the Love of Three Oranges comedic play May 13 - By Megan Joy

Jaydie Allen, a junior at Windham High School has been working hard along with her peers to perfect their forty-minute, comedic play: The Love of Three Oranges. As the student director of an independent project, Allen has been put in the hot seat to get the play up and running for the one and only showing next Wednesday. The play is, in Allen’s words, a short comedy about forty minutes long. It is based off of a plot line involving witch princesses, princes and kings. The hard part is not the play itself, but the responsibility and dedication that comes with participating. As the student director, Allen is expected to give stage direction, run rehearsals, decide on costumes, find places for rehearsal, decide on times that most/all of the cast can make, assign roles, and make sure that the show is smooth and everyone is confident with the final production.

When asked about her position in the theater, Allen replied, “I have both acted and worked backstage through community theater with younger kids. I wanted to try directing my peers. It’s definitely different than directing younger kids. I can take input from the actors and use that to my benefit. I welcome any input or concerns or questions from the cast to put into the show. I think of it as a team effort, not me just telling them what to do.” 

Allen also voiced her excitement for opening night, acknowledging how hard the cast has worked on the project. Since this is the first independent project that she has directed, Allen has been working hard to get everything perfect for opening night. Despite the constant barrage of standardized testing that comes along with her junior year, Allen has made sure that there is practice at least every Monday and Thursday along with one-on-one rehearsals. 

The show, which is scheduled for May 13^th, at 7:30 p.m, is in a black box theater. The cast will be interacting with the audience members throughout the play to contribute to the comedic portion of the show. The play is open to the public, but whether five or 500 people show up for opening night, Allen believes, “That they came to see us perform is what truly matters. We will perform our best for anyone who comes to see us.”

Wicked Easy Fix a new company for computer fixes

When a computer or tablet breaks it frustrates even the most tech savvy. WickedEasyFix can troubleshoot and fix any computer problems from personal computers to business networks.

Co-owners and Mainers Brian Soares and Don Moody have been in business five months, but the tech crew they have manning the phones have years of experience. 

In his previous job, Soares said he saw a lot of fraud in computer support companies. He decided he wanted to start a company that stood by what they said. 

“I did extensive research and found that there was a great need for a US based computer support company that homes and businesses can rely on for quick honest answers without worrying about being scammed from an outside company, outside the US,” he said. 

Like the name suggests, the company is built on Maine values and culture. “One hundred percent of our employees live and work in the USA and we offer a 100 percent money back guarantee, which means we’re giving them 200 percent,” Soares said. 

The work is done remotely on the computers. It is safe and most times effective. From removing viruses to installing software, WickedEasyFix has a service for all customers that is safer than working with someone internationally. The company is required to follow all US laws and regulations. 

The company is growing regularly and quickly, he said. The company employs 12 people in Austin, Texas, which is where calls are answered from their toll free number and the employees use Nexus the number one support resolution system in the world. 

Soares partner, Moody, owned Gorham Micro Computers for 20 years before selling and jumping on this project, he said. 

“Long story short, I built a solid support company WickedEasyFix.com that offers full support for PCs, Macs, smart phones, iPads and other electronic and tech devices,” Soares said. Anything electronic that runs on an operating system can be checked and hopefully fixed by WickedEasyFix. 

As lives become more technologically driven, with heat, garage doors, lights and security all online or in the cloud, people are becoming more concerned with safety and there are more questions that need to be answered. 

“Technology is getting more and more advanced and homes are getting smarter and smarter. This means that people will need to get answers faster from someone that can help them reconnect a device, set up or configure these things to work seamlessly without them needing to become an expert,” Soares said.

Soon WickedEasyFix will offer businesses that can’t or don’t want an IT department the opportunity to buy an affordable plan that gives them the opportunity to call anytime they have an issue. “It’s like an IT department all the time,” said Soares. The plan watches business servers and everything that goes in and out for viruses, malware, security and ID theft. “If they need fixes or if their system crashes or there’s a problem with software, we’re going to handle all of that for them for $35 a month,” he said. 

Billing for all services is listed on the website and varies based on time spent on the call. Prices start at $59 for wicked easy fixes and go up to $139 for a call that lasts more than 30 minutes. There is also a member plan for home users that is $19.99 per month that give the customer security programs, data back up and 25 percent off all of their fixes. 

“The goal is to be a trusted company that truly gives value to our customers.  We want to exceed what they have come to expect from online support companies,” said Soares. “We keep it really super simple, with not a lot of techie jargon.” 

For more information, visit www.wickedeasyfix.com.

Business spotlight - Mainely Ticks - By Michelle Libby

No one likes to find a tick on them, but a local company has made educating the public about ticks and tick-borne diseases its job. Mainely Ticks located in Windham and Sanford treat properties for ticks, but also make sure people know how to protect themselves and their children from contracting Lyme Disease.
 

“We are trying to raise the level of awareness,” said co-owner Bob Maurais. “Seventy-five percent of all Lyme is contracted 100 feet from the home. It’s in your back yard and neighborhood.” Deer ticks, the ones that cause Lyme Disease, are in the “leaf litter” around the edge of yards, said Maurais. Ticks can’t live in direct sunlight. 

The company began when Maurais’ nephew in Connecticut started a business spraying for ticks in 2004. Seeing that ticks would become a problem in southern Maine, Ed Maurias, Bob Maurais and George Bennett started Mainely Ticks. 

