DEAR SUN SPOTS: Rite Aid is not part of Walgreens yet. It is pending   government approval. But then again I might of misunderstood your answer. Great column. — Roger, No Town.

ANSWER: Sun Spots may not have had all of the terminology just right in her July 19 column, and you are correct — the merger has been proposed, and both sides apparently want it to happen, but the Federal Trade Commission must approve the purchase to ensure it is in compliance with antitrust laws. It’s quite a bit more complicated than a simple real estate transaction, and, as the old saying goes, “These things take time.” Most news reports on the merger anticipate it being completed by the end of 2016, but Rite Aid stock has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride since the merger was first announced as people have followed the progress, or seeming lack thereof, of the FTC’s probe.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Join St. Mary’s Nutrition Center for their Annual Community Dinner on Aug. 4, at 5:30 p.m. at 208 Bates Street in Lewiston.

The Lots to Gardens Summer Youth Gardeners will be cooking up some fresh, local food in celebration of all the hard work and community service accomplished this season. Those invited include everyone who has volunteered, participated or supported the St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, Lots to Gardens, and the St. Mary’s Food Pantry, as well as anyone in the community who is interested in learning more about the organization. After a brief presentation by youth gardeners, attendees will enjoy the delicious dinner they’ve prepared.

This event is free of charge. Come on out for an evening of good food, good friends and a great time. Please let us know you’re coming by contacting NutritionCenter@stmarysmaine.com or (207) 513-3844.

The St. Mary’s Nutrition Center promotes community health through organizing, advocacy, and education. Located in the heart of downtown Lewiston, it serves as a healthy food hub in the midst of the City’s most diverse and economically challenged neighborhoods. The Nutrition Center works to build a sustainable regional food system by involving those affected by inadequate food access as partners and supporting area farms as an essential piece of the local economy.

The Nutrition Center is home to a food pantry, cooking-centered nutrition education programs for all ages and in schools, job training for teens, year round farmers’ markets and the Good Food Bus, and the Lots to Gardens program, which uses 12 urban community gardens in downtown Lewiston to create access to local food, empower youth, and build community.— St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, Lewiston.

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