Vanessa German addresses Bates College graduates May 27 in a recorded video shown on a large screen during commencement at the Lewiston campus. German, an artist whose work was celebrated at the Bates Museum of Art in 2020, is one of four people awarded honorary doctorate degrees during the ceremony. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Megan McManus paddles May 25 around Sabattus Pond in Sabattus with her dogs. After a strong afternoon breeze calmed, the pond offered smooth paddling along the shore. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Winthrop pitcher Bella Littler, right, backs away as teammate Sage Fortin hauls in a pop fly in the infield during a May 26 softball game. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Greg Shattenberg peers from a storage space under his house May 24 to chat with neighbor Sarah Westleigh in Auburn. Shattenberg uses the space to store parts for printing presses he uses in mixed media art pieces. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

English teacher Anne McIntire and sophomore Oscar Mata team up May 26 for a game of badminton at Edward Little High School in Auburn. Teams of two played on day three of the four-day Spring Carnival. McIntire organized the event at which the senior, junior, sophomore and freshman classes and faculty competed for points in various activities. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Tony Bennett of Bethel looks up May 26 to see Mexico police Officer Lawrence Briggs asking him to stop picking up trash and leave the property at Walmart in Mexico. Bennett spent the morning picking up trash to keep it from getting into the Androscoggin River. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Luis Castro of Auburn plays May 27 with his youngest son, Lincoln, 3, in New Auburn. The two enjoy a toy car Luis’ oldest son had received as a birthday present the day before. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo

Nicholas Dunlop tends his marijuana plants May 25 in front of his house in Lewiston. He says he breeds plants for use to treat pain, anxiety and depression. He grows each plant from seed and says it takes six generations for the strains to stabilize so that they yield a consistent plant. He says he grows one male and one female of each variety each year. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal Buy this Photo