Bob Maurais concentrates on the education part of the company and now ships tick ID cards and bookmarks throughout the country. Mainely Ticks employees eight people. 

Personal protection is important for everyone, he said. “Prevention is the best prescription.” Maurais recommends that everyone have their clothes they wear outside treated with Permethrin spray, which is good for five to seven washes, or send them to a company in North Carolina that treats clothing and will last for 70 washes. Permethrin spray can be found at Walmart in the sporting goods section. He also recommends that people wear DEET on exposed skin. “It doesn’t have to be 100 percent,” he said. Twenty to 30 percent will do. 

“Kids need our protection,” he said. “Ages five to 14 have the highest incidents of Lyme Disease.” Maurais stressed that it is a parents’, grandparents’ or adults’ job to do a nightly tick check. May, June and July are the crucial months to do checks at bath time and throughout the day. Using fingertips, feel through hair and check behind ears for poppy-sized ticks. 

“Children really need and deserve our protection. They are the most vulnerable,” Maurais said.

If a tick is found, don’t try to smother it with lotions, don’t squeeze it, instead use fine-pointed tweezers to gently remove the tick from where it is attached. For questions and reference, directions are available on the www.mainelyticks.com website. 

In 2005, Maurais’ wife, Barb was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, making the work more personal. Now, people are beginning to get sick with Lyme Disease co-infections. The CDC estimated that there are 30,000 cases of Lyme per year, until 2013, when they recognized that they underreported the number by 10 times, meaning that many cases are misdiagnosed or under diagnosed, said Maurais. 

In Maine, 1,400 people were reported to have Lyme Disease, but according to the CDC findings that means that “there are 14,000 people in the State of Maine who don’t know they have it and wonder why they feel so terrible. That’s scary,” he said. 

Pets transport ticks and are 50 percent more likely than humans to get Lyme Disease because they are right down at the tick level.

Mainely Ticks uses a synthetic pesticide when they spray for ticks and it is highly effective at killing them. However, what sets Mainely Ticks apart from other companies that spray for ticks is the education component on its website. “Tick management through education and science,” is the motto of Mainely Ticks. 

Lyme Disease is hard to diagnose. Only 50 percent of people get the bull’s eye rash. Most get one or all of these symptoms, fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, ocular issues, heart issues, neurological issues and Bell’s Palsy, said Maurais. 

Ticks are not born carrying Lyme, they get it after their first blood meal. After that they can transmit the disease to humans. 

For more information about ticks, tick-borne illnesses and ways to protect loved ones, visit www.mainelyticks.com.

Business spotlight - Mad Mike's Custom Detailing - By Michelle Libby

Mad Mike Greene of Windham has been detailing cars his whole life. When he graduated from Windham High School in 1992, he went to look for a job and found one detailing cars. In 2004 he was looking for a change and went out on his own creating Mad Mike’s in Westbrook. Nine years ago, he moved back to the property he grew up on at 4 Harriet Ave. just off Route 302 in Windham, built a garage and continued cleaning cars. 
 

“I’m a Windham guy,” he said. “I love my family and I’m happy to be where I am.”

At Mad Mike’s, Mike and his employee Bobby Edwards of five years can clean anything from cars and boats to motorcycles and motorhomes. “We clean anything that goes down the road,” Mike said. They don’t do engine degreasing, but other than that, “We’ll attack anything. We have stuff to work with it,” he added. 

Mad Mike’s does a lot of commercial accounts, working with many of the big names like Copp Motors in Cumberland, Richardson’s Marina, Maine Elevator, Dorr’s Marine, Ron at Windham Automotive, New England Diesel, Steve’s Auto and G&K Motors. 

“Everything is done onsite,” said Mike. His customers are from Windham and all surrounding towns. “If you’ve got a car or a motorcycle, from a 90-year-old woman’s car to a 16-year-old woman’s car, we clean them all,” Mike said.

“The work sells itself,” he said. “We don’t short change anybody. We do the work that needs to be done.” Mike has been cleaning cars for 25 years and knows his business. 

He uses biodegradable products and nothing harmful goes into the car. In addition, all of the products including the wax he uses are from Maine. “I’m a Maine guy. I believe if it’s from Maine, I’m more into it,” he said. He uses a presoak to kill bacteria in the car’s interior. He also said that steering wheels have as many germs as a toilet. 

Mike’s work is very personal to him and he takes pride in the cars coming out of his business looking better than they did the day the customer bought it. “I love the transformation,” he said. He has a good turnaround time, usually a day for cars. Everything is a little different and because each vehicle gets personal attention, Mike discusses time with the clients individually. 

“I’ve never seen a customer not dance when they pick them up,” Mike said. 

Mike was helped by a lot of people over the years with encouragement and navigating the waters of creating a business. He wanted to thank his mom and dad and grandmother, Daniel Brubach at Rowe Ford, Taylor Smith-Peterson, Delores McMillin, who does his books, his son Michael Edward Greene, Jr., Peter Busque and his fiancé Ericka Connor. 

“I had a dream and [Peter Busque] helped me put it together,” Mike said. Being his own boss, he is the janitor, the owner and the employee, but he said, “There’s nothing like it. I love the town and I love everything about it. I’ve never been happier.” 

Mike would like to expand and add another bay and make it a family run business. 

Mad Mike’s is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m.to noon. It’s best to make appointments by phone. Call 892-1999. Mad Mike can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and at www.MadMikesMaine.com.

Photo:

Logan Edward Young, nephew

Bobby Edwards

Mad Mike Greene