DEAR SUN SPOTS: Excelsior Grange at 446 Harris Hill Road in Poland will host an Open House from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Lunch will be served at noon and is free to all.

Rick Grotton, membership director of the Maine State Grange, will be the guest speaker.

Excelsior Grange is entering its 150th year of continuous operation, and we would like to introduce friends and neighbors to the opportunities available to them through Grange membership. The Grange is not only for farmers, even though agriculture is still very important to the organization.

Membership is open to everyone over the age of 13 with social and service activities of interest to all. If you like working with others for the common good, the Grange is for you.

Seeds for the Grange, a sponsored 2023 Pumpkin Growing Contest for youth ages 5-12, will be available that day. For more information and/or to RSVP for lunch, call 998-2301. — Steve, Poland

ANSWER: I recommend checking out your local Grange, no matter where you live. Learn how you can serve your community, share your skills and gain knowledge about something new.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I want you to know how much I appreciate the fact that you have been listing so many plant sales in the column. I’m a first-time homeowner and consequently have a yard and room to have flower gardens for the first time in my life. I don’t have a lot of funds to go to nurseries, etc. for flowers so I’m excited to go to these sales to get plants for a good price, and meet lots of other flower power people! –Cyn, Sabattus

ANSWER: That makes me happy, and yes, these plant sales are lots of fun. I hope you get some beautiful plants for your new home, make some new friends, and appreciate the fact that these fundraisers are often the bread and butter for libraries, churches, granges and others.

Since you live near Bowdoinham, you may want to come to the Bowdoinham Public Library’s 50th and last ever Plant Sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Bay Road/Route 24 next to Merrymeeting Bay.

There will be over 120 species of locally grown and hardy perennials in various varieties and colors, as well as trees, shrubs, annuals, herbs and vegetables. Thanks to local farm friends, there will be organic Bowdoinham grown seedlings!  Gardening experts will be on hand to help answer questions. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. I hope you’ll come by and enjoy some time at the waterfront.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’m looking for novels by Jean Grainger, an Irish writer who I really enjoy. I would be happy to pay for them. I’ve looked online and through the state library system but they seem to be hard to find. If you know of a used book store that has some or if anyone has any they wouldn’t mind parting with, please email me at iwrite33@comcast.net. – Karen, no town

ANSWER: Thrift Books, ABE, Alibris, Amazon, are online bookstores that have some of Jean’s books, but my hope is that readers will reach out to you with ideas for where you can get these books locally.

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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