Dear
Sun Spots: I have several old home movies on various size videotapes.
I would like to have all of these home movies transferred to DVDs for
easy viewing. Can you tell me of an area business that offers this type
of service? Thank you. — No Name, Sabattus.

Answer: Contact Via Vision Film & Video Productions in Lewiston, 783-2550. Call to arrange a time to drop off your tapes, or you can download an order form at their Web site, www.viavision productions.com and mail in your request. According to the Web site, they can transfer your home videos to DVD for $10 per hour of video per cassette. Each DVD can record as much as four hours of video in standard record mode. Once the videos are transferred to DVD, copies are available for $10 per copy and archival DVDs are available for $15.

Dear Sun Spots: Is there anyone who can take a VCR tape and put it
on DVD? I need it for educational training. How many fire departments
and firemen were here to help during the mill fire? They and the police
department did a fantastic job. A big thank-you to them. I have not
heard or read anything about what plans Lewiston and Auburn have for
H1N1. Thank you. — No Name, No Town.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, see the above request for having tapes transferred to a DVD.

Paul Ouellette, fire inspector and certified fire
investigator for the Lewiston Fire Department, noted that they do not
have the exact number of fire and police personnel that were on scene
at the Cowan Mill fire since there were such a large number of them. He said it was a joint
effort between a lot of different agencies. They had assistance from 14
different fire departments, the Auburn Police
Department, the State Fire Marshals Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

In reference to your question about H1N1, Joanne Potvin,
director of the Androscoggin Unified Emergency Management Agency,
told us that should there be a H1N1 outbreak, plans are in place and they are prepared. Right now, they are focusing on getting the
information out to the general public and working with hospitals to
develop alternate care sites should hospitals be filled to capacity.

Every public entity, such as police and fire departments,
schools, nursing homes, business/industry and city buildings, has the CDC preparedness
checklist. The EMA will serve as a clearinghouse for information. So
if one of the groups needs help planning or needs more information or
resources, they will help. 

They are also working with schools
and officials to coordinate vaccination workshops. Potvin noted that
the CDC has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the H1N1 vaccine when it first becomes available. They include students, pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than
6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel,
persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for H1N1
because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune system, such as cardiac or respiratory problems.

As more vaccinations become available, then the general public can get them. For now, all of the general public should get in line to receive the annual seasonal flu shot as soon as it becomes available.

For more information on how to prepare, visit www.flu.gov for a planning checklist for individuals and families. If you can’t access the Web site, contact the EMA at 784-0147 and they’ll be happy to send you one.

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 e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.  

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