DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m looking for someone who does chair caning, preferably in the Oxford Hills area. Do you have contacts in your Rolodex? — Mary, no town

ANSWER: In the Rolodex, I have Ellie who does chair caning and weaving and is in the West Paris area. She can be contacted 461-0342. References are available. Caning by Pam in Turner is another option. Her contact information is 740-5495 or you can email her at caningbypam@gmail.com. I also have Wendy in Andover (357-1058); David and Donna at The Craft Shop at 597 Roosevelt Trail in Windham ( www.thecraftshopofmaine.com, 892-0001); and The Chair Doctor John Leavitt can be found at 148 Poplar Hill Road in Turner (chairdoctormaine.com). You can reach him at 225-2293. Readers, please write in if you know of others.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I need a leather strap repaired on a favorite purse and remembered you had listed someone local who does small leather repair jobs. Sadly, I didn’t keep the information. — No name, Lewiston

ANSWER: I have Maurice Pelletier’s information in the Rolodex. He’s in Lewiston and can be reached at 312-9624. Maurice told me he has been doing leather work since the age of 9 and specializes in creating and repairing leather goods. Upholstery (including some chairs that stand in the White House), motorcycle seats, holsters, belts, zipper repair for leather jackets — they’re all in a day’s work for Maurice. Custom jobs and hand-stitching are included.

I’m sure there are others out there in Sun Spots Land who do leather work. If so, please write in with your info. Readers, if you have someone to recommend, let me know.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I found some coins recently while I was hiking. Some were embedded in the asphalt and some had been run over so many times they had fused or have part of their surface worn away. A few are thickly encrusted with hardened accumulation that I cannot even chip away. Does anyone have suggestions for cleaning years of road wear from coins? — Lorraine, no town

ANSWER: Are the coins valuable or is it too difficult to tell? Before you do anything, you may want to have your coins looked at by a professional. You can contact Republic Jewelry and Collectibles at 212 Center St. in Auburn (1-977-422-7979) or visit during business hours Saturday, Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. and Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shop is closed Sundays.

Compass Coin & Jewelry at 185 Webster St. in Lewiston (240-9558) can also give you information and advice about your coins. Please call ahead of your visit to schedule an appointment.

If your coins are really dirty or corroded, a paste made with baking soda and water can be used, along with a soft brush. If this isn’t enough to scrape away the debris, try soaking them in a single layer first (with the coins not touching each other) for 1 to 24 hours in a plastic or glass container filled with white vinegar, any brand of antiseptic mouthwash, or hydrogen peroxide. After soaking in any of these solutions, use a soft brush for scrubbing then rinse thoroughly. If you have other advice to offer, please let us know!

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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