Dear Sun Spots: I’m collecting the Noah’s Ark series of Wade porcelain figurines found in boxes of Red Rose tea. I have many duplicates, which I would like to trade for the ones I do not have. The ones I need are:

Noah and wife, ewe, and the lion and lioness.

The duplicates I have are: rooster and hen, male zebra, ram, male elephant and a pair of geese.

If any collector or reader is missing the duplicates I have and is interested in swapping for the above figurines I need, please call me at (207) 933-2013 or write to Pat at 153 Back St., North Monmouth, ME 04265-6004. Thank you Sun Spots. – Pat P., North Monmouth.

Dear Sun Spots: I’d like to respond to the person who wanted to know how to clean scratches on her Pfaltzgraff dishes: After trying many products, I purchased Pfaltzgraff Stoneware Cleaner, purchased at the outlet store in Kittery. Pour a small amount of liquid on the scratched dishes and let it set for 10 to 12 hours. Then, wash the dishes in the dishwasher and all scratches should be gone. I have two sets of Pfaltzgraff dishes and have used this method for three years. – A Hebron Reader.

Answer: Thanks to this reader’s tip, Sun Spots located a 10-ounce bottle of Pfaltzgraff Stoneware Cleaner online at www.pfaltzgraff.com. The cleaner is specially formulated to remove marks from stoneware products. Follow with dishwashing or normal hand-washing. This cleaner is a handy helper for glass cookware, tile or fiberglass surfaces, and also recommended for porcelain sinks. It costs $4.99.

Dear Sun Spots: Is there any feasible way of getting rid of an infestation of sumac? It is taking over a large area of a field beside my house. Thank you for any suggestions that you can make. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: Sun Spots had previously checked with Sun Journal garden columnist Jody Goodwin, who is also plagued with it. She and husband, Ike, keep the sumac at bay with a chain saw about three times per season (April to October). The sumac bushes have extensive root systems and, if obliterated when young, can be controlled. However, once the root systems are established, the chain saw works well, along with pulling plants with roots that are crawling up into the landscaping. Goodwin believes any herbicides like Roundup would work but it will kill anything else in the area that it touches, so caution is very, very, very necessary.

Perhaps there are other readers out there plagued with the same problem and who might be willing to share some of their control tips. Sun Spots would encourage them to please contact the column with any tips or hints.

Dear Sun Spots: Leavitt Institute Class of 1955 is planning its 50th class reunion on Aug. 12, 2005. If you were in that class, please R.S.V.P. Contact Tootie at 225-3622 (home) or 224-2999 (camp). Thank you. – Norma Hamlin Towle, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: In a past episode of “Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye” (airs on PAX Sundays at 9 p.m.; the episode was about Sue leaving): They played a song as she was going to leave about praying. Could you please find out what the name of the song is and who recorded it? Thanks. – A Peru reader.

Answer: To contact PAX with questions or comments about programming, call this toll-free number: 1-888-467-2988.

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 [email protected].