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Letter to the editor

Reader Exchange: Looking for maps of the bay area's past

By Linda D. Cole and Ingrid L. Kohler, Times Staff Writers
Published December 29, 2007

Happy New Year! As all of us prepare to greet 2008, the REX staff thanks our readers for making this part of our job particularly fulfilling. Whenever we think civility and caring are relics of the past, someone in Exchange Land comes through and restores our faith in human decency. Or makes us laugh. Or sets us thinking. We look forward to many new adventures in 2008 as we try to connect folks who want something with others who have it.

Time is quickly running out to be included in the list of readers who wish to receive recycled Christmas cards. Jan. 8 is the deadline to get your name, address and phone number or e-mail address to us. Those who plan to donate their cards will be able to peruse the list in the Jan. 12 column.

Linus in Citrus Hills writes that his family came to Tampa during the 1920s. Linus is compiling a family album and would appreciate borrowing underscore borrowing street maps of Tampa and Hillsborough Country, and possibly Pinellas County too, for each of these decades: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Linus will scan the maps and return them. He will also provide their owners with CDs or DVDs with files of the scanned images, if they are interested. Please call (352) 270-0194.

Raymond Weaver would like to hear from a reader who has the Crosley Songwriter 5 in 1 CD-burning stereo system, which is able to tape audio cassettes and burn them into CDs. If you have this machine or something similar, please call Raymond at (727) 441-8011 ore-mail raymondellie@aol.com.

Marilyn writes that, at age 76, she finally has the piano she has wanted, but now she is having trouble locating sheet music from the '40s, '50s and '60s. Can someone please help? Call (727) 367-8625.

Wende of Spring Hill has started crocheting again after a hiatus of many years. She has tried to buy a size M crochet hook, but can find none for sale. Surely, crocheting cannot have changed so radically that an entire needle size has been discontinued? Wende hopes that an extra size M hook may be lurking unused in a REXer's sewing basket. Wende's e-mail address is jingleshells@gmail.com.

Marilyn MacKenzie of Madeira Beach writes columns for her senior complex's newsletters. Or at least she did until her trusty old word processor had to go to the repair shop. There it resides, while a part is being sought, but the reality must be faced that the elusive part may no longer be available. Marilyn hopes that someone who has upgraded to a computer may now own a superfluous word processor that needs a good, productive home. Please call (727) 398-2197.

Ruth Dow of Clearwater no longer needs the 55-gallon fish tank in her home, so if you'd like it in yours, please call (727) 599-4862.

A Unitarian Universalist group is making quilts for orphanages in Ethiopia. Cotton and flannel fabric and a sewing machine would be greatly appreciated. Please call (727) 845-1650.

Garnet Wilhite of St. Petersburg is looking for 7-mesh Uniek plastic canvas in the five bright neon colors. We apologize to Garnet for not getting her request into print soon enough to complete the Christmas project for which she needed the canvas. Unfortunately, Santa has to rely on elves who have senior moments.

Garnet says she knows plastic canvas is not the in thing (could have fooled us!), but she hopes a reader may have some tucked away from its glory days, or can tell her where she can purchase it.

Also, Garnet has hundreds of plastic canvas patterns that date back to the early '80s. Should anyone be interested in copies, she will be happy to send some. Please call (727) 546-1970.

Betty Fearn, like most of us, tries to keep things around her organized, and for that reason she would like to locate a Maid of Honor under-counter rotating utensil holder. She points out that this is not a new item and probably dates back to the 1960s. Betty may be contacted at (727) 797-3242.

Five new players at Gulfport Senior Center hope to locate mah-jongg tiles. Please call (727) 347-6603.

Last year Beryl Zipkin of Clearwater was able to give away some dolls to needy children through a REX reader named Pat, who worked with migrant families. Beryl doesn't have Pat's phone number but hopes Pat still reads the column, because Beryl has some more items for her.

Also, for Trekkies (and we know you're out there), Beryl has a box of 18 hardcover Star Trek novels seeking a new home. Please call (727) 441-4751.

Send requests to Reader Exchange, Floridian, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg 33731 or e-mail cole@sptimes.com. Requests will be accepted only by mail or e-mail. This is an exchange column, so we will not run items that are for sale. Readers must agree to publication of phone numbers, including area code.

[Last modified December 28, 2007, 16:23:46]