Samantha Boucher swims Wednesday across Cobbossee Stream in Gardiner after freeing a fishing line from a rock and collecting discarded bottles on the far shore, as friend Troy Bowen baits their hooks. The two say while they like to fish, they always leave the stream free of litter. “We haven’t caught anything,” Boucher says, “but we have picked up trash others left. This is such a beautiful place. It should be kept natural.” Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

Fisherman Brieonna Spaulding, 11, prepares her line while fishing with her family, shown in the background, on the Kennebec River in Sidney, Maine Monday July 5, 2021. Five members of the Winslow, Maine family fished for striper and bass.

Lightning flashes Tuesday in the distance south of Winslow viewed from Waterville. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel

The Rev. Kerry Mansir walks around branches Wednesday from a limb that fell in the St. Ann’s churchyard, next to Christ Episcopal Church in Gardiner, during a storm Tuesday. A thunderstorm rolled across Kennebec County at about 9 p.m. Tuesday, leaving felled trees in its wake. The National Weather Service is forecasting Tropical Storm Elsa will arrive in Maine early Friday. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

Browntail moths cluster lights at the Winthrop Commerce Center. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

An umbrella equipped walker travels against the rain Sunday while passing a patriotic display in Fairfield. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Boats flying a diversity of flags assemble Sunday to cross Clary Lake in Jefferson in an Independence Day event. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

Rachel Smith, sports a patriotic sweater and a red, white and blue fedora Sunday that her son Ashley placed on her head during the Central Maine 4th of July celebration at the Clinton Lions fairgrounds in Clinton. The pair, along with Rachel’s boyfriend Dean Peixeira brought their own rain shelter and set it up facing the center of the stage. They said that inspite of the rainy weather, they were looking forward to the performance of the band Borderline Express and the fireworks to follow. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Caesar, a 2,500-pound camel from Pony Xpress Pony Rides and Educational Zoo, meets kids Wednesday during a visit to Brown Memorial Library in Clinton. Caesar and miniature donkey Eeyore were featured during a celebration of the library’s summer reading program titled “Tails & Tales.” About 35 parents, kids and library staff were on hand for the animals. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

A female ruby-throated hummingbird descends Monday on a garden in memory of Jennifer Gordon at Trademark Federal Credit Union in Augusta. The flowers and fir tree at the center was christened Thursday in the memory of the credit union employee who endeared herself not just to colleagues but thousands of members in the several roles she held from 2001 until her death from cancer in 2019 at the age of 38. The garden The garden complements Gordon’s affection for photography and love of animals, featuring a bench to observe the splendor of wildlife who are renewed by the flowering plants. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal