DEAR SUN SPOTS: There are three nearby Jane’s Walks on Saturday, May 2.

All Around Downtown/Uptown Auburn starts at 9 a.m. next to the First Universalist Church at 169 Pleasant St. at the corner of Spring and Elm streets and ends at the Auburn Public Library at 49 Spring St. We will be viewing historic buildings all along that route.

Using a Historic Maine Forest in Life and Death starts at 10 a.m. at Washburn-Norlands Living History Center at 290 Federal Road in Livermore.

Also, Historic Frye Street will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Lewiston. — Rick, no town

ANSWER: Jane’s Walks is a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs, an American-Canadian journalist, author, theorist and activist who influenced urban studies, sociology, and economics.

Jane’s Walks combine the simple act of exploring a place with personal observations, local history and civic engagement.  

The annual Jane’s Walks Festival takes place the first weekend in May in more than 500 cities and towns around the globe. 

I want to include that there are other Jane’s Walks in our readership area to choose from. “Downtown Norway” will start at Longley Square Park at Main and Deering streets at 10 a.m.

The Abbot Boys, Fact and Fiction, will begin at Lot 11, adjacent to Abbott Park and the Roberts Learning Center of the University of Maine Farmington lower lot near Rollo Pond in Farmington at 3:15 p.m. 

There are nearly 70 walks in 34 cities and towns across the state so if you want to go further afield and explore someplace new, there are several opportunities to choose from, including many in Portland. 

Take a look at the full roster of walks at https://janeswalkme.org/ and click on https://janeswalkme.org/find-a-walk/ to get more details about each location, then plan your day. Let’s send out some good vibes for beautiful spring weather with blue skies and sun! 

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding the April 22 Sun Spots, Don’s Stove & Chimney in Livermore (https://donsstoveshop.com/) in Livermore does steel chimney liners. The number is 897-4200. The company is also cleaning our chimney as soon as we have a wood stove. — Rick, no town 

ANSWER: Servicing, cleaning and repairing chimneys is a lost art and I can attest to the fact that it can be really challenging to find an experienced technician that can meet your needs in a timely manner. Thank you for this recommendation, and I hope I will receive more. 

I want to add that I heartily encourage young people to get into the trades. Work along someone who has been at it for a while whether it be a carpenter, an electrician, a plumber, a mason, an arborist…obtain your training and certifications and you’ll make a good living for yourself and the family you’ll hopefully have one day if you choose. 

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