Dear Sun Spots: Could you please get me any information you can on the closing of AJ’s Catering in South Paris? I gave them a deposit to hold a day for catering services for my daughter’s wedding reception. Without any warning they closed. I would like my deposit back. I understand that I’m not the only one. Thank you. – D. Springer, Waterford.

Answer: The only contact phone number Sun Spots located was one for the owner in Poland. Unfortunately Sun Spots has left several messages but has been unable to obtain a call back. According to the Sun Journal’s Norway office, AJ’s still does catering from home. They closed over a dispute about building maintenance with the landlord.

Dear Sun Spots: I am a day-care provider. As of September 2004, our city license is going from $35 to $100. There was no notice, only when you get your renewal form. I think the city is taking advantage of us. We all need to get together on this. If you are interested, please contact me, Rosalie Damon, Damon Day Care, at (207) 784-8528. – Rosalie Damon, Auburn.

Answer: Sun Spots spoke with Auburn City Clerk Mary Lou Magno, who says the increase was part of an overall look by the city at some general fees. The city hoped to try and recoup some of the costs of administering this particular program and other licensing programs. The fees here help cover the inspections by both the Fire Department, sanitation inspector as well as the administrative paperwork necessary to keep you and the almost 69 other day-care businesses in Auburn up and running. As you can imagine, it’s time consuming for each of these departments. Two readings of this proposed increase were held by the City Council, and council agendas were published on the city’s Web site before it was made effective Sept. 1.

Magno says the city had not increased its licensing fees since 1989. Magno also says that you and other residents can be assured your children are well-looked-after, based on the inspection and licensing process.

In addition, Sun Spots checked with an official in the city of Lewiston who said the city does not charge a licensing fee because it’s a duplication of the state’s licensing fee. However, Lewiston does require a use permit when it checks the fencing, parking, land use and any zoning issues regarding a day-care business in the city.

Dear Sun Spots: I’m writing today in hopes that some of your readers may be able to help us.

I am a member of the Tri-County Foster Parent and Adoptive Association here in Central Maine.

Every year we give the foster and adoptive children of Maine a Christmas party. This year we would like to do something special for the foster parents. It has been a very trying and difficult year for many of them. It would be wonderful and greatly appreciated if the community could show its support of this often thankless mission we have chosen to be in. Gifts from businesses, gift certificates or anything a foster parent could use. One other request I have is that we could really use the small bags of potato chips. Little hands can and do transfer germs. Our goal is to keep the foster children safe and healthy.

Please contact Betty M. Derosier at (207) 353-6512 for more information. – Betty Derosier, Sabattus.

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].