently and saw several turtles stacked up on each other. I’ve noticed this turtle behavior before and wonder why they pile up like that. I’m just curious. — Mary, no town

ANSWER: According to petmerlin.com, “turtles like to stack up on each other so they all get more UV rays and keep warm. The turtles on the top get more sunlight while the turtles on the bottom benefit from the collective warmth of the stack. Stacking is a natural phenomenon and may offer additional benefits, like protection from predators.

“Turtles are ectothermic creatures that can’t control their body temperature like standard warm-blooded animals. To regulate their temperature, turtles will utilize their environment since they cannot rely on their own internal processes.

“Because of this, they constantly move from cooler areas to warmer locales and vice versa. By doing this, turtles are able to effectively control their body temperature.

“Pond turtles like the red-eared sliders, painted turtles and yellow-bellied sliders love the water. However, the water cools them down so to warm up, they engage in their second favorite activity, basking in the sun.

“By stacking, turtles are able to bask effectively and warm their bodies quickly, even if there isn’t a lot of area available.

“By having each other in close proximity, the warmth of the other turtles through the convection of heat makes them warm up faster.”

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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