Maine food for July: Snap beans and cucumbers University of Maine Cooperative Extension publishes information to help find, grow, use and store in-season fruits and vegetables in Maine. A variety of bulletins can be ordered or downloaded at extension.umaine.edu. July favorites include “Let’s Preserve: Snap Beans,” “Let’s Preserve: Pickles,” “Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Cucumbers” […]

ANSWER: According to news reports, Karkos, who was a reporter and news anchor with WMTW Channel 8 for 25 years, left his position at the station abruptly in late May. Unfortunately, it does not seem like a return is likely. DEAR SUN SPOTS: You are the first thing I read. Thanks for all the info […]

ANSWER: Rose hips are the round “balls” remaining after a rose blooms, withers and the petals finally fall away. The pods contain seeds that may eventually produce more rose bushes, but foragers have also found other uses for them, like for making classic rose hip jelly — and since they’re loaded with vitamin C, rose […]

The answer to your question about who or what handles the questions is a bit complicated — as is grammar, spelling and the English language in general — which is certainly part of the problem. Maybe time will see improvements, but few have been made in the last 20 or so years since these checkers […]

Our Catholic Charities SEARCH program (Seek Elderly Alone, Renew Courage and Hope) relies almost entirely on the help of volunteers to provide friendly visiting and transportation support to lonely and isolated seniors who live alone throughout Androscoggin County. Many of the seniors in our program seek companionship or socialization opportunities as they may live alone […]

I have questions about spam. Who decides what is spam and how is the decision made? I thought it might be when the same mail was sent to multiple recipients. Recently, the results of my lab tests from my doctor ended up in spam. A few days later, the doctor’s office sent me an appointment reminder […]

ANSWER: Saying something (in this case “orange”) is “the new black” is a reference to the popularity of the color black in fashion. Black is a color that goes with pretty much everything and some people even think it helps to make people appear thinner when they wear it. Sun Spots would go so far […]

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Could you find out if Greenwood Orchards stand on Route 4 in Turner is going to open again? They were open all winter from Thursday through Sunday, but now the sign out front says “Closed.” Thanks for any help you can be. — An Avid Reader, No Town. ANSWER: No need to […]

Earlier this spring, public works crews were out in force cold patching potholes in your area, but it’s more likely that the heaviest of traffic you experienced this construction season so far was the result of crews working on the Summer Street Extension, which was completed a few weeks ago. Though this work was on […]

As there is no longer any public access for boating or swimming on the pond, Sun Spots should file a retraction removing No Name Pond from that list. — Claude, Lewiston. ANSWER: Consider it done. It’s too bad that some people disrespected the property and generosity of the landowners, resulting in lost access for all […]