DEAR SUN SPOTS: Anderson Staples Post 112 of the American Legion in Oxford is planning to host a Memorial Day celebration at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 27, at the post at 169 King St. It is to be an outdoor ceremony, unless weather forces the event to be moved indoors. Refreshments will be served. Call 207-539-2372 for more information. — Howie, no town

ANSWER: The holiday weekend is coming up. If your nonprofit organization has special requests, fundraising events or services to honor our veterans, let me know. Sending me the information sooner rather than later, please.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: SeniorsPlus, western Maine’s designated Area Agency on Aging, seeks volunteers to assist with a returning program, Opening Minds through Art, which strives to bring joy, art and pride to those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Weekly for six weeks at our Lewiston office, those with dementia (the artists) are paired with trained volunteers, who help them create art using imagination instead of memory. SeniorsPlus seeks volunteers to work one-on-one with participants in the art classes. No art background is required. Classes are Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. and run from June 14 through July 19.

To volunteer or enroll a loved one as an artist, contact SeniorsPlus at 207-795-4010 or edcenter@seniorsplus.org. — Jessica, Lewiston

 ANSWER: I cannot say enough about the wonderful services SeniorsPlus provides. Since 1972, the organization has been improving the lives of older adults and adults with disabilities.

As the designated Area Agency on Aging for western Maine, SeniorsPlus provides statewide services with an emphasis on Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties for core services — including nutrition, information and assistance — that support independent living, healthy aging and fight isolation.

The overall program goal of SeniorsPlus is to assist older people and adults with disabilities in its tri-county area to remain safely at home for as long as possible. The mission of SeniorsPlus is to enrich the lives of older people and adults with disabilities, their families and communities, and to support them to make informed choices.

SeniorsPlus envisions a future where all older adults and individuals with disabilities are engaged and respected while living quality, independent lives in the communities of their choice.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you and the many readers who volunteered to do water quality monitoring on the Androscoggin River and some tributaries. This is part of a Maine DEP program and is helpful in our developing a better understanding of water quality. Thanks to all the people who responded. We should have a great sampling season. — Ferg, no town

ANSWER: I am glad your request has prompted a great response. This is what Sun Spots is for: connection, community and positivity. With the help of Sun Spots readers, we plan to keep this good thing going for many more years.

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 will not use it if you ask. Please include your telephone 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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