Connect with us

Maine

Wells farm taps into sweet tradition with first Maine Maple Weekend

Published

on

Wells farm taps into sweet tradition with first Maine Maple Weekend


WELLS, Maine — A local couple’s vision of their farm becoming a year-round attraction with something for every season is taking a leap forward with their first-ever participation in a beloved Maine springtime tradition.

Ryan Liberty and Colleen Bovaird-Liberty will open Crooked Brook Farm, their acreage at 210 Meetinghouse Road, to sweet-treat seekers looking to add a new spot to their usual rounds during Maine Maple Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23.

That weekend, the Libertys will serve and sell samples of their maple syrup, made on site, and will host local bakers who will bring along their tasty goods – some of which no doubt will go good with the Libertys’ syrup.

“I’ve got one lady who focuses on bread and rolls and pies,” Ryan said. “I’ve got another one that does pickles, jellies, and jams, and a third one with an emphasis on cookies and cakes. We’re covering the gamut.”

Advertisement

The Libertys recently finished converting a structure on their property into a sugar house, complete with all the mechanisms needed to produce maple syrup and space for visitors to gather and socialize while enjoying samples and baked goods.

For the couple, the foray into commercial maple syrup production is a springtime addition to the winter attraction of the Christmas tree farm they opened a couple of holiday seasons ago.

And with that new sugar house, the Libertys are just getting started: Ryan also said he is beekeeping on-site and producing honey as a summertime treat and is planning to start a fall-friendly apple orchard in the front yard of the new home they are building on the property.

Advertisement

While starting a tree farm was a new adventure for Ryan, who is in his 50s and describes himself as entrepreneurial, producing maple syrup is a hobby of his dating back to his years as a young adult. He said he has fond memories of making maple syrup in a turkey cooker with his son when he was young.

Next to the sugar house, Ryan has hung old-fashioned buckets beneath the taps of a few maple trees. He said he draws some sap from those trees but wanted to put those buckets there for nostalgic effect.

Indeed, the Libertys’ true method of collecting sap for syrup involves an elaborate system of green tubes strewn throughout many tapped trees that are on your right as you first arrive at the farm. The network all feeds into a tank that, when full, Ryan loads into the back of his truck and brings over to the sugar house for production.

Advertisement

For decades, Maine Maple Weekend has been a popular, late-March tradition in Maine, with syrup producers throughout the state welcoming visitors to their farms to enjoy all kinds of syrup-related treats and to see how the sweet topping is made.

In addition to Crooked Brook Farms, several other farms in the York County Coast Star coverage area will join the festivities, according to the Maine Maple Producers Association. These include Chase Farms on North Berwick Road in Wells and Douston Maple and Honey on Old Alfred Road in Arundel. For a list of all participants and other details, please visit the association’s official website.

Ryan said he’s excited to join the Maine Maple Weekend fun. For someone who has spent the bulk of his career in the energy industry, he never thought he’d become a farmer one day, but now that he is, he loves it.

You can tell by the way he surveys his rows of growing Christmas trees, explains the process of maple sugaring, shares his vision for the apple orchard, and gamely trudges through the thick, squishy mud created by the heavy rains the night before.

Advertisement

“It’s a healthy place to be,” he said. “I’ve become a farmer. I don’t know how exactly, and when exactly, it happened, but it has happened, and I’m embracing it.”

The farm, Ryan said, is his “Zen place,” somewhere he can be where the sun shines, the birds chirp, and there are no emails or ringing phones in sight.

And somewhere, he and Colleen invite you to visit next weekend as you make your Maine Maple Weekend rounds.



Source link

Advertisement

Maine

Maine Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Pick 3 on Dec. 12, 2025

Published

on


The Maine Lottery offers several games for those aiming to win big.

You can pick from national lottery games, like the Powerball and Mega Millions, or a variety of local and regional games, like the Pick 3, Pick 4 and Gimme 5.

While your odds of winning a big jackpot in the Powerball or Mega Millions are generally pretty slim (here’s how they compare to being struck by lightning or dealt a royal flush), other games offer better odds to win cash, albeit with lower prize amounts.

Here’s a look at Friday, Dec. 12, 2025 results for each game:

Advertisement

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 12 drawing

10-50-55-58-59, Mega Ball: 05

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 12 drawing

Day: 7-8-7

Evening: 2-2-6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 12 drawing

Day: 4-2-5-7

Evening: 7-7-0-7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 12 drawing

06-20-23-30-36, Lucky Ball: 11

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Advertisement

Winning Gimme 5 numbers from Dec. 12 drawing

09-11-12-30-37

Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Maine Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3, 4: 1:10 p.m. (Day) and 6:50 p.m. (Evening) ET daily.
  • Lucky For Life: 10:38 p.m. ET daily.
  • Lotto America: 10:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Gimme 5: 6:59 p.m. ET on Monday through Friday.
  • Cash Pop: 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 11:30 p.m. ET daily.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Advertisement

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Maine

Citizen’s initiative wants to roll back recreational cannabis use in Maine

Published

on

Citizen’s initiative wants to roll back recreational cannabis use in Maine


A new citizen’s initiative is looking to roll back recreational cannabis use in Maine.  Maine has allowed for prescribing and limited possession of medical marijuana since 1999, and a successful 2009 referendum established licensed and regulated medical dispensaries. Then, in 2016, Maine voters approved recreational use, retail sale and taxation of cannabis, which the state […]



Source link

Continue Reading

Maine

Maine Commission releases first recommendations to combat growing deed fraud threat

Published

on

Maine Commission releases first recommendations to combat growing deed fraud threat


PORTLAND (WGME) — Maine has spent the past two years grappling with a rise in deed fraud schemes.

The CBS13 I-Team first began investigating after an elderly man didn’t receive his tax bill and learned someone had transferred his property without his knowledge.

