Gardiner’s Addy Serber gets double teamed by Skowhegan’s Lauren Moore (33) and Allie Frey (32) during a girls basketball game Dec. 13 in Gardiner. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

Members of the co-op swim team practice Wednesday at the Alfond Youth & Community Center pool in Waterville. The 22-member team is composed of swimmers from Messalonskee, Waterville, Nokomis and Lawrence high schools. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Morse’s Bryce Bustamante, bottom, outlets the ball to teammate Peyton James after falling during action against Winslow Tuesday in Winslow. Winslow’s Brady Poulin, center, and Brody Willette defend the play. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Emma Buccellato places a wreath on a grave marker Dec. 14 during a Wreaths Across America event at Central Maine Veterans’ Cemetery on Mt. Vernon Road in Augusta. The group also had events in Augusta’s other Maine Veterans’ Cemetery on Civic Center Drive and at Togus National Cemetery. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows talks about a bound journal holding the meeting minutes from 1820-1964 of Maine’s Electoral College before the 2024 college got under way Dec. 17 at the Maine State House in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Vehicle lights appear just as a streak Dec. 13 as cars circle the holiday decorations in a 6-second time-lapse exposure taken around 4:35 p.m. at Cony Circle in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Mt. Blue’s Nolan Leso, left, and Maranacook’s Jack Fontaine go after a loose ball during a boys basketball game Dec. 13 in Readfield. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Abbie Kilinge, a volunteer from Central Maine Power, looks for a toy to fill out a family’s bag of presents at the Salvation Army Augusta Capital Region Corps’ Christmas Castle packing event Wednesday in Augusta. Capt. Shannon Davis said that they were packing up gifts for over 500 children from 338 families in Augusta and Waterville who had signed up ahead of time. Davis said that there will also be an emergency pickup on Friday from 3-6 p.m. for families who didn’t have help from anywhere else. She said they could come to 13 Marketplace Drive with identification, proof of address and proof of children’s ages. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Torrie Bean, center, sings “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” to residents and staff members Dec. 15 at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Augusta. Bean, and other members of Ladies Life group from Central Church, Becky Cates, right, and Jenny Bean sang carols. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel