Gabby Saxton carries her friend Ally Borgens on her back as she walks through flood water on Portland Pier at high tide on Feb. 13. Saxton lives in Harpswell, and Borgens was in town visiting her. “She is visiting from Florida, so we had to get her a lobster roll. This wasn’t going to stop us,” Saxton said. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

A dog rides with its head out of the window enjoying the mild weather on Feb. 15. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Michelle Brosseau and her son, Levi, 2, at their home in Lewiston on Feb. 1. Brosseau, 32, is a single mom who recently bought a house in Lewiston after being priced out of the Portland area. She works as an office administrator at a vet clinic in Falmouth. Her salary has increased a bit in the last few years but nowhere close to the 20% jump in inflation. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Stephanie Jopling hugs her child, Elv, 15, a sophomore at Sanford High School. Jopling is a part of the alternative learning program at the school, which the Sanford School Department might cut after this school year. The program serves about 40 students who struggle with anxiety, depression and other issues that make learning in a typical environment difficult. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

From right, Barbara Perry, Holly Perry and Phill Arnold walk back up toward their homes on Peaks Island from the bluff they call, “The Point.” Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Bravo, 4, catches his toy while meeting new friends at Midcoast Humane’s “Speed Dating” event on Feb. 9. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

A woman is arrested after people blocked Franklin Arterial on Feb. 2 while protesting Israel’s attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

People sit and watch the last of the sun from Fort Sumner Park in Portland on Feb. 6. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Dylan Moulton turned 12 on Feb. 29, but his family jokes that he turned 3. Dylan, who loves to be outside hunting, fishing, playing lacrosse and riding his dirt bike, celebrates his birthday on Feb. 28 and March 1 on non Leap Years. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Gray-New Gloucester’s Noah Hebert throws up a shot after being fouled by Noble during the Class A South championship game on Feb. 23 in Portland. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Kylie Low, creator and host of Dark Downeast: Maine and New England’s True Crime podcast, photographed at Post Office Park in Portland on Feb. 15. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Catherine Gibson of Orr’s Island talks to “The Listening Wall” during the closing party for an art exhibition at Fort Andross in Brunswick on Feb. 14. Artist Hannah Elizabeth Bevens, left, created the recurring public art performance. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Peyton Brewer-Ross was killed at Schemengees Bar & Grill as he played cornball, one of 18 people killed in the Lewiston mass shooting. His sister, Nancy Lowell-Cunningham, wipes away tears as his fiancée, Rachael Sloat, speaks during a hearing in front of the state commission investigating the Oct. 25 tragedy.  Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Shema Rwaganje of Cheverus battles for a loose ball with Kevin Rugabirwa of Portland on Feb. 22. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

“A Flying Flock” toboggan team and supporters enjoy Chef Dustin Martin’s food around a fire at the Camden Snow Bowl on Feb. 3. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Ross and Anna Phillips walk their dog Greta, a Moyen poodle, on Gooch’s Beach in Kennebunk at sunset on Feb. 9. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Ian Christie of Falmouth High School turns around a gate in his second run of the day in the Class A Giant Slalom alpine skiing championships Feb. 14 at Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton. Christie finished third with a time of 1 minute, 24.40 seconds. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Scarborough swimmers Ryan Vogue, center left, Jacob Ducey and Owen Kasper, in pool, celebrate their victory in a 400-yard freestyle relay, which also garnered Scarborough the team title in the Class A boys swimming state championships in Brunswick on Feb. 19. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Quinn Maguire of Marshwood High School skis on his first run in the Class A slalom alpine skiing championships Feb. 15 at Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton. Maguire’s first run was 44.12 seconds, and he took first place overall with a combined time of 1 minute, 29.59 seconds. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Krystal Stone, co-owner of MotoResto on Warren Avenue in Portland, works on a drum-to-disk brake conversion on a 1963 Corvette Stingray. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Patrick Putnam of Kittery walks Rosie, a Labrador mix, toward East End Beach in Portland on Feb. 28. Rosie, who was recently rescued from the southern U.S., is experiencing her first winter in Maine. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Jacob Mitchell, 10, of Westbrook shoots a puck into a goal at the pond at Deering Oaks on Feb. 18. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

On Valentine’s Day, students and faculty from Peaks Island Elementary School pause in front of a home on Central Avenue to sing “Happy Birthday” to two island residents before continuing their fourth annual Love Parade to Fay Garman House, an independent living community, to deliver Valentine’s Day cards. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Kaia West, center, and the rest of the Deering-Portland teammates react after the announcer named them the Class A girls’ swimming champions. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer