Business Spotlight: Lake Region Animal Hospital

Providing full scale and professional veterinary services since 1976, Lake Region Animal Hospital,
located at 554 Roosevelt Trail, is still going strong and growing with one celebratory change to announce. Dr. Doug Griffin, who has owned and operated the clinic for the past 43 years, has recently retired and handed the reins of ownership to Dr. Andrine Belliveau to continue the expert and compassionate care to our four-legged friends. Dr. Belliveau purchased the clinic on November 27, 2019.

Dr. Belliveau, who grew up in Bolton, MA knew from a very early age that working with animals was her calling. “I grew up on a farm and I loved being around and taking care of the animals,” Dr. Belliveau began. “As I got older, I was involved in 4H, working with our goats and sheep. At the age of 15, I started as a kennel assistant at a clinic in Lancaster, MA, eventually working as a veterinary technician until I was 25 during school breaks and summer months.”

Dr. Belliveau received her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Cornell University within three years and went on to obtain a DVM degree from Tufts University in 2011. For one year after graduation, she worked at a small-animal clinic in upstate New York.

Wanting to be closer to her family, Dr. Belliveau moved to Maine and began working at Lake Region Animal Hospital in 2012.  A few years later, she transitioned to emergency medicine.  “I have seen almost every situation imaginable,” she explained. “The experience of working in an emergency vet clinic taught me many things that I wouldn’t have ordinarily seen if I had only worked in a general practice veterinary hospital. The experience exposed me to the depth and breadth of the many extraordinary situations that occur. This helped me expand my experiential knowledge I wouldn’t have otherwise gained. There are very few emergency situations I can’t handle now as a result.”

Although customers will no longer see the caring face of Dr. Griffin, they will continue to see all the other familiar, talented and friendly staff that have been a part of the Lake Region Animal Hospital Team for quite some time.

Dr. Andrine Belliveau with Chief Doggo, Bennett

In fact, many customers have expressed their loyalty and satisfaction. “I have been taking my animals to Lake Region Animal Hospital in Windham for over 15 years,” began Jinja Rosendahl. “I have been seeing Dr. Belliveau for my latest two dogs. While one of my dogs, would be happy with most people, my other dog is leery of most. He wears a muzzle into the office, both for his protection and for others. He has known Dr. Belliveau since I first adopted him at about three months of age. Dr. B has one of the techs take him out back and while they are treating him, they remove the muzzle and he is fine. For that seemingly simple act, I am forever grateful. I would highly recommend Dr. Belliveau for your pet’s needs [as well as] the entire staff at Lake Region Animal Hospital.”

Another customer, Julie Largay concurs. “My family has been taking our dogs to Lake Region Animal Hospital since at least the 1980's. The front desk staff is friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable.  We talk to Paula a lot and the techs are amazing and make you feel like your pet is their's.  I have known Leah for a number of years, and she is smart and dependable. A few years ago, we were paired with Dr. Seavey.  As our basset hound got older, we started seeing her more and more. She was always very honest with what his issues were, and she always gave us a few plans for care, in case one was too expensive. It was nice knowing that if we didn't want to pay a lot of money for a test, there was always another direction to take. Towards the end of our basset's life, she would email regularly to check in on him and even made a special trip to our house to drop off medication he needed. We have taken our pets to other vets now and then, but you cannot get the customer service, knowledge base or compassion that you get from the team at Lake Region Animal Hospital.”

You can expect the same great service by the same friendly faces. “Dr. Griffin owned this business for 43 years,” stated Dr. Belliveau. “He did a wonderful job and we are going to continue in this manner in his honor.”

For more information about Lake Region Animal Hospital, check out their website at www.lakeregionanimalhospital.com/ or call 207-892-7575.

Business Spotlight: Bob’s Seafood

Located in North Windham on Route 302 as one enters the greater Sebago Lakes Region, residents and visitors alike will find a seafood gem. Bob’s Seafood has been a local favorite and vacationer destination since 2002. 

