Business Spotlight on B&B Cultivation

B&B Cultivation, the leading provider of thoroughly tested, pure medicinal cannabis is excited to open its doors on 1259 Roosevelt Trail (route 302), in Raymond, Maine, and is having a Grand Opening Bash to meet our community.  Please join us October 12^th and 13^th for festivities, food, refreshments, art, neighbors, raffles and more.  Get your certification at B&B on the spot between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on October 12^th and between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on October 13^th.  There will be a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting October 12^th at 4:00 p.m. and you are all invited!

The store provides flower, edibles and other fine products to ensure a healthier and symptom free life for those with MMJ certification and proper ID.  Also available are essential supplies, a full line of non-psychoactive CBD products such as lotions and salves, fine art, glassware, and more; even call ahead pick up is available for those who qualify.  

The active component of the cannabis plant, cannabinoids, have shown to inhibit tumor growth and kill cancer cells in lab testing. Medical cannabis contains antispasmodic qualities which relax muscles and has shown to be an effective treatment for seizures, and for these cannabis oils that are rich in cannabidiol (CBD), are the preferred method for treatment. Patients who suffer from chronic pain caused by diabetes, cancer, MS, HIV, and other diseases have been turning to medical cannabis as a way to treat their pain without the use of addictive pharmaceutical medications. Also available, Delta 8 is great relief without the anxiety. In recent years, opioid recovery has been blessed with cannabis, saving valuable lives.

Repeat customers rely on the purity, potency, consistent high quality, and value B&B offers its community.  In order to provide pure medical quality cannabis, free of metals and contaminants, molds and other harmful pests, growers need pristine environments.  Though thorough testing, technology and science have improved the process, many cannabis providers regularly opt out of testing their medicine; some even pass off simply unhealthy products and get fined hefty sums.  

B&B Cultivation is different, and we designed it that way.  Recirculating Deep Water Culture (RDWC) Hydroponics was developed by NASA and uses no soil to grow in outer space. Plants grow quicker and are more resistant to bacteria. Plants are not wasting valuable time trying to find a specific nutrient or avoid a stone. The custom system assures the ability for constant analysis, consistent exact nutrient dosages, and real time adjustment capabilities in case nature finds its rough spots.  There are no pests, no molds, and precise controls, yielding the most reliable, consistent and powerful product.

We use energy efficient full spectrum LED lighting. LED lighting insure the plants get the exact wavelengths they need at the right times. LEDs offer a broad and balanced light spectrum. Conventional grow lights generally peak in some color spectrums and are lacking in others, giving the plant an incomplete and/or irregular spectrum. LEDs produce vibrant plants that have more powerful hues and varieties of natural color. The LED systems save lots of energy as well, producing only the wavelengths of light beneficial to the plant, also making them the environmentally friendly choice for cultivation.

A state-of-the-art security system at the offsite grow facility and the retail shop, assure the safety of our community and the medicine.   

B&B is veteran owned and operated.  They graciously provide military veterans twenty percent off their purchases with proper identification, and proudly thank those who serve for their contribution to our nation. As believers in quality lives for everyone, no matter your station in life, a loyalty card provides those with fewer resources, a way to earn quality rewards.

We are so grateful to the many friends and neighbors who have visited as we built our gallery and want our space to be a center for both wellness and community. A nurse practitioner will be available every Thursday evening for certification, adding to the convenience for many locals seeking to get relief.

We want to meet our community, and celebrate a new neighbor, fine art, and the purest, most potent and most consistent medicine to exist in our state. A toast, refreshments, raffles, delicious food, an onsite nurse for certification, conversation with master cultivation experts, and a ribbon cutting will welcome Maine’s new neighbor to the Sebago region. Join us, October 12-13, 1259 Roosevelt Trail, Raymond, ME 04071, on 302. Can’t make it? Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.bbcultivation.com!

                                                                                                     “Cultivate Good Vibes”

Business spotlight on Stillwater Spa by Michelle Libby

Susan Leo and Natalie Lytle, owners of Stillwater Spa, joined together to bring Windham new options for massage therapy and aesthetic work in a calm, serene space. They are conveniently located in the heart of Windham, at 690 Roosevelt Trail, next to Rose’s Italian Restaurant.   

“We’re small and customized,” said Lytle.

The two opened the spa in June and in July someone drove a car into their waiting area. It is now just about repaired, but it hasn’t stopped clients from taking advantage of the services offered. The space was specifically designed for their spa with large treatment rooms and a comforting place to relax and be pampered. The location particularly interested them because of its accessibility for handicapped clients as well as being all on one floor.

