Maine
Rose Barboza's Favorite Maine Place
By Charlie Pike
From our March 2025 issue
Rose Barboza’s lightbulb moment came during the summer of 2020. Furloughed from her travel-industry job due to the pandemic and devastated by the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, she was on a hike with her brother when she had the idea to start an online directory of Black-owned businesses. Forty-eight hours later, Black Owned Maine was born. Now, the website boasts more than 450 entities, including law firms, fitness studios, restaurants, and more, and Barboza’s vision has expanded to include a more hands-on approach. With a staff of five, Black Owned Maine raises money for charitable organizations and grants for local companies, offers free business-consulting services, and hosts networking events.
As the nonprofit’s CEO, Barboza says she rarely gets a day off. “You sleep, and then you wake up to 10 missed calls,” she says. When she needs a breather, she often heads to Portland’s Eastern Promenade park, overlooking Casco Bay, where the sea and sky inspire her to think big. Over the next five years, Barboza wants to grow her staff, start a counseling program for nonprofits, and open an office that doubles as a gathering and event space. “People can come, relax, sit on the couch and chill, and not worry about the stress outside,” Barboza says. Sounds like a new favorite place.
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WISCASSET, Maine (WMTW) – A Maine man has been arrested after police say he intentionally set a bed on fire after a dispute with his girlfriend, while they were still in it.
Police responded Monday, March 9, to a report of a fire that had been intentionally set inside a home on Beechnut Hill Road, according to the Wiscasset Police Department.
Investigators say the homeowner, Terry Couture, 41, set the bed on fire following an argument while both he and his girlfriend were in it. Authorities said the fire was extinguished and no serious injuries were reported.
Couture was arrested and charged with attempted murder, arson, aggravated criminal mischief, and domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
CLIFTON, Maine (WABI) – Maine Maple Sunday is less than two weeks away, and the Williams Family Farm in Clifton is gearing up for one of the sweetest seasons yet.
A long stretch of frost and snow meant a late start this year, but the first boil of sap has finally run through the evaporator, and maple season is officially underway.
At Williams Family Farm, everything is done by hand:
- Fresh maple syrup, bottled on-site
- Maple sugar, carefully extracted in small batches
- Baked candied pecans, cashews, and more
The Williams family has spent years working with whatever weather sends their way.
Long winters, surprise warmups, and everything in between—they’ve learned how to adapt so community members can enjoy their products.
As co-owner John Williams explains, the key is in the temperature.
“You need to have it warm during the day and still freezing at night, so typically that’s the middle of February,” said Williams. “We have a lot of trees, so we have to start tapping them before the conditions are ideal, so we start tapping way before it’s time for it to run just so we can get them all tapped. If you have ten trees in your backyard, you want to wait until roughly now, the middle of February to now, and when it’s actually running and put them in then because you can put all your taps in, in one day.”
They’re excited to welcome the community during Maine Maple Weekend on March 21 and 22.
They will be boiling up sap, hosting demonstrations, and providing free samples.
Locals can also join them for their third annual pancake breakfast where all proceeds are donated to Holbrook Recreation.
Follow the link to find out their hours for March and more.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
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