Bob’s is a small family owned business now operated by second generation siblings Travis, Derek and Tarah Mathieu. Bob’s original concept was to provide Windham and surrounding areas with a fresh seafood market and offer some fried local favorites. It’s been a vision of Travis, Derek and Tarah over the past 10 years to expand on the business their parents began.

In September of 2018, their vision became a reality as Bob’s Seafood was transformed into a full-scale restaurant, bar and seafood market.  An additional 2,000 square feet was added which permitted a large kitchen expansion, dish room, restrooms and a taproom. 

The design was to give customers a modern industrial look while providing them with a casual, warm and cozy atmosphere. The original building was completely remodeled, but some of the original charm and quaint atmosphere was persevered for the guests that prefer that New England style, too. 

Bob’s new expansion added more than 25 new jobs for seasonal, part-time and full-time positions.

One of the missing components of Bob’s in the early days was adult beverages. With the addition of the Taproom; beer, wine and spirits offer another stream of revenue that has not been part of the equation in the past.  The Taproom is very spacious with an eighteen-seat u-shaped bar as the focal point and nine additional tables accommodating up to 38 guests. 

Sibblings Travis, Tarah and Derek Mathieu are
second generation owners of Bob's Seafood

The tap lines consist of 8 hand-picked craft beers, many of which are local to Maine. Maine Beer Company Lunch IPA, Allagash White and Bells Amber are amongst the most poured beers followed by the rotating IPA. There is a rotating specialty cocktail menu that changes with the seasons. Bob’s Seafood is currently highlighting Tiramisu Martini, Pumpkin White Russian and Maple Walnut Old Fashion.

We are also proud of our outdoor patio which displays a beautiful natural granite wall and a custom-built natural gas fire pit.  It’s the perfect spot to “wine” down and enjoy a great outdoor dining experience during those warm summer nights. 

Although the addition of beer, wine and spirits has brought in new customers, the food quality keeps people coming back for more. Previously recognized for their award-winning lobster roll, Bob’s is also known for their fried clams, scallops and haddock dinners along with hand cut fries and onion rings. 

As the building took on a new look the menu did much of the same. With a much larger kitchen, the menu now boasts baked stuffed haddock, sautéed scallops, teriyaki salmon, lobster mac-n-cheese, fish tacos, salads and much more. All menu items are homemade including appetizers, chowders and daily specials.  All food is locally sourced, fresh and made from scratch.  Bob’s Seafood takes pride in preparing all their guests’ food by hand and as ordered.

A one of a kind, eco-friendly lobster tank was custom built which includes a deep end holding tank and a waterfall to hold and sustain over 1,000 live lobsters as needed.  Bob’s sells live and cooked lobsters ranging in size from one to four-pound jumbo, in any quantities.

Bob’s Seafood takes pride in the seafood selection - offering wild caught, chemical free, local, natural and organic seafood. The fresh seafood case is stocked with fresh haddock along with Wester Ross natural salmon fillets, fresh swordfish, dry sea scallops, day boat halibut, lobster meat, crab meat, homemade crab stuffed mushrooms, stuffed clams, native steamers, mussels, oysters and more! 

Bob’s Seafood can bring in special order fish or customize an order with advance notice.  There is a Frozen market as well offering Alaskan king crab legs, native shrimp, clam cakes, crab cakes, crab meat stuffing, shrimp cocktail, tiger shrimp, local smoked mussels, and chopped sea clams. Bob’s Seafood has all the supplies in house and the ability to pack fresh seafood for road trips and overnight traveling trips whether the customer is flying or driving.

Bob’s Seafood is now open year-round. Winter dining hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. Summer hours from Memorial Day through Labor Day are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The fish market opens daily at 9 a.m. or by appointment. If you’re traveling for the holidays or need a great gift idea, Bob’s Seafood also ships live lobsters and fresh seafood via Fed-Ex next day air anywhere in the United States.  For more information call Bob’s at 207-893-2882 or visit their website at lobsters-shipped.com