Dear Sun Spots: My mother saw that a woman was reunited with a lost item of jewelry after 20 years because of a description that ran in your paper. She, too, has lost her Lisbon High School class ring many years ago and asked me to write to you in hopes that she might have a similar success story.

It was a class ring and was the typical chunky style of older class rings. The ring was silver with a November stone (yellow topaz or citrine gemstone) set into the top. On one side was a track emblem (the foot with a wing), and on the other was the block number “82.” However, the most characteristic feature of her ring was that it featured her initials A.R.M. inside the band. Many thanks to you and column readers for any assistance you can give my mother and I. – Samantha Brissette, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: Is there a dancing school in the area that would be willing to take three Somali girls, ages 6 to 9, for ballet lessons? Scholarships would be helpful. Thank you. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Sun Spots checked in with Linda Camire of Camire Dance Studio, 753-1773, in the old Great Falls School, and she believes she may have spoken with you previously. Linda notes that classes typically start up in September and at this point all classes are in the middle of their routines, so it is difficult to join mid- to end of semester. Linda recommends you keep an eye out for the studio’s open house, which will be advertised in the paper in late August. This way you can check the studio out prior to classes beginning. Linda says they take students from 3 years old and up, and offer classes in ballet, point for the more experienced ballet dancers, jazz, tap and a little hip hop.

Sun Spots encountered the same situation with Mary Jane’s School of Dance on Route 202 in Greene, 946-7302. Again, you should consider contacting them in September about fall classes or even as early as May when they start early registration.

Dear Sun Spots: Whatever happened to all the actors on the program Little House on the Prairie? And how old are they now? And how would one be able to write to the actors who are still alive and maybe get a signed picture or something? – No Name, Auburn.

Answer: There are 33 actors who appeared on the series, and you can well imagine this would take some time. However, Sun Spots would encourage you to check out www.pioneerontheprairie.com, where you will find several addresses listed for contacting the actors. You will need to click onto the autograph central page, and you will be forwarded to a listing of addresses for the actors. For more on the history of the 183 episode series, which ran from Sept. 11, 1974, to March 21, 1983, click on www.timstvshowcase.com.

In the meantime, hopefully you and other readers may also enjoy trying out the following recipe of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s from www.pioneerontheprairie.com:

Laura’s gingerbread

Ingredients and method: 1 cup brown sugar blended with ½ cup lard or other shortening, 1 cup molasses mixed well with this. Two teaspoons baking soda in 1 cup boiling water. (Be sure cup is full of water after foam is run off into cake mixture). Mix all well. To 3 cups of flour add one teaspoon each of the following spices: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and ½ teaspoon salt. Sift all into cake mixture and mix well. Add lastly, 2 well-beaten eggs. The mixture should be quite thin. Bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes. Raisins and, or, candied fruit may be added and a chocolate frosting adds to the goodness.

Dear Sun Spots: I had requested anyone with fabric and notions for quilts that my family and I are making to please contact me. I accidentally listed my phone number wrong. My number had been changed this past Monday due to the carrier. I can be reached at 357-9938, or through e-mail at justaskaboutbooks@yahoo.com or quiltsofcourage@yahoo.com.

I am truly sorry for the miscommunication. Thanks for all your help. – M. Bachelder, No Town.

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). 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 posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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