ANSWER: Sun Spots reached out to HealthSteps at St. Mary’s Health System. Ashley Stein replied that racquetball is offered through HealthSteps and takes place in Bates College’s Merrill Gymnasium. The racquetball/tennis program is available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in one-hour sessions from 6-8 a.m. There are various rates depending on if you are going once or twice a week. You need to call HealthSteps at 207-777-8898 to register. You do not need to have the Core Membership to do the specialty classes such as racquetball, tennis, and yoga. If you want to register for any of the other HealthSteps classes then you do need to sign up for the Core Membership.
Learn more about the St. Mary’s HealthSteps Fitness Program at: http://www.stmarysmaine.com/Community-Health/healthsteps-fitness-program.html
DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’ve recently moved to Lewiston and have adopted your column as my best friend. Two questions: First, do you know where a person could take tennis lessons? Second, where are picnic tables located? My search for a park complete with a picnic table has been unsuccessful, there must be a park somewhere in the Lewiston/Auburn area that I’ve overlooked. Thank you for all you do to make the community a better place. — Marianne via online form.
ANSWER: There may be other places to take tennis lessons, but Sun Spots knows a few people who have taken lessons at Taylor Pond Yacht Club in Auburn. For more information, email info@taylorpondyachtclub.com. And see the answer to the question about racquetball, above. The answer to the second part of your question comes from Megan Bates, deputy director of the Lewiston Public Works Department. In Lewiston, the only park that has a picnic table is Paradis Park located behind the Italian Bakery on Bartlett Street. This park was originally named the Pierce Street Park, but was renamed Paradis Park recently. It is at 180 Pierce St., and in addition to a picnic table it has a swing set, balance beam, spring board, monkey bars and seesaw.
See what else the Taylor Pond Yacht Club has to offer at: http://taylorpondyachtclub.com/
Learn more about recreation in Lewiston, Maine here: http://www.lewistonmaine.gov/index.aspx?nid=143
DEAR SUN SPOTS: I want to thank all of the gentlemen who called me offering to teach me how to back up my trailer. One gentleman, Steve, stopped by and gave me a lesson. I now understand (I think) the principles and I am planning on doing some practicing soon. Thanks again to the gentlemen who called and to Sun spots for all the assistance. — Lucy.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Woman’s Literary Union of Androscoggin County wishes to thank all of the generous Sun Spots readers for their drapery hook donations. The response was overwhelming. We feel that we will now have enough hooks for our cause. Thank you to all who have donated. — Gratefully, Jeanne.
Learn more about the Woman’s Literary Union of Androscoggin County and its events here: www.womansliteraryunion.org/.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: For your reader who requested information about walking/hiking groups for beginners in central Maine, the Rumford-area Peak-A-Week group hikes a different mountain every Wednesday evening. They meet at the Information Booth at the bottom of Falls Hill at 5 p.m. and carpool to the hike. Hikers of all experience levels attend. Most make it to the top (some don’t) and a good time is had by all. Make sure to bring water, a snack, and a flashlight. — Steve Swan, Dixfield.
Read more about the Peak-A-Week club in this Rumford Falls Times article: http://rumfordfallstimes.com/peak-a-week-hikers-descending-on-their-30th-season/
Use the QR code to go to Sun Spots online for additional information and links. 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 be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com, tweeted @SJ_SunSpots or posted on the Sun Spots facebook page at facebook.com/SunJournalSunSpots. This column can also be read online at sunjournal.com/sunspots. We’ve joined Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/sj_sunspots.
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