PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 8, 2025
Summers in Maine always go by too fast, but did this one even happen? It started with the rain. For a dozen straight Saturdays, soggy weather shut down hope of squeezing in any seasonal activities before Massachusetts schools let out. Then, the heat set in, bringing seven days when the “feels like” temperature exceeded 90 degrees; there are usually four. Soon after, the shark sightings started and didn’t stop. Deer ticks the size of a sesame seed have been spreading Lyme disease at a higher rate and with a larger reach in Maine than ever. Wildfire smoke from Canada resulted in multiple alerts. Most of these things have something to do with climate change, meaning there’s more to come. Meanwhile, I’ll be re-attempting my staycation this month. ~ Leslie Bridgers