A basketball hoop at Gartley Street School is seen Aug. 18 in Lisbon before the start of the 2025-26 school year. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

Poland field hockey players work on their reflexes Aug. 19 during preseason practice in Poland. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

Balloons lift off Aug. 16 at Simard-Payne Memorial Park during the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

Nix Cressey paints a senior parking space with a Thin Blue Line design Aug. 19 at Poland Regional High School, while senior Michael Wells, who owns the parking space for the 2025-26 school year, speaks with Poland Regional High School Resource Officer Berni Westleigh. Wells has participated in the Explorer program, which introduces students to law enforcement duties and is facilitated by SROs. Already looking ahead to a career in law enforcement, Wells said he wants to study criminal justice before getting a job in an area sheriff’s office. “I’ve just always had the want to be a cop, ever since I was little,” Wells said, explaining that the mobility that matters to him is not climbing a management ladder, but being able to work in the field from a cruiser. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)

Autumn Pierce, left, and her daughter, Marissa, relax in the sun and watch husband and son, Jeremy, background left, and Zachary, background right, pan for gold on Aug. 21 along the Swift River in Byron. They are from Chesterville. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

Phyllis Archambault, left, pushes her grandchildren Aug. 21 in Town Cove Park during the annual Blueberry Festival in Rangeley. With Archambault are Aliza, Adrian and Amaya Luneau, on vacation from Vermont. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)

Cielo Hackney, top, and his brother, Enoah, encourage their frog, Fern, to jump on Aug. 21 during the annual Frog Jumping Contest at the Blueberry Festival at Town Cove Park in Rangeley. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer)