Emily Carle launched her mobile direct primary care practice in Freeport to reimagine healthcare delivery. With over 20 years of healthcare experience, including work as a medical missionary, EMT, ER nurse, forensic nurse, and now as a nurse practitioner, she knew she wanted to build something different. She envisioned a model rooted in authenticity, community focus, and genuine care, bringing healthcare back to what it simply is: health and care.Read More
Emily Carle FNP Mobile Direct Primary Care – Freeport
Timber Candle Bar & Boutique – Caribou
Located on Route 1 in Caribou, Timber Candle Bar & Boutique is redefining retail in Northern Maine by blending handcrafted home fragrance products with immersive, experience-based retail.
The business began as a small gift store operating as part of a sister business, County Ag & Turf Supply, Inc., owned by founder Gerri Nadeau’s husband, Randy Nadeau. What started as a complementary retail offering gradually evolved as customer interest in candles and home fragrance grew, and in May 2025, Timber Candle Bar & Boutique officially became a standalone business.
The name “Timber Candle Bar & Boutique” reflects Northern Maine’s natural surroundings and Gerri Nadeau’s beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, Timber, whose grounded and loyal nature mirrors the people of Aroostook County.
Today, Timber Candle Bar offers custom candle-making experiences, retail-ready candles, wax melts, fragrance diffusers, and thoughtfully curated giftware, home décor, and gourmet treats. The business has become a destination for both local residents and visitors, drawing customers from across Aroostook County and beyond.
At the core of the business is its interactive candle-making experience, where guests create custom-scented candles in a welcoming, social environment. These experiences have proven popular for team-building events, private parties, celebrations, and tourism visits, helping to attract visitors and encourage local spending.
As a woman-owned business, Timber Candle Bar reflects the growing role of female entrepreneurship in Northern Maine. Built from the ground up through hands-on leadership and perseverance, the business demonstrates how women-led enterprises can successfully grow in rural regions while creating community-centered experiences.
Through steady growth and continuous refinement of its business model, Timber Candle Bar has expanded its offerings, strengthened brand recognition, and built partnerships with local and regional businesses. The company remains committed to quality, creativity, and meaningful customer experiences.
Today, Timber Candle Bar & Boutique contributes to the vitality of Aroostook County by offering an innovative retail experience that supports local economic activity, strengthens community connections, and enhances the region’s appeal for both residents and visitors.
Read a recent article from The County about Gerri’s business!
To learn more about Gerri’s business, visit her Facebook and Instagram pages!
Twinkle Time Cleaning – Millinocket
Elizabeth Pio launched Twinkle Time Cleaning in Millinocket to create the kind of opportunity she once struggled to find herself. In recovery for over a decade, she overcame significant personal challenges to rebuild her life. Today, she uses that experience to support others through employment and compassionate service.Read More
Lynne Stewart Designs – Kennebunk
Lynne Stewart operates Lynne Stewart Designs, a custom sewing workroom based in Kennebunk that blends fine home décor craftsmanship with imaginative soft-sculpture creations. With a BFA in Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design and over 2 decades of experience, Lynne balances her days between client commissions—cushions, pillows, and window treatments—and a line of fabric sculptures crafted from upcycled materials.Read More
Factory 3 – Portland
In 2019, Patrick Walker Russell opened Factory 3 in Portland’s Libbytown neighborhood with a bold vision: to create a makerspace that would lower the barriers to entrepreneurship for artists, artisans, and tradespeople. Located in a 4,400-square-foot warehouse on Saint James Street, Factory 3 provides tools, training, and workspace for woodworking, welding, sewing, 3D printing, and more. For a monthly fee, members gain access to specialized equipment, private studios, and a collaborative community designed to help them turn ideas into businesses.Read More
Amy Lewis Photography – Brunswick
Amy Lewis launched Amy Lewis Photography in Brunswick in 2022 after a slow and steady rollout the year prior. Her business now serves clients across Southern and Midcoast Maine, offering family portraits, senior pictures, weddings, and a growing list of commercial services such as real estate and marketing photography.Read More
Root 2 Salon – Wilton
In December 2023, Madisyn Smith lost everything when devastating floods swept through Farmington, destroying the salon where she worked as an independent contractor. The building was left with no insulation, frozen pipes, ruined floors, and a landlord unwilling to help. What had once been a dream became unsustainable. “I was so unhappy in a building that was making me bankrupt,” she said. “Everything happened for a reason.”Read More
Perakis Ironworks Group – Portland
Sam Perakis is the owner of Perakis Ironworks Group in Portland, where he specializes in architectural ironwork such as railings, fences, and gates. His work also includes sculpture, historical reproduction, repairs, and tool making. With a decade of blacksmithing experience and active membership in regional and national blacksmithing associations, Sam brings deep craft knowledge and creativity to every project.Read More
Mourning Ventures – Dover-Foxcroft
Lisa Joy White, LMSW, MThanatology, CT founded Mourning Ventures of Maine in Dover-Foxcroft to offer personalized, evidence-based grief care and advance life planning support to individuals and communities as well as workplace consultations rooted in grief-informed practices. With fifteen years’ experience, Lisa holds a master’s degree and certification in thanatology. She is also a licensed master social worker.Read More
Boldly Lacquer – Machias
Ellie Hammond launched Boldly Lacquer in Machias after developing a nail allergy during the pandemic and struggling to find polish that met her standards. That experience sparked her passion for creating “10-free” nail lacquers, formulated without many of the harsh chemicals found in conventional products.Read More