Susan, a licensed massage therapist, is a 2013 Spa Tech graduate and has years of experience with many different types of clients. She specializes in deep tissue massage, but also does neuromuscular, hot stone, silicone cupping, lymphatic, sports and prenatal massages.

Her massages are sometimes a combination of techniques. The cost is $90 for a 90-minute massage or $70 for an hour.

“Anybody with pain can benefit from massage,” said Lytle. Massages are recommended when needed or approximately every two weeks.

Susan had her first massage at age 16. “I wanted to do something that makes people feel good after. It’s so beneficial for the blood flow and to help them stay positive,” she said. “There’s nothing I like better than seeing someone I’ve never seen before,” she added.

The owners of Stillwater Spa

Lytle is a licensed esthetician who worked at a local Windham spa before going out on her own in Portland. She’s happy to return to Windham, where she resides with her family, to see clients.

She offers specialized facials, deep exfoliation, detoxifying foot soaks, body treatments, full body waxing using hard or soft wax, and offers top-of-the line skin care products by Hale & Hush, Circadia, Le Mieux and Color Up Therapeutics.

“One advantage in owning your own business is getting to choose the products that you believe in and have seen results with firsthand. Any skin care product I sell I try and use it on myself,” Lytle said. “Being able to advise on what a person needs for specific treatments and maintenance with no added pressure to buy things they don’t need is definitely an advantage.”

Lytle works with clients for many different needs including anti-aging, acne, rosacea, and those who have sensitive skin. Every facial is customized to the individual’s needs. She also uses LED light therapy that was developed by NASA. Each different color light helps to repair or kill bacteria. It’s a very rare treatment in the Sebago area.

Lytle is certified in dermaplaning, the removal of dead skin cells with a scalpel as a manual exfoliation technique. “Skin is our largest organ. I like the idea that there are products and techniques that can help the cellular make up of skin,” Lytle said.

Teen facials are also popular, and Lytle offers education and discussion about good skin care habits to help keep their complexion healthy. Additional services include eyelash and eyebrow tinting and lash lifting, which is like a perm for lashes.

The spa carries homemade rice bags and other fun retail items for beauty and relaxation and sells gift certificates which will be a great option for the holidays.

Our clients are mothers, daughters, friends and men. Some come to find out their skin type.

“Facials are a workout for your skin. Massage and skincare are not always a luxury,” Lytle said. Our services can prevent premature aging and benefit your overall well-being, she added.

Facials range in price from $75 to $90. All treatments are by appointment only, all of which can be booked online. Don’t miss out on the Stillwater Duo, a one-hour massage and one-hour facial for $130.

“I regret taking such good care of my skin.” said no one ever!

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.stillwater-spa.com or call 207-482-0655. Find Stillwater Spa on Facebook or Instagram.

Business Spotlight on Another Place to Grow Childcare and Learning Center by Michelle Libby

Finding a safe place for a child is a daunting task for any parent, but at Another Place to Grow Childcare and Learning Center, children are safe, happy and engaged. Owner Ashley Moulton takes pride in the care she and her staff of 25 provide, as well as the new space that was built especially for the center on Plaza Drive, the building in the back, off the road.

The center has 80 children daily, but room for more. There is a strong preschool program under director Dianne Walker, who has been in the child care business for 26 years.

Walker, a preschool teacher for 13 years, loves to see her former students and hear what they remember from their preschool days like worms or cutting open coconuts.

“That’s when you know you’ve made an impact on them. That’s when you know it was worth it. You make a difference,” said Walker.

For nine years, Another Place to Grow was on Danielle Drive in Windham. They recently relocated to a brand-new building to provide updated facilities in a more secure environment.

Ashley Moulton, owner

“It’s always been a passion for me,” said Moulton, a mother of one who followed in her own mother’s footsteps. “I love seeing them grow. Knowing kids can have a safe place and nurturing environment is what it’s all about in my eyes,” she said.

The preschool program works with Windham Primary School’s (WPS) administration to make sure what APTG is teaching corresponds with the learning the children will have once they enter kindergarten. Another Place to Grow just incorporated the Jolly Phonics Literacy Program this year, according to Walker. “It teaches letter sounds before letter names. When kids learn sounds, reading comes easier,” she said. Using hand motions, songs, and a story for each letter, it involves the children physically in the education.

The program at the 3-year-old level is very basic. The pre-k class with 4-year-olds uses the program to correspond with WPS. There are no current openings in the preschool programs.

A number of the employees have associate degrees in childhood development and one teacher is a former high school teacher with a master’s degree.

“This level of education is unique in a small classroom setting,” said Moulton. Each class has one teacher to five children. In the infant room, it’s one to four children ages six weeks and up. There are openings in the infant, 1-year-old and 2-year-old rooms.

