Kellen Labelle of Edward Little High School fires a shot on goal Jan. 3 while being defended by Philip Moscone, left, and James Schureman of Bangor High School, during a game in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Steve Yonko stands Jan. 5 at his Lisbon Falls backyard with his homemade snowmaking system. Yonko says he built the system 20 years ago, when he was skiing often at Sunday River in Newry. He bought a new compressor this year after his wife asked him for a white Christmas. Yonko says he tells his wife he is the “wizard of winter.” Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Johnny Bsullak, a junior at Poland Regional High School, jumps onto a rainbow box Jan. 4 on a rail at Lost Valley in Auburn. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

A blue shape of the state of Maine, made from a synchronized drone display, flies Dec. 31 over Festival Plaza during Auburn’s New Year’s Eve celebration. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Kylee Spugnardi of Edward Little/Leavitt/Poland dives Jan. 5 over the puck and between Lewiston/Oak Hill goalkeeper Tatum Hunt and forward Grace Colgan during a game in Lewiston. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

While half the gymnasium at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine’s Auburn/Lewiston Clubhouse at 43 2nd St. in Auburn was busy Jan. 5 with children playing soccer, others were practicing their cartwheels. In front: Hodan Ahmed, left and Janay Abdi. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Colby Leavitt, left, puts a railroad car back onto the tracks Jan. 1 during the Great Falls Model Railroad Club’s Op ’til You Drop 2024, a daylong operating session at its headquarters at 144 Mill St. in Auburn. Shawn Doyle, right, checks things from the other side of the tracks. “I’ve been co-head of the HO Committee for about a year now,” Doyle says. “We inherited a circus and are just adding to it.” Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Edward Little High School coaches Kristina Blais, left, Christina Cifelli, center, and Alasia Branche gesture from the bench Jan. 4 during a girls’ basketball game in Auburn against Bangor High School. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Tree Street Youth member Perola Meli, left, pauses a video Jan. 3 as team members Cave Moubarak, bottom right, and Nasiera Moubarak, third from right, debate on possible suspects during the beginning of their defense in their mock trial competition. They do not believe the prosecution team, in another room at the Tree Street Youth facility at 144 Howe St. in Lewiston, has accused the correct suspect, based on physical and video evidence they are reviewing. Tree Street Youth was founded in 2011 by two Bates College alumni. The grassroots organization has grown from an after-school homework program into year-round programming that serves 500 youth from prekindergarten through high school. Members are involved in academics, athletics, empowerment, college access, leadership, enrichment and mentorship. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal