DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Friends of the Library are sponsoring a person-to-person potluck supper Sunday, Jan. 21, in the Community Room of the A.B. Ricker Memorial Library in Poland. Everyone is welcome. Supper is from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with Linley Turking giving a talk from 6:30 to 7:30 about her family travels. We’re asking that you bring a dish to share and bring a friend! For more information, call the library at 998-4390.
Thank you, Sun Spots, for all you do to put forth our news and announcements! We love your column.
— No name, Poland
ANSWER: And I LOVE libraries!
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding the Sudoku puzzles, which are the most difficult, the advanced or intermediate? Also, I would like to see more of those and less of the easier ones. Thank you for all you do.
— Don, Lewiston
ANSWER: The advertising department is in charge of the Sudoku puzzles and I have sent your request on to them. The advanced puzzles are considered to be more challenging than the intermediate ones.
Have fun!
DEAR SUN SPOTS: Our 18-year-old daughter is starting to commute from our home in Lewiston to Bangor a few times a week for college classes. We’re concerned about her being on the road and want her to have the right emergency items in case her car breaks down or there’s an accident. Besides the obvious things, do you have a car emergency item list for winter driving in your Rolodex? She has a cellphone but I am beside myself with worry.
— Ellen, no town
ANSWER: Of course you are! I have daughters so I know how it feels to be concerned with their safety.
I trust your college student is a smart cookie who knows the basics regarding how to take care of herself. First of all, if she hasn’t already, she should be sure to have a reliable mechanic check out the vehicle to ensure the tires, brakes, belts, windshield wipers and battery are all in tip-top condition. Also, remind her to check the oil and other fluids often, and to have numbers for AAA, a towing service, and her auto insurance in her phone.
In the wintertime, I always have these items in the backseat in a box: a portable phone charger, a strong flashlight, a snow scraper and brush, a spray bottle of de-icer and a bottle of windshield washer fluid, a small pail of sand or bag of kitty litter for traction on ice, disposable hand warmers, a pair of extra gloves and heavy socks, a snug hat, substantial blanket, a packet of protein bars or other healthy snacks, and water.
Most importantly, I want to remind everyone to bundle up. We all need to remember to dress for the weather, even if we’re just running out for a quick errand. Taking the time to put on boots and a heavy jacket before heading out can really matter when we’ve hit a slippery spot and find ourselves in a ditch waiting for roadside assistance. I know it seems like a no-brainer but wearing the woolies is much more important than being trendy.
And Mom, whenever you’re struggling with worry about your driving daughter, do your best to replace it with a prayer.
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