The building is a protected 24/7 security-locked building. All parents have a key card and the only way to enter is through the front door. There is also a fenced in backyard. The property abuts Donna Beth Lippman Park, which can be accessed by a nature trail to the playground and story walk. Fridays are park fieldtrip days for the preschool.

Another Place to Grow has a private Facebook page for parents to get information and ask questions. It is a nice and secure way to follow student progress and stay up-to-date on what is happening at the center.

“We’re a family here,” said Walker. Even with the large numbers, each child is an individual and the teachers and administration take time to get to know the families. “It’s about forming relationships.”

“We’re a center-based child care with a home-like feel,” Moulton said. “We really care about them.” They are committed to your child’s future and help instill a sense of empathy in your child as they learn, play and grow.

Another Place to Grow Childcare and Learning Center accepts part time enrollment and is very flexible with hours and days. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. They no longer offer a before and after school program.

For more information, to check on openings or for a tour of their brand-new center, visit www.AnotherPlaceToGrow.wixsite.com/aptg, call 207-892-1110 or email Ashley at aptgcare@gmail.com.  <

Business spotlight on Meghan Cowens, L.Ac. Acupuncture & Musculoskeletal Therapies by Michelle Libby

For those who are stuck or searching for someone and something to help them with physical or emotional pain, Meghan Cowens, licensed acupuncturist and integrative body worker, has a tool bag of methods to assist clients with healing. 

“I like to be hands on. I have a lot of experience working with chronic pain,” Cowens said, citing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma. “The mind, body and spirit happen together. I meet people where they are to uncover the issues.”

Cowens has been doing this work her whole life, but went into practice 14 years ago after attending the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is certified in acupuncture, manual therapy, integrative body work, Tuina, Chinese medical massage, posture correction, Guasha scraping for increased blood flow to certain areas, meditation and yoga, and has five National board certifications. She takes required continuing education units every two years. She also did a post-graduate course in sports medicine acupuncture. She is especially skilled in scar therapy and life coaching.

For three months she has been seeing clients in her space at The Man Cave in the Windham Mall. She works with men, women and children, and anyone who needs her or anyone who’s in pain.

“People who live here can have the resource without going into the city or to the coast,” she said. “I wanted to serve the people where I live.”

Cowens uses meditation with most of her clients to help with breathing and anxiety. “It helps with breathing to make them a bit more capable to handle the monkeys that roam wildly inside their minds.” She encourages them to “sit with yourself” for one minute. “It’s the most real thing you’ll ever do in your life for personal development,” she said. The mind is like a home, made up of many rooms. Cowens helps clients look in the different rooms and move to more productive rooms like gratitude rather than anger. She never expects perfection from her clients. “Practice makes permanent, not perfection,” she said. “Nothing I ask a patient to do, I haven’t done myself. You can only teach what you know.”

Cowens can’t make a client do what she recommends, but she will provide the accountability to help them love themselves through anything.

“You should feel delicious in your body. Be resilient to get back up after you’ve been knocked down,” Cowens said.

She states that she’s not going to tell clients what to do. “They tell me what they want and we can make a road map for health care,” she said. From weight loss, mental and emotional stability to self-care and health care, she will guide and provide homework which is a valuable tool on a client’s road to recovery. Having Cowens to bounce issues off makes everything “feel a little less dramatic or traumatic.”

“Big fear is big magic waiting for you on the other side. That’s what matters,” she said.

Cowens participated in a four years master’s degree program and spent five weeks in China where she learned Tuina in a hospital there. She also knows Thai massage, which is assisted stretching. She studied with Eric Dalton for myoskeletal therapy.

Meghan Cowens

She is a Yin yoga instructor and does therapeutic ball work and restorative therapy as well as pre- and post-natal work. She uses some or all of her knowledge when working with a client.

When she meets with clients she discusses what is happening with them and will always address what their chief complaint is. She does a free consultation to give the clients a chance to express how they’re feeling. She also evaluates how people walk and the way they breathe. Everyone is different. Some clients can’t be touched, while others want to discuss what’s going on in their lives.

Although she is an acupuncturist, Cowens also does non-needle therapy. “Acupuncture as a stand alone is really great,” she said, but it is only one modality that she uses.

“Healing is a gift you give yourself,” she said, remembering what she learned from her mother, Deby Cowens, who always offered this piece of advice to Cowens. “My offering is what I bring to the table. There’s no right or wrong way to empower people. Let’s go on this journey.”

For more information, to schedule an appointment or for a free 15-minute consultation, visit www.MeghanCowens.com, call 954-551-9237 or call The Man Cave at 207-893-2283.