Dear Sun Spots: A gentleman attending Calvary United Methodist Church traveling by way of power chair from Montello Heights down College Avenue to Calvary Church on Sabattus Street, dropped his Bible, which had been in a gray case and also contained his mother’s watch. Both the Bible and watch have sentimental value to him. If anyone found these items, please call the church at 782-3221. Thank you so much. – The Rev. Casey Collins, Lewiston

Dear Sun Spots: Do you need good clothes for work, play, school, or just every day? Do you live in Auburn, Lewiston or any surrounding towns? Are you caught in the budget crunch? The volunteers at God’s Helping Hand invite you to check out the fine free preowned clothes at the Advent Christian Church clothing closet at 263 Turner St., Auburn. Open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; use the parking lot entrance, behind the church on Whitney Street. We even have a good assortment of children’s clothes. For more information, or to arrange to donate clothing call: Judy Odyssey at 207-388-2906. – William Ricker, Auburn.

Dear Sun Spots: I need help. Every year I get bats in my house, I hate bats, I think they come in from the eaves of my house. My questions are, is there a way to stop them from coming in? When they do get in, what is the best way to get them out? Keep in mind I am very frightened. Thanks for the help. – D.A., Auburn.

Answer: Bill Elliot, owner of Maine Bat Control Inc. in Rangeley, has been evicting bats from homes in Maine for about 10 years. He says the two kinds of bats that are most common in Maine are Little Brown bats and Big Brown bats. You will find Little Brown bats in colonies of 20 to 80, from about May to sometime in the fall. They hibernate through the winter, usually in caves. Big Brown bats stay in the same structure year-round, even for hibernation. Occasionally they come out of hibernation and become active.

Most people don’t take on the task of keeping their house “bat-free,” but Elliot takes the following steps to get the bats out of homed. First he identifies the place they are entering the house from. Then, he’ll seal up all the areas they aren’t using to enter the house. Lastly, he’ll devise a one way valve that the bats can leave the house through, but not re-enter.

Bats use houses as a “roost” for shelter and to raise their young. Once a bat begins to use a house for a bat roost, they become very dedicated to the location and will not leave willingly. After one eviction, Elliot watched a very persistent bat try to enter a home again, to no avail. If they are denied access through their normal entryway, they will look for another spot by flying around the house to sense a draft. That’s why it’s important to seal all possible entryways.

He notes that there are a lot of misconceptions about bats and, according to his Web site, believes “that bats are a vital part of our ecosystem.” Check out his Web site for more information about bats, www.mainebat.com or contact Bill at 207-864-3695 if you’d like to have the bats evicted from your home. His services are available all over the state.

Dear Sun Spots: For people inquiring about hair care at home, call 754-9805 or 782-1271. Hair at Home will come to you in the Lewiston Auburn area. – No Name, No Town.



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