DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Fairbanks School Neighborhood Association is constantly fundraising to maintain our building for the public to use. In May, we will hold a cemetery floral arrangement fundraiser.

We will be making arrangements to sell for placing on cemetery lots, or for other uses. We are looking for silk flowers, artificial arrangements, cemetery vases, urns or baskets that individuals may not want.

We would be happy to pick up items within a 20-mile radius of Farmington. For donations call Cindy at 778-3808 or Elena at 778-4349. Thank you, Sun Spots, for the wonderful work you do. — Cynthia Kemble, Farmington. kemble@maine.edu

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to know why we do not have Target, Olive Garden, Christmas Tree Shop or Walgreen’s in Lewiston Auburn?

Also, all of a sudden Amy Sinclair has come back to Channel 6. Where has she been? — Fred Sanborn-Silvers, Lewiston, drduckesq@aol.com

ANSWER: Sun Spots is sure plenty of people would like to see more stores and restaurants come to L-A, including local politicians and businessmen, and that they are doing what they can to make your wish come true.

There are a number of factors determining what stores locate where, including population density, costs to set up stores, tax costs and breaks, available workforce, access to major roads and traffic patterns.

If store management thinks a store can make money in a location, it won’t hesitate to build one.

However, many retailers are struggling. Sun Spots heard a report recently that said while the U.S. population grew 1 percent, the number of retailers grew 4 percent. (She thinks it was for 2000 to 2010 but isn’t positive.)

A story in the Sun Journal recently noted the struggles of Family Dollar, which is closing a bunch of stores. Other inexpensive stores have seen their sales decline. Even mighty Walmart has lower revenue, as its customers continue to feel the pinch of stagnant wages and unemployment.

On the other hand, some kinds of stores are doing well, as noted by the recent announcement of a Hobby Lobby coming to Auburn (sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2014/04/03/hobby-lobby-coming-auburn/1513839)

Another factor is online shopping. While most purchases are still made at brick-and-mortar establishments, online sales are growing exponentially.

There are undoubtedly other reasons Sun Spots has overlooked, but overall projections by economists is for slow growth in the retail market. Those interested in this topic might want to read www.mckinsey.com/insights/consumer_and_retail/how_retailers_can_keep_up_with_consumers

As for Amy Sinclair, she is not listed as a member of the news team at www.wcsh6.com. However, Sun Spots found a twitter post from her that said she covers “stories in Maine about Maine for New England Cable News.” So she may have been delivering a report for NECN that was shown on Channel 6.

Wikipedia says she used to be on WGME Channel 8 and is now on NECN. Perhaps readers will recall more details.

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.