Since then, multiple landowners have come forward saying something similar almost happened to them. Our reporting has uncovered for-sale signs posted on land, fake driver’s licenses and signed agreements to transfer deeds; all tied to scam attempts.

Maine has spent the past two years grappling with a rise in deed fraud schemes. (The Nathanson family)

Advertisement

The growing pattern prompted a state commission to issue new recommendations aimed at stopping the fraud.

Landowners say scam nearly cost them their property

Two summers ago, Cheryl and Ralph Nathanson learned their land on Little Sebago Lake had been put up for sale online.

“We could have lost our property,” Cheryl Nathanson said.

The Nathansons, who live in Connecticut, were stunned when they discovered a fraudulent listing for their Maine plot.

“We notified the police and they said they can take a report on it but that there’s nothing they could really do,” Ralph Nathanson said.

Advertisement

Police told them it was a classic case of deed fraud: scammers posing as property owners, listing land they don’t own and disappearing with the cash.

The couple was advised to sign up for property alerts through the Cumberland County Registry of Deeds, but quickly learned those alerts offered little protection.

“You can register for the deed fraud but it only informs you, by email, after the deed has been transferred. So it’s basically worthless,” Ralph Nathanson said.

A realtor lists their property…. Again

The following summer, the Nathansons discovered a real estate sign had been placed on their land.

“I was notified by a neighbor that there was a for-sale sign, a realtor for-sale sign, on our land,” Ralph Nathanson said.

Advertisement

A realtor from Old Orchard Beach had unknowingly entered into an agreement with someone impersonating the couple.

“Some of the information was correct, some of it wasn’t. You can get anything off of Google,” Cheryl Nathanson said.

Ralph Nathanson remembers confronting the agent.

“You are selling my property and I’m not selling the property,” Ralph Nathanson said. “The phone went silent.”

Despite the ordeal, the couple believes they were lucky to have seen the sign, knowing how bad these schemes can get.

Advertisement

State commission concludes work on deed fraud

“Currently, you all might be landowners and your land might be at risk, and you might not know right now that somebody has sold your land,” Jane Towle with the Real Estate Commission said, during the final meeting of the Deed Fraud Commission.

This fall, a state commission of stakeholders convened to examine ways to prevent deed fraud in Maine.

The Nathansons urged the commission to go beyond awareness campaigns.

CBS13 I-Team Reporter Stephanie Grindley: “You think the state should act beyond just awareness?”

Cheryl Nathanson: “100%.”

Ralph Nathanson: “Absolutely. I think the state of Maine has a responsibility to protect landowners.

But not everyone in the meeting agreed on the scope of the problem.

Attorney General calls deed fraud a low-priority scam

In the final meeting, Attorney General Aaron Frey remained staunch in his skepticism, saying complaints of deed fraud are still relatively rare.

Advertisement

“What we’re seeing for people getting hurt and losing money, this would probably not be the thing I want to highlight over other scams that are happening right now that are actually costing people their retirement savings,” Frey said.

Sen. Henry Ingwersen of York, who spearheaded the commission, sat down with the I-Team following the final meeting.

Grindley: “During the meeting, I did hear the Attorney General essentially call this a non-issue. His office isn’t getting complaints. He doesn’t see a bunch of consumers loosing money to this. Has that changed your stance?”

Ingwersen: “We’ve had three that have really been highlighted just in southern Maine. We haven’t heard a lot from around the rest of the state, but there has been some, so I think that even though it’s rare, we really need to address it.”

“I was pleased that we did come up with a couple of recommendations that we’re going to put in the report,” Ingwersen said.

Key Recommendation: Verify the seller’s identity

The first area of agreement among most, not all, stakeholders would legally require listing agents to verify a seller’s identity.

“The way it is now, it’s best practice. And a lot of professionals are doing best practice,” Ingwersen said. “The red flags in deed fraud are cash sale, land only, a quick sale at below-market value If we had realtors really paying attention to those red flags but also a policy that would require them to check the identity of the fraudulent seller, or of the seller, thoroughly, I think it would prevent, even if it prevented one instance of deed fraud, I think it would be very helpful.”

Advertisement

The commission did not outline exactly how identification should be verified.

“We didn’t really specify what that identification process was going to be. We’re leaving that up to rule making,” Ingwersen said.

Second Recommendation: Easier path to undo a fraudulent deed

Currently, the only way to reverse a fraudulent deed in Maine is to go to court.

The commission proposes allowing an attorney to file an affidavit with the registry.

“Allow an attorney to file an affidavit with the deed recorder that would allow the deed to be, the fraudulent deed, to be nullified in a way that is a little bit quicker than we currently have,” Ingwersen said.

Advertisement

The recommendations will now head to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee. Any legislative change likely wouldn’t take effect until 2027, if the proposals make it into a bill and then survive a vote.

“I think we made some good progress, but I don’t think this is going to go away. I think this will continue,” Ingwersen said.

Landowners fear fraud will try until it succeeds

“We were thinking, do we take a loan out on it just to secure it?” Ralph Nathanson said.

As the legislative process begins, the Nathansons say Maine cannot wait. They fear it’s only a matter of time before a sale of their land goes through.

“To lose land like this or to find out that their land is now gone, I just can’t imagine that,” Ralph Nathanson said.

Advertisement

Ideas Left on the Table: Title Freeze and National Guidance

Several proposals failed to gain traction, including a “title freeze.” a concept similar to a credit freeze that would allow a landowner to lock their deed from unauthorized transfers. Maine could have been the first state to pilot it, but members said they lacked enough information.

Instead, they pointed to national group studying deed fraud. The Uniform Law Commission is drafting model legislation that states, including Maine, could adopt to better protect landowners.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending