Jodi Langlois, who owns The Chez, discusses the bar Thursday, Jan. 28, at 45 Water St. in Waterville. The Chez has been closed since mid-March 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo

Steve Potter hauls firewood to smelt shacks placed on the Kennebec River Thursday in Pittston at his family’s business, Baker’s Smelt Camps. Manager Steve Baker said the mild conditions have only permitted six shacks to be installed this week on the waterway with bookings for a tide already claimed through mid-February. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

Rosalie Stoll uses a cookie scooper to shape dough for chocolate chip cookies that were baked at the Community Market General Store in Unity on Wednesday. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo

Workers shovel snow Tuesday from the steps leading from Capitol Street up to the Maine State House in Augusta, following a storm that brought several inches of snow to the region. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

Cyrena Pease clears the loading dock of snow on Tuesday at Harvey’s Hardware in Gardiner. The longtime employee said business was slow during the storm that dumped rain, snow and hail, though a customer did emerge carrying a new plastic sled. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

Eric Barter sets an ice fishing trap into a hole Saturday, Jan. 30, on the frozen surface of Maranacook Lake near the Winthrop Town Beach. Barter and Guy Hinkley said that they had good luck catching fish there on earlier trips. The morning temperatures were in the single digits, and the two men said that they were setting their ice fishing traps there so that they could watch for flag tipping up from inside their warm trucks. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

A Nordic skier stands atop a mound of man-made snow Friday, Jan. 29, as the snow guns roar at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo

Dale Carpenter casts a lure into the Messalonskee Stream in Oakland on Thursday. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo

Lawrence’s Parker Higgins (13) battles for the rebound with Waterville’s Asher Grazulis (11) on Friday, Jan. 29, in Fairfield. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo

Cony hosts Lawrence for a game Thursday in a quiet and nearly empty Ryan Family Gym in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

A firefighter steps through a charred building at Folsoms Auto Sales, Service & Salvage on Monday, Feb. 1, in Skowhegan. A fire destroyed the business. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

Michele Fleury accompanies her 11-week-old Rottweiler on a chilly walk Sunday, Jan. 31, up Piggery Road in Augusta. A lifelong professional dog handler who served as a Game Warden and volunteers with a canine search and rescue organization, Fleury said the pup will grow up accompanying her on walks and furnishing random acts of love to strangers. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal Buy this Photo

Michael Leary, right, works out with Justin Rolfe, 29, at O’Leary’s Fitness on College Avenue in Waterville on Wednesday. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel Buy this Photo