DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Androscoggin Historical Society will hold a Craft Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the West Auburn Schoolhouse at 740 West Auburn Road. Crafters of all types are welcome to rent one of the remaining tables for $25. Please contact me at 782-5467 to make arrangements. — Penny, no town

ANSWER: Crafters, here’s your chance to shine and meet other crafters plus explore the potential of gaining new customers. Enjoy!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Where can I get my Brother sewing machine repaired? I am itching to sew for my new granddaughter. — Bonnie, no town

ANSWER: First, congratulations on the birth of your new grandbaby — that’s exciting news!

Western Maine Machines (https://wmemachines.com/) is a repair shop and authorized dealer for Brother and other brands of sewing machines such as Janome. There are two locations: 43 Exchange St. in Rumford (507-1257) and 426 Route 1 in Scarborough (303-0185). There is also a drop-off at Paul’s Shoe Repair at 350 Lisbon St. in Lisbon.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: You recently shared information regarding disposal of unwanted items such as clothing and household items. Your listing included the more familiar organizations, but also had the name of an organization that will take anything. I’d appreciate having you provide the information for that organization again as I embark on my summer cleaning of closets and cabinets. — No name, Turner

ANSWER: In the column, I often mention many nonprofits taking donations of clothing and household goods. There is the clothing and thrift store in Leeds at 160 Church Hill Road (524-5444) and Court Street Baptist Church Clothes Closet on 129 Court St. in Auburn (784-6661). Many other churches in the area have “community closets” like these.

Other options are Androscoggin Hospice Thrift Store (https://androscoggin.org/get-involved/hospicethriftstore/) at 245 Center St., Suite 2, in Auburn. The number is 312-5092. An Angel’s Wing (https://www.facebook.com/anangelswing), is at 1567 Lisbon St. Suite A at the Auburn Mall. The number is 241-0624. Loaves and Fishes Hidden Treasures (https://loavesandfisheshiddentreasures.org/) is at 850 Lisbon St. in Lewiston. Call 333-5100. They will work with you to schedule a drop-off time or even pick up your items.

Also check out yesterday’s column with the list of needs for Pleasant Street Drop-in Center in Auburn.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I wrote to you about a month ago asking you if you could help me find some heavy duty AAA batteries for my home phone. I never got a response. — Robert, Lewiston

ANSWER: My response to your request appeared June 12. I’m sorry you missed it. Here it is again in its entirety. Hopefully, this will help other readers too.

Do you still have the instruction booklet that came with your phone? If so, there should be information on where to purchase replacement batteries online.

If you don’t have the booklet, write down the letters and numbers found on your batteries, as well as the brand of your phone and the model number.

Try contacting or going to a place that sells your brand of landline phone such as Staples, the tech department at Walmart or Target, or at Best Buy in South Portland. The batteries can also be ordered on Amazon.

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. Please include your phone number. 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 emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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