DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you for all the help and support you give to our community. Creative Sewing Center and the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing are working together on the No Sun for Baby program.

The purpose of this program is to educate parents of newborns on the methods for and importance of sun safety for their baby. We are asking sewers to make and donate sun hats. The hats will be part of a Sun Safety Kit that will be given to the parents of newborns.

According to Mary Dempsey, there are up to 70 babies born at Central Maine Medical Center per month, so as you can see we really need your help!

If you would like to sew at home, the instructions and pattern for making the sun hats can be picked up at Creative Sewing Center at 730 Center St. in the Auburn Plaza next to Big Lots.

We will also have a Sun Hat Sewing Party the last Saturday of every month from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Just give us a call if you plan on coming to the sewing party.

Please join us in helping babies stay sun safe. Thank you. — Lisa Blake, 782-5922, [email protected]

DEAR SUN SPOTS: What is the time of limitation for an old bill to be collected? — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Getting answers to legal questions is always difficult for Sun Spots. Lawyers, even those in public service, will generally not respond. Sun Spots emailed the Maine Attorney General’s Office and was sent some links, with the following caveat attached: “Please note that this is not legal advice and should not be considered a complete review of the law regarding debt collection in Maine.”

Some of these links are laced with legalese and thus tough for a non-lawyer to interpret, but the time limits seem to agree with what Sun Spots found at other websites.

At credit.about.com it says that the statute of limitations varies depending on the state and the type of debt, and that there is no statute of limitations for some debts, including child support, student loans and income tax.

It also says that even if the statute of limitations is up that it will not prevent a creditor from suing you, but that it might stop them from winning if you use the statute of limitations as your defense. If there has been a judgment against you (you lost a case in court), that may carry a different statute of limitation.

credit.about.com also says that the statute of limitation does not release you from the debt and that it may still be reported on your credit report (this also has a time limit, which again varies depending on the type of debt). The statute of limitations also does not stop the creditor from asking for payment.

Both credit.about.com and www.cardreport.com report Maine’s statute of limitations for credit cards, written agreements (car loans are in this category) and promissory notes as six years.

One interesting note: credit.about.com said that if you take any action on a debt that it restarts the statute of limitations. For example, say you haven’t paid a credit card in four years, then you come into some money and send them $100; the date for the debt’s statute of limitations then becomes the date you paid. The site said this applies even if you just talk to the creditor and promise to pay — you don’t actually have to give them any money.

Sun Spots hopes readers find this information interesting and useful. You may be able to get more information from the Consumer Protection Service of the AG’s Office (1-800-436-2131), but they may tell you to consult a lawyer, which is always good advice if you are unsure of your rights.

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 e-mailed to [email protected].