Despite a forecast of possible rain on Labor Day, September is welcomed with open arms. The September weather in Maine is usually a good mix of summer and fall temperatures. It's a great time to be outdoors and there's still a lot to see and do before preparing for fall and winter.

Locals and visitors can start enjoying the month by taking in some of the many offerings of the fifth annual Harbor Fest, the 10-day festival featuring art, music, food, a health fair, road race and more. Harbor Fest begins tomorrow, Sept. 2 — see the schedule in this week's issue — and continues daily until Sept. 11.

Festival organizer Lori Reynolds and others have put together a schedule of events to showcase some of the things the region is best known for. Many of the region's restaurants are participating, as are local and visiting artists. The healthcare community is involved and musicians from near and far will fill the night air with their music.

September is also the start of school and school sports. We hope our students have a great year and success for our local teams. We hope they get plenty of support.

Enjoy the month. I know I will because I have five vacation